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City of Eldrich #1
Impervious
“Why couldn't she get me?” “Magic doesn't work on you. You're impervious . . .” Meaghan Keele faces menopause with no husband, no kids, and a job she hates. At her brother's request, Meaghan moves from Arizona to Pennsylvania to help care for their dying father, taking over his job as lawyer for the tiny town of Eldrich. What Meaghan doesn't know is that law was merely her father's day job. Gateways to magical worlds riddle the forests surrounding Eldrich. Unaffected by magic—impervious—her father spent decades mediating magical disputes and guarding the human world. Without his imposing presence, old enemies are stirring. Impervious, like her father, Meaghan soon senses that everyone around her is keeping secrets. A shocking confrontation on her first day of work quickly clues her in to her new reality. Her office manager and her secretary are witches. Jamie, her handsome young assistant, isn't exactly human. Eldrich City Hall is haunted. And Meaghan is expected to take over both of her father's jobs. Struggling to accept her destiny, Meaghan is soon drawn into a brutal struggle in another world and a growing attaction to John Smith—exiled king, town drunk, and Jamie's estranged father. And she thought life in Eldrich would be dull . . .
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2014
37 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Laura Kirwan
4 books15 followersLaura Kirwan is the author of Impervious and Publisher/CEO of Burnt Barn Press, a micropublishing company. A former municipal attorney, Laura grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 4, 2016
I had never heard of this author but saw this book recommended on Facebook so thought well it's free so I've nothing to lose! Yes I know that so often freebies are a bit of a let down or a tease that leaves readers fuming but as I enjoy urban fantasy I was prepared to give it a go. It's not a young, nubile, kick ass heroine! No this is a story about a fully grown , mature woman who just happens to be confident, smart and truth be told a little lonely. Well being coerced into going home to help look after her ailing father sets Meaghan on a whole new path.
You see the town of Eldrich is a magical gateway with supernaturals living alongside the humans there and it just so happens they need a strong presence who can mediate and when called for step up and take charge. Now that's a problem as those wielding magic can get up to all sorts of nasty tricks but what if someone couldn't be forced? What if someone could make a stand, rattle a few cages and all whilst not being manipulated ? Now that would be something wouldn't it? Oh yes things are about to change in Eldrich as Meaghan like her father before her is impervious to magic!
I really enjoyed this book and I've now learnt it's the first of what's planned as a seven book series. This gives the author time to explore her characters and let them grow and all whilst opening up this world she has created. It was very entertaining with its small town feel and I loved seeing the dynamics between characters play out. Witches, fairies and dark wizards all feature here but it's the family connections that bring the most emotion. Not exactly a romance but the dominoes are set up so let's see how they fall in subsequent books. Perhaps a slower pace than some books I've read if I'm brutally honest but when the action starts its a fabulous ride! Loved loved loved an older heroine and can't wait to see what happens next because clearly big changes are coming !
You see the town of Eldrich is a magical gateway with supernaturals living alongside the humans there and it just so happens they need a strong presence who can mediate and when called for step up and take charge. Now that's a problem as those wielding magic can get up to all sorts of nasty tricks but what if someone couldn't be forced? What if someone could make a stand, rattle a few cages and all whilst not being manipulated ? Now that would be something wouldn't it? Oh yes things are about to change in Eldrich as Meaghan like her father before her is impervious to magic!
I really enjoyed this book and I've now learnt it's the first of what's planned as a seven book series. This gives the author time to explore her characters and let them grow and all whilst opening up this world she has created. It was very entertaining with its small town feel and I loved seeing the dynamics between characters play out. Witches, fairies and dark wizards all feature here but it's the family connections that bring the most emotion. Not exactly a romance but the dominoes are set up so let's see how they fall in subsequent books. Perhaps a slower pace than some books I've read if I'm brutally honest but when the action starts its a fabulous ride! Loved loved loved an older heroine and can't wait to see what happens next because clearly big changes are coming !
June 12, 2016
This book was recommended to me, and I was excited to see it as a recent Kindle First pick. I didn't even bother looking at the rest of the picks that month, but now I wish I had.
The writing is often flat and doesn't stir much emotion. The protagonists are likable, but not compelling enough to make me want to read the next in the series. The two supporting characters that the book starts out with speak and behave somewhat immaturely, which was frustrating. If it hadn't been for the recommendation, I might not have read further.
The end was wrapped up in a way that left me feeling like the author had written herself into a corner and came up with something (anything!) to get out of it. Without giving too much away, I'm thinking specifically of the character Matthew and his comment about reality falling apart.
Also, I didn't appreciate the scattering of "g**damn" throughout the book. Cursing in general is not a put off to me, unless it is excessive or ubiquitous, doesn't add anything to the character or story, or if it misuses God's name. This in itself would not keep me from reading other books in this series, but it knocked my rating down from three stars to two.
I did like that Meaghan, the main character, is an older woman (in her 40's) instead of the somewhat cliche teen or young woman. Not to knock young characters, but I'm in my 40's and it's nice to find a heroine that I can more closely relate to. She had several moments of self-doubt, but in the end, rose to the occasion to save her friends and family. What I found ironic (and annoying) is that despite the lead character being a strong woman, Meaghan was several times surprised that "some" of the women of another race she encounters were strong and fierce, and armed like the men.
The writing is often flat and doesn't stir much emotion. The protagonists are likable, but not compelling enough to make me want to read the next in the series. The two supporting characters that the book starts out with speak and behave somewhat immaturely, which was frustrating. If it hadn't been for the recommendation, I might not have read further.
The end was wrapped up in a way that left me feeling like the author had written herself into a corner and came up with something (anything!) to get out of it. Without giving too much away, I'm thinking specifically of the character Matthew and his comment about reality falling apart.
Also, I didn't appreciate the scattering of "g**damn" throughout the book. Cursing in general is not a put off to me, unless it is excessive or ubiquitous, doesn't add anything to the character or story, or if it misuses God's name. This in itself would not keep me from reading other books in this series, but it knocked my rating down from three stars to two.
I did like that Meaghan, the main character, is an older woman (in her 40's) instead of the somewhat cliche teen or young woman. Not to knock young characters, but I'm in my 40's and it's nice to find a heroine that I can more closely relate to. She had several moments of self-doubt, but in the end, rose to the occasion to save her friends and family. What I found ironic (and annoying) is that despite the lead character being a strong woman, Meaghan was several times surprised that "some" of the women of another race she encounters were strong and fierce, and armed like the men.
May 18, 2016
Outlander goes to Fairyland.
March 28, 2020
The premise for this was fantastic. Basically it's like the show Eureka but for the supernatural and I loved it. The MC, Meaghan, is a 50 year old lawyer who relocates to this town in the middle of nowhere after her father develops Alzheimers.
There's a lot of interesting nuance here, there are discussions of alcoholism and how it affects your family and loved ones, how Alzheimers takes away something so vital that it's hard to look at the remnants of a person.
A big man, he did all he could to appear small. He carried himself cautiously, with a slight crouch, arms held close to his sides, ready to flee or curl into a protective ball at the slightest sign of trouble. He reminded her of the abused dogs a friend in Phoenix used to foster, the fight beaten out of them, expecting every human touch to hurt.
I really loved that this wasn't a college aged/teen book and the MC is a badass lady who knows what she wants and what she needs. It was really refreshing but it makes it all the more disappointing for me with all the problems, too.
The more local the politics were, Meaghan had learned over the years, the more brutal and dirtier the fighting got.
But the pacing was very off for me. This is a long book, and I would have loved to see more of an exploration of the town and characters. We get very little of a glance before we're embroiled into a fairy politics plot. Around this time Meaghan also becomes basically a Mary Sue. Once they make the trip into fairy land it all fell apart for me. It got very confusing and I kept forgetting why I should care about the stakes at all.
Overrall this just fell short for me. It had the chance to be something really special but it was all lost in characters we don't care much about with magic and worlds we also don't care much about.
With a heavy sigh, she sat on the porch steps. You never really want to be somewhere until you aren’t there anymore, she thought.
For my cousins: for the most part this first installment is pretty clean if you want to give it a try. There are some make out scenes but nothing too crazy. I don't expect the second installment to stay clean however, so make of that what you will!
There's a lot of interesting nuance here, there are discussions of alcoholism and how it affects your family and loved ones, how Alzheimers takes away something so vital that it's hard to look at the remnants of a person.
A big man, he did all he could to appear small. He carried himself cautiously, with a slight crouch, arms held close to his sides, ready to flee or curl into a protective ball at the slightest sign of trouble. He reminded her of the abused dogs a friend in Phoenix used to foster, the fight beaten out of them, expecting every human touch to hurt.
I really loved that this wasn't a college aged/teen book and the MC is a badass lady who knows what she wants and what she needs. It was really refreshing but it makes it all the more disappointing for me with all the problems, too.
The more local the politics were, Meaghan had learned over the years, the more brutal and dirtier the fighting got.
But the pacing was very off for me. This is a long book, and I would have loved to see more of an exploration of the town and characters. We get very little of a glance before we're embroiled into a fairy politics plot. Around this time Meaghan also becomes basically a Mary Sue. Once they make the trip into fairy land it all fell apart for me. It got very confusing and I kept forgetting why I should care about the stakes at all.
Overrall this just fell short for me. It had the chance to be something really special but it was all lost in characters we don't care much about with magic and worlds we also don't care much about.
With a heavy sigh, she sat on the porch steps. You never really want to be somewhere until you aren’t there anymore, she thought.
For my cousins: for the most part this first installment is pretty clean if you want to give it a try. There are some make out scenes but nothing too crazy. I don't expect the second installment to stay clean however, so make of that what you will!
July 28, 2015
Moving from the big city to Eldrich (a small rural city/town) to take the city attorney job should be a great job for single middle-.ged "old maid". Small problem or two. City Hall is witchcraft central and she has unknowingly been appointed Mediator of Magic. The town has secrets, and so do the people, and Meaghan lands right in the middle.
December 29, 2016
This was a strong start to a very original series. I really liked the array of paranormal beings. It was also nice to have the heroine be around the age of 50. I think that added a lot to her character. This was a fast paced read with solid characters. I'll definitely check out book 2.
January 10, 2017
DNF at 15%. This just didn't hold my interest.
September 3, 2019
3.5 stars: I had received this book by chance from somewhere and I was pleasantly surprised. The main character Meghan is not the typical heroine that I have met in other books, she is actually a middle aged lawyer who is single, not divorced and no children of her own. She is estranged from her father and hasn't seen her brother for years. Until hwr brother asks her to come and help him deal with her father who has dementia. Things change overnight and she heads out to face the man she has always held anger towards. When she arrives, she is quickly thrown into a new world and discovers that things are not what they seem and there is magic at work. She not only takes over as the successor to her dad's legal position in town but also as the liaison for all things magic in order to keep the peace as she is also impervious to magical influence and the only one able to be fair. I hadn't realized there were others in a series but I liked her well enough to read the next book. I wnjoyed the fact that she is 50 years old and not the typical 2o-something year old that is often the heroine in stories. I also liked that she has a level head on her shoulders and although there is a bit of romance, she doesn't jump in right away and deals with it as a woman with a good head on her shoulders. Quite an enjoyable read and will pick up the next one.
August 11, 2018
Real characters make similar story enjoyable
Impervious by Laura Korean is the first book in a world where magical creatures love side by side with humans. The world building didn't offer anything new, as there are plenty of stories of humans discovering the supernatural is using glamor to live in our world. What makes this story interesting is how the main characters were so human. There is family dysfunction, alcoholism, petty politics all by people who are not doing glowing beings with six packs. It's retreat to read a story with more every day characters. I'll be tuning in for the next one.
Impervious by Laura Korean is the first book in a world where magical creatures love side by side with humans. The world building didn't offer anything new, as there are plenty of stories of humans discovering the supernatural is using glamor to live in our world. What makes this story interesting is how the main characters were so human. There is family dysfunction, alcoholism, petty politics all by people who are not doing glowing beings with six packs. It's retreat to read a story with more every day characters. I'll be tuning in for the next one.
March 15, 2020
This was not a typical selection for me. I got it based off reviews in a book blog. Very happily surprised! The book was very well written, excellent storyline and flows very well. HUGE plus was that the MC was a 50 year old woman! This was a woman who’s issues I could identify with. Throw in the fairies and the witches and it was quite refreshing! I downloaded book 2 before I even wrote this review! I do believe I have a new author to add to my list of must reads!
March 1, 2017
Interesting and charming
I have no idea why I liked this book so much. It started off like a Gresham novel, then it scampered away into the Twilight Zone, Charmed, Grimm, all rolled into one. But it is well-written, the plot is well crafted, and I wanted desperately to know what happens next the whole time I read. Go ahead and suspend your disbelief. Impervious is worth reading.
I have no idea why I liked this book so much. It started off like a Gresham novel, then it scampered away into the Twilight Zone, Charmed, Grimm, all rolled into one. But it is well-written, the plot is well crafted, and I wanted desperately to know what happens next the whole time I read. Go ahead and suspend your disbelief. Impervious is worth reading.
December 21, 2017
This was relatively interesting, but I never felt fully invested in it. I liked this well enough, but I don't have any interest in continuing the series.
December 15, 2016
Interesting premise
Enjoyable read-it's nice to have a mature heroine in a story for once. Really enjoyed it and have already bought the next one
Enjoyable read-it's nice to have a mature heroine in a story for once. Really enjoyed it and have already bought the next one
December 31, 2017
I enjoyed this one!
Read
October 6, 2019DNF. It just didn't grab me.
November 13, 2022
Nicely set up world with sympathetic characters and a satisfying plot.
March 19, 2017
So good. Can't wait to read the next one. Many of the books I've been enjoying recently seem to follow a roughly similar storyline where the main character finds herself deeply involved in magical stuff she didn't even know existed, and her family is tied in as well... but in a super refreshing twist, this main character (Meaghan) is NOT in her mid-twenties, she does NOT find out that she has magical abilities she never knew about, and she is NOT named Kat or Cat.
May 31, 2015
Much as I love UF, PNR, and romance, the one thing I dislike about those genres is that the lead characters are always in their 20's or early 30's. They are considered "older" if they are in their late 30's and if you want a book with a lead character older than 40, you are completely out of luck. Given that fact, Impervious was like a breath of fresh air! Meaghan is in her 50's, single, estranged from her father, working as a city attorney in Phoenix with a boss that she doesn't like or respect, when she gets a call from her younger brother begging her to come to a small town in Pennsylvania to help take care of her dad, who has Alzheimer's. When she gets there, she discovers that the small town has a lot of magical and otherworldly inhabitants. Her dad wasn't just the town's general counsel, but the keeper of peace between these various species and she is expected to take over his job because like him, she is impervious to magic and therefore can't be influenced or affected by it.
I was drawn into the story right from the start. Meaghan is smart, down-to-earth, and practical. She is very regretful over the estrangement from her dad once she realizes the reasons behind his actions many years before, but she doesn't waste too much time crying over it. She is also flexible enough to accept a 180 degree turnaround in her life and to make the best of it. I also loved that because she is an attorney, she is used to influencing others with her words rather than her actions, she's not intimidated by anyone, and she doesn't back down from a fight. Really, I loved everything about this book and I can't wait to read the next one. According to her website, the author plans to get the third out later this year and I hope that's true as I definitely want to read more.
I was drawn into the story right from the start. Meaghan is smart, down-to-earth, and practical. She is very regretful over the estrangement from her dad once she realizes the reasons behind his actions many years before, but she doesn't waste too much time crying over it. She is also flexible enough to accept a 180 degree turnaround in her life and to make the best of it. I also loved that because she is an attorney, she is used to influencing others with her words rather than her actions, she's not intimidated by anyone, and she doesn't back down from a fight. Really, I loved everything about this book and I can't wait to read the next one. According to her website, the author plans to get the third out later this year and I hope that's true as I definitely want to read more.
October 2, 2014
Finally! A fantasy heroine I can relate to! Not that I have anything against the standard coming of age stories, but Laura Kirwan gives us a believable middle-aged protagonist caught between the demands of the generations before and after her as well as trying to keep the peace between the human and non-human inhabitants of her new hometown. It's enough to make anyone reach for the tequila.
Kirwan's story is an excellent study on how we hurt ourselves the most by carrying grudges for decades. By the time Meaghan reaches out to her estranged father, it's too late. The man she once knew is lost to elderly dementia.
Further, Impervious take small town secrets and gossip and turns the stereotype on its ear. From the president of the city council who's literally a wicked b***h of a witch to Meaghan's fairy assistant (and I don't mean he's homosexual), each reveal cracked me up.
And finally, Kirwan tackles second chances. Whether it's Meaghan's career, her relationship with her family, or her love life, I rooted for her the whole way. At fifty, you're tired and worn out and you really question whether it's worth putting the energy into something or someone that's just like the last thing that broke your heart. But I really wanted the heroine to try again!
If you want story that has plenty of action as well as a deep emotional tug, check out Impervious. (It's worth it for the scene alone where Meaghan takes out an evil wizard in her brother's kitchen. Bruce Willis couldn't have done it better!)
Kirwan's story is an excellent study on how we hurt ourselves the most by carrying grudges for decades. By the time Meaghan reaches out to her estranged father, it's too late. The man she once knew is lost to elderly dementia.
Further, Impervious take small town secrets and gossip and turns the stereotype on its ear. From the president of the city council who's literally a wicked b***h of a witch to Meaghan's fairy assistant (and I don't mean he's homosexual), each reveal cracked me up.
And finally, Kirwan tackles second chances. Whether it's Meaghan's career, her relationship with her family, or her love life, I rooted for her the whole way. At fifty, you're tired and worn out and you really question whether it's worth putting the energy into something or someone that's just like the last thing that broke your heart. But I really wanted the heroine to try again!
If you want story that has plenty of action as well as a deep emotional tug, check out Impervious. (It's worth it for the scene alone where Meaghan takes out an evil wizard in her brother's kitchen. Bruce Willis couldn't have done it better!)
November 6, 2015
I am on an awesome book roll and am suffering from awesome book hangover. I may have to change my definition of serendipity books to include e-books that I find by chance. Inquisitor was a 'suggested by Amazon' book. I think Impervious showed up as a 'suggested post' on Facebook. I thank the powers that be that indie publishing has allowed authors to give us books like Inquisitor and Impervious.
Meaghan is an awesome heroine. Her mystical power is that she does not have mystical power. Her hair is white, not due to magic, but because she is 50 years old. Her knees hurt when she is forced to kneel. Her weapon of choice is a well-made saucepan. Her estranged father has Alzheimer's disease, and she must deal with him just as any of us would. Her 'brave new world' is scary, funny, horrifying, and beautiful. The people of Eldrich are also scary, funny, horrifying, and beautiful. Kirwan plans on seven books. I will happily buy every book.
Meaghan is an awesome heroine. Her mystical power is that she does not have mystical power. Her hair is white, not due to magic, but because she is 50 years old. Her knees hurt when she is forced to kneel. Her weapon of choice is a well-made saucepan. Her estranged father has Alzheimer's disease, and she must deal with him just as any of us would. Her 'brave new world' is scary, funny, horrifying, and beautiful. The people of Eldrich are also scary, funny, horrifying, and beautiful. Kirwan plans on seven books. I will happily buy every book.
December 2, 2014
A mid-career lawyer is recalled (by forces, as it develops, that transcend family obligations) to the small town where her father is dying of Alzheimer's; she takes on a job in the local prosecutor's office. About a half-dozen pages into the story, the plot thickens!
This is a highly entertaining fantasy story, featuring a protagonist who is a grown woman, rather than a brash young thing. As Meaghan, her family, and her friends are drawn into the bizarreness that dominates the little town, the reader is drawn in, too. Soon you're wondering if your favorite characters are going to survive in one piece, and if so, how!
The writing is witty, lively, and engaging. A perfect novel for travel, for the bedside, or for a rainy afternoon.
Victoria Hay, Ph.D.
Slave Labor: The New Story of American Higher Education
Plain & Simple Press: An imprint of The Copyeditor's Desk, Inc.
This is a highly entertaining fantasy story, featuring a protagonist who is a grown woman, rather than a brash young thing. As Meaghan, her family, and her friends are drawn into the bizarreness that dominates the little town, the reader is drawn in, too. Soon you're wondering if your favorite characters are going to survive in one piece, and if so, how!
The writing is witty, lively, and engaging. A perfect novel for travel, for the bedside, or for a rainy afternoon.
Victoria Hay, Ph.D.
Slave Labor: The New Story of American Higher Education
Plain & Simple Press: An imprint of The Copyeditor's Desk, Inc.
May 9, 2016
Enjoyed this story a lot! What a wonderful thing to pick up an easy going fantasy novel and have it be written by a mature woman, about a mature woman! Let's just say it's been a long time since I identified with a 17 year old protagonist. This was a great read for taking some time to relax on mother's day. I did find the romance a little hard to get on board with, it starts with "oh, he's cute" and proceeds more or less directly to a crying episode held in his lap like a small child. But, this was all forgivable because the story moved right along, lots of action, lots of interesting and fun characters, lots of confrontation with bad guys. The heavy topic of Alzheimer's is dealt a very light hand. This is not deep, contemplative prose. It's a light hearted, fun, engrossing diversion for a lazy weekend afternoon. Enjoy!
August 6, 2015
Meaghan Keele is a lawyer in Arizona, but then everything falls apart. Her brother Russ asks her to come to Eldrich to help with their father, who has Alzheimer's.
She is asked to be the city counsel/solicitor. She arrives in Eldrich to find that nothing is as it seemed. There are witches and other beings. Meaghan is to be the city's protector since she is impervious to magic. She must fight major battles before she even knows that much about everything that is going on.
I like Meaghan. She seems real with real issues. She accepts the alternate reality around her rather easily but I didn't find that to be a problem. It just helped the story flow better. She did have her doubts and concerns but she didn't let them freeze her into immobility. I could probably use that example for my life.
She is asked to be the city counsel/solicitor. She arrives in Eldrich to find that nothing is as it seemed. There are witches and other beings. Meaghan is to be the city's protector since she is impervious to magic. She must fight major battles before she even knows that much about everything that is going on.
I like Meaghan. She seems real with real issues. She accepts the alternate reality around her rather easily but I didn't find that to be a problem. It just helped the story flow better. She did have her doubts and concerns but she didn't let them freeze her into immobility. I could probably use that example for my life.
May 3, 2017
I can't quite recall what prompted me to add Impervious to my "to-read" shelf, but I am glad that I did. I liked the premise and the main character, as well as all of the secondary characters. The issues of romance were handled well and I liked the more serious approach to relationships and their fall-outs. It was interesting to have an older protagonist who was dealing with family issues, who was responsible, but who also made mistakes and dealt with them. I was disappointed that
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2016
The Thin Veil of Politics
Meaghan was on her way home to help her father and brother. Her father had Alzgheimers and it was too much for her brother to handle. Even though she had never gotten along with her father, it was time for her to help. She even had a new job as the city's attorney. What she found was beyond belief, not only a new job, but witches and wizards to handle too.
Meaghan was on her way home to help her father and brother. Her father had Alzgheimers and it was too much for her brother to handle. Even though she had never gotten along with her father, it was time for her to help. She even had a new job as the city's attorney. What she found was beyond belief, not only a new job, but witches and wizards to handle too.
Read
May 25, 2016Really enjoyed this book. Different (in a good way) to have a 50yr old woman as the main character. It took me a little while to warm up to her, but after her first day at work, I liked her very much. Loved the scene with the frying pan!! Would also love to have Russ cook for me!
July 10, 2016
3 1/2 stars..really original
December 4, 2016
Excellent story
Can't wait to read the next book. Was up all night, couldn't put it down. Characters are real and emotional. Great story line. Loved it.
Can't wait to read the next book. Was up all night, couldn't put it down. Characters are real and emotional. Great story line. Loved it.
December 19, 2016
Great book
Different take on gateway imagery. I even like the lawyer in this. A book about redemption without being heavy handed. And a good story
Different take on gateway imagery. I even like the lawyer in this. A book about redemption without being heavy handed. And a good story
apuntados
March 5, 2017Amazon - 02/01/2017
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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