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Magical Girl Blues
Some things are worse than death� or high school.
Fourteen-year-old Xenia Findlay survived the crash that claimed her parents and her best friend Bethany. Moving to Porter Valley to live with her great aunt should have been the perfect opportunity to heal. Instead of the peace and quiet she so desperately needs, she’s plagued by terrible headaches� and hallucinatory visits from her dead friend.
Worse, the students of Porter Valley High are disappearing. As, one by one, the missing students join Bethany in Xenia’s visions she begins to suspect that what she sees is real. If that’s true, then everything she thought she knew—about the world, about death, and about herself—is wrong. Magic is real. Ghosts exist. And a monster lurks in the shadows of her idyllic new home.
The bodies are piling up and it won’t be long before the ghastly force preying upon Porter Valley turns its eyes upon her. If Xenia can unlock the power she’s discovered, she might just save herself, her town� and her very soul.
A thrilling new Urban Fantasy sure to please fans of Seanan McGuire, Faith Hunter and Jim Butcher.
Magical Girl Blues is Book 2 in The Clandestine Series.
Fourteen-year-old Xenia Findlay survived the crash that claimed her parents and her best friend Bethany. Moving to Porter Valley to live with her great aunt should have been the perfect opportunity to heal. Instead of the peace and quiet she so desperately needs, she’s plagued by terrible headaches� and hallucinatory visits from her dead friend.
Worse, the students of Porter Valley High are disappearing. As, one by one, the missing students join Bethany in Xenia’s visions she begins to suspect that what she sees is real. If that’s true, then everything she thought she knew—about the world, about death, and about herself—is wrong. Magic is real. Ghosts exist. And a monster lurks in the shadows of her idyllic new home.
The bodies are piling up and it won’t be long before the ghastly force preying upon Porter Valley turns its eyes upon her. If Xenia can unlock the power she’s discovered, she might just save herself, her town� and her very soul.
A thrilling new Urban Fantasy sure to please fans of Seanan McGuire, Faith Hunter and Jim Butcher.
Magical Girl Blues is Book 2 in The Clandestine Series.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2024
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 22, 2024
Before Xenia could teach her knowledge to Eddy, she had to be a student herself.
And where better to start her story than in high school?
Xenia's journey begins with a tragedy that leaves her a shell of her former self. But it also comes with an unexpected upgrade:
She develops a knack for magic.
And with the prospect of something she never thought possible at her literal fingertips, she might just breach the veil between the world of the living and the dead.
Despite this book preceding the events of All In (Book One of The Clandestine series) it doesn't read like a prequel. Magical Girl Blues stands very much on its own. It's a story of grief, loss, and self-discovery that will give you more insights on what our girl Xenia had to overcome in order to master her magical gift.
And where better to start her story than in high school?
Xenia's journey begins with a tragedy that leaves her a shell of her former self. But it also comes with an unexpected upgrade:
She develops a knack for magic.
And with the prospect of something she never thought possible at her literal fingertips, she might just breach the veil between the world of the living and the dead.
Despite this book preceding the events of All In (Book One of The Clandestine series) it doesn't read like a prequel. Magical Girl Blues stands very much on its own. It's a story of grief, loss, and self-discovery that will give you more insights on what our girl Xenia had to overcome in order to master her magical gift.
November 25, 2024
Xenia Findlay survived the crash that killed her parents and best friend Bethany. She moved to Porter Valley to live with her great aunt, and she is plagued by headaches and hallucinatory visits from her dead friend. Students of Porter Valley High are disappearing, and Xenia is starting to see them along with Bethany in her visions. She starts to suspect that magic and ghosts are real, and that a monster is lurking in the shadows. She has a brand new power that might allow her to save herself and her town.
Magical Girl Blues is the second book in the series "The Clandestine," though I haven't read the first book in the series. It isn't necessary to have read that to understand this one. Xenia deals with intense grief as well as headaches from head trauma from the accident that killed them. She sees auras and ghosts, and a raven seems willing to help her figure out what these powers are. There are other magical creatures in Porter Valley, as well as people who know about this hidden world. Xenia tries to figure out how her vision works, and what the auras are. It's a struggle on top of high school, but it's also hilarious that Xenia was working on her magic to try making a wand like magical girls of anime.
I really enjoyed this book, and my heart went out to Xenia and the teen victims. The grief is well portrayed in the novel, as well as the connections and activities that can draw people out from under its weight. Teens deal with a lot, maybe not monsters, but it will help them to see how others deal with major issues.
Magical Girl Blues is the second book in the series "The Clandestine," though I haven't read the first book in the series. It isn't necessary to have read that to understand this one. Xenia deals with intense grief as well as headaches from head trauma from the accident that killed them. She sees auras and ghosts, and a raven seems willing to help her figure out what these powers are. There are other magical creatures in Porter Valley, as well as people who know about this hidden world. Xenia tries to figure out how her vision works, and what the auras are. It's a struggle on top of high school, but it's also hilarious that Xenia was working on her magic to try making a wand like magical girls of anime.
I really enjoyed this book, and my heart went out to Xenia and the teen victims. The grief is well portrayed in the novel, as well as the connections and activities that can draw people out from under its weight. Teens deal with a lot, maybe not monsters, but it will help them to see how others deal with major issues.
November 25, 2024
The most magical part of Magical Girl Blues isn't the actual magic, or the supernatural monsters- it's the relationships between the women in this urban fantasy story.
Xenia is the sole survivor of a car crash that took her parents and BFFFF, Bethany. As a result, she moves to Porter Valley with her eccentric great aunt and quickly experiences life in a small town. Xenia quickly finds out that several high school students have gone missing, and she starts to see visions that accompany migraines that are a consequence of the car accident. Meanwhile, Bethany is learning to live life as a ghost, forced to stay within a certain proximity to Xenia. The two of them learn that there's a secret plaguing the town of Porter Valley that is deadlier than anyone could ever imagine.
The characters- AH, the characters!- of this story are magical. Xenia is dealing with more grief than anyone ever should ever deal with in their entire life. She's strong, thoughtful, and such a good friend. The other characters we meet in town, mostly fellow high school students, are so real and flawed. You really get a feel for the town and relationships Xenia experiences, no matter how dangerous they are.
A small town is always a great setting, and Porter Valley is excellent. The town has its own demons, legends, and traditions that Xenia discovers as the story progresses. Isler's writing feels like magic itself, weaving words together in a way that feels fresh but cozy.
This book is part 2 of the The Clandestine Series, but works as a stand alone. I can't wait to go back and read part 1!
Xenia is the sole survivor of a car crash that took her parents and BFFFF, Bethany. As a result, she moves to Porter Valley with her eccentric great aunt and quickly experiences life in a small town. Xenia quickly finds out that several high school students have gone missing, and she starts to see visions that accompany migraines that are a consequence of the car accident. Meanwhile, Bethany is learning to live life as a ghost, forced to stay within a certain proximity to Xenia. The two of them learn that there's a secret plaguing the town of Porter Valley that is deadlier than anyone could ever imagine.
The characters- AH, the characters!- of this story are magical. Xenia is dealing with more grief than anyone ever should ever deal with in their entire life. She's strong, thoughtful, and such a good friend. The other characters we meet in town, mostly fellow high school students, are so real and flawed. You really get a feel for the town and relationships Xenia experiences, no matter how dangerous they are.
A small town is always a great setting, and Porter Valley is excellent. The town has its own demons, legends, and traditions that Xenia discovers as the story progresses. Isler's writing feels like magic itself, weaving words together in a way that feels fresh but cozy.
This book is part 2 of the The Clandestine Series, but works as a stand alone. I can't wait to go back and read part 1!
November 30, 2024
This is a gripping and thrilling read that will captivate fans of dark, supernatural mysteries and coming-of-age stories, particularly those who enjoy exploring themes of grief, self-discovery, and empowerment in the face of the unknown.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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