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City of Dark Magic: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,084 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Cosmically fast-paced and wildly imaginative, this debut novel is a perfect potion of magic and suspense Once a city of enormous wealth and culture, Prague was home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it’s whispered, hell portals. When music student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood. Soon after Sarah arrives, strange things begin to happen. She learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide after all. Could his cryptic notes be warnings? As Sarah parses his clues about Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” she manages to get arrested, to have tantric sex in a public fountain, and to discover a time-warping drug. She also catches the attention of a four-hundred-year-old dwarf, the handsome Prince Max, and a powerful U.S. senator with secrets she will do anything to hide. City of Dark Magic could be called a rom-com paranormal suspense novel—or it could simply be called one of the most entertaining novels of the year.
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"In future, 20th century popular literature will be divided into two distinct eras: pre and post Harry Potter. In the post Potter age, now that we've established that there is no shame in an adult reader enjoying an intricately plotted but fast moving fantasy yarn, books have been written catered to those of us who find ourselves in the children's and young adult aisles of B&N sooner than we'd consider the latest by Jonathan Franzen. In the last year and a half, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches have had brilliant debuts catering to this niche of readers. City of Dark Magic is right up those novels' alley, a fun story of alchemy, Beethoven, Cold War spy games, and quirky academics who wouldn't be out of place on the Hogwarts faculty. Of course, this is a novel for adults, so there are also some brief but evocative sex scenes and a potty-mouthed South Boston heroine who's more Fiona Gallagher than Bella Swan. This book is a lot of fun, which in the current literary climate, is finally a valid aspiration for an adult novel. And, of course, it ends with the tease of a sequel promising that its Indiana Jones-esque quest for the Golden Fleece isn't over. I'm sure this series will be very popular."
— Keshena (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“This deliciously madcap novel has it all: murder in Prague, time travel, a misanthropic Beethoven, tantric sex, and a dwarf with attitude. I salute you, Magnus Flyte!”
— Conan O’Brien -
“The most wickedly enchanting novel I’ve ever read and also the funniest. A Champagne magnum of intrigue and wit, this book sparkles from beginning to end.”
— Anne Fortier, New York Times bestselling author of Juliet -
“A story that abounds in mysterious portents, wild coincidences, violent death, and furtive but lusty sex…[This novel] cleverly combin[es] time travel, murder, history, and musical lore.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“The darkly charming and twisted streets of Prague provide the deliciously dramatic backdrop for this paranormal romp that fires on all cylinders, masquerading by turns as a romance, a time-travel thriller, and a tongue-in-cheek mystery.”
— Booklist -
“The riddle of Beethoven’s ‘Immortal Beloved,’ alchemy, and clandestine love fuse in this fast-paced, funny, romantic mystery…An exuberant, surprising gem.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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Selected for the December 2012 Indie Next List
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A Kirkus Reviews “New and Notable Title”, November 2012
City of Dark Magic Listener Reviews
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" Moving this to the "did not finish" shelf because I can't see myself going back to it. "
— Epeeblade, 2/5/2014 -
" I feel like I wasted my money. "
— Megan, 1/31/2014 -
" I enjoyed the historical aspect of the book and its characters, but the story seemed a little contrived at times. "
— Linda, 1/26/2014 -
" Loved this book. Nice mix of science and mystery. Reminded me of a Discovery of Witches. "
— Lili, 1/26/2014 -
" Good read, obvious setup for sequel/s. Not much character development in this book, but its probably coming in later editions. As I'd suspected, this story is a bit more in the chick-lit category than had been billed (Conan O'Brien wrote a positive review - go figure). Now I have to wait for volume 2 dammit! "
— Martha, 1/26/2014 -
" steamy scholars of music find love and more prague "
— Jenny, 1/22/2014 -
" I was kinda disappointed with this story... I read it because of the hype around good female authors using a male pseudonym in order to get read... but really, it was pretty trite. I found the 'mystery' of the various deaths, the hunt etc. to be less compelling than the majority of such books that I have read, and the characters were really more suited to a romantic novel than a fantasy mystery... "
— Ettegoom, 1/17/2014 -
" There's something exciting and almost forbidden about a book that wasn't on the radar. I always enjoy when I find an undiscovered title on the library shelves. And this book didn't let me down! "
— Mary, 1/13/2014 -
" This was fun, but definitely a guilty pleasure. "
— Sydney, 1/12/2014 -
" This book was a blast to read, fun, exciting, interesting, great entertainment! "
— John, 11/21/2013 -
" I really liked this one. Over 400 pages but it didn't feel like it, it was thoroughly entertaining and the plotting was very fast-paced "
— Adrian, 11/14/2013 -
" Fun, with an irreverent sense of humor, spies, sex, dwarves (well, one anyway), the City of Dark Magic is different enough in all the normal areas to defy easy definition. And, different is good. Enjoy. "
— Mark, 11/10/2013 -
" Someone should inform Conan O'Brien that there is, in fact, no tantric sex in this book. (Not that I bought it for that reason. But just sayin'.) "
— Laura, 11/5/2013 -
" felt somehow superficial - but was a quick and fun read. "
— Robert, 10/17/2013 -
" Weird!!! "
— Susanne, 9/16/2013 -
" I like the history and the mystery! :) Secrets and castles... "
— Deena, 8/11/2013 -
" Enormously good fun - loved it. To be read in the spirit in which it's clearly intended - not one for the po-faced. And yes, alchemy and nookie are closely related! Chapeau, ladies ;-) "
— Martin, 6/7/2013 -
" Great mix of magic, sexuality and history. My kind of book. "
— Leslie, 6/6/2013 -
" LOVED this book!!!!!! Freshly imaginative and entertaining. Ended the book craving more! "
— Kara, 5/30/2013 -
" kinda crazy. exciting ending. "
— Trina, 3/16/2013 -
" I loved this book!! After reading a discovery of witches I wanted something similar and found city of dark magic at Costco. I was a little disappointed at first that it was not as magical as I was hoping but it ended up being a great read! I really hope that she writes a second book!! "
— Danielle, 3/1/2013 -
" If it wasn't for all the sex and references to sex and the main character realizing halfway through that she's a slut, I might have given it 2 stars. "
— Brienne, 1/16/2013 -
" This was pretty good. I really enjoyed it. I am kind of hoping that there will be another book, but I am satisfied if there isn't. "
— Brianna, 1/1/2013
About Magnus Flyte
Magnus Flyte is a
pseudonym for the writing duo of Meg Howrey and Christina Lynch. Howrey is a
former dancer with the Joffrey and the winner of an Ovation Award. The author
of the novels The Cranes Dance and Blind Sight, she
lives in Los Angeles. Lynch is a television writer and former Milan
correspondent for W magazine. She lives near Sequoia National
Park in California.
About the Narrators
Orlagh Cassidy, an American actress of stage, television, and film, is an audiobook narrator who has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, as well as many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She is a graduate of SUNY at Purchase and a recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation Scholarship. She has been seen on and off Broadway and in films, including Definitely Maybe and Calling It Quits. Her television credits include roles in Law & Order and Sex and the City and as Doris Wolfe on Guiding Light.
Saskia Maarleveld is an experienced voice-over actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Raised in New Zealand and France, she is highly skilled with accents and dialects, and many of her books have been narrated entirely in accents other than her own. In addition to audiobooks, her voice can be heard in animation, video games, and commercials.