Unnatural Magic by C. M. Waggoneer

Hello dear readers.

Unnatural Magic by C. M. Waggoneer is a story about bravery, acceptance and fighting for what’s right. Here's your synopsis, dear reader:

"Onna can write the parameters of a spell faster than any of the young men in her village school. But despite her incredible abilities, she's denied a place at the nation's premier arcane academy. Undaunted, she sails to the bustling city-state of Hexos, hoping to find a place at a university where they don't think there's anything untoward about providing a woman with a magical education. But as soon as Onna arrives, she's drawn into the mysterious murder of four trolls.

Tsira is a troll who never quite fit into her clan, despite being the leader's daughter. She decides to strike out on her own and look for work in a human city, but on her way she stumbles upon the body of a half-dead human soldier in the snow. As she slowly nurses him back to health, an unlikely bond forms between them, one that is tested when an unknown mage makes an attempt on Tsira's life. Soon, unbeknownst to each other, Onna and Tsira both begin devoting their considerable talents to finding out who is targeting trolls, before their homeland is torn apart…"

Onna grew up in a society much like one from our past days. Women were to act a certain way, speak delicately, and treat men like they knew everything. And when Onna encountered this head-on in a wizarding school test, she decided she would not allow herself to become a delicate thing for a man; she would become a great wizard, regardless of being a woman or not.

Tsira is a much more modern woman (ahem, reig) who removed herself from her clan because she didn’t want to be anyone but herself. She wouldn’t allow anyone to make her become a vahn, and she wouldn’t force anyone into being her vahn. She set off on her own path and lived life the way she wanted.

Jeckran was a man forced into the military for money, when all he really wanted was a calm life, a sketchbook, and a cigarette. He also didn’t conform to “proper” gender stereotypes and showed us that men shouldn’t fear being vulnerable and shouldn’t hide themselves simply because society expects us to perform a certain way.

If there’s something we can gather from these three amazing main characters, it’s that they fought bravely to be who they wanted to be, regardless of what people expected them to be.

This is a beautiful message portrayed to us through Waggoneer’s book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story telling and I loved the mystery. I was proven wrong multiple times on who the antagonist was, and I love that nothing was quite so obvious.

Not a lot of books out there make me feel like this one did. Without giving away too much about the story, I genuinely enjoyed the story and the development of these characters. I loved the regional differences between each new city and learning the history between trolls and humans.

Without a doubt, I can say that I enjoyed this book. The sweet ending tied up in a little bow was wonderful and exactly how I would want it to end.

Without a doubt, I give Unnatural Magic by C. M. Waggoneer a 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a wonderful story that really finds a way to put you into each of the characters' struggles and make you feel for them. 

Sending all my love,

Vic