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Book Blitz with Giveaways: Author K.A. Last Explains the Magic of Immagica (YA fantasy novel)

YA author K.A. Last explains the magic in Immagica, the world she created for her book of the same name. Don’t forget to enter to win at the end of the post!

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The Magic of Immagica Explained
by author K.A. Last

When we think about magic, we often visualise witches and wizards with wands, casting spells and striking people down with lightening. But the magic within Immagica is very different, and works in a non-traditional, magical way.

The concept of Immagica is based on the power of imagination. Within our imagination, anything is possible. We can create whatever we want, and see it however we like, all inside our own mind. No wand or spell necessary.

The land of Immagica is very organic. It can be shaped and tailored for whoever is there at any given time. There are, of course, certain things that remain the same, but everything else is open to interpretation, and governed by the imagination of the person experiencing the adventure.

Like anything, there are certain rules, but some rules are made to be bent or broken. The magic of Immagica can be unpredictable, because Immagica itself is alive. It actually has a say in everything that is created, and the events that happen. It’s like having someone looking over your shoulder, nudging you in a certain—but not always right—direction. Imagination plays a major part in shaping Immagica, but the subconscious of the person visiting is also at play.

There are two main sections of Immagica. If you have a look at the map,

Immagica_Map_LR

you’ll see there’s the Barren Lands, which encompasses all the not so nice places, and there’s the Go-Between, which is a friendlier place, but not always. In the Barren Lands, the weather changes depending on your mood. Get angry and a thunderstorm can brew in a matter of seconds. In the Go-Between you have more control over things, but your emotions, subconscious and mind are all working either with or against each other.

Although the concept of magic by imagination is a relatively simple one, it can sometimes get confusing in the way it works. This is mainly because nothing is set in stone, and something that happens one way for someone can work in a completely different way for someone else. Read these excerpts where Brynn attempts to explain to Rosaline the way Immagica works, and see if you can make sense of it. I think Rosaline had a hard time grasping the concept.

 

EXCERPT: From Chapter 4 – The Girl with the Spear

Brynn got up and went to the other side of the room. From the shelf above the weapons she pulled down a piece of old yellowed paper, and a pencil. She sat back at the table and drew an image resembling the shape of the amulet. The eye was in the middle, and thick lines came out to form the compass points around it. She even included the intricate lines that lay between the eye and the edge of the circle. She then drew an uneven area around the completed compass, making it larger around the northern point. Beyond that, Brynn created another space that almost touched the edges of the paper.

“This is Immagica, and we are here,” she said, indicating a spot in the south, farthest away from the compass. “We are in what’s called the Barren Lands. On the outskirts of the Barren Lands lie the Sea of Tears, Dragonblood Swamp, and Desperation Sand Dunes. But you won’t have to go there, it’s in the wrong direction.”

“Good. It doesn’t sound very nice,” I said.

“In the Barren Lands the ground is always bare and rough, but the sky changes depending on your mood. You can be your own undoing out here as the spirit feeds off you. The more desolate you feel, the worse it gets, and the only way to control it is to control your emotions. I’m actually surprised the sky stayed blue so long for you.”

I ignored the snide comment.

“This place here is the Go-between.” Brynn indicated the uneven area outside the compass. “It holds the nicer parts of Immagica: Runetree Woods, Rainbow Drop, Emerald Hills—you get the idea. Things are a little more controllable there. For a start, the weather doesn’t react to your mood, but you still need to be careful. While the Barren Lands feed from your emotions, the Go-between feeds from your mind, and subconscious. In Immagica, all your dreams—and nightmares—can come true.”

What she was telling me did sound pretty interesting, and despite myself, I leant closer to look at the crude map she’d drawn.

“Do you mean if I think of something, it becomes real?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. But it’s not as simple as just thinking something, and it appears. You have to want it, but Immagica also has to want you to want it. Sometimes Immagica will want you to have a different version of what you wanted in the first place.”

“You are not making sense—again,” I said. “Did you just have tea with the Mad Hatter?”

 

EXCERPT: From Chapter 7 – Emberash Maze

The amulet map told me the maze was triangular—like a pie wedge—inserted between the south and east towers. I studied it closely until I thought I’d found the clear path through. It came out near the bridge just south of the Eye. Ira stopped at the entrance, stamped his hoof and tossed his head. The muscles in his shoulders tightened, and he snorted. I got the feeling he wasn’t too keen on the idea of heading into the maze.

“What’s the matter?” I asked. “Scared?”

Hardly, Rosaline, I can look after myself. You, on the other hand, should be. You don’t know what we might encounter.

“And you do?”

I know what we could find, Ira said, but not what we will find. That is up to you.

“Well, how about we don’t find anything, and we simply walk the path through unscathed.”

Brynn let out a high-pitched laugh in my ear, and I flinched. “Have you not figured out how Immagica works yet?” she said. “Don’t you remember what I told you?”

I twisted around to get a better look at her face. She raised her eyebrows and her pale blue eyes looked worried. “Immagica gives me what I wish for, but I have to be careful,” I said.

“Have you lot not told her anything while she’s been with you? Why is it always up to me?” Brynn sighed. “Okay, Rosaline, listen up. Immagica does give you things you consciously imagine. But it also gives you things beyond your wildest dreams.” I started to interrupt but Brynn shushed me. “Your subconscious plays a part here, too, remember? Immagica can see into your mind and your heart, and sometimes it creates things you never wanted it to. Everything in Immagica—the good, and the bad—exists without imagination. It just takes a hint of desire, and poof, it comes alive. All the things you could possibly imagine and more are right here under your nose. All you have to do is think of them. Rule number one is: there are no rules.”

“We can’t just think happy thoughts?” I asked.

“You can, but it won’t help. It’s your subconscious you need to look out for. Immagica has a way of making you see things you may not want to.” I gave Brynn a worried look. “But I’m sure we’ll be fine,”he said.

“No dreaming up the Minotaur then,” I said.

Brynn took a deep breath. “That does not help.”

 

Author Bio:KALast_HeadshotFINAL_LR
K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. K. A. Last is currently studying her Bachelor of Arts at Charles Sturt University, with a major in English, and minors in Children’s Literature, Art History, and Visual Culture. She resides in a peaceful, leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, a rabbit named Twitch, and a guinea pig called Squeak.
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Immagica by K.A. Last
Publication date: January 31st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:

Immagica…
Where anything is possible.
Enter at your own risk.

The night before her fifteenth birthday, Rosaline Clayton uncovers a deep family secret. She receives an amulet from her deranged father, and he tells her she must find the book in order to save him. Rosaline is used to her dad not making any sense, so she dismisses their conversation as another of his crazy rants.

When Rosaline’s brother, Elliot, drags her to their nana’s attic to explore, they find the old leather-bound book tucked away in a chest. It sucks them into its pages, transporting them to a magical world. Along the way, Rosaline and Elliot are separated, and the only thing she wants is to find her brother and go home.

The creatures of Immagica have other ideas. After years of war, their land lies in ruin. Using the amulet’s power, they want Rosaline to defeat the dragon and restore Immagica to its former glory. But Rosaline is bound to Immagica in ways she doesn’t understand, and when she discovers the truth about her family, she must follow her heart to save them all.

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