Uncertain Magic

Newmarket Heath, 1797

Roderica Delamore clutched hard at the billowing silk folds of her father’s pavilion as the horses came pounding down the turf. The blood-bay stallion was in the lead, a flash of living fire, pulling away from the challenger with each ground-eating stride as the crowd’s rumble gathered to a piercing howl. The noise and emotion rose up around Roddy like a breaking wave, beating at her, drowning her, crushing the barriers that she’d built in her mind. Her cursed gift laid her open to everything, the sound, the sight, the combined aggression and excitement of ten thousand screaming spectators. The intensity of emotion threatened to overwhelm her, and she tore the silk with her twisting fingers as she sought madly for some way to block it out.

Her parents had been right—she should never have come. She should have stayed home on the quiet Yorkshire estate where her father raised his blooded running stock, safe in the country solitude. She was not ready for this; she’d had no concept of what it would be like to suffer the full force of her talent in the grip of a hysterical crowd. In desperation she narrowed her concentration to the animals, pushing away the tide of human feeling with terrific effort.

The trick worked. The impact of the crowd faded and changed, becoming a background roar of sound as Roddy let herself be sucked into the mind of the stallion in the lead, the bright bay, whose will and power filled her like a flood of molten fire. Her world became the world of the racehorse: the taste of copper and foam, the smell of sweat and crushed grass and hot wind; stretching, seeking, ears flicked back to the thunder of the challenger, eyes focused on the terrain ahead, reaching and reaching and reaching forward—

The sudden pain struck her as if it were her own. It shot down the stallion’s left foreleg, and he broke stride for one fraction of a second, sending the jockey’s live weight forward onto the horse’s shoulders. The whip flashed, not hitting, but the brandishment was enough. The stallion sprang ahead. The pain increased. It grew, spreading across the animal’s chest and striking into his neck and right leg. Still he ran, defying it, his stallion’s mind set in aggression and pride—stay ahead, stay ahead, damn the pain—while Roddy pressed her fists to her mouth and bit down until her knuckles bled with vicarious agony.

In a back corner of her mind she was aware of fear, a human dread of the moment when the great beast would collapse and take down his jockey and the challenger behind in a savage tangle of flesh and hooves. She’d felt this kind of pain before, at home, when an exhausted gelding had collapsed of heart failure after a twenty-mile race between parish steeples. It was death, close and dreadful, and yet the stallion drove on, opening the lead. His stride lengthened, his black-tipped legs devouring turf like the rhythmic spokes of a giant wheel. As he neared the finish, the crowd noise rose to a crescendo. The pair flashed by Roddy. She was screaming, too, hardly aware of the tears that streamed down her cheeks for the animal’s pain and courage, for the will that carried him past the finish a full length ahead of his rival, for the spirit that made him toss his head and fight the restraining hand of his jockey when every single step was anguish. She broke from her hiding place in the pavilion, in the rough stableboy’s clothes and the cap she’d worn to conceal her bright blond curls, and pushed with unfeminine force through the mob that closed in on the victor.

She reached the stallion just as the silk-clad jockey swung off. A groom ran forward to take the puffing animal’s bridle; his hand clashed with Roddy’s as they both lunged. Roddy’s fingers closed first and she tore the reins away.

“Yo!” he shouted amid the din, and made a move to yank them back.

Roddy screamed, “Don’t move him!” forgetting entirely she was supposed to be a boy.

“He’ll die if you move him now!”

“Are ye crazed?” the groom cried. Roddy stumbled under his shove, then gritted her teeth and held her ground.

The stallion stood still beside her, awash in pain. He lowered his head, giving in to weakness for the first time, and at that motion the protests of the groom faded momentarily. But the man’s pride was aroused now, his authority questioned. Roddy felt the stallion begin to tremble in delayed reaction. The groom made another grab for the reins. He captured them, pushing Roddy aside as he led the horse forward.

The stallion faltered, and went to his knees. All around, a dismayed cry flew up, and then a cheer as the horse clambered back to all fours. Roddy gave the groom a savage look. She felt the man’s antagonism, sharp and quick as a stabbing knife in the wash of emotion from the crowd. She knew before he did it that he was going to drag the horse forward again. “Damn you! Don’t—” she shouted, and found herself cut short by another voice that sliced across the noise.

“Leave it, Patrick. Let him stand.”

Roddy stiffened, unused to being taken by surprise. She did not turn toward the newcomer—that was habit—but opened her special gift to his mind, expecting to pluck out a name and identity before she even saw his face. Instead, she found only blankness.

That jolted her. She focused her gift more sharply. But the other remained a silence, a void, as disconcerting as the space where a newly lost tooth should have been.

A bubble of panic rose to her throat. For the first time in her life, Roddy felt herself reaching out instead of turning away, probing for emotion or thought instead of rejecting it. When finally she turned, it was as if she could not quite see the man beside her; only a vague figure, tall and elegant in a black coat and doeskin breeches. She spared a single glance up into his face. His features came into focus with a sudden, wrenching clarity. He stood quite still amid the clamor, watching her intently, his eyes a startling blue beneath thick black lashes— light against dark, like the bright evening sky behind stark silhouettes. The expression on his fiercely carved face was closed, set in lines impossible to read. She blinked stupidly and gaped, like a person set down in a foreign country, unable to cope with an unknown tongue.

The silence spread to the watching throng, the real silence, the one her ears heard instead of her mind. Shouts and talk faded into hush. And in the crowd-thoughts behind the silence she found a name.

Her eyes widened. She looked quickly toward the stranger from under her lashes.

Saints preserve us.

Iveragh. The Devil Earl of Ireland.

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Laura Kinsale. The book is set in England around the 1790’s. At first I didn’t know what to expect because some romance novels from era’s long before mine can be difficult to follow. Laura’s story flows well and the way it is written is extremely easy to follow. Laura has considered her book "Uncertain Magic" to be labeled as a paranormal romance.

In the story we follow two complete opposites, the heroine of the book Roderica has the ability to read minds, this Irish girl has a bit of magic up her sleeve. Roderica wants to learn to shut off her ability as it gets quite irritating hearing everyone’s thoughts. She only wants peace, happiness, and ease of mind, oh and also a man who’s mind she can’t read so she can be in love and eventually marry.

As you continue to read the story she becomes paired up with a quite interesting fellow by the name of Faelan who everyone calls "The Devil Earl". He is the only man she’s come across who she can’t read, which overjoys her and they are soon married. Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it, I’m sure you’ve heard that saying. Roderica learns more and more that not being able to read Faelan’s mind is driving her mad, because there is a lot more to nice sweet side of Faelan and the darker side of "The Devil Earl" and a lot more she’s curious to find out.

This book has a lot of surprises, I was on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen in the end because it wasn’t the ending I was thinking of , the story simply ends quite magically, you’ll only know exactly what I mean when you finish reading this wonderful book!


Roddy has a "gift"—or as she thinks of it, a curse—that allows her to hear the mind and feel the emotions of every human and animal on earth. Because of this, and her family history, she knows she will never be married, never have her own family… because what man wants every single thought and emotion on display for his wife? Past failed marriages in the family have shown her that her happiness is a hopeless cause… until she meets one man whom she does not have access to his thoughts and feelings. So Roddy takes things into her own hands. She realizes a little too late what kind of man she’s gotten interested in her: Lord Iveragh. The Devil Earl of Ireland.

She carries out her plan, however, and he seems to like her enough to marry her. But The Devil Earl is hiding things from her… and possibly himself. Roddy finds that she can help him… but it will require more than she may be willing to give. If she doesn’t, though, she will loose him forever… and maybe loose herself, too.

I loved Uncertain Magic. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading it. It was certainly a romance, and a very good one at that. But it was so much more than a romance novel: It was a clever blend of romance, adventure, historical events, family secrets, and Gaelic magic. The plot incorporated a rebellion in Ireland, smuggling, murder, and magic. There were horse races, escaping soldiers, and midnight balls with the dead.

The relationship between Roddy and Faelan (Lord Iveragh) started off a little random: a chance meeting, Roddy saving his horse from a heart attack, her pretending to be a stable boy and bragging on his employer (herself, of course) and Faelan seeing through it and embarrassing her. As it continued, I was a little surprised at the speed it progressed: They were married by chapter five. But them being married though the book was such an important aspect, that I understood it later. Of course, no marriage is perfect, and many romances are victims of happyland syndrome, where their relationship is so perfect that it’s almost Holy.

Not this one.

There were misunderstandings, tears, heartbreak, scandals, possible affairs, redemption, and healing. And plenty of love-making.

With that said: the characters were great. Roddy was sweet and soft, but she had her spunk and I liked her immediately (especially when she took out a rude stableboy with a single kick). Faelan was, as his nickname describes him, a devil—but he was good that way. He was a little obnoxious, he had his sarcastic moments, and he certainly had his pride. He’s the kind of dark secretive hero that everyone looks for… but with a touch of madness—or maybe magic—to make him even more mysterious. I love Roddy, I adore Faelan, and his mother (let’s just say she never. shuts. up.) makes me laugh… the characters in this story are gems.

Just as I didn’t expect the twisting exciting plot, I didn’t expect the writing to be so good. It felt great to read, and the dialogue was easy to speak and felt natural. It flowed well, and was descriptive and lyrical. I liked the way Kinsale described Roddy experiencing everyone else’s thoughts and emotions, and I liked the way she didn’t over-describe everything—every little facial expression, every little movement—leaving out some for your imagination, but added enough description to allow you to see everything.

There were disappearing faeries and blind men who could see (try figuring that one out!) and missing chunks of time… all tied up beautifully at the end. Although it was, at first, a little confusing to figure out what had just happened on the last few pages, I loved the ending. There wasn’t quite enough closure, but it didn’t need to be closed: it was more like an opening for their new life together. After reading it, you know what will happen… so it doesn’t need to be said.

This is probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, and it demands a re-read in the future.



Originally published in 1987, UNCERTAIN MAGIC is a romance with heart. Faelan Savigar, the “Devil Earl,” has a dangerous reputation and dark moods. Roderica Dalamore is used to being treated differently and just hopes for a man who won’t look at her as different. She can see something in Faelan that others cannot. He possesses something special and she is determined to be apart of his life. These two have to work for their love more than most and their perseverance is rewarded with a deep and everlasting love. This is a fantastic historical that has definitely stood the test of time.

the book girl gives UNCERTAIN MAGIC a 5/5


Nine-teen year old Roddy and 35-ish Faelan are quite the pair. He has the delvish looks of dark hair and blue eye, while Roddy resembles a fairy with her golden wispy hair, slight form, and odd all seeing gray eyes. Roddy has a telepathic gift, so when she has a chance meeting with Faelan, the Devil Earl, and she can’t read his mind, she sets her marriage hopes on him. Never mind his devilish reputation, she just knows he is her only hope for a good and normal life. Plus there is just something about her that makes her breathe quicken. Faelan stirs up emotions in Roddy she never knew she had.

The pair marry quickly and set for his estate of Iveragh, in a remote corner of Ireland. Need I say more? Ireland with its magical history and eartheal beauty is the perfect setting for these two. Roddy and Faelan fall deeper in love with each other during the course of the tale, despite each harboring a secret from the other. There is some mystery and a wee bit of intrigue included as well. And lets not forget, the passionate love scenes as well.

This story has all of the elements I like in a story, however I had a few issues. First, Roddy was initially presented as a headstrong, risky girl. She seemed strong and determined. However, as the story continued, Roddy changed into a shy, sometimes petulant child. I felt like this was not the girl that I started with in the story. My second issue may in fact be influencing how I view Roddy. Faelan calls Roddy his "little girl" quite often. She was much younger and immature than him, I get it. However, the "little girl" started to creep me out, especially when he would say it and then passionately kiss her. I’m not a prude, but come on.

My last issue was Faelan’s secret and the magical element of the story. I kept waiting to find out what this big secret was, and when I did I thought it was meh. The book was a originally published in 1987, so maybe it had a bigger impact back then. Today you could trip over the number of books with magical elements in them. It has become commonplace.

I think these issues are minor because they certainly didn’t stop me from finishing the book. If anything I am curious to read Kinsale’s other works.


Roderica Delamore has been gifted with the ability to feel and experience the emotions of everyone around her, both in humans and animals, which she oftentimes feels is more of a curse than a blessing. She fears that she will never experience love or have a family, until she meets The Devil Earl, who seems to be the one person that she cannot “feel”, so she offers him her fortune in the hopes of having an amicable marriage of convenience with the dream of a loving relationship.

Faelan, The Devil Earl, is a brooding and haunted hero who believes the worst of himself and decides to throw caution to the wind at an early age and earn the title he has been given. His past and his memories surrounding the death of his father have led him and the Ton to believe that he murdered his father. His guilt drives him to lead a life of reckless abandon, until he finds Roddy. She becomes his desperate chance to save his soul as well as his Irish estate.

Their journey to love takes them from the English countryside, to the hustle and bustle of London, and finally to the wilds of the Irish estate that had been abandoned and neglected where they find themselves embroiled an Irish revolt against English rule, as well as Faery magic. Roddy and Fealan’s story is rich in emotion, love and experiences that I loved from beginning to the end.

I loved UNCERTAIN MAGIC! It’s not a new release, rather a re-release of the same title previously published in 1987. I found it interesting that it felt like a book that was written decades ago, not because it seems dated, but because the plot is much more expansive than romance novels that are currently being published. It’s approximately 455 pages, whereas most romances today are usually no more than 350 pages (if that), and I think that allowed the author much more freedom to explore the hero and heroines love story in much more depth with many twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end. I would have given it a perfect 5.0 stars, but I thought the ending was a little weak after the magic of the rest of the story. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical romance....with just a touch of magic.

Lauren Kinsale adds the magic and the zing to storytelling. Not only is the cover extremely gorgeous, but also the story within it. I love books that include a bit of a background on the history of the setting. It captures my undivided attention to see that the author spent time researching on the characters and the place they wrote about. For example: Ireland and its beauty. The book was exciting and different. The author introduces us to Roddy who has the ability to read ones thoughts and emotions. Can you imagine being a psychic in a historical romance novel? The heroine seeks for love and passion, but most importantly acceptance. Finally she meets a man who sees Roddy for who she is and not just the gift she has. Faelen’s character is strong, witty and quiet. Overall this book ended and started very well.


Premise: Shy British aristocrat with psychic talent enters marriage of convenience with impoverished Irish aristocrat of infamous reputation and politically risky friends.

Cover: Title - Admirably brief and descriptive of content, possible that it might not stand out among the plethora of titles including ’Magic’ these days but that may be irrelevant given the amount of real estate devoted to author name relative to title. Clearly (and very understandably) this book is intended to sell on writerly reputation. Art - in a welcome change from nekkid anonymous manchest (as seems to adorn way too many bookcovers), an embracing couple with the man interested in the embrace and the woman multitasking, embracing with her arms while either appraising the value of the distant twilit castle in her head. Or, perhaps, planning to put her barefoot status to good use by wading the adjecent river. Purple color, stormish sky and swirl of miniscule starbursts (which Apprentice Writer was very tempted to interpret as dandelion seeds) reflect the drama within. Overall - accurate and attractive but not especially memorable.

What Works: As with the previous two Kinsale novels AW has read, the aspect that stands out the most in this story is quality of writing; this is a much appreciated attribute to someone whose most recent DNF was due to the word ’sardonic’ appearing three times in the first ten pages and a paragraph of breathless heroine admiration of the hero’s eyes being followed by with yet another paragraph of same.

UM has marvelous scene-setting, evocative details that intensified emotion without making it seem hyperbolic, natural-sounding dialogue. All serving to support the heart of the story: the description of how two very (with good reason) guarded personalities reach out to one another and develop their willingness to trust even when events seem to point to the wisdom of doing the opposite. Seeing them move past their preconceived notions and insecurities was a joy, and the scenes where each respectively chooses to stand by her man or his woman in the face of opposition were cathartic.

Inclusion of an unusual animal character has become something of a Kinsale trademark and UM is no exception. Given that the hero and heroine are brought together by mutual interest in horses it would not have been surprising if the special animal character were equine, but AW was delighted to find the recurring cameo role occupied by someone else: MacLasser, the redoubtable piglet. In her view, any author who can incorporate swine into everyday aristocratic life is worth reading.

Also unusual in a historical hero (at least those this reader has met) was Faelan’s manner of dealing with stress. Rather than riding or boxing or drinking or playing cards or picking fights with blameless individuals, he plows fields, and doesn’t give a damn when his friends tease him about his fascination with planting potatoes and oat crop rotation. AW found it endearing and a refreshing change.

What Doesn’t
Writing manuals warn newbie writers against including too much backstory, and exhort them to ’show, don’t tell’. In general, AW appreciates that this makes novels more readably streamlined, less clunky. In this case, she wished for a more explicit detail. She didn’t really understand the motivation of a dubious friend character to take actions that could bring massive destruction on the heads of the local population. While the motivation for the initial destructive interference in the hero’s life on the part of the villain was convincing, AW didn’t understand why and how the villain engaged in subsequent acts of hero sabotage.

Finally, the heroine repeatedly and for good reason reflects on fears of rejection once her husband learns of her gift in reading the minds and emotions of people and animals around her. By the end of the story, it’s clear that he accepts and loves her no matter what, but given the number of times her fear was articulated it left this reader feeling vaguely unsatisfied that the couple didn’t actually talk about it.

These are the kinds of things that make AW wish to able to ask the author to comment on, either to learn where the author dropped hints that AW may have missed, or to understand the thinking behind the choices made. Thoughts, Gentle Reader?

Overall
A romantic tale of people overcoming personal, social, and political odds to be together and do the right thing in a time of turbulence. Recommended for fans of romance and light fantasy (i.e. the story has an occasional extraordinary embellishment rather than being primarily about magic and suchlike).



Ok, first off let me say this: Faelan Savigar...how cool a hero name is that?? I love it. Anyway, this book starts a bit slow and ends a bit slow but everything in it is awesome. I can push through some slow parts for an excellent read and this is one. The main characters are still swimming around in my head after reading the book. I feel like I took the adventure with them and I am still breathless from having done so. Roddy and Faelan are desperate for each other and neither of them really know how much the other person really needs them. The reader sees it just fine but this is one of those books where you are yelling at the characters to stop being stupid. It doesn’t work, save your breathe, they wouldn’t listen.

There is so much passion between these two, I will say that. There is also magic both in the book and in the characters’ feeling for one another. There are some WONDERFUL scenes in this book, to include a trip into fairyland and a sort of fairy ball. It is so cool, the wit and vision this author has. There is also some heartbreak in this book. You will almost tear up and yet again yell at the characters. Take a deep breathe, it will be alright. This is one of those books where the author has no problem torturing her characters and taking them to the brink, along with the reader. Can you ride along?


Laura Kinsale never fails to deliver — from the very first moment Roddy and Faelan meet, I couldn’t help but be swept into their world. Kinsale has a talent for bringing her tale to life, from the realistic details of how Roddy’s gift affects her life, her family’s reaction to her, to how she fell straight for someone she finally couldn’t read and her visceral reaction to Senach.

This particular story kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering about Faelan, about the story behind Roddy’s gift, and about what would happen to the revolt. I thought that the tie in of history and religion was particularly well done, especially with regards Faelan’s parents. I did wish that Roddy’s gift was explained a bit more, because in the end I felt that Senach and Fionn didn’t answer as many questions as they raised.

What I truly enjoy about Kinsale’s romances is that although there’s no lack of drama, angst, and strange things going bump in the night, there’s always the definite knowledge that there’s a deep and abiding love. The characters themselves may lose sight sometimes, but overall, there’s a sweetness and tenderness to her writing that is priceless.

I can’t wait for the next book to come out, for more of Kinsale’s particular brand of magic.

A Night Owl Romance Top Pick!


This is an magical read with an enchanting heroine and a dark, brooding hero!

Roderica, “Roddy”, is a brave 19 year old who longs to live a “normal” live. Instead, she struggles with her “curse” that allows her to hear the thoughts of others. Her wealthy family has sheltered her, partly from fear of others learning of her “gift” and partly because it can be overwhelming for Roddy to be among crowds. That doesn’t exactly keep Roddy from sneaking out, especially to indulge her special touch with the horses. Roddy also shows great fortitude in adapting to new and difficult circumstances.

Faelan is called “The Devil Earl” because it is widely believed that he killed his father as a boy of 10 or 11. He is aloof, dark and enigmatic. Since people view him as dangerous he seems suited to play the part. Because he really does have memory lapses and doesn’t know what crimes and injuries he has caused he tends to keep everyone at arms length rather than risk possibly hurting others.

Roddy is able to convince “The Devil Earl” to strike his winning horse before it is injured. She is shocked that her gift doesn’t work with the Earl. Even so, she is able to see natural respect and kindness, and also loneliness, underneath his public mask. She decides to marry him because she thinks she could have a “normal” life with him. The Earl is willing to marry her because he desperately wants her extensive dowry to rebuild his deteriorated Irish estate, but he is also intrigued by this daring and entrancing creature. Roddy wants to help solve the puzzle of his memory loss but is hindered by his pushing her away out of fear of what harm he might even, or especially, unknowingly cause.

Roddy and Faelan begin to learn more about each other and slowly build respect, companionship and some trust. Unfortunately the trust issues are thwarted by imagined betrayals on both sides. Faelan believes that Roddy still has a crush on her childhood friend, Lord Geoffrey, who is a good friend of Faelan’s and a known philanderer. Roddy believes that Faelan is still seeing his mistress and she struggles with trying to accept that when she really desperately wants his love.
Add to these difficulties, Faelan’s mother, Lady Iveragh who shows up before the newly weds can leave for Ireland. She is a constant whirlwind with a mind in such turmoil that Roddy can only read brief flashes of fear and dark, troubling thoughts. Her behavior gives some insight into Faelan’s own aloof character.

The emotional struggles of the couple are intensified by the fear and turmoil provided by Irish rebellion and English brutality in 1797. The interesting political upheaval is seamlessly woven into the story as are the paranormal, fae and magical elements. I enjoy Ms. Kinsale’s very smooth writing style. This is a truly delightful and engaging romance.


Ireland is a land of mist and magic. Laura Kinsale draws on the legends and fairy tales of Ireland to bring Uncertain Magic to life. Uncertain Magic is a re-issue from 1987, and was Laura Kinsale’s second novel. In 1987 the genre of "paranormal" romance didn’t exist. This novel was a forerunner to the explosion of books we are now seeing with "magical" themes. Whether is be vampires and werewolves or more subtle elements like Roddy’s gift of reading minds, paranormal romances have taken the book community by storm.

In Uncertain Magic, Laura Kinsale uses characters that uncommon. They aren’t your average Lord and Lady. Roderica’s, character is torn between believing her ’talent’ is a gift or a curse. She desperately wants to find love, but believes it is beyond her ability because no one wants to be with someone who lays them bare and vulnerable. Faelan’s character is the strong and silent type, but we soon learn it is because he fears himself more than anything else. Both characters are have faults, but that makes them all the more accessible. We as readers, want to see them overcome their fears and find love.

I really liked the way, Kinsale used point of view in this book. The story is primarily told from Roddy’s perspective. We don’t get to see what’s going on Faelan’s mind until the very end of the book. Though we are able to glean a lot from his actions we can’t see him clearly and that adds a lot of mystery to his character. I think this is a very powerful tool in the writer’s arsenal.

I truly enjoyed this book and will probably add it to my top ten of the year so far! I give this one a definite 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!



If you’ve never read a Laura Kinsale novel, read one. Now. I’d heard how wonderful her historical romances were, but, somehow, I never got around to reading one.

What a mistake.

Uncertain Magic is a vivid, atmospheric tale of deceptive appearances, high stakes, and wrenching emotion. Set in late Georgian England and Ireland, the novel adds Irish magic and mystery to a can’t-put-down, sweeping drama of two misfits who find their fit with each other.

Roderica can read minds. The constant intrusion of others’ thoughts is so painful, she fears she will never wed—until she encounters Faelan, "The Devil Earl", the only man whose mind is opaque to her power. Faelan needs money to resurrect his impoverished estate. Roderica has a large dowry. Without telling him of her unusual ability, she encourages him to seek her hand in marriage. Faelan harbors his own secrets. Is he really the devil, as his nickname implies?

Against the terror and tumult of the doomed 1798 Irish rebellion, Roderica and Faelan, afraid to trust each other, risk their love, their sanity, and their very lives.

Uncertain Magic was first published in 1987 and time hasn’t diminished the power and appeal of this early paranormal. I especially like that Ms. Kinsale has written two of my favorite characters, the strong heroine and the wronged, decent hero.

Uncertain Magic is a keeper. I look forward to my next Laura Kinsale novel.


A classic tale from Laura Kinsale. I remember reading this years ago when it was first released. I’m so happy that Sourcebooks will be releasing Ms. Kinsale’s backlist so that new readers can enjoy her unique characters and settings.

I immediately liked Roderica or Roddy as she’s called. She’s extremely wealthy but is kept fairly secluded by her family. It’s because of her gift or curse, depending on who you are and how you view it. Roddy can read minds by hearing people’s thoughts. So being in a crowded environment can become overwhelming for her. She does feel a special affinity for animals which is what brings her into contact with The Devil Earl.

When Roddy meets Faelen Savigar she is stunned, not by the fact that he is exceedingly handsome in a devilish way, but because she can not hear his thoughts. Nothing. It’s an amazing treat for Roddy to be near someone and not be bombarded by their thoughts. She does have ways of toning down the volume but in crowds it can be too much. Or with people she is close to, hearing their most intimate thoughts can be embarrassing. With Faelen, she has none of that. Of course, there are times when Roddy wishes she could hear his thoughts. LOL She is fascinated by him and thinks he is her chance to have a normal life. A life with a husband and children. It’s something that she thought was out of her reach because of her curse. Now, there’s a chance she can have that.

It seems The Devil Earl is low on funds and needs money to repair his estate in Ireland. When Roddy encourages his attention, letting him know that she wants marriage, he thinks this is the answer to his problems. He proceeds to court her, quickly, since he is also short on time. They marry with some speculation from the gossip mill.

The Devil Earl isn’t an innocent and his more recent mistress makes an appearance, putting Roddy on the defense. The woman makes it clear to Roddy what her relationship with Roddy’s husband is and there is also Roddy’s ability to hear the woman’s thoughts. I felt sorry for Roddy when she finds herself doubting her place in Faelan’s life. She worried that he would go back to his mistress even after he showed Roddy how much he wanted her. Thankfully, Faelan doesn’t prove to be an ass and he really is coming to care very much for Roddy. They spend some time in London but Faelan must get back to Ireland and see to his estate.

Before they head to Ireland, Faelan’s mother, Lady Iveragh descends on the newlyweds. She is a real piece of work. You know she’s up to trouble and seeing her interactions with Faelan helped me get to know his past better and perhaps why he is so standoffish. Lady Iveragh is adminant that Faelan and Roddy not go to Ireland. She hates it there and is certain that it’s no place for Roddy. Another unexpected guest pays a visit. He is Geoffrey, Lord Cashel. He is friends with Faelan but also neighbor to Roddy. She has known him forever and also has a secret crush on him. But he is married to a perfect lady, not one that can hear his every thought. Roddy knew if Geoffrey had ever found out what she could do it would ruin their relationship.

There is a bit of a love triangle going on with Roddy, Faelan and Geoffrey. It’s because Faelan suspects his wife is secretly in love with his friend Geoffrey so it creates some tension when the two men are together. The things that Faelan is accused of and whispered about also creates great tension. Geoffrey may consider Faelan his friend but that doesn’t mean he thinks Faelan is good enough for Roddy. Or that Roddy is safe with Faelan. Everyone, except Roddy, thinks Faelan is dangerous. The problem is that Faelan suffers memory loss so he can’t be sure he didn’t commit the things he’s accused of.

The magic in the story comes from Ireland and it’s history. There are a number of things happening when Roddy and Faelan arrive in Ireland. There is a revolution brewing and while Faelan is trying to stay out of the crossfire, it becomes very difficult to do that. He would rather spend his time getting his estate repaired and building a home for his new wife. During this time strange things start happening to Roddy. She begins to lose time. I found myself fascinated by what might be causing her loss of time. It was very dramatic and Faelan goes into a tailspin when he can’t find her. He is falling in love with her and she with him. I found liked them as a couple even with the drama that they couldn’t seem to escape.

There is a point where the plot became a bit heavy with the political drama. The danger that Roddy was exposed to because of Faelan’s involvement and the subsequent terror they go through, for me went on a bit too long. It does have it’s dark moments and I wouldn’t consider it a light read. I did enjoy it for it’s different setting (Ireland) and the mystical feel of Roddy’s ability and the overall magical feel of Ireland. If you’re looking for a well written story of love, magic and romance then Uncertain Magic could be the story for you.

Rating: B+

This story was breathtaking and surprising in so many ways. A stunning beginning captures you, holds you with it’s deep characterization, and makes you so happy that there are 480 pages to this story. Rather than drooping around the middle, it explodes with a deeper plot that you don’t really see coming. It’s a great read.

Okay, first things first - isn’t the cover just gorgeous??? With its purple background and scatters of fairy dust it’s just too pretty to resist and an improvement on the original. The book inside the cover kind of took me by surprise...I guess you could say this was one of the first ’paranormal historical’ books to hit the shelves when it was first published (on a side-note do you think this genre is the antithesis to urban fantasy?)

Uncertain Magic centers around Roddy, a heroine with the unique gift of telepathy (think Sookie Stackhouse) who after years of living as a virtual recluse finds the one man whose mind she can’t read and sets her sights on marrying him (think Edward Cullen). Now, as the blurb elludes, there is a mystery regarding Faelen, the hero but I’m not going to spoil to for your here...let’s just say there’s a little bit of Gaelic magic floating in the air....

I’m a sucker for an Irish hero so needless to say, I loved Faelen (in spite of his mood swings). Quite often, I couldn’t quite figure out where he was coming from emotionally - shifting from a kind of vulnerability to defensiveness however he pulled it all together with rougish style and completely endeared himself to me and the heroine.

The plot will keep you going and certainly pulled me through the book at a quick pace. There are some unexpected (and not-so-unexpected) twists and it kept my interest easily throughout. I felt the supernatural elements added an interesting dynamic to this book and you could definitely say that Laura Kinsale was writing ahead of the curve here.

All in all, this was a fantastic read that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to fans of the author and the historical romance genre. Admittedly, this was the first Laura Kinsale book I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more... I’ve heard there are a few of her books of hers that have made their way onto reader’s favourite lists.

Unlike more traditional historical fiction novels, Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale weaves in fey magic into a tale of love, political unrest, loss and delivers some riveting plot twists. Roderica Delamore is 19 years old and cursed or blessed depending on the circumstance with a gift only the Delamore women inherit, the gift of seeing. Roddy is worried she shall either wind up offing herself or spend her days locked away as her aunts chose for themselves, because of the Delamore curse. Her parents are loving and protective as are her brothers, and yet Roddy worries she will either go mad or die alone. Then she meets Faelan Savingar; known far and wide as The Devil Earl of Iveragh, the first person whose mind is not open to her and this remains a puzzle, yet she falls in love with him. After a few encounters they become engaged, much to the horror of most of polite society, considering Faelan’s reputation, one he does not try to dissuade people from believing. Roddy realises her childhood friend Geoffry Cashal set them up and cannot figure out why she hears his thought of apology to her when the engagement is announced. Kinsale delivers an intriguing look into relationships, rumours, and the effects ailments and illness have on relationships. While I am not one who rejoices in reading about magic of any sort, Kinsale keeps the fey and magic mainly subdued while delivering an intriguing plot, a few unexpected twists, as well a fantastic cast of characters led by the very strong willed Roddy Delamore. Uncertain Magic makes for a delightful and entertaining afternoon of reading.



This is a relatively simple story of a girl who is desperate to find someone who could just stand to be around her, finds an unlikely love. She must get past her fear of him and her fear of herself and her gift to find true happiness, and the truth about her husband. It may be a simple story, but it’s a beautiful one. It wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down, but I kept picking it back up again.

I did find some of the times when one or the other of the main characters would decide to distrust the other. It was frustrating to see them fall into simple traps and their loyalty so easily turned. Of course their dislike and distrust of each other didn’t last too long, so you won’t be frustrated through too much of the story. The passion between them is overwhelmingly beautiful. Which makes the love scenes very hot and passionate. There is a slight twist at the end, but not one that is difficult to see coming.

Overall I would say this is a good book. I liked it and had fun reading it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the dark brooding type of man, who feels like they can all be saved. This story will confirm that fantasy for you. There’s not a lot of “magic” or mystery, but it’s still a fun read, with a little bit of Faerie thrown in.


All she wanted was to lead a normal life, a life where her gift didn’t interfere with everything around her. While being able to sense the thoughts and feelings of others can be a good thing, it can also be easily turned against her. So, when Roddy encounters the one person she cannot sense, she knows that he, bad reputation or not, is the only one who can save her from a life of always being alone. While Faelan is bound and determined to live up to every accusation surrounding him, he’s about to find out just how potent the love of a good woman can be, with the help of a little faery magic on the side.

Roddy is one of the most unique heroines I’ve ever run into. She’s what I would call a quiet rebel – she makes her stand in simple ways, and generally without a lot of fanfare, bringing her point home more subtly and often more effectively than a full out rebellion might. She’s full of vim and vigor and also knows when to keep quiet for everyone’s sake. Probably her most redeeming quality is her unshakable faith in her husband – despite everything that has been said about him in the past.

Faelan gives the term ‘odd duck’ a completely new meaning. He is humble and reserved one minute, obnoxious and arrogant the next. You’re never quite sure whether he’s going to break down and cry or yell and throw things. While this would normally make me roll my eyes and walk away from a book, with Faelan, these odd mood swings fit and add to the mystery he’s hiding.

Together, Roddy and Faelan are light and dark, good and evil, each completing the other. She works tirelessly to solve his mystery while he works only to run her off. They make an exciting couple, one you find yourself rooting for even when you think they’re better off apart. When you add in Roddy’s gift of being able to sense others thoughts – although Faelan’s remain a constant mystery – the excitement just amps up from there.

A completely magical story of love without restraints, Uncertain Magic is a whole new style of historical romance. Beautifully written with a story that will drag you in and refuse to let you go, it’s a definite must-read. If you’re looking for a touch of the magical in your life, then this is the book for you.


I enjoyed reading this book very much. It’s probably one of the earlier paranormal books written, before it was it was commonly done. I couldn’t tell because it’s beautiful. Although I might be a little lost why Faelan was ‘weird’, I enjoyed everything else in this book. Roderica can her thoughts of everyone around her. She doesn’t wish to, but she can anyway. Personally, I will not be comfortable being around someone who can hear my thoughts.

I’d rather not guard what I think about. If I think it is tough, Roderica has to live with it. It’s no wonder that she jumps at the chance to marry Faelan, ‘The Devil Earl, when she met him. She can’t hear him, and that is heaven for him. Unfortunately, all is not smooth-sailing in their relationship.

There’s mystery, lots of romance, and a wonderful book all around. I highly recommend it.


Readers will be swept away by Uncertain Magic. This enchanting tale takes us back in time and to a place filled with Gaelic magic: Ireland. Anyone who has ever visited the Emerald Isle can feel the power and energy that fairly radiates from its depths, and Kinsale captures the essence of that magical entity perfectly between the pages of her latest re-issue.

Uncertain Magic takes place in the late 18th century, and I do believe that the author has captured the time period well in her writing. The details of the setting, sensory, language, clothing, and historical happenings of the time were well researched and put forth in the story.

With a name like Faelan Savigar, you know you’re in for a dark, sexy, intriguing hero. And from the very beginning pages, my mouth was watering for the dark haired Irish lad. But he’s got a secret, and Kinsale keeps you second guessing, giving hints, until the very end! A true intrigue into this hero’s background. He’s also got the power to love, and love with all his heart. He’s funny, smart, witty, and boy does he have a few tricks up his sleeve!

Roderica Delamore, “Roddy” has a special talent, or “gift”, that I’d love to tap! She can sense others thoughts and emotions. But not just of people, animals too. She can hear your inner most thoughts and reactions, feel your pain, joy and confusion. Because of her special talent, she is afraid that no man will ever want her. Men and women alike fear her. Her eyes alone tell you she can read your soul and it frightens people. They don’t treat her the same, but like a freak—even when they don’t know what her talent is. Poor Roddy, just wants someone to love her for who she is and not what she can do. When she meets Faelan, there is something different about him. He doesn’t look at her the way others do. From him, she actually feels desired, loved… and you hope their secrets won’t destroy them both.

If you like a bit of magic mixed in with your romance, I suggest reading this book. It was a nice, quick read that gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 8 in
Width: 5 in
Weight: 10.00 oz
Page Count: 384 pages