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    Magic for Liars: A Novel
    Magic for Liars: A Novel
    Magic for Liars: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    Magic for Liars: A Novel

    Written by Sarah Gailey

    Narrated by Xe Sands

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Sharp, mainstream fantasy meets compelling thrills of investigative noir in Magic for Liars, a fantasy debut by rising star Sarah Gailey.

    Ivy Gamble was born without magic and never wanted it.

    Ivy Gamble is perfectly happy with her life – or at least, she’s perfectly fine.

    She doesn't in any way wish she was like Tabitha, her estranged, gifted twin sister.

    Ivy Gamble is a liar.

    When a gruesome murder is discovered at The Osthorne Academy of Young Mages, where her estranged twin sister teaches Theoretical Magic, reluctant detective Ivy Gamble is pulled into the world of untold power and dangerous secrets. She will have to find a murderer and reclaim her sister—without losing herself.

    “An unmissable debut.”—Adrienne Celt, author of Invitation to a Bonfire

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateJun 4, 2019
    ISBN9781250227867
    Magic for Liars: A Novel
    Author

    Sarah Gailey

    Sarah Gailey is an internationally published writer of fiction and nonfiction and a winner of the Hugo Award. Their nonfiction has been published by Mashable and The Boston Globe, and they are a regular contributor for Tor. Their most recent fiction credits include Fireside Fiction and Uncanny Magazine. Find out more at SarahGailey.com and find them on Twitter @GaileyFrey.

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    Reviews for Magic for Liars

    4/5

    315 ratings15 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a gritty P.I. story with a magical twist. The main character is well-characterized and the plot is enjoyable overall. The book explores themes of fractured relationships and the lengths people go for love. While some found the beginning slow, it picks up halfway through and leaves room for sequels. The audiobook narrator is praised, but some readers were disappointed with the ending and the lack of explanation about the magic in the story. Overall, it is a compelling and emotional read in the dark academia genre.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Favorite book I read this year! So well written, had me at the edge of my seat and tugged at all the right heartstrings.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Magic For Liars is a gritty P.I. story with a magical twist. The main character is taken out of her ordinary, non-magic life when she agrees to investigate a grisly murder. The crime was committed in a school for the magically gifted where the students seem vicious and the teachers seem so unconcerned.

      There were a couple of little mysteries thrown into the big whodunit plotline. None which you couldn't piece together yourself. Which is fine because this story was so much more than a murder mystery. The author takes a good, hard look about the things that could have been - the ifs, buts, and maybes. Things we all dwell on and can sympathise with. It also zeroes in on fractured relationships, and the dangerous things people do for the ones they love. And I really enjoyed getting to know the P.I. and her complexities.

      I've read so much from Sarah Gailey now and have enjoyed all of her stories. She has such an easy writing style that flows and keeps me reading. Looking forward to reading more from her.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Nuanced, beautiful, and heartbreaking. So much more than either fantasy or detective story. Filled with raw emotion that’s almost palpable. Allow yourself to be taken into places in your heart that we usually keep well locked.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Murder in a magical school with a vibe of dark academia, what's not to like? I found myself hooked in the mystery and invested in the feelings of the characters. It's a great balance of fantasy in a more modern sort of environment, with a sprinkle of theoretical and ethical consideration of magic itself. A good exploration of belonging and grief from different perspectives. Definitely a very compelling story to listen to in audiobook format and a perfect read if you are into this genre and atmosphere!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book overall, I'm glad I stuck with it. It started off slow and the narrator has a very dry voice and doesn't differentiate between characters very much, although she perks up as the character in the book perks up. About halfway through the plot picks up and the main character becomes more engaging. I'm anticipating sequels, there is a lot left unexplained.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A murder investigation in a magical school, from the unique perspective of a non-medical person, leads to some fun with tropes. But the real skill here is the characterization of the main character.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      The narrator really did a great job. I love the idea of a private investigator solving a murder case involving magic, but I'm not really satisfied with the ending or the truth of the case with this one. Perhaps it's because we don't know much about the possibilities or the rules of the magic in the story's world, so it feels like anything is possible. In the end, the story is more about the relationship between the characters and not so much about the murder mystery. It isn't a bad thing, but for someone who expect a murder mystery, it can be disappointing.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      An engaging murder mystery nestled within a dynamic and interesting magic system.
    • 4/5
      An interesting combination of horror and fantasy. I struggled to get into it at first (pessimistic narrators are not my cup of tea) but by the end I was really entranced. Kind of iffy on the magic storyline, but I could pass it by.
    • 5/5
      Like Jessica Jones meets The Magicians! I really liked it.
    • 4/5
      wizarding world murder mystery AU. I like the plot twist.
    • 4/5
      Great story and great female protagonist. She could get a bit self pitying which was annoying, but I ate this book up in less than a week and really enjoyed it. The audiobook narrator was fantastic!
    • 2/5
      It was boring, the main character was downright pitiful at times and the ending sucked
    • 2/5
      Not great and doesn't go anywhere. Everything left in the air
    • 4/5
      It was quite slow to start but got interesting after the halfway point. The protagonist's self pity is a bit wearing, but the plot is enjoyable overall.