Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic-Scars the second great installment in The Crown of Stones series. Beginning a few years after the first book ends and picking up after all Ian had been through in book one, having everything taken from him, I just couldn’t tear myself away from this book. I’m certainly looking forward to book number three.
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic-Price is not my first by C.L. Schneider and she is currently climbing higher and higher on my list of favorite authors to read. When Magic-Price first starts it plunges you straight into the action, directly into the middle of an immense battle in which the main character makes a decision, and makes some choices to utilize his magic while turning the tides of the battle with dire consequences. Ian Troy is a man of Shinree descent that is specially bred as the ideal magic weilder but is taken advantage of repeatedly, I did feel bad for him. The magic system was easy to understand, the world building was done well, and I think this book would please many high fantasy lovers immensely. As someone else mentioned it reminds me a little bit of The Witcher but is definitely a book that stands out on its own. I really enjoyed it.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Incredible, satisfying ending to a great series that I am very glad I picked up. C.L. Schneider has become a top author for me and I love that she is an independent author. She never fails to pull me into a book, sink her claws in, and have me on a wild, crazy ride to the finish. I’ve really enjoyed this series and I will absolutely keep reading more books by her. If you enjoy fantasy, smooth writing, great world building, great, strong, well fleshed out characters, and well built magic systems you should definitely give this series a try!
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Crown of Stones: Magic- Scars is the second book in the dark fantasy series by C.L. Schneider. I suggest you read this series in order as there is a lot of information, developments, and backstory in each book.
Much like the first book, this second installment is also written from the first person point of view, allowing us to see what all Ian Troy, our main character, experiences as he tries to piece together his memories and acclimate to the new world he finds himself in after leaving capture. In book one he distanced himself from everyone, fearing his magic, but now he must retrieve it and harness it to help the resistance and beat his enemy. Can he overcome his fears, addictive tendencies, and stop blaming himself long enough to accomplish all he needs to? This action-packed book is definitely one that will keep your attention and keep you wanting more. I’m really enjoying this series and can’t wait to read the next installment.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The final installment in this trilogy did not disappoint. The final book will pull on your heart as the war pushes on and so many are lost. Ian Troy knows what he must do in order to save the Shinree and his friends. The book takes you along adventures of survival and hope wish an ending that beings everything full circle.
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Once again this author has put together an exciting and riveting book. The next book follows Ian Troy who was presumed to be dead but is alive and well and fighting to beat Draken and his father Jem. There wasn’t a moment that didn’t keep my attention with the constant twists. Old and new characters come together to save the kingdom and ultimately retrieve the crown of stones. This will leave you on the edge your seat laughing, crying, and everything in between.
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Can you ever outrun your past? Will the things you’ve seen and done haunt you for the rest of your life along with her memory? These are all things our main character, Ian Troy, is pondering as he tries to live some semblance of life. He is a Shinree, a race who can use magic, which can become addictive and dangerous, since magic always comes with a price. That’s why he shies away from pretty much everyone thinking he’s protecting them from him and the magic inside of him.
C.L. Schneider has written a gritty, descriptive, and action-filled book. I really liked the first person point of view as it helped me connect with the character and see life through new eyes.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic-Borne is the third and final book in The Crown of Stones trilogy. Ian Troy is fighting to fix the glimpse into the tragic future that he foresaw five years ahead. As events start playing out like he was foretold he doesn’t know if his presence will be enough to change it. Is his future set-in stone? Will he be enough to stop his father and finally destroy the crown of stones?
This book is even darker than the previous two due to the intensity of the story. The twist and turns had me devouring this book. I loved this epic trilogy and highly recommend it.
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic-Price is the first in the trilogy of The Crown of Stones series. This book is a must read, once you get halfway through you will be unable to put it down. It starts out with Ian Troy making a terrible mistake that weighs heavy on his soul. Even though it has been ten years since the tragic event where he took the lives of many. When I first started reading it, I got ‘The Witcher’ vibes due to him having a magic horse, white hair, and is set in a similar time period. He is a badass that fights for what he believes is right. After getting further into the story it developed into its own and I was unable to put the book down due to all the revelations. I can’t wait to read the next book Magic-Scars as the ending leaves you wanting more.
I highly recommend reading Magic-Price if you love epic high fantasy. Where the main character is not perfect and is trying to atone for his prior sins. There is magic, love, friendship, and forgiveness.
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic-Scars is the second in the trilogy of The Crown of Stones series. Starting two and a half years after Magic-Price ends. Ian Troy gets rescued from his prison, the mines, and has no memory due to the drugs that Draken has been forcing. He has been tortured and forced to do heinous acts for the past two years. As he slowly gets his terrible memories back bit by bit, he must forgive himself again for the death and loss of those around him. He doesn’t know whom to trust or how he acted before and is solely going by instinct. Join Ian on his journey to rediscover his past and to right the present.
This book is meant only for adults due to the sex scenes and graphic nature of it, they are done extremely well. I loved this book even more than the first book due to feeling a great connection to Troy from the loss of his memories. He keeps trying to do what he believes is right and protect those around him while trying to break the mold he was shoved in. I was shocked towards the end of the book when I believed all hope was lost, I was crushed and cried only to be saved a little towards the end. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series Magic-Borne.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the final book in the trilogy, and I am suffering from a serious book hangover from this series. I need more.
Great characters return to join Troy and I genuinely feared for them at times. I found myself wanting to put the book down from the tension but needing to carry on, because I had to know what happened, had my favourite characters survived the latest dangers?
I found that the fight against the enemy brings more revelations and character development in Troy which I enjoyed. He seems much more mature and seems to have found himself as a character. I think we see the best of Troy in this instalment; though still flawed, he is the best version of himself as I don’t think it would be right for him to be perfect, not after everything he has endured.
Once again, the author has played with my emotions, provided surprising twists and left me sleep deprived in my need to finish reading. This might just be my favourite book of the series.
There’s not much I trust myself to say that won’t contain spoilers as I’m itching to discuss the plot twists, my favourite characters and well, everything about this series with someone!
What I can say is that the characters are very well written – unique and vivid – and you will get emotionally invested in their relationships and adventures. You won’t want to leave them, and you will feel part of the team having stepped into the novels to join them in their fight.
I am so grateful that I didn’t have to wait for the release of each book, I was able to binge-red the series. I think the anticipation would have driven me mad otherwise.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ian Troy returns and he has more magic scars than ever, but when his spells show him something he was not prepared for, he has to think about his past, present and future and base his decisions on the uncertainty surrounding him. He is still a fugitive, thanks to his past castings, but he is now wanted in multiple lands, as well as by his father, but he still tries to make the world around him a better place, even though as usual, it doesn’t always go to plan for him, or those close to him.
While he is casting spells to find out what his father has planned, he journeys to different times and places, but not all the answers he seeks are available to him and while on one of these journeys, he experiences a bleak future where everything he has worked towards has been thwarted. The resistance he has been routed, the tenuous relationships within it destroyed and nearly everyone he knows is alive and all hope that was there is now gone, so when Ian returns to the present, he is determined to stop this future in its path, so he uses the knowledge he gained while there to do this.
Meanwhile, tensions build between Rella, Langor and Ian’s father as peace treaties are stretched to breaking point and political posturing is showing people’s true colours and is leading the armies closer to the return to the brink of war between the lands. Ian is also realising his increasingly apparent transformation into the more beastlike form of an eldring, he tries to stave off from casting in an attempt to buy himself some time, but as he searches the past for a way to defeat his father, bring peace to the lands around him and break the transformation the Crown of Stones is causing, he has to battle his inner demons too.
How far can Ian go before he breaks, or worse, becomes an eldring and how big a sacrifice will he be willing to make in order to reach his goals and will he be able to pay the price demanded? This is another epic race against time in a fantasy land where apartheid rules, magic is both life, death and currency and those who wield it are both saviours and destroyers, but whom is which is what you will only be able to find out by reading this addictive story until its conclusion.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While I am so sad to see this series coming to an end, Magic-Borne is a dazzling read! This has been my favorite fantasy series in such a long time. C.L. Schneider has an incredible way of wrapping you in their world and making you feel at one with each character. She is one of the authors that I follow very closely so I don’t miss anything! Ian has been through the ringer, and this is the continuation of his fight. The amount of action, magic, romance, and endurance that you can feel which means you’ll be right there alongside the characters the whole way. Be sure to start from the beginning of the series because this is a very detailed story with amazing world building and in-depth characters. I highly recommend this entire series because it is just mind-blowingly epic!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the trilogy so if you haven’t read the first, I would strongly advise you to as the events in this book follow on from the first.
The story starts a few years after the last ended, and I’m thrilled to say we see the return of some great characters for more action (including my favourite Jarryd).
The time between the two books has given the characters more backstory and has affected each in their own way. This adds more depth to them and reveals more about who they are and what we may expect from them as the book progresses.
I will say that I enjoyed seeing even more of Troy in this book, and what he could have been if his circumstances had been different. His character develops further as the story progresses and understanding him better has given me a deeper appreciation for his behaviours (though I still wanted to scream at him more times than I can count).
My emotions were hit hard in this book, and I have a feeling this will continue into the last book as well. The author does a great job of manipulating my feelings and revealing information when it will have a greater impact which is a great skill that I admire.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, more so than the first which is unusual for me, so I have high hopes for the final instalment of the trilogy!
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book in this fantasy trilogy.
I was drawn to the book by the cover and then upon reading the blurb, decided that this was the book for me. It seemed like something I’d really enjoy, and I wasn’t wrong.
The story itself, although similar in many ways to other fantasy novels I’ve read, it has so many unique elements as well that it doesn’t feel like the same rehashed story. For example, the way magic works is interesting, there’s more to it than just using magic has a heavy price.
The book is written well, from the fight scenes to the more intimate ones, it flows well and there’s never a lull. For a book that’s so long it can hold your attention throughout.
The characters were well written, each having distinct personalities and agendas.
While I usually loved flawed characters, it took me a while to warm to Ian Troy. I enjoy the fact that he’s not perfect and can understand why he is the way he is (his attitude) there were moments I got very frustrated with his actions, and it tested my love for him.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story behind his issues with magic and his anti-hero typing, he is certainly an interesting main character.
Jarryd on the other hand had my heart almost instantly – how can you not love the dependable Jarryd?!
Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed was there didn’t appear to be a ‘side’ that was 100% good. The two opposing sides at war both have their own agendas and it didn’t seem to be a straight forward good vs. evil which it normally is. This made the politics and world building seem more real to me.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic Borne is Book Three in The Crown of Stone Series. This instalment in the series concludes the story of Ian Troy. After the resistance was lost Ian was forced into hiding where he must find a way to save his people from the evil clutches of Jem Reth, who has made himself emperor. Ian suffers under the weight of what magic has done to him. Although it causes pleasure for him it also comes with great pain as it is slowly turning him into more of a beast than a man.
Ian and his people have been subjected to slavery and endured suffering under the rule of tyrannical leaders. The fate of Ian’s people lay on his shoulders and in order to free them from the realm he needs to destroy The Crown of Stones. The outcome needs to be successful in order to save them which is a heavy burden to bear. Will he have the courage and strength to save himself and his people from the clutches of evil?
If you have not read the first two books in this series, I highly recommend that you do. Each story builds upon the preceding book. This series has captivated me from the beginning with its storyline and kept me riveted to the end. The characters are amazing and facing their own unique challenges in a world full of tyrannical leaders, slavery, and abuse. They crave freedom and may pay the ultimate price to achieve it. Ian is a character that you both love and hate at the same time. He makes some terrible decisions but has good intentions, so you feel conflicted. Ian is struggling with his own inner demons and conflicts as he fights the urge to use magic. He is constantly fighting the beast within that he is slowly becoming each time he uses magic. This takes us on an emotional rollercoaster ride along with Ian as he tries to navigate who he is becoming. Overall, an amazing series full of magic, action, suspense, drama, intrigue, friendships, tyrannical leaders, and the battle of good versus evil.
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic Scars is Book Two in The Crown of Stone Series. It continues the story of Ian Troy, a Shinree, who has now been captured by his enemy King Draken of Langor and sent to prison. While imprisoned he was drugged so that he was unable to use his magic. Ian has lost not only his memories because of the drugs but has also lost his will after being tortured. He has no fight left and is a shell of his former self.
When Ian is rescued by an unlikely ally, he must fight to regain his memories and strength. As his body slowly purges itself of the drug, he comes to realize that the world he left is not the same. Those he left behind has been subjected to horrors at the hands of King Draken. A rebellion is underway, and Ian must find and repair The Crown of Stones so that its magic can be used. Ian is the only one who can save them which places immense responsibility on his shoulders. His addiction to magic and connection to The Crown of Stones lead him to search for answers. In his search, Ian uncovers some ancient secrets that have implications for not only him but also his entire race.
Another great book in this series that was hard to put down. The writing and attention to detail are so vivid that it feels as though you are there with the characters. Ian is someone that is very complex and although has a dark past you cannot help but feel bad for him. You want to see things work out for him in a positive way. Ian is in a struggle to overcome who he was in the past versus who he is now. The pain, sorrow, conflict, and guilt over past actions are a challenge for him. Another great book full of action, suspense, drama, intrigue, and magic. Now onto Book Three!
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magic Price is Book One in The Crown of Stone Series. The book starts off fast paced and full of action, suspense, murder, and mayhem. We are introduced to Ian Troy who is a Shinree, a reviled group of individuals who have been shunned and bred as slaves. Their use of magic is scorned and therefore suppressed by the use of drugs. Ian has been forced to serve with the Rellan army and fight their ongoing war against the Langorians.
When Ian stumbles onto The Crown of Stones buried in a crevice on the battlefield, he uses it powers to end the war. In doing so, Ian causes more harm than good and leaves a path of destruction in his wake. This leads him to place himself in self imposed exile as he relives those moments over and over again. Years later Ian still lives with the regrets from the choices he made but when ghosts of his past surface with new threats Ian is faced with the difficult decision of using magic again. Will the use of magic help or cause more devastation?
This book was not at all what I expected it to be. From the first page the story was fraught with danger, violence, murder, mayhem, bloodshed, action, suspense, and of course magic. I expected the use of magic to have a positive outcome when used by Ian. I was quite a surprise to see that the use of magic actually had very negative and damaging consequences. The characters, storyline, and plot were well written and detailed which brought the story to life. I was so intrigued by the story that I immediately moved onto Book Two in the series so I could follow Ian’s journey and see what happened next.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve become so deeply immersed in this magical world, I barely know which way is up in my own. My attachment to these characters is borderline embarrassing lol. I feel like I’ve lived with them & been connected with them for far too long to say goodbye. This writer has done a fantastic job creating these raw, flawed, & perfect people. These books & this story are so incredibly enchanting, it is truly bittersweet to let them go. So honestly, I probably won’t & I’ll probably read them all over again in a while lol As ever, I am thoroughly impressed by C.L. Schneider & I’ll 100% read anything else they write. They have crafted a spellbinding creation & their innate gift overflows into every word. Do yourself a favor & throw yourself all the way into this series like I did. An exciting, entrancing experience awaits you!
Review by @lalilovely
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
C.L. Schneider takes you on a wild ride every time! Never a dull moment in this incredible series. Even in the calmer parts of the story, anticipation is vibrating around the edges. The more I read of this writer, the more impressed I am by their true talent. I love the beautiful descriptions of everything, from skies to love to battle. The moments of enlightenment the characters experience are full of wisdom & you can almost see understanding dawn on them. As with the 1st book, I couldn’t put this down! I didn’t even want to pause in between to write reviews, so brb gotta go throw myself head first into the 3rd one!
Review by @lalilovely
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an incredible book! Entirely fantastic, truly. Hardcore Witcher vibes, but still unique. I couldn’t put this down! & when I had to, I was craving to jump right back into this artfully crafted world. The different perspectives of the enslavement of the Shinree are portrayed honestly & fittingly, without being graphic or overbearing. Where there is ever favor for it, there’s push against it right alongside. Explanations & reasonings & the complicated history of all the different cultures help a LOT, too.
Ian is a bit of an antihero in the best way & his character development is astounding, Malaq is a fierce champion of good, Jarryd is a cute lil cinnamon roll, Sienn is powerful & mysterious & written so well, & Neela is an enigma who deserves so much better than what she’s getting in this book. There is a bit of VAW I don’t love, but honestly it’s almost inescapable, unfortunately. At least it all comes from the known & obvious villains. I’m also not sure how I feel yet about the Shinree having an ‘addiction’ to magic, especially when they’re born with their abilities. We’ll see where it goes! I’m dying to get to the 2nd book & I’m sooo happy I don’t have to wait a year to do it lol C.L. Schneider is a phenomenally talented writer & weaves a story so deeply captivating you never want it to end.
Review by @lalilovely
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ian Troy is at his lowest low. The entire realm is falling apart and he’s the only one who can do anything about it. Or can he?
This book features elements of time travel and hallucinations. I find that difficult to process when reading (or even in watching something). I struggled with keeping up with aspects of the story for this reason.
This is a series that definitely needs to be read in order as there is too much information carried over from previous books in this series. Fantasy adventure readers will love this series and hope for more!
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s two years later and Ian Troy wakes up in a prison cell. He’s been tortured and drugged, all to keep him from using his magic. Little did he know the price he’d have to pay for all this magic!! There are a lot of people wanting or needing him to be free so he’s not without some help.
I struggle to write reviews on epic books because I never want to give anything away. Just know that you should read this but be prepared for the journey ahead!
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In book 1 of this series, the reader is introduced to Ian Troy, a self-imposed exile. He’s a Shinree and those of his kind are drawn to magic. They become addicted to the use of magic. Ian is different though, after a tragic event changes the course of his life forever.
This book is full of adventure, mystery, magic, and so much more. I loved the character Malaq as he brought some levity to the story.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful series all the way around. Great character growth, Ian goes from anti-hero to full blown actual hero. I hate to see this series end, but I loved the ride.
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Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Having not read any of the other books in the series, it took some time to get into the story and its characters. The world and character building, however, are quite fantastic. I enjoyed the struggle of this band of friends and enemies and the constant push and pull between characters, their views of each other, their past, and their politics and how those struggles weaved in and out of a story of war and sacrifice. The balance between what’s good and right and weighing the cost of that battle is a continous theme while unraveling the mystery of exactly what the narrator must do and give up to achieve victory.
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When reading a book that is entirely based in another world, when an author has created races of people, magic and non-magic, I am usually bitterly disappointed when those stories come to an end. CL Schneider not only created a detailed world for her characters, she continued their stories and moved the plot along, intricately connecting pieces along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed Ian Troy’s second installment as he battles himself internally and seeks absolution and answers along the way.
Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Crown of Stones Book 1, Magic Price was an intriguing read and great start to a solid Fantasy series. The prologue immediately draws the reader into a time of war and passion, transitioning to a time a decade later with a magic-repressed self-exiled protagonist. The story moves along quickly, interweaving different races with histories ripe with drama, kidnapping of royalty and slaughtering both of the magical and physical variety. Very interesting and fun to read!
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This third and final installment in the Crown of Stones series was a heavy ending to the trilogy, taking the reader on a bit of a roller coaster ride jumping from time travel to drug/magic induced hallucinations. Ian Troy feels the weight of his race and others on his shoulders and has to find a way to save them all. The story is long, but worth the read! Be sure you’ve read the first two books prior to jumping into this one!
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The story of The Crown of Stones continues as Ian comes to accept who he is and what he is. There are times he loses his way, but he is still one with a conscience and is still trying to do what he feels is right. This was a tough one to get through, Ian is flawed and there are a lot of things not going how he planned.
Content Warnings: rape, abuse, sex, language, violent battles
Reviewed by @daree222
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