The Bridge to Magic

by Alex Thornbury

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

ISBN: 978-0645497007

Print Length: 392 pages

Publisher: Shadow Lore Publishing

 An intriguing YA fantasy featuring harsh magic, a brutal world, and a tenacious hero

“The Bridge to Magic” by Alex Thornbury takes a unique and surprising approach to magic in the realm of Seramight. Unlike many fantasy stories where magic is assumed to be cheerful and benevolent, in this series, magic seeks to harm humans. Controlled by a select few known as tsaren, magic and its wielders were exiled. However, it continues to lure desperate individuals from the city of Terren across a bridge into an unknown fate that may be worse than death.

The story follows 15-year-old Elika, an orphan who has managed to survive in a harsh world devastated by Blight. In this frozen, starving realm, anyone suspected of possessing the remnants of old magic, known as “Echoes,” is purged as witches. Terren is a rough city, where infants are abandoned to die, and people resort to using blood and salt to fend off magic.

Elika appears to be the chosen one, marked with the “burning butterfly” symbol on her back and a connection to the bridge itself. She yearns to discover her origins, her identity, and her abilities. However, as her power grows, she grapples with the question of how to use it to help others without causing unintended harm. The magnitude of the humanitarian need overwhelms her, and she fears her power may rebound, causing even more damage.

“The Bridge to Magic” is an introspective novel that centers around Elika’s personal quest. Unaware of her destiny, she must choose which reality to pursue, with some paths potentially leading to obliteration. It poses the existential question of “to be or not to be,” challenging old assumptions along the way. The story provokes thought on ecological and civilizational collapse, reflecting the issues we face in our own world today. Thornbury delivers this tale with gravity and sensitivity, drawing attention to the difficulty of truly understanding events and determining effective actions. The language used in the narrative is repetitive in a meditative manner, evoking the surfacing of deep innate knowledge within Elika.

As the metaphysical system of the world is gradually unveiled, readers are prepared to consider alternate explanations for suffering and evil. The moral stakes of this world are firmly established in the first book, leaving readers intrigued to see how the collective knowledge of the people of Terren evolves in subsequent installments.

“The Bridge to Magic” by Alex Thornbury offers a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences of magic and the complexities of moral dilemmas. With its unique twist on the nature of magic and its potential for harm, the novel challenges assumptions and invites readers to question the true nature of reality. Thornbury’s storytelling combines gravity and sensitivity, making this series an intriguing addition to the fantasy genre.