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slipperbunny's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this about two years ago because I love to read short story collections and Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors. The best stories in this collection were in my opinion Playing Possum (Charlaine Harris), Low School (Rhys Bowen), Iphigenia in Aulis (Mike Carey) and Pirate Dave and the Captain's Ghost (Toni L.P. Kelner). Probably Mike Carey's story was the best. I have read his comics, but I think I have to find his books too.
book_realm_revisions's review against another edition
5.0
Reread Magic Tests in 2018 with The Small Magics anthology.
mompkin's review against another edition
3.0
Only read the Ilona Andrews one, but it was confusing to figure out how to do it separately since it was apparently originally part of this anthology? Anyway, pretty good. I'd like to read more Julie stories. This storytelling felt a bit thin though.
bookhero6's review against another edition
3.0
This review is for the audiobook edition.
Some stories were better than others.
My favorites:
The Amber Benson, Rhys Bowen, Mike Carey, Nancy Holder, and Steve Hockensmith stories.
Just so-so: Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, and pretty much all the rest.
Couldn't finish: Marjorie M. Liu and Faith Hunter.
The voice actors were fantastic.
Like with all anthologies, you win some, you lose some. When stories fall in the middle of a series that you've never read, it can be hard to be up to speed and understand what's going on. I'm not sure, for myself, if the audiobook format is best for anthologies. With short stories back to back read by the same two actors, it was hard to keep them apart mentally in between bouts of listening. But I really enjoyed some of the stories. And was glad finally to "read" something by Amber Benson.
Some stories were better than others.
My favorites:
The Amber Benson, Rhys Bowen, Mike Carey, Nancy Holder, and Steve Hockensmith stories.
Just so-so: Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, and pretty much all the rest.
Couldn't finish: Marjorie M. Liu and Faith Hunter.
The voice actors were fantastic.
Like with all anthologies, you win some, you lose some. When stories fall in the middle of a series that you've never read, it can be hard to be up to speed and understand what's going on. I'm not sure, for myself, if the audiobook format is best for anthologies. With short stories back to back read by the same two actors, it was hard to keep them apart mentally in between bouts of listening. But I really enjoyed some of the stories. And was glad finally to "read" something by Amber Benson.
thenia's review against another edition
4.0
Magic Tests - Ilona Anderws
This is a story about Julie and her first undercover mission in a school where a girl has gone missing. The audiobook was very well done and the various characters introduced were colorful and intriguing.
It was very interesting seeing through Julie's eyes and I would love to read more about her in the future.
This is a story about Julie and her first undercover mission in a school where a girl has gone missing. The audiobook was very well done and the various characters introduced were colorful and intriguing.
It was very interesting seeing through Julie's eyes and I would love to read more about her in the future.
jegka's review against another edition
3.0
I was dismayed that the collection started with a gunman invading a kindergarten, but the rest of the stories were sufficiently kooky and fun.
cranberrytarts's review against another edition
4.0
Kate sends Julie to a school for exceptional children to help find a missing student. Julie figures it's a set up but her curiosity makes her want to do the job regardless. The story is short, but the case is interesting and I love seeing things from Julie's point-of-view.