top of page

WELCOME

to Traces of Magic

by

Rev. Patrick Dolan

Traces of Magic
Books by Rev. Patrick Dolan
(Available in audiobook, paperback and e-book)

Rustic characters use good magic and prayers to help unicorns and other creatures stop an assassin's guild from inserting a weather control spell into a pre-colonial Kentucky valley.

A spell book from an assassin sorcerer causes fear in the city and its destruction lets in a major devil whose very touch kills by fear.  Plans to heal the rupture begin.

Trapping that devil requires all members of the community (clerics, magic users, holy knights, druids, barbarians and rangers) to trick the devil back into hell and reweave the protection net.

After the devil is gone, the Assassins still hold the weather control spell and the characters seek to remove it from their power without damaging the valley.  

Click on any book to find out more information and see a sample of each on Amazon.

Traces of Magic - 1 minute Video Trailer

​Excerpt from the Kirkus review, where they mislabeled these "folklore literature" stories as fantasy:  "This first book in Dolan’s fantasy series has an intriguing premise, which the author discusses in some detail in the foreword; in it, he intriguingly notes that the inspiration for this novel came from his own speculation on what a Celtic-Norse community might have been like if, in the 12th century, it had settled in an uninhabited region of what’s now Kentucky."

​

​

"Each book in the Traces of Magic series is a riveting magical adventure story so blended with reality that it will make you wonder if it really could have happened."   

--Dr. David Overley, MD, Louisville Kentucky

 About the author

 

Father Patrick Dolan is a retired US Army Brigadier General chaplain who served more than 25 years (including 4 times in Iraq)--concluding his duties with the National Guard, where he mentored all the state chaplains in the Nation, and also gave spiritual guidance to all National Guard Generals.  His experience there, as well as a PhD chemist and a Catholic priest, flavors all the characters.

Contact info: 

St. Steven Martyr Parish

2931 Pindell Ave

Louisville, KY 40217

or

MUCL@hotmail.com

Click here for a daily blog at my Facebook page​

"Elf in Sheep's Clothing"

17 September 2025

Entitlement in Charities

From an Educator: “Traces of Magic” is a truly epic, ingenious, imaginary journey not only across the clearly identifiable landscape of Kentucky, but across another landscape that reveals the profound impact our choices have to promote good or evil, fear or courage, love or hate. As a Catholic school principal, it is refreshing to read a book for young readers that is both adventurous and suspenseful while highlighting the importance of knowing and living the truths of our faith in a way that is transferable to real world experiences. To get the full impact, however, you must read the entire series; it is a landscape you will not easily forget!

Kathy Fehder, 

Corpus Christi Catholic School Headmaster,

Simpsonville, KY

A number of years ago, at the height of the Cold War, there was a satirical movie called The Mouse that Roared.  Based on the observation by this fictional tiny European state of how well both Germany and Japan (as well as nations like France, Brittian and Italy) had been rehabilitated by the efforts of the US after WW II, that tiny nation decided to declare war on the US, lose in about 5 days, and be “rehabilitated beyond their wildest dreams” soon thereafter.

 

Sadly, as we have seen in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, real war is horrendous—both to the many Russian soldiers thrown into battle as “canon fodder” and to the Ukrainian civilians.  With the recent deliberate “incursion” into Polish airspace by drones that were shot down, the attempt to draw others into the war is there as well.  Nightly news makes those legendary “rumors of war” all too accessible.

 

In addition to this, and also with the recent school shooting in Minnesota and the assassination of Charlie Kirk we see the vilification of his name and anyone who agrees with him.  One priest recently told me of his fears that soon he and I would likely be arrested simply for preaching the Gospel.  Scripture tells the early Christians not to worry about such issues, for Christ has already conquered—and all we need do is remain close to Him.  May you be at true and real peace as you do so.  September Blessings!

Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.

Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.

​

A number of years ago, at the height of the Cold War, there was a satirical movie called The Mouse that Roared.  Based on the observation by this fictional tiny European state of how well both Germany and Japan (as well as nations like France, Brittian and Italy) had been rehabilitated by the efforts of the US after WW II, that tiny nation decided to declare war on the US, lose in about 5 days, and be “rehabilitated beyond their wildest dreams” soon thereafter.

 

Sadly, as we have seen in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, real war is horrendous—both to the many Russian soldiers thrown into battle as “canon fodder” and to the Ukrainian civilians.  With the recent deliberate “incursion” into Polish airspace by drones that were shot down, the attempt to draw others into the war is there as well.  Nightly news makes those legendary “rumors of war” all too accessible.

 

In addition to this, and also with the recent school shooting in Minnesota and the assassination of Charlie Kirk we see the vilification of his name and anyone who agrees with him.  One priest recently told me of his fears that soon he and I would likely be arrested simply for preaching the Gospel.  Scripture tells the early Christians not to worry about such issues, for Christ has already conquered—and all we need do is remain close to Him.  May you be at true and real peace as you do so.  September Blessings!

S after WW II, that tiny nation decided to declare war on the US, lose in about 5 days, and be “rehabilitated beyond their wildest dreams” soon thereafter.Sadly, as we have seen in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, real war is horrendous—both to the many Russian soldiers thrown into battle as “canon fodder” and to the Ukrainian civilians. With the recent deliberate “incursion” into Polish airspace by drones that were shot down, the attempt to draw others into the war is there as well. Nightly news makes those legendary “rumors of war” all too accessible.In addition to this, and also with the recent school shooting in Minnesota and the assassination of Charlie Kirk we see the vilification of his name and anyone who agrees with him. One priest recently told me of his fears that soon he and I would likely be arrested simply for preaching the Gospel. Scripture tells the early Christians not to worry about such issues, for Christ has already conquered—and all we need do is remain close to Him. May you be at true and real peace as you do so. September Blessings!

© 2024 by Traces of Magic. Publishers. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page