The Magic Shop

By: Justin Swapp

Narrated by: Steve Barnes

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

Some family secrets can't be unseen.

Marcus and his twin sister, Ellie, live in the loft above their grandparents' magic shop - the one all the rumors are about. He's all too familiar with the hand buzzers, card tricks, and fake vomit kits. He thought he had seen it all until he stumbles upon his grandfather hiding something in a secret room behind the family tapestry. 

Now Marcus and Ellie must unravel a dirty laundry list of family secrets, and are thrown into a sinister world that has been hidden from them their entire lives. Not only is the family business a front, but Marcus has to develop his powers before the Dun-Bahr find him and assimilate the magic he was born to protect. 

How will Marcus evade his enemies, and save his family?

It all comes down to what's hidden at the Magic Shop.

©2016 Justin Swapp (P)2016 Justin Swapp

An interesting story with some rough edges.

Any additional comments?

The story started out intriguing enough. The narrator sounded like he was telling a ghost story with a conspiratorial voice. There is a sort of Harry Potter element to it in that it's almost geared toward a younger audience but some of the mature themes makes it suited to us older folks as well. The story was unique and interesting, but there were some plot tropes that ruined it for me. The use of willful ignorance always gets to me. Characters who keep saying "I'll tell you later. We'll talk about it later, there's no time now. Now is mot the time" when it is the time and there's plenty of opportunity for at least a brief explanation that would resolve a great deal of trouble and maybe save someone's life. Another problem for me is the comic book fight resolutions. Our mortal enemy is helpless, but let's just leave them and the item that is entire purpose of the plot and conflict just laying on the sidewalk because I just want to go home. The entire Cabal people were a lesson in frustration with completely unbelievable dialogue and actions. The ending was also rather anti-climactic. Overall, still a decent story and worth a listen but with a few speed bumps, for me anyway.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Wanting for more from The Magic Shop

What did you love best about The Magic Shop?

In a sense this is two reviews, one of the story and one of my first time experience with an audible book.

First, the story. As I started listening to the story of Marcus and Ellie I wondered if I had chosen a book from the teen-reader section. A couple of chapters into the book reassured me that Justin had indeed created a new world of wonder and adventure that was well suited to more mature readers of fantasy. The book starts as the two hero's are leaving high school and finding their place in the grown-up world of their caregivers - their grandparents. They are quickly, and innocently thrust into the world of real magic - disguised as mundane trickery and slight-of-hand. Their journey takes them into a very well developed universe of good and not so good where magic is currency and is spent as such - sometimes to dark means. Be forewarned, the story is not finished as it comes to the end.

Second, this is the first audible book I've listened to, my thanks to Justin for the experience. The story is well narrated by Steven Barnes, he captures the spirit of the story and it is hard to believe there are not a dozen people reading for the different characters. To listen to the story being read takes around 9 hours (I didn't find out I could speed it up a bit until I was 8 hours into it - duh), and I kept thinking that I could likely read the story myself in 2 or 3 - but I certainly couldn't have read it while driving to work and it did make the commute go very quickly. This will not be my last audible book - thanks for the heads up and the experience!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Captivating

Narrator was excellent! Storyline kept twisting and turning to keep the audience intrigued. Highly recommend!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great book, lots of excitement

This was such a great book. The characters really came alive through the narration of the Audible audio version narrated by Steve Barnes. I wish I had listened to this one with my kids because I know they would have enjoyed it immensely. I'll have to play it again on a car trip. This book has a great story line, lots of action, and lots of twists. It kept me engaged to the end. The narrator was wonderful. I hope to listen to more book read by Steve Barnes, and I can't wait until the next book in this series is available.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

More intense than I expected.

Aaaargh, Marcus is so hot-headed I want to poke him sometimes! He blunders into things willy-nilly...but it does move the plot and raises the stakes a lot. This book surprised me by how thrilling the action was. Almost made me worried :) Also, Steve Barnes is incredible. He's basically a full cast by himself.

My heartfelt thanks to the author, narrator, or publisher for providing me this audiobook via Audiobook Boom at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Mind-blowing Narration, Captivating Story

STORY:
This is not just another coming of age story with magic and adventure. Justin Swapp creates a world in "The Magic Shop" that I couldn't stay away from. The characters are captivating, the scenes are palpable, and the emotions are real. You feel so connected with the characters, you'll wish you could jump into the story and fight along with them.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows for Marcus and Ellie who come into their own and grow up before your eyes as they face moral duality, uncertain futures, mystery, adventure, love, and betrayal around every corner – of which there were many! There is a darkness to this story that contrasts the whimsical nature of magic in a fascinating way.

"The Magic Shop" has a way of connecting to the reader in with such ardor that it makes you really feel magnitude of each twist and turn in the story. By the end, I was emotionally exhausted in the absolute best way possible.

NARRATION:
Steve Barnes may as well be magic, because he astounded me from the first word to the last of this 11.5 hour story. Just when I thought it wasn't possible to have any more voices/accents inside of him (at least 10-15), the story introduces someone new and he completely brings them to life. He dramatizes the words of Justin Swapp perfectly sparing you from no emotions. Not only was each character unique, but the range of tone, emotion, and delivery within each character provides a full and immersive experience. It is pure entertainment and I was saddened and dismayed that there wasn't more. What a performance.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A magical tale that left me wanting more!

As Marcus and Ellie finished their school year, they began working in the family business... The Magic Shop... and they quickly find out that there is much more to magic than just parlor tricks.

There are so many twists and turns in the storyline that I just couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens next!

A wonderful story by Justin Swapp and fantastic narration by Steve Barnes.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Magical!

Twins Marcus and Ellie are old enough to start learning the family business from their grandparents. Marcus is less than enthused at the thought of running the magic shop, but that’s not the family business Gramps and Granny are talking about! Marcus discovers he has a special gift and there are others who’d like to harness his gift for their own use.

The Magic Shop is an exciting listen, it has action, adventure, and thrills. The audiobook is geared towards older adolescence. I found The Magic Shop to be in the vein of the Chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter, by that I mean all ages will find this book a good listen.

Steve Barnes narrates and what a delight he is! His delivery and pacing is perfect for this genre. He has different voices for each and every character. I always knew which character was speaking and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Steve added so much energy to this production and made a good story even better. Narrators like Steve Barnes are the reason I continue to say to anyone who will listen, narrators ARE actors! The production quality in this nearly 12-hour audiobook is top-notch.

I'm so glad this book is the beginning of a series because there is so much more to explore in the world created by Justin Swapp.

This audiobook was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

interesting story about magic and secrets

an interesting story with magic and secrets and a lot of twists. The narrator also made a good job with the story.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

magic can confuse you

I was gifted this audio ARC from the author for a honest and unbiased review
This was a fun listening until the middle when it darkens in the middle. Adventure, magic, suspense, danger, mystery - all the things you need in a story are there. I think this story is geared closers to late teens than to tweens.
There were several great plot twists that actually kept me guessing until the end!
I RECOMMEND this book for lovers of adventure and the paranormal

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

magic and mystery with mayhem

kids that live above a magic shop not a real magic shop that is until they find out otherwise when they are asked to watch the shop for a while whent their grandparent go away for the day. then mayhem breaks loose.

A good fun story

The story was good, took a little while to get into but once it did it was a fun ride with some good characters. Leaves things open nicely for more too.

The narrator did voices well, his normal voice had an odd slightly nasal tone and occasionally a clipped kind of speech which took a bit of getting used to. The music at chapters was nice but carried on too loudly as the narrator started to speak but luckily not for too long so it didn't interfere with the story too badly.