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Department of Magic
The Department of Magic
It’s hate at first sight.
Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley – “Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.
When Crawley is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.
What follows is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world and subjugating all America in the year 2012.
Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet and unforeseen climax.
Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley – “Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.
When Crawley is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.
What follows is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world and subjugating all America in the year 2012.
Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet and unforeseen climax.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2011
31 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Rod Kierkegaard Jr.
32 books44 followersRod Kierkegaard Jr. is a writer and cartoonist best known in the US for his comic strip, “Rock Opera“, which ran as a regular feature in Heavy Metal Magazine during the 1980s.
He is the author of two French graphic novel collections, “Stars Massacre“, (released in the US as “Shooting Stars“) and “Rock Monstres“, both published by Editions Albin Michel, Paris. His first novel, “Obama Jones & The Logic Bomb“, is published by Dogma Press.
“The Department of Magic” and “Family Cursemas” are Rod’s first published works through Curiosity Quills Press during the 2011 Holiday season, followed by “The God Particle” in early 2012.
He is the author of two French graphic novel collections, “Stars Massacre“, (released in the US as “Shooting Stars“) and “Rock Monstres“, both published by Editions Albin Michel, Paris. His first novel, “Obama Jones & The Logic Bomb“, is published by Dogma Press.
“The Department of Magic” and “Family Cursemas” are Rod’s first published works through Curiosity Quills Press during the 2011 Holiday season, followed by “The God Particle” in early 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 6, 2012
*SPOILERS*
As you can see from the description this story follows the sometimes hapless adventures of Rock and Jazz, two new government employes who have no idea what it is they have been employed to do. The world around them is suddenly revealed to be seeped in magic and mostly awful creatures who are pretending to be human beings. We are introduced to a number of new and horrifying creatures. Most of which Jazz and Rock encounter while trying to get the personal effects of George Washington. Think Warehouse 13 but instead of Random artifacts we are after stuff like George Washington's teeth.
Lets take a moment to talk about the characters. Jazz starts off as a spoiled brat, worried more about her appearance than about anything else. Rock seems like a broke well meaning doormat, still being strung along by an ex-girlfriend he can't seem to forget about. The two instantly hate each other, which of course means they are going to like each other a whole lot in the near future. As the story progresses we see both characters begin to change, feeding off the adrenaline of their jobs. Jazz seems to worry she's being corrupted but Rock just appears that much more manly making him even more attractive to Jazz.
The story line did start to drag a bit in the middle until the birth of Tink, a human/vampire born to Rock and his then girlfriend (Jazz's best friend) Bobbi. Bobbi as it turns out had been dead for some time and been replaced by a crazy shapeshifting vampire. Once Tink shows up the story really picks up. I actually flew through the end and found myself wanting to read the next book.
Overall I'd give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Even though the start was slow the book really grabbed me. I understand the need to set the stage for the world we are reading about and that can take a few chapters, so I'm going to cut him a little slack. I also enjoyed the casual political digs. Since it seems all of these otherworldly creatures spend their days working in American politics or running Homeland security. If your looking for a change from the usual fantasy novel this one is worth your time.
As you can see from the description this story follows the sometimes hapless adventures of Rock and Jazz, two new government employes who have no idea what it is they have been employed to do. The world around them is suddenly revealed to be seeped in magic and mostly awful creatures who are pretending to be human beings. We are introduced to a number of new and horrifying creatures. Most of which Jazz and Rock encounter while trying to get the personal effects of George Washington. Think Warehouse 13 but instead of Random artifacts we are after stuff like George Washington's teeth.
Lets take a moment to talk about the characters. Jazz starts off as a spoiled brat, worried more about her appearance than about anything else. Rock seems like a broke well meaning doormat, still being strung along by an ex-girlfriend he can't seem to forget about. The two instantly hate each other, which of course means they are going to like each other a whole lot in the near future. As the story progresses we see both characters begin to change, feeding off the adrenaline of their jobs. Jazz seems to worry she's being corrupted but Rock just appears that much more manly making him even more attractive to Jazz.
The story line did start to drag a bit in the middle until the birth of Tink, a human/vampire born to Rock and his then girlfriend (Jazz's best friend) Bobbi. Bobbi as it turns out had been dead for some time and been replaced by a crazy shapeshifting vampire. Once Tink shows up the story really picks up. I actually flew through the end and found myself wanting to read the next book.
Overall I'd give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Even though the start was slow the book really grabbed me. I understand the need to set the stage for the world we are reading about and that can take a few chapters, so I'm going to cut him a little slack. I also enjoyed the casual political digs. Since it seems all of these otherworldly creatures spend their days working in American politics or running Homeland security. If your looking for a change from the usual fantasy novel this one is worth your time.
November 2, 2013
Yeah, the review's going to be short and sweet for this.
I didn't like "The Department of Magic," point blank. The story seems like it would be interesting on the level of an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal measure, and I actually did like that it took some of its details from different mythos, with a bit of romance between, but it doesn't live up to the promise of its blurb. Especially not on the level of the racial and sexist assertions (what with the main female character being Persian-American, a former beauty queen, and assumptions made on her name alone as well as being scanned at the airport just because the officials were a group of perverts, while the White male character passed through without a second thought), not for the very flat characterizations, not even for the fact that the writing was unnecessarily wordy, convoluted, and riddled with errors. After a time, I just got bored and the story went through one ear, and out the other.
The story revolves around two government agents who are a part of a secret division (Department of Magic) and witness their new boss murdered in front of them. So they skip around trying to find out who killed the guy and end up falling in love with each other. But I had a hard time caring about the scenario, characters and overarching journey because of the level of assumptions on characters who weren't white or who were insinuated as gay left and right, among other measures.
I'm not going to say that the narrative didn't have some interesting ideas though - what with presenting different mythos and attempting to weave it with the plot, but it felt like reading a large infodump instead of blending naturally with the case details and findings. In the end, I was never really immersed in the story and the way it turned with certain details and characters just threw me out of the story.
Overall, just not my cuppa.
Overall score: 1/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
I didn't like "The Department of Magic," point blank. The story seems like it would be interesting on the level of an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal measure, and I actually did like that it took some of its details from different mythos, with a bit of romance between, but it doesn't live up to the promise of its blurb. Especially not on the level of the racial and sexist assertions (what with the main female character being Persian-American, a former beauty queen, and assumptions made on her name alone as well as being scanned at the airport just because the officials were a group of perverts, while the White male character passed through without a second thought), not for the very flat characterizations, not even for the fact that the writing was unnecessarily wordy, convoluted, and riddled with errors. After a time, I just got bored and the story went through one ear, and out the other.
The story revolves around two government agents who are a part of a secret division (Department of Magic) and witness their new boss murdered in front of them. So they skip around trying to find out who killed the guy and end up falling in love with each other. But I had a hard time caring about the scenario, characters and overarching journey because of the level of assumptions on characters who weren't white or who were insinuated as gay left and right, among other measures.
I'm not going to say that the narrative didn't have some interesting ideas though - what with presenting different mythos and attempting to weave it with the plot, but it felt like reading a large infodump instead of blending naturally with the case details and findings. In the end, I was never really immersed in the story and the way it turned with certain details and characters just threw me out of the story.
Overall, just not my cuppa.
Overall score: 1/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
May 10, 2012
I'll be the first to say this book isn't for everyone. If you don't like Christopher Moore, National Treasure, and violence, this is not the book for you.
I love the first two and can tolerate the third in moderation, so this book and I got along fine.
I've been checking on some of the books by Curiosity Quills press, for personal reasons, so I jumped at the chance to get this one for free from Amazon.
This characters in this book are hilarious. You've got Rocky, the consummate beta male. Even though he was in the army, he basically used it as a way to pay for college, not to become a badass. Oh, and he majored in literature or something like that. So he's basically a drifter deadbeat waiting to happen. He has no skillz.
Then there's Jasmine Farrah, prissy rich debutante who spends more time texting than working. She's manicured and pedicured within an inch of her life, and her shoes are impractical and expensive. And yet, she is an alpah and fully skilled.
But that's not all. We've got the crazy vampire clone. A vampire baby that drinks blood in a bottle. The risen corpse of George Washington. A Civil War general that's been resurrected a dozen times. Bums that are really guardians who speak into phones only they can hear ringing. Jaguar Babies. Central American Dieties. The 3rd President of the United States as a two hundred year old vampire. And many, many more.
This book, though ponderous at times must have taken an amazing amount of research. The dialog is hilarious. The storyline (once it gets going) and the world building are amazing.
My only criticism is that all that imagination could have used some trimming or streamlining for the sake of pacing. I was never BORED (thanks to the hilarious characters) but there were times early on (the first 35%) where I felt like the book was dragging. There is no reason why it should be so! This book is fantastic!
Dept of Magic got better and better as it went along, culminating in a finale that had me biting my fingernails.
I love the first two and can tolerate the third in moderation, so this book and I got along fine.
I've been checking on some of the books by Curiosity Quills press, for personal reasons, so I jumped at the chance to get this one for free from Amazon.
This characters in this book are hilarious. You've got Rocky, the consummate beta male. Even though he was in the army, he basically used it as a way to pay for college, not to become a badass. Oh, and he majored in literature or something like that. So he's basically a drifter deadbeat waiting to happen. He has no skillz.
Then there's Jasmine Farrah, prissy rich debutante who spends more time texting than working. She's manicured and pedicured within an inch of her life, and her shoes are impractical and expensive. And yet, she is an alpah and fully skilled.
But that's not all. We've got the crazy vampire clone. A vampire baby that drinks blood in a bottle. The risen corpse of George Washington. A Civil War general that's been resurrected a dozen times. Bums that are really guardians who speak into phones only they can hear ringing. Jaguar Babies. Central American Dieties. The 3rd President of the United States as a two hundred year old vampire. And many, many more.
This book, though ponderous at times must have taken an amazing amount of research. The dialog is hilarious. The storyline (once it gets going) and the world building are amazing.
My only criticism is that all that imagination could have used some trimming or streamlining for the sake of pacing. I was never BORED (thanks to the hilarious characters) but there were times early on (the first 35%) where I felt like the book was dragging. There is no reason why it should be so! This book is fantastic!
Dept of Magic got better and better as it went along, culminating in a finale that had me biting my fingernails.
April 21, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy Reading Level: Adult
Disclosure: I picked up a free copy on Amazon; later I found it offered on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was more than happy to get the excuse to read this book sooner, so took up the offer.
Synopsis: It’s hate at first sight.
Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley – “Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.
When Crawley is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.
What follows is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world and subjugating all America in the year 2012.
Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet and unforeseen climax.
My Thoughts: I got the biggest kick out of the excerpts from The Federal Bestiary that open each chapter in this book. Kierkegaard has a sly and dark sense of humor that I found very appealing. I was also very amused by the idea of the Goddess America; it put a whole new perspective on Goddess worship, that’s for sure! It was interesting and refreshing to read an urban fantasy in which the main characters had no particular specialness – no powers, not monsters of any type, not even particularly good fighters, just regular people put into strange circumstances. Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy and good story-telling.
Disclosure: I picked up a free copy on Amazon; later I found it offered on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was more than happy to get the excuse to read this book sooner, so took up the offer.
Synopsis: It’s hate at first sight.
Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley – “Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.
When Crawley is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.
What follows is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world and subjugating all America in the year 2012.
Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet and unforeseen climax.
My Thoughts: I got the biggest kick out of the excerpts from The Federal Bestiary that open each chapter in this book. Kierkegaard has a sly and dark sense of humor that I found very appealing. I was also very amused by the idea of the Goddess America; it put a whole new perspective on Goddess worship, that’s for sure! It was interesting and refreshing to read an urban fantasy in which the main characters had no particular specialness – no powers, not monsters of any type, not even particularly good fighters, just regular people put into strange circumstances. Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy and good story-telling.
July 5, 2016
Jasmine Farah and Rocco Di Angelo work in the Department of Magic, an obscure organization in the U.S. government. America has enemies, all right, but it’s not so simple as ordinary terrorists. Think creepy things that go bump in the night, the kind that ooze some kind of slime or sprout fur. But the job’s not as glamorous as you might think. Jazz and Rock spend most of their time at the beck and call of their newly deceased boss, Crawley, and stealing historical artifacts of supernatural importance (most recently, George Washington’s deathbed dentures). All is in preparation for the fight against America’s enemies, like Aaron Burr.
“Wait a minute,” you may ask. “Isn’t he dead?” Not so, here. In Kierkegaard’s portrayal of the ill-fated third vice president, not only did shoot Alexander Hamilton in a duel, he also was a fanatical devotee to an ancient god that seeks to destroy America. Did I mention that “America” is also the name of a goddess?
Obviously, there’s a lot of fun stuff here, though I wouldn’t exactly call it “Harry Potter for adults,” as the dust jacket summary claims. Kierkegaard’s brand of magic involves blood, and lots of it. No, The Department of Magic is more like Supernatural Noir, which I reviewed last year: entertaining, but kind of dark in some areas. So, the verdict? Kierkegaard’s novel combines American history with urban fantasy to create an original, bleak portrait of the real fight for our country’s freedom. Not recommended for casual fans of fantasy.
“Wait a minute,” you may ask. “Isn’t he dead?” Not so, here. In Kierkegaard’s portrayal of the ill-fated third vice president, not only did shoot Alexander Hamilton in a duel, he also was a fanatical devotee to an ancient god that seeks to destroy America. Did I mention that “America” is also the name of a goddess?
Obviously, there’s a lot of fun stuff here, though I wouldn’t exactly call it “Harry Potter for adults,” as the dust jacket summary claims. Kierkegaard’s brand of magic involves blood, and lots of it. No, The Department of Magic is more like Supernatural Noir, which I reviewed last year: entertaining, but kind of dark in some areas. So, the verdict? Kierkegaard’s novel combines American history with urban fantasy to create an original, bleak portrait of the real fight for our country’s freedom. Not recommended for casual fans of fantasy.
April 5, 2012
"How could a stupid boring bureaucratic government job have turned so quickly into a life of supernatural weirdness and crime?"
Department of Magic' was very enjoyable and quite funny, with great details, memorable characters, and fun set pieces. I recommend it for urban fantasy readers who want something a little different; also fantasy readers who are politics wonks and don't mind reading about a reanimated George Washington. You should also check out Kierkegaard's terrific Family Cursemas, a contemporary takeoff on the traditional Agatha Christie-esque house mystery.
To read the entire review, please go to: http://www.ninapost.com/content/the-d...
Department of Magic' was very enjoyable and quite funny, with great details, memorable characters, and fun set pieces. I recommend it for urban fantasy readers who want something a little different; also fantasy readers who are politics wonks and don't mind reading about a reanimated George Washington. You should also check out Kierkegaard's terrific Family Cursemas, a contemporary takeoff on the traditional Agatha Christie-esque house mystery.
To read the entire review, please go to: http://www.ninapost.com/content/the-d...
September 18, 2023
Great story with an underwhelming ending
I really enjoyed this book, until about 3/4 of the way through. It’s funny, serious, unique, and imaginative. Then it starts to drag. And the ending falls really flat. It’s also a bit of a cliffhanger, but there’s never been a sequel in the twelve years since it was published, so that’s all we get.
Recommended because it’s that good even with the poor ending. I give it 4/5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book, until about 3/4 of the way through. It’s funny, serious, unique, and imaginative. Then it starts to drag. And the ending falls really flat. It’s also a bit of a cliffhanger, but there’s never been a sequel in the twelve years since it was published, so that’s all we get.
Recommended because it’s that good even with the poor ending. I give it 4/5 stars.
September 26, 2013
How did we end up here?
I was still on my Curiosity Quills kick because of STEIN & CANDLE so when the publisher had a sale I wanted to get in on that. Too bad they didn’t have e-copies of anything I could put onto my specific reader so I contacted my contact at the publisher. Lo and behold they sent me free copies of all the books I did want. I was more than willing to pay (it was only $1 per book) but they sent them over anyway. So super nice there. THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC was one of the books that sounded interesting to me because it seemed to be all over the place in terms of spooks but contained enough within a central plot that it didn’t look like it’d be a hot mess. So let’s give it a chance, right?
Okay, book. You've got 50 pages. Go!
Kierkegaard (not sure on the name there, I’m hard-pressed to believe it’s anything other than a pseudonym) has a style of voice that’s slightly quirky without being obnoxious. He’s just toeing the line of noir and punk but stays just shy of it and I found it really endearing. I immediately liked both of the characters, even Jazz despite her apparent bitchiness. This weird little look that it gave into this department these two started working for was enough to keep me reading. Crawley (read: Crowley, as in Alistair, not Supernatural, good homage) was this quirky guy that died within the first couple of chapters but his story didn’t die. He was the Bosley to Jazz and Rock and while annoying at times for how in the dark he kept them he was always able to maintain his dignity and purpose. I couldn’t fault him for that. Characters, really, were what kept me locked in.
What worked . . .
I liked how interesting Kierkegaard kept the supernatural element in his story. While some aspects remained a constant throughout he kept introducing new elements that kept the storyline fresh. He involved various cultures worth of spooks and put his own twist on the mythology. He then combined it with some conspiracy theory that, while silly, was rather unique and he managed to tie it in to patriotism and the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012. He thread the myth lines nicely and no one item in his story was ever left dangling. He rounded things out well and I like that in my books.
What didn't work . . .
The plot was very jumpy and I was thrown out of my reading jive more than once as the scene changed, without warning, from one paragraph to the next. It was incredibly jarring and I wish there was some kind of page break thrown in to more easily indicate a scene change rather than just a period at the end of the previous sentence. It would often take me a sentence or two to get my bearings and realize that we’re no longer in the car or the office. And many times it involved huge scene changes, not just the characters were in the car and now they were inside their destination. Sometimes days would lapse in the span of the next paragraph so it was pretty rough.
And in the end . . .
CQ has redeemed itself a bit with THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC. I liked it. I had fun reading the story and while some of the characters’ actions were a bit overwritten they were still relatable and were ultimately great characters to get to know. I was able to watch them have substantial personality shifts as they grew into their roles at the department and their changes from the beginning of the story to the end were pretty dramatic. They’d come really far for such a short book. I have a few more to read by Kierkegaard and I’m not dreading them like I was after the last couple of CQ books I read. The editing, while not the greatest, was by far better than the last Stein and Candle book and left me able to just enjoy the story instead of cringing over obvious editing issues. Things are looking a little more up for me and CQ.
I was still on my Curiosity Quills kick because of STEIN & CANDLE so when the publisher had a sale I wanted to get in on that. Too bad they didn’t have e-copies of anything I could put onto my specific reader so I contacted my contact at the publisher. Lo and behold they sent me free copies of all the books I did want. I was more than willing to pay (it was only $1 per book) but they sent them over anyway. So super nice there. THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC was one of the books that sounded interesting to me because it seemed to be all over the place in terms of spooks but contained enough within a central plot that it didn’t look like it’d be a hot mess. So let’s give it a chance, right?
Okay, book. You've got 50 pages. Go!
Kierkegaard (not sure on the name there, I’m hard-pressed to believe it’s anything other than a pseudonym) has a style of voice that’s slightly quirky without being obnoxious. He’s just toeing the line of noir and punk but stays just shy of it and I found it really endearing. I immediately liked both of the characters, even Jazz despite her apparent bitchiness. This weird little look that it gave into this department these two started working for was enough to keep me reading. Crawley (read: Crowley, as in Alistair, not Supernatural, good homage) was this quirky guy that died within the first couple of chapters but his story didn’t die. He was the Bosley to Jazz and Rock and while annoying at times for how in the dark he kept them he was always able to maintain his dignity and purpose. I couldn’t fault him for that. Characters, really, were what kept me locked in.
What worked . . .
I liked how interesting Kierkegaard kept the supernatural element in his story. While some aspects remained a constant throughout he kept introducing new elements that kept the storyline fresh. He involved various cultures worth of spooks and put his own twist on the mythology. He then combined it with some conspiracy theory that, while silly, was rather unique and he managed to tie it in to patriotism and the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012. He thread the myth lines nicely and no one item in his story was ever left dangling. He rounded things out well and I like that in my books.
What didn't work . . .
The plot was very jumpy and I was thrown out of my reading jive more than once as the scene changed, without warning, from one paragraph to the next. It was incredibly jarring and I wish there was some kind of page break thrown in to more easily indicate a scene change rather than just a period at the end of the previous sentence. It would often take me a sentence or two to get my bearings and realize that we’re no longer in the car or the office. And many times it involved huge scene changes, not just the characters were in the car and now they were inside their destination. Sometimes days would lapse in the span of the next paragraph so it was pretty rough.
And in the end . . .
CQ has redeemed itself a bit with THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC. I liked it. I had fun reading the story and while some of the characters’ actions were a bit overwritten they were still relatable and were ultimately great characters to get to know. I was able to watch them have substantial personality shifts as they grew into their roles at the department and their changes from the beginning of the story to the end were pretty dramatic. They’d come really far for such a short book. I have a few more to read by Kierkegaard and I’m not dreading them like I was after the last couple of CQ books I read. The editing, while not the greatest, was by far better than the last Stein and Candle book and left me able to just enjoy the story instead of cringing over obvious editing issues. Things are looking a little more up for me and CQ.
February 14, 2012
I received this as a free ARC from Netgalley.
This book was absolutely nothing like what I thought it would be, and I am still undecided as to whether that's a good or bad thing. As a fantasy reader who prefers actual fantasy and not paranormal fantasy, I tend to shy away from books about vampires, zombies, werewolves, etc. My one real exception is Katharine Kerr's Nola O'Grady books, because they're entertaining and by my favorite author. But I digress.
This book had it all. Voodoo, Aztec gods and monsters, a type of magic called "charm" which was really just distraction, vampires, and the undead were thrown together in a mish-mash of legends. This is not necessarily a good thing. Unfortunately for the main characters, they were the targets of all these evil beings. Their job: to burglarize museums and steal relics from George Washington's life, including the bones of Mr. Washington himself. In the process, Jasmine Farah and Rocco Di Angelo, the protagonists of the story, hate each other, then warm to each other, then fall in love. Duh.
Overall this was a very mediocre burst of paranormal fantasy/adventure, with its good moments and its bad. I liked it but didn't love it, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they really enjoy reading about vampire sex, which I guess includes the entire Twilight fanbase. Oh, and the version I received could have used some serious proof-reading. Hopefully in its final release the spelling, grammar, punctuation and repetition errors are fixed.
My favorite part was how many politicians and stereotypes of American culture are explained through myths of the Aztecs and Voodoo as monsters in human form. The direct reference to Eliot Spitzer was particularly amusing. I do wish there weren't so many name drops in the story though.
2/5 stars only because it was entertaining, at least, although not the greatest specimen of the genre.
This book was absolutely nothing like what I thought it would be, and I am still undecided as to whether that's a good or bad thing. As a fantasy reader who prefers actual fantasy and not paranormal fantasy, I tend to shy away from books about vampires, zombies, werewolves, etc. My one real exception is Katharine Kerr's Nola O'Grady books, because they're entertaining and by my favorite author. But I digress.
This book had it all. Voodoo, Aztec gods and monsters, a type of magic called "charm" which was really just distraction, vampires, and the undead were thrown together in a mish-mash of legends. This is not necessarily a good thing. Unfortunately for the main characters, they were the targets of all these evil beings. Their job: to burglarize museums and steal relics from George Washington's life, including the bones of Mr. Washington himself. In the process, Jasmine Farah and Rocco Di Angelo, the protagonists of the story, hate each other, then warm to each other, then fall in love. Duh.
Overall this was a very mediocre burst of paranormal fantasy/adventure, with its good moments and its bad. I liked it but didn't love it, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they really enjoy reading about vampire sex, which I guess includes the entire Twilight fanbase. Oh, and the version I received could have used some serious proof-reading. Hopefully in its final release the spelling, grammar, punctuation and repetition errors are fixed.
My favorite part was how many politicians and stereotypes of American culture are explained through myths of the Aztecs and Voodoo as monsters in human form. The direct reference to Eliot Spitzer was particularly amusing. I do wish there weren't so many name drops in the story though.
2/5 stars only because it was entertaining, at least, although not the greatest specimen of the genre.
March 22, 2012
"The Department of Magic" is equivalent to the paranormal version of the movie National Treasures. The characters run around collecting artifacts from our first President George Washington in an attempt to 'revive' him.
Two governmental recruits have just graduated and been assigned to the Department of Magic. They instantly take a dislike to one another and to make matters worse, only one of them will actually get the job after their six months probation. This does not sit well with Ms. Farrah or Mr. Di Angelo; however, a job is a job. Right? Well, if you do not mind having your boss killed the first day and your offices burned the next, this is the job for you.
Soon Jazz and Di Angelo discover that their former boss had been keeping many secrets including the fact that he has been revived from the dead. They are instantly bonded and linked through by wearing a magical amulet they are unable to remove. They are assigned tasks that will put them in contact with the greatest nasties that the city has to offer. The action was great and the historical references were interesting.
I enjoyed this book but did not love it. The writing, action and plot was very good; but, the characterizations were a little too light leaving me less invested in the plot. I really never liked the self centered Jazz Farrah and never really felt as if I knew Di Angelo sufficiently. He felt like a wimp to me at times. Another thing that bothered me was the author mentions the events of 9-1-1 as a paranormal occurrence. This attack on America is still a little to fresh in my mind to make light of it. I realize it was not the author's intention but it just came across as inconsiderate to those who died and their families.
At this point, I doubt that I will continue on with the series. I have been on a quest of sorts to find new series that I could really love and although I enjoyed this one, I just did not enjoy it enough to continue with it.
Two governmental recruits have just graduated and been assigned to the Department of Magic. They instantly take a dislike to one another and to make matters worse, only one of them will actually get the job after their six months probation. This does not sit well with Ms. Farrah or Mr. Di Angelo; however, a job is a job. Right? Well, if you do not mind having your boss killed the first day and your offices burned the next, this is the job for you.
Soon Jazz and Di Angelo discover that their former boss had been keeping many secrets including the fact that he has been revived from the dead. They are instantly bonded and linked through by wearing a magical amulet they are unable to remove. They are assigned tasks that will put them in contact with the greatest nasties that the city has to offer. The action was great and the historical references were interesting.
I enjoyed this book but did not love it. The writing, action and plot was very good; but, the characterizations were a little too light leaving me less invested in the plot. I really never liked the self centered Jazz Farrah and never really felt as if I knew Di Angelo sufficiently. He felt like a wimp to me at times. Another thing that bothered me was the author mentions the events of 9-1-1 as a paranormal occurrence. This attack on America is still a little to fresh in my mind to make light of it. I realize it was not the author's intention but it just came across as inconsiderate to those who died and their families.
At this point, I doubt that I will continue on with the series. I have been on a quest of sorts to find new series that I could really love and although I enjoyed this one, I just did not enjoy it enough to continue with it.
February 8, 2012
Despite the deaths, murders, and various paranormal nasties that abound in THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC, I found it to be a fun, lighthearted read. Perhaps it is because is difficult to take the book seriously which is a good thing especially if you have trouble sleeping. This book also explains the rather strange layout of Washington DC’s streets and the fact that it has some of the better weather to be found in that part of the country.
The author, Rod Kierkegaard, Jr. does a great job of hooking the reader right in the beginning with the murder of Farah and Rocky’s employer. One just has to keep reading to find out just what they got themselves into. And what that was is a life filled with magic and far too many paranormal creepies. In fact so many that I had trouble keeping up with them all. I was pulled out of the story a few times trying to remember just what they had discovered about this or that creature.
I did enjoy the character development shown by Farah. She grows from a spoiled fashion chit that was part of the beauty queen pageant to a caring woman that can be counted on in any situation. Not that she ever grows out of using her beauty to get her own way at times. Rocky however seems to be stagnant. Possibly because he just tends to go so much with the flow that he really doesn’t have obstacles to overcome that would force him to change.
I will admit that I did have problems finishing THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC which is disappointing when you consider that it started out with such a bang. Instead towards the middle it really started to drag as Farah and Rocky move from one theft to another, from one disaster to another. And the ending was more of the same.
This book might appeal to readers looking for a lighthearted fast paced paranormal but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I rate it a 2.
The author, Rod Kierkegaard, Jr. does a great job of hooking the reader right in the beginning with the murder of Farah and Rocky’s employer. One just has to keep reading to find out just what they got themselves into. And what that was is a life filled with magic and far too many paranormal creepies. In fact so many that I had trouble keeping up with them all. I was pulled out of the story a few times trying to remember just what they had discovered about this or that creature.
I did enjoy the character development shown by Farah. She grows from a spoiled fashion chit that was part of the beauty queen pageant to a caring woman that can be counted on in any situation. Not that she ever grows out of using her beauty to get her own way at times. Rocky however seems to be stagnant. Possibly because he just tends to go so much with the flow that he really doesn’t have obstacles to overcome that would force him to change.
I will admit that I did have problems finishing THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC which is disappointing when you consider that it started out with such a bang. Instead towards the middle it really started to drag as Farah and Rocky move from one theft to another, from one disaster to another. And the ending was more of the same.
This book might appeal to readers looking for a lighthearted fast paced paranormal but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I rate it a 2.
February 20, 2012
Department of Magic – 3 stars.
I requested and received a copy from Netgalley for the purposes of this review.
While reading the blurb it sounded like a really interesting concept, and something I would enjoy. There are other books with similar ideas, detectives in a magical world, but this one had a few twists that made it all it’s own. The Department of Magic, or DooM as it’s also known, is a department within the government consisting of one employee. With the addition of its two newest hires, Rocko Di Angelo, and Jasmine Farah, bring it to a grand total of three. Their purpose is to save the ‘Heart of America,’ while battling a plethora of monsters. The author takes history and twists it to suit this magical world, in the same vein as ‘Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.’ So in this world the Freemasons are a ‘Lucifer worshipping conspiracy cult,’ DooM and its employees are George Washington’s ‘Secret Army,’ tasked to protect his legacy.
I really like the authors ideas, and will read further books but there was a lot of disconnect in this particular novel. The POV bounced around so much it was sometimes hard to figure out who was talking when. The characters seemed somewhat two dimensional. Jasmine Farah starts off as a snotty southern bell, and I believe is meant to grow throughout the book, but it doesn’t quite happen. Rocko Di Angelo is about as exciting as pea soup, he comes off very flat, and unfortunately stays that way throughout. Having said that, I see some potential, and do hope it’s realized because I could get into this series if it is.
Overall, I liked what the author was trying to do, and will give him another shot if there is a second part to the series.
I requested and received a copy from Netgalley for the purposes of this review.
While reading the blurb it sounded like a really interesting concept, and something I would enjoy. There are other books with similar ideas, detectives in a magical world, but this one had a few twists that made it all it’s own. The Department of Magic, or DooM as it’s also known, is a department within the government consisting of one employee. With the addition of its two newest hires, Rocko Di Angelo, and Jasmine Farah, bring it to a grand total of three. Their purpose is to save the ‘Heart of America,’ while battling a plethora of monsters. The author takes history and twists it to suit this magical world, in the same vein as ‘Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.’ So in this world the Freemasons are a ‘Lucifer worshipping conspiracy cult,’ DooM and its employees are George Washington’s ‘Secret Army,’ tasked to protect his legacy.
I really like the authors ideas, and will read further books but there was a lot of disconnect in this particular novel. The POV bounced around so much it was sometimes hard to figure out who was talking when. The characters seemed somewhat two dimensional. Jasmine Farah starts off as a snotty southern bell, and I believe is meant to grow throughout the book, but it doesn’t quite happen. Rocko Di Angelo is about as exciting as pea soup, he comes off very flat, and unfortunately stays that way throughout. Having said that, I see some potential, and do hope it’s realized because I could get into this series if it is.
Overall, I liked what the author was trying to do, and will give him another shot if there is a second part to the series.
May 1, 2012
This was a little on the strange side in that I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time, wasn't really interested in what was going on. Does that make sense? I didn't really care for the characters, as Jazz and Rocky weren't all that likable. And their boss really was Creepy, in more ways than one!
Jazz and Rocky are the newest recruits in a strange organization, where they are bound together as partners in more ways than one. They more or less have to learn on the job, as their boss is dead. Not that he stops supervising them....as death doesn't seem to slow this agency down.
They are taught various methods to help in their new job, not that they really know what their job is. And all of the methods are old school, so they sometimes have to improvise.
There are monsters and bad guys and patriotism(!), all leading up to an epic battle. There's always an epic battle, isn't there? Couldn't really work up much excitement, but it may have been because everything was wrapped in the American Flag. Or because things were hard to keep track of. Or I was just bored.
I didn't like the ending as it just....ended. Very dissatisfying. I don't mind a cliffhanger, but this was more like running into a brick wall. Or the author suddenly realized that he had used up his whole allotment of words!
This was a quick read and wasn't all that bad, but didn't knock my socks off. Couldn't work up much interest in the characters and as I tend to like characters more than non-stop action, that could be why the book didn't rate higher with me.
Jazz and Rocky are the newest recruits in a strange organization, where they are bound together as partners in more ways than one. They more or less have to learn on the job, as their boss is dead. Not that he stops supervising them....as death doesn't seem to slow this agency down.
They are taught various methods to help in their new job, not that they really know what their job is. And all of the methods are old school, so they sometimes have to improvise.
There are monsters and bad guys and patriotism(!), all leading up to an epic battle. There's always an epic battle, isn't there? Couldn't really work up much excitement, but it may have been because everything was wrapped in the American Flag. Or because things were hard to keep track of. Or I was just bored.
I didn't like the ending as it just....ended. Very dissatisfying. I don't mind a cliffhanger, but this was more like running into a brick wall. Or the author suddenly realized that he had used up his whole allotment of words!
This was a quick read and wasn't all that bad, but didn't knock my socks off. Couldn't work up much interest in the characters and as I tend to like characters more than non-stop action, that could be why the book didn't rate higher with me.
April 19, 2012
This was an action packed story with a wide variety of supernatural characters. The main characters were Rocco di Angelo and Jasmine Farah. In the beginning they think they are hired by an obscure government agency and are competing for the same job. But things quickly get weird.
Jazz and Rock soon find out that they are working for a dead man and are part of a plot to reanimate George Washington to help protect the United States from takeover by ancient Aztec gods and other outside attacks.
The story was quick moving and had lots of dangerous encounters for both Jazz and Rock. Ultimately, though, I didn't feel a connection with either Jazz or Rock and didn't really care about the problem they were trying to solve. The story concentrated on action rather than character development which made it less engaging for me.
Also, each chapter began with a description of some magical character many of which seem a tongue-in-cheek stab at political characters. For example, "plaints" are said to be "silent sad defeated creatures who have long since given up the ghost, still pursuing lawsuits for damages against the federal authorities or filing for patents." I never could decide if those descriptions were supposed to be serious or humorous.
The description suggests that this is Harry Potter for grownups but I saw few parallels between the two stories. This is an urban fantasy that has a rather unique premise but would have been better if more attention had been paid to creating sympathetic characters.
Jazz and Rock soon find out that they are working for a dead man and are part of a plot to reanimate George Washington to help protect the United States from takeover by ancient Aztec gods and other outside attacks.
The story was quick moving and had lots of dangerous encounters for both Jazz and Rock. Ultimately, though, I didn't feel a connection with either Jazz or Rock and didn't really care about the problem they were trying to solve. The story concentrated on action rather than character development which made it less engaging for me.
Also, each chapter began with a description of some magical character many of which seem a tongue-in-cheek stab at political characters. For example, "plaints" are said to be "silent sad defeated creatures who have long since given up the ghost, still pursuing lawsuits for damages against the federal authorities or filing for patents." I never could decide if those descriptions were supposed to be serious or humorous.
The description suggests that this is Harry Potter for grownups but I saw few parallels between the two stories. This is an urban fantasy that has a rather unique premise but would have been better if more attention had been paid to creating sympathetic characters.
June 8, 2012
This book is nonstop action. There is something happening all the time. Unfortunately, it seems like everything that happens involves a new type of paranormal element. I'm not sure there was anything paranormal left out. Everything made an appearance, usually only once. This made it impossible to predict what would happen next.
Rocky and Jazz were very interesting in the beginning. They clashed so much that I was anticipating a great sparking and sizzling relationship to progress. Instead, the emotions seemed to die away. It was hard to connect with either character past the first chapter. They went from being normal people to being ninja killer thiefs very quickly, without seeming to have any objections. They didn't even seem to notice the change to robotic like super villians, until they did notice and even remark on it. Their reactions were to just shrug and continue on. This complete emotionless personality made the characters seem distant and remote.
The ending left a bit to be desired. This doesn't appear to be the start of a series, and yet the story doesn't seem quite finished. There were a lot of threads left hanging.
Overall, I think the story had great potential, but fell flat. There was lots of action, but it was done by characters that I could get attached to at all. So I didn't really care what happened in the end, but I do wish I knew how it all came together and wrapped up.
Rocky and Jazz were very interesting in the beginning. They clashed so much that I was anticipating a great sparking and sizzling relationship to progress. Instead, the emotions seemed to die away. It was hard to connect with either character past the first chapter. They went from being normal people to being ninja killer thiefs very quickly, without seeming to have any objections. They didn't even seem to notice the change to robotic like super villians, until they did notice and even remark on it. Their reactions were to just shrug and continue on. This complete emotionless personality made the characters seem distant and remote.
The ending left a bit to be desired. This doesn't appear to be the start of a series, and yet the story doesn't seem quite finished. There were a lot of threads left hanging.
Overall, I think the story had great potential, but fell flat. There was lots of action, but it was done by characters that I could get attached to at all. So I didn't really care what happened in the end, but I do wish I knew how it all came together and wrapped up.
June 4, 2012
See the full review on Short & Sweet Reviews.
There are a lot of things going on in The Department of Magic. There are a lot of demons, vampires, ancient gods, etc. to keep track of. There's a small cast of supporting characters, a lot of mythology, a lot of traveling around... it's very easy to loose track of what, exactly, is supposed to be happening. The whole universe that the author creates is very disorienting. Fortunately, it's just as disorienting for its two main characters, Farah and di Angelo, who took the job without having any idea what, exactly, the Department of Magic is -- and without having any belief that any of those things even exist in the first place. We learn a lot about this new, unknown world, right alongside our leads, who are pretty bewildered by what they're seeing.
Things change quickly, though, and Farah and di Angelo find themselves learning -- and believing -- more about magic than they'd ever thought possible, largely from their un-dead boss Crawley. The duo quickly find themselves thrust into their roles, learning all about the dark, magical history of the United States. They also have to learn to become expert thieves, since they will need to steal many historical artifacts in order to resurrect the Goddess America. Of course they will.
There are a lot of things going on in The Department of Magic. There are a lot of demons, vampires, ancient gods, etc. to keep track of. There's a small cast of supporting characters, a lot of mythology, a lot of traveling around... it's very easy to loose track of what, exactly, is supposed to be happening. The whole universe that the author creates is very disorienting. Fortunately, it's just as disorienting for its two main characters, Farah and di Angelo, who took the job without having any idea what, exactly, the Department of Magic is -- and without having any belief that any of those things even exist in the first place. We learn a lot about this new, unknown world, right alongside our leads, who are pretty bewildered by what they're seeing.
Things change quickly, though, and Farah and di Angelo find themselves learning -- and believing -- more about magic than they'd ever thought possible, largely from their un-dead boss Crawley. The duo quickly find themselves thrust into their roles, learning all about the dark, magical history of the United States. They also have to learn to become expert thieves, since they will need to steal many historical artifacts in order to resurrect the Goddess America. Of course they will.
May 21, 2013
I got this in a batch of free books from Curiosity Quills, which have so far all proved disappointments.
Unfortunately, although the author captivates the reader in the beginning, the enormous suspension of disbelief required for DoM is a moat around the story. It's very difficult for a story to keep hold of you when every other detail breaks the trance.
The plot itself, while vaguely intact with a generic villain and struggles, is difficult to pin down. There's an overarching 'this is the goal we want to attain by the end of the book' feeling, but the different scenes and struggles have very little to do with it, other than the fact that the author tells us they do.
Character growth is spotty at best. In a spectacular display of 'telling, not showing', the book is littered with introspective moments where the characters reflect on how they've changed this way, or how their lives will never be the same; there are few enough scenes where feeling or values play a part other than "this is what I'm feeling" or "This is how my values are being impacted by this action" that it's difficult to really argue the point.
Altogether, the only real reason it merits a second star is because the beginning was intriguing enough to make me keep reading, setting it above the others in its batch.
Unfortunately, although the author captivates the reader in the beginning, the enormous suspension of disbelief required for DoM is a moat around the story. It's very difficult for a story to keep hold of you when every other detail breaks the trance.
The plot itself, while vaguely intact with a generic villain and struggles, is difficult to pin down. There's an overarching 'this is the goal we want to attain by the end of the book' feeling, but the different scenes and struggles have very little to do with it, other than the fact that the author tells us they do.
Character growth is spotty at best. In a spectacular display of 'telling, not showing', the book is littered with introspective moments where the characters reflect on how they've changed this way, or how their lives will never be the same; there are few enough scenes where feeling or values play a part other than "this is what I'm feeling" or "This is how my values are being impacted by this action" that it's difficult to really argue the point.
Altogether, the only real reason it merits a second star is because the beginning was intriguing enough to make me keep reading, setting it above the others in its batch.
May 29, 2012
THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC by Rod Kierkegaard Jr. oozes wit amongst a magical backdrop of secret government agents trying to save America.
When Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo take a job with the Department of Magic, their lives are forever changed. They not only learn that magic is real, as well as many terrifying mythical creatures, but the fate of America rests in their hands. They follow their boss’s orders to steal George Washington’s artifacts while being chased by vampires, demons, and more. If they fail, nothing will be the same.
THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC excelled in wit and sarcasm. The characters are unique and are brought to life—even though a few were technically dead—by their dialogue. THE FEDERAL BESTIARY at the beginning of each chapter amused me and was a brilliant addition to the novel. The historical and mythological references were intriguing and fantastical. This novel reminded me of a magical DA VINCI CODE, except the execution of the plot was at times clunky. The pacing was off, and the descriptions sometimes bogged down the storyline.
Overall, Rod Kierkegaard Jr.’s THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC intrigues the reader into this magical and dangerous world, yet it could’ve been better.
When Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo take a job with the Department of Magic, their lives are forever changed. They not only learn that magic is real, as well as many terrifying mythical creatures, but the fate of America rests in their hands. They follow their boss’s orders to steal George Washington’s artifacts while being chased by vampires, demons, and more. If they fail, nothing will be the same.
THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC excelled in wit and sarcasm. The characters are unique and are brought to life—even though a few were technically dead—by their dialogue. THE FEDERAL BESTIARY at the beginning of each chapter amused me and was a brilliant addition to the novel. The historical and mythological references were intriguing and fantastical. This novel reminded me of a magical DA VINCI CODE, except the execution of the plot was at times clunky. The pacing was off, and the descriptions sometimes bogged down the storyline.
Overall, Rod Kierkegaard Jr.’s THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC intrigues the reader into this magical and dangerous world, yet it could’ve been better.
October 24, 2015
I really liked this book though it really does wrap up to quickly . It should have been two books. I didn't notice any grammar errors like someone had noted earlier. I believe it has been properly edited, and a good read. I love the humour in the characters and their interactions with each other had me laughing. The plot was was predictable due to a lot of overshadowing but it didn't take away from the story line. Parts of the book were slow and I felt left with a slight clif hanger. Had the writer extended the story to allow the interactions between the characters developed more and made a second book or a third. It just seemed he was trying to fit everything in one book and I hope he does pen another book. I believe this would have made a great series.
There are somethings about the book that seemed unrealistic . Mainly the female main character beauty queen , parkour expert, expert sharpshooter, Dancer, and from a rich family. She was too perfect but she does evolve into more realistic person and less someone you feel is gonna be annoying the whole time.
I was left with alot of questions in the end about there finally accomplished mission. And how it is supposed to fix anything since. you have trailed them the whole book to accomplish the last two or three chapters.
There are somethings about the book that seemed unrealistic . Mainly the female main character beauty queen , parkour expert, expert sharpshooter, Dancer, and from a rich family. She was too perfect but she does evolve into more realistic person and less someone you feel is gonna be annoying the whole time.
I was left with alot of questions in the end about there finally accomplished mission. And how it is supposed to fix anything since. you have trailed them the whole book to accomplish the last two or three chapters.
July 21, 2013
On their first day of work in a secret part of the government known as The Department of Magic, Jasmine Farah and Rocco DiAngelo discover that they will be working together but ultimately only one will get the job. On the way back to the office after dinner their boss is murdered in front of them. Over the next few days they discover that their boss had many secrets and the biggest one might be that he didn’t really die after all.
The pair embarks on a quest to save and protect the country while battling supernatural creatures. I personally felt at times that there were too many different kinds of creatures and it got confusing.
The book wasn’t what I had expected based on the blurb I read and overall I wasn’t impressed with it. It felt like a combination of books that have been published and movies that have already been released.
I was captivated at the beginning of the book but the lack of character growth and the continual change of pace throughout quickly make me lose interest and by the end I felt let down.
*I was given this book for an honest review but the opinions are my own and didn’t affect my rating.*
The pair embarks on a quest to save and protect the country while battling supernatural creatures. I personally felt at times that there were too many different kinds of creatures and it got confusing.
The book wasn’t what I had expected based on the blurb I read and overall I wasn’t impressed with it. It felt like a combination of books that have been published and movies that have already been released.
I was captivated at the beginning of the book but the lack of character growth and the continual change of pace throughout quickly make me lose interest and by the end I felt let down.
*I was given this book for an honest review but the opinions are my own and didn’t affect my rating.*
November 29, 2012
I really want to give this 2.5 stars. The premise of this book is pretty good, but the execution falls flat. The US Department of Magic, a small secretive department concerned with protecting the US against paranormal attack recruits two new members (Farah and Rocky) who are thrown into the thick of things almost from day 1. However, the background motivation of the department and, in particular, the department head are left a little too loose and lacking. Half the story involves the primary pair running around and "collecting" artifacts of various sorts from local museums. All of these have been there for years, but there is no explanation (or even question asked) as to why suddenly it is a vast emergency that they have to be gathered right now. It's not like the threat they are trying to counter was a surprise to the head of the department; he's clearly known about it for a long time. Character growth is attempted, but not well, and the ending is rather abrupt and serves to do little but set up the story for the inevitable sequel.
March 12, 2012
THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC is a bold stab at urban fantasy. It veered a little too much into the gross side of things, but the story was well told and the action had plenty of high stakes (pun intended), so I kept reading. My attention would wander to other books, though, hence the long reading time. If you like loads of fantastic--or horrifying--creatures romping around in modern-day D.C., you'll like this one. Sometimes the interaction between the main characters was cliched, and I wasn't feeling the romance, but Rocco and Jasmine (I'm sorry, Rocky and Jazz aren't nicknames I love) do work well together and there's obviously much more they can do in forthcoming books. I'm not too keen on what will happen to the MCs in the future, but the fate of America is in their hands, so if I come across other books in this series I'll give them a look.
I received this as a digital ARC from Netgalley.
I received this as a digital ARC from Netgalley.
April 16, 2012
Jasmine Farrah and Rocco Di Angelo have been hired by a mysterious federal agency with the acronym MAGIC and only one of them will actually get the job after six months probation. They hate one another on sight, which delights their new boss, who thinks they will be a lot of fun to watch.
I thought this book would be fun as well: I hoped it would be a funny and snarky look at magic in Washington DC. Unfortunately it is repetitive and tedious: Go out and steal something, and have a dangerous encounter with one or several zombies and other fancifully named creatures.
The Department of Magic felt too busy and like the author couldn't figure out how to get out of the narrative, so he just kept throwing fights, and magic, and creatures into the mix. I tired of the evil creature battles and narrow escapes. The ending peters out, and is obviously a set-up for the sequel. Thanks, NetGalley and publisher, but this one's a dog.
I thought this book would be fun as well: I hoped it would be a funny and snarky look at magic in Washington DC. Unfortunately it is repetitive and tedious: Go out and steal something, and have a dangerous encounter with one or several zombies and other fancifully named creatures.
The Department of Magic felt too busy and like the author couldn't figure out how to get out of the narrative, so he just kept throwing fights, and magic, and creatures into the mix. I tired of the evil creature battles and narrow escapes. The ending peters out, and is obviously a set-up for the sequel. Thanks, NetGalley and publisher, but this one's a dog.
December 12, 2013
Review from Words Beyond The Page
One word that sums up this book would be weird. It's like National Treasure meets magic with a lot of seeking. I really do feel sorry for Rocco di Angelo, and the way he lives at the beginning of the book. Kierkegaard made you want to feel sorry for him and I did.
Jasmine Farah on the other hand needs to make her damn mind up! She's the kind of girl who likes all the thrills and excitements of her job and doesn't mind getting down and dirty (I really mean down and dirty) She's just one of those characters you love to hate.
Overall this book didn't really do it for me, yeah it had magic in it and I love magic don't get me wrong who doesn't? But it just really lacked something all together, it was a bit slow passed to be honest, it just need that bit more tad of excitement and it would have one me over.
Regardless I recommended this book to anyone who loves the National Treasure but be warned it may not tickle your taste buds.
One word that sums up this book would be weird. It's like National Treasure meets magic with a lot of seeking. I really do feel sorry for Rocco di Angelo, and the way he lives at the beginning of the book. Kierkegaard made you want to feel sorry for him and I did.
Jasmine Farah on the other hand needs to make her damn mind up! She's the kind of girl who likes all the thrills and excitements of her job and doesn't mind getting down and dirty (I really mean down and dirty) She's just one of those characters you love to hate.
Overall this book didn't really do it for me, yeah it had magic in it and I love magic don't get me wrong who doesn't? But it just really lacked something all together, it was a bit slow passed to be honest, it just need that bit more tad of excitement and it would have one me over.
Regardless I recommended this book to anyone who loves the National Treasure but be warned it may not tickle your taste buds.
May 24, 2012
Rocco Di Angelo is an Iraq vet, Jasmin Farah is a highly educated spoiled rich girl, and they both want to work in the mysterious federal department of M.A.G.I.C. but there is only one job.
The book starts off very slowly, but power through. Because when the action finally starts you’ll be glad you stuck around. The protagonists are lovable, we are introduced to fun and weird lesser character’s, and even though our villains seem to only lurk in the shadows and not confront the heroes it’s okay. The only problem that I had with the book is that Di Angelo and Farah just seemed to go along with whatever Crawley said. It seemed odd that two highly educated, strong willed people would just keep going on the mission’s a man they call Creepy sent them on without question, especially when the mission’s were illegal and people around them kept dying.
Fans of urban fantasy this book is for you. If you liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman than you will definitely like this book.
The book starts off very slowly, but power through. Because when the action finally starts you’ll be glad you stuck around. The protagonists are lovable, we are introduced to fun and weird lesser character’s, and even though our villains seem to only lurk in the shadows and not confront the heroes it’s okay. The only problem that I had with the book is that Di Angelo and Farah just seemed to go along with whatever Crawley said. It seemed odd that two highly educated, strong willed people would just keep going on the mission’s a man they call Creepy sent them on without question, especially when the mission’s were illegal and people around them kept dying.
Fans of urban fantasy this book is for you. If you liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman than you will definitely like this book.
October 20, 2012
This is a unique book which has some interesting ideas. The department of magic is like a small spy division which deals with the supernatural. Rock and Jazz are competing for the same job but end up as a team reliant on each other and with increasingly chemistry between them. This is like a dark Muller and Scully with no aliens but plenty of the supernatural. It is elevated beyond the superficial by the impact of the main character's jobs on the people around them and their own personalities. Becoming immune to some of the harsher aspects of their jobs resulting in an inability to feel as much as before. The "monsters" in every day life are entertaining and often the routine of their job seems to rely more on them being petty criminals and robbery than dramatic good versus evil shown downs. One of the main strengths of the book is that the line between good and bad is blurred plenty of grey here which makes for an entertaining read.
January 31, 2012
I requested this book on NetGalley because the premise looked really exciting and that is definitely the book's strong point: a great story idea, promising action and fun.
But sadly this book just didn't quite deliver for me. The prose was dull, there were POV issues and these two factors were not helped by unbelievable, wooden characters whose personalities changed constantly and gave the reader no sense of who they were and what they stood for. I just couldn't bring myself to care for either of them.
I still gave this book two stars though as the storyline was intriguing and it could be a brilliant story with a little work. I did love the idea of a Department of Magic and the way all the creatures were worked into the story. Plus the little 'intros' to each chapter were often very amusing.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC from NetGalley.
But sadly this book just didn't quite deliver for me. The prose was dull, there were POV issues and these two factors were not helped by unbelievable, wooden characters whose personalities changed constantly and gave the reader no sense of who they were and what they stood for. I just couldn't bring myself to care for either of them.
I still gave this book two stars though as the storyline was intriguing and it could be a brilliant story with a little work. I did love the idea of a Department of Magic and the way all the creatures were worked into the story. Plus the little 'intros' to each chapter were often very amusing.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC from NetGalley.
July 30, 2012
Starts with an improbability and proceeds to murder and mayhem. Did not expect it to be funny but it has moments. Chapter headings are definitions of the paranormal world, everything from affretes to wendigos. Puts a spin on some cities and their beginnings that are great fun. Shouldn’t be surprised there are loup-garous in Congress and matutu-taotao at the IRS. Definitely disconcerting that the author/editor couldn’t decide if the great enemy of the tale was Chaac-Tlaloc or Chaac-Thaloc because it shows up both ways. Haven’t they heard of search and replace? The fight scenes and chases have a slap stick air about them but still enjoyable. Won’t divulge the purpose of all hoorah but the author made it sound improbably plausible. The best paranormal definition is the heading at Chapter 35. Almost worth buying the book for that alone. Received free copy for review.
March 16, 2012
The Department of Magic by Rod Kierkegaard Jr.
This book appears to be a satire on government. The Department of Magic responsibility is to protect “America” the goddess from any harm.
The premise of the book was very attractive. It prefaced each chapter with satirical definitions that were often quite funny. I found the main protagonists hapless and clueless which most likely was intentional.
There was plenty of action and gore. I just couldn’t get into the story. I didn’t find it captivating. I suspect it will find a fervent audience such as Adam’s Hitch Hiker which I also couldn’t get into.
This book appears to be a satire on government. The Department of Magic responsibility is to protect “America” the goddess from any harm.
The premise of the book was very attractive. It prefaced each chapter with satirical definitions that were often quite funny. I found the main protagonists hapless and clueless which most likely was intentional.
There was plenty of action and gore. I just couldn’t get into the story. I didn’t find it captivating. I suspect it will find a fervent audience such as Adam’s Hitch Hiker which I also couldn’t get into.
February 18, 2015
Fantastic follow up. I have become a great fan of Dan Jones. I enjoy his writing style and find it easy to follow. This book covers quite a significant time period with many, many names and places. If you read on a Kindle it is helpful to have either a hard copy of maps and genealogy trees or this book on Kindle PC app to refer to. It can get distracting to refer back and forth. There are so many common names and titles it can be daunting to keep track of. I felt the documentation and references were very thorough and supported the author's interpretation of events while allowing the reader to have their own. Very compelling read. I would highly recommend. gbash
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