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Wands Upon a Time

Wands Upon a Time

by Giselle Jeffries Schneider
Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
287 Pages
Reviewed on 09/07/2020
Buy on Amazon

Author Biography

My name is Giselle. I am autistic and Hispanic. I enjoy writing cozy magical mysteries set in urban towns with supernatural and paranormal elements. I also enjoy writing medieval epic fantasy. I am NOT a romance author, nor do I read romance. My worlds tend to be filled with characters such as witches/wizards, sorcerers/sorceresses, fae, an assortment of magical creatures, and much adventure.

I have a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing -- a passion that was sure fun to obtain. I have lived most of my life in Idaho, although now my husband and I, plus two very strange cats, call Arizona home. Aside from writing and reading, I also enjoy daydreaming, walking, camping, crocheting, and spending time with my family.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

“The individual letters to a town called Stars Hollow hang what appears to be in midair, high enough to sit in the first colors of sunset. It is like magic and art all in one. It makes my jaw drop just looking at them.” In Wands Upon a Time (Stars Hollow Paranormal Mysteries, Book 1) by Giselle Jeffries Schneider, 25-year-old Robyn Salem is on the journey of starting her new life, leaving her abusive parents behind. When her vehicle breaks down in the middle of the road, she has no choice but to seek shelter in a mysterious town called Stars Hollow. Little does she know that her arrival has been long predicted; a house and a large sum of inheritance money awaits her. However, she’s also inherited the duty to protect the town with her life as trouble soon ensues.

Set in the present time of a mysterious town in Idaho, Wands Upon a Time has a fast-paced plot and short chapters that give even more momentum to the pacing. The story premise is fresh and imaginative for the classic concept of witches, vampires, and other supernatural beings. Protagonist Robyn Salem is on the autism spectrum which means social interactions are difficult for her and her parents' abusive behaviors certainly dampen her spirit even more. On the other hand, she's smart and determined; leaving home is her first action in taking control of her life. Her effort to settle in Stars Hollow as best as she can and takes responsibility for the town's safety are admirable, proving that her autism is not a weakness but a surprising strength that she can embrace. Overall, Schneider's debut for the Stars Hollow Paranormal Mysteries is solid and engaging for fans of the genre.

Marilu Coelho

A Marvelously Unique Mystery
This is such a cute, clean read! Plus fun! Exciting! So full of suspense and magic! And I just ADORE the fact the main character has autism, and that she doesn't let it hold her back anymore! That she has chosen to not let anyone tell her what to do or push her around! She has taken charge of her own life, despite obvious lasting affects from her past! I can already see the character growing into being herself as she moves through this new life and town and meets friends last!
Readers will truly fall in love with this unique character, as well as the side ones that take her just as she is without question! An inspirational tale!
I also want to thank the author for adding such wonderful personal touches to this fictional world she has created.

Alder Blacksmith

A Magically Fun, Thrilling, and Suspenseful Mystery!
A magically fun, thrilling, and suspenseful first installment to Stars Hollow Paranormal Mysteries. This is a clean witch cozy mystery told in the first person present tense, which gives the feeling of being the main character. Of being right there on the scene, playing out the events as they happen. The detail and description is also amazing -- just the right amount for full immersion. I could see everything to the point I got lost in the world. The best part, though, is the author's inclusion of her own life experiences and her struggle with autism, giving this fantasy world a touch of reality and readers insight into a different kind of character. I guess you can say this is a refreshing read.
Five stars!!!!

Willow

I liked it. It was different than a lot of cozy mysteries and it even had a touch of romance. I also liked the characters especially the wizard cat. It was a good book overall.

JLH

Suspense and Romance Yes, Please!!

A young woman ends up in a strange town, where she inherits a house and powers, and finds out she is a descendent of a witch. A slow starting romance and two murders, along with a wizard, werewolf, vampire and human, to boot. The characters are terrific and their backstories work well. The village locale is very detailed and easy to follow, and I love the shops there. The suspense is off the charts as both normal and paranormal twists are happening at multiple places and times. T could not put this book down and the ending is worth it.

SEng

I enjoyed this fun, suspenseful, entertaining mystery. I really liked the heroine who has decided to go after what she wants even though it’s a bit of a struggle for her. She is someone to root for and happy that she now has friends as they solve the mystery.

Heather W

Wands Upon a Time is the first book in the Stars Hollow Paranormal Mysteries series and is a fantastic start to this series. This is the first book I have read by this author and I loved it! The characters are interesting and likable. The storyline is well crafted and entertaining, with murder, mystery, magic, paranormal entities, romance and a mystical, magical town. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.