For so long she tried to resist… but the woods call, beckoning her with their secrets.Never one to shy away from adversity, Albreda grew up the day her mother died.Now, her courage is put to the test when she finds herself lost in the mysterious and dangerous Whitewood, fighting for her life.Discovering there is so much that she does not understand, she embarks on an adventure that will change … embarks on an adventure that will change her life forever.
Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic, is the origin story of the Witch of the Whitewood, Mistress Albreda. It can be read at any time but is best when read between books four and five of the Heir to the Crown Series.
Grab your copy today and learn how a wild mage unleashes the magic within!
New to the series? Meet Gerald Matheson, the steadfast warrior in Heir to the Crown: Book One, Servant of the Crown, available in eBook & Paperback.
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Albreda, the Witch of the Whitewood, has a story. It is a story of great loss and of being found. Events in her life forced her to mature long before her body would catch up. With the timely help of others, she would be given that chance to grow into her power.
As with all great stories, there is always a beginning. Here is where the story of Albreda begins. But it certainly isn’t where her story ends. And if you’ve read the books previous to this story, then you know some of what is in store. The difference is that you now know how and why.
If you haven’t started with Servant of the Crown and read up to this book, then you are missing out on a lot of good stuff. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have.
Albreda had to grow up fast losing her mother and then her father. She was taken in by a kindly old couple until their deaths when she set out on her own to figure things out. What she found was who she is and where she belongs. Great tale! Can’t wait to read more!
As a fan of a series, it is important to know more about some of the MC and as the story continues you craved more information to enjoy the adventures. This book is a need-to-have for fans of the series. I think knowing more about Albreda helps us to understand her actions in the saga. But if you only want read a book full of action, magical coming of age, and a strong heroine living amazing adventures, this is it. Great reading!
I received this book as an ARC snd this is my honest opinion.
This is the story of Albreda and her magic it’s well written. Merceria did not have a lot of mages. Albreda took up with wolves and learn the earth magic she learned from Mathilde and Raynor and became the daughter they had lost. This explains how Albreda grew up to be the woman you need in further books. It’s a very good book and I highly recommend it…
This story of a child’s growth from terrified
orphan into a young woman confident in
her magical abilities is thoroughly entertaining.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and will again.
Phyllis S.
A great new addition to this series. We get to see how Albreda started and part of what shaped her. I read it through in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down! A must read for this series.
The author sent an ARC version of this book for my honest review. Thank you Paul J. Bennett for introducing me to this world. This is the first book I have read by this author.
Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic is a charming story of Albreda’s early years. We meet Albreda when she is 13 years old, as she and her father are on their way to Wickfield with the Army. She is just starting to realize her gifts and what that means.
This novella is simply written but the world building is there and easy to believe. The character Albreda is pretty developed but most of the other characters are a bit 2 dimensional. The dialog is a bit choppy to me in places. This is a good start but I felt it could have been more developed. Even in the short format I feel there are ways to flesh out the story more and create a better flow in the story.
Even though I haven’t read any of the other books I thought this story stands on its own. Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic is not a heavy fantasy, which is a nice change from what I have been reading. I plan to read more of this series should be a nice escape from the real world!
Another great book, about Merceria. This story focuses on Albreda. Like the other books in this series, Mr. Bennett is a great storyteller that has the great ability to envelop the reader in the story. I did not want the story to end, I was so involved with the story.
I received an ARC of the book and this is my voluntarily review.
Paul J Bennett continues to amaze and delight his readers, or at least this reader. This book recounts the origin story of the Witch of the White Woods, a delightful ally in the Crown series. While questions are answered and mysteries revealed, enough of the unknown remains to engage those of us who want all the answers down to the smallest detail. A fantastic read that will either flesh out a well-loved story or as an introduction to the fantastic world of the Mercerian Tales.
This short story enriches the history of magic in Merceria and the story of the Witch of the White Wood in particular. I don’t like reading spoilers in reviews, so I won’t leave one either. I will echo the author’s recommendations to read this story after Shadow of the Crown. You won’t regret it.
I absolutely love this book! You can not go wrong with this one. Great to the end, and leaves you wanting more.
Paul J Bennett at His Best!
This novella introduces Albreda as a young girl, orphaned and innocent, trying to make sense of her talents in an unforgiving world. The authors excellent storytelling, plot and vivid descriptions raises this story from the mere mundane into a truly magical story. Well recommended.
I am a huge fan of all The Books in the Mercerian series, but this one is so different. Its a backstory on a character, Albreda, that was fascinating from the start. It gives you that “aha” moment when you realize why and how she came to be who she is now. I never put it down. A million words would not be enough to finish this wonderful story. Im eagerly waiting for Mr Bennett to give us more (and Im sure he will) on Albreda and her adventures.
The story is well written. The pace of the action keeps you turning pages to see what happens next. Hard to put down.
This is a great story set in Mercurian, it is full of action and adventure that will appeal to everybody that loves great Fantasy fiction. I totally enjoyed the escape one more time, thank you Paul!
Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic by Paul J. Bennett is a wonderful, mythical, fantasy story that will transport you to a different time and place filled with wonder and magic. Albreda is the young daughter of a Captain in the military. She loves horses and they love her. After her father loses his life in a battle, Albreda, orphaned, decides to find out what happened. She finds herself in the middle of a forest, surrounded by wolves. Can the wolves actually be her friends? Will the old couple in the cottage in the woods be friendly and protective?
This is a magical tale of coming of age and finding out secrets of magical powers that will change Albreda’s life. I received this book as an advance reader copy and I always review every book that I read. I recommend this book. The plot and characters are well developed and the story will leave you wanting more!
Author BENNETT shows off his superior world-building,and character development skills in this addition to his excellent”CROWN” series….This story(and the entire series) have been a real treat to read..RECOMMENDED!
This is a really good book which starts with a young girl and her father. This story is about her growth from a young girl to a mature young woman. It’s interesting and keeps you turning pages long after the lights should have been out.