Rena Rocford's Prom, Magic, And Other Man-Made Disasters presented an intriguing blend of contemporary high school drama, magical elements, and the chaotic energy of a prom night. As a reader who enjoys stories that combine everyday life with a touch of the fantastical, I was drawn to its premise of magical mishaps amidst teenage angst. The book certainly has a creative spark and some genuinely amusing moments.

The strengths of Prom, Magic, And Other Man-Made Disasters lie in its imaginative concept and the unique way it weaves magic into a relatable high school setting. Rocford crafts an atmosphere that feels both familiar (the anxieties of prom) and fresh (the unexpected magical complications). The central idea of magic causing chaos during a significant teenage event is quite compelling, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative. There are moments of genuine humor and sincerity, particularly in the interactions between characters as they navigate magical mishaps and personal dilemmas. The themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and dealing with unexpected challenges are present.

However, despite its strong premise and imaginative touches, I found that Prom, Magic, And Other Man-Made Disasters didn't quite fully click. The pacing, while attempting to capture the chaotic energy, often felt a little uneven, with some sections dragging or feeling overly descriptive, while others rushed through important developments. While the magical elements are fun, their execution occasionally felt a bit underdeveloped, leaving some questions unanswered or making it difficult to fully grasp the intricacies of this magical system. The characters, while having interesting roles, didn't always feel fully fleshed out, making it a little challenging to emotionally invest in their personal stakes amidst the larger magical chaos. Some of the plot twists, while intended to surprise, could be anticipated.

Overall, Prom, Magic, And Other Man-Made Disasters is an imaginative contemporary fantasy that offers a glimpse into a unique world where teenage drama meets magical mayhem. It's a solid choice for readers who appreciate creative concepts and a blend of humor with a touch of magic. While it didn't completely captivate me from start to finish, it's a well-crafted story that shows promise for future installments in the series.

I liked Prom, Magic and Other Man-Made Disasters more than I thought I would when I started the book. It was a slow start for me, but once I got in to the story it was a ride filled with magic, adventures and a dash of fairy tale. Hoping for more books in this series.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press!

This book was great. Tessa is an engaging heroine who, through a series of magical and mundane disasters, discovers things about herself that she never could have imagined. The first of the Serrfyrian Chronicles blends real world and fantasy realms together to make a book that is best described as a modern day fairy tale.

Tessa, who feels very ordinary, is swept into a world of magic when she meets Sean - the wizard heir of a parallel universe. When her best friend is kidnapped, Tessa follows Sean into his world to get Maria back. This book would be great for readers of high fantasy, fairy tales or teen romance alike. I look forward to the next book.

No Spoilers!!! A twist of teenage drama! An adventurous teenage story with dragons, magic, wizards and even heartbreak.. Tessa is in love, the person she is in love with is also in love......This is where the twist begins.... MY 13 year old daughter read and reviewed Prom, Magic and other Man-Made Disasters with me and she enjoyed.it. An overall good read.

This book was a fun read. I enjoyed all the magic and how it was cast.
The MC Tessa gets rejected by the boy she wants to go to prom with. Then she meets a new boy in town named Sean. However Sean isn't your average guy. He's a wizard from a different land. When things get hectic Tessa finds herself in his different land fighting for her life and her friends freedom.
It did get a bit confusing here and there but I got through those parts just fine.
I enjoyed this adventure.
Happy reading!

When I saw the cover of this and read part of the summary, I really thought this was going to be more like "Denton Little's Deathdate" where everything that can possible go wrong, does go wrong, and you still have to make it to dawn in one piece. (I love that book). This book was not it. They make it to dinner and by the time they're in the parking lot, ... I got very disappointed.

I was not happy with Tessa's character. While having a heroine with a smart mouth is cliché and used too often in first person narration, I just wanted a pinch of Betsy Taylor to get catty. Tessa does have some teenage behavior, but not a lot. Her thoughts are way too mature. She does pout, brood, and can be lazy. For a teenager, she's not really selfish or shallow.

I didn't get into the book like others.

This book was very creative and had engaging characters. Grammatically the writing was fine, but at times the plot/pacing got a little jumbled or confused. Like the author was adding too many things at once, in a hurry. It came off a bit like a record that was skipping some things being repeated needlessly and others left out that would have added clarity. For example there were a couple of places that it was clear there was a great deal more, intriguing world building in the author's head that didn't make it to the page.

However, as a whole it was a cute, quick read and I would definitely try more books from this author in the future.

This one started out pretty slow the writing is good however, it felt like it took a long time to get to the meat of the story. Once past the first few chapters the pacing picks up and it was a good read.

This book starts out pretty slow, with not much really happening except a bunch of typical teenage angst. But once magic starts to seep into the tale, the pace finally begins to pick up a bit. And once the scene shifts out of our reality, things become even more heated.

There are so many interesting and intriguing characters: from Tessa herself, and her friend Maria, to Sean and Chrys, Tarisk and Karu, Cindy, Quara and Seliana, just to name a few. Many of them seemed to have alternate personalities at times (although the reason why is discovered along the way), and many of them remain something of a mystery throughout the tale. However, my understanding is that this is the first in a series of books, and I am hopeful that many of these chracters will make a return appearance and be more fleshed out in future volumes.

Indeed, while the world-building was in many aspects robust and detailed, there were quite a few things that were not explained very well, if at all. For example, much of the politics of the land in which they find themselves went entirely over my head, as did much about the different races inhabiting it.

Overall, though, this was definitely an entertaining story; one that I would recommend to readers who enjoy Young Adult Fantasy.