Book Review: “Magic by Any Other Name” by Alison Levy

“Magic by Any Other Name” by Alison Levy (2023)

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Page Length: 440 pages (paperback review edition)

Synopsis:

Ivy Nichols O’Reilly has grown up in a wealthy family full of magic, fantasy creatures, and emotional abuse—but when her narcissistic mother arranges an unwanted marriage for her, the young witch reaches her breaking point. She drops out of college, changes her name to Georgette, and flees across the country with her best friend, a Wood Nymph named Mei-Xing.

Georgette is determined to build a new identity and a new life. But her journey leads her to cross paths with a number of magical characters—a Werehyena searching for his kidnapped wife; a Vampire who runs a unique magical business; a curandero , a shamanistic practitioner of traditional medicine; and a Valkyrie who, along with her raven partner, wants to make a risky deal—who make it clear to her that the past is not so easily left behind. In order to grow into her new identity, help her new friends, and develop a healthy relationship with a man she’s beginning to care for, Georgette will have to confront the privileges that have shielded her from the pain and ugliness of the magic community in which she was raised—and find the strength to overcome the trauma of her childhood.

Review:

Magic by Any Other Name takes readers on a fantasy-filled journey filled with magic, overcoming trauma, and friendship. It’s a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end as Georgette sets out to break free from her mother’s reins and take charge of her own life. Once living (somewhat) on her own she faces numerous difficult obstacles from real-life enemies to processing her trauma and trying to heal from it. Her journey is not an easy one, but she grows into her own with the help of others and starts to believe in herself (and her magical abilities).

This novel is action-packed and busy non-stop. At times it was a bit hard to follow but all the multiple point-of-views within the story become so distinctive it makes for a smooth reading experience. Some characters are a little more fleshed out than the others, but I assume they will become more fleshed out over the course of the series (seeing as this is only book one). Each character of the main cast goes through their own self-discovery narrative and learns to trust again just like Georgette.

This story felt hopeful despite all the pain and trauma (TW: abuse, violence, death) experience throughout the story, By the end of the novel, you feel as if their journey is just truly beginning as they gain the freedom to live their lives fully. The fantasy elements were so entertaining, and I like the overall sense of adventure in the novel. The magic system felt easy to understand and the world building had great depth as well transporting readers into a world hidden from our own.

Final Verdict: