Available on: Amazon, Audible, and Barnes and Noble.
Overview: Alex is freshly off the divorce boat and finds herself the heiress of a mysterious manor house – and magically inclined to boot! This romp through the magical world of Magnolia Manor is nothing short of hilarious.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Tags and Trigger Warnings: Death, Demons, Divorce, Gun Violence, Gun Use, Magic, Mythical Creatures, Off-Screen Infidelity, Paranormal Happenings, Supernatural Creatures, Violence, Women’s Fiction.
Body Count: a few, but nothing on-screen.
Overall review:
- Thoughts:
- What I liked: I loved the female relationships, the quick pacing, and the bevy of sarcasm.
- What I didn’t like: I wasn’t fond of the POV at first, but it was still readable. I’m hoping more of the series gets released soon.
- Was it engaging?
- Yes
- Favorite Character:
- Alex, with Elenor a close second.
- Least Favorite Character:
- Mike, without hesitation.
To Read or Not To Read (Again): To Read Again Eventually: On the Bookshelf
The Technical Specs:
- Series
- Series Name: Magic at Midnight
- Book Number: 1 of 5
- Genre
- Technical Genre: Women’s Fantasy Fiction, Metaphysical Fantasy eBooks, Paranormal Witches & Wizards Romance
- Theo Genre: Feminist Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
- Page count: 422 pages
- POV: Limited First
- Publication information:
- Language: English
- Publisher: Graye Castle Press
- ISBN-13: 9798410893626
- ASIN: B09PJR4V4D
Representation, Morality, and Sexism in Media Tests:
- Bechdel–Wallace Test: PASS
- In order to pass, two female characters must talk about something other than a male character.
- Mako Mori Test: PASS
- In order to pass, there must be a female character that gets her own arc.
- Mary Sue/Gary Stu Test: PASS
- In order to pass, the main character must not be completely flawless and persecuted by other characters needlessly.
- Take a Mary Sue test here!
- In order to pass, the main character must not be completely flawless and persecuted by other characters needlessly.
- Sexy Lamp Test: PASS
- In order to pass, the plot must not fall apart if the female character was replaced by a sexy-looking lamp.
- Post-It Note Caveat:
- Would the character be able to be replaced by a Sexy Lamp with a sticky note on it for information conveyance?
- Tauriel Test: PASS
- In order to pass, there must be at least one woman in the story who is competent in her chosen occupation and not immediately shown up by a newcomer male character.
- Also, if a female character has or develops a love interest during the story, either implied or explicitly stated, she must not suddenly abandon her job and/or chosen path to support or pursue said love interest.
- Vito Russo Test: FAIL
- In order to pass, there must be a character on the LGBTQIAP+ spectrum spectrum who is a character beyond their orientation. Furthermore, they must actually affect the plot and be something something beyond a caricature or punchline.
- What does LGBTQIAP+ stand for? It stands for: Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual/Bi-romantic/Bi-gender, Transgender, Queer/Genderqueer, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender, Pansexual/Panromantic+.
- In order to pass, there must be a character on the LGBTQIAP+ spectrum spectrum who is a character beyond their orientation. Furthermore, they must actually affect the plot and be something something beyond a caricature or punchline.
You can read more about the various Media Tests I employ in my reviews at GeekFeminism.wikia.org or by clicking the header on the individual test. Why include all these? Because I can, because representation matters, and because I’m neurotic. That’s all! Happy reading!
Review format updated 5 February 2024.
Postmark Wonderland 