God's Pretenders: Incredible True Stories of Magic and Alchemy

By: G. Michael Vasey

Narrated by: Lorraine Ansell

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

Harry Potter has nothing on these real wizards and alchemists who wielded God-like magical powers and performed the most amazing magical spells.

These amazing magicians, wizards, and warlocks could:

• Change the weather
• Heal the sick
• Raise the dead
• Turn lead into gold
• Be in two places at once
• Make fire with their will power
• Levitate
• Live forever and never age

The book contains chapters on the following magicians:

• Apollonius of Tyana - Wizard, Wanderer & Sage
• Simon Magus - The Pretender Messiah
• Michael Scot - The Great Scottish Wizard
• Nicholas Flamel and the Book of Abraham the Jew
• Paracelsus and the Beginnings of Science
• Henry Cornelius Agrippa - The Occult Philosopher
• John Dee & Edward Kelly - Elizabethan Magical Adventurers
• Sir Francis Bacon / St. Germain - Royal Adept?
• Sir Isaac Newton - Scientist and Secret Alchemist
• Eliphas Levi - Founder of Modern Magic
• Austin Osman Spare - Artist and Dark Magician
• Frantisek Bardon - The Czech Master Magician
• The Ordinary Magician - A Modern Tale of Magick

Listen now to learn about the amazing lives of real magicians and discover that fact is indeed often stranger than fiction....

©2015 G. Michael Vasey (P)2016 G. Michael Vasey

Much History in this Short Listen!

Any additional comments?

I found this listen intriguing...and I also found myself rewinding or starting over again so I could get all the names (they are in the book details so you don't have to do that) to go back and research them later.

While it is only an hour and 19 minutes long, there is a lot of history packed into this little audiobook with more detail than I would have thought possible. For almost all of the backgrounds, documented eye witness account lend validity to the idea that these people did indeed perform miracles or magical feats. From greek/roman times into the present, there are people in almost every generation that display the abilities and mystical learning that the author is retelling. The only one I would like more information on was the last one, I didn't catch a website to go view The Ordinary Magician and would like to be able to view some of the material for myself.

Lorraine Ansell narrated the material beautifully and gave life to the material that few could have. She made it enjoyable to listen to this audiobook.

I received this audiobook from Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

All of the stories sound the same

What did you like best about God's Pretenders: Incredible True Stories of Magic and Alchemy? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the narrators cadence and pleasant voice in general. I did not enjoy the "true stories" that the author put forth. Before every account of magic, the author applies the disclaimer "the legend suggests" or "some people believe". I don't think true stories need to be partially discounted before the tale is even told.

Any additional comments?

With every Magician, they are bright and write of alchemy. In most cases they go on to find the philosophers stone and move to Asia. I felt like I was reading the same story with a different name and time during the dark ages. The Narrator was great and I would enjoy hearing her read again. I received this book for the purpose of review from the narrator or author at no cost through audiobook blast.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A Neat Look at Early Alchemists and Magicians

GOD'S PRETENDERS was a pretty interesting listen for me. This audiobook is listed for 8-10 year old's (perhaps a little too much info for that age group) but I enjoyed hearing about the different alchemists and magicians. A few in particular stood out to me; John Dee, astronomer, occultist, and adviser to Queen Elizabeth l. There are claims that he may have been the original 007, Another was Austin Osman Spare, an artist and occultist who influenced Aleister Crowley, and Eliphas Levi who was involved with The Order of the Golden Dawn. I really enjoy G. MICHAEL VASEY'S books. They're informative and I even looked at the fabulous artwork by Spare.

LORRAINE ANSELL has such a lovely voice. I could listen to her all day. She has a beautiful cadence and it's as if she's speaking to you, the listener, (well she is actually) but she speaks clearly and has an upbeat style that I like.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

nice

best and most fascinating wizard fan fic I've read in quite some time, truly a masterpiece of historical mythologies and a good look into the believer theory and the desire of human kind to feel special and as if they have unique meaning.

Fictional (?) biographies of historical ppl involved in magic and mysticism

A unique story. I applaud anyone
Who can write and get published however not every story is for everyone. I personally found the idea of the various historical people living forever due to te philosophers stone etc to be a stretch. Taken as a a fantastical historical fiction it was good, taken as presented it was too far fetched. I received this audiobook from the author narrator or publisher for free via audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review

1 of 2 people found this review helpful