Review - They Left Magic In Their Wake by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

MY REVIEW

The depth and detail of Marilyn Peake’s character development and world building makes the story come alive on the pages. The book centers around five tribes. Some of the people are imbued with magic, some not. Some are alien, some are not. The groups do not interact…until…they are chosen.

We open with Zadie, and I am immediately engrossed in her world. I cannot imagine going through what she does, and doing it alone…until her friend Nora shows up. It is rare to have a friend as loyal and giving as Nora.

Marilyn Peak has wrapped the apocalyptic/dystopian chaos in magic and science fiction. Us humans have wreaked death and destruction on Earth. I love books that bring the real world into fiction, making me wonder…What would I do in their place?

“You guys really messed up your home turf, didn’t you? What’s the expression? You shit where you eat.”

Marilyn Peake has laid a solid foundation for the series and I am excited to see where she takes it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of They Left Magic In Their Wake by Marilyn Peake.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

At the end of the world, there will be magic.

Earth has been decimated by climate change. Humanity has fractured into isolated tribes. A child born in the southwestern desert of the United States appears to have magical powers, a strict taboo in his part of the world. In four other locations, people discover magical items. No one knows how they work or where they’re from. Although these strange objects capture the imagination, using them is risky and dangerous.

The five tribes at the heart of this novel:

Southwestern Desert Tribe: Zadie and Nora have fled their tribe where human reproduction is so rare, pregnant women are burned at the stake as witches. Zadie gives birth to triplets, only one born alive. The surviving infant shows signs of having magical powers, another punishable taboo.

Northeastern Mountain Tribe: Finley is a young boy too curious for his own good. Meddling with strange technology he finds in a cave, he eventually boards a flying ship that takes him far away from the only world he’s ever known.

Tribe in Akihabara, Japan: Exploring post-apocalyptic Tokyo, Emiko, Katsuki, Rin and Ko discover ancient manga and D&D items, as well as glowing cubes they mistake for dice. When the long-dead neon lights of Tokyo begin to flicker, the teenagers get caught up in the most intense adventure of their lives.

McMurdo Station Tribe—Located in the Land of Magical Ice, Formerly Antarctica: Settlers at the abandoned McMurdo Station practice a form of mysticism, their ancestors having fled religious persecution as well as the droughts and fires of Australia. Arthur Campbell and Harrison Clark are researchers studying the strange technology that runs the place.

Vostok Station Tribe—Located in the Land of Magical Ice, Formerly Antarctica: The original settlers of the abandoned Vostok Station fled the extreme heat, fires and droughts of Brazil. Years later, giant squid and a spaceship emerge from Lake Vostok as the ice begins to melt. Salvador Siqueira and his crew leave their station to investigate.

Genre: Apocalyptic and Dystopian, Fiction, Magical Realism, Metaphysical, Science Fiction
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2024
Series

ABOUT MARILYN PEAKE

Marilyn Peake is the author of both novels and short stories. Her publications have received excellent reviews. Marilyn’s one of the contributing authors in BOOK: THE SEQUEL, published by The Perseus Books Group, with one of her entries included in serialization at THE DAILY BEAST. In addition, Marilyn has served as Editor of a number of anthologies. Her short stories have been published in seven anthologies and on the literary blog, GLASS CASES.

Awards: Silver Award, two Honorable Mentions and eight Finalist placements in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards, two Winner and two Finalist placements in the EPPIE Awards, Winner of the Dream Realm Awards, and eight Top Ten Finisher Awards in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll.

Stalk Marilyn Peake: Website / Twitter

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