Invisible Magic

Invisible Series #1

by Mary Buckham

Hidden from a world unaware of magic, a recently and only partially trained group of operatives known as the Invisible Recruits are the only ones willing to stand between mankind and those powerful preternatural factions seeking to change the balance of power and gain world domination.

Alex Noziak, part witch/part shaman, anticipates facing dangerous preternaturals out for blood . . not fashion week. But when the rookie agent is sent undercover to find out who, or what, is behind a series of world-wide thefts of top-secret intelligence, Alex tangles with the Seekers.

Seekers hunt gifted human individuals like Alex and her squad whose rare powers can keep the balance between human and nonhuman squarely on the side of the humans. Her simple assignment turns into a battle of survival for everyone involved when she crosses Bran, a mysterious warlock, who might be her only ally or worst enemy.

To save the innocent, Alex must call upon her untested abilities, but at what cost?

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fiction

365 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Mary Buckham credits her years of international travel and curiosity about different cultures that resulted in creating high-concept urban fantasy and romantic suspense stories. Her newest Invisible Recruit series has been touted for the unique voice, high action and rich emotion. A prolific writer, Mary also co-authors the young adult sci-fi/fantasy Red Moon series with NYT bestseller Dianna Love. Mary lives in Washington State with her husband and, when not crafting a new adventure, she travels the country researching settings and teaching other writers. Don’t miss her latest reference book Writing Active Setting.

Currently she is neck-deep into writing an Urban Fantasy series centered around five women drafted to combat preternatural beings agitating for world domination. The INVISIBLE RECRUIT series combines a fantasy/paranormal element with high stakes and the pace of action adventure stories. Mary loves creating thrills, spills and spells as she follows the ups and downs of fascinating characters starting with Alex Noziak, the heroine of INVISIBLE MAGIC, INVISIBLE FATE and INVISIBLE POWER.

Reviews

[Sláinte Wanderlust · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be even more than I hoped for!
Alex is a great character, she is kick-ass but not full of herself. Funny & full of surprises. A believable lead with compassion & gusto.
Bran & Alex's chemistry is hot, they are a forbidden couple in more ways that one but thankfully that does not stop them ;)
The story has twists & turns, i really could not figure out what was going to happen at all, it was great as i love surprises.
The ending wraps up the plot from this book but.. it leads on to the next book which i can only imagine is going to rock it as hard as this one does.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy UF with a female lead, minimal trysts and loads of action & mystery.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Invisible Magic’ is the first book of a new PNR/Spy Thriller series. The premise is interesting; and Alex is a well-fleshed out character.

Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Coco.V]

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[Quiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invisible Magic by Mary Buckham is a roller coaster of an Urban Fantasy that takes place in a world full of magic, mystery, danger and intrigue. It’s a world where human and non-humans have coexisted together for many years. From witches to warlocks, to shape-shifters and weres, there are all kinds of creatures who inhabit part-shaman, part-witch Alex Noziak’s world.

Recently recruited to a five member all female team known as the Invisible Recruits, Alex is tasked with helping to keep humans safe from the non-humans who want to do them harm. Alex doesn’t want to be a member, but she really doesn’t have much of a choice. When a training session results in Alex nearly getting one of her teammates killed, she is tempted to quit the team. But when she learns that someone she loves has gone missing, her plans change. Now Alex is on a dangerous mission to rescue a loved one, and she’ll need to learn to trust and rely on her powers, her teammates, and maybe even the very attractive but mysterious entrepreneur Bran.

Not since Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson have I fallen in love with a female character like I have with Alex Noziak. She’s a multifaceted character, with major trust issues, and she doesn’t play well with others. But she clearly loves her family and is extremely loyal to them, and will do anything and everything to keep them safe. There’s a vulnerability to her that makes her sympathetic and relatable. She’s an easy character to root for and love.

Read More Here

[Nereid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally picked up this book due to the four and five star reviews though I do prefer the Urban Fantasy genre more. Due to the title and the blurb I was expecting a lot more magic and action scenes in this book so I was disappointed. The story seemed to focus on finding out who was behind the thefts and eventually who committed murder with some touches of romance thrown in for good measure. Being a witch who had this untapped power, Alex did not have any confidence and seemed to shy away from her powers and I am used to more kick ass characters. All that aside I did finish the book but it just lacked something for me though if you prefer a slower pace and more crime solving, mystery type books then you should enjoy this one. Overall a book that did flow well and the relationship seemed believable but I would have liked more background on Alex so I could empathise with her more.

[Annetta Sweetko · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Invisible Magic, book #1, the Invisible Recruit unit is a hidden group of operatives that stand between humans and non-humans. Alex Noziak is a witch with patchy powers who knows magic comes at a cost, that's how she came to be a part of the group. She is given an assignment that is separated but connected to the one her teammates is on. And she finds herself using untested abilities and not knowing who to trust ... not even the one she's falling in love with.


I read Invisible Magic in one sitting and thought it was a well written, entertaining story with a number of twist and turns and an intriguing ending. The Invisible Recruit unit has a number of characters that should have a book of their own and I hope author Mary Buckham will gives them exactly what they deserve.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invisible Magic by Mary Buckham

The first in the series. Only the first step of a intrigue solved. Lots of unresolved pieces at the end begging for the next chapter of the subsequent book to be sought. A sophisticated espionage from Paris to Washington DC.

Alex Noziak is part of a new team of recruits that are directed to go undercover and help prevent preternatural factions gain power and world domination. Alex is part witch and part shaman. She uses her powers in defense but will be pushed to discover what she is capable of in this dangerous world.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

3.5/5 Stars

I haven't read a ton of urban fantasy, but Mary Buckham's books caught my eye. I got this book (along with eight others) in a compilation on Amazon called The Perfect Ten - and I'm so glad I did! So far I've read this book and Time Trap and have really enjoyed them both!

What I loved:

Alex.
The main character in this book is Alex Noziak, a witch/shaman who has been forced into working with a secret government agency after committing a murder with her powers. Alex is a fun character - full of spunk and wit and sarcasm. She is hesitant about using her powers after what happened in the past and would almost rather be in prison, but when she finds out that someone in her family is in danger, she knows that she can't turn down her current assignment - she has to do everything she can to save him. Alex is smart, tough and resourceful and she has a good mixture of strength and vulnerability that makes her extremely likable.

Bran.
Bran is the sexy warlock who Alex has been assigned to investigate. He is a multi-millionaire who's used to getting his way and Alex can't help but feel drawn to him, even though she knows she shouldn't be (for several reasons). Bran turned out to be a complex character, which I really appreciated. I didn't always like every decision that he made, but I could understand why he made them - he was fiercely loyal to his family, friends and employees. The chemistry between Alex and Bran was amazing, and it definitely left me wanting more!

The supernatural elements.
I loved the supernatural elements to this book - shapeshifters, witches, shamans, warlocks, etc. The supernatural side to the story kept me interested

The negatives:

The central mystery.
I actually think this might have just been me because I'm just not a huge fan of crime stories. It just didn't matter to me much who the thief was and who the mastermind behind everything was (though there were some fun surprises when it came to those mysteries). I would have liked a bit more of the supernatural to balance out the spy/mystery story, but that's just me.

If you're a fan of Urban Fantasy that features a tough, smart lead, then I think you'll really enjoy this one. I give it 3.5/5 stars.

[Donna-Dee Mullings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first foray in the world of Mary Buckham and the Invisible Recruits. I did so as a result of pursuing my obsession of reading and joining a wonderful group of people on Facebook, which subsequently introduced me to this fantastic author!

I love Urban Fantasy. Once I thought all fantasy was just "fantasy" but I learned through authors such as Jeannie Frost and Vicki Pettersson that I was wrong!! And now I am ecstatic to add Mary Buckham to my favorite Urban Fantasy authors!!

I have been plowing through these books!

The characters hit you in the face with their realness, in fact while I love Alex, I also want to tell her to grow up at times! She does have a tendency to make a mountain out of molehill by running off half cocked certain she'll save everyone. But that's what makes her enjoyable! I get so sick of characters that don't have flaws that Alex is refreshing in all her sarcastic grittiness! Her devotion to her family is heartfelt, a constant theme throughout the book right up until the end.

I'm still up in the air on my personal opinion of the other characters at the end of this book, however I love love love Franco!!! He was hilarious, and I was happy to see him stick around. While I seemed to miss the turnover (which could have been from my speed reading!!) I was happy to see Jaylene come over to team Alex and I for one would love to read her story.

For the story, I was impressed and thrilled that the main story arc would not be finished in this book. In fact, while I probably missed a few, I counted at least three arcs that will permeate the series!!! The writing flowed smoothly, utilizing first person (I'm curious to see how this plays out given that further in the series we move to Kelly as the focal point) which can at times seem as if the author is writing in first grade. Not so for Mary!! Generally I don't like first person, or present tense used, but I can't complain as I didn't even notice until I specifically focused on it.

The biggest endorsement I can give is GO BUY THIS BOOK

http://www.amazon.com/INVISIBLE-MAGIC...

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s in your best interest to read the prequel novella, ‘Invisible Prison’, prior to reading ‘Invisible Magic’. The novella will give you a lot more background on Alex Noziak before getting into the meaty book one of the series.

In ‘Invisible Magic’, Alex Noziak and the other recruits are operatives who must stop a plot to disrupt the balance between humans and non-humans. Alex is sent undercover as a hairdresser to ferret out who is behind the plot and report back to her boss. Her contact, Bran, is a warlock and a suspect, too. One of the problems is Alex is very hesitant to use her inherited abilities and as such, she’s untrained and untested. What started out as a supposedly simple mission becomes exceedingly complex and Alex may not make it out…

I really liked ‘Invisible Magic’ and the women of the Invisible Recruits. I do hope Alex will get some real training for her witchcraft and shamanic abilities. The author kept the plot and the action fresh and moving along quickly. As I said above, it’s a good idea to read the prequel novella to get a little more backstory on Alex. While Alex doesn’t have a lot of training or control of her abilities, she’s definitely got a lot of spine and grit when challenged. It’s also interesting to see the interplay between Alex and her teammates, as well as with the people she’s investigating. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series. ‘Invisible Magic’ is a wonderful blend of fantasy, action, humor, and mystery – with a touch of romance.

Invisible Recruits series: Invisible Prison (novella), Invisible Magic (1), Invisible Duty (novella), Invisible Power (2), Invisible Fate (3)

[Alice Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found that I was engaged in Alex Noziak's struggles as she is sent on a mission as an unprepared operative. She struggles with her belief system that using magic carries a heavy and dark price, and with her own team whom she does not fully trust. I like that she is constantly improvising and trying her best to psyche herself up to meet seemingly impossible challenges. There is also a supernatural creature that I have never heard of before, so kudos to Buckham for bringing something new to the talbe. This urban fantasy has more of a supernatural international thriller bent to it. There is lots of action and it moves. I figured out the "bad guy" early on, though I don't think it was necessarily obvious. And I certainly did not anticipate the "how" of how the bad guy managed to involve everyone. My only complaints are that sometimes there were sentences that seemed truncated and at other times I wasn't sure who was speaking in the dialogue. I believe the romantic pull that Alex has towards Bran is mystical in origin (???) but I would have liked to understand it more. Without that mystical aspect, it seems a weird attraction. Bran was also a little to hot/cold without explanation. The chapter from Dominique's point of view felt rushed and too much of her emotions and motivations were revealed through exposition rather than dialogue or action. However, the story and the characters more than compensated for these.

[Tiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Noziak kicks butt, literally and figuratively. Recruited by the government to be part of a rag-tag, secret task force focusing on non-human species, the Invisible Recruits struggle to overcome their differences and work as a team. No an easy task for a team that consists of a psychic, a witch/shaman, a spirit walker, a woman who can disappear at will, and one human who father just happens to head up the CIA. Add to that the cast of "baddies"" weres, warlocks, vamps. shapeshifters, grimbles, faes,and other assorted non-humans.

Invisible Magic is an engaging urban fantasy, packed with action, emotion and intrigue. Mary Buckham keeps the plot moving with attention-grabbing scenarios, unexpected twists, and her cast of well-drawn characters.

I strongly suggest reading the novella – INVISIBLE PRISON – that introduces this series, before opening Book One. NOt only does it set the scene, it will also help fill the time until Book Two is available in May!

[Sharon Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the introductory free novella, I was really looking forward to this full length book in the series. More character development, if a little slow, more background/scene setting than action but I didn't really have any major issues for the most part.

Until the ending. Classic and very definite cliffhanger ending. For various personal reasons, I do not handle cliffhanger endings. I expect a book to have a beginning, middle and end and although a series can certainly have threads to the next book in the series, I expect the major issues in each book to be solved. The old movie theater serial type 'closing' with the female lead tied to the train track with the train in the background annoys me tremendously.

Decent writing, reasonable storyline, interesting characters for those readers who are not put off by cliffhanger endings. I'm not one of those readers and will not be continuing with this series.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read the novella that introduced this series, and really enjoyed it, but you don't need to read it to understand this book. I was excited to see the Invisible Recruits out in the field doing their thing. I thought their training was good, but their actual assignments are even better! This book has it all! You see magic from all kinds of beings, secret agencies from all over, and complications you can't even begin to predict. Alex kicks serious butt! I don't know how else to describe her. It seemed like I was learning more and more of her secrets with each turn of a page, and there are still a ton more to learn! Bran is a really interesting character too! I know the two of them fit together somehow, and it will be interesting to see what happens with that. They are kind of like fire and ice...fascinating!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking fantastic.

The book had many elements that I really loved. One; the supernatural creatures. The author put in the much loved creatures such as weres, shifters, demons, etc. But she also put in creatures from other mythologies and people with supernatural abilities which really did it for me. Two; the relations between the characters. The tension, love, hate, begruding like, all were clearly visible as if they were corporeal. They made my heart twist in knots. Three; the main character. Her familial loyalty and her practical knowledge, her determination and her tolerance for pain - emotional and physical - made me fall in love. Bad points; I can't say I found any. I was too caught up in the story to notice if the author had futzed up anything or missed something. Definite 5 out of 5 stars.

[Maria Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hated putting it down to get on with real life.

The characters were well written and believable with realistic dialogue. The only downside was not enough of Bran himself but rather we were told what he was like. The others had their personalities shown to us. Franco was fun and I hope he continues to appear in further books, particularly after revelations at the end of this book - read it to find out :-)

The story line was interesting and unpredictable. The IR team are an interesting group and I look forward to following them and their bonding in future books in the series.

A really good series that I'm glad I was introduced to.

[Donna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning of this book I was totally absorbed into the world Mary Buckham painted so brilliantly. The story of Alex and her journey from insecure recruit to a force to be reckoned with was non stop action. She learns to trust herself and her team and many lessons on the way,while trying to solve murders and save her brother. I couldn't put this book down....the moment I finish this review I will be buying the next book in this series!! 5 stars!! So glad to find this author and series!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exciting and fun book! Alex Noziack is an unwilling team member for The invisible recruits. She gets put on a case and the best is the crazy team members she has to work with....an Bran! With action, great wit and sarcasm this urban fantasy is off to an amazing start! This book sets up book 2 perfectly...as in you will NEED to have book 2 within minutes if finishing! Mary Buckham has become a must buy author for this reader!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book. When a witch almost kills a friend after conjuring demons she is put on an undercover assignment to bring down a thief. As she tries to figure out who is friend and who is foe she starts to fall in love with a dress designer warlock. The big question is can she trust him? As people begin to die around her and she is attacked her only choice is to turn to the man she doesn't know weather or not she can trust her life to.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series does show potential

But it needs some smoothing out. There are overly long sentences, which tends to make you have to reread them. Because by the time you finish the sentence, you forget where it was heading. There we're also slow sections.

Add to that the ending that doesn't have any resolution....sorry, not for me. A shame, really, because the witch/shaman Heroine showed promise. I didn't hate her.

[Gina Hader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this after I read abut it on Carmen Fox's list of books, and if she likes it, I assumed it's got to be good, right? And it was really good. The writing felt real, and so did the characters. I'll definitely read more books by this author.

[Cecly Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

An acquired taste

The knowledge I am gaining by reading this novel and the others in this series will definitely be applied. Mary Buckham your characters are amazing and your narrative explosive. Definitely an acquired taste!

[Yasmine Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Buckham's novella starts fast and keeping building leaving me wanting more of this series. Her world building is great, Alex is sarcastic and ready to kick butt. Kudos

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it - great read

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really good, just a shame it doesn't end. I only have this 1st book and now it looks as if there are 2 others in the series, all telling the one story.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, both the story line and the characters. I will definitely read more of the series!

[Alyssa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
This was such a great read. Cannot wait to work with the rest of the series.