Magic on the Line (Allie Beckstrom Book 7) by Devon Monk

 

Magic on the Line was a disappointment for me. I almost didn't finish it, and considering this series has been a 9 of 10 for me, that's not what I expected when I picked up the book.

Here's the blurb:

Allison Beckstrom has willingly paid the price of pain to use magic, and has obeyed the rules of the Authority, the clandestine organization that makes-and enforces-all magic policy. But when the Authority's new boss, Bartholomew Wray, refuses to believe that the sudden rash of deaths in Portland might be caused by magic, Allie must choose to follow the Authority's rules, or turn against the very people for whom she's risked her life.

To stop the plague of dark magic spreading through the city, all that she values will be on the line: her magic, her memories, her life. Now, as dead magic users rise to feed upon the innocent and the people closest to her begin to fall, Allie is about to run out of options.

What does an author do when she finishes a plot arc and has to figure out where to go next with her series? Apparently, Devon Monk decided to change the landscape completely. Tear the world apart and let the characters survive as best they can. And to bring back plot arcs that I thought were tied up and done with.

And the first three fourths of the book is just set up. Conversations. Philosophizing. Things don't really gel, with action towards some sort of resolution, until somewhere after the 75% mark.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was actually a bit too convenient for me. And predictable.
• Pacing was horrible. Terrible. I kept putting the book down and doing something else. It was a chore to finish the book, and the only reason I did was because I am invested in these characters and kept hoping it would get better. But it didn't, it kept getting worse.
• Prose and dialogue were fine.
• Character development was mostly stagnant. There is still much about Allie's past we don't know, and I keep hoping we (and Allie) will get the answers, but Magic on the Line only gave us more questions.
• World-building was mostly consistent with previous books.

Magic on the Line gets a 5 of 10 from me. The series rating drops to a 7 of 10.

• Book Rating: Magic on the Line: 5 of 10
• Series Rating: 7 of 10

There is one good thing at this point -- there are only two more books in the series, which means we should get answers next year, as both books are scheduled for release in 2012.

1. Magic to the Bone
2. Magic in the Blood
3. Magic in the Shadows
4. Magic on the Storm 
5. Magic at the Gate (Nov 2, 2010)
6. Magic on the Hunt (April, 2011)
7. Magic on the Line (November 2011)
8 Magic Without Mercy (April 2012)
9. Unnamed, final book of series (November 2012)

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Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom, Book 6) by Devon Monk

 

What an entertaining book. Magic on the Hunt has lots of action, cool world building, a great romance, and intrigue out the ying-yang. I am seriously loving this series. I didn't care much for the first book in this series but stuck with it because so many people had said the series was so good once you got into the second book. After finishing the sixth book, all I can say is that I don't want to wait to read the seventh. Luckily it's only seven months until Magic on the Line comes out.

Here's the blurb for Magic on the Hunt:

There aren’t many girls who can say they’ve gone into the realm of death and lived to tell the tale. But to restore her lover Zayvion’s soul, Allison Beckstrom had to pay a bitter price–and things are about to get worse….

It turns out the leader of the Authority, the council that decides what can–and can’t–be done with magic, is being held hostage. But when the trail leads Allie and Zayvion to the secret prison where the Authority locks away magical criminals who are too dangerous to be held anywhere else, they find more than they bargained for. An undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners, and he wants his freedom–and then some. Now Allie and Zayvion are the first line of defense against the chaos he’s about to unleash on the city of Portland….

Some questions were answered in this installment, though lots of questions still need to be answered. I love the way Allie and Zayvion are getting along with each other at this stage of their relationship. It's nice to see two adults working together and not rocking the boat just for the sake of adding drama.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot is great. Plots. Plural. Layers of them. And they all work together beautifully.
• Pacing was fine. Lots of action with a few slower spots for them to catch their breath.
• Prose and dialogue were skillfully woven together. Very nicely done.
• Character development is about as good as it gets - both for the main characters and a few of the secondary characters.
• World-building is detailed and creative and beautifully constructed.

I've been wavering  back and forth between a 9 and a 10 for Magic on the Hunt, and I'm thinking this one gets a 10 of 10. I'm going to leave the series at a 9 of 10 for now.

• Book Rating: Magic on the Hunt: 10 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Magic to the Bone
2. Magic in the Blood
3. Magic in the Shadows
4. Magic on the Storm 
5. Magic at the Gate (Nov 2, 2010)
6. Magic on the Hunt (April, 2011)
7. Magic on the Line (November 2011)



 

Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom Book 5) by Devon Monk

 

Magic at the Gate picks up right where Magic on the Storm left off. And it's a good thing, because Magic on the Storm left us with a cliffhanger ending.

As I've been reading some of the advice while doing NaNoWriMo this month, I saw advice that basically said to do horrible things to your character, so that people can admire them for being able to survive. I think Devon Monk took that advice and ran with it. Seriously, she's done some really horrid things to Allie. And the latest book is no exception.

Here's the blurb:

Allie Beckstrom's lover, Zayvion Jones, is a Guardian of the Gate, imbued with both light and dark magic and responsible for ensuring that those energies don't mix. But Zayvion lies in a coma, his soul trapped in death's realm.

To rescue him, Allie must follow the specter of her deceitful late sorcerer father, Daniel Beckstrom, who is more than familiar with death's domain. And when Allie discovers that the only way to save Zayvion is to sacrifice her very own magical essence, she makes a decision that may have grave consequences for the entire world.

I don't now that I can say a whole lot more than that without spoiling, other than to say I loved the ending this time. Adored it. Things are not settled, nor are they safe for the city... but the ending is about hope and friendship and it was a nice way to end it after everyone took the beating they take in the book. Still a bit of a cliffhanger, as there is a lot left unresolved, plus lots of smaller things that I can't wait to follow along with. But it was a good ending, considering there is still so much of this story left to tell.

As for the writing elements, the plot is genius, pacing is fine, prose and dialogue are both expertly done, character development continues to be stellar, and world-building is consistent with previous books, which means it is also well done and quite creative.

I'm giving Magic at the Gate a 9 of 10, and I'm raising the series from an 8 of 10 to a 9 of 10. I will again caution that I didn't care much for the first book in this series, but stuck with it because enough other people had said the later books were so good. I'm really glad I stuck with it, because this is a unique series with very creative worldbuilding, and with a fresh look at magic and magical systems.

Book Rating: Magic at the Gate: 9 of 10
Series Rating: Allie Beckstrom: 9 of 10






1. Magic to the Bone
2. Magic in the Blood
3. Magic in the Shadows
4. Magic on the Storm 
5. Magic at the Gate (Nov 2, 2010)
6. Magic on the Hunt (April, 2011)

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Magic on the Storm (Allie Beckstrom Book 4) by Devon Monk

 

I didn't care too much for the first book in this series, Magic to the Bone , but was intrigued enough, and hopeful enough based on what other reviewers said, to try out the second book.

And I'm glad I've stuck with the series, because I loved Magic on the Storm. Right up until the cliff hanger ending, anyway.

The ending isn't as bad of a cliffhanger as Chaos Bites (click for my review), because some of the plot points were resolved. However, there is a whole lot of unresolved stuff floating around. The fact that a lengthy excerpt for the next book was included, and the fact that we're only five months from the release of the next book... that helps the annoyance factor a great deal. But, still, I maintain that authors should not use the excuse of a series to leave their readers hanging like that.

Okay, I'll stop ranting about the cliffhanger. Aside from the ending, the book was really well done. Pacing was good, not great, but not really a problem, either. Allie's character remains three dimensional, and I love the way the other characters are brought to life, as well.  We're learning some more backstory, and that just makes me want to learn even more of the backstory. There is also enough humor woven into the story to help make it an enjoyable read.

Here is the blurb:

"Magic stirred in me....I closed my eyes, wanting to lose myself to it. Wanting to use magic in every way I could. But that would be bad. I had enough magic inside me; I could burn down a city. And I didn't want to do that...."

Allie Beckstrom knows better than most that when magic's involved, you always pay. Whether the price is migraines, amnesia, or muscle aches, she is committed to her work as a Hound, tracing illegal spells back to their casters. But her job is about to get much more dangerous.

There's a storm of apocalyptic force 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 make a stand against a magical wild storm that will obliterate all in its path."

I like that Allie has the funds to live without being practically destitute now, but that she hasn't really changed they way she lives all that much. It sounds like her only personal splurges are food (which should never be a splurge), and some massage and spa treatments to help her deal with the body aches from training and from using body aches as magic cost instead of headaches. I love the way her relationship is moving forward, and I'm happy that she's taking on the roll of leader/protector of the hounds.

I find it interesting that there are no longer any hounds in the Authority, and I'm betting there is a good reason for that. Something tells me Allie is going to be busy, once she's properly trained.

I'm having a hard time saying much more without dropping important spoilers, so I'll stop now. I loved the book, enough to give it a 9 of 10, right up until the cliffhanger ending. Since the next book will come out soon(ish), and since we were given a good look at the next book, the final rating for Magic on the Storm is an 8 of 10. The series rating has been an 8 of 10 in the past, I'll keep it there.

Book Rating: Magic on the Storm: 8 of 10
Series Rating: Allie Bckstrom: 8 of 10





1. Magic to the Bone
2. Magic in the Blood
3. Magic in the Shadows
4. Magic on the Storm (May 4, 2010)
5. Magic at the Gate (Nov 2, 2010)