![\"magic_and_the_healing.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/01\/magic_and_the_healing.jpg\")
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The Magic and the Healing, by Nick O’Donohoe<\/p>\n
Firebird, 2006.\u00a0 First published in 1994.\u00a0 324 pages.<\/p>\n
Reviewed January 14, 2008.<\/p>\n
BJ Vaughan is packing up her stuff, ready to leave vet school forever.\u00a0 Her mother committed suicide before she could be overcome by the symptoms of a genetic disease she might have passed to BJ.\u00a0 Unable to focus, BJ\u00a0failed her small animal rotation, and figures she might as well call it quits.<\/p>\n
Then Dr. Dobbs calls her into his office and asks her to work on a special rotation he’s supervising.\u00a0 He shows her a horn.<\/p>\n
She barely noticed; the horn had taken her over.\u00a0 “A land animal.\u00a0 Antelope have two like this, generally darker.\u00a0 Goats have two, but they curve more in any of the goats I know–“<\/em><\/p>\n She had her first suspicion of what it was.\u00a0 She shivered, and the shiver turned into cold certainty.\u00a0 Of course.\u00a0 She should have guessed it long ago.\u00a0 It was obvious, except–<\/em><\/p>\n Except that there weren’t any.<\/em><\/p>\n BJ accepts Dr. Dobbs’ assignment and finds herself traveling with a group of veterinary students into Crossroads, a place between worlds, where impossible creatures exist and need their help.<\/p>\n Here’s a fantasy book with a twist of James Herriot.\u00a0 There’s a dark side to this book, as someone has sinister plans for Crossroads, and the students get in the way.\u00a0 You can’t help liking BJ and her companions– her consistent reaction is to help ease suffering, with no thought to her own safety.<\/p>\n This book has more of a feel of fantasy for adults, though it’s published by a Young Adult imprint.\u00a0 This isn’t fairy tale fantasy, but a somewhat grittier look at what it would be like to practice veterinary medicine on creatures like griffins and werewolves.<\/p>\n An absorbing and intriguing story.<\/p>\n This review is posted on the main site at<\/p>\n