The Smell of Magic by Mike Lewis

The Smell of Magic Reviews

• 
  Jen

  LOVED that ending. Not sure why those Revealed has to die, but maybe there are more stories in this world. I would definitely read them! 5, I want more, stars!
• 
  Magda Żmijan

  Sometimes you should read a story just once. When you read it the second time, you start seeing the flaws.
  
  This is a very short story, barely 14 pages (at least that’s what Amazon says). I’ve read it for the first time few years ago and apparently I really liked it. This time the story wasn’t that good.
  
  The smell of magic is about a witch hunter in training. Kelde is traveling with his master from village to village and uses his enhanced smell to Reveal future witches. The time had come for him to come back to his home village. He’s able to meet his family and his love.
  
  Problem is, that during two years people change.
  
  This story felt like an introduction to something bigger, but it seems there’s no continuation. It has a potential. Young protagonist, only starting his witch hunting life, he’ll have a lot to think of after the events in this story.
  
  I like the idea of various magic skills having a specific smell. Person having a talent for shape shifting will have different scent than someone using fire magic.
  
  For a story so short author manages to include everything that was needed to create a full image of situation. There was very little space for characters feeling though and maybe that’s why I didn’t like the story that much at the second reading.
  
  When I got the story from Amazon it was still free, it’s not any more. I have to say, after reading it now, I wouldn’t recommend buying it.
  
  
  See this review and more at:
  https://maginibooks.wordpress.com/201...
• 
  Mike

  This edition is actually just the story "The Smell of Magic," not a collection as indicated in the description. The collection is titled "The Smell of Magic and Other Stories."
  
  Apprentice Kelde returns to his home town to help his master with the annual Revealing Ceremony. They use their well honed senses of smell to test children who have reached the appropriate age to identify those touched by magic... and execute any they find.
  
  The writing is decent and the world and premise are very interesting, but the story itself is cliched and doesn't live up to its potential. Didn't enjoy it nearly as much as other things I have read by Lewis.
• 
  NaiNai

  The blurb pretty much gives away the plot twist: naturally Shara has magic. The premise is interesting (such a strong emphasis on the sense of smell), although I would liked to have seen more of a twist put in: some commentary on Kelde's reaction to Shara having magic, perhaps. The whole plot feels very...inevitable; there aren't really any twists.
  
  For some reason, this story puts me in mind of The Lottery, which despite also having a somewhat obvious "twist", still managed to add interest.
• 
  rameau

  This is a short story that hints at a bigger story and leaves the reader thoroughly unsatisfied. I guess there was a plot and a point, but I'm struggling to understand what that could've been.
  
  I was very lucky to get this when it was free on Amazon. It just wasn't not for me.
• 
  Katie

  Wasn't a satisfying read. I guess there was a story, but there wasn't much of a plot and I just felt like I was observing a day in the characters life with a depressing ending.
• 
  Fiona (Titch) Hunt

  I started this book 2 days ago and even tho it's a short story, it packed a punch and was a good quick read (just a shame life got in the way lol.)
• 
  Deep S

  Interesting concept for the story and quiet interesting ending