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The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic  By  cover art

The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic

By: Emily Croy Barker
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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Publisher's summary

Emily Croy Barker’s riveting debut novel is a must-read for fans of Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness. The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic follows grad student Nora Fischer as she stumbles through a portal into a magical world.

Having been transformed from drab to beautiful, Nora finds herself surrounded by glamorous friends. Life seems perfect. But then things take a terrible turn, and Nora must learn magic from a reclusive ally if she is to have any hope of survival...

©2013 Emily Croy Barker (P)2013 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic

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No point

No point really :/ I was disappointed in the end. Strung along for an entire book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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My first endeavor into the fantastical!

I usually stick to fiction based in earthly human reality but through a progression of degrees÷s of fantasy and magic I have whole new worlds to explore. loved it!

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Very enjoyable

I've read most of the women fantasy/fiction books out there. Overall I enjoyed this story, although occasionally I was lost in the story. After finishing this, I would very much like to read a sequel that perhaps allows Nora to return to a world of magic, fall in love and marry her love, and go after the bad guys as a team of magicians! Thank you for writing this novel!

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loved loved this book

Waiting for Deborah Harkness's next book just got a whole lot easier!! plot and characters were so engaging. could not put it down.

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A New Take on Familiar Themes

I really enjoyed this story. Won't give away the end but definitely wasn't ready for the story to be over.

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Rough start enjoyed the rest

Once I got past the first 5th or so of the book I really enjoyed this story. I thought her journey was interesting and had a fair amount of complexity. The current references were clever.

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highly recommend

I will admit that this book started off a little slow. At first the main character seemed kind of weak. but then after you get through the first part it sucks you in. I usually listen to books and do other things at the same time. But with this one I found myself just sitting and listening because I got so engrossed in the story. Very well written. I loved it.

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Meandering and inconsistant

This story was so slow in places. I persisted because I had paid for it. Glaring inconsistencies in many threads. The story meandered aimlessly at times and almost stood still taking so long to for the story to move on. Repetative at times. Annoying ending. Clearly meant to be a cliff hanger for the sequel which I doubt will ever make it to audible.

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Can't wait for the next installment!!!

Would you listen to The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic again? Why?

Absolutely! It was wonderfully rich and enticing!!

What did you like best about this story?

The deeply seated desire that doesn't quite break the surface.

Which character – as performed by Alyssa Bresnahan – was your favorite?

Aruendial of course!! He's brooding, crotchety and masculine all at the same time

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but unfortunately it was my driving to work entertainment, I never wanted to turn off the vehicle.....

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26 hours for that ending?!

I don’t mind a long listen, but this book dragged in many sections. Towards the end, I really started enjoying it....til the ending. In 26 hours, the author couldn’t give us a satisfying ending but had to end on a note of hope and ambiguity? Cmon.

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1 person found this helpful