Book Review: Denise Little’s The Magic Shop

Posted February 4, 2011 by Kathy Davie in Book Reviews

I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Source: the library
Book Review: Denise Little’s The Magic Shop

The Magic Shop


by

Denise Little


fantasy in a paperback edition that was published by DAW Books on February 3, 2004 and has 320 pages.

Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon


An anthology of 15 stories whose themes revolve around a magic shop. This is a nice collection as the stories vary greatly.

Susan Sizemore’s Every Little Thing She Does is a cute romance between a mundane and the owner of a not-too-successful magic shop in Scotland. Overtly, the stubborn Amanda pushes, pokes, and prods Trevor into helping her reduce the spiritual activity in her new-to-her home while covertly introducing him to the joys of outside activities.

P. N. Elrod’s Tarnished Linings is a grim introduction to the need to be careful what you wish for when using magic.

Jody Lynn Nye’s For Whom the Bell Tolled is a variation on the “be careful what you wish for” which ends happily. I suppose, in a short story, it is difficult to include much depth, yet I wish that there could have been just a bit more tension. It was just too easy…

India Edghill’s Winter Phoenix was a grim look at the overthrow of the Tsar at the beginning of the 20th century as it played on the Anastasia mystery. I did enjoy the happy ending. The shopping trip was extremely unbelievable and the walnut seemed rather pointless.

Laura Resnick’s Magic Keyboard was a lovely story of belief. Very clever usage of an age-old plot.

ElizaBeth Gilligan’s Off Key is a fun non-romance romance. Such a lovely promise of romantic hope.

Michelle West’s Dime Store Rings was very sweet and very sad…I cried. A story of family love and traditions around the Christmas holidays.

Bradley H. Sinor’s Grails was a fun bit of action. Intriguing characters with a unique way of finding the perfect employee. I’m hoping he’s written a series on this…

Josepha Sherman’s Mightier than the Sword is so very Murphy’s Law personified…I find myself hoping that maybe I can make use of this little trick!

Bill McCay’s Curse of the Itch is certainly unique with a combination of very long-life, a homunculus, a powerful artifact, and a young man’s on again-off again relationship.

Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s Assassin’s Dagger was one of my favorites. What can I say, a shop in France…who wouldn’t love it?? Another unique twist with Abracadabra as the head office with branch magic shops throughout the world has a roaming trouble fixer…with enemies…

Mel Odom’s Serpent of the Lakes is a Native American mythic tale with a unique magic shop as a young warrior fights to save his love.

Gary Braunbeck’s Hand Which Graces is a sad, heartwarming tale of one man’s personal discovery of the power of real magic.

Von Jocks’ Fairest brings a twist to the mirror from Snow White as it helps a young woman determine just where she fits in the workforce.

Rosemary Edghill’s Winter’s Tale is a twist on the Monkey’s Paw story. Not one of my Edghill favorites.