Thank you to Harper Collins for a copy of The Temptation of Magic in exchange for an honest review.
The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott
Nicole Palmer is an Empyreal, an immortal being created by the Goddess of Death to hunt other dangerous ‘mythological’ creatures. Supernatural beings like Nicole have always lived among us humans. However, the naïve humans believe the tales of creatures like Sirens and Specters to be nothing but fictional stories. The breathtaking paintings of these ancient mythological creatures are in reality the very old and very real histories of these powerful beings.
The Wake is a mysterious organization whose mission is to keep the supernatural world secret and under control. Those who question the Wake’s motives meet a fatal demise, just like Nicole’s mother. Nicole now tries desperately to uncover a secret message about the Wake that her mother left hidden in paintings. However, the young Empyreal is not the only one hunting for these answers and makes herself the target of treacherous creatures.
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As Nicole tries to uncover her mother’s mysterious message, she also struggles to keep her Empyreal powers from awakening. Her family must hide their powers and themselves from the Wake because they know too much. Will she be able to uncover her mother’s secret, or die trying?
Kyan McCarter is an elite Empyreal hunter who has sworn an oath to retrieve any rogue Empyreals and bring them to the mercy of the Wake. When a painting goes missing, which could put Wake’s age-old secrets in jeopardy, Kyan is sent to Estwood to retrieve it. Fate brings Nicole into Kyan’s life as she tries to discover the secrets of the same mysterious painting. However, there is more to Nicole than she lets on and the two are drawn to each other in an uncontrollable and unexplainable way.
If Nicole is truly an Empyreal, Kyan has sworn to take her to the Wake. Will they be able to work together to uncover ancient secrets or will their primal abilities get the best of them?
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All About the Artwork
My little art-obsessed heart almost could not believe the art references throughout the novel. I am definitely biased here because in college my specialty was literature and art, particularly Greek Mythology. My focus was on Pre-Raphaelite art and my favorite artist happens to be William Waterhouse who Scott indirectly references in the book.
Scott doesn’t name the painting but she didn’t have to. I knew immediately that she was describing Hylas and the Nymphs because it was my desktop wallpaper throughout my entire collegiate career. It was a pleasant surprise to see Pre-Raphaelites mentioned in something other than a boring textbook.
Scott refers directly to the Pre-Raphaelites a couple of times including that Kyan even knew some of them personally. I don’t think I have ever seen a reference to the Pre-Raphaelites in fiction. While I read through The Temptations of Magic, I wished there were pictures of the paintings inside. The Temptation of Magic revolves around a secret message hidden in The Wild Hunt of Odin by Peter Nicolai Arbo, a close-up is shown below.
A Myriad of Mythology
Unexpectedly, I read The Temptation of Magic much like I would a textbook in college. Each time I encountered a myth, painting, or location I looked it up and learned something new. For example, I discovered that Boabhan Sith is a fairy of Scottish Highland folklore. While my expertise is Greek myths, I am always happy to learn about any lore. Scott touches on an impressive variety of mythology from ancient Greece, to Scandinavian folklore and Celtic lore.
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Another example is Lanhydrock House which is an actual historical site in Cornwall, UK. While the real history of the manor is pretty tame, Megan Scott turns this real historical site into a mystical and crucial location in The Temptation of Magic. Details like this show that the author did their research and I genuinely appreciate that.
An Enchanting Setting
The Temptation of Magic is set in the fall in a cozy coastal Celtic town called Estwood, swathed in tradition and beauty. If you are like me and prefer a certain type of read for every season, make sure to add this one to your fall reading list.
Megan Scott does wonders detailing the coastal yet academic town of Estwood during the nip of the oncoming Fall. The author never falls short in helping you not only imagine but feel the captivating setting. Every location Megan Scott describes is somewhere I long to be.
No Spice Necessary
I love how The Temptation of Magic begins, with a fixation on literature and art. It gave me The Da Vinci Code vibes but then randomly switches to Twilight toward the end. Megan Scott herself even jokes about Edward Cullen and Twilight in the book. It almost feels like the author felt the need to throw in other elements, like romance, to please readers. This is unfortunate because the author’s unique voice definitely lies in the academic realm.
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The whole forbidden romance, will they, won’t they type stories are a dime a dozen. However, I have very rarely read a book that focuses on literature and art history like The Temptation of Magic. I am not against romance or saying that aspect was bad, it just felt forced. Why can’t Nicole just solve the mystery on her own, or with the help of her family? The familial aspect of the story was endearing and heartwarming, so why not just roll with that?
Consequently, it bothered me to see the focus switch from Nicole’s intellectual prowess to her horny instincts. No matter how cute the boy or how powerful the connection, Nicole broke her most loyal dedication, keeping her family safe, for a man that she just met.
While the romance makes sense for the story, primal urges and all, toward the end that pretty much becomes the main focus. However, the story is strong enough on its own and doesn’t necessarily need the romantic aspect. It seems that the relationship between Nicole and Kyan will become more important as the series unfolds.
You Can’t Please Everyone
Although I do appreciate a good mixing and mashing of genres, The Temptation of Magic goes a little overboard. The novel starts as dark academia (which is great) but towards the end takes a sudden turn toward mystery, horror, then romance.
Additionally, if you are going to do romance…this was such a slow burn leading to an anti-climactic finish, figuratively and literally. All of that pent-up primal sexual and bestial desire to end up in…well you will see. While Megan Scott writes each of these genres expertly, I feel like they didn’t work cohesively toward the overall vision of the novel. It feels like the author was trying to please everyone with just one book.
To Read or Not to Read?
The Temptation of Magic is a rare and refreshing combination of academia and fantasy. The only reason I am being critical is because I believe this story has so much potential. I can’t help but be biased on this one as a scholar of ancient literature and art but this novel immediately captivated me. The concept of ancient mythological creatures living among us and paintings being their secret historical narrative is absolute genius. It reminds us to realize deeper meanings of things that have always been in front of us.
Ultimately, as a scholar of mythology in the arts, I wished the author would have stayed focused on the academic aspect because that is what pulled me in initially. Nicole being a creative intellect on her journey of personal discovery resonated with me. However, we lose almost all of the smart girl bits to make room for the spice. Although, I suppose this can happen when you meet a cute boy. Unfortunately, towards the end, the story almost completely loses the intellectual intrigue that ensnared me in the first place.
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The Temptation of Magic is especially great for anyone interested in various types of ancient mythology in art and literature. And for those not so drawn to ancient art, there is some mystery, horror, and romance for you too. Not to mention, the story leads up to what promises to be an epic second part. Don’t get me wrong, overall, I absolutely loved this book. The Temptation of Magic will entice you from beginning to end. This dark academia fantasy will make a great addition to your fall fantasy reading pile!
The Temptation of Magic is available now wherever books are sold. Try your local bookstore first or get your copy here from Amazon.
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