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Sentinels #3
Captive Magic
Teleporter Breck Bayes made a deal with a demon to save the life of his little sister Amanda, who was dying of cancer. The demon expects Breck to work off the debt -- as a thief who can get past any walls or locks. If Breck balks, Amanda's cancer will come back, and she'll die. Breck's a good guy, but a few trinkets versus Amanda's life? It's no contest. Manny hears about Breck's popping around town and uses his own talents to find and confront him. Sentinels are supposed to prevent the magegifted from using their talents to steal, by force if necessary, but then he gets the whole story. Manny understands family, and he decides that his Sentinel persona is going to have to suck it up and deal while he helps Breck get out from under the demon -- even if it means becoming an accomplice to the thieving while they plot Breck's escape. But then the demon notices Manny, whose truesight and seeking would be very useful in its quest to own things that don't properly belong to it, and suddenly it's not only Breck who's in trouble.
324 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 19, 2013
I have tremendous affection for this series... unfortunately a significant portion of this story takes place in an nebulous alternate dimension that is not very engaging.
The book starts out promising... Manny, the clairvoyant on the lovable Sentinels paranormal team, meets a guy who can teleport and falls in love. The new guy has a secret/problem that is intriguing in and of itself… but then the story comes to a screeching halt when they spend way too much time in a totally abstract alternate universe. It’s like someone trying to tell you about a weird dream they had. The story does pick up again when the rest of the Sentinel team arrives (I just love them)… but by then the pacing is shot.
This book is definitely the weakest out of the series… but I suspect this is just a bump in the road. I can’t wait for the next book to be released.
score: 3.5 stars
The book starts out promising... Manny, the clairvoyant on the lovable Sentinels paranormal team, meets a guy who can teleport and falls in love. The new guy has a secret/problem that is intriguing in and of itself… but then the story comes to a screeching halt when they spend way too much time in a totally abstract alternate universe. It’s like someone trying to tell you about a weird dream they had. The story does pick up again when the rest of the Sentinel team arrives (I just love them)… but by then the pacing is shot.
This book is definitely the weakest out of the series… but I suspect this is just a bump in the road. I can’t wait for the next book to be released.
score: 3.5 stars
September 29, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
This story is part of a series and is best read in order. Breck has landed himself in trouble, he made a deal with a demon to save his sisters life and all he has to do is use his teleporting abilities to get objects for the demon in return... objects that belong to others. Manny hears that there is a teleporter popping up around town and decides to check him out and see if he understands what he is, but things take a strange turn when Manny discovers the trouble Breck has landed himself in and the reason. As Breck and Manny try to discover a way out from under the demon, the demon sets his sights on Manny, and Manny and Breck decide to fight fire with fire.
This is a great story that explores just what a teleporter could be capable of, while twining it with a touch of danger and a manipulating demon. When Breck made a deal with a demon he never thought he would be stuck chasing down trinkets, or being chased down by someone who has an ability or their own. Manny just wants to make sure that the new guy isn't up to anything illegal, but when a life is on the line he can't say he wouldn't have done the same thing. Working together they discover that there are no limits when it comes to teleporting but they have to do some dodgy dealing if they are going to save Manda (Breck's sister).
I really enjoyed this story with its dimension jumping and puzzle solving, watching as Manny and Breck begin to enjoy a relationship and how they save the day. I liked how they worked together to figure a way out for Breck and how they managed to fix things when everything went wrong. Their relationship was forged during a really difficult time for Breck, and you can see him being pulled in two when the demon gets impatient and begins pulling his strings.... do what the demon wants or be there for his mother and sister? Manny being with him and helping him really saves Breck in more ways than one. While Manny is a large part of this story I couldn't help but feel that it was really Breck's story and although their relationship is special, it is really Breck's trials that make this story great.
I recommend this to those who love paranormal abilities, dimension jumping, interesting beings, a relationship forged in hard times and a great ending.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
This story is part of a series and is best read in order. Breck has landed himself in trouble, he made a deal with a demon to save his sisters life and all he has to do is use his teleporting abilities to get objects for the demon in return... objects that belong to others. Manny hears that there is a teleporter popping up around town and decides to check him out and see if he understands what he is, but things take a strange turn when Manny discovers the trouble Breck has landed himself in and the reason. As Breck and Manny try to discover a way out from under the demon, the demon sets his sights on Manny, and Manny and Breck decide to fight fire with fire.
This is a great story that explores just what a teleporter could be capable of, while twining it with a touch of danger and a manipulating demon. When Breck made a deal with a demon he never thought he would be stuck chasing down trinkets, or being chased down by someone who has an ability or their own. Manny just wants to make sure that the new guy isn't up to anything illegal, but when a life is on the line he can't say he wouldn't have done the same thing. Working together they discover that there are no limits when it comes to teleporting but they have to do some dodgy dealing if they are going to save Manda (Breck's sister).
I really enjoyed this story with its dimension jumping and puzzle solving, watching as Manny and Breck begin to enjoy a relationship and how they save the day. I liked how they worked together to figure a way out for Breck and how they managed to fix things when everything went wrong. Their relationship was forged during a really difficult time for Breck, and you can see him being pulled in two when the demon gets impatient and begins pulling his strings.... do what the demon wants or be there for his mother and sister? Manny being with him and helping him really saves Breck in more ways than one. While Manny is a large part of this story I couldn't help but feel that it was really Breck's story and although their relationship is special, it is really Breck's trials that make this story great.
I recommend this to those who love paranormal abilities, dimension jumping, interesting beings, a relationship forged in hard times and a great ending.
March 19, 2014
This is the third novel in the Sentinels universe, and it’s time for Manny’s story at last. He’s been left behind to mind the magic in California while the rest of the Sentinels are dealing with the craziness in the Seattle area in the previous book, Emerging Magic. (Good stuff, read it.) Since this world busts out with elves and incubi and elementals, Manny’s reaction to a report of a guy who disappears *poof* is—who is he, why is he doing this, and what does he want? Not how’s he doing it or he couldn’t possibly be doing it.
Turns out Breck is indebted to a being who isn’t from around here, who has talents not normally seen around here, and who wants various artifacts that make no sense to Breck. As long as his sister’s in remission, he’ll steal, and as long as he steals, she’s healthy. It’s a true devil’s bargain.
The story seems to start off a bit slowly, but it’s an introduction to the world if you’re starting here, and a slow burn of Manny and Breck developing interest in each other and context for their skills. Their families variously encourage or discourage them. Real life problems are more important than constant smexing, which is a refreshing change from a lot of mm. These guys can stay on task and they can stay on task together, once they come to trust each other enough to be clear on what’s going on. No insta-anything here, they have to work for each smidgen of trust.
One recurring idea in this universe is that humans aren’t the biggest, baddest magic-wielders around—smarts, negotiation, and guile make for more intriguing reading anyway. While magic isn’t hidden in this world, sometimes a talent doesn’t want to admit what he can do, and sometimes mere talent isn’t enough to solve a problem.
The sister and the niece are especially charming characters, Manny and Breck each have a teen girl to love, cherish, and be exasperated by. The rest of their families felt real enough to invite to dinner. Not all the action takes place in our plane, and the other dimensional setting was strange and unique.
While I think I understand the reason for the pacing, it did feel a little too leisurely at times, but I am really glad to have Manny’s story. Breck could be a wonderful addition to the Sentinel team, and aren’t there more characters who should come back from Seattle for their own books? Cal? Aubrey?
Turns out Breck is indebted to a being who isn’t from around here, who has talents not normally seen around here, and who wants various artifacts that make no sense to Breck. As long as his sister’s in remission, he’ll steal, and as long as he steals, she’s healthy. It’s a true devil’s bargain.
The story seems to start off a bit slowly, but it’s an introduction to the world if you’re starting here, and a slow burn of Manny and Breck developing interest in each other and context for their skills. Their families variously encourage or discourage them. Real life problems are more important than constant smexing, which is a refreshing change from a lot of mm. These guys can stay on task and they can stay on task together, once they come to trust each other enough to be clear on what’s going on. No insta-anything here, they have to work for each smidgen of trust.
One recurring idea in this universe is that humans aren’t the biggest, baddest magic-wielders around—smarts, negotiation, and guile make for more intriguing reading anyway. While magic isn’t hidden in this world, sometimes a talent doesn’t want to admit what he can do, and sometimes mere talent isn’t enough to solve a problem.
The sister and the niece are especially charming characters, Manny and Breck each have a teen girl to love, cherish, and be exasperated by. The rest of their families felt real enough to invite to dinner. Not all the action takes place in our plane, and the other dimensional setting was strange and unique.
While I think I understand the reason for the pacing, it did feel a little too leisurely at times, but I am really glad to have Manny’s story. Breck could be a wonderful addition to the Sentinel team, and aren’t there more characters who should come back from Seattle for their own books? Cal? Aubrey?
October 9, 2013
Please leave comments for Pattycake's 4 sweet pea review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
"It was true, and not only in romance, that way too many problems were caused by some character NOT telling another about something important. They always thought they had a good reason, but it turned out to be a flimsy, ridiculous one."
Captive Magic by Angela Benedetti is a wild ride of a story that starts out with a touch of the paranormal, then takes a left turn into the Twilight Zone! The blurb covers the bare bones of the tale, but to really appreciate the unique and original twists that this story takes, you need to check it out for yourself.
This is a character driven story with a smoothly flowing plot that takes you from the ordinary to the extraordinary,then to places beyond your wildest imagination. The characters are just like anyone you could meet on the street, even be your next door neighbor, but with hidden talents that run the gamut from telepathy to teleporting, and mage to seer. The backstory is fascinating, and deftly fills in any gaps in the storyline. There's not much sex, but the story is so fascinating that it's really not needed.
The author's writing style is quirky, humorous, concise, and highly original. The world built by the author is solid, and skillfully blends the paranormal with hard science, weaving it all into a seamlessly convincing whole. I really like how the author is able to take advanced science concepts and explain them in a way that I can understand. The story has a HEA ending, but only after many twists and turns, and a near tragedy. If you're looking to read a story that is ANYTHING but ordinary, then you should definitely check out this book!
"It was true, and not only in romance, that way too many problems were caused by some character NOT telling another about something important. They always thought they had a good reason, but it turned out to be a flimsy, ridiculous one."
Captive Magic by Angela Benedetti is a wild ride of a story that starts out with a touch of the paranormal, then takes a left turn into the Twilight Zone! The blurb covers the bare bones of the tale, but to really appreciate the unique and original twists that this story takes, you need to check it out for yourself.
This is a character driven story with a smoothly flowing plot that takes you from the ordinary to the extraordinary,then to places beyond your wildest imagination. The characters are just like anyone you could meet on the street, even be your next door neighbor, but with hidden talents that run the gamut from telepathy to teleporting, and mage to seer. The backstory is fascinating, and deftly fills in any gaps in the storyline. There's not much sex, but the story is so fascinating that it's really not needed.
The author's writing style is quirky, humorous, concise, and highly original. The world built by the author is solid, and skillfully blends the paranormal with hard science, weaving it all into a seamlessly convincing whole. I really like how the author is able to take advanced science concepts and explain them in a way that I can understand. The story has a HEA ending, but only after many twists and turns, and a near tragedy. If you're looking to read a story that is ANYTHING but ordinary, then you should definitely check out this book!
November 19, 2013
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5
Great characterizations, wonderfully inventive world building, and catchy dialog have a hard time surmounting the detail overkill, as well as a story that bogs down under its own cleverness and abundance of plots. Recommended with reservations.
For my full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-1ES
October 30, 2022
That was awesome and weird, not a fan of Breck, but I like Manny.
(When do we get the next book?)
Reread, I STILL WANT MORE.....
(When do we get the next book?)
Reread, I STILL WANT MORE.....
January 24, 2014
The characters here are well developed and interesting. The originality of the concept is high - and Benedetti creates some wicked crazy realms, and I mean that in a good way! Very smooth read, with solid tension and diverse people and subplots. A fine addition to gay themed spec. fiction!!
July 19, 2018
This book focused on one of the previous characters and his new love with just a couple of scenes involving the rest of the group. I would have liked more of them and hope the author writes another book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews