Reviews of products by Mark Piazza
2 ★★★★★ reviews
Emily v2
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Broussard (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 21 August, 2025)
Emily V2 is fantastic. I'd say in the right hands (if one has a basic knowledge of the effects and techniques used in Bizarre Magic and Storytelling) it's an extremely well-orchestrated and powerful piece of theatre. Theatrical seances can be challenging to perform well, especially when dealing with subject matter as somber as child abuse, and striking the right balance of emotion and entertainment is definitely something that can really only be learned by performing. That being said, Emily is a piece that would probably be best suited for a more seasoned practitioner but even beginners could benefit quite a bit from studying it and learning about how to structure and present an excellent, solid piece of storytelling magic.
Emily v2
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Cagri Akyurt (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 14 January, 2016)
Emily v2 is a very sad story and Mark Piazza did a great job turning it into a show. Though it feels like storytelling, instead of a seancé. From the start to the end, we try to contact Emily, do some tests to see if we're on the right track and than suddenly, we reach to the end of the story, without the feeling of an actual contact.
Besides that, instead of explaining the effects thoroughly, Mr. Piazza decided to direct the reader to other sources (usually paid sources), which makes this piece a little bit hard to understand for beginners.
Still, a very good story and I recommend it.
Shuddershadow Mansion
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ray Haddad (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 01 April, 2010)
This is an exceptional book by Mr Piazza as far as routine development goes but lacks in the method descriptions. In half of the effects presented, the method is described as the means found in another effect in another book. I do understand the need to credit originators with their creations but if the effect was included in the book, it should be fully described with the permission of the originator.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book for a novice magician no matter how his/her thoughts may run to the bizarre or supernatural. There is just too much missing which only a seasoned professional could possibly fill in without extensive additional material. The magician with encyclopedic knowledge will find this book to be crammed with great stuff.
There are even a few effects that describe methods from sources that are long out of print and probably not available. I would advise Mr Piazza to rewrite this otherwise worthy book and make it more complete.
These flaws are the reason for an otherwise 5 star book to receive only 3 stars from me.
Shuddershadow Mansion
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jim Kasmir (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 23 February, 2007)
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written ebook from Mark Piazza. The accent is on presentation, which should come as no surprise to learned students of the bizarre. Variety is abundant. Inside Shuddershadow Mansion lurk routines so dark that I would not suggest performing them at your next restaurant gig, yet there are whimsical effects suitable for all ages. One of my favorites is a chilling prediction effect entitled 'Timmy's Toy Chest' that could definitely become part of a longer seance. Then there is the comedic routine involving three ghostly stooges (or four, depending on how you perform it!). There is also a chapter of useful ideas for putting together a Poe Seance. I found the humor in this book refreshing and urge you to check it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.