Review: Magic on the storm (Allie Beckstrom #4) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path.

Magic on the Storm has a kick ass ending, but let me start at the beginning :) Book 4 is nearly as good as book 3, not quite but nearly. The continued history of Magic is really fascinating, and the world building still vivid. The on-coming storm keeps the pace moving along quite nicely although I found it a little anti climatic towards the end, and although I could see the ending coming a mile off, it didn't dampen my enjoyment of it at all. Not my favourite in the series but not the least either.

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It

Review: Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom #3) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Allison Beckstrom's magic has taken its toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories-including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts.

Her late father, the prominent businessman-and sorcerer-Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of The Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities-and find a way to deal with her father.

Magic in the Shadows is my favourite book in this series. The world building is fantastic and I'm loving all the history of Magic. The secondary characters are more prominent and fleshed out a little more than in books 1 and 2, although there are lots of them, and they all have different roles, it doesn't make it too confusing. I loves Shamus. He is definitely my favourite and I really do hope to see more of him in future books. However, Allie is still grating on my nerves. Her attitude sometimes is damn right annoying, acting like a stroppy 13 year old instead of a young woman in her early twenties. She still listens to no one, putting people in danger because "how dare they tell/advise/suggest her to do anything that might keep her alive". Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying this series I just hope (again) that she grows/learns in the future... and soon.

Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked it

Review: Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom #2) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.

Magic in the Blood is the 2nd book in the Allie Beckstrom Series . I was really looking forward to reading it so started it right after I finished the first book and I was not disappointed. It starts where Magic to the Bone finishes, and I liked that it does. I prefer this to the story jumping a year later or something as some other books do. I was a little frustrated that Allie couldn't remember her relationship with Zay though, but I guess that's that's Monk's aim; for us to feel Allie's frustration. It was good to see under Zay's zen and see a little of his pain at her memory loss, it made his character slightly more three dimensiona. He's still mysterious and I'm hoping that Monk has something big in store for us in the future regarding this. I really don't know who to trust though, and that includes Allie. I don't trust her or her judgment, and I definitely don't trust her to make the right decisions. However, we knew she was flawed from book 1. She even knows she is. I just hope that during the next few books she learns to listen before she gets someone killed.

Rating: 5/6 - Really liked it

Monthly round up: January

I've managed to read quite a few books this month, although 7 are re-reads so won't count towards my 150 reading goal. I blame my kindle... Blame?! I thank my kindle :) Links to reviews for the last 3 books once I've posted them. The titles I've not reviewed are linked to Amazon.co.uk, where you'll find reviews and can purchase the book if you so wish.

1. Unholy Magic, stacia Kane
2. City of Ghosts, stacia Kane
3. The Replacement, Brenna Yovanof
4. Kitty goes to war, Carry Vaughn
5. Mercy Blade, Faith Hunter
Skinwalker, Faith Hunter (re-read)
Blood Cross, Faith Hunter (re-read)
Mercy Blade, Faith Hunter (re-read
Magic Bites, Iiona Andrews (re-read)
Magic Burns, Iiona Andrews (re-read)
Magic Strikes, Iiona Andrews (re-read)
Magic Bleeds, Iiona Andrews (re-read)
6. Fledgling, Octavia E. Butler
7. The Awakening, Christine Feehan
8. Magic to the Bone, Devon Monk
9. Magic in the Blood, Devon Monk
10. Magic in the shadows, Devon Monk
11. Magic on the Storm, Devon Monk
12. Magic at the Gate, Devon Monk
13. Archangel's Consort, Nalini Singh

Review: Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom #1) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy-tale, hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o, sparkles and pixie dust crap. Magic, like booze, sex, and drugs, gave as good as it got.

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user - maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they Offload the cost onto innocents. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster - and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is.

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune - and the strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magic Offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic.

Now Allie's out for the truth - and must call upon forces that will challenge everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine ... and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control.

I started Magic to the Bone last week but was distracted by the sheer amount of books I had around me. I really didn't know which one to choose and kept flitting from one to another. I picked it up again a few days later.

The first 6 chapters didn't light my fire, although it was nowhere as near as frustrating as Nightwalker. I'd read a review somewhere which described it as dark but to be honest I found it a bit fluffy (I'm still talking about the first few chapters). I prefer my stories/series a little dark and gritty but I didn't dislike this enough to stop reading, but then again I'm renowned for disliking the first half of the first book in every series I read -I almost stopped reading Halfway to the Grave because Bones' accent was getting on my nerves and now that's my favourite series EVER.

Chapter 7 is where things take a turn for the better. Then that was it, I couldn't put it down. Everything just got better. I enjoyed the relationship between Allie and Zay. I have to admit though that Allie frustrates me a little, but I'm hoping that she's grow over the next few books. I have now read the first 3 books and it is now on my favourite series list.

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It

Review: Nightwalker (Dark Days #1) by Jocelynn Drake

Description (from Amazon.co.uk

Mira has been a nightwalker for centuries, travelling the globe as an enforcer for a secretive, powerful organization. But this vampire has a secret that makes her a valuable target: the unheralded ability to create fire. And after many centuries, she's finally met her match in Danaus - a vampire hunter with his own mysterious past. But the cat and mouse game between nightwalker and hunter quickly turns into something far more deadly. For a portal has been opened to other worlds, and the ancient, immortal enemies are returning to the world. And the web of lies and secrets leads directly to the vampire triad who raised Mira. After a brutal betrayal, Mira has only one choice: hunt...or be hunted.

Nightwalker is from my To-Read List. I can't remember how it got there but it looked pretty interesting from it's blerb.

Let me first say... I did not finish this book. Idk. I managed to read to chapter 14 but something was lacking. The character development wasn't rounded enough, or something. I always find it hard to review books as I can never pin point why I either like, love or hate them, but not so with this one. It had so much potential though. It's actually disappointing that I don't really like it, and I definitely won't be continuing with the series. Inconsistencies and discrepancies, and not enough emotional development-if none at all. You only have to look at the leads relationship with Jabari to see the glaring obvious flaws in writing. And don't even get me started with Danaus. Jesus, even the Nerian! They are supposedly so scary but in the next instance the pain from a mere broken nose clouds his judgment so much she gains the upper hand. They are so hard to kill that she managed to kill 4 of them! If they are that easy to kill THEN WHY IS SHE SCARED SHITLESS BY THEM?!?!

I think I'm so pissed off because I really wanted to like this book. It could have been so, SO much better. And I really hate not finishing a book. I think I kept going just hoping it would get better. Um, no it didn't, just made me more annoyed. What a waste. (I may force myself to finish this book at some point, but Idk, maybe not. We'll see)

I need a new series, something on the same level as the Downside Ghost books. Oh well on to the next!

Rating: 0/6 - Did Not Finish

Review: Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

Description (from amazon.co.uk)

Fledgling, Octavia Butler’s first new novel in seven years, is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted—and still wants—to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself. Fledgling is a captivating novel that tests the limits of “otherness” and questions what it means to be truly human.

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler was voted for by the participants of calico_reaction's book club for February's reading challenge, which I mistook for January's choice.

It's about a girl who wakes up in a dark cave with no memory and with only her newborn-like instincts to guide her as she tries to survive. The story is about her re-learning to be herself again, discovery her (and her family/race) history and customs, as she battles to save herself and her people from someone who want to see their world rid of her kind.

I have to say that I really enjoyed it

I really liked the start; I wasn't really sure what's going on. There were little clues telling you its not something good, I love a slow reveal :) I was totally sucked in from start to finish. It was really interesting finding out about shori's history and customs, and I loved the tone in which it was written. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

Rating: 5/6 - I Really Liked It