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Conspiracy of Magic #2
Wounded Magic
Magic can heal the fiercest wounds... or cut them even deeper.
Rocío Lopez and Finn Lockwood survived the deadly trials of the Mages' Exam in a bid to keep their magic. But the world outside presents vicious threats of its own.
Forced into the Confed's military special ops unit, Rocío must walk a fine line between complicity and resistance, or everyone she loves could pay the price. With the magic's pleas growing increasingly urgent, can she make her stand in time?
Stripped of his talent, Finn is determined to fight the corrupt magical government—and to find his way back to the girl he's fallen for. When his new mission clashes with his family's legacy, how many people will he have to betray?
Revolution is brewing. And as enemies rise at home and abroad, both Rocío and Finn will be caught in the crossfire.
Picking up where the acclaimed Ruthless Magic left off, Wounded Magic delves deeper into the alternate modern-day world of the Conspiracy of Magic series. Prepare for a thrilling, heart-wrenching ride.
Scroll up to grab the book now!
Rocío Lopez and Finn Lockwood survived the deadly trials of the Mages' Exam in a bid to keep their magic. But the world outside presents vicious threats of its own.
Forced into the Confed's military special ops unit, Rocío must walk a fine line between complicity and resistance, or everyone she loves could pay the price. With the magic's pleas growing increasingly urgent, can she make her stand in time?
Stripped of his talent, Finn is determined to fight the corrupt magical government—and to find his way back to the girl he's fallen for. When his new mission clashes with his family's legacy, how many people will he have to betray?
Revolution is brewing. And as enemies rise at home and abroad, both Rocío and Finn will be caught in the crossfire.
Picking up where the acclaimed Ruthless Magic left off, Wounded Magic delves deeper into the alternate modern-day world of the Conspiracy of Magic series. Prepare for a thrilling, heart-wrenching ride.
Scroll up to grab the book now!
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
About the author
Megan Crewe
22 books832 followersLike many authors, Megan Crewe finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and son (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she's spent the last six years studying kung fu, so you should probably be nice to her. She has been making up stories about magic and spirits and other what ifs since before she knew how to write words on paper. These days the stories are just a lot longer.
Megan's first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST, was shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Her second, THE WAY WE FALL, was nominated for the White Pine Award and made the International Reading Association Young Adults' Choices List. Her Fallen World trilogy (THE WAY WE FALL, THE LIVES WE LOST, THE WORLDS WE MAKE) is now complete and she has a new trilogy forthcoming in October 2014, beginning with EARTH & SKY. Her books have been published in translation in several countries around the world. She has also published short stories in magazines such as On Spec and Brutarian Quarterly.
Megan's first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST, was shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Her second, THE WAY WE FALL, was nominated for the White Pine Award and made the International Reading Association Young Adults' Choices List. Her Fallen World trilogy (THE WAY WE FALL, THE LIVES WE LOST, THE WORLDS WE MAKE) is now complete and she has a new trilogy forthcoming in October 2014, beginning with EARTH & SKY. Her books have been published in translation in several countries around the world. She has also published short stories in magazines such as On Spec and Brutarian Quarterly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 8, 2018
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Young Adult Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Wounded Magic is the second installment in author Megan Crowe's Conspiracy of Magic series. Picking up where the Ruthless Magic left off, Wounded Magic delves deeper into the alternate modern-day world of Magic. 16-year olds Rocio Lopez and Finnegan Lockwood have survived the Confederation of Magic's Mage challenge. Rocio has become one of 6 champions, while Finn faces a future without any magic and a loss of any memory of the test itself. This story alternates between the two characters.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Wounded Magic is the second installment in author Megan Crowe's Conspiracy of Magic series. Picking up where the Ruthless Magic left off, Wounded Magic delves deeper into the alternate modern-day world of Magic. 16-year olds Rocio Lopez and Finnegan Lockwood have survived the Confederation of Magic's Mage challenge. Rocio has become one of 6 champions, while Finn faces a future without any magic and a loss of any memory of the test itself. This story alternates between the two characters.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 29, 2021
While this book is written from two perspectives as the first one was, our MCs Finn and Rocio are having separate lives in this book which only merge at the end. They are both working to defame the Mage world, Rocio to save the magic and Finn fighting for equality. I really enjoy Finn and Rocio together. It was beyond implausible that Rocio was able to meet with who she met with, but I try not to let disbelief suspend my enjoyment, unless it’s an extreme case! I look forward to seeing how the adventure ends.
December 22, 2019
After Rocio is made champion and Finn burned out, they still plan to do whatever they can to save the magic. Despite hardly being able to see or even speak to each other, they are still determined to be together. And from both inside and outside the system they keep working together.
This is such a wonderful way to describe magic, how amazing to be able to control magic with music. I love both the main characters, the way they are each inspired by the other to be even better than they already are.
This book is gripping, full of action but still has plenty of emotional thrills!
This is such a wonderful way to describe magic, how amazing to be able to control magic with music. I love both the main characters, the way they are each inspired by the other to be even better than they already are.
This book is gripping, full of action but still has plenty of emotional thrills!
December 10, 2018
ENGLISH:
The story begins right after the end of the first book. Finn has been stripped of his powers by failing to pass the Exam. He is marked and lives with a void where his magic used to be. Now, he must adapt and build a new future, decide what he will do for the rest of his life. But one thing is for sure: he will do anything to change things, to end the brutality of the Exams, and to achieve a better future for all of them.
On the other hand, Rocío has been declared Champion of the Exam, and therefore she's sent away to fight against the terrorist forces as a member of the Confed's military special ops unit. She hates what she has to do, she hates having to lie to her family, but it's the only way to keep her magic. But she's the only one who can hear it, who can understand that hurtful spells are damaging the magic, and that if she can't do something to stop all that violence, the magic will be lost and destroyed, possibly forever.
Rocío has been connecting more and more with the magic, and has brought us closer to understanding better the functioning of this fantasy system that seems to have a life of its own. I liked that a lot. I also loved the relationship between Finn and Rocío, they are really adorable together. The romance is very sweet, there are beautiful scenes.
I really liked Finn in this book. He was always adorable and charming, but in this book he begins to find his place in the world, his vocation, and I really liked that. This character has grown a lot, has evolved in an amazing way, taking courage and defending his ideals.
There are also several interesting secondary characters in this book. We know better the point of view of each type of person, besides the magical people, of course: those who no longer have magic, those who keep only a little bit of it, and those who never had it.
The plot of this book is interesting, it immerses us more in this magical universe that the author has created. The whole fantastic part was great and it left me really hooked. The descriptions are very nice, there are some unexpected revelations that left me completely surprised, revelations linked to the magic.
There are also some very good action scenes, but I wish there were more of them. Sometimes this book was a bit slow paced, but it was great anyway, the story is very well developed and I really liked it.
The end was shocking and completely open, so I really want to read the next book to know what will happen next.
ESPAÑOL:
La historia comienza justo en donde terminó el libro anterior. Finn ha sido despojado de sus poderes al no lograr pasar el Examen. Ha sido marcado y vive con un vacío en donde su magia solía estar. Ahora debe adaptarse y construir un nuevo futuro, decidir lo que va a hacer durante el resto de su vida. Pero una cosa tiene en claro: ��l hará lo necesario para cambiar las cosas, para terminar con la brutalidad de los Exámenes, y conseguir un futuro mejor y más equitativo para todos.
Por otro lado, Rocío ha sido declarada Campeona del Examen, y por lo tanto es enviada lejos a pelear contra las fuerzas terroristas como miembro de la unidad de operaciones especiales militares de la Confederación. Ella odia lo que tiene que hacer, odia tener que mentirle a su familia, pero es el único modo de conservar su magia. Y es que ella es la única que puede escucharla, que puede entender que los hechizos hirientes están dañando la magia, y que si no logra hacer algo para detener toda esa violencia, la magia se perderá y destruirá, posiblemente para siempre.
Rocío ha ido conectándose cada vez más con la magia, y nos ha acercado a comprender mejor el funcionamiento de este sistema fantástico que parece tener vida propia. Eso me gustó mucho. También me encantó la relación entre Finn y Rocío, son realmente adorables juntos. El romance es muy dulce, hay escenas muy bonitas.
Finn me ha gustado mucho en este libro. Siempre ha sido adorable y encantador, pero en este libro comienza a hallar su lugar en el mundo, su vocación, y eso me gustó mucho. Ha crecido bastante este personaje, ha evolucionado en una forma genial, tomando valor y defendiendo sus ideales.
También hay varios personajes secundarios interesantes en este libro. Conocemos mejor el punto de vista de cada tipo de persona, además de la gente mágica, claro: aquellos que ya no tienen magia, aquellos que conservan sólo un poco de ella, y aquellos que nunca la tuvieron.
La trama de este libro es interesante, nos sumerge más en este universo mágico que ha creado la autora. Toda la parte fantástica fue genial y sumamente atrapante. Las descripciones son muy lindas, hay algunas revelaciones completamente inesperadas que realmente me dejaron sorprendida, revelaciones vinculadas justamente a la magia.
Hay algunas escenas de acción muy buenas, pero me hubiese gustado que tuviera muchas más. A veces se me hizo un poco lento este libro, pero de todas maneras estuvo bien, la historia está muy bien desarrollada y me gustó.
El final fue impactante y quedó completamente abierto, así que tengo muchas ganas de leer el siguiente libro para saber qué pasará.
Reseña completa
The story begins right after the end of the first book. Finn has been stripped of his powers by failing to pass the Exam. He is marked and lives with a void where his magic used to be. Now, he must adapt and build a new future, decide what he will do for the rest of his life. But one thing is for sure: he will do anything to change things, to end the brutality of the Exams, and to achieve a better future for all of them.
On the other hand, Rocío has been declared Champion of the Exam, and therefore she's sent away to fight against the terrorist forces as a member of the Confed's military special ops unit. She hates what she has to do, she hates having to lie to her family, but it's the only way to keep her magic. But she's the only one who can hear it, who can understand that hurtful spells are damaging the magic, and that if she can't do something to stop all that violence, the magic will be lost and destroyed, possibly forever.
Rocío has been connecting more and more with the magic, and has brought us closer to understanding better the functioning of this fantasy system that seems to have a life of its own. I liked that a lot. I also loved the relationship between Finn and Rocío, they are really adorable together. The romance is very sweet, there are beautiful scenes.
I really liked Finn in this book. He was always adorable and charming, but in this book he begins to find his place in the world, his vocation, and I really liked that. This character has grown a lot, has evolved in an amazing way, taking courage and defending his ideals.
There are also several interesting secondary characters in this book. We know better the point of view of each type of person, besides the magical people, of course: those who no longer have magic, those who keep only a little bit of it, and those who never had it.
The plot of this book is interesting, it immerses us more in this magical universe that the author has created. The whole fantastic part was great and it left me really hooked. The descriptions are very nice, there are some unexpected revelations that left me completely surprised, revelations linked to the magic.
There are also some very good action scenes, but I wish there were more of them. Sometimes this book was a bit slow paced, but it was great anyway, the story is very well developed and I really liked it.
The end was shocking and completely open, so I really want to read the next book to know what will happen next.
ESPAÑOL:
La historia comienza justo en donde terminó el libro anterior. Finn ha sido despojado de sus poderes al no lograr pasar el Examen. Ha sido marcado y vive con un vacío en donde su magia solía estar. Ahora debe adaptarse y construir un nuevo futuro, decidir lo que va a hacer durante el resto de su vida. Pero una cosa tiene en claro: ��l hará lo necesario para cambiar las cosas, para terminar con la brutalidad de los Exámenes, y conseguir un futuro mejor y más equitativo para todos.
Por otro lado, Rocío ha sido declarada Campeona del Examen, y por lo tanto es enviada lejos a pelear contra las fuerzas terroristas como miembro de la unidad de operaciones especiales militares de la Confederación. Ella odia lo que tiene que hacer, odia tener que mentirle a su familia, pero es el único modo de conservar su magia. Y es que ella es la única que puede escucharla, que puede entender que los hechizos hirientes están dañando la magia, y que si no logra hacer algo para detener toda esa violencia, la magia se perderá y destruirá, posiblemente para siempre.
Rocío ha ido conectándose cada vez más con la magia, y nos ha acercado a comprender mejor el funcionamiento de este sistema fantástico que parece tener vida propia. Eso me gustó mucho. También me encantó la relación entre Finn y Rocío, son realmente adorables juntos. El romance es muy dulce, hay escenas muy bonitas.
Finn me ha gustado mucho en este libro. Siempre ha sido adorable y encantador, pero en este libro comienza a hallar su lugar en el mundo, su vocación, y eso me gustó mucho. Ha crecido bastante este personaje, ha evolucionado en una forma genial, tomando valor y defendiendo sus ideales.
También hay varios personajes secundarios interesantes en este libro. Conocemos mejor el punto de vista de cada tipo de persona, además de la gente mágica, claro: aquellos que ya no tienen magia, aquellos que conservan sólo un poco de ella, y aquellos que nunca la tuvieron.
La trama de este libro es interesante, nos sumerge más en este universo mágico que ha creado la autora. Toda la parte fantástica fue genial y sumamente atrapante. Las descripciones son muy lindas, hay algunas revelaciones completamente inesperadas que realmente me dejaron sorprendida, revelaciones vinculadas justamente a la magia.
Hay algunas escenas de acción muy buenas, pero me hubiese gustado que tuviera muchas más. A veces se me hizo un poco lento este libro, pero de todas maneras estuvo bien, la historia está muy bien desarrollada y me gustó.
El final fue impactante y quedó completamente abierto, así que tengo muchas ganas de leer el siguiente libro para saber qué pasará.
Reseña completa
November 29, 2018
“If there’s one thing humans have in abundance, it’s the ability to fear that which they don’t understand and to turn that fear into violence.”
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wounded Magic is the second novel in the Conspiracy of Magic series by Megan Crewe. At the end of Ruthless Magic (book one), Rocío Lopez and Finn Lockwood have just finished the Mages’ Exams. This book picks up right where book one ended. Having passed the exam, Rocío is immediately thrown into training to become part of the military while Finn, having failed the exam, is forced to have all of his magic removed from his system.
Overall, I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. It starts out where chapter one is dedicated to Rocío, chapter two is dedicated to Finn, then it goes back and forth between the two. Rocío’s story starts out much more fast paced and intense than Finn’s, but it still gives it a nice transition in-between stories. Rocío is out on the front lines trying to figure out a way to expose the Confed’s views about magic and what they have been hiding about non-magical people while Finn is trying to get used to life without magic, and also getting involved with a group of people that are looking to show the Confed that they are still valuable despite their lack of magic.
It was hard to put down the book and walk away from it, even for a short break, because each chapter ends with such suspense. I would have loved to have read more interaction between Finn and Rocío, but I can understand why their time together is so limited in this book. I also felt like the ending was a little bit rushed, but perhaps that is my own selfish thought since I am dying to know what the outcome will be from the events that happened. Either way, I am already looking forward to the next installment in the series. Book two has now set the direction of the storyline, and I am intrigued to see what the outcome will be.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wounded Magic is the second novel in the Conspiracy of Magic series by Megan Crewe. At the end of Ruthless Magic (book one), Rocío Lopez and Finn Lockwood have just finished the Mages’ Exams. This book picks up right where book one ended. Having passed the exam, Rocío is immediately thrown into training to become part of the military while Finn, having failed the exam, is forced to have all of his magic removed from his system.
Overall, I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. It starts out where chapter one is dedicated to Rocío, chapter two is dedicated to Finn, then it goes back and forth between the two. Rocío’s story starts out much more fast paced and intense than Finn’s, but it still gives it a nice transition in-between stories. Rocío is out on the front lines trying to figure out a way to expose the Confed’s views about magic and what they have been hiding about non-magical people while Finn is trying to get used to life without magic, and also getting involved with a group of people that are looking to show the Confed that they are still valuable despite their lack of magic.
It was hard to put down the book and walk away from it, even for a short break, because each chapter ends with such suspense. I would have loved to have read more interaction between Finn and Rocío, but I can understand why their time together is so limited in this book. I also felt like the ending was a little bit rushed, but perhaps that is my own selfish thought since I am dying to know what the outcome will be from the events that happened. Either way, I am already looking forward to the next installment in the series. Book two has now set the direction of the storyline, and I am intrigued to see what the outcome will be.
December 7, 2018
I received a copy of this book in ebook format from the author in exchange for review.
Wounded Magic by Megan Crewe is the second book in the Conspiracy of Magic series. In this sequel, Rocio and Finn have survived the Mages' Exam, but not everything has gone as planned. Rocio has been forced into military service by the Confederation, and an already difficult situation is made even more so by the magic's constant plea with her to help protect it from harm. Finn has been stripped of his magic. He is determined to fight for the rights of those who do not have magical abilities. Finn joins a group of people with similar goals, but some of these people's goals involve putting Finn's family in danger.
I loved the first book of this series, but I love this one even more. I couldn't stop reading it, there was so much at stake. I really like the new characters introduced in this book.
Wounded Magic by Megan Crewe is the second book in the Conspiracy of Magic series. In this sequel, Rocio and Finn have survived the Mages' Exam, but not everything has gone as planned. Rocio has been forced into military service by the Confederation, and an already difficult situation is made even more so by the magic's constant plea with her to help protect it from harm. Finn has been stripped of his magic. He is determined to fight for the rights of those who do not have magical abilities. Finn joins a group of people with similar goals, but some of these people's goals involve putting Finn's family in danger.
I loved the first book of this series, but I love this one even more. I couldn't stop reading it, there was so much at stake. I really like the new characters introduced in this book.
September 20, 2019
This book starts right where Ruthless Magic ended and even though Rocío Lopez and Fynn Lockwood took the initiative that ended the 'contest' by exposing it, their work is not done... and their work to expose the dystopic system, is seemingly nigh unto impossible!
But, the bigger story is the magic! What's going on with the Magic? Could the Magic actually be alive, does it have feelings, or is it just a resource that can be used up?!?! And, why among all the Magic users is it that only Rocío seems to be able to feel it as an entity, she's actually taking the time to try to communicate, to understand what it wants/needs...
Rocío and Fynn race to fix the world, but just don't quite get it done in this book, leaving us impatiently waiting for the next book... (Too many books have left me in this predicament lately, gurrr!)
Again, Jennifer Jill Araya and Austin Rising make a great team narration team!
But, the bigger story is the magic! What's going on with the Magic? Could the Magic actually be alive, does it have feelings, or is it just a resource that can be used up?!?! And, why among all the Magic users is it that only Rocío seems to be able to feel it as an entity, she's actually taking the time to try to communicate, to understand what it wants/needs...
Rocío and Fynn race to fix the world, but just don't quite get it done in this book, leaving us impatiently waiting for the next book... (Too many books have left me in this predicament lately, gurrr!)
Again, Jennifer Jill Araya and Austin Rising make a great team narration team!
November 29, 2018
I loved Ruthless Magic (Conspiracy of Magic Book 1), but I was not sure if this second book would be as good; middle volumes in a series are often less exciting, and Book 1 is a hard act to follow. I needn’t have worried though—Megan Crewe continues to take this story in an interesting direction with plenty of suspense and intrigue. This is very much a continuation of the first book though, and it ends on a cliffhanger, so the books in this series should be read in order.
That said, I continue to love these characters and want to cheer for them as they face difficult challenges both internal and external. It’s very satisfying to watch them learn and grow. And I love learning more about this world and its unique magic system. I don’t want to say too much about the plot and spoil the surprises, but I really like some of the twists and turns this story has taken. The whole experience is a lot of fun.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys young adult urban fantasy. While this book does contain violence, death, and some other difficult subjects (a minor character obliquely refers to having an abortion), it is not particularly graphic and seemed less brutal to me than the first book. There is no sex and very minimal swearing.
I received an ARC from the author and volunteered to review it. The version I reviewed was neatly formatted and contained minimal proofreading errors, which may have been corrected in the final version.
That said, I continue to love these characters and want to cheer for them as they face difficult challenges both internal and external. It’s very satisfying to watch them learn and grow. And I love learning more about this world and its unique magic system. I don’t want to say too much about the plot and spoil the surprises, but I really like some of the twists and turns this story has taken. The whole experience is a lot of fun.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys young adult urban fantasy. While this book does contain violence, death, and some other difficult subjects (a minor character obliquely refers to having an abortion), it is not particularly graphic and seemed less brutal to me than the first book. There is no sex and very minimal swearing.
I received an ARC from the author and volunteered to review it. The version I reviewed was neatly formatted and contained minimal proofreading errors, which may have been corrected in the final version.
June 16, 2020
I first read Ruthless Magic two years ago so I worried that I would have trouble remembering the details of this world, but I was able to fall right back in the story with no problem. What a relief!
Wounded Magic picks up in the same scene where Ruthless Magic left off. Rocio just became a Champion at the Mages’ Exam and she gets to start her new life as a black ops soldier, running secret missions for the Confederation. Finn didn’t make Champion and thus has to be Burned Out, where his ability to work with magic is removed, and get used to his new life as a Dull.
I like Rocio’s connection to the magic in this series, that she can sense it’s somehow alive and wants to be used for good, and using it to harm someone also causes harm to the magic. That’s a really cool concept I’ve never seen done before.
This installment deals a lot with the injustices in the world between Mages and those who are Burned Out or Dull. It is clear that the government is hiding information from the masses about the Mage society and the Exam and its real purpose. Finn and Rocio both try to tackle this issue from different angles, working together but in separate groups, to help the world realize the unfairness between the Mages and non-Mages and to help create equality in the society. I definitely see similarities in this book to the real-world issues happening around us.
This series takes a spin on the “taking down the government” trope because Finn is of an old-magic bloodline and knows that the privilege he has because of that isn’t right, so he goes against the system from the inside. I loved reading about Finn and all his efforts to make a change to the prejudices in the mage society. He is level-headed when he speaks and doesn’t make rash decisions, and that’s so refreshing to read about. I found myself much more interested in his storyline than Rocio’s in this book because of some of the activities that he gets involved in—I was very eager to see them play out.
I absolutely loved this installment. The epic final scenes lead up to a heart-stopping cliffhanger that has me dying to read the conclusion in Fearless Magic.
This is absolutely an underrated series and one that I truly believe is more well-written and well-crafted than most of the popular YA series I’ve read. It plays to all the tropes that people love to read about but takes a fresh twist on them and gives us an unpredictable and entertaining plot with unforgettable characters and flawless execution. Megan Crewe knows how to write and give the people what they want without pulling any punches. This book has solidified for me that I need to read everything she’s written because I love the way she crafts her stories, plots, characters—everything. You absolutely should pick up this series.
I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
Wounded Magic picks up in the same scene where Ruthless Magic left off. Rocio just became a Champion at the Mages’ Exam and she gets to start her new life as a black ops soldier, running secret missions for the Confederation. Finn didn’t make Champion and thus has to be Burned Out, where his ability to work with magic is removed, and get used to his new life as a Dull.
I like Rocio’s connection to the magic in this series, that she can sense it’s somehow alive and wants to be used for good, and using it to harm someone also causes harm to the magic. That’s a really cool concept I’ve never seen done before.
This installment deals a lot with the injustices in the world between Mages and those who are Burned Out or Dull. It is clear that the government is hiding information from the masses about the Mage society and the Exam and its real purpose. Finn and Rocio both try to tackle this issue from different angles, working together but in separate groups, to help the world realize the unfairness between the Mages and non-Mages and to help create equality in the society. I definitely see similarities in this book to the real-world issues happening around us.
This series takes a spin on the “taking down the government” trope because Finn is of an old-magic bloodline and knows that the privilege he has because of that isn’t right, so he goes against the system from the inside. I loved reading about Finn and all his efforts to make a change to the prejudices in the mage society. He is level-headed when he speaks and doesn’t make rash decisions, and that’s so refreshing to read about. I found myself much more interested in his storyline than Rocio’s in this book because of some of the activities that he gets involved in—I was very eager to see them play out.
I absolutely loved this installment. The epic final scenes lead up to a heart-stopping cliffhanger that has me dying to read the conclusion in Fearless Magic.
This is absolutely an underrated series and one that I truly believe is more well-written and well-crafted than most of the popular YA series I’ve read. It plays to all the tropes that people love to read about but takes a fresh twist on them and gives us an unpredictable and entertaining plot with unforgettable characters and flawless execution. Megan Crewe knows how to write and give the people what they want without pulling any punches. This book has solidified for me that I need to read everything she’s written because I love the way she crafts her stories, plots, characters—everything. You absolutely should pick up this series.
I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
June 9, 2019
* * * *
4 / 5
This book was AWESOME. It felt like Crewe had really gotten into her writing stride; Wounded Magic is a more interesting, more elegant, more comfortable, and more sophisticated book than Ruthless Magic (which was already a pretty decent novel). It picks up where the last book left off: Finn is burned out and most of his memories of the Exam are stripped away. But he knows he wants to bring this system down. Rocio makes Champion and becomes an Operative in a secret unit, tackling magical enemies of the USA abroad.
Finn is a more mature and interesting character without his magic, I thought. Devoid of the path that he thought he had been following, Finn gets involved in activism. He makes new contacts and friends and starts to think about using his family name for good, to force changes to Dampering and the Exam. I like him. I did think it was absurd how he was basically in love with Rocio despite them knowing each other for literally 5 days and he could barely remember her after memory removal, but hey that's YA for you.
Rocio, on the other hand, begins to learn that you can be seventeen and think that you are right but that you probably aren't. Out in Estonia she is part of a team trying to uncover terrorists, and she's trying to balance doing her job with her concerns that violence is hurting the magic. She comes off as a bit naive and idealistic. I did think it was a shame that Prisha didn't get much page time this time around.
For some reason I thought that this was a duology. It isn't. I guess I'm waiting for the next one then!
Read more of my reviews on my blog: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com
4 / 5
This book was AWESOME. It felt like Crewe had really gotten into her writing stride; Wounded Magic is a more interesting, more elegant, more comfortable, and more sophisticated book than Ruthless Magic (which was already a pretty decent novel). It picks up where the last book left off: Finn is burned out and most of his memories of the Exam are stripped away. But he knows he wants to bring this system down. Rocio makes Champion and becomes an Operative in a secret unit, tackling magical enemies of the USA abroad.
Finn is a more mature and interesting character without his magic, I thought. Devoid of the path that he thought he had been following, Finn gets involved in activism. He makes new contacts and friends and starts to think about using his family name for good, to force changes to Dampering and the Exam. I like him. I did think it was absurd how he was basically in love with Rocio despite them knowing each other for literally 5 days and he could barely remember her after memory removal, but hey that's YA for you.
Rocio, on the other hand, begins to learn that you can be seventeen and think that you are right but that you probably aren't. Out in Estonia she is part of a team trying to uncover terrorists, and she's trying to balance doing her job with her concerns that violence is hurting the magic. She comes off as a bit naive and idealistic. I did think it was a shame that Prisha didn't get much page time this time around.
For some reason I thought that this was a duology. It isn't. I guess I'm waiting for the next one then!
Read more of my reviews on my blog: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com
December 8, 2018
Wounded Magic is a smart urban fantasy with magic, political intrigue, themes of resistance, and a diverse cast of characters. Building on the events of Ruthless Magic, it is told in a dual perspective. Finn Lockwood failed the trials and has his magic burned out. Returning to his powerful old-magic family, he struggles to find a place before joining a group of revolutionaries. Meanwhile, Rocio is a Champion forced to join the magical Special Ops. She struggles to balance military duty with her quest to protect the magic. It is fast-paced and includes some unexpected twists.
Finn's story explores violent versus non-violent political resistance and wrestles with how to appropriately get involved in resistance when you come from a place of privilege. This seems very appropriate given today's political climate and offers a safe space for teens to explore these ideas. With Rocio, we get a consideration of how to balance the need for security with the excessive use of military violence, especially by a superpower. And of course, we also get a continuation of the romance between Finn and Rocio which is very sweet. He even has dinner with her family and I loved the overt depictions of her Mexican heritage throughout the book.
I think Conspiracy of Magic is a smart, timely series that is fun to read, while also sparking deeper thought. Also I need book 3 because omg that ending!!! I received an e-arc for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
Finn's story explores violent versus non-violent political resistance and wrestles with how to appropriately get involved in resistance when you come from a place of privilege. This seems very appropriate given today's political climate and offers a safe space for teens to explore these ideas. With Rocio, we get a consideration of how to balance the need for security with the excessive use of military violence, especially by a superpower. And of course, we also get a continuation of the romance between Finn and Rocio which is very sweet. He even has dinner with her family and I loved the overt depictions of her Mexican heritage throughout the book.
I think Conspiracy of Magic is a smart, timely series that is fun to read, while also sparking deeper thought. Also I need book 3 because omg that ending!!! I received an e-arc for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
December 23, 2018
Wounded Magic is the perfect second book in this series written by Megan Crewe. She wrote this captivating second book that had you glued to the pages from the very first page. I truly enjoyed this one and it is taking the first book to the next level. The plot is very well developed with some nice twists hidden within. The pace of the book is just perfect, never dragging on nor does it ever feel like the author is trying to rush you through the story. I enjoy how the author is telling the story from pretty much two sides, ho Rocio is finding out what is going on after she becomes a champion, and how Finn struggles after the trials. Strangely though they all are helping towards a common goal. I for one am a fan on how the author develops their story.
Both characters are very strong, even though Finn may appear weak to some after what has happened to him after the trials. It is very interesting to see his character development but he is not the only one. Rocio is also going through it and hers is also affecting some others as well.
This is not just a one dimensional magic story in my book and that is why I am a fan. The author made some very strong choices that shocked me to say the least and I am curious to see where the journey will take both Rocio, Finn and their new friends! If you like a paranormal story with depth, don't hesitate and pick this one up, but you may as well start with the first one, in my opinion.
Both characters are very strong, even though Finn may appear weak to some after what has happened to him after the trials. It is very interesting to see his character development but he is not the only one. Rocio is also going through it and hers is also affecting some others as well.
This is not just a one dimensional magic story in my book and that is why I am a fan. The author made some very strong choices that shocked me to say the least and I am curious to see where the journey will take both Rocio, Finn and their new friends! If you like a paranormal story with depth, don't hesitate and pick this one up, but you may as well start with the first one, in my opinion.
December 7, 2018
I read Megan Crewe’s Wounded Magic (Conspiracy of Magic Book 2) with a bit of a disadvantage as I had not read the first book in the series. I suspect that was a great book as the second book was really excellent (and yes, while I clearly missed something important, I could read this one alone). I love the world building here with its North American Confederation of Mages, dystopian repression of the non-magical (and those stripped of magic). Rocío and Finn both have a huge amount facing them in different ways. It’s a perilous world with magic itself in danger and secrets that abound. Adventure, suspense, magic, thrills and just the right bit of romance to top things off. This is one great book. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend.
November 28, 2018
Both Finn and Rocio are living on the fringes of different ends, one magical and the other of the Dulls. We get to know these two more deeply, and their motivations through each of their perspectives. Ms Crewe gives the reader just enough information to keep us suspended in curiosity and inquisitiveness about what will happen next. It was hard to put the book down. A lot of intrigue and suspense kept me hooked. The romantic feelings of the two made me hope that their plans would succeed and also anxious about the outcome of their actions. I’m very impressed with Ms Crowe’s excellent writing skills. I have no doubt that come what may, it will be a wild ride. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series and highly recommend this to all lovers of magic and intrigue with a little romance tucked in.
December 29, 2018
Compelling read....
Rocio and Finn have had to take separate roads in an effort to accomplish the same ending. Rocio is a Champion. Finn has been reduced to dull...burned out because he ended the exam prematurely. Neither has given up the fight. Rocio has been called almost a traitor because she feels the magic and knows they are hurting it. Finn joins a rebellious group who are starting to protest the antics conducted by those in charge.
Things come to a g ad when Rocio discovers information that might save magic, and Finn finds a way to do a peaceful protest. But someone in his group doesn't want peaceful. All hell breaks out when a terrorist group does the unthinkable.
It's an interesting book two....full of action and intrigue. Follow Finn and Rocio as they team up to do the unthinkable.
Read on my friends.
Rocio and Finn have had to take separate roads in an effort to accomplish the same ending. Rocio is a Champion. Finn has been reduced to dull...burned out because he ended the exam prematurely. Neither has given up the fight. Rocio has been called almost a traitor because she feels the magic and knows they are hurting it. Finn joins a rebellious group who are starting to protest the antics conducted by those in charge.
Things come to a g ad when Rocio discovers information that might save magic, and Finn finds a way to do a peaceful protest. But someone in his group doesn't want peaceful. All hell breaks out when a terrorist group does the unthinkable.
It's an interesting book two....full of action and intrigue. Follow Finn and Rocio as they team up to do the unthinkable.
Read on my friends.
November 30, 2018
Rocio and Finn's lives take completely different directions after the exam. While Rocio is chosen to be a champion, Finn is destined to have his magic burned out. On top of this, his memory is taken almost completely, but for the last minute help of one of the mages.
Both have to step up and they take strength from each other even when they're apart. Rocio wants to save the magic while Finn is trying to expose the exam and end the ruthless ways the Confederation run things. From opposite directions they discover a secret that really could change everything.
This book has it all, despair and triumph, heartbreak and joy. I loved reading about both main characters and the challenges they faced in this adventure.
Both have to step up and they take strength from each other even when they're apart. Rocio wants to save the magic while Finn is trying to expose the exam and end the ruthless ways the Confederation run things. From opposite directions they discover a secret that really could change everything.
This book has it all, despair and triumph, heartbreak and joy. I loved reading about both main characters and the challenges they faced in this adventure.
August 22, 2019
I loved this book and the one before. It was described as a cross between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and that is a good description, but it is totally original. However, this series would be great for all middle/high school age fans of both HP and dystopian universes like Hunger Games or Divergent. It would also be good for fans of Rick Riordan's mythology series. It has a similar kind of tone. It has a strong female protagonist, but a great male protagonist too, like Tris & Four, or Percy & Annabeth. No foul language, no sex, not too much violence. It also has a cute love story. Definitely a great read.
October 15, 2019
I was given a review copy by the author for an honest review: I loved this next chapter in the Conspiracy of Magic series! Rocío has grown up so much since book 1. She's still the fierce girl you meet in book one but she's now carrying so much more responsibilities as a Champion. And there's that whole "we can't talk about the exam" ordeal. And of course we can't forget about Finn! Despite not being about to preform magic anymore, he's still fighting for what's right! There's also sooo much more action in this book! We're sent over seas with Rocío as she becomes part of a magical elite fighting force. We discover new secrets and so much more!
December 4, 2018
Rocío and Finn are back! Wounded Magic starts right where we left off. Rocío as the champion, and Finn about to be burnt out.
The magic knows there are bad things going on, and wants an end. It has latched on to Rocío, as it's beacon of hope.
Finn is trying to find his place in the world, without magic, and wishing he could be by Rocíos side.
We keep up with the every other chapter style, just like Ruthless Magic. With Finn and Rocío being seperated, you get to see two very different cultures working towards their goal to change the rules on magic.
I need book three, now.
The magic knows there are bad things going on, and wants an end. It has latched on to Rocío, as it's beacon of hope.
Finn is trying to find his place in the world, without magic, and wishing he could be by Rocíos side.
We keep up with the every other chapter style, just like Ruthless Magic. With Finn and Rocío being seperated, you get to see two very different cultures working towards their goal to change the rules on magic.
I need book three, now.
December 5, 2018
This is a great follow up to the first book. Both Rocio and Finn are finding their ways after the Exam. As they both have to take different paths we follow them both to see where they head. Finn has been Burnout and now wants to help anyway he can without the use of magic. Rocio is now on deadly missions but trying to save Magic all at the same time. The ending is explosive and I can't wait to see what happens next.
*I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
*I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
March 27, 2020
I love this series! What a fantastic listen! Megan Crewe is an exceptional author, and I love the detail she spends on the scenes to really enable the listener to envision it. She shows not tells, which I really appreciate. The book picks up right where the first book left off, and allows listeners to get to know Rocio and Fynn even more. I loved watching them explore the magic, and thinking about the system and politics behind this society. The writing is beautiful, the characters are well developed, and I can’t sit to find out what happens next!! I would absolutely recommend.
November 22, 2018
A great tale of magic users out to control the world. Not exactly, but close to it. Ricio and Finn are two from the Exams. The Exams are such a terrible event that they are not even supposed to remember what happened there. Their minds were to be totally wiped and now Ricio can't even tell her parents where she is or what she is doing. Megan has done a great job building a world where there is so much distrust and misinformation.
November 28, 2018
Can Rocío and Finn save the magic? Rocío is been training to destroy some terrorist group that has been threatening the Dull Governement while trying to keep the magic at ease. Finn is been Burn Out and he isn’t trying to adjust to his new life, but he still wants to make a difference and change things in the mage world. But they are facing very dangerous situations and the fears of everybody, made and Dull. A very exciting story.
February 7, 2020
This story picks up pretty well where book 1 left off and definitely doesn't spend too much time or effort in explaining the world of the books, so I don't recommend reading this without having read the first one.
That being said, we get a much broader view of the world where magic and "dulls" interact in this book. And like many middle books in a trilogy, there isn't a lot of closure to the story - pretty much everything is left open for finishing in book #3.
That being said, we get a much broader view of the world where magic and "dulls" interact in this book. And like many middle books in a trilogy, there isn't a lot of closure to the story - pretty much everything is left open for finishing in book #3.
November 29, 2018
Overall rating: 5
Is it possible? Book 2 is even more exciting than the first and that was brilliant! The fate of Rocio and Finn kept you on the edge of your seat, the storyline is jammed packed with twists and turns and my emotions were just everywhere! Unbelievably perfect, both these books need to be in everyone’s TBR lists! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
Is it possible? Book 2 is even more exciting than the first and that was brilliant! The fate of Rocio and Finn kept you on the edge of your seat, the storyline is jammed packed with twists and turns and my emotions were just everywhere! Unbelievably perfect, both these books need to be in everyone’s TBR lists! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
January 13, 2019
This book definitely felt like the middle of a series. While it was well written and the action did move things forward, it was lacking a bit of drive. I’m looking forward to the conclusion, which I think will really up the action. Still a good read, although it took me longer than usual to get through it.
I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2018
Another good book by Megan Crewe. I enjoyed picking up where Finn and Rocio 's story ended in Ruthless Magic. I really like the way magic is portrayed in this world. There was a revelation that I would never have guessed. Towards the end I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book.
December 8, 2018
Another wild ride with Rocío and Finn! This book is a little different than the first. Megan Crewe skillfully handles her main character's growth in this second book of the series. Be warned, it ends with a very abrupt cliffhanger. I look forward to the next book!
January 2, 2022
I enjoyed this a lot more than book 2. Where book 1 was just about one event and it felt as if it dragged, I definitely felt that this book progressed a lot. Interesting things happened and I was intrigued by how it was going to progress.
Where in book 1, I found Finn's POV boring, I actually enjoyed him more than Rocio in this one.
This book was just a whole improvement in general and it made me keen to pick up book 3.
Where in book 1, I found Finn's POV boring, I actually enjoyed him more than Rocio in this one.
This book was just a whole improvement in general and it made me keen to pick up book 3.
December 6, 2018
Really love the second book in that serie.
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