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"Trash Sex Magic" by Jennifer Stevenson A fairy tale for adults that plays with wild sexy women, "white trash" families, forces of nature, and interesting men, while setting it up with a quick, easy to read pace that draws you into the magical world along the Fox River. 
As a die hard mythology/folklore/fantasy fan I was intrigued to see some of my favorite authors with comments on the covers of this book. Upon opening those covers and diving in I was pleased to find myself plunged deep into a section along the Fox River, surrounded by characters who’s likes are usually only found in fairy tales. For this IS a fairy tale, a fairy tale for adults. “Trash Sex Magic” is a tale of love, of family, of magic, of the strange depths of the human heart, and of sex mixed with spirituality.
While I found this novel very easy to read and one that pulled me in and wouldn’t let me go till I finished it, this may not hold true for everyone. Those who have a hard time suspending disbelief might not enjoy this novel. Those who have a hard time relating to people very different from themselves may not enjoy it. But any woman who has listened to the trees speaking or who has just “let go” in order to be true to herself may LOVE this book.
One finds a couple of different “main” characters here – all of which are important to the whole and all of whom are so fully fleshed out that you feel as if you’d recognize them if they walked down the street. There are also “fantastical” characters found within but they make such sense in the overall story that their existence isn’t disturbing past the initial introduction.
The sex scenes in “Trash Sex Magic” come closer (for me) to describing what a powerful orgasm is like for a woman better than any others I’ve encountered before. Sex is a definite theme throughout the novel but in a very new and different way.
The plot is one that’s better left unspoiled but in general this is a tale of an extended family living “dirt poor” along the banks of the Fox River in Illinois. I find that I can do no better than the words of Audrey Niffenegger, author of “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” in speaking to this novel: “This just absolutely rocks. It’s lyrical, it’s weird and it’s sexy in a very funky way. (It’s) full of people you would maybe be afraid to meet in real life, but once you’ve met them fictionally you are damn sorry you can’t at least have a beer with them.”
For those who love fairy tales - for those who love to read about women who aren’t trapped by stereotypes or society - for those who love reading that is absolutely magical - Jennifer Stevenson has bought out a gem in this first novel.
Trash Sex Magic
by Jennifer Stevenson
Published by Small Beer Press
292 Pages
ISBN: 1931520127
Review by Ina
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