I like Mondays. I also like magic. I figured I’d combine the two and make a Monday feature that is truly me: a little bit of magic and a look at the week ahead.

Smoke and Mirrors by Mike Costa, Ryan Browne (Illustrator), Fiona Staples (Illustrator), Jon Armstrong

ENTER A WORLD OF MAGIC! Stage magician Terry Ward is thrust into a world where magic — not technology — rules, and forced to use trickery and illusions to survive! But will that prove to be enough when the dangers of the world start compounding—how can a sleight of hand artist compete with users of practical spells? (via Goodreads)

Mix comics writer Mike Costa, talented illustrators Ryan Browne and Fiona Staples, and magician Jon Armstrong together and what do you get? An enjoyable slice of speculative fiction with lots of magic Easter eggs. I had Smoke and Mirrors on my Goodreads wishlist for so long that I’d forgotten what it was about. When I came into some Comixology credit (Thanks, Dewey’s Readathon!), I knew I wanted it enough that I bought it with no review. I was a little concerned that the concept of a “mundane” magician in a magical world would wear thin, but it worked. I was left wanting more after I finished the run. For a fan of magic history, there are plenty of references in the story with some “Did you know?” info blocks at the end of each issue. And they’re not *just* about Houdini. Each issue also included a self working trick. Bonus!

Publishing info, my copy: eComic, IDW Publishing, October 23rd 2012
Acquired: May 30, 2016, Comixology
Genre: fantasy

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other Magical Tales

The 24 in 48 Readathon is this weekend! No clue what I’m going to read when I finish the above. I had hesitated to sign up because we might have had travel plans for August and I knew I didn’t want another June on my hands (with nearly every weekend booked up). But, semi-sadly, no trip to Colorado for us. Instead, a clear summer of not-much-of-anything. Which is kinda nice.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, hosted by Book Date!