reviews_musings's review
4.0
Spring’s calling is an urban fantasy novel which revolves around a cop, Ezri Trenton, who has magical capabilities. Unfortunately, she struggles alone to train herself to a control these magical powers and hurts herself in the process of self-training. Her mother’s mysterious death circumstances forbid her to approach the Authority, the council of magicians who govern the city.
Ezri wanders away alone from her family and her childhood friends. She trains hard and becomes a law enforcement officer. On the first case, Ezri is paired up with another officer to investigate a murder which has occurred in the public gardens. The moment Ezri reaches the murder scene, she senses strong magic in action. Within no time, she figures out that there are dark magical forces involved in this murder.
But things move at a faster pace than expected. Within three days, four innocent people are murdered at different parts of the city at public places. The evil is at large and the cops are running out of time and resources. FBI takes over the investigation, which makes the matters further complicated.
In parallel, runs an ancient prophecy that the world will see a savior combat a powerful evil magic which is destined to happen during the Equinox. Everyone is convinced that Ezri is the savior. With Equinox only few days around the corner and a serial killer at large, Ezri is forced to approach the Authority for assistance. Will the Authority help her solve the mystery? Will Ezri stop the evil magic force from rising?
This forms the crux of the story.
When I started reading the novel, I did not expect the story to be even half interesting as it turned out to be. I found myself turning the pages back to reread what I had read before to connect the pieces together. It’s a very engaging book, brimming with interesting characters.
It requires a lot of creative imagination to hold a reader’s attention in a fantasy book. The author has done a brilliant job constructing the different magical elements in the book. The characters are in plenty, there are lots of twists and turns and each and every page is captivating.
There is only one flaw I could find with this book, that it was easy to guess the antagonist of the book. It would have been really thrilling had the evil force been a very close ally to Esri and had moved in very close quarters with Ezri all along.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable book to read, I look forward to the sequels.
Ezri wanders away alone from her family and her childhood friends. She trains hard and becomes a law enforcement officer. On the first case, Ezri is paired up with another officer to investigate a murder which has occurred in the public gardens. The moment Ezri reaches the murder scene, she senses strong magic in action. Within no time, she figures out that there are dark magical forces involved in this murder.
But things move at a faster pace than expected. Within three days, four innocent people are murdered at different parts of the city at public places. The evil is at large and the cops are running out of time and resources. FBI takes over the investigation, which makes the matters further complicated.
In parallel, runs an ancient prophecy that the world will see a savior combat a powerful evil magic which is destined to happen during the Equinox. Everyone is convinced that Ezri is the savior. With Equinox only few days around the corner and a serial killer at large, Ezri is forced to approach the Authority for assistance. Will the Authority help her solve the mystery? Will Ezri stop the evil magic force from rising?
This forms the crux of the story.
When I started reading the novel, I did not expect the story to be even half interesting as it turned out to be. I found myself turning the pages back to reread what I had read before to connect the pieces together. It’s a very engaging book, brimming with interesting characters.
It requires a lot of creative imagination to hold a reader’s attention in a fantasy book. The author has done a brilliant job constructing the different magical elements in the book. The characters are in plenty, there are lots of twists and turns and each and every page is captivating.
There is only one flaw I could find with this book, that it was easy to guess the antagonist of the book. It would have been really thrilling had the evil force been a very close ally to Esri and had moved in very close quarters with Ezri all along.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable book to read, I look forward to the sequels.
littlemissmaudlin's review
4.0
This is an urban fantasy about a Boston police detective named Ezri, so it's a crime drama with magic added. From a child, Ezri has known that she was prophesied to be the Savior of the magical community against the Order of Samael, but she's also got a complicated personal history, stemming from her mother's murder. Although the plot was a bit heavy on the prophecy element, I really enjoyed the magical elements and the pacing of the entire novel. Ezri's backstory was weaved in well, and the minor characters were also well-developed. I loved the crime detective element because it seemed so unique.
tawnyad2004's review
2.0
DNF 21%
I’m listening to the audio book and truth be told I have a hard time with audios. I listen to them while I work a pretty mundane data entry job. So if they story can’t keep my interest I stop listening to it. This one fits the bill. I just don’t understand this character. Her mother is murdered when she’s 15. Her whole life she’s been told she’s this chosen one. Her father loved her mother very much. So she thinks there’s this big betrayal bc they didn’t rule the murder as a murder but natural. Ok yeah I can see being pissed about it but it’s like 12 years later (or something like that) and she has no relationship whatsoever with anyone in the magical community including her dad. Why? Why on earth wouldn’t you talk to your dad about your moms murder and find out why he didn’t peruse it? I mean as a rational adult would t you want to know. He still loves his daughter and sends her a text every year on her birthday. I just honestly couldn’t get past this. She knows she’s supposed to save the world as she knows it but hey at 15 she must be able to teach herself everything she needs to know for the epic battle that’s ahead of her
I’m listening to the audio book and truth be told I have a hard time with audios. I listen to them while I work a pretty mundane data entry job. So if they story can’t keep my interest I stop listening to it. This one fits the bill. I just don’t understand this character. Her mother is murdered when she’s 15. Her whole life she’s been told she’s this chosen one. Her father loved her mother very much. So she thinks there’s this big betrayal bc they didn’t rule the murder as a murder but natural. Ok yeah I can see being pissed about it but it’s like 12 years later (or something like that) and she has no relationship whatsoever with anyone in the magical community including her dad. Why? Why on earth wouldn’t you talk to your dad about your moms murder and find out why he didn’t peruse it? I mean as a rational adult would t you want to know. He still loves his daughter and sends her a text every year on her birthday. I just honestly couldn’t get past this. She knows she’s supposed to save the world as she knows it but hey at 15 she must be able to teach herself everything she needs to know for the epic battle that’s ahead of her
piperkitty's review
4.0
Sarah is a new author to me. This is a lovely fantasy to read with alot of intruge and crime. Witty novel with plenty of intregue. Eriz is head strong and I have enjoyed joining her in this magical journey. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
kaitlyncat22's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
This is the beginning of a series, and it definitely sets it up for much more magic and mayhem to come. Ezri is a strong female protagonist while still being reliably human in her limits. There are so many moments I couldn’t help but sympathize with her and her struggles with both her family and work. If you’re looking for a paranormal detective story that kicks butt this is definitely my first pick for you. It will leave you on the edge of your seat and craving more. I will have to be getting my hands on book two to see where we will go now.
dahnielle_hibbert's review
slow-paced
3.0
After reading the synopsis I was really looking forward to reading this book. I am not sure if I hyped it up so much that I let myself down but I found the book to be a bit blasé. The details were not impressively laid out and the storyline didn’t draw me into the story. That said the characters were good but needed fleshed out and some of the background information seems to make little connection with the story. Ezri could be a lot more than she is and I have hopes that the second book will have all those amazing, unique details that bring a story to life. I can see how this could be a really magical, suspenseful and captivating series. I truly hope book two will bring this interesting story to life.
rayne's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Magic, prophesies and mysteries
This book has an intriguing take on magic and loved the interwoven crime aspect. Ezri is a strong female lead and very easy to connect with. The book builds slowly towards the climax but then quickly races to the finish. This is the first book in the series and has set the pace for the rest of the books. There is a little teaser of things to come which I am very keen to check out.
mrscorbin89's review
adventurous
fast-paced
5.0
While I am a huge fantasy lover I haven’t read very many urban fantasies before but this one is just simply amazing! This book combined all of my favorite things including crime, drama, magic, and more. The character development was simply amazing, the plot was so perfect that I was on the edge of my seat most the book. Ezri is a strong cop with the Boston police department and I loved following her magical journey through this story and I personally can’t wait to see what our author gives us next.
mandykim's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
5/5 Stars
Spring's Calling: (A Witch Detective Urban Fantasy Novel) (Seasons of Magic #1) by Sarah Biglow
This isn't the first book by the author that I've read. Biglow has a unique way of bringing her characters to life. Ezri's story had me captivated from the beginning.
Ezri is the last Harrow daughter alive. She is told of the prophecy that involves her. Now the time has come and she's not exactly ready to do it on her own. The quote I chose for Ezri is: “Damn right I am. And they need to know that the only way to stop me is to actually kill me, and if Taggart is their best guy, then they’re seriously going to need to up their game. Now, let’s see about getting you back to normal.”
Highly recommended for Supernatural Witch lovers.