Book Review and Recommendation: "Magic for Liars" by Sarah Gailey (Tor Books, 2019)

Image Credit: the author via Canva and background photo from jplenio at Pixabay

A teacher is found dead at magic school. Ivy Gamble, a non-magical private investigator, who is the twin sister of one of the teachers at the school, is brought in to investigate after the death is ruled accidental by authorities. Given the nature of the death, the school administration simply cannot believe that it was an accident. “Magic for Liars” combines the fantasy and psychological thriller genres. However, it goes beyond simply defying genres.

Ivy Gamble's character can be summed up when she says about herself:

“The thing about me is, I let things go. I let people go. I don’t know how to hang on to them—I try, but I hold too tight or not tight enough or something in between and they go. They always go.”

Not the Chosen One

In most books about magic schools (and there are quite a few), the protagonist is special, magical, and/or “chosen” in some way. However, the PI protagonist, Ivy Gamble, is non-magical. One of the main themes of the book is how to cope with not being “special.” However, that was just the beginning of the interesting twists and turns this story took.

Some People Didn’t Like the Protagonist, Ivy Gamble

I read several reviews of this book. This was Sarah Gailey’s first novel; it was a finalist for the Locus Award for best novel, and I am not surprised because it was very well put together. I was surprised that it was Gailey’s first novel because it was well-crafted and extremely interesting. Some of the reviews criticized the main character, stating that she was not particularly likeable. I found that to be peculiar because I really liked the main character.

I think the character appealed to me because she was honest and imperfect. Ivy Gamble is referred to as a liar, but I found honesty within her supposed lies. She reveals herself both in what she says and in what she doesn’t say. However, I wonder whether I liked her more because I digested this book in audiobook format, and the narrator, XE Sands, is truly excellent. XE Sands has won awards for narration, and she brings the character to life in a way that is wry, bitter, and that feels very real.

“Truth matters. Truth has always been the thing I'm after, the most important thing. But sometimes, to get to the truth, detours through fiction are necessary. That's the job.”

This Was a Particularly Entertaining Book

I listen to a large number of audiobooks, and it is not often that I find one that is so absorbing and interesting. Also, I can usually predict what will happen, and I did not predict the plot on this one at all.

I found it satisfying on a number of levels: the story was interesting and had unexpected twists. The characters were three dimensional and felt real to me. The school seemed like a real high school with magic in it rather than just another Hogwarts. The staff and students behaved more like how I imagine real teachers and students at a magical high school would act. For example, students used their magic to create graffiti, bully each other, etc.

Conclusion

I was sorry when I finished this book, which to me is the biggest sign that a book was excellent. While it was not literary fiction, it was well put together, and the themes were not trivial. By that, I mean it was not a simple whodunnit with magic added on, but rather it dealt with some difficult topics such as sisterhood, growing up, having a parent pass away, etc.

Trigger warnings for some people: topics covered include abortion, LGBQT+, magic (obviously) and cancer. There is also graphic violence. If any of that offends you, this book is not for you. I had a bit of difficulty with the graphic violence, but it was in support of the story, and I did not find it to be excessive. I am quite sensitive, but I have met people who are more sensitive on that front.

I would highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. I read it after reading “The Echo Wife,” also by Sarah Gailey, which I might review at another time. I really enjoyed “The Echo Wife,” and did not expect to enjoy “Magic for Liars” as much. I expected it to be just another magic school book. However, it was anything but that.

If you enjoy contemporary fantasy novels and murder mysteries, you will probably like this a lot. I would like to say more, but I don’t want to ruin it for you!

“I’ve never been good at recognizing what moments are important. What things I should hang on to while I’ve got them.”