A review by emmelnie
Grey Magic by Jeffe Kennedy
Grey Magic is a fantastic end to a great fantasy romance trilogy. We see Nic and Gabriel’s love deepen even as they deal with attacks on their fledging house and as they discover hidden abilities. There’s a lot to be said about a trilogy where the third book is about expanding the connection between lovers instead of finally establishing it. Nic and Gabriel complement each other so well, and yet each exasperates the other in the ways couples can do in real life. They’re wonderful protagonists.
What I loved best about Grey Magic is the way Kennedy increases the reader’s understanding of these magical Houses of power. The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book, as we come to know more and more about how magic operates in this land. I particularly liked how Kennedy examined the secondary roles of familiars and how that could easily turn into abuse. And the way the book ends…let’s just say this, with what Kennedy has set up, I’m desperately hoping she writes more set in this world.
And the other reason I’m hoping for more? The secondary characters in this book just explode, as we get to know the various fledgling wizards who’ve come to join Nic and Gabriel’s upstart House Phel. I loved that these wizards were either new and hungry or resented the order the Convocation represents and want to achieve something different within the structure of House Phel. There are easily half a dozen characters that I want to find out more about, from the wizards Asa and Alise to the familiars Han and Iliana, as well as Jadren and Selly, each mysterious in their own way. The villains in this story are truly despicable, and enough threads are left dangling that I hope additional books will address.
I enjoyed Grey Magic from start to finish. If you haven’t read the first books in this series, I highly recommend starting with those. Kennedy is creating a grand structure here, and it’s best to see it build from the start.
What I loved best about Grey Magic is the way Kennedy increases the reader’s understanding of these magical Houses of power. The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book, as we come to know more and more about how magic operates in this land. I particularly liked how Kennedy examined the secondary roles of familiars and how that could easily turn into abuse. And the way the book ends…let’s just say this, with what Kennedy has set up, I’m desperately hoping she writes more set in this world.
And the other reason I’m hoping for more? The secondary characters in this book just explode, as we get to know the various fledgling wizards who’ve come to join Nic and Gabriel’s upstart House Phel. I loved that these wizards were either new and hungry or resented the order the Convocation represents and want to achieve something different within the structure of House Phel. There are easily half a dozen characters that I want to find out more about, from the wizards Asa and Alise to the familiars Han and Iliana, as well as Jadren and Selly, each mysterious in their own way. The villains in this story are truly despicable, and enough threads are left dangling that I hope additional books will address.
I enjoyed Grey Magic from start to finish. If you haven’t read the first books in this series, I highly recommend starting with those. Kennedy is creating a grand structure here, and it’s best to see it build from the start.