Teplztlan Publiao Magici, often translated as the Teplztlan Public Magicians, is a group or organization of magicians that hails from the country of Teplztlan. Teplztlan is a fictional country created by the writer and magician, Juan Carlos Morales, and it serves as the backdrop for many of his magical tales and performances. The Teplztlan Publiao Magici is known for their unique style of magic and their commitment to entertaining and engaging their audience. They perform a wide range of magic tricks, illusions, and sleight of hand routines that often leave their spectators in awe and wonder. One distinguishing characteristic of the Teplztlan Publiao Magici is their emphasis on public performances. They believe that magic should be accessible to everyone and should be shared with the masses.
Series: Stand Alone
In the course of this book, I had to read about some version of Helen remembering her previous life or lives and then talking to Lucian about it in almost identical conversations three different times. There s also a strong thread of romance here, which I suppose culminates into a love story at the end, but it would still be extremely tough to categorize this book.
They believe that magic should be accessible to everyone and should be shared with the masses. As a result, they often hold performances in public spaces such as parks, plazas, and markets, where anyone can gather and watch their incredible feats of magic. Another notable aspect of the Teplztlan Publiao Magici is their commitment to community outreach and education.
A WITCH IN TIME by Constance Sayers – Review
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers
Published by Redhook on February 11 2020
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 448
Format: Finished hardcover
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Lovers cursed by a witch find themselves reliving their lives, over and over, in Constance Sayers’ sparkling and gripping debut.
Don’t let the beautiful, ethereal cover fool you. A Witch in Time has some very dark themes mixed in with a romance plot about a trio of people who are connected through time by a witch’s curse. I really loved this book but it’s very different from what I was expecting. The story follows the short, tragic lives of four different women, starting in 1895 Paris and ending in 2012 Washington D.C. Fans of historical fiction are going to want to consider reading this book, even if you’re not into fantasy/multiple lives stories. Yes, there are supernatural elements at play here, but I found the historical aspects and the fascinating connections among Helen, Juliet, Nora and Sandra to be the main draw. Also, don’t be scared off by the word “romance,” as this definitely isn’t typical for the genre.
The story begins in 2012 Washington D.C. as we meet Helen Lambert, the successful owner of a critically acclaimed magazine called In Focus . Helen is recently divorced from Roger, an art dealer and museum curator, and has reluctantly been pushed into a blind date by a well-meaning co-worker. Her date turns out to be Luke Varner, an enigmatic man who seems to have met Helen before. During their dinner together, Luke drops cryptic comments about unfamiliar people and places that he swears Helen should remember. But of course, Helen has no idea what he’s talking about.
That is, until she starts to have weird and extremely vivid dreams about a young French girl named Juliet LaCompte in 1895 France. As Helen gradually relives Juliet’s life during these dreams, Luke begins to fill in the blanks, explaining that Helen and her ex-husband Roger are part of a binding curse, cast long ago by Juliet’s mother. Unfortunately, the curse went badly and bound Juliet and her lover Marchant together for eternity. Luke explains that Helen and Roger are the latest reincarnations of Juliet and Marchant, and that Helen is doomed to die on her thirty-fourth birthday, unless she is able to break the curse.
I absolutely loved the format of this story. Sayers jumps back and forth among four different time periods, but it was seamlessly done and very easy to follow. If you are one of those readers who is more comfortable with linear storytelling, I urge you to give this a try. The author uses Helen’s dreams as a way to frame these time jumps, so the present day story of Helen is the anchor for all the other time periods.
It’s also through Helen’s eyes that the reader learns about Juliet, Nora and Sandra, the other three women in the story. Each woman was carefully depicted and I was fascinated by each of their stories. Juliet is only sixteen when she falls under the spell of the much older painter Auguste Marchant. Their affair is the catalyst for everything else that happens in this story, and Juliet’s death was both shocking and sad. In 1920’s New York, we meet actress Nora Wheeler who falls in love with film director Billy Rapp. Nora’s story moved me the most, for some reason, since her entire adult life is spent trying to escape a horrible, controlling man named Clint. And finally, Sandra Keane is a talented musician in 1970’s Los Angeles. She meets and falls in love with photographer Rick Nash, but their love affair is doomed just like all the others. Making an appearance in each timeline is the mysterious Luke Varner, who we find out is the “administrator” of the curse. Luke acts as a protector for all four women, but his secrets aren’t revealed until nearly the end of the story.
I absolutely loved all the connections between the characters, which are revealed slowly over the course of the story. In each timeline, Juliet/Nora/Sandra/Helen is a piano virtuoso, and I loved the way Sayers used music as a binding thread through all their lives. The Marchant/Billy/Rick/Roger characters all have similarities as well, but I won’t spoil the surprise and let you discover those for yourself! There is a secret painting of Juliet that makes an appearance throughout the story, which I thought was another brilliant way of tying everything together. And in the present day, as Helen is coming to terms with what’s happening to her, she visits the Hanover Collection, Roger’s obsession and the real reason for their divorce, and sees the evidence from each of her lives gathered in one place. Some of these scenes were simply magical and gave me goosebumps.
Sayers picks time periods that really resonated with me, from the beauty of the French countryside and the excitement of turn-of-the-century Paris, to the dazzling lives of 1920s film stars in Hollywood, to the music scene in 1970s Los Angeles. Sandra and her band hang out on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood and rehearse and smoke pot (of course!) in the famous Laurel Canyon area, and there’s lots of name dropping of musicians of that time, like Janis Joplin, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix. You would think with so many different places and times, the story would become confusing or bogged down in too many details, but I thought the author did a masterful job of wrangling all these elements into a cohesive story.
I usually love stories about witches and the supernatural, but for some reason the scenes involving the curse almost felt out of place. The ritual that Juliet’s mother performs, which involves making a deal with a demon, was so odd and horrifying that it could have put me off the story completely. Luckily, though, it had the opposite effect on me. I was so shocked that I couldn’t tear my eyes away! There is also one jarring scene near the end that happens in Sandra’s timeline that was completely unnecessary, in my opinion. I can’t really talk about it specifically, because I don’t want to spoil anything, but it ends in a tragic and bloody way, and I think it could have easily been left out.
Which leads me to a few trigger warnings. I was surprised how dark this story was in places. For example, Juliet, a sweet and innocent young girl, is being forced to marry a boy named Michel Busson, who turns out to be a horrible bully and rapist. Because Juliet doesn’t have any power herself, she has no way to stop this abuse. And poor Nora! Nora also has a controlling bully to deal with, a truly vile man named Clint who manipulates her and dogs her every footstep until—you guessed it—Luke turns up to save her. I’ve got a full list of trigger warnings below for those that might be interested.
Overall, I’m so glad I read this book, and that ending gave me chills. If you are looking for an unusual love story that veers more towards the tragic, with a touch of the supernatural, then I highly recommend A Witch in Time .
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
Trigger warnings: View Spoiler » Rape, gang rape, physical and verbal abuse, forced abortion, blood magic, murder, suicide, drug use and addiction. « Hide Spoiler
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They believe in the transformative power of magic and aim to inspire and educate the younger generation about the art form. They frequently hold workshops and classes where they teach aspiring magicians the secrets of their craft and encourage them to pursue their passion. In addition to their public performances and educational initiatives, the Teplztlan Publiao Magici also collaborate with local artists, musicians, and performers to create immersive and interactive shows. These shows often combine elements of magic, music, dance, and storytelling to create a one-of-a-kind experience for their audience. The Teplztlan Publiao Magici have gained recognition and acclaim both within Teplztlan and internationally. They have been invited to perform at various magic festivals and conventions around the world, where they showcase their unique style and repertoire of tricks to fellow magicians and enthusiasts. Overall, the Teplztlan Publiao Magici represents a vibrant and dynamic community of magicians who are dedicated to sharing their love for magic with the public. Through their performances, education initiatives, and collaborations, they continue to inspire and captivate audiences with their incredible talents and passion for the art of magic..
Reviews for "Teplztlan Publiao Magici: A Journey into Mexico's Spiritual Heart"
1. Emma - 1 star
I found "Teplztlan Publiao Magici" to be a complete waste of time. The story was confusing and lacked a coherent plot. The characters were shallow and uninteresting, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style was also very choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to follow along. Overall, I was highly disappointed and would not recommend this book to anyone.
2. John - 2 stars
"Teplztlan Publiao Magici" had an intriguing concept, but it fell short in execution. The pacing was all over the place, with slow and uneventful chapters followed by rushed and chaotic ones. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused about the setting and the rules of magic. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to engage with the characters. Although there were some interesting ideas, the overall experience left me wanting more.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars
I had high hopes for "Teplztlan Publiao Magici" based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The writing was overly descriptive and verbose, bogging down the narrative and making it difficult to stay engaged. The plot lacked direction and seemed to meander aimlessly. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to care about their journey. While there were some interesting moments, they were overshadowed by the book's flaws. Overall, I found it to be a mediocre read.