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The spine of The Magic of Two says it is a futuristic romance but that’s a bit misleading. It is more of a fantasy quest romance that reads like a historical, set on an alternate earth, with a little magic and a couple of demons thrown in. If you are a big futuristic fan be forewarned – you will not find good science, space ships, space travel or alien species on this planet.
When Jasmine, a slave laborer, loses her “job” and home, her worst nightmares begin to come true. She’s out on the street, with only the clothes on her back, and is pursued by rapists wherever she turns. Her dreams of a better life in a peaceful land filled with snow-capped mountains and beautiful clouds are the only thing that keep her going.
Quinn has avoided slavery but hasn’t had it much easier than Jasmine. He’s worked himself to the bone, saving every penny to follow a dream. He remembers his Grandfather’s tales of a peaceful land filled with snow capped mountains from where his people, the Dartuli, originated. According to legend, the Dartuli could create magic with the “Latari,” the tall white haired people whom also inhabited the land. But life wasn’t easy, and the land was filled with demons intent on wreaking havoc and taking over the land. One day something went very wrong and the Latari and Dartuli were driven from their paradise and the magic forever lost. Quinn intends to find one of these long lost “Latari” woman and drag her along with him to find his homeland. When he spots the white haired Jasmine the quest begins!
This book took two long weeks to read. It started out on a high note and contained several elements that I enjoy: fantasy, demons, a road romance and a thirty year old heroine. So why was this book so easy to put down? The fantasy elements just weren’t done well, the magic was never put to good use, and the demons were some of the most pathetically inept creatures I’ve ever come across in a fantasy. The main problem, though, was the writing style. There wasn’t enough dialogue; instead there were endless pages of narrative describing every little thing the characters did. When the dialogue did appear it was often stilted and emotionally uninspiring. When the nasty woman who owns Jasmine declares: “Don’t sass me! It will be a pleasure to see the last of you. You will leave here, and leave the cottage immediately!”, Jasmine lets loose with all of the pent up rage she’s been harboring for twenty plus years with this:
“That suits me just fine. I don’t want to stay here any longer. This is a bad place and you’re a cruel woman!”
Gee, that’s telling her, Jasmine.
Although she’s thirty, Jasmine might as well have been sixteen, not because she did anything stupid, but because of her childlike manner and her naivete towards the opposite sex and her own body. For years she has been surrounded by hard working men and has never come across a cute young slave who made her feel a spark of attraction. All of this changes of course when she meets Quinn who finally awakens her sleeping hormones. Quinn, on the other hand, is the typical randy hero who has had a countless amount of woman but has never felt anything for them, other than a pleasant physical release. When he meets Jasmine he becomes almost monk-like and doesn’t even begin to desire her until nearly midway through the book. Quinn is actually a decent hero despite his penchant for bawdy houses. He’s sweet to the heroine, has the patience of a saint, and he’s also a man who is not afraid to listen to his heart. He is a bit too heroic to be believed, however – in one scene he dispatches four brawny villains with nary a scratch on his hunky bod, and all without using magic.
The book does have some refreshing aspects. The conflicts between the couple are mainly external so there isn’t a lot of bickering; they become friends before making love and they commit early. The sensuality isn’t so hot though, and it takes a while before there is any spark between the two.
Although the culmination of the drawn out plot line is frustratingly anticlimactic, this isn’t a thoroughly unpleasant book. While Quinn isn’t a horrible hero, Jasmine is not great heroine material. The promising story line doesn’t deliver and Jasmine and Quinn are left to carry the book. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough oomph to hold my attention.
Grade: D+
Book Type: Futuristic Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 24/06/99
Publication Date: 1999
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.