Review: The Archived (Archived #1) by Victoria Schwab

5 stars for The Archived (Archived book 1) by Victoria Schwab.

The story opens with MacKenzie Bishop and her parents moving to the Coronado, a hotel turned-apartment building with a certain old charm which attracts her parents in the first place. Built more than a century ago, the Coronado is full of history and packed to the brim with secrets, rumors, lies and tales.

In this brilliantly created urban fantasy world, the author splits existence into three sections: the Outer which is the normal world where normal people live, the Archive which is a library for the dead, and the Narrows which acts as a buffer for the former two. Our heroine, Mac is one among the selected few who has been granted special access to both the Narrows and the Archive. She is a Keeper. And her job is to send Histories who have woken up from their eternal slumber back to where they belong in the Archive.

Soon, Mac finds herself deeply entwined with the ghosts of the Coronado's past. Yet the more she tries to unravel its mysteries, the more peculiar it gets and the more question mark she accumulates. These bits and pieces of jigsaw not only spur our heroine to complete the puzzle, they certainly pique my interest to keep the pages turning. Though this is a Young Adult novel, it definitely does not have a juvenile feel to it. The writing is polished with a gripping original storyline to match.

Fantasy checked. Mystery checked. Suspense checked. Romance kind of checked as well. I am not a great fan of Young Adult novel, but this is surely one not to be missed with all the right boxes ticked.

Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication date: 29 January 2013

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Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop

3.5 stars for Vision in Silver (The Others book 3) by Anne Bishop.

I feel a strong rush of nostalgia for the days of world cup match viewings as I read this book 3 of the Others series. Not sure about other people, but I tend to get transported back to days long past by sheer association of sights, smells and feelings. And since I read book 1 Written In Red and book 2 Murder of Crows during the World Cup season in June/July 2014, it does not come as a suprise when I read Vision in Silver and automatically get sent back in time to my late-night datings with football matches as well as the accompanying adrenaline rush that comes with live betting.

Vision in Silver is an appropriate follow-up to the previous book. The story pretty much still revolves around the prophecy of 24-year old Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet or cassandra sangue from Namid's creation, both wondrous and terrible, and the Others aka terra indigene who reside in the Lakeside Courtyard acting as buffer between humans and the very base Earth natives living in the wild side of Thaisia. To name a few of the Others, we have Simon Wolfgard, Henry Beargard, Jenni Crowgard, Jester Coyotegard, Vlad Sanguinati and Tess.

Besides the happenings in Lakeside Courtyard, readers are also brought back to Ferryman's Landing, the Intuit Village where the cassandra sangue rescued from the compound in Midwest are having problems adjusting to their new life. Every day one or more of these girls show symptoms of emotional breakdown or fall into a catatonic state that lasts from a few minutes to a few hours. The whole community on that island have no idea what to do to save the girls. In the end, it falls upon Meg to come out with The Prophet Guide to redirect these blood prophets from their inevitable path to death.

While I enjoy immersing myself again in the urban fantasy tale of Meg, the terra indigene and their unique mind to mind form of communication, I cannot help but feel disappointed in this latest instalment. There is very little or almost no new development to the overall story setting. Much of what I already know have been mentioned and revealed in the previous two books. Although the author introduces a new member of the terra indigene who has been brought in to as an enforcer to deal with the trouble caused by the human population in Talulah Falls, the author fails to make opportune use to expand further on this intriguing new joiner who is another of Tess's rare kind that even the rest of the Others such are the younger Sanguinati are scared of.

All in all, Vision in Silver is a well written sequel in the Others series. However the lack of fresh world building after the first two phenomenally absorbing stories makes this book 3 pale in comparison. Add to that is the unflattering book cover picture which shows a tired and really haggard looking Meg. Hopefully we can see a better freshened up Meg in the next book cover.

Publisher: Roc
Publication date: 3 Mar 2015

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The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Deadly Spells (Prospero's War #3) by Jaye Wells

4 stars for Deadly Spells (Prospero's War book 3) by Jaye Wells.

After much attention on Aphrodite Johnson and her O coven in book 2 Cursed Moon, the discovery of a dismembered body in Babylon's church in this latest instalment thrusts the bad blood between the other 2 major dirty magic covens into the limelight: the Votary Coven led by Abe Prospero and the Sanguinarian Coven under the new leadership of Harry Bane. Having grown up in the Cauldron, it cannot be helped that the victim is someone all too familiar to Kate; someone she knows from her old days as the scion of the Votary Coven. And news of the death unwittingly brings Kate down memory lane to the night of her mother’s death and reopens the old wounds to her heart.

Where sentiments run amok among the Votaries and the Sang to brew on the edge of a full-blown coven war, we see the same happening on the side of the good guys, in this case, the Babylon Police Department (BPD) against the Magic Enforcement Agency (MEA). Though working for the same cause, the BPD and MEA each wants full control of the murder case and refuses to cooperate with the other. Then comes the big question mark when John Volo interferes to maneuver the homicide case in favor of the MEA task force where Kate is now a member. Is Volos still holding a torch for Kate all through the years? Or is he a man whose motivations hide more than what he let on?

In Deadly Spells, the rapport between Kate and her partner Drew Morales reaches a new high. While it is kind of predictable, it is also very pleasing and amusing to see how their relationship changes in time and unfolds from Morales' sarcastic use of his Cupcake nickname for Kate to one intended with compliments. Sadly, the same cannot be said between Kate and her past love, John Volos. Perhaps there is more than meets the eye, but up till book 3, I still cannot fully understand why Kate treats Volos as if he is her archenemy. Frankly speaking, I root for Volos as I like to believe that the man will always be in love with his first love, at least in fiction.

Although the pace of this sequel is much slower than the previous two books, it is not detrimental to the plot as the story still spins wonderfully on the whole. Kate Prospero is now one of my favourite urban fantasy kick-ass heroines.

Publisher: Orbit
Publication date: 10 Feb 2015

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DIRTY MAGIC CAN KILL YOU.

After the grisly murder of a dirty magic coven leader, Kate Prospero and the MEA team must pitch in to help the police find the killer. When the initial evidence points to a rival coven as the culprit, the threat of a coven war looms over the investigation. But the case becomes even more complex when a tenacious reporter insists on sticking her nose in both the investigation and Prospero’s own past.

But Prospero isn’t the only one whose old ghosts are coming back to haunt them. Newly minted mayor of Babylon, John Volos, as well as Prospero’s boss, Special Agent Miranda Gardner may have damning ties to the murderer. The team will have to use all the weapons in their arsenal to stop the coven war and find the killer before the case brings down all their careers.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Cursed Moon (Prospero's War #2) by Jaye Wells

5 stars for Cursed Moon (Prospero's War book 2) by Jaye Wells.

In this book 2 of Prospero's War, 27-year old Katherine Prospero is back in action after being promoted to Detective following her first case with Magical Enforcement Agency (MEA) that results in the arrest of one of the most powerful wizards in the Cauldron. Together with partner Agent Drew Morales who chooses to leave the Lefty world behind after a traumatic fire accident and presents himself as a Righty Mundane, they work in unison under severe presssure upon the fast approaching Halloween Blue moon where magical energies go haywire and emotions ride on the high, to solve a mystifying robbery and face down a psychotic wizard.

In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty, fertility and sexual love. Here we are introduced to Aphrodite Johnson, Head of the O Coven, one of the major covens in the Cauldron. As leader of a sex magic coven, it is indeed ingenious and very original of the author to put forth Aphrodite as a sacred hermaphrodite. According to our narrator Kate, sacred hermaphrodites are created by wizards using powerful alchemical magic that makes a person exactly half-male and half-female. With the impending full moon as excuse to create chaos all over the city, someone decides to pay an unwanted visit to dear Aphrodite's temple and make away with some of her fanciful magical potions for illicit uses. It is up to the MEA team, especially Kate and Morales to save the city from destruction.

Skilfully written with well thought-out plot right to the last detail, Cursed Moon is a splendid follow up to the world of dirty versus clean magic. I am especially impressed by the way the author weaves the story to surround our heroine, Kate with people she both loves and hates, some from her past, others in the present and a few possibly into her future. It is very engaging to see how our female protagonist communicates and behaves with these various characters: her brother Danny, partner Morales, old flame John Volos, surrogate father figure and used-to-be mentor Uncle Abe Prospero, best friend Penelope Griffin, neighbour Baba Nowiki and even her favourite snitch, the Wonder Twins Mary and Little Man.

Besides Kate's absorbing interactions with the people in her life, the author also focuses much on Kate's inner thoughts processes and the internal emotional turmoil within her. Not all Adepts can read energy signatures but it is one of Kate's specialties, a gift or curse depending on her perspective. Though she steers clear from any form of magic, she still enjoys the tingle of energy from magic across her skin and the adrenaline surge from contact with magic. Worst of all, the seductive surge of power that comes from manipulating magic energies is constantly tempting and calling out to her. Will Kate be able to turn her back and walk away from her own magic so as to give herself and Danny a better magic-free life? Is the MEA where Kate belongs? Since she joins the MEA task force, she has been forced to choose between her principles and the Arcane demands of the job. Will Kate lose herself and the people she care for in the process?

All in all, Cursed Moon is a delightfully remarkable sequel to book 1 Dirty Magic in the Prospero's War series. Not only does it never disappoint, the story and its gripping plot far exceed my expectations.

Publisher: Orbit
Publication date: 12 Aug 2014

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When a rare Blue Moon upsets the magical balance in the city, Detective Kate Prospero and her Magical Enforcement colleagues pitch in to help Babylon PD keep the peace. Between potions going haywire and everyone’s emotions running high, every cop in the city is on edge. But the moon’s impact is especially strong for Kate who’s wrestling with guilt over falling off the magic wagon.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Dirty Magic (Prospero's War #1) by Jaye Wells

5 stars for Dirty Magic (Prospero's War book 1) by Jaye Wells.

It has been a depressing past 2 weeks or so. I have been feeling down and out of sorts due to work and health. Yep, lots of changes at my work place and my health suddenly suffers a downturn upon my return from a short trip to Bangkok, Thailand during the Lunar New Year period from 18 Feb to 22 Feb. But I think most of all, my depression stems from the lack of a good storybook on hand. In the short span of 10 days since my last book review post, I have chucked 6 books, all in various stages of abandon, ranging from 2% to 20% read before I toss them aside. My stubborn self has insisted on persisting on an urban fantasy. I am on the brink of giving up when the decision to read Dirty Magic saves the day. 3 chapters in and I know I have touched base with a solid tale.

In Dirty Magic, first person narrator, Kate Prospero is an Adept who grows up in the Cauldron in the city of Babylon. Raised in the Votary Coven under the leadership of a known criminal mastermind who is now locked away in the Crowley Penitentiary, Kate struggles with leaving the coven behind to start life anew by performing reactive police work - chasing perpetrators after the crimes have happened. By a twist of fate, our heroine lands herself in the Magic Enforcement Agency (MEA), a task force that is set up to leverage the magical knowledge of Adept law enforcement officers to fight the dirty magic problem by taking on the most powerful wizards in the Cauldron and whose ultimate mission is to rid Babylon of the dirty magic trade altogether. Being a member of MEA provides Kate the opportunity to feel productive and proactive in building a case to prove her worth as she is finally able to go after the wizards who orchestrate the covens, the master cookers who develop potions and the dealers who make sure cash and money flow through Babylon.

While the idea of magic is commonplace in the urban fantasy genre, the concept of clean versus dirty magic and potion cooking using magic synergies is definitely a very refreshing notion. In Prospero's War book 1, the author lays down the fundamentals of magic: (1) Magic is magic regardless of using it with good or ill intentions. There is no exact black or white as most are smoke-screen gray. (2) Using potions changes who you are in the most basic ways. The real human cost to the potion game - the adepts who cook and sell potions profit off people's misery and desperation, and in the process, ruin people's lives. (3) Mundanes get addicted to portions, Adepts rarely. However, Adepts who dabble and cook dirty magic portion become slaves to its power and profit. These suppositions can the magical aspects ring so true as they apply readily to real life which at the end of it all, boil down to humans and their greed, vanity and fear of pain. These in turn make the telling of Dirty Magic a very matured, engaging and enjoyable experience.

Besides focusing on the alchemy of clean and dirty magic, the author also provides a well-rounded story on the background of our heroine and reasons for the way she behaves and reacts towards her only kin, Danny, her 16-year old brother. It is also very interesting to read about a certain Mr John Volos, a man from Kate's past, who has gone from being her Uncle Abe Prospero's heir for one of the biggest magical crimes syndicates in the city to a well respected community leader and successful businessman in little more than a decade. I cannot wait to find out more about this intriguing and arrestingly charismatic character in the next book.

Overall, Dirty Magic is a fantastic start to a brand new series. I am really glad to have come across this book 1 and sincerely hope that the subsequent instalments do not disappoint.

Publisher: Orbit
Publication date: 21 Jan 2014

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The Prospero’s War series combines the action of police procedurals with the speculative elements of urban fantasy. It’s a world where cops and wizards are fighting a war over addictive, dangerous, and illegal dirty magic.

Kate Prospero knows a lot about dirty magic. Before she became a cop, she was raised in a coven that ran the Arcane criminal underworld of Babylon, Ohio. Her history helped her land a spot on a Magic Enforcement Agency task force, but as she works to bring down old friends and family members, she’ll have to face her own dysfunctional relationship with magic.

*Blurb from author's website*

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