Theros Novel Godsent

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Happy Sunday MTG peeps,

We spent a great afternoon today reading Theros: Godsend, Part 1 - the eBook by Jenna Helland for Magic: the Gathering's latest block.  Perfect timing we think as the very first official previews for the last set in this block, Journey into Nyx, is scheduled for tomorrow.  This book is a perfect companion to those players, who like us, not only enjoy the game but love the storyline behind this Greek mythology themed block.  Here's the 'trailer' to get things going on our review - 

On Theros, Elspeth hopes the gods will keep her safe from the evils of the Multiverse. But the powerful planeswalker comes to the attention of the sun god, Heliod, who believes she is destined to be his champion. As the gods quarrel with each other, Elspeth must face a massive hydra that was unleashed from the realm of the gods.  

We've been a fan of the fantasy writings from Wizards of the Coast for some time and make it a point to pick up each novel / eBook as they come out.  Meaning to read Godsend latter this week in between our daily posts on new Journey into Nyx spoilers and previews, we glossed over the Prologue but found that we simply could not put down our reader.

The Magic Creative Team has posted a sample chapter of Theros: Godsend, Part 1 last Wednesday but take it from us, pick up the eBook at Amazon (Kindle) or Barnes and Noble (Nook) to start at the beginning - the prologue, where this truly engaging story has its genesis - this is where we meet the Planeswalker Elspeth and Daxos of Meletis, both in their youth, in a brief but power encounter which sets the stage for what is an exciting story.

If we had one criticism of this novel, we would say its brevity.  The story drops off with the slaying of the hydra Plukranos as the mortal world is about to clash with that of the Nyx or god world.  We are counting down the days until Part 2 is release, scheduled next month on 13th May, 2014.

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Return to Ravnica Novel

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

We were planning on posting a few EDH and modern lists but as you have come to expect, we really wanted to have all the physical Magic: the Gathering cards in hand and play out a few games first before posting.  We are just waiting on a few last minute additions we have ordered from MTG Mint Card before we write something up for you.

Anywhoos - chances are you like to read as you are actually reading these words.  Don't worry, we won't tell - we like to read too.  We are most definitely a big fan of MTG flavour and of course, those magic novels.  We were rather happy to hear a while ago that Return to Ravnica would get a novel - well here's the news . . .

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This fall, Magic: The Gathering fans returned to the most revered plane in the Multiverse – Ravnica, a plane covered entirely by city and inhabited by 10 guilds all vying for control.

Ravnica is a plane of intrigue, mystery and few answers; however, Magic fans now have the opportunity to get a glimpse of the fabled plane like never before.  Wizards of the Coast today released Return to Ravnica, The Secretist Part 1, the first of a three part e-book in the form of a novella, written by Doug Beyer, writer and creative designer on the Magic: The Gathering R&D team.

In this first e-book, fans follow Planewalker Jace Beleren as he returns to his adoptive home of Ravnica to find all of the guilds preparing for battle. In his journey, he discovers evidence of disturbing gaps in his memory and a series of assassins on his trail. He also tries to reconnect with an old friend, but when she turns up dead, he ends up embroiled in a mystery that implicates all ten guilds and an ancient secret. While battle rages on across Ravnica, Jace finds himself fighting his own battle, with his own challenges and obstacles.
                  
Return to Ravnica, The Secretist Part 1 is available beginning today in the U.S. and Canada for $1.99 at Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo. A brief description is included below and a sample chapter can be found here. 
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Magic: The Gathering eBooks
Return to Ravnica: The Secretist, Part One

A Planeswalker Novella

Jace Beleren has the power to travel between planes of the Multiverse, but with this gift comes isolation. He is one in a million. He is a planeswalker. And he is on the edge of a mystery that could alter the face of his adopted home—a vast, world-wide city known as Ravnica—forever.

Faced with a magical code that is built into the very foundations of the city-world itself, Jace marches into the numinous depths of Ravnica's underbelly in search of the promise of powerful magic. What he finds is perhaps more burden than boon.

Once buried in past, the code resurfaces as Ravnica's power-hungry mage guilds, unbound by the Guildpact that had once maintained order, struggle for control of the plane. But in the drive for primacy, there is no neutral ground.

Jace knows that he can't crack the code on his own, not while the guilds task teams of mages to unravel the mysteries, but he also knows that the danger of the quest is too great to include his friends. As the mystery begins to unravel, the choice may not be his alone.  

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