Shadow Brigade

Magic and Mayhem #4

by Alesha Escobar

Some say I have a death wish, going against the most powerful witch alive.

But I have no choice in hunting down Ora Draper, since her coven kidnapped my friend and turned him into a weapon. If I don’t rescue Lucas in time, they’ll use his powers to wipe humanity off the face of the planet.

I just want to defend my newfound family against the darkness.

Alanna and I are growing closer, which means I’ll do anything to protect her. But it’s hard to do so when she charges into battle with her magical sword—the same sword Ora has spilled blood to reclaim. But Alanna won’t back down, because fighting toe to toe against the witch means vengeance for her father.

If that weren’t enough, I have to keep an eye on Sal, who plans to shift into a werewolf and take on the alpha of the Iron Wolves in a deadly duel.

Just wonderful.

Lucky for me, I have backup this time.

We’ve just rebuilt the Shadow Brigade, an elite team dedicated to fighting dangerous wizards. However, deep in the bowels of their secret prison, is a psychic vampire chained to my mind. Lilith is biding her time, patiently waiting for me to make the tiniest misstep so she can destroy me and break free.

Despite our powerful enemies, I know we will prevail.

Not only am I stubborn as hell, but I have a loyal group of friends and magic from the gods on my side. My only fear is that when the time comes to strike down Ora I may falter, because despite her evil, she is still a part of me. The fate of the world may hang in the balance, but so does the fate of my soul.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

About the author

Alesha Escobar writes action-packed paranormal fantasy with a dash of humor and romance mixed in. She’s the author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy, a WW2 paranormal fantasy often described as “Agent Carter meets Hellboy.”

She is also the author of the Magic and Mayhem series, featuring Jack Crowley, a black sheep among wizards who’s called upon by a secret government organization to catch a supernatural thief who’s stolen three Names of God.

Her co-authored books include the Aria Knight Chronicles with USA Today bestselling author Samantha Goodno and the Immortal Brotherhood series with award-winning author H.M. Jones.

When she's not delving into fantastic worlds with her characters, Alesha enjoys coffee and chocolate, and spending time with her six children and her husband Luis, a storyboard artist for The Simpsons TV show.

To stay in touch and grab a free fantasy book to start reading, go to http://bit.ly/FMMReads

Alesha is also on Facebook @AuthorAleshaEscobar, so she would love to connect with you there as well!

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love the wayward wizard and his team of allies, and in this book Jack is going to have to finally confront his birthmother Ora Draper. the head of the dark coven, who has allied in turn with Kenneth Cherish, the creator of the automaton called Lucas, who has become Jack's best friend and is loved by the group. Lucas has been turned back into evil code, and is going to be used as a weapon of mass destruction, however his friends will not give up on him, even if this means going up in battle against their biggest threat yet. Jack get's involved with Lilith, the very dangerous vampire witch, who was held in the highest security prison ever, for everyone's safety, but he is running out of ideas on how to save his friend. The Shadow Brigade is reinstated, however a new leader is not allowing the team to work together to face the threats they were expecting. Jack is also worried about his friend Sal, who is now a werewolf on account of the ghost inside him. Can Jack protect all those he cares for whilst facing his mother and if necessary killing her? This book is a real page turner, it grips the reader right from the first line and keeps one hooked till the end relentlessly. The ending also makes me want to read the next book immediately as this promises to be even more thrilling if possible and I cannot wait for book 5.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Shadow Brigade. As with previous books in the Magic and Mayhem series, the characters are wonderful and well-developed, and their relationships weave deftly into the action-packed storyline. Without giving any spoilers, I particularly liked the twist about Ora. This book was impossible to put down, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I highly recommend Shadow Brigade to fans of urban fantasy. Just be sure to read previous books in the series first.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rick Boisclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of series so far.

This series and world created by Alesha Escobar has become a favorite of mine. It has the magic and supernatural element I enjoy mixed with a hard boiled detective thriller and a side of noir. The characters including the baddies are fleshed out and complete and the dialog is crackling. The fight scenes are choreographed well and allows you to get a glimpse at the supernatural world and the speed of such encounters. I can’t wait for book 5!