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The Light Mage Wars #4
Warrior
A Woman Tormented by Darkness
Archaeologist Audra Grayson hopes the dig in the Okefenokee Swamp will save her career. But that hope is dashed when she finds out-of-place relics and brilliant, sexy consultant Will Davis comes to investigate her for fraud. Worse, working on the site strengthens the evil shadow that has haunted her since childhood, and she knows he will think she’s crazy and unfit for the job.
A Mage Who Must Oppose it At All Costs
Mage Will Davis senses the darkness in Audra when they meet. Wondering whether she’s in league with dark forces, he vows to ignore his growing attraction to her. Then deadly ghouls target her dig, and Will discovers they want the ancient bronze pieces to open a portal for demons from the Void between worlds. If they succeed, everything on Earth is an endangered species.
A Fateful Choice
With ghoul attacks escalating and mage traitors in league with the enemy, time is running out for Will to stop the portal from opening. The chemistry between him and Audra threatens to combust, but the darkness within her may give the enemy its chance. Must Will choose between the fate of the world and the love of his life?
Archaeologist Audra Grayson hopes the dig in the Okefenokee Swamp will save her career. But that hope is dashed when she finds out-of-place relics and brilliant, sexy consultant Will Davis comes to investigate her for fraud. Worse, working on the site strengthens the evil shadow that has haunted her since childhood, and she knows he will think she’s crazy and unfit for the job.
A Mage Who Must Oppose it At All Costs
Mage Will Davis senses the darkness in Audra when they meet. Wondering whether she’s in league with dark forces, he vows to ignore his growing attraction to her. Then deadly ghouls target her dig, and Will discovers they want the ancient bronze pieces to open a portal for demons from the Void between worlds. If they succeed, everything on Earth is an endangered species.
A Fateful Choice
With ghoul attacks escalating and mage traitors in league with the enemy, time is running out for Will to stop the portal from opening. The chemistry between him and Audra threatens to combust, but the darkness within her may give the enemy its chance. Must Will choose between the fate of the world and the love of his life?
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2014
38 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Northcott
40 books79 followersNancy Northcott’s childhood ambition was to grow up and become Wonder Woman. Around fourth grade, she realized it was too late to acquire Amazon genes, but she still loved comic books, science fiction, fantasy and YA romance. A sucker for fast action and wrenching emotion, Nancy combines the romance and high stakes she loves in the books she writes.
Her debut novel, Renegade, received a starred review from Library Journal. The reviewer called it “genre fiction at its best.” Nancy is a three-time RWA Golden Heart finalist and has won the Maggie, the Molly, the Emerald City Opener, and Put Your Heart in a Book.
Married since 1987, Nancy and her husband have one son, a bossy dog, and a house full of books.
Her debut novel, Renegade, received a starred review from Library Journal. The reviewer called it “genre fiction at its best.” Nancy is a three-time RWA Golden Heart finalist and has won the Maggie, the Molly, the Emerald City Opener, and Put Your Heart in a Book.
Married since 1987, Nancy and her husband have one son, a bossy dog, and a house full of books.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 20, 2014
3.5 Stars
I’m of two minds about Warrior but overall the story is a great continuation of the Light Mage saga. Familiar characters make it a welcome return to the Okefenokee swamplands and the endless fight between the Mages and the Ghouls. Watching the truth of the supernatural slowly revealed to a non-magical (or Mundane) Audra Grayson is a great way to reintroduce readers to how magic is perceived and used by the Mages and her new colleague Will Davis. As ever, the danger to these people increases as the evil bleeds farther into the world from another dimension, putting new relationships to the test. The battle sequences kept me reading as no one is ever truly safe from the consequences of these skirmishes. I enjoy how author Nancy Northcott keeps the tension high as the threat to Will and Audra is always somewhere in the background and any advantages the Mages have is slowly chipped away. I loved the hints that one character’s magic may be transforming from one form to another and I’ll be eager to see if it becomes important in the final endgame between Good and Evil.
Where the story was iffy for me was in the romantic relationship that grew between Will and Audra. They were written with a good rapport and seemed to complement one another on an intellectual and geek level; however all of that couldn’t transfer into a romance that I believed in. Will’s reasons for avoiding long term commitments with a woman seemed very weak to me and it frustrated me to no end that Audra kept enabling him in that choice. Audra continually sold her own merits short in the relationship but at least she had a genuine excuse for keeping people at arm’s length. Will was continually surrounded by love and yet he treated it like it was disposable only to save himself from having to open up to trust. Will and Audra may have been well matched but she didn’t really challenge him to change or improve himself until it was almost too late.
The final beats of the story made me question if this was a series finale or if there are more stories forthcoming for the Mages. If it was a finale then I appreciate that readers can infer that the story will go on even if we don’t see that happen. If there are more books on the horizon I hope there is a jump in time to allow for many of the developments in the Shire and in the personal relationships to settle.
I’m of two minds about Warrior but overall the story is a great continuation of the Light Mage saga. Familiar characters make it a welcome return to the Okefenokee swamplands and the endless fight between the Mages and the Ghouls. Watching the truth of the supernatural slowly revealed to a non-magical (or Mundane) Audra Grayson is a great way to reintroduce readers to how magic is perceived and used by the Mages and her new colleague Will Davis. As ever, the danger to these people increases as the evil bleeds farther into the world from another dimension, putting new relationships to the test. The battle sequences kept me reading as no one is ever truly safe from the consequences of these skirmishes. I enjoy how author Nancy Northcott keeps the tension high as the threat to Will and Audra is always somewhere in the background and any advantages the Mages have is slowly chipped away. I loved the hints that one character’s magic may be transforming from one form to another and I’ll be eager to see if it becomes important in the final endgame between Good and Evil.
Where the story was iffy for me was in the romantic relationship that grew between Will and Audra. They were written with a good rapport and seemed to complement one another on an intellectual and geek level; however all of that couldn’t transfer into a romance that I believed in. Will’s reasons for avoiding long term commitments with a woman seemed very weak to me and it frustrated me to no end that Audra kept enabling him in that choice. Audra continually sold her own merits short in the relationship but at least she had a genuine excuse for keeping people at arm’s length. Will was continually surrounded by love and yet he treated it like it was disposable only to save himself from having to open up to trust. Will and Audra may have been well matched but she didn’t really challenge him to change or improve himself until it was almost too late.
The final beats of the story made me question if this was a series finale or if there are more stories forthcoming for the Mages. If it was a finale then I appreciate that readers can infer that the story will go on even if we don’t see that happen. If there are more books on the horizon I hope there is a jump in time to allow for many of the developments in the Shire and in the personal relationships to settle.
March 21, 2023
This is a quick read that I found to be fascinating. I enjoyed the archaelogical basis of the story - it ticked one of my favorite boxes!
Audra is an archaelogist who is also plagued by a shadowy presence that is especially disruptive when she is handling Native American artifacts. In fact, she is only at this dig to help out her mentor. Her career is in jeopardy due to several outbursts from her shadow presence. So when one of her assistants uncover a metal object in the Okefenokee Swamp where it definitely should NOT be, she is extremely concerned that people will thin she planted the artifact.
Will is a mage and it is his job to protect Mundanes (non magical people) from dark forces. He is headed to the Okefenokee Swamp to check out the strange object. Upon his arrival, he senses the presence of magic - and the hint of darknes - on Audra. Unable to determine the source, Will decides to proceed cautiously.
What he discovers surprises him and will test the limit of his abilities.
This story was engrossing and kept me entertained throughout the book.
Audra is an archaelogist who is also plagued by a shadowy presence that is especially disruptive when she is handling Native American artifacts. In fact, she is only at this dig to help out her mentor. Her career is in jeopardy due to several outbursts from her shadow presence. So when one of her assistants uncover a metal object in the Okefenokee Swamp where it definitely should NOT be, she is extremely concerned that people will thin she planted the artifact.
Will is a mage and it is his job to protect Mundanes (non magical people) from dark forces. He is headed to the Okefenokee Swamp to check out the strange object. Upon his arrival, he senses the presence of magic - and the hint of darknes - on Audra. Unable to determine the source, Will decides to proceed cautiously.
What he discovers surprises him and will test the limit of his abilities.
This story was engrossing and kept me entertained throughout the book.
June 25, 2017
(maybe some spoilers?)I had not read any of the other in the series, so although I understood the background of the Mages, the college and characters, they did not really feel integrated well with the overall story.Unless they are described in the other volumes I never got a clear impression of what the ghouls looked like. They didn't seem very challenging foes, since they were fairly easy to kill and pretty stupid. The book felt a bit like a romance with the mages and archeology plot tacked on the side. I would have preferred to get rid of the romance and sex as it cluttered up what could have been a really interesting speculative book that concentrated on the archeology of the Florida native americans. That is what drew me to the book was the combination of archeology, a bit of Indiana Jones, and native americans. But there just wasn't enough of the factual archaeology, just the proposed magic war. Left me wanting much more.
December 11, 2014
3.75 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 28, 2014
A Woman Tormented by Darkness
Archaeologist Audra Grayson hopes the dig in the Okefenokee Swamp will save her career. But that hope is dashed when she finds out-of-place relics and brilliant, sexy consultant Will Davis comes to investigate her for fraud. Worse, working on the site strengthens the evil shadow that has haunted her since childhood, and she knows he will think she’s crazy and unfit for the job.
A Mage Who Must Oppose it At All Costs
Mage Will Davis senses the darkness in Audra when they meet. Wondering whether she’s in league with dark forces, he vows to ignore his growing attraction to her. Then deadly ghouls target her dig, and Will discovers they want the ancient bronze pieces to open a portal for demons from the Void between worlds. If they succeed, everything on Earth is an endangered species.
The Fate of the World at Stake
With ghoul attacks escalating and mage traitors in league with the enemy, time is running out for Will to stop the portal from opening. The chemistry between him and Audra threatens to combust, but the darkness within her may give the enemy its chance. Must Will choose between the fate of the world and the love of his life?
~~~
REVIEW: 3.75 stars
SOME BACKGROUND: The Mage are a gifted species of people who source their power from the elements but their enemies-the ghouls-suck the life force and power from the mage to survive. Similar to vampires, the ghouls take down their prey, both mundane (humans without magic) and mage, to feed from their blood. Leaving behind a trail of venomous poison in their victim’s blood, those who survive will eventually become ghoul.
WARRIOR is the latest installment in Nancy Northcott’s adult, contemporary Light Mage Wars ( formerly The Protectors) paranormal romance series focusing on a supernaturally gifted group of humans who pull their power from the elements. This is mage and loremaster Will Davis and Native American archaeologist Audra Grayson’s storyline. When Audra’s team of archaeologists unearth a 4,000 year old sword from the Okefenokee Swamp, Will Davis’s team of mage warriors is called in to investigate the ‘out of place’ ancient weapon.
The storyline follows Audra and her team as they continue to uncover relics that do not belong to the area. Audra is hoping to clear up her previously tainted reputation that several years earlier ended her career with a nervous break down. What no one understands or knows is that Audra has a dark secret-one that controls her mind and at times her body- that is buried deep within the recesses of her consciousness. Hoping to keep the darkness buried, Audra avoids all confrontation and social interaction whenever necessary.
Will Davis has been a regular throughout the series. A call from the university archaeology department finds Will, undercover as a member of the Georgia Institute for Paranormal Research, partnered with Audra in the hopes of discovering the truth behind the ancient artifacts. But something about Audra draws Will like a flame to a moth; he senses something dark and dangerous in Audra, but not necessarily a part of her control. As the team continues to unearth the relics, lives will be threatened and a series of destructive attacks at the site will set into motion Audra’s introduction into the world of Light Mage and supernatural powers.
The storyline and thusly, the relationship between Audra and Will is very slow to build. Audra fights her attraction to Will- a man with a reputation with the ladies-and therefore Audra chooses to ignore the elephant in the room. She spends most of her time (and the storyline) avoiding any personal or intimate contact with Will and when our couple finally get together, Audra places an expiry date on their relationship. Audra’s constant self-deprecating and low self esteem as it pertained to any potential relationship including her building attachment to Will was oft times depressing and frustrating which made the slow build even slower. Will is a man who avoids long term commitments and it is in his nature to walk away from any potential permanence-I did not feel any emotional attachment to this couple. The romance element was sadly missing for most of the storyline.
The supporting cast of characters includes Audra’s archaeological team, museum foundation advisor Denise Larabee as well as several previous storyline couples from Nancy’s PROTECTOR SERIES including Edie and Josh, Stefan and Mel, Griffin and Val. The world building continues to focus on the war with the ghouls; the demons from the otherworld; and the possibility of another traitor in the Light Mage Collegium.
Nancy Northcott’s gifted world of magic and romance, demons and ghouls is incredibly detailed and passionately spirited. There are moments of heartbreak and betrayal, romance and love, drama and action wrapped up in a supernatural storyline that is imaginative, elaborate and defined.
Copy supplied by the author.
Reading Order:
Sentinel (Light Mage Wars .5)
Renegade (The Protectors 1)
Protector (The Protectors 1.5)
Guardian (The Protectors 2)
Warrior (Light Mage Wars 1)
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 28, 2014
A Woman Tormented by Darkness
Archaeologist Audra Grayson hopes the dig in the Okefenokee Swamp will save her career. But that hope is dashed when she finds out-of-place relics and brilliant, sexy consultant Will Davis comes to investigate her for fraud. Worse, working on the site strengthens the evil shadow that has haunted her since childhood, and she knows he will think she’s crazy and unfit for the job.
A Mage Who Must Oppose it At All Costs
Mage Will Davis senses the darkness in Audra when they meet. Wondering whether she’s in league with dark forces, he vows to ignore his growing attraction to her. Then deadly ghouls target her dig, and Will discovers they want the ancient bronze pieces to open a portal for demons from the Void between worlds. If they succeed, everything on Earth is an endangered species.
The Fate of the World at Stake
With ghoul attacks escalating and mage traitors in league with the enemy, time is running out for Will to stop the portal from opening. The chemistry between him and Audra threatens to combust, but the darkness within her may give the enemy its chance. Must Will choose between the fate of the world and the love of his life?
~~~
REVIEW: 3.75 stars
SOME BACKGROUND: The Mage are a gifted species of people who source their power from the elements but their enemies-the ghouls-suck the life force and power from the mage to survive. Similar to vampires, the ghouls take down their prey, both mundane (humans without magic) and mage, to feed from their blood. Leaving behind a trail of venomous poison in their victim’s blood, those who survive will eventually become ghoul.
WARRIOR is the latest installment in Nancy Northcott’s adult, contemporary Light Mage Wars ( formerly The Protectors) paranormal romance series focusing on a supernaturally gifted group of humans who pull their power from the elements. This is mage and loremaster Will Davis and Native American archaeologist Audra Grayson’s storyline. When Audra’s team of archaeologists unearth a 4,000 year old sword from the Okefenokee Swamp, Will Davis’s team of mage warriors is called in to investigate the ‘out of place’ ancient weapon.
The storyline follows Audra and her team as they continue to uncover relics that do not belong to the area. Audra is hoping to clear up her previously tainted reputation that several years earlier ended her career with a nervous break down. What no one understands or knows is that Audra has a dark secret-one that controls her mind and at times her body- that is buried deep within the recesses of her consciousness. Hoping to keep the darkness buried, Audra avoids all confrontation and social interaction whenever necessary.
Will Davis has been a regular throughout the series. A call from the university archaeology department finds Will, undercover as a member of the Georgia Institute for Paranormal Research, partnered with Audra in the hopes of discovering the truth behind the ancient artifacts. But something about Audra draws Will like a flame to a moth; he senses something dark and dangerous in Audra, but not necessarily a part of her control. As the team continues to unearth the relics, lives will be threatened and a series of destructive attacks at the site will set into motion Audra’s introduction into the world of Light Mage and supernatural powers.
The storyline and thusly, the relationship between Audra and Will is very slow to build. Audra fights her attraction to Will- a man with a reputation with the ladies-and therefore Audra chooses to ignore the elephant in the room. She spends most of her time (and the storyline) avoiding any personal or intimate contact with Will and when our couple finally get together, Audra places an expiry date on their relationship. Audra’s constant self-deprecating and low self esteem as it pertained to any potential relationship including her building attachment to Will was oft times depressing and frustrating which made the slow build even slower. Will is a man who avoids long term commitments and it is in his nature to walk away from any potential permanence-I did not feel any emotional attachment to this couple. The romance element was sadly missing for most of the storyline.
The supporting cast of characters includes Audra’s archaeological team, museum foundation advisor Denise Larabee as well as several previous storyline couples from Nancy’s PROTECTOR SERIES including Edie and Josh, Stefan and Mel, Griffin and Val. The world building continues to focus on the war with the ghouls; the demons from the otherworld; and the possibility of another traitor in the Light Mage Collegium.
Nancy Northcott’s gifted world of magic and romance, demons and ghouls is incredibly detailed and passionately spirited. There are moments of heartbreak and betrayal, romance and love, drama and action wrapped up in a supernatural storyline that is imaginative, elaborate and defined.
Copy supplied by the author.
Reading Order:
Sentinel (Light Mage Wars .5)
Renegade (The Protectors 1)
Protector (The Protectors 1.5)
Guardian (The Protectors 2)
Warrior (Light Mage Wars 1)
December 16, 2014
Warrior by Nancy Northcott is a colorful and magical tale with on sexy mage, a determined archaeologist and a lot of heat! Audra Grayson is deep in the Okefenokee Swamp hoping to keep her career alive. When her team discovers a metal object in the middle of a Native American dig site they fear someone is out to sabotage them. When she seeks out some help Will Davis, a famous archaeologist and Mage, shows up. For Will, working with the Mundanes (non-magic using folk) can be challenging but he’s determined to help her find out how the metal object appeared at a site where none should be.
A mysterious fire and magic permeating in the air send Will’s senses on overdrive. Is dark magic at work? It’s when a bronze axe is discovered that Audra’s team starts scrambling and Will’s interest is now heightened. How did it get here? For Audra the presence of a hunky man at her site creates a challenging work environment and results in an unfortunate Ghoul attack.
Is there enough trust between Will and Audra that they can confide in each other? There is fear that someone close to Audra is betraying her. Audra’s hiding something that could damage the results of her dig. Afraid to confide in anyone she’s unable to discuss her unexplained visions and the dark shadows that are surrounding her. Will she reach out to Will and let him help? Is she prepared for him to discover her secret?
Once again the dig site is attacked and destroyed. Audra fears that the park rangers will accuse her team of vandalism. With her reputation on the line and concern for her team and Will, she has to make a decision. Can she confide in Will completely? What will they do when they discover someone they both trusted has betrayed them?
Will offers a solution but is it enough? Eventually Audra decides to act when the presence yet again of the shadows come for her for what she hopes is the last time. After all this time will she find out what has left a shadow over everything?
Ghouls, Mages, secret powerful artifacts and sizzling chemistry make this another intense story. Thank you Nancy! I received this ARC from the author for an honest review and am super excited that I did! I am so happy that I did- I look forward to the next installment of the Light Mage Series soon.
A mysterious fire and magic permeating in the air send Will’s senses on overdrive. Is dark magic at work? It’s when a bronze axe is discovered that Audra’s team starts scrambling and Will’s interest is now heightened. How did it get here? For Audra the presence of a hunky man at her site creates a challenging work environment and results in an unfortunate Ghoul attack.
Is there enough trust between Will and Audra that they can confide in each other? There is fear that someone close to Audra is betraying her. Audra’s hiding something that could damage the results of her dig. Afraid to confide in anyone she’s unable to discuss her unexplained visions and the dark shadows that are surrounding her. Will she reach out to Will and let him help? Is she prepared for him to discover her secret?
Once again the dig site is attacked and destroyed. Audra fears that the park rangers will accuse her team of vandalism. With her reputation on the line and concern for her team and Will, she has to make a decision. Can she confide in Will completely? What will they do when they discover someone they both trusted has betrayed them?
Will offers a solution but is it enough? Eventually Audra decides to act when the presence yet again of the shadows come for her for what she hopes is the last time. After all this time will she find out what has left a shadow over everything?
Ghouls, Mages, secret powerful artifacts and sizzling chemistry make this another intense story. Thank you Nancy! I received this ARC from the author for an honest review and am super excited that I did! I am so happy that I did- I look forward to the next installment of the Light Mage Series soon.
December 21, 2014
First, I'm a fan girl. Forgive me if I sound like a fan girl. You've been warned. Second, I read this a month ago and then waited to review it. I did that because I was afraid I gave it 5 stars because I'm a fan girl. It turns out, even after a month I have good thoughts about it. Even after rereading passages, I still have good thoughts about it. I just think it's a good story.
Audra Grayson is a strong female character. She is studying to be an archaeologist. She has spent much of her life fighting a darkness within herself that she fears. Will is a mage and a playboy. He has decided that he will never have a forever relationship because women only want him for his money and prestige. Needless to say, Audra is the perfect woman for him.
The journey in the story really develops the larger story of the mages versus the ghouls. The introduction of a higher power (or deeper in this case) was a nice addition. I also really liked the fact that Audra is part Native American. I really hope that the Native American aspect of the story is included in future novels. I really wanted the characters from the prior stories to show up in this story but when they did I didn't really feel like they forwarded the story. It was one of the weaknesses in the story. However, it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.
I think the writing was strong. I was able to picture the locations and characters. I think the editing was good. There was no stand out moment when I was jarred out of the story because something didn't seem quite right. In the end, I found myself wanting to read the story. I even found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't reading it. I even tried to guess where it was going in the end.
I recommend this book to anyone who has read the rest of the series. I also recommend this book to anyone who likes magic and romance!
Quotes:
Will didn't do forever. No point to it for a guy women never liked for the right reasons. loc 1378
"So you're taking me to a quack." Her voice shook, but her chin lifted in defiance. "That's a waste of money." loc 1452
copy of book received from author for an honest review
Audra Grayson is a strong female character. She is studying to be an archaeologist. She has spent much of her life fighting a darkness within herself that she fears. Will is a mage and a playboy. He has decided that he will never have a forever relationship because women only want him for his money and prestige. Needless to say, Audra is the perfect woman for him.
The journey in the story really develops the larger story of the mages versus the ghouls. The introduction of a higher power (or deeper in this case) was a nice addition. I also really liked the fact that Audra is part Native American. I really hope that the Native American aspect of the story is included in future novels. I really wanted the characters from the prior stories to show up in this story but when they did I didn't really feel like they forwarded the story. It was one of the weaknesses in the story. However, it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.
I think the writing was strong. I was able to picture the locations and characters. I think the editing was good. There was no stand out moment when I was jarred out of the story because something didn't seem quite right. In the end, I found myself wanting to read the story. I even found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't reading it. I even tried to guess where it was going in the end.
I recommend this book to anyone who has read the rest of the series. I also recommend this book to anyone who likes magic and romance!
Quotes:
Will didn't do forever. No point to it for a guy women never liked for the right reasons. loc 1378
"So you're taking me to a quack." Her voice shook, but her chin lifted in defiance. "That's a waste of money." loc 1452
copy of book received from author for an honest review
November 15, 2014
Another winner
I love this series. The characters are real, relatable people and the fact that they have magical powers doesn't make them feel out of reach. I also love how the author balances the magical elements with the romance, always keeping the developing love story at the forefront. I am not a reader of paranormal books, but I will read every book Ms. Northcott offers in the future.
I love this series. The characters are real, relatable people and the fact that they have magical powers doesn't make them feel out of reach. I also love how the author balances the magical elements with the romance, always keeping the developing love story at the forefront. I am not a reader of paranormal books, but I will read every book Ms. Northcott offers in the future.
December 5, 2014
I loved this story so much action and such a beautiful romance between Will and Audra both are archeologists Audra has been working in the swamp finding old artifacts but there is trouble brewing with deomons and gouls and when Will is sent in to help the spark between them is instant but both have reasons to not get too close to each other. This is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages not one to be missed I am really loving this series.
December 6, 2014
4 1/2 - 5... stay tuned...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews