Reviews of products by Brick Tilley
3 ★★★★★ reviews
2 ★★★★★ reviews
3 ★★★★★ reviews
Street Conjuror's Coins Across
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Iredale (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 23 August, 2025)
As someone who has very dry skin, I find most coin slights impossible to perform and have to rely on subtleties rather than sleights. This routine would fit nicely into other routines using a C/S coin.
Street Conjuror's Coins Across
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Sandberg (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2025)
This is a terrific entry-level effect that can be performed right away - simple, clean, easy. Four stars because it looks to me to be too simple to be a standalone effect, but good for a transition between effects, or a quick change of pace filler. It obviously requires a copper-silver. I've been performing coin effects daily for about a year and wish I had something as easy and impactful when I first took up coin work. Note that I haven't performed this since I don't have a copper-silver, but this is clearly as easy as it gets. And it's free!
Spirit Glass
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joshua Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 26 May, 2025)
Overpriced for something which is in multiple sources, Magic and Showmanship, Dark Matter Secrets, and the Dark Waltz. Don't get me wrong. It's a good method, but I bought it at the price I was hoping it might offer some extra tips or routines, but it is the briefest of the many sources.
Cut and Restored Balloon
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 03 August, 2024)
This is one of those obscure tricks that's a real gem. The balloon restoring itself when you blow it up is very visual and should surprise your audience. The gimmicked balloon is pretty easy to make. If you are looking for something different in balloon magic tricks, you may want to consider this one. Recommended.
China's Song
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Richard Southall (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 29 March, 2024)
I love Bunco effects and I am familiar with many different ones but I had never come across this effect. Like three card monte and shells and pea you have to find one of three objects and it is never where you think it is. Brick explains the moves well and the accompanying videos clearly explain how to do all the moves. Also because this effect has, inexplicably, received so little attention from magicians I believe it has a lot of potential for further development. If you are into Bunco effects you should absolutely get this.
Card in Envelope
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by NIKOS VASILEIADIS (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 02 March, 2024)
Simple and effective. The sneaky idea of making the envelope look sealed is a great touch!
Impossible
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by NIKOS VASILEIADIS (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 01 March, 2024)
This is a wonderful effect, and very unusual. It's like ACCAN but done with a newspaper and the spectators' signature. Although there is no challenging sleight of hand, PRACTISE. You have to make sure that you are very focused while you tear the newspaper because there are some very specific things that you should have in your mind during the tearing procedure.
I am very satisfied with this purchase! Brick Tilley has some very interesting lost gems in his list!
Mr. Bones: Miracle Thought of Card
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by NIKOS VASILEIADIS (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 24 February, 2024)
I loved this trick! And yeah it put a big smile on me as the description said. It's very simple and very devious! I am already thinking of different handlings for a stand-up and a sit-down performance!
There is only one move that you should be able to do. One notice though. This is not an impromptu card effect, some preparation of your own deck is needed. Have this in your mind.
This is the first effect I bought from Brick Tilley. I will definitely buy tricks from him in the future.
China's Song
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Geoffrey Smith (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 24 February, 2024)
A well-kept secret. Highly recommended addition to the world of Betchas and Scams.
China's Song
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Daniel Terelmes (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 24 January, 2024)
It's a quick hustle. Something that you can win a bet with. I think with some work you can craft a nice routine with this. The instructions describe two ways to work the con. Is it worth $10? For me, yes. I haven't seen this before and will use it. For the merely curious, probably not. Which makes it even more worth the $10.
Clockwork Magician
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by hal barlow (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 13 January, 2024)
I really like this! It uses an old principle that you already know, in a very commercial way. I have to say I didn't recognize it at first, due to the presentation. I think this is a real worker!
ER Diary
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Patricia Ireland
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 October, 2023)
This ER Diary is full of interesting tidbits from the iconic show! These are things one would not know just from watching the series. I suppose the use of pseudonyms is necessary to avoid lawsuits…and many of us can figure out who the cast or crew member is anyway.
Mental Marvel
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Edward Goscinski (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 09 April, 2022)
This equivoque effect should be a free download and is not worthy of a $10.00 cost.
Shank Shuffle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Marc Rehula (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 09 January, 2022)
There are two demo videos, totaling 20 seconds. The explanation is one exposed view video, totaling 23 seconds. The pdf contains two pages of basic instructions. If you're looking for tips and subtleties - as I was - you won't find any.
Deluxe Three Card Monte
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Robert McGee (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 30 December, 2021)
I have been studying card and close-up magic since 1962. I have bought several things over the past few years from Lybrary.com and been very satisfied. Unfortunately, I must give a very negative review to this purchase. It is one page describing a very basic routine and a couple of standard endings. This is the only time I bought something from Lybrary.com and felt ripped off. If I could rate it zero stars that would be too high.
Deluxe Three Card Monte
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Colin Massey (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 02 December, 2021)
Excellent routine and explained very well.
Poor Man's Nest of Boxes
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Lyth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 09 August, 2021)
Very very nice reminds me of a Russian nest of dolls effect that appeared in an old copy of ABRA. If each of the inner boxes were also fastened with a ribbon it would mean less fumbling of the removal of the inner boxes and strengthen the illusion. Great idea.
Spirit Glass
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 02 May, 2021)
This is a very simple but effective spirit effect. There are no electronics that could possibly go wrong, which is a plus. It would require some amplification to use on stage, but it's ideal for intimate situations and seances. It would work well in conjunction with the spirit slate that Brick explains in another ebook on this site. This is recommended for anyone looking for spirit effects.
Bowled Over
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 02 May, 2021)
This is an unusual effect that should surprise and entertain your audience. No sleight of hand is involved; it's all misdirection and handling. If you don't already have the correct rice bowls, you should be able to find them easily on eBay; the ones I got are too small for dollar coins, but they work admirably with half dollars. Recommended especially for any magician looking for something different.
Fire Lantern
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Chet Cox (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 14 April, 2021)
Your own acting ability + presentation will be what makes this work. The description is meticulously accurate: You burn a paper, the flame & ash float up to the ceiling - if you have any draft, it looks pretty eerie. No message can effectively be written on the paper - it wouldn't survive anyway. You will have to use a special type of paper, which Brick tells you under what name it's sold - and I've seen it in most supermarkets. (Does anyone know of a "grocery" anymore?) You'll want to throw away the guts and keep the wrappers. At least I shall, because I don't touch the stuff.
It's not much of an effect for a ten-spot, but the nugget of a plot for your presentation is well worth the $10.
Spirit Slate
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 29 November, 2020)
This is an unusual and startling slate effect. It's a natural for seances, but it can also be effective for all kinds of performances. You can find everything you need for a few dollars at your craft store and grocery store. Recommended!
Legacy: Yin Yang Pot
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 02 October, 2020)
This is a well-thought-out and easy version of the "Think-a-Drink" or "Any Drink Called For" plot. While I figured out what this was from watching the demo, I'm glad I purchased the ebook since it describes some touches that help to make the routine deceptive.
Sidebar: Brick mentions one place to buy the necessary prop, but I bought it from Grand Illusions in the UK.
This is recommended for anyone looking for a "Think-a-Drink" routine that isn't going to cost a small fortune!
Bouncer: Two Card Monte
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Donald Lehn (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 07 January, 2020)
I am a loyal Lybrary follower, and not, by nature, very critical, but ... The idea contained in this brief text isn't a bad idea. But that's all there is - one idea that isn't bad, but that isn't earth shattering either. Simply explained, with no additional help on the rest of the handling of the two cards, or suggestions of a presentation, or ideas about the "effect" created, it seems like a very poor offering for $10.00.
Gone
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Steven Hofstein
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 12 June, 2019)
Very clever! A great addition to any string magic repertoire!
Eye Candy
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Collier
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 21 January, 2017)
If you want to amaze your friends, this is terrific. Use it over and over again. The results are absolutely magical. One of the best I have seen!!!