lynseyisreading's review
3.0
This was a pretty decent follow up to the first book and went some way to improving on the characterization that I felt was lacking in book one, Magic to the Bone.
Having the main character, Allie Beckstom, have her memories reset back to her back to her 25th birthday, which was the opening scene of book one, was both a blessing and a curse for us as a reader. A blessing because it gave us a chance to get to know the love interest, Zayvion Jones' character a little more, and for them to try and build a relationship on something other than just "magic sex". And, I admit, I did soften towards him a little more in this book. He can be very sweet and endearing at times and I think it's good that they have slowed things down. It's how it should have been in the first place.
But it was a curse because Allie can't remember anything that happened in book one, so the amount of recapping and the feeling of being right back at square one was slightly overwhelming.
Allie gets drafted in by the police's magic enforcement division (MERC) to Hound a job involving a possible serial killer and six missing girls. She also starts to experience weird happenings whenever she taps into her magic.
There were several new characters introduced in this one, none of whom made any great impact, still, it was nice to widen the cast a little since most of book one featured only Allie and Zayvion.
Going back to Zayvion for a second, I'm finding the whole "Man of Mystery" persona slightly annoying at the moment. I'm all for characters being mysterious if it's done well, and if they are dropping clues without actually meaning or wanting to, but with this one it feels more like he's saying "I have loads of secrets! Neener neener neener!" If he can't talk about his job or say who he works for because he's not allowed, then fine, just stop mentioning it!
I'm going to give book three a chance because...well because I have it here right next to me, but this series really needs to step it up a notch to hold my interest for much longer.
Having the main character, Allie Beckstom, have her memories reset back to her back to her 25th birthday, which was the opening scene of book one, was both a blessing and a curse for us as a reader. A blessing because it gave us a chance to get to know the love interest, Zayvion Jones' character a little more, and for them to try and build a relationship on something other than just "magic sex". And, I admit, I did soften towards him a little more in this book. He can be very sweet and endearing at times and I think it's good that they have slowed things down. It's how it should have been in the first place.
But it was a curse because Allie can't remember anything that happened in book one, so the amount of recapping and the feeling of being right back at square one was slightly overwhelming.
Allie gets drafted in by the police's magic enforcement division (MERC) to Hound a job involving a possible serial killer and six missing girls. She also starts to experience weird happenings whenever she taps into her magic.
There were several new characters introduced in this one, none of whom made any great impact, still, it was nice to widen the cast a little since most of book one featured only Allie and Zayvion.
Going back to Zayvion for a second, I'm finding the whole "Man of Mystery" persona slightly annoying at the moment. I'm all for characters being mysterious if it's done well, and if they are dropping clues without actually meaning or wanting to, but with this one it feels more like he's saying "I have loads of secrets! Neener neener neener!" If he can't talk about his job or say who he works for because he's not allowed, then fine, just stop mentioning it!
I'm going to give book three a chance because...well because I have it here right next to me, but this series really needs to step it up a notch to hold my interest for much longer.
lolasreviews's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I enjoy reading this book, it is a nice read but not great. Let me start whith what I like about this book. I just love the way the concept of magic is used in this book. When you use magic it uses you back and this has caused Allie to lose her whole memory of the first book. Very original. I also like Allie as a character, she is a strong character that keeps going even after everything that happens to her. She also stays determined to keep using magic altough it uses her back and causes her memory loss.
The story itself is very average, it is oké, but nothing special. I also like the fact that it is not a sunny world. It is always raining or storming or freezing and Allie has to get out in this wheather with her headache of fever due to her use of magic. It is also kind of depressing to see Allie get used and tossed around everytime, but at the same time I love the fact that she not always wins everything and not everything goes alright with her. I would've liked some more romance in this book, but I think we will get that in the next book. She has to get to know Zayvion again, the man she loved in the first book, because she has forgotten everything about him.
To conclude: an original book, with a very nice use of the magic concept. The story is oké, but not great. I will read the rest of this series because I have the feeling it will only get better now.
The story itself is very average, it is oké, but nothing special. I also like the fact that it is not a sunny world. It is always raining or storming or freezing and Allie has to get out in this wheather with her headache of fever due to her use of magic. It is also kind of depressing to see Allie get used and tossed around everytime, but at the same time I love the fact that she not always wins everything and not everything goes alright with her. I would've liked some more romance in this book, but I think we will get that in the next book. She has to get to know Zayvion again, the man she loved in the first book, because she has forgotten everything about him.
To conclude: an original book, with a very nice use of the magic concept. The story is oké, but not great. I will read the rest of this series because I have the feeling it will only get better now.
mjfmjfmjf's review
3.0
This one was a bit rough. To be fair I'm reading this book, which is #2 of a 9 book series, out of order. I started reading the series for the Endeavour Award at book #3. And went back after reading 3 4 and 5 and read #1 - which was like a year or two ago.
In this one Allie doesn't know the people I think of as her friends, she's confused and broken in a quite a bit different way. And she's a bit of a whiner. There's a LOT of extra unnecessary detail. The pace is a whole lot slower than in the later books. It does come through in the end but definitely not as fun to run.
Still the world is a good one and I might have had at least a slightly different reaction if I had read this in order.
In this one Allie doesn't know the people I think of as her friends, she's confused and broken in a quite a bit different way. And she's a bit of a whiner. There's a LOT of extra unnecessary detail. The pace is a whole lot slower than in the later books. It does come through in the end but definitely not as fun to run.
Still the world is a good one and I might have had at least a slightly different reaction if I had read this in order.
caseythebookwitch's review
4.0
What a difference a book makes. I will just chalk it up to the author having growing pains and the over need to describe every single thing over and over.
This is a very intriguing world, dark and slummy and full of awesome. No one besides Allie herself is good guy, everyone is variants of gray (I will never use the term shades again!). Absolute non stop action. Loved it.
This is a very intriguing world, dark and slummy and full of awesome. No one besides Allie herself is good guy, everyone is variants of gray (I will never use the term shades again!). Absolute non stop action. Loved it.
bunnerz's review
3.0
Ratings - abandoned series:
#1 Magic to the Bone: ★★★★☆
#2 Magic in the Blood (this book): ★★★☆☆
#3 Magic in the Shadows: ★★★☆☆
#4 Magic on the Storm: ★★★☆☆
#5 Magic at the Gate: ★★☆☆☆
#6 Magic on the Hunt: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
#1 Magic to the Bone: ★★★★☆
#2 Magic in the Blood (this book): ★★★☆☆
#3 Magic in the Shadows: ★★★☆☆
#4 Magic on the Storm: ★★★☆☆
#5 Magic at the Gate: ★★☆☆☆
#6 Magic on the Hunt: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
ericawrites's review
4.0
Perhaps these books have escalated too quickly, but perhaps, you felt every second of it.
rachelini's review
3.0
Turns out I had read this, but I read it again because I only remembered anything as I was reading it. Fun, with a nice set-up for the next book (which I think I may have also already read? But I'm sure that's it.)