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The Vancouver Magical Folk Quests #1
Imperative
It started with a murder.
Quinn Larson is a wizard. His life in the hidden world of the Vancouver Real Folk is one of study and socializing, and he'd prefer if it stayed that way. One unfortunate night, however, he witnesses a human's death at the hands of a fairy, and it becomes clear that all is not well among the magical races.
One dead human is a problem, and three is something he can't ignore. Neither can the human authorities, and the last time the Real Folk came this close to being exposed, it caused a genocide that washed away a part of all their magical power. Someone has to make the murders stop and avert the attention of the police, or they may face much worse than death, and that task falls to Quinn.
But why are the fairies killing humans? Why are the beautiful, immoral, power-hungry Sidhe involved? Quinn will need all the help he can get to figure it out - help like Olan, a pixie with an unfortunate case of feathers; Princess Elizabeth, the leader of the rose fairies; Cate Witherspoon, a witch that he's never been able to stop thinking about.
For all their sakes, he has to find the answers before the body count gets much higher. But as his enemies rise to stop him, Quinn is left with a terrible question.
How much would you sacrifice in the service of the greater good?
Quinn Larson is a wizard. His life in the hidden world of the Vancouver Real Folk is one of study and socializing, and he'd prefer if it stayed that way. One unfortunate night, however, he witnesses a human's death at the hands of a fairy, and it becomes clear that all is not well among the magical races.
One dead human is a problem, and three is something he can't ignore. Neither can the human authorities, and the last time the Real Folk came this close to being exposed, it caused a genocide that washed away a part of all their magical power. Someone has to make the murders stop and avert the attention of the police, or they may face much worse than death, and that task falls to Quinn.
But why are the fairies killing humans? Why are the beautiful, immoral, power-hungry Sidhe involved? Quinn will need all the help he can get to figure it out - help like Olan, a pixie with an unfortunate case of feathers; Princess Elizabeth, the leader of the rose fairies; Cate Witherspoon, a witch that he's never been able to stop thinking about.
For all their sakes, he has to find the answers before the body count gets much higher. But as his enemies rise to stop him, Quinn is left with a terrible question.
How much would you sacrifice in the service of the greater good?
- GenresAmazon
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2011
9 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
P.A. Wilson
63 books39 followersBefore you read about me, how about a link for some free ebooks? Click on my website and pick your genre, there's a free book for each. http://www.pawilson.ca/
Perry Wilson is a Canadian author based in Vancouver, BC who has big ideas and an itch to tell stories. Having spent some time on university, a career, and life in general, she returned to writing three years ago and hasn't looked back since (well, maybe a little, but only while parallel parking).
She is a member of the Vancouver Independent Writers Group, and has self-published several novels. The second book of the Charity Deacon series, Greed, is due out in the fall 2012. (A French vacation pulls Charity and her best friend into the shady world of gun smugglers and missing people.)
She also writes the Quinn Larson Quests, which follows the adventures of a wizard named Quinn who must contend with volatile fae in the heart of Vancouver, and the Madeline Journeys, a fantasy series about a high-powered lawyer who finds herself trapped in a magical world. Her previous stand-alone novels are Breaking the Bonds and Closing the Circle.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 15, 2023
Kind of a poor man's Harry Potter. Not great, but interesting if you like those kinds of urban fantasy stories. I would categorize the genre as paranormal, light fantasy. It involves murder, so some mystery, but not very suspenseful, and very short exposition. I was surprised at how tepid the story runs seeing as how I enjoyed Wilson’s book, Hubris. There she builds suspense very well: here, not so much. It's the first part of a serial, but again since it's not a favored genre for me it's simply: Meh! I know that this is not one of my favored genres, so I don't want to trash it needlessly and I admit that I begrudgingly continued to read something that was not going so well, but many times things turn around. The more you read, the better it gets. They did not here.
July 26, 2012
Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: I think I have an addiction and its time I announced it, urban fantasy is my drug of choice currently. I’m always interested in new titles and I have Jim Butcher to blame for it. His Dresden files have ignited a insatiable need in me to absorb as many books as possible. P. A. Wilson approached us with a review proposal and the blurb seemed interesting enough for me to give her book a try.
The book begins with Quinn Larson who is a wizard situated in Vancouver, British Columbia. He happens to see a fairy luring a human to her death, intrigued and alerted by this strange and surprising phenomenon. He decides to investigate more about this as he’s concerned that too many human deaths will alert the human authorities and this definitely will not be good for the non-human folk as well as enlightened humans such as Quinn. However he also has to contend with his new partner Olan who is harboring a vendetta from a deity known for vengeance and death. His choices are limited and he will have to bargain from all corners and gain every advantage possible to get to the root of the mystery behind the fairy folk’s recent interest in humans. The story then dwells into a world wherein humans exist with other species and are ignorant completely of the presence of the others.
This book was an easy one to read for it has many plus points and an equal if not less drawbacks attached to it. The biggest plus point for the story is its pace, namely the story opens up with the main issue in the first chapter itself, and from then onwards barrels forward with all its twists to the surprising conclusion. This is the best part of the book that it takes a streamlined approach and never wastes time in uninteresting side plots. The second part that I enjoyed about the story is the location and the author’s inclination to dip it in the other-worldly affairs, the author does her best to show the various features of the magical folk and the world they inhabit. The last plus point would be that the author has included a couple of good plot twists towards the end that surprised me and hopefully will give most experienced readers enough of an incentive to read forward and not get bored.
Now onto to the drawbacks which are namely the most predictive part of this subgenre, this book along with many others is very derivative of the trend set by the Dresden files, the pattern is replicated here with a few different touches and a few plot twists however it is the same and that can be disappointing to read for readers who would like to read something different. The second and the more important drawback is that the main character remains a mystery to the readers throughout the book. Quinn Larson narrates however remains an enigma to us I’m not sure if this is something the author planned for or was just something unfortunate. His actions and thoughts while shown on the page don’t make him much of an enticing character and he remains a colorless narrator. This was the biggest drawback for me as while the story was enticing, the first person narrative wasn’t strong enough to support it.
This being the first book, it could be very well that I’m jumping the gun and the second book might very well be a different book and overcome all these deficiencies and I would want to find out if that is indeed the case. I hope the readers read an extract or two before deciding whether they want to go ahead with book one of the Quinn Larson Quests.
CONCLUSION: P. A. Wilson is a writer with an interesting story, there are some rough edges to this book but if you can overlook those and read this story, you will definitely be entertained and that’s something to look forward to in any book. Give it a read however please check out the excerpt first to see whether you like the author’s style or not.
July 9, 2025
I was looking for a book or series by a Canadian author and preferably set in Canada and I came across this one. Not only does it fit what I was looking for, it’s set in Vancouver where I have lived most of my life. And its thoroughly enjoyable.
Quinn Larson is a wizard, and is he is happily studying and keeping the supernatural world away from the human world, when he witnesses a murder committed by a fairy who trades the life force to a Sidhe.
Naturally following it up, he discovers that the Sidhe have passed a spell stopping the fairies from having children unless they trade a human life for a potion.
With the help of a pixie, Olin, who has been changed into a chickadee by the Morrigan, a fellow witch that he’s in love with and other assorted allies, Quinn sets out to solve the problem.
There is some action, magic, numerous supernaturals, surprises, suspense and humour.
One of the things I loved is being able to realistically picture the locations mentioned because I’ve been to them.
This was surprisingly good although it did have a bit of a slow start.
Definitely something I want to continue.
Quinn Larson is a wizard, and is he is happily studying and keeping the supernatural world away from the human world, when he witnesses a murder committed by a fairy who trades the life force to a Sidhe.
Naturally following it up, he discovers that the Sidhe have passed a spell stopping the fairies from having children unless they trade a human life for a potion.
With the help of a pixie, Olin, who has been changed into a chickadee by the Morrigan, a fellow witch that he’s in love with and other assorted allies, Quinn sets out to solve the problem.
There is some action, magic, numerous supernaturals, surprises, suspense and humour.
One of the things I loved is being able to realistically picture the locations mentioned because I’ve been to them.
This was surprisingly good although it did have a bit of a slow start.
Definitely something I want to continue.
July 10, 2025
I was looking for a book or series by a Canadian author and preferably set in Canada and I came across this one. Not only does it fit what I was looking for, it’s set in Vancouver where I have lived most of my life. And its thoroughly enjoyable.
Quinn Larson is a wizard, and is he is happily studying and keeping the supernatural world away from the human world, when he witnesses a murder committed by a fairy who trades the life force to a Sidhe.
Naturally following it up, he discovers that the Sidhe have passed a spell stopping the fairies from having children unless they trade a human life for a potion.
With the help of a pixie, Olin, who has been changed into a chickadee by the Morrigan, a fellow witch that he’s in love with and other assorted allies, Quinn sets out to solve the problem.
There is some action, magic, numerous supernaturals, surprises, suspense and humour.
One of the things I loved is being able to realistically picture the locations mentioned because I’ve been to them.
This was surprisingly good although it did have a bit of a slow start.
Definitely something I want to continue.
Quinn Larson is a wizard, and is he is happily studying and keeping the supernatural world away from the human world, when he witnesses a murder committed by a fairy who trades the life force to a Sidhe.
Naturally following it up, he discovers that the Sidhe have passed a spell stopping the fairies from having children unless they trade a human life for a potion.
With the help of a pixie, Olin, who has been changed into a chickadee by the Morrigan, a fellow witch that he’s in love with and other assorted allies, Quinn sets out to solve the problem.
There is some action, magic, numerous supernaturals, surprises, suspense and humour.
One of the things I loved is being able to realistically picture the locations mentioned because I’ve been to them.
This was surprisingly good although it did have a bit of a slow start.
Definitely something I want to continue.
December 28, 2016
An enjoyable enough book with combinations of mystery: sleuthing, fantasy, paranormal, and a tad bit of suspense and confusion.
The MC at times seems too laid back with a strong sense of ethics. Yet - he has so many protection spells and rules it seems a toss up between paranoia or a backstory untold.
Perhaps with the amount of information the author needs to convey due to the varied characters of this unearthly realm on Earth, first person pov should have been bypassed.
As it turned out, why this lone ranger became self determined to be the savior without enlisting help (certainly, others would feel losing powers is detrimental as well- look at how losing the vampires effected them ) Another example of telling not showing OR explaining.
It was an interesting enough book with a lot going for it, to keep a reader engaged. But when you slow down ... it just didn't quite mesh.
A solid three stars because it's possible a lot could overlooked as a reader gets swept away in the spells, binding, and fairy dust.
The MC at times seems too laid back with a strong sense of ethics. Yet - he has so many protection spells and rules it seems a toss up between paranoia or a backstory untold.
Perhaps with the amount of information the author needs to convey due to the varied characters of this unearthly realm on Earth, first person pov should have been bypassed.
As it turned out, why this lone ranger became self determined to be the savior without enlisting help (certainly, others would feel losing powers is detrimental as well- look at how losing the vampires effected them ) Another example of telling not showing OR explaining.
It was an interesting enough book with a lot going for it, to keep a reader engaged. But when you slow down ... it just didn't quite mesh.
A solid three stars because it's possible a lot could overlooked as a reader gets swept away in the spells, binding, and fairy dust.
July 19, 2017
I liked the story, the mix of magic with a little bit of mystery and the characters are different and all have secrets of their own.
September 13, 2012
Urban Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read, I love the idea of mythical, magical beings living and working side by side with us yet hidden from view of all but a few sensitives.
Vampires seem to be the most frequently depicted of the UF creatures, and I'm not much of a vampire fan, so I was delighted and intrigued to see that Imperative focused on fairies, sidhe, and magic users rather than vampires or werewolves.
Set in Vancouver Canada, Imperative is told in from the point of view of Quinn Larson, a young wizard (young by wizarding standards at least) who inadvertently witnesses not only the murder of a human by a fairy, but also a strange transaction between the murderer and a hooded Sidhe.
In order to protect the humans from death by fae and to keep them from discovering and eradicating the Real Folk, Quinn takes it upon himself to find out just what's going on and stop it before its too late.
Quinn is aided in this quest, primarily by a pixie named Olan, who had been tasked centuries ago to protect the humans, and later a witch named Cate.
Aside from who I'd consider to be the main characters there is also is a colorful cast of secondary characters, all of which are of the magical persuasion, fairies and pixies, witches wizards, sidhe, spirits and even a goddess or two. All of whom are well written and three dimensional. The fairies are depicted well and the lore seems well researched, especially the demeanor and ethics of the sidhe. That alone warranted a star in this review as I find very little as annoying as when lore is rewritten just to suit a story.
This was a very easy read, though it seemed to get a bit choppy through the last quarter of the book, and I didn't care at all for the way it ended, I would be interested in reading more of Quinn's adventures.
Quinn reminded me a bit of Harry Dresden, though he's doesn't have that accidental hero aspect that Harry does. I enjoyed Quinns quips and sarcasm, both internalized and vocalized.
One thing that I was taken aback by was the fact that Quinn is male, even though Quinn is repeatedly referred to as a wizard I spent almost half the book I was incredibly surprised when he made mention of going to the barber for a shave, Yes, Quinn is male, but because I'd read him as a female for so much of the book, it took a conscious effort for me to think of him as male through the rest of the book. I'm not sure how I made the mistake, though I blame it partially on only ever knowing Quinns that were women, and that the previous book I read of Ms. Wilson's had a female protagonist.
I gave this book 3 stars instead of 5 for a number of reasons. Though the characters were very well done and the book was easy to read I found it easy to put down as well. It felt at times like I was missing something, and I found myself having to go back to see if I really had missed a page.
Quinn referrers to himself as a Real Folk throughout the book and I was left confused as to what wizards and witches are in that world. Quinn is not a fairy or a Sidhe or anything else not human, yet he considers himself to be separate from humans. I'm not sure if its just magical human vs. mundane human or if there is something intrinsically different between wizards/witches and humans in Quinn's world. Hopefully this will be dealt with in later books, but I found it confusing. More back history on Quinn would have been nice too, He seems reluctant to talk about himself and I felt like I never really got to know him on more than a surface level. The ending seemed rushed, it left me hanging and not in an enjoyable way, more of a "that's it?" kind of way, but I will attribute that to the ongoing nature of these books. They aren't so much separate stories featuring the same characters but more of a continuation of events from book to book.
I do plan on giving Compulsion a read at some point but I think I'm more interested in Ms. Wilson's mystery series than I am in the urban fantasy.
Vampires seem to be the most frequently depicted of the UF creatures, and I'm not much of a vampire fan, so I was delighted and intrigued to see that Imperative focused on fairies, sidhe, and magic users rather than vampires or werewolves.
Set in Vancouver Canada, Imperative is told in from the point of view of Quinn Larson, a young wizard (young by wizarding standards at least) who inadvertently witnesses not only the murder of a human by a fairy, but also a strange transaction between the murderer and a hooded Sidhe.
In order to protect the humans from death by fae and to keep them from discovering and eradicating the Real Folk, Quinn takes it upon himself to find out just what's going on and stop it before its too late.
Quinn is aided in this quest, primarily by a pixie named Olan, who had been tasked centuries ago to protect the humans, and later a witch named Cate.
Aside from who I'd consider to be the main characters there is also is a colorful cast of secondary characters, all of which are of the magical persuasion, fairies and pixies, witches wizards, sidhe, spirits and even a goddess or two. All of whom are well written and three dimensional. The fairies are depicted well and the lore seems well researched, especially the demeanor and ethics of the sidhe. That alone warranted a star in this review as I find very little as annoying as when lore is rewritten just to suit a story.
This was a very easy read, though it seemed to get a bit choppy through the last quarter of the book, and I didn't care at all for the way it ended, I would be interested in reading more of Quinn's adventures.
Quinn reminded me a bit of Harry Dresden, though he's doesn't have that accidental hero aspect that Harry does. I enjoyed Quinns quips and sarcasm, both internalized and vocalized.
One thing that I was taken aback by was the fact that Quinn is male, even though Quinn is repeatedly referred to as a wizard I spent almost half the book I was incredibly surprised when he made mention of going to the barber for a shave, Yes, Quinn is male, but because I'd read him as a female for so much of the book, it took a conscious effort for me to think of him as male through the rest of the book. I'm not sure how I made the mistake, though I blame it partially on only ever knowing Quinns that were women, and that the previous book I read of Ms. Wilson's had a female protagonist.
I gave this book 3 stars instead of 5 for a number of reasons. Though the characters were very well done and the book was easy to read I found it easy to put down as well. It felt at times like I was missing something, and I found myself having to go back to see if I really had missed a page.
Quinn referrers to himself as a Real Folk throughout the book and I was left confused as to what wizards and witches are in that world. Quinn is not a fairy or a Sidhe or anything else not human, yet he considers himself to be separate from humans. I'm not sure if its just magical human vs. mundane human or if there is something intrinsically different between wizards/witches and humans in Quinn's world. Hopefully this will be dealt with in later books, but I found it confusing. More back history on Quinn would have been nice too, He seems reluctant to talk about himself and I felt like I never really got to know him on more than a surface level. The ending seemed rushed, it left me hanging and not in an enjoyable way, more of a "that's it?" kind of way, but I will attribute that to the ongoing nature of these books. They aren't so much separate stories featuring the same characters but more of a continuation of events from book to book.
I do plan on giving Compulsion a read at some point but I think I'm more interested in Ms. Wilson's mystery series than I am in the urban fantasy.
February 14, 2017
Good start!
I really like the ideas, it's just a little rough around the edges. Look forward to reading the next one to see how this progresses.
I really like the ideas, it's just a little rough around the edges. Look forward to reading the next one to see how this progresses.
April 24, 2017
A fun, fast paced romp into the dangerous world of magical beings.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews