Rate: 8/10
Medium: ebook
Overview (No Spoilers):
Touched by Magic was hard to put down, with an intriguing cast and a mystery that pits Apiya against seemingly impossible odds. Jeanjean has devised a magical system that is categorized by the level of one’s magical abilities. For example, mundanes lack any magical aptitude (and are blind to what else is out there), whereas touched humans have minimal magical skills. But humans can’t hold a candle to the all-powerful Mayak who are elite, mythological beings with seemingly countless species, from the garuda and pari-pari to the kitsune and mandurugo. Luckily, balance is maintained in their world by the fact that every Mayak has some weakness that can be used against them by another. Assuming greed doesn’t get in the way first…
As a touched human, Apiya does have powers, though hers seem especially strange and rather useless. She has found a calling working under Mr. Sangong in a barbershop that caters to magical beings. Although Mr. Sangong is an influential Mayak, he prefers to keep Apiya separate from non-barber-related Mayak business, despite her desire for more responsibilities. When Apiya is inadvertently pulled directly into Mayak politics, Mr. Sangong is suddenly unavailable to assist her. As she delves deeper into the inner workings of this secretive and powerful community, will his protection be enough?
The mystery at the heart of this story only grew with each new revelation. And so it didn’t take long for me to find myself at the edge of my seat, staying up late to see how Apiya would survive each obstacle after catching the attention of highly dangerous magical creatures with nothing in place to curb their violent tendencies. After all, they view her as a weakling who shouldn’t even be meddling in their affairs. Even when Apiya is directed toward individuals who are meant to help her, chaos ensues, with the stakes being far higher than she ever could have imagined.
The supporting cast in Touched by Magic that help Apiya throughout this venture are such bright spots in this novel, from the talking cat, Tim (whose personality is infuriatingly cat-like), to Apiya’s good friend, Chai, and her loyal dog, Hunter. We’re also treated to the playful and supportive relationship that Apiya has with her parents. Even the villains and morally gray characters who fill out the rest of the ensemble are well-developed, triggering fear and helplessness, while also piquing our curiosity.
While the majority of this confounding mystery is wrapped up neatly, the ending of Touched by Magic leaves several, very deliberate and rather loaded loose ends yet to be explored. Overall though, Touched by Magic is a fast-paced, entertaining read as Apiya is finally granted access behind the curtain of the Mayak, only to very quickly realize she might be in over her head.
Additional Insights (Spoilers Abound):
- Why did Mr. Sangong send Apiya to Mr. Sarroch if he knew the danger with Yue?
- Why didn’t Mr. Sangong heal Apiya the same way that he did with Hunter?
- Why and how did Hunter find Apiya when she needed help? Is he something other than a dog? Has Apiya imbued him with some of her magic?
- How does Apiya’s magic work? Is she actually more powerful than we think? There has to be a twist to it.
- Why is Apiya able to break free from Sarroch’s stares when it seems like he’s trying to compel her to do something?
- How will the pari-pari youngling adapt to life in Apiya’s apartment?
- How much do Apiya’s parents know about her involvement with the Mayak? They’re close and seem to happily research lore for her.
- Will Apiya be able to bridge the gap between Mundanes and the Mayak in the next year? Will anyone try to interfere with her task? Will a war breakout between the Mayak themselves instead of with the Mundanes?
- Will any other Mayak members cut ties like the pari-pari after what Yue did? How will that impact the predator-prey dynamics that are set in place to keep things in check?
- Will future books show how the Mayak operate in other locales, like London?
Vocabulary Builder:
Paroxysm – a sudden violent emotion or action
The Critiquing Chemist 