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Laura Navarre has done it again. Midsummer Magick, the second book in her Magick Trilogy series is not your typical bodice-ripper novel. Navarre exquisitely interlaces the adventure of Arthurian legend, the timelessness of angelic lore, the intrigue of the English Tudor court, the magic of the Faerie realm, and deliciously passionate love scenes in this spellbinding novel. The mesmerizing story line will sweep you into its world and may even have you wondering if this alternate reality that Navarre constructed for her Magick Trilogy series might just exist somewhere, in some time.
Midsummer Magick finds country- bred Lady Linnet Norwood, a shy young scholar, as a lady in waiting at the coronation of the Queen Elizabeth Tudor. As the only living soul left in the Norwood line Linnet is, for the moment, the Countess of the troubled lands of Glencross, Scotland.
For those who read Magick by Moonlight, they will know that Linnet was considered missing—if not dead— for two years by mortal time. The Tudor court thinks the worst of her—that she is a ruined woman who speaks madly about being kidnapped by fairies and whose father disowned her on his deathbed.
And since Lady Linnet is a Papist in a decidedly Protestant court, there are those who consider her a threat and her loyalty to the Queen questionable. The story begins with Linnet being led to a trap where her killers await. Enter Zamiel, the Angel of Death, son of Lucifer. Zamiel is unique in the Heavenly Host. Because his touch brings death, he leads a solitary existence that straddles the vast divide of the Heavenly Host and the Hell of fire and brimstone.
Zamiel, on his way to deliver his touch of death, aids Linnet in fighting off her attackers instead of touching her. His good deed will be his un-doing. He is exiled from Heaven and made mortal for his transgression of intervention. This was an engrossing read -- and one that really put my iBooks' dictionary skills to the test with words like arquebus, cressets, tocsin different from toxin!
This is not a book to read casually -- one needs to invest quiet time and attention in order to fully enjoy the book -- but, trust me, it is worth it. Aug 08, Aixa rated it really liked it.
What has the world of books come to? Did you ever thought or fantasied about what it would have been like to read a story of fairies in an era where Kings and Queens ruled the land? Well now you have the chance. Now I know what you must be thinking what the hell, right? But do not fret this is an amazing story that Laura Navarr What has the world of books come to? But do not fret this is an amazing story that Laura Navarre has created to pull you into a world of magnificent words of fiction made to dull your senses to everything around you except for the book in your hand.
Once started reading you are intrigued to where the story will go. You know that all these supernatural things are supposed to happen but not exactly when or how so you continue reading. Then you ask yourself what is so especial about the main character Lady Linnet Norwood. Is she human, or is she something else? So you keep reading, falling deeper into the story line. To be able to marry and have the life she so much craves she needs to find out what happened to her mother twenty or so years ago that left her father less. Label as a bastard and a lunatic Linnet continues on her journey to London England where a clue was left for her to follow.
But her journey is not a simple one, she will encounter roadblocks after roadblocks to the point of frustration but she would not give up. There are beings and people that will stand in her way and will make it very hard for her to find the answers she seeks. But not all is, as it seems while she seeks her answers others want her for something much different WAR. Will Linnet find her answers; will others succeeded in capturing her to use her as a pawn in their evil plans or will all of the bad happenings have a silver lighting call love.
Yes, you read right. Will she find it and help her or will he just be as evil as everyone else and use her for his own purpose? Well I guess you would have to read and find out. Midsummer Magick by Laura Navarre is wonderful, easy read full of descriptive language and visual aids to make you part of the story and keep you captivated and entranced as you read.
Jul 26, Miscjoy rated it it was amazing Shelves: I loved this book! Arthurian lore, Tudor England, Fae and Angels -- all blended together by a well-written story full of descriptive language, active narrative, interesting characters, intrigue, tension, and romance.
Full review posted at The Book Pushers: Aug 06, Cerian rated it liked it. Originally published at Rookie Romance. Lady Linnet Norwood has a year missing from her memory, and when she was found she was sent to a convent to hide her madness. Now she's back in Queen Elizabeth I's court, searching for a husband to serve as a strong Laird to her family estate.
Whilst in London she meets the dashing Lord Zamiel, when he rescues her from murderous thugs. Drawn to each other, Linnet and Zamiel struggle to fight their impossible attraction and find out who wants Linnet dead. Lin Originally published at Rookie Romance. Linnet struggles to come to terms with the memories that hide just from her grasp. Linnet's a strong woman, and she's definitely not had an easy life- her mother 'died' when she was young, then her father declares on his deathbed that she's a bastard, and a brutish half-brother.
You can really feel her frustration, and I liked seeing her go from being rather timid, to a much more determined woman. There were times when she was on the edge of being a bit too stubborn for her own good, but she's a very likable heroine. Zamiel is the son of Lucifer and has been temporarily banished from the heavens until he repents.
Deciding to take full advantage of his exile, Zamiel indulges in all manner of vices at court. He's drawn to Linnet and doesn't see the shy, half-mad Scottish Catholic, but the passionate and strong woman that she is. Zamiel was dashing and repeatedly comes to Linnet's rescue, which were definitely points in his favour. He's angry with God and the other angels, but I found him to be a bit immature and petulant at times.
I was initially drawn into the story, but I felt my interest was lost a bit because I didn't connect much with Zamiel. There's a lot going on, which means that the plot is fast-paced and intriguing. I really had no idea how they would find their HEA with so many impediments, but I was satisfied with how everything is resolved, and it leaves it open for the next book in the series.
Overall, the plot held my interest and there were plenty of mysteries to unravel, but personally I didn't really feel the chemistry between Linnet and Zamiel. Sep 08, Melindeeloo rated it liked it Shelves: Midsummer Magick was very hard to get into at the beginning, part of that was the heaviness of the language early on - I should mention that I am not much of a historical romance reader - but the story didn't pick up for me until Linnet's quest to find her missing mother and she finally actually accepts that she needs the answers about her missing years in faery perhaps.
It was also har 3. It was also hard for me to initially connect with the leads, both the timid Linnet and the rebellious angel who attempts to immerse himself in debauchery. It took until about midway through the story until I finally become invested in Zariel's redemption, even as his feelings for Linnet put him on the verge of 'falling' and becoming his notorious father's right hand man.
It was when the pair reached Tinagel that melange of angelic and Arthurian myth became really interesting and I have to say that I never saw that it was possible for Linnet and Zariel to even achieve a HEA, much less the way they gained one. Oct 16, Aimee rated it liked it. Linnet Norwood, a newly-minted countess, is on a mission to recover her lost memories as well as her lost mother. Someone, however, seems to have other plans as attempts against her life become commonplace.
A mysterious stranger, Zamiel, comes to her rescue, but who is he, really, and what is he hiding? And who is Linnet, really?
The answer would impact the fates of multiple nations and two different worlds. This is an interesting blend of Christian and pagan folklore with everything from fallen Linnet Norwood, a newly-minted countess, is on a mission to recover her lost memories as well as her lost mother.
This is an interesting blend of Christian and pagan folklore with everything from fallen angels to the Holy Grail and King Arthur thrown in amidst the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth I's court. While part of the Magick Trilogy, I didn't feel that I had really missed anything by not reading the first book as the necessary parts of that story were retold in this second book so that the reader could fully understand.
Feb 21, Janie Weimer rated it liked it. There was a lot of information pushed through the first half of the book which slowed down the read. The descriptions of the settings were well done and I certainly felt like I was right there -- in London and beyond the Veil. But overall, it was slow and disjointed, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. Aug 06, Heather rated it liked it.
Full review soon thebastardtitle. Luteran rated it liked it Jan 16, Teya rated it it was amazing Aug 27, Natasha rated it really liked it Nov 25, Debra rated it really liked it Jan 27, Nasreen Qamber rated it liked it Feb 09, Linda rated it really liked it Oct 14, Lyrl rated it really liked it Mar 19, Heather rated it it was ok Jul 26, Laura marked it as to-read Aug 04, Rachel T marked it as to-read Aug 04, Linda marked it as to-read Aug 06, Shelley marked it as to-read Aug 06, Lorene marked it as to-read Aug 12, Denise marked it as to-read Aug 13, CassandraG marked it as to-read Aug 13, Julia marked it as to-read Aug 14, Aerulan added it Aug 14, Maureen marked it as to-read Aug 15,