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The Twin Cities Series
Magpie & Jynx
Half-shifter Maggie "Magpie" Bartlett and Jynx, her siren friend, expected trouble during their infiltration into a human/fae trafficking ring run by the yakuza, but they never imagined things would go so awry! Escaping the syndicate's compound in The Realms, a parallel dimension populated by the stuff of nightmares, becomes a life and death struggle against impossible odds. Their plans for a simple rescue mission turns into a fight for survival as they find themselves in the middle of a bloody war between vampires, werewolves, the yakuza, and a Japanese demon of boundless rage. Forced to put their trust in the unlikeliest of allies, the pair embark on a final scheme to escape the horrors closing in around them, culminating in an all-or-nothing dash for freedom.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2014
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
J.B. Cameron
11 books30 followersThis author also writes under the pen name Cameron Jon Bernhard.
Author of the paranormal detective comedy/thriller series "Reading The Dead - The Sarah Milton Chronicles" and the urban fantasy novella "Magpie & Jynx", J.B. Cameron hails from New Brunswick, Canada. His vivid adventure tales typically place fun, believable characters in situations of suspense or urban horror, making for an exciting roller coaster ride to both chill and amuse his readers.
Author of the paranormal detective comedy/thriller series "Reading The Dead - The Sarah Milton Chronicles" and the urban fantasy novella "Magpie & Jynx", J.B. Cameron hails from New Brunswick, Canada. His vivid adventure tales typically place fun, believable characters in situations of suspense or urban horror, making for an exciting roller coaster ride to both chill and amuse his readers.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 20, 2015
Magpie & Jynx is a book in The Twin Cities Series which is authored by multiple people. J.B. Cameron writes this novel in particular. The Realms is a parallel dimension where mythical creatures roam about the city. Magpie is a shifter. Jynx is a siren. Together, they're trying to take down a human / fae trafficking ring which is run by the Yakuza. Things go wrong and Magpie soon needs to figure out what to do to help Jynx, who has been taken captive.
I "bought" a copy of this via a coupon code on Smashwords. I haven't read any of the other novels in the series and couldn't even really determine which order they might be in. Actually, I didn't really understand many points in this book as they weren't properly explained. The author relies a little too much on the reader to know facts about The Realms. I actually had to go to the end of the book for a proper explanation about The Realms. It doesn't function as a standalone.
My first thought about the book is that I don't think any of the characters were very well written. I have no empathy for any of them and they all just seem exceedingly stupid. Magpie and Jynx' entire plan, as I understand it, was for Jynx to get captured by the police officers who are then followed by Magpie to find out more about this criminal organisation. So, essentially, they deliberately put Jynx in danger and then act surprised when she is in danger. What... Idiots. Seriously. So, soon after that, Magpie needs to go and find information on who might be holding her captive- she went with them willingly, I might point out- and finds pleasure in abusing other people. Magpie acts overly tough and her pleasure in threatening and harming others is somewhat disgusting. She's really dislikeable. Jynx, on the other hand, is a stark opposite. She's made to look completely weak. As an example. She kidnapped and simply waits for Magpie to save her. I've not read the prior books (I don't know whether this pair are in others), but it seems like this is a common theme of there relationship. They both dwell on Magpie having saved Jynx from some sort of vampire captor and a drug addiction. The author places a huge importance on Magpie being dominant and controlling, with Jynx simply being needy. Other characters are just as stereotypical and dull. Actually, one thing that confuses me in particular is Corin, a vampire. The author makes specific mention that he "swore off mortal blood". The author also implies that he's a better vampire than any others, just because of this. Yet, later on when she asks him where he's been, he makes the comment that he was feeding on a rabbit. What? He swore off mortal blood... So are rabbits immortal now? The character is written with an incredible ignorance to vampires in particular.
The book isn't really narrated very well. It's told from the perspective of Magpie. Yet it casually changes to a completely different narrator who knows intimate details about characters Magpie doesn't know. An example is when we meet Makoto Hayashi, an antagonist. His introduction is a ten paragraph narration of him. It features a few likes and dislikes. Yet, how is Magpie meant to know these things? It essentially has been swapped to an unnamed narrator who does know. Yet, in the last two paragraphs of this portion, it automatically switches back to the narration of Magpie who has disguised herself as a crow, sitting in the window. It's just confusing to have this swapping narration because the author does it on a whim and doesn't bother mentioning to the reader. It's mostly confusing because a huge amount of the book is told in Magpie's point of view and how is she meant to know which is Makoto Hayashi's favourite robe and that his sister bought it for him as a birthday present...? How is Magpie meant to know how much he hates The Realms...? In the very next portion within the chapter, we've switched to the unnamed narrator again, viewing the scene where Jynx is. This continues throughout the whole book and it is just annoying.
I'd also like to talk about the magic and fantasy themes. I think they were predominantly irrelevant to me and so little of them seemed important to the novel, even with The Realms theme. It's essentially a book where a girl chose to get kidnapped, is followed by a friend to try and get her back. A separate party makes the offer that the friend goes and steals and artefact in return for the favour of recovering the kidnapped person. As a storyline, it would have stood up reasonably well as a novel. Yet the author keeps on trying to force these magical elements into it, shoving them where they don't belong. When she's trying to recover the artefact, she's fighting and a weapon morphs into water within her hands, just to try and give it some comical aspect. To try and make her look tougher, the author has Magpie "morphing" her cloths because of her shifter nature so that they look like she's wearing leathers- which I'd just like to point out is absurd. The author keeps on sticking in mythical creatures on a whim, with no regard as to whether they fit. I see no reason to have unicorns, werewolves and vampires as they pose no relevance to the plot and could simply be replaced by horses and random thugs. None of the characters introduced as werewolves or vampires have any real importance to the plot and it just seems that they're gratuitous, that just because they're in a magical realm the author thought it best to include them. Moving on, I think that the themes with the Yakuza didn't fit in either. Sure, the author has included Asian names and the essential points of very stereotyped characters like those that have been in similar Yakuza stories. Yet, none of it feels very fitting. It's obviously just that the author has gotten excited and shoved each reference in wherever possible, without even a thought as to whether it has a proper place in the novel.
Overall, I'm unimpressed. I'm a huge fan of fantasy, yet this falls very short. The overall writing is kind of dull and the changing narration makes it quite bothersome. The characters lack any original qualities as do the magical aspects which are pretty gratuitous. It was a disappointing read. Though, considering that the other books are written by different authors, I might be interested in reading more into the series. For Magpie & Jynx? I reckon I wouldn't rate it higher than 2 stars. It was a great novel in theory, but pretty poorly executed.
I "bought" a copy of this via a coupon code on Smashwords. I haven't read any of the other novels in the series and couldn't even really determine which order they might be in. Actually, I didn't really understand many points in this book as they weren't properly explained. The author relies a little too much on the reader to know facts about The Realms. I actually had to go to the end of the book for a proper explanation about The Realms. It doesn't function as a standalone.
My first thought about the book is that I don't think any of the characters were very well written. I have no empathy for any of them and they all just seem exceedingly stupid. Magpie and Jynx' entire plan, as I understand it, was for Jynx to get captured by the police officers who are then followed by Magpie to find out more about this criminal organisation. So, essentially, they deliberately put Jynx in danger and then act surprised when she is in danger. What... Idiots. Seriously. So, soon after that, Magpie needs to go and find information on who might be holding her captive- she went with them willingly, I might point out- and finds pleasure in abusing other people. Magpie acts overly tough and her pleasure in threatening and harming others is somewhat disgusting. She's really dislikeable. Jynx, on the other hand, is a stark opposite. She's made to look completely weak. As an example. She kidnapped and simply waits for Magpie to save her. I've not read the prior books (I don't know whether this pair are in others), but it seems like this is a common theme of there relationship. They both dwell on Magpie having saved Jynx from some sort of vampire captor and a drug addiction. The author places a huge importance on Magpie being dominant and controlling, with Jynx simply being needy. Other characters are just as stereotypical and dull. Actually, one thing that confuses me in particular is Corin, a vampire. The author makes specific mention that he "swore off mortal blood". The author also implies that he's a better vampire than any others, just because of this. Yet, later on when she asks him where he's been, he makes the comment that he was feeding on a rabbit. What? He swore off mortal blood... So are rabbits immortal now? The character is written with an incredible ignorance to vampires in particular.
The book isn't really narrated very well. It's told from the perspective of Magpie. Yet it casually changes to a completely different narrator who knows intimate details about characters Magpie doesn't know. An example is when we meet Makoto Hayashi, an antagonist. His introduction is a ten paragraph narration of him. It features a few likes and dislikes. Yet, how is Magpie meant to know these things? It essentially has been swapped to an unnamed narrator who does know. Yet, in the last two paragraphs of this portion, it automatically switches back to the narration of Magpie who has disguised herself as a crow, sitting in the window. It's just confusing to have this swapping narration because the author does it on a whim and doesn't bother mentioning to the reader. It's mostly confusing because a huge amount of the book is told in Magpie's point of view and how is she meant to know which is Makoto Hayashi's favourite robe and that his sister bought it for him as a birthday present...? How is Magpie meant to know how much he hates The Realms...? In the very next portion within the chapter, we've switched to the unnamed narrator again, viewing the scene where Jynx is. This continues throughout the whole book and it is just annoying.
I'd also like to talk about the magic and fantasy themes. I think they were predominantly irrelevant to me and so little of them seemed important to the novel, even with The Realms theme. It's essentially a book where a girl chose to get kidnapped, is followed by a friend to try and get her back. A separate party makes the offer that the friend goes and steals and artefact in return for the favour of recovering the kidnapped person. As a storyline, it would have stood up reasonably well as a novel. Yet the author keeps on trying to force these magical elements into it, shoving them where they don't belong. When she's trying to recover the artefact, she's fighting and a weapon morphs into water within her hands, just to try and give it some comical aspect. To try and make her look tougher, the author has Magpie "morphing" her cloths because of her shifter nature so that they look like she's wearing leathers- which I'd just like to point out is absurd. The author keeps on sticking in mythical creatures on a whim, with no regard as to whether they fit. I see no reason to have unicorns, werewolves and vampires as they pose no relevance to the plot and could simply be replaced by horses and random thugs. None of the characters introduced as werewolves or vampires have any real importance to the plot and it just seems that they're gratuitous, that just because they're in a magical realm the author thought it best to include them. Moving on, I think that the themes with the Yakuza didn't fit in either. Sure, the author has included Asian names and the essential points of very stereotyped characters like those that have been in similar Yakuza stories. Yet, none of it feels very fitting. It's obviously just that the author has gotten excited and shoved each reference in wherever possible, without even a thought as to whether it has a proper place in the novel.
Overall, I'm unimpressed. I'm a huge fan of fantasy, yet this falls very short. The overall writing is kind of dull and the changing narration makes it quite bothersome. The characters lack any original qualities as do the magical aspects which are pretty gratuitous. It was a disappointing read. Though, considering that the other books are written by different authors, I might be interested in reading more into the series. For Magpie & Jynx? I reckon I wouldn't rate it higher than 2 stars. It was a great novel in theory, but pretty poorly executed.
November 13, 2025
Infiltrating a human/fae trafficking ring, half-shifter Magpie Bartlett and Jynx, her siren friend, anticipated trouble and made their plans accordingly. But they could never have foreseen just how much their plans could go awry.
This urban fantasy story pulled me in right from the author's promise of a gritty, gothic city. I found it an easy read and enjoyed the varied characters, particularly the two strong female main characters. The story moved at a fast pace, with a lot of action and twists. The gothic metropolis and its immediate environs in the midnight domain were delightfully atmospheric and well-conceived.
Overall, I found this an entertaining read, wonderfully chaotic, diverting and engaging.
This urban fantasy story pulled me in right from the author's promise of a gritty, gothic city. I found it an easy read and enjoyed the varied characters, particularly the two strong female main characters. The story moved at a fast pace, with a lot of action and twists. The gothic metropolis and its immediate environs in the midnight domain were delightfully atmospheric and well-conceived.
Overall, I found this an entertaining read, wonderfully chaotic, diverting and engaging.
December 17, 2017
Maggie "Magpie" is a crow shifter. Her Siren friend Jynx solve crimes and mysteries together.
Their efforts to break up a trafficking ring result in a very calamitous encounter with police and the Yakuza.
These powerful ladies are fighters with paranormal skills and unusual strength.
Toss in a bevy of wolves and vampires, just another atypical adventure.
I was pleased to read an advance copy of this book, received via Booksprout.
In my opinion, if you are looking for a paranormal adventure saga with powerful female characters, this could be a great read for you.
Their efforts to break up a trafficking ring result in a very calamitous encounter with police and the Yakuza.
These powerful ladies are fighters with paranormal skills and unusual strength.
Toss in a bevy of wolves and vampires, just another atypical adventure.
I was pleased to read an advance copy of this book, received via Booksprout.
In my opinion, if you are looking for a paranormal adventure saga with powerful female characters, this could be a great read for you.
December 27, 2017
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an extremely confusing story. It's annoying that I have to read about what the story is about at the end rather than the beginning of the book. That description of the world felt extremely out of place. Then there is the issue with the characters. They are not as developed as I would have liked. In fact I don't really care for any of them. They don't seem to grow in the story nor do they seem very fleshed out.
This was an extremely confusing story. It's annoying that I have to read about what the story is about at the end rather than the beginning of the book. That description of the world felt extremely out of place. Then there is the issue with the characters. They are not as developed as I would have liked. In fact I don't really care for any of them. They don't seem to grow in the story nor do they seem very fleshed out.
December 14, 2017
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Magpie and Jinx, a team of most unlikely heros! Delve into their world and you are guaranteed to be left wanting more.
December 31, 2017
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found this book to be both interesting and different. Not my usual type of book that I go for but it was interesting.
L.
I found this book to be both interesting and different. Not my usual type of book that I go for but it was interesting.
L.
December 24, 2017
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a really good book looking forward to more books by this autor.
This was a really good book looking forward to more books by this autor.
December 26, 2017
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An enjoyable read.
An enjoyable read.
July 15, 2018
Fantasy. No sex. Good guys lots of bad guys. Warring factions. Blood.
September 11, 2019
A fun read with an interesting mixture of characters & only couple of little spelling mistakes needing fixed up.
Doesn't make much difference if you read the series out of order
Doesn't make much difference if you read the series out of order
January 8, 2025
Interesting urban fantasy with a number of very colorful characters, this is an action-packed caper where the plans that were first made fail in the face of the enemy.
October 3, 2014
**I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Lovers of Paranormal (LOP)**
Overall I enjoyed the story, however I wasn't gripped enough to be able to rate it any higher than 3 stars. In all honesty I am not sure I would read the rest of the series. Having said that I am pleased I have read this one and learnt a little about JB Cameron's writing style.
The opening of the book is good and really captured my attention. Cameron was quick to the action which I appreciated. I also liked the play on traditional ideas mixed with the paranormal, such as the earbug, actually being a little worm.
What I felt let the book down was the poor narration style. I felt the writing came across quite muddled at times and thus made it harder to read.
I would recommend reading it because the story itself is good, and perhaps the things that niggled me will go unnoticed by others.
Overall I enjoyed the story, however I wasn't gripped enough to be able to rate it any higher than 3 stars. In all honesty I am not sure I would read the rest of the series. Having said that I am pleased I have read this one and learnt a little about JB Cameron's writing style.
The opening of the book is good and really captured my attention. Cameron was quick to the action which I appreciated. I also liked the play on traditional ideas mixed with the paranormal, such as the earbug, actually being a little worm.
What I felt let the book down was the poor narration style. I felt the writing came across quite muddled at times and thus made it harder to read.
I would recommend reading it because the story itself is good, and perhaps the things that niggled me will go unnoticed by others.
October 3, 2014
Not a boring page in this book. It reads extremely fast and easy while being highly entertaining. I love the story line and am looking forward to future ones from this author in this series. The main characters are well developed. The author creatively included extra story lines when it was appropriate making me wonder what will happen with the character in those in the future. Magpie and Jynx are characters that were well developed considering how much was going on in this shorter story while including everything. J.B. has a very descriptive way of writing, making it easy to visualize the scenery. I can see this one developing in a real fun series and hope it will.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review (LoP, lovers of paranormal).
I have received this book from the author for an honest review (LoP, lovers of paranormal).
June 26, 2020
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).
How to explain the awesomeness that is this book? I will just explain the story first. It is an adventure of two girls, Magpie and Jynx, to a land called The Realms. They are plotting to take down a trafficking ring, but their plan goes a bit off. They end up trying to save a few of the girls and themselves. That is all I can reveal without telling you the ending.
So? Doesn't it sound interesting? Well, you would have to make your own opinion of that. I thought it is a good story, but you may not. Read it if you wish! If you don't wish to read it, then why are you looking at the review?
How to explain the awesomeness that is this book? I will just explain the story first. It is an adventure of two girls, Magpie and Jynx, to a land called The Realms. They are plotting to take down a trafficking ring, but their plan goes a bit off. They end up trying to save a few of the girls and themselves. That is all I can reveal without telling you the ending.
So? Doesn't it sound interesting? Well, you would have to make your own opinion of that. I thought it is a good story, but you may not. Read it if you wish! If you don't wish to read it, then why are you looking at the review?
June 24, 2014
I read this and found it really good. For some reason, I couldn't really put it down. I loved the characters Magpie and Jynx. They seemed so real to me I wanted them to survive all of their trials. And the ending, I started laughing when the officer realized he'd married Jynx. In fact, even when I think of that part I giggle a bit.
This was a very well written story and I enjoyed reading it. Oh, and I also ready your book one of the Sarah Milton story. It was just as good too.
This was a very well written story and I enjoyed reading it. Oh, and I also ready your book one of the Sarah Milton story. It was just as good too.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews