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Od Magic Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,734 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Magic unbound was suspect, dangerous. Therefore it was not permitted anywhere in Numis. The wizards of Numis, like its nobles, were subject to the laws of the land. All power ultimately belonged to the king. The wizard of Od, now nearly mythical herself, accepted all these rules once upon a time—but no longer.
Brenden Vetch has a gift. With an innate sense he cannot explain to himself or describe to others, he is able to connect to the agricultural world, nurturing gardens to flourish and instinctively knowing the healing properties each plant and herb has to offer. But Brenden's gift isolates him from his community, until the day he receives a personal invitation from the wizard Od. She needs a gardener for her school in the great city of Kelior, where every potential wizard must be trained to serve the Kingdom of Numis.
For decades, the rulers of Numis have controlled the school, believing they can contain the power within it. They punish any wizard who dares defy the law. But unknown to the reigning monarchy is the power possessed by the school's new gardener, a power even Brenden isn't fully aware of and which is the true reason Od recruited him.
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"Reading this for the second time, I was struck by how polished a gem each chapter, sometimes even each paragraph seems. Patricia McKillip is a wonderful writer. Her situations and the magical premises for each novel are remarkably original. It's never just another episode in the general all-purpose fantasy template of wizards and dragons but an actual interweaving of distinct characters in an unprecedented new world. Fantastic stuff. Her work as a whole rates a 5. This particular novel, the first I've read for a second time after a whirlwind tour through every book of hers I could lay my hands on, is going to be an enduring favorite."
— Stven (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“McKillip shines in her presentation of the characters, the city of Kelior, and in her depiction of what magic really means. The varied districts of Kelior, including the mysterious Twilight Quarter, are nearly tangible, rich in sensory heft.”
— Washington Post -
“A terrific fantasy tale starring a delightful protagonist, a vile villain, and an assortment of eccentric supporting characters, including the mysterious wonderful Wizard of Od. The story line grips…mesmerizes readers until the final spell is spun.”
— Midwest Book Review -
“McKillip demonstrates once again her exquisite grasp of the fantasist’s craft…An otherworldly delight.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Gabrielle de Cuir has a light touch with this narration. She maintains the undercurrent of tension…[and] reflects a fondness for the young princess who is to be betrothed.”
— AudioFile -
“With lyrical prose, well-limned characterizations, vibrant action, a sense of the wonder of magic, and a generous dollop of romance, this is a story that will bind readers in its spell.”
— Booklist -
“Lyrically told, the novel evokes an enchanting atmosphere and thoughtful tone.”
— Kliatt -
“More enchantments and wonders from McKillip.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“[Od’s] enigmatic appearance and demeanor…and her lyrical, poetic mode of speech elevate the few scenes in which she appears into high art. The magic itself as it manifests in the novel is similarly strange and delightful…Gabrielle de Cuir’s narration of Od Magic captures the playful essence of the novel’s best passages. Her performance of Od’s dialogue chimes in the ears like a tinkling stream, and she carries the emotions and idiosyncracies of the other female characters comfortably as well.”
— SFFAudio.com
Awards
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A 2006 World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel
Od Magic Listener Reviews
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" This was an excellent example of Patricia Mckillips mastery of the fantasy genre. "
— David, 1/26/2014 -
" I loved the way McKillip wove the theme of this book into the plot. It is one of the most artfully delivered book with a theme I've read in some time. Patricia A. McKillip is quickly becoming one of my favorites. "
— Heather, 1/26/2014 -
" Beautiful fantasy romance. For adult readers whole like a clean romance. "
— Melissa, 1/9/2014 -
" I really really love Ms McKillip's settings and her descriptions of them. It's more what I think of as classic fantasy. However, the plot was a bit too slow for me, and the writing too repetitive sometimes -- unfortunately not repetitive in the fascinating magical way Robin Hobb has. "
— Lora, 12/15/2013 -
" I didn't really like the way this pulled together at the end, but it was fine otherwise. "
— Melissa, 12/8/2013 -
" Lovely, lyrical language, as usual for McKillip. I listened to this as an audio book, however, and I found the reader's voice so soothing that it made me sleepy. I definitely want to read a paper copy of this book sometime, though, because I loved the characters and the gentle, slow pace. "
— Jennifer, 12/6/2013 -
" Different and magical. A lovely book. "
— cristina, 11/25/2013 -
" Patricia McKillip's Od Magic started VERY SLOW, ended predictably but thankfully in the last third of the book she seem to recapture her writing style and command of prose. "
— Michael, 11/17/2013 -
" I liked this one. Very rich writing, like Ms. McKillip usually does, but some genuinely attractive characters, if not always accessible ones. "
— Heather, 11/6/2013 -
" This book was really weird. It also had some stuff in it that made me uncomfortable. It was well-imagined and everything, but overall, I don't think it is worth reading. "
— Jessica, 10/27/2013 -
" There is an almost leisurely pace to the book. The descriptions are wonderful, but at times the plot feels a little too slow. In some ways, I think the plot would've worked better as a poem than as a novel, if that makes sense. "
— Chris, 9/11/2013 -
" I actually didn't read this book but was told by my kids who read it that I wouldn't like it. "
— Tiffany, 4/10/2013 -
" An intriguing universe written blandly, a predictable plot, and slow pacing. If only the author focused on one storyline instead of a million, this would've been better. All in all, a perfectly acceptable diversion that I wouldn't read again or recommend to anyone. "
— Logan, 1/24/2013 -
" Love love love Patricia McKillip. :) "
— Virginia, 10/29/2012 -
" Another beautifully written book by Patricia A. McKillip. I accepted the plot, liked the characters and, as usual, luxuriated in the language. "
— Debbie, 10/2/2012 -
" Would make this a 4 star fantasy, would it let me. Magic as a force growing and finding its way Excellent! "
— Jeff, 7/17/2012 -
" So far, loving this book............I did love this book. She is a marvelous writer. I would like to see a sequel to this book. I am going on a binge reading books by this author. I love books about magic. Perhaps, I am only going to read books with magic in them. I seem to be well on my way. "
— Susan, 3/25/2012 -
" I didn't like this one as much as the othter McKillip books I've read. Her tendency to have use a lot of different characters didn't seem to work as well in this case, it got a bit confusing, but still a nice, magical read. "
— Kate, 6/29/2011 -
" Love love love Patricia McKillip. :) "
— Virginia, 5/9/2011 -
" Not my favorite fantasy book, but the message is nice. Freedom to practice magic is a good thing for a wizard! "
— Nora, 2/24/2011 -
" I was really enjoying this book until the deus ex machina-esque ending (or should I say Od from the machine?). It took the whole thing down an entire star for me. "
— Stephanie, 2/2/2011 -
" I liked this one. Very rich writing, like Ms. McKillip usually does, but some genuinely attractive characters, if not always accessible ones. "
— Heather, 12/11/2010 -
" One of my favorite McKillip Books "
— Grant, 10/9/2010 -
" You start out thinking it is about Brenden, the gardener, but it's not really. Almost as if Ms. McKillip started with one story and finished with another. But still enjoyable, and enough so for me to go out and purchase another of her works. "
— Kate, 8/16/2010 -
" I listened to this and it started out kind of slow but once I got into the pace I enjoyed it. "
— Sarah, 7/19/2010 -
" 3.5 stars for the beautiful writing. I enjoyed this light fantasy, and I liked their magical world, but it seemed too slow to me. I would have liked it better if a lot more happened during the book. It almost seems like it should have been trimmed down as a good prologue to a series piece. "
— Laura, 5/31/2010
About Patricia A. McKillip
Patricia A. McKillip is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the author of numerous novels. She lives in Oregon.
About Gabrielle de Cuir
Gabrielle de Cuir, award-winning narrator, has narrated over three hundred titles and specializes in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. She was a cowinner of the Audie Award for best narration in 2011 and a three-time finalist for the Audie and has garnered six AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her “velvet touch” as an actor’s director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost producer for bestselling authors and celebrities.