Book Review: Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry

Those who stand against you, will fall. One by one

This might be the most underrated series I have ever read. But also the most beautiful one. Read below why.

Book Review: Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry

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Title & Author: Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: October 1 2005
Series: Stonewylde
Publisher: Moongazy Publishing

Synopsis

Stonewylde is a special place in deepest Dorset, a place of standing stones and woodlands.
Ancient rural crafts and traditions are still alive and the people live in harmony with nature.

But all is not quite as it seems.
Behind the colourful festivals and country customs is a darker, more sinister side.

When Sylvie is invited to Stonewylde, she believes she’s found paradise.
One boy alone understands the significance of her arrival.
And the terrible danger she’s unleashed.

I first heard of the Stonewylde series when my best friend went to a event where Kit Berry was signing. I was not there – sad. But she brought me back a post card with a handwritten message from the author and a series of three books for me to borrow. I read Magus of Stonewylde in bath while I was doing my internship in Turkey, dropping the book multiple times in the bathwater because I fell asleep. But I never could put it away or not read. I felt the book demanding my attention at all hours of the day. I loved it! But I had troubles with it too. Not because pieces where badly written, but because they were so well written it actually felt real and I could feel the horror and pain the main characters went through. I let go of many tears while reading it. Each reread it was hard to pick up the book, knowing what horrors were waiting.

The author really pulls you in by making you have sympathy for Sylvie and Yul, but also with the beautiful description of Stonewylde’s nature. I love reading such a vivid book.

Sylvie is a soft, innocent character. In the beginning she really believes everyone at Stonewylde has the best intentions. I adore her, but sometimes feel her innocence annoys me. But she grows during the book into this young woman that defies Magus, even though she got so much from him. Though he did it all to bind her to him, I think.

Yul is this incredibly handsome boy, who has the shittiest life I have seen. I really felt sad about most of what happens to this boy. Even a full chapter of tears, which is rare, since I almost never cry over books or movies.

Magus is, to me, one of the best bad guys there are. He is manipulative and sinister, handsome and a flirt. I am not sure if he has the best interest of the people of Stonewylde near his heart, because he made Stonewylde get back up after what his father and grandfather did to the estate.

The worst character in the book, for me, is Miranda, Sylvie’s mother. She was this great individual woman at the beginning of the story, caring for her sick daughter. Being very skeptical of Magus and the way the people live on the estate. But after they move to Stonewylde she soon turns into this love sick girl for Magus and – in my eyes – is sometimes even jealous of her own daughter with him. Where did the clever woman go from the beginning of the book? I have no clue. Maybe she is just so well written I do not recognise it and she is just influenced by Magus so much, but I have no idea.

I am looking forward to read Moondance at Stonewylde, the second book in the series.

Let me know what you thought of this book!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.

For now, let books enrich your life!

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