The Lost Magic Trilogy by Suzi Davis – Combined Reviews

The Lost Magic Series by Suzi Davis consists of three books, each is reviewed separately.

 

Amber Frost, the first book in Suzi Davis’ Lost Magic Series, introduced us to sweet, thoughtful Grace and the enigmatic, otherworldly, Sebastian.  Grace has been primed to excel at school in academics and in the corresponding politics of popularity.  Her parents just relocated to an affluent area of Vancouver Island in Canada where she receives a supreme education and is dating the most, you guessed it, popular boy in school.  Girls would kill to be in her position.  Problem is:  Grace doesn’t fit in.  Yes, she conforms to what’s expected of her, but none of it brings her happiness or satisfaction.  That is until she dives into her art class…and meets Sebastian Caldwood.

An instant, almost mesmerizing attraction to Sebastian convinces Grace there is more to him.  While unique backgrounds allow them to fit the parameters of “opposites attract”, their similarities are yet more powerful and soul-searching…or is it reconnecting?  Sebastian provides Grace with the courage to break from the shell she’s created to please her parents.  Amber Frost walks us through their fascination and adoration for each other:

“I tried not to let my attention become totally consumed by Sebastian.  It was difficult, as I truly didn’t feel like I needed anything more in my life than just him.”    

Ahhhh….young love.  In the exploration of their intense feelings (that just about had me pulling out my hair!), Sebastian reveals his supernatural gift.  Man, did I want him to be a vampire!  *Pouting* No…he’s “other”:  If Sebastian wants something to happen, it usually does.  Ms. Davis expounds on the subject, as it’s a bit more complicated, but know that with this ability comes immortality and as long as Sebastian loves Grace, she will absorb these qualities and “cease” alongside him.  This doesn’t deter Grace from accepting Sebastian, but it ratchets up the underlying tension when she grasps what awaits her (or no longer does) in the future.  Sure, she’ll be in love with Sebastian (remember all the swooning she was doing?), but will his gift bring about resentment? This is PNR, don’t forget — HUGE revelation to satisfy all at the end (and explain the title of the book, lol)!!!

Link to order Amber Frost: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

 

Silver Dew is the continuation of Sebastian and Grace’s love story, only now, they’re on the run.  In Sebastian’s/Seamus’s time (*spoiler alert* you’ll know how this name came to be at the end of AF), the separation from Grace/Caoilinn (refer to *) nearly destroyed him.  In his desolate solitude, empowered with magic transferred to him from Grace, Sebastian created “Others” like him (12 to be exact).  Now that Sebastian and Grace have embraced their past lives (but their memories are sparse at best!  Grace a little less than Sebastian for she wields more power, but cannot remember how to use it!), their combined power have awoken the Others, who organized themselves into The Order, and they refuse to relinquish their own powers.  The Others are hot on their trail and intend to kill them.   

“We’ll find the answers we’re looking for in Ireland, I know we will.  You’ll regain full control and use of your magic, and then we’ll find a way to stop the Others.  They’ll never be a threat to us again.”

The pair quickly realizes escaping is NEVER a solution.  As they travel, they are forced into confrontations, and as [bad] luck would have it, Sebastian’s past.  An ex-wife, no less, joins them in their journey to rid themselves of the Order’s relentless pursuit.  And wouldn’t you know it, Grace, too, has a past, and it’s not pretty.  Pretty selfish and murderous, to be exact. 

“I had been looking forward to getting off the train, to ending this horrible, travel nightmare but now that I knew where we were headed…Well, it didn’t really matter.  Nothing really mattered anymore.  I felt utterly destroyed.  My heart had been run through the blender too many times to ever rebuild the pieces.  All that was left for me now was to keep Sebastian safe and to want the right thing.  It was my only possible redemption.” 

If they succeed in dissolving the Order (which led them to Greece and a show-down that culminated with an explosion and a new loss of memory), will there still be a HEA for Grace and Sebastian?  Does true love conquer all?

Link to order Silver Dew: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

 

Sapphire Sun, the last book in the Lost Magic Trilogy brings us full circle.  Our hero and heroine have faced the odds, but is the danger truly defeated?  Back in Canada with only memory loss as the consequence of their journey (ok Grace has a scar on her neck), Sebastian and Grace are planning their wedding.  Even though this permanent union should bring them closer, circumstances beyond their control are wedging them steadily apart.  Grace wants to remember; Sebastian says the past is better left there.  If I know Grace’s tenacity after 3 books in…

And the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that even though the past might be difficult to face, and even though we might remember things we’d rather forget, we still needed to know what we’d been through.  I needed to know, to understand how I’d gotten to where I was today.  There were too many unanswered questions, too many mysteries that I couldn’t leave unresolved.

Grace’s pact to save Sebastian and herself at the end of SD does not allow for vacillation; a spirit has come to collect, to make good on Grace’s promise to teach and guide the natural users of the Lost Magic.  How can Grace successfully comply with her vow and simultaneously deceive Sebastian (because she also promised him she would leave it be).  Someone has to grow up!

You’ve heard me say that writing reviews can be difficult.  Try reviewing a trilogy and tiptoeing around spoilers…WOW.  As is so frequently found in YA literature, enter the love triangle.  This one was slow to develop and not as conventionally superficial, so for that, Ms. Davis earns points.  David joined up with Sebastian and Grace in Greece.  Thanks to Grace’s “wipe-out”, *this is me tiptoeing*, everyone’s memory is sketchy.  This turns out to be a kindness because guess what?  David is actually a bitter enemy; he’s the reason behind the scar on Grace’s neck!  When Grace begs the spirits to locate Sebastian (yes, he’s gone MIA 2 weeks before their wedding), they insist upon the condition that she must train those with the true ability.  The mission is on.  Nothing else matters to Grace:  Find Sebastian, accept her fate, and comply with her promise.

A surprising twist at the end of the story was inspired!  The final battle was nothing short of epic magic.  I did not expect Grace and Sebastian to face another hazardous incarnation, but it completed the journey in a most satisfying way.  As a YA book, there were sentiments that were too drawn out for my personal tastes; the “if you’re happy, I’m happy” mentality was a bit exasperating, but kudos to Ms. Davis for consistently breathing fresh life into these characters.  Just when I thought I’d had more than enough devotions, Ms. Davis’ writing would once again capture me and carry me through the next dilemma.  My only other minimal complaint was the Grace POV format.  At times there were too many explanations instead of dialogue.  I could have used more of Sebastian’s swoon-worthiness!   

Obstacles are meant to deter you, but Grace and Sebastian were bound to each other on several different levels.  Take this journey and have your faith restored in true love.

Link to order Sapphire Sun: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

Suzi is offering personalized ebook copies of all three books in The Lost Magic series to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe. The ebooks will be in the winner’s format of choice and will include a signature scanned and formatted into the front matter of the ebook.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please make a comment to Suzi

4. Giveaway open to USA only.

5. Giveaway runs from March 24 – 27, 2013