Lucy Leiderman

Gwen just moved in Oregon, she's starting a new life. She was in a new town, new school and maybe she may even gain new friends until she was kidnapped by Kian. Their reason for moving is a real big bad earthquake in San Fransisco CA.There's an interesting premise at the beginning of the book: the bad weather/global warming scenario, to which Lucy Leiderman give her own explanation.

The story itself is told exclusively from Gwen's point of view. She is a believable and likable narrator; her reactions, fears, and hopes reflect what one would expect of a seventeen-year-old whose recent dreams of the near future had been dashed. Gwen turned out to be whiny (although I know she has every right to be). The meeting Kian on her first social day in a new town leaves her traumatized: first She found out she's not who she thinks she and second, Gwen learned from Kian that she is in terrible danger - three evil magicians are after her to get hold of powers as a participant in an ancient war, fought between magical Celtic warriors and three evil magicians. Those magicians are alive and well and need Gwen's magic to regain their power. If they succeed, they'll be unstoppable. In order f to survive, Gwen must remember how to use her magical powers. Kian also explained her, that she wasn't the only participant in that war, and in order to succeed, she must reunion with other 6 members. He also claim that she is a crucial key for locating this other 6 members as they have affinity to each other.
I was enamored by the way Leiderman introduced her shifts between Gwen's past and the now which I found done very very, nicely (Different personalities and past was full of "deep dark, scandalous" secrets).… (más)

I have mixed feelings regarding this book. One half of me wished to skip to the ending and the other half enjoyed it.

Seventeen-year-old Gwen’s life took a dramatic turn, and it all started when she met him. Kian. He opened her eyes to a whole new world. One most people believe only lives in your childhood fairytales … a world of magic. She has a destiny to fulfill; along with 6 others; to try and save the world from an ancient evil.

The blurb was what made me click the request button for Lives of Magic on NetGalley. It was captivating and I was eager to jump right into the book. It is strange, because I can’t exactly pin point what it was I disliked about the book (if I even disliked it). Lucy Leinderman had the characters moving at a very fast-paced – the story immediately picks up – literally – on the first page. This somehow made everything seemed a bit rushed. I would have loved to learn more about Gwen and her companions – Seth and Garrison’s background (in their present lives). That was probably what gave me a bitter start.There is no mystery that Lives of Magic was served as an introduction to a more developed story to come (not that there wasn’t any development here), and I admit I am looking forward to it -- the half that enjoyed it, that it. The thing is, the first few chapters had a few interesting moments especially with Gwen and Kian, but I caught myself only skimming through it for most parts. Towards the end, however, the actions started kicking in; and that was when I couldn’t take my eyes off the pages (or screen, considering it’s an e-read). I have never been so confused about a book.

For those who do not know, I LOVE—love – love plots with mixing elements from the character’s past and present lives. The historical ingredient – with Princes, warriors, and … Magic, can never go wrong!

Thank Lucy Leiderman for giving her protagonist a strong personality! I would have stopped reading if Gwen turned out to be whiny (although I know she has every right to be). You will read about her strengths at the end of the book, and it leaves you wanting to know what she is really capable of. Kian is mysterious. For more than half of the book, you’ll wonder what in the world he is up too – what’s going on in his mind. I am really hoping to read more about him in the second installment (assuming there will be one, fingers crossed). Seth and Garrison – especially Garrison made the book all the better. Seth with his laidback coolness and Garrison with his at ease and up-beat personal. Each one of them important in their own way. Just thinking about what adventures awaits them, is exhilarating.

Seven Wanderers Trilogy the title of the series itself sounds epic.

Thank you to Dundurn Publishing for providing this review copy.… (más)