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H. L. Burke
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Beggar Magic Kindle Edition

by H. L. Burke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 153 ratings
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In Gelia City, magic is music – a constant, ever-changing melody known as the Strains. All can hear the Strains…but not everyone can use them equally.
Leilani is Common, able to do only the most mundane “beggar magic,” but when she befriends the gifted Highmost girl, Zebedy, she is swept into the gilded world of the upper class, who can access the magic’s full potential. Behind the polished, academic façade of the Highmost manors, the girls run headlong into danger. An unknown force is consuming the Strains, leaving heartrending silence behind. Desperate to save their beloved Strains, Leilani and Zebedy soon realize that solving the mystery may cost them their friendship, or even their lives.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    209 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    6 - 12
  5. Publication date
    December 9, 2014
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NYSOVLO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ KDP; 1st edition (December 9, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 9, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 538 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 209 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 153 ratings

About the author

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H. L. Burke

H. L. Burke

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Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .

Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
153 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

AmazonCustomer1
5.0 out of 5 stars An Utterly Charming Fairy Tale
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015
Verified Purchase
I downloaded Beggar Magic on a whim when it was offered for free, having no idea what a treat I was in for. This is a beautifully-written fairy tale in the style of Ella Enchanted and Princess Academy, with a likable, tenacious heroine and an intriguing kind of magic, seamlessly blended together for a satisfying read.

First off, the Strains. They are written with a mystery and deftness that makes the reader feel them as much as the characters do. Furthermore, Burke threads in subtle hints of their deeper purpose as helpers sent by the Maker, that hints towards her own faith. However, this isn’t a book that preaches. Rather, it sings.

Also, I love that the story revolves around a pair of very different best friends: Zebedy Brightly and Leilani Weaver. They have a realistic friendship that both acknowledges their differences in station and personality, but also has a great deal of humor, warmth, and love. Even when guys come into the mix, the story allows for teen-suitable romance, while still keeping the story focused on these two friends.

The romantic elements for both girls make sense. While the relationships seem to happen rather quickly, Burke builds in a decent amount of backstory and connection that make the affections believable. Zebedy and Leilani are sensible young ladies, aware that they have plenty of time to settle down, so don’t expect a marriage at the end of this book. Moreover, each of the gentlemen in question are plot-relevant and have their own distinct personalities and goals.

If I had one complaint? The story built up a lot of steam, but then wrapped up very quickly at the end. I would have liked to linger a little more in the city of Gelia before having to leave, especially since this is a one-off story. Still, all the threads are sorted out well, and I finished the book content.

That isn’t to say I wouldn’t read a second, if the author was so inclined…

Final Verdict: an utterly charming, original YA fairy tale with a spunky, sensible heroine and a unique kind of magic. This is an indie gem that is suitable for teens and adults, and well worth the $3 for the eBook (although with that cover, I might have to splurge and buy a paperback copy).
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reader and teacher
4.0 out of 5 stars Unique Take on Magic
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
Summary: Leilani and Zebedy overcome the cast differences to become fast friends and become embroiled in a mystery that

Additional Comments:
What I didn’t like:
- The narration was okay overall, but Zeb’s voice in particular sounded like a perpetually whiny 10-yr-old child.
- Repeated use of “strains” as an expression. (“strains this” and “oh strains that” … at one pt I believe there was even an “oh, strains, the Strains can be…” expression)
- There were a few plot points that didn’t seem to add much yet detracted from “kid appeal.” Generally, the story’s suitable for middle grade.
- The characters whine, a lot.

Neutral:
- The book had a little trouble picking a mood. It started as a “girls from opposite worlds come together as friends tale” then morphed into a “Nancy Drew-like mystery” then turned into a teen romance and finally wrapped up as a feel-good “let’s fix our broken world” story.
- Title’s unique but doesn’t really capture the story.

What I liked:
- Brick. (Can’t say much more without spoilers.)
- The tiffs that happen between the friends are well done.
- The world-building was unique. The idea of magic being music is very interesting. I don’t think that aspect was as developed as it could be because one of the main characters was somebody who had trouble accessing it.
- The ending contained a few neat twists. Some of them were a little too “convenient” but as a whole, the last hour was highly satisfying.
- The characters are likeable.
- The writing is high quality.

Conclusion: It’s definitely a worthwhile read.
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Deborah O'Carroll
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique steampunk fantasy featuring friendship, magic, and mystery
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
Ten Thoughts on Beggar Magic:

1. Another fun yet genre-defying read! (Apparently I really love those. XD) It started out like a mild Steampunk story with elements of very original fantasy, and then turned into a sort of academy-story, which turned into a murder mystery, and all with a strong thread of friendship and a dash of romance. Basically it was great. :D

2.The world was super interesting! It’s a psuedo-19th-century kind of feel, with a Steampunk flavor, but some other parts of it seem kind of more old-fashioned. I loved the fantasy element of the “Strains” which are musical wisps of something like magic/sprites. There are class-distinctions based on how well you can hear/use the Strains. And much of the story takes place in a sort of academy thing in an intriguingly-arranged city with different sections specializing in different things. Anyway, for some reason I found the whole world and setup super fascinating. I could also see everything SO clearly. And the “costumes” and rifles and just—LOVE!

3. There were several directions I would think the story was going, but it kept doing something totally different and unexpected. I don’t know if that means I’m disappointed, or if it means it was awesome because it was so surprising and original and kept me on my toes! I guess I’m not actually disappointed, just... mentioning it was different than I thought. It also got QUITE intense near the end there! I kept forgetting to breathe. o.o

4. Brick! I really liked Brick. :D Brick is a deaf guard who is absolutely epic but also kindhearted and sweet—basically Brick is awesome and he was my favorite. :) All the parts with him were the best. <3

5. Leilani, our heroine, was all right—for some reason I felt a little detached from her? But I liked her okay. I thought it was neat how in most books she’d be considered the “side-kick” and Zebedy would be the hero, but Leilani got to be the heroine of this. :D Leilani only has “beggar magic” which means she isn’t particularly gifted or special, like Zebedy is... so normally, Zebedy would be the heroine and main character, and I thought it was neat how it’s basically a story from the POV of the “chosen one’s” side-kick. So cool!

6. Zebedy was spoiled and I didn’t usually like her too much, but I didn’t always dislike her either... and sometimes I felt sorry for her... Eh, I don’t know. I might have liked her more if the story was from her perspective, but like I said above, I did like how it was told from Leilani’s POV.

7. Leilani’s and Zebedy’s friendship was really cute (if occasionally rather trying, as many besties-stories can be...). :) As were... other relationships which are spoilers. Much cuteness all-around! <3 EEP. My little adorableness-loving heart is VERY happy. ^_^ (Especially with how everything turned out at the end. :))

8. I was really surprised by Vickers’ character—at first I SUPER disliked him (and for some reason thought he was way younger than he was), but somewhere along the way I realized I’d actually... grown to like him. o.o Rather a lot, actually! I wished we could have seen more of Vickers. But this hardly ever happens where I dislike a character but then end up absolutely loving them! So kudos on that.

9. THERE WAS A PLOT TWIST. WHICH I SUDDENLY GUESSED DUE TO A SUBTLE HINT. AND I WANTED IT TO BE TRUE. AND THEN IT WAS. AND IT MADE ME HAPPY. :D

10. Overall, there were a couple things—hard to pinpoint—which kept this from becoming a top-favorite-of-all-time, but it still seems to deserve a spot on the 5-star list, and on the whole it was a super fascinating, suspenseful, original read, and funny with great dialog too! I’m actually super fond of this story and really enjoyed it! :)

Favorite Quotes

“Jess and I do not flirt. We converse.”

“I didn't know conversing involved so much eye-batting.”

***

“Walk like a lady.”

Like a quick lady, Leilani decided.

***

“It’s a long story, but Vicky is my nemesis.”

Leilani mulled over this as the girls took the path back to the maze entrance. She had never known anyone with a nemesis before.

***

Leilani hoped she wouldn't lose her ability to think if she ever fell in love.

***

“I don’t understand it either, but Art fellows like things that don’t make sense.”

***

“That’s Art. They get all the odd ones.”

***

“Vickers Buffet, eighteen.”

“That is Buffet as in to hit someone repeatedly with a blunt object? Correct?” A smile played about Zeb’s mouth.

Vickers smirked at her. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Not really. Did you get that, Leilani?”

Leilani quickly scratched out the information. “Vickers Buffet, eighteen, likes to hit things repeatedly with blunt objects. Check.”

***

[Leilani reading a book:] It was a romance, the dry kind where the boy and girl fought for foolish reasons, and she kind of hoped one or both would die before the end.

***

“Did you come here just to insult my office?” [Vickers, of course. He is awesome. XD]
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Top reviews from other countries

CC
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Adventure with Steampunk Inspiration!!!
Reviewed in Italy on April 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this story very much. The characters are unique from one another, the world-building is well thought out, and there are frequent surprises. There is mystery, adventure, some drama, and humor. A very fun read! There are a few moral predicaments that keep things interesting. Magic is used by way of creatures called the Strains, but it is not overdone.
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Canadian Panko
4.0 out of 5 stars intelligent character and her friendship with Zeb is a real ...
Reviewed in Canada on April 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a book I will read again and again. Leilani is a spunky, intelligent character and her friendship with Zeb is a real treat. Together these girls make up a great team, and even though the plot can be predictable at times, the unique world and great characters make up for that. I would definitely recommend giving it a read!
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Katharina Gerlach (Indie Autorin)
5.0 out of 5 stars turn this into a series, please (say someone who hates series)
Reviewed in Germany on March 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
The characters in this novel sprang of the first page, grabbed me by the hand and dragged me along for the ride. At first, they felt younger than they were meant to be but that changed as soon as they learned a bit more about their world. The prejudice against the lower castes could have been shown a bit more to drive the point home, but this was such a minor issue that it's not worth taking a point off of a thoroughly enjoyable read. I hope to be able to return to this world some time in the future (hint...)
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S. Naomi Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth every star (contains spoliers)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
It's quite rare for me to give a book five stars, so when I tell you that this one deserves all five of them I'm not messing. I've previously read (and enjoyed) indie author H. L. Burke's fantasy series, The Dragon & The Scholar, so I already had some strong expectations when I started Beggar Magic, and it's fair to say that her latest work has exceeded those expectations.

This novel is set in a world where a form of magical energy known as the Strains exists, and can be manipulated by the citizens to varying degrees. The Highmost have the most control over the Strains, while the Common can only use the Strains to a much lesser degree, referred to as the Beggar Magic of the title. And then there are the Wordless, those who never had (due to deafness) or have lost (as a result of causing a violent death) their ability to hear the Strains. This disparity has led to a society of two layers, with the Highmost occupying a more privileged position, while the Common and the Wordless are treated almost as vassals by their apparent superiors.

The story follows the adventures of a Common Weaver's daughter (Leilani) and a Highmost student (Zebedy) as they meet, form a friendship and work together to uncover and attempt to stop a plot that threatens to silence the strains forever. Along the way the two girls find love, help to break down the barriers of social standing and overcome a number of challenges to their friendship.

Overall I found this to be a fun read, with likeable characters and a well-paced and easily read story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The fact that the main characters are bound to win out and get through their adventures in one piece is almost guaranteed from the start, simply due to the style and genre of story being presented; I personally think it would be shocking beyond belief if the author killed off any of her protagonists because her writing (so far) simply hasn't shown any of that sort of darkness. That isn't to say there aren't any surprises or deaths, but for me the surety that the good guys will prevail is a welcome relief from all the dystopian, tragedy filled YA works doing the rounds at the moment.

With Beggar Magic H. L. Burke once again shows that self-published fiction can be an absolute pleasure to read, and I genuinely recommend this and the author's earlier works to anyone who likes their fantasy with a subtle hint of humour, a strong sense of fast-paced adventure and an unwritten promise that the primary good guys are almost certainly going to make it to the end in one piece and live happily ever after.
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GR
5.0 out of 5 stars Great plot. A love story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
Elegant, simple style. Great plot. A love story. You can’t ask for more.
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