A veritable magical vampire is a mythical creature that combines the supernatural abilities of both vampires and wizards. This unique being possesses the blood-sucking tendencies of a vampire alongside the spellcasting prowess of a wizard. With this fusion of powers, the veritable magical vampire becomes an exceptionally formidable adversary. The origins of the veritable magical vampire remain shrouded in mystery, with conflicting tales and legends passed down through generations. Some ancient texts suggest that this creature arose from a forbidden union between a vampire and a powerful wizard, resulting in a being that inherited the strengths of both species. Others believe that it is the result of a magical experiment gone awry, fusing two magical entities into one.
Describe how your vampires fit into each of these categories:
The Café must have dozens if not hundreds of threads focused on what is the best and while best is highly subjective, the suggestions found in the magazine are hard to argue against. With that said the typical kitsune practices restraint during feeding to avoid permanent damage, mostly out pragmatism and occasionally out of sentiment or even true love.
Others believe that it is the result of a magical experiment gone awry, fusing two magical entities into one. Regardless of its origins, the veritable magical vampire possesses a range of abilities that surpass those of traditional vampires and wizards. Like vampires, it craves blood as a primary source of sustenance, often having an insatiable appetite.
Veritable magical vampire
Hey all, it's been a while since I've written a review. As John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I am living proof of that. Speaking of living, cue ham handed segue! This review focuses on the obsessive unliving - or more accurately, obsessive undead. There's a new journal out! I love me some journals and this one is, in a word, brilliant. Okay, well maybe two words: brilliant and quirky. The Café's own orchid666 (K Neill) is the mad man behind The Magic Vampire Magazine. Let's grab our garlic, holy water, and crucifixes and explore this dark, mad product of a brilliant yet rather disturbed mind, in other words, my kind of people.
The Magic Vampire we are told is "a strange and lonely creature who spends most nocturnal hours obsessing over 52 bits of cardboard." Talk about hitting the mark when talking about virtually all card folk. And this obsession is not limited to the masthead of this mag. The design of the journal reflects a beautiful madness throughout. If you're looking for high production values, glossy photos, and the latest piece of floating furniture and other magically domestic accouterments, you've come to the wrong place. The Magic Vampire Magazine, hereafter known as TMVM because I'm lazy, has, and I hate to use cliches, a very underground look. Imagine Cervon's Castle Notebooks but written and illustrated by someone who drank 30 cups of espresso and gorged on five boxes of Cap'n Crunch cereal in 15 minutes. Sound fun? I can answer emphatically that it is!
The typeset of the TMVM is a good old font known as "handwritten." Every single page is handwritten, the paper stock is a riot of colors with each page having its own. Moreover, TMVM is literally crammed with information. Nobody told our friend about the use of white space and in this case we are better off for it. I think that the closest analogy is to imagine hand drawn posters from a punk or heavy metal club that you would see tacked on a pole. At first glance you might think that this is just too chaotic to read. I suspect that's the purpose. It's well known that P. Howard Lyons' classic Ibidem was designed such that Lyons wanted to limit readership. I don't think TMVM's writer wants to limit readership. Rather I believe that form follows function and this magazine invites you to engage in its beautiful deranged arcana on its own terms and is succeeds beautifully.
This journal is, at least with the first two issues, devoted strictly to card magic. There is a LOT of card magic crammed inside. It's in the margins, it's scrawled in glorious chaos with "editor" corrections, and fun little cartoons strewn about. Well, I don't want to spoil everything so enough about the design. How about the magic itself? Let's talk about it.
The first issue features excellent routines either original with the author or else brilliant variations of others' routines. I want to applaud the author for his superb crediting. He is just as obsessive about getting the credits and history of the routines right as he is about the magic itself. There are some "professional" authors who could learn something from this magazine. Anyhow, routines like Transylvanian Travelers, The Card of Nosferatu, The Leap of Death, and MANY more are superb routines. There is a very nice pass titled appropriately "The Borgo Pass" The mechanics of this pass are well explained and well illustrated. Even if you already have mastered a form of the pass, this is still worth exploring.
There is so much excellent magic just in issue one that I would end up breaking the Café's servers trying to describe each item. Rest (in peace) assured that you're getting your money's worth with this brilliant magazine. In addition to the magic there is a section titled "Ramblings From the Crypt that is a veritable treasure house of information that really is essential reading. Think of Harry Lorayne's "afterthoughts" in his books and Apocalypse and you have a general idea of what you'll find. I wish the section had been called "Crypt Notes" for obvious reasons.
Looking for magic from books you already own or books you want to purchase? TMVM doesn't disappoint. There is a page CRAMMED with book and routine suggestions from names like Walton, Bannon, Maven, Sadowitz(!), Swain and more. The Café must have dozens if not hundreds of threads focused on "what is the best" and while "best" is highly subjective, the suggestions found in the magazine are hard to argue against.
One of the many things I loved about Apocalypse is that Harry Lorayne would foot note what would be in the next issue and TMVM does the same! Issue three will features a section of do it yourself gaffs (as I write this, issue 3 is out) and there is an upcoming three card monte exploration, discussions about false deals with practical routine examples and again, so much more.
This review was a challenge to write simply because there really is SO much good stuff that this review would read like a latter day Potter Index. I should also add that this journal has the backing of Big Blind Media. Their products are among the best in magic. So while TMVM might LOOK like a hastily thrown together celebration of magic, it is in no way an amateur project. With great contributors and advisers like Liam Montier, Peter Duffie, Cameron Francis, and MANY more, you're getting a quirky but VERY professional product.
It's been a while since magic has had a monthly journal in the tradition of titans like Hugard's Magic Monthly, Apocalypse, and Richard's Almanac. I am overjoyed that there is a new one that for me is already a success with the very first issue. I do not give "scores" on reviews simply because I think they're stupid. So, I will conclude by stating that if you want a magazine crammed with great magic - and who doesn't? - I give The Magic Vampire Magazine the highest of recommendations.
N.B.: It is assumed that the purchaser has a firm grounding in sleight of hand. That said however, purchasers at every level of card magic will find something good here!
Hey all, it's been a while since I've written a review. As John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I am living proof of that. Speaking of living, cue ham handed segue! This review focuses on the obsessive unliving - or more accurately, obsessive undead. There's a new journal out! I love me some journals and this one is, in a word, brilliant. Okay, well maybe two words: brilliant and quirky. The Café's own orchid666 (K Neill) is the mad man behind The Magic Vampire Magazine. Let's grab our garlic, holy water, and crucifixes and explore this dark, mad product of a brilliant yet rather disturbed mind, in other words, my kind of people.
Its fangs are razor-sharp, capable of piercing flesh and draining the life force from its victims. Additionally, it shares the enhanced physical attributes of vampires, such as increased speed, strength, and heightened senses. However, what truly sets the veritable magical vampire apart is its proficiency in magic. It wields a vast array of spells and incantations, ranging from elemental and arcane magic to necromancy and illusion. This mystical prowess stems from the fusion of the vampire's innate supernatural abilities and the wizard's extensive knowledge and understanding of magic. This creature can cast spells with deadly precision, using its powers to manipulate elements, control minds, or summon dark creatures to do its bidding. Additionally, the veritable magical vampire can tap into the sources of its vampiric and magical heritage to further augment its already formidable capabilities. It can create illusions to deceive its enemies, manipulate shadows to move undetected, or even command the dead to rise and fight on its behalf. Fighting a veritable magical vampire is a daunting task, as it combines the tenacity and power of a vampire with the versatility and cunning of a wizard. Traditional methods of battling vampires, such as holy water or wooden stakes, may prove ineffective against this formidable foe. To effectively combat a veritable magical vampire, one must be well-versed in both vampire and wizard hunting techniques, employing a combination of magical wards, powerful spells, and specialized weapons. In conclusion, the veritable magical vampire stands as a truly formidable creature, combining the fearsome characteristics of vampires and wizards. Its bloodlust, enhanced physical attributes, and mastery of magic make it an adversary of unparalleled strength and cunning. Only those with exceptional knowledge, skill, and magical aptitude can hope to face and defeat such a veritable magical vampire..
Reviews for "Embracing the Darkness: How Veritable Magical Vampires Channel Their Powers"
1. Michelle - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Veritable magical vampire" because I love fantasy novels, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them. The plot was also confusing and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots that distracted from the main story. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and it failed to capture my attention.
2. Mark - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Veritable magical vampire" because the writing style was just unbearable. The author's excessive use of flowery language and overly descriptive passages made it feel like a chore to read. It detracted from the actual storytelling, which was already weak and unoriginal. The book lacked originality and failed to bring anything new to the vampire genre. I was hoping for an interesting twist, but was sorely disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - While "Veritable magical vampire" had an interesting concept, the execution fell short for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took too long for anything significant to happen. The dialogue felt forced and inauthentic, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions. Overall, I found the book to be a letdown and struggled to stay engaged with the story.