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The War for Magic #1
L'Elfe Captif: Une fantasy urbaine aux elfes et à la romance ennemis-amants qui s'épanouit lentement (La Guerre pour la Magie)
— J’ai passé treize ans sur le front. Vous croyez qu’un simple elfe avec des menottes d’inhibition va me faire chier dans mon froc ?
Son ricanement méprisant aurait dû tout me dire.
Je suis Asha Lopez, soldate des arcanes. Mon métier, c’est de briser les ennemis. Celui-ci refuse de plier, et pire encore, il affole mon pouls d’une façon tout à fait anormale.
Puis il a commencé à parler.
Ce qu’il m’a donné, ce n’étaient pas des renseignements de mission. C’était une mèche : des secrets sur la guerre des portails qui dure depuis quinze ans, capables d’embraser notre monde s’ils étaient un jour révélés. Une vérité sombre et sordide sur qui je suis vraiment.
Chaque fil que je tire resserre le nœud coulant autour de son cou. Et autour du mien. Livrer les aveux qui le condamnent, ou mettre le feu à ma carrière, au récit de mon pays et à tout ce qu’on m’a appris à croire, pour le garder en vie.
On m’a appris à briser les prisonniers. On ne m’avait jamais préparée à celui qui allait me briser à son tour. Et tomber amoureuse de l’ennemi ? C’est une condamnation à mort.
Une urban fantasy militaire et crue dans un futur proche, avec une romance « ennemis à amants » qui se développe en fil rouge tout au long de la série. Parfait pour les fans d’Ilona Andrews et de Lindsay Buroker qui aiment leur fantasy avec du cœur et du mordant.
Son ricanement méprisant aurait dû tout me dire.
Je suis Asha Lopez, soldate des arcanes. Mon métier, c’est de briser les ennemis. Celui-ci refuse de plier, et pire encore, il affole mon pouls d’une façon tout à fait anormale.
Puis il a commencé à parler.
Ce qu’il m’a donné, ce n’étaient pas des renseignements de mission. C’était une mèche : des secrets sur la guerre des portails qui dure depuis quinze ans, capables d’embraser notre monde s’ils étaient un jour révélés. Une vérité sombre et sordide sur qui je suis vraiment.
Chaque fil que je tire resserre le nœud coulant autour de son cou. Et autour du mien. Livrer les aveux qui le condamnent, ou mettre le feu à ma carrière, au récit de mon pays et à tout ce qu’on m’a appris à croire, pour le garder en vie.
On m’a appris à briser les prisonniers. On ne m’avait jamais préparée à celui qui allait me briser à son tour. Et tomber amoureuse de l’ennemi ? C’est une condamnation à mort.
Une urban fantasy militaire et crue dans un futur proche, avec une romance « ennemis à amants » qui se développe en fil rouge tout au long de la série. Parfait pour les fans d’Ilona Andrews et de Lindsay Buroker qui aiment leur fantasy avec du cœur et du mordant.
386 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2025
About the author
P.A. Mason
37 books305 followersPaula Mason is an author from Australia who can’t quite decide if magic should be used for solving small-town mysteries, fighting dragons, or surviving a near-future war zone—so she writes all the things.
By day, Paula is a social worker with a deep grounding in social justice and a fascination with how culture, identity, and resilience help people navigate the messier parts of being human. Regardless of the genre, you can always count on two things: there will be magic (and usually witches), and there will be a story about people finding their way through the wreckage we call life.
Connect with Paula:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pamasonauthor/
BookBub - bookbub.com/profile/p-a-mason
Amazon - amazon.com/author/pamason
www.pamasonauthor.com
By day, Paula is a social worker with a deep grounding in social justice and a fascination with how culture, identity, and resilience help people navigate the messier parts of being human. Regardless of the genre, you can always count on two things: there will be magic (and usually witches), and there will be a story about people finding their way through the wreckage we call life.
Connect with Paula:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pamasonauthor/
BookBub - bookbub.com/profile/p-a-mason
Amazon - amazon.com/author/pamason
www.pamasonauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 27, 2025
I’ll reread this again at some point and start book two but I’ve lost interest for the moment unfortunately
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Rereading this to read book two!!
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𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓟.𝓐. 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓬!
This was a really fun, although slightly dark fantasy. I really enjoyed it, and honestly probably would have enjoyed it more as an audiobook! Thank you to the author for the arc!
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Rereading this to read book two!!
——————
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓟.𝓐. 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓬!
This was a really fun, although slightly dark fantasy. I really enjoyed it, and honestly probably would have enjoyed it more as an audiobook! Thank you to the author for the arc!
February 25, 2026
I DNFed after 40%.
MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS.
This was not only slow, the story was all over the place at the same time. The world building left me quite confused, and it didn't really work well with the supposed slow burn romance.
I really wanted to like this, but I stopped at the point where the side plot around the FMCs housing situation became completely ridiculous.
The FMC has super great special powers, but has to work through a huge amount of trauma first - which she OF COURSE declines to do.
The MFC is a physically immaculate elf, who is condescending and not forthcoming. But beauty is enough, so after three meetings, the FMC already is jealous that he has to treat sexual favours with one of the female guards.
That one was really really bad. The FMC notices that she herself prefers that he doesn't enjoy the sex. Seriously?
That is such a bullshit plot device. He is forced to have sex with someone while being imprisoned, in what world is that ok? But he seems fine, so all is good, and he is ready for the slow burn romance for the next human woman...
I cannot overlook those things, and so I am out of this story, which is a pity, because the writing drew me in in the beginning.
MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS.
This was not only slow, the story was all over the place at the same time. The world building left me quite confused, and it didn't really work well with the supposed slow burn romance.
I really wanted to like this, but I stopped at the point where the side plot around the FMCs housing situation became completely ridiculous.
The FMC has super great special powers, but has to work through a huge amount of trauma first - which she OF COURSE declines to do.
The MFC is a physically immaculate elf, who is condescending and not forthcoming. But beauty is enough, so after three meetings, the FMC already is jealous that he has to treat sexual favours with one of the female guards.
That one was really really bad. The FMC notices that she herself prefers that he doesn't enjoy the sex. Seriously?
That is such a bullshit plot device. He is forced to have sex with someone while being imprisoned, in what world is that ok? But he seems fine, so all is good, and he is ready for the slow burn romance for the next human woman...
I cannot overlook those things, and so I am out of this story, which is a pity, because the writing drew me in in the beginning.
May 6, 2025
Fifteen years ago, magical gates appeared on Earth, spreading magic to certain humans and starting years of wars between humans and other magical beings. After years of military service, Asha hates magic, even though she has it, and she hates elves even more. When peace talks with the elves start, Asha is tasked with learning elvish, as she is gifted with picking up languages. As there are multiple dialects, Asha is also tasked with interrogating a captive elf and to help her studies. As Asha works with the recalcitrant Barney, she learns some dangerous truths, and soon she has to decide who she’s loyal to, her orders or her world.
Asha is an interesting character. Traumatized from the fall out around her gaining magic, her main motivation is to close the gates permanently. She has grown up in the care of Colonel Levine, which has led to her joining the military out of a sense of duty, though she personally cares little for the military and the politics within. She knows her worth as a soldier, but she doesn’t always agree with everything her commanders are doing. Her tension between following orders and doing her duty and her personal ethics and the needs of the community creates an interesting dynamic throughout the book.
Barney is a mysterious character, and not much is known about him. He is unwilling to discuss his goals or pursue the ritualistic suicide expected of elven captives. He’s more than willing to manipulate and use the people around him to get what he wants. Despite this, Asha feels a strange empathy for him, and they manage to find surprising common ground. The two have to navigate through Barney’s personal code of honor, the complicated politics of the elves and Asha’s own orders to try to each get their own objectives.
An excellent urban fiction book that had some interesting ethical connotations. I can’t wait to see where the next book in the series goes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Asha is an interesting character. Traumatized from the fall out around her gaining magic, her main motivation is to close the gates permanently. She has grown up in the care of Colonel Levine, which has led to her joining the military out of a sense of duty, though she personally cares little for the military and the politics within. She knows her worth as a soldier, but she doesn’t always agree with everything her commanders are doing. Her tension between following orders and doing her duty and her personal ethics and the needs of the community creates an interesting dynamic throughout the book.
Barney is a mysterious character, and not much is known about him. He is unwilling to discuss his goals or pursue the ritualistic suicide expected of elven captives. He’s more than willing to manipulate and use the people around him to get what he wants. Despite this, Asha feels a strange empathy for him, and they manage to find surprising common ground. The two have to navigate through Barney’s personal code of honor, the complicated politics of the elves and Asha’s own orders to try to each get their own objectives.
An excellent urban fiction book that had some interesting ethical connotations. I can’t wait to see where the next book in the series goes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2026
I’m honestly surprised at all the positive reviews I see on here as well as in the YT comments (I listened to an audiobook version read by the narrator). While the concept was intriguing in the beginning (think Stargate, but portals to different fantasy realms with elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc.),the story as a whole was slow and didn’t really go anywhere. The end of the almost 9 hour audio had barely any real plot or action and I really think this could have been cut by 85%. There was no character development and very, very minimal plot advancement. Could have been bad fan-fiction.
Additionally, it’s described as a slow burn enemies to lovers trope, but they were barely enemies and there was no sexual or romantic attraction at all. Nothing to tell readers these two characters need to get together. At all. They were boring and definitely not sexy.
I’m abandoning this series at book 1 and likely won’t try this author again.
Additionally, it’s described as a slow burn enemies to lovers trope, but they were barely enemies and there was no sexual or romantic attraction at all. Nothing to tell readers these two characters need to get together. At all. They were boring and definitely not sexy.
I’m abandoning this series at book 1 and likely won’t try this author again.
September 30, 2025
I really liked that this book had more of an original storyline that I haven’t read a hundred times. Humans got magic after portals opened to other worlds. There are wars among the different species and the military is trying to find a way to close the portals for good. It was a slower paced book that didn’t have a whole lot going on. But it had some interesting world building and great potential. Looking forward to reading the next book
July 7, 2025
This urban fantasy book caught my attention from the outset - we jump into the scene about 20 years after portals opened that led to incursions of magical creatures and humans manifested magical power, sometimes with devastating consequences. Our main character, Asha, struggles to even use her power because of her traumatic introduction to magic. She has just returned from an offworld mission, and because of her facility with learning magic, she is tasked with attempting to gain fluency in Elvish by interrogating an elvish prionser, the first one that she's known to have been held in captivity for any length of time.
With most books like this, you can guess how the book is going to go - she's going to find herself intrigued, the elf surprises himself with attraction to her, and they happily escape together. It was a pleasant surprise that both individuals feel so strongly about their roles and duties that they tried their best to stay true to their mission - Asha in learning Elvish without torture, and "Barney" in not teaching the more private dialect that wasn't for trade purpose. There really wasn't ever a point where either individual professes undying, unreasonably deep love, just a shared realization that they both wanted to survive what life was throwing their way.
I look forward to reading about the continued adventure - it's wonderful to have an author writing in my favorite urban fantasy genre!
With most books like this, you can guess how the book is going to go - she's going to find herself intrigued, the elf surprises himself with attraction to her, and they happily escape together. It was a pleasant surprise that both individuals feel so strongly about their roles and duties that they tried their best to stay true to their mission - Asha in learning Elvish without torture, and "Barney" in not teaching the more private dialect that wasn't for trade purpose. There really wasn't ever a point where either individual professes undying, unreasonably deep love, just a shared realization that they both wanted to survive what life was throwing their way.
I look forward to reading about the continued adventure - it's wonderful to have an author writing in my favorite urban fantasy genre!
May 19, 2025
This book starts a bit chaotic for you get thrown into a new
world without any introduction. This is an apocalyptic actionpacked military story with lots of death and violence.
Everything is told from the perspective of Asha, a military officer whose magical powers awakened after the gates to other worlds have been opened.
She joined the military for that seemed to be the only way to help getting rid of the portals, the by her despised magic and the offworlders.
The plot deepens around Asha. She has a knack for languages and is tasked to get an imprisoned elf to talk. How could she have known that all her efforts would result in a betrayal by the man she trusted the most.
The mentioned romantic feelings were not that obvious, it still is not clear to me if these feelings were coerced or not. It did not help or change the situation at hand.
What I liked was the banter between Asha and her neighbour, her efforts to care for others and her ability to be a strong person and think for herself. She does not care for protocol when she has her mind set on uncovering thruths.
There are lots of unanswered questions at the end and plenty of the worlds to be discovered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
world without any introduction. This is an apocalyptic actionpacked military story with lots of death and violence.
Everything is told from the perspective of Asha, a military officer whose magical powers awakened after the gates to other worlds have been opened.
She joined the military for that seemed to be the only way to help getting rid of the portals, the by her despised magic and the offworlders.
The plot deepens around Asha. She has a knack for languages and is tasked to get an imprisoned elf to talk. How could she have known that all her efforts would result in a betrayal by the man she trusted the most.
The mentioned romantic feelings were not that obvious, it still is not clear to me if these feelings were coerced or not. It did not help or change the situation at hand.
What I liked was the banter between Asha and her neighbour, her efforts to care for others and her ability to be a strong person and think for herself. She does not care for protocol when she has her mind set on uncovering thruths.
There are lots of unanswered questions at the end and plenty of the worlds to be discovered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
September 23, 2025
Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial, and P.A. Mason for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don't usually read military fantasy very often, and I enjoyed this one a lot. The portal aspect was really interesting, and at time it felt like more a sci-fi LitRPG than a fantasy book.
Overall the pacing was fairly quick, but it did take a little bit to really get into the swing of things.
The worldbuilding was great, and there were lots of twists and turns to keep me engaged. Asha took a while to grow on me, and I honestly loved the side characters way more. Barney was really complicated, and I want to dig deeper into his backstory. The romance is super slow burn, but it looks like it will build more in future books.
Overall it was an interesting book, but I'm not sure I will continue the series. It was fun, but not quite the genre I though it would be.
I don't usually read military fantasy very often, and I enjoyed this one a lot. The portal aspect was really interesting, and at time it felt like more a sci-fi LitRPG than a fantasy book.
Overall the pacing was fairly quick, but it did take a little bit to really get into the swing of things.
The worldbuilding was great, and there were lots of twists and turns to keep me engaged. Asha took a while to grow on me, and I honestly loved the side characters way more. Barney was really complicated, and I want to dig deeper into his backstory. The romance is super slow burn, but it looks like it will build more in future books.
Overall it was an interesting book, but I'm not sure I will continue the series. It was fun, but not quite the genre I though it would be.
December 23, 2025
Wow, what a great book. I really enjoyed it. The story is set at Fort Hood, Texas 15 years after magic has taken over earth. Earth has somehow taken the source of magic robbing other beings of their share. Now, other worldly beings like Elves, Orcs, Dwarfs etc… are on earth and they want that magic back. Earth is at war! Asha is great at languages and is tasked to learn elvish to assist with the peace talks. She needs to get the elf captive to help her learn as best she can. The elf in question is in no hurry to help Asha learn.
The world building was really good. I was kind of confused about what brought about the change to magic but that is part of the story. This book is incredibly engaging and had me hooked from the beginning. I only gave 4 stars because I did feel like some parts of the novel were a little too detailed and weren’t really needed for the story. But that does not matter because overall the story was great.
The world building was really good. I was kind of confused about what brought about the change to magic but that is part of the story. This book is incredibly engaging and had me hooked from the beginning. I only gave 4 stars because I did feel like some parts of the novel were a little too detailed and weren’t really needed for the story. But that does not matter because overall the story was great.
November 13, 2025
I wanted to rate it lower but the end felt redeeming enough. This book is from a world where magical portals from other worlds were opened on Earth which is seeping with magic now and all fairy tale creatures appeared. Elves are the worst and people battle them. The story follows a soldier who just returned from her mission and is given a task to learn elvish from a prisoner. When political schemes start to emerge, she doubts everything.
There wasn't enough world building, character development or fast action for me to hold my interest but I was listening to the book and had nothing else to listen to on my walk so were it a book I'd have DNFd it but with the audio I couldn't and you know what? At the very end the book picks up the pace and starts being interesting. So the second installment might actually be interesting?
There wasn't enough world building, character development or fast action for me to hold my interest but I was listening to the book and had nothing else to listen to on my walk so were it a book I'd have DNFd it but with the audio I couldn't and you know what? At the very end the book picks up the pace and starts being interesting. So the second installment might actually be interesting?
April 18, 2025
Overall, this book was amazing. Honestly speaking, i'm not the biggest fan of fantasy but this story had me gripped from the start.
The fmc is a strong, determined woman + the treatment of the mmc in prison had her (and me!) in shock.
Despite being enemies, they quickly find they both agree on a lot of things when it comes to ‘the gate’.
Also, love, love, love the military aspect.
All throughout this, i was trying to figure out what the plot twist was going to be + trying to unravel the secrets. I was genuinely making notes and trying to link things up like a crazy woman.
This was an ARC provided in exchange for my honest opinion/thoughts. Thank you to both the author and net galley :)
The fmc is a strong, determined woman + the treatment of the mmc in prison had her (and me!) in shock.
Despite being enemies, they quickly find they both agree on a lot of things when it comes to ‘the gate’.
Also, love, love, love the military aspect.
All throughout this, i was trying to figure out what the plot twist was going to be + trying to unravel the secrets. I was genuinely making notes and trying to link things up like a crazy woman.
This was an ARC provided in exchange for my honest opinion/thoughts. Thank you to both the author and net galley :)
April 6, 2025
This is quite different to the author’s usual book. It is a bit longer and a bit darker. Still a strong story however. Introducing a different dimension or realm opens up the possibilities in future books which I look forward to reading. I found the first few chapters challenging because so many new concepts and words were introduced without (I felt) enough room to breathe but after that the writing flowed easily. I was tossing up between a 4 or 5 star rating but finally decided that the strength and individuality of the story and characters deserved a 5. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 28, 2025
This is a great beginning to a new series by an author I already love. Her previous series is a paracozy set Down Under, but this one is a military/urban fantasy set in the US. After portals are opened between Earth and other worlds, the various beings are having more or less success in peaceful interaction. Elves in particular are fighting to cut off access to their world. One is captured by humans and our protagonist is charged with finding out who he is and why he's here. Characters are well defined and the background story gradually comes into focus as not being black and white. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.
May 31, 2025
Portals from magical worlds have opened up all over Earth. Asha Lopez has been fighting in that war, as one of the soldiers with magical abilities for fifteen years. She unleashed a burst of fire that killed her parents when the portals opened, She had been fifteen. According to P.A. Mason, an Elf was captured and hadn’t committed suicide as Elves usually do. Asha is assigned to the The Elf Captive (paper) to learn his language and more about him while her superiors are involved with negotiations that might bring peace. This is an interesting world. While the tale ended where I expected, I’m looking forward to Aesha’s further adventures in the Elven world.
June 10, 2025
This story has quite an original premise whereby portals have opened up around the world
- magical portals . Our heroine has been tasked to uses her magics to learn as much
as she can about an elven captive , especially his language ........... peace being the ultimate
goal .
I was a bit frustrated at times as the story felt a choppy but it soon smoothed out .
The story held many twists and turns with characters that I became invested in and
I look forward to where the storyline will take us next
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
- magical portals . Our heroine has been tasked to uses her magics to learn as much
as she can about an elven captive , especially his language ........... peace being the ultimate
goal .
I was a bit frustrated at times as the story felt a choppy but it soon smoothed out .
The story held many twists and turns with characters that I became invested in and
I look forward to where the storyline will take us next
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
January 29, 2026
The Elf Captive
Its nice to read a story that is a mix of things just happening to Asha, and self driven both. You don't get the feeling that the main character just sits back and lets everything happen to and around her, and I didn't end up annoyed with her for being too aggressive. Watching the relationship development between the Elf captive and Asha was slightly frustrating only because you are pretty sure you know the direction it's going, but not in a bad way. The flow all in all is just right. The mix of military, magic, and emotions makes this a new storyline that's interesting to read. This does and with a cliffhanger that will leave you ready for the next book.
Its nice to read a story that is a mix of things just happening to Asha, and self driven both. You don't get the feeling that the main character just sits back and lets everything happen to and around her, and I didn't end up annoyed with her for being too aggressive. Watching the relationship development between the Elf captive and Asha was slightly frustrating only because you are pretty sure you know the direction it's going, but not in a bad way. The flow all in all is just right. The mix of military, magic, and emotions makes this a new storyline that's interesting to read. This does and with a cliffhanger that will leave you ready for the next book.
May 21, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed the FMC and MMC. I like that she stood by her beliefs even if it was going against what she learned was the “right way”. I just wish I saw more of a connection with them.
I really liked the storyline and the concept! Some parts seemed a bit choppy but overall it was easy to follow the storyline and read.
The description was right about slow burn and don’t get me wrong I love a slow burn but for me personally it was just a lot slow.
I really enjoyed the FMC and MMC. I like that she stood by her beliefs even if it was going against what she learned was the “right way”. I just wish I saw more of a connection with them.
I really liked the storyline and the concept! Some parts seemed a bit choppy but overall it was easy to follow the storyline and read.
The description was right about slow burn and don’t get me wrong I love a slow burn but for me personally it was just a lot slow.
November 28, 2025
Overall this book is brilliant a great book 1 of the series. I don’t normally read sci-fi but ho3 this author has merged fantasy and sci-fi is incredible. Asha throughout everything stayed true to herself and belief's. Barney the captive elf I warmed to this character and can’t wait to see how the relationship between Asha and Barney build as the series continues. Oh my goodness what a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to get into book two of the series ‘Twisted Truths’
P.A. Mason
P.A. Mason
December 29, 2025
The Elf Captive by P.A. Manson completely surprised me. This was my first book from this author, and I honestly could not put it down. The storyline hooked me straight away and kept my attention the whole time. What really stood out was how fresh and original it felt. It did not feel like something I had read before, which made it even more enjoyable. I flew through it and would definitely recommend this book to my friends. I enjoyed it so much that I am already moving straight on to book two and cannot wait to see what happens next.
April 12, 2025
This was a very fun read. More of a military sci-fi and less of a typical fae romantasy. Instead of the different types of non human character being from a place like Underhill, they're from different planets that have accessed earth via magical portals. It does end on a cliffhanger, but it didn't come as a surprise, and I intend to read on anyway. Thank you for the chance to read this ARC!
April 30, 2025
I’ve read this author’s books before so was glad to see she was writing a new series. I was actually reluctant to start this, with no idea why, but I started anyway because I know I would like it. This is an interesting and engaging story with a somewhat unique universe. Asha didn’t really click with me at first, but I definitely liked Barney (!) as soon as we were introduced to him. I liked the twists and turns, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
June 9, 2025
The Elf Captive Book 1 The War for Magic by P.A. Mason is another great beginning to a new series by an author I already enjoy. Good well-developed characters, a slow burn romance and a mix of magic and sci-fi, lots of twists and turns. Recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 11, 2025
3.75 stars!
A solid introduction to a dystopian world where a lot more is going on than is visible at the start. This is the first P. A. Mason book I have read and I enjoyed it enough that I went right out and bought the start of another of her series. Hopefully the next entry in this series will follow soon! I'm looking forward to seeing how things shake out.
A solid introduction to a dystopian world where a lot more is going on than is visible at the start. This is the first P. A. Mason book I have read and I enjoyed it enough that I went right out and bought the start of another of her series. Hopefully the next entry in this series will follow soon! I'm looking forward to seeing how things shake out.
January 19, 2026
I am usually a fan of fantasy! I am unsure if this was because it was a slow burn, or I just couldn't put myself into the story, I just can't find it in me liking this as much as I was hoping.
It was totally a good book! Sadly, Just not my cup of tea this time.
Are the other ones worth it in the series ??
It was totally a good book! Sadly, Just not my cup of tea this time.
Are the other ones worth it in the series ??
February 1, 2026
A True Page Turner
It’s rare a book captures my attention so well. Ten percent into the book, I fell in love. While the relationship with the prisoner and one of the guards gave me pause, I loved this story from start to finish. I look forward to continuing the series. This book was very well written. The characters, plot, and development were stellar.
It’s rare a book captures my attention so well. Ten percent into the book, I fell in love. While the relationship with the prisoner and one of the guards gave me pause, I loved this story from start to finish. I look forward to continuing the series. This book was very well written. The characters, plot, and development were stellar.
March 27, 2026
Urban fantasy is my favourite genre and I needed an audiobook to listen to on my long drive and stumbled upon this one. I really liked it although it became a bit less interesting for me when all the politics entered the chat, I am not sure if I will continue the story honestly, I am not much of a series reader, but we'll see.
March 30, 2026
I was thrown off that the story didn’t begin with world building- so it was a bit confusing at first that this was set in modern times, but also felt like it was missing so much. Plus I felt like it was kind of scattered on what the author was trying to convey- kind of felt more like a first draft. I get that this is the beginning on the series, but the ending fell flat for me.
June 4, 2025
What a fantastic book! I loved the merging of fantasy and sci-fi. I loved that Asha remained true to herself and her beliefs even when those closest to her showed that they had other conflicting values. I can’t imagine how betrayed she felt. I loved this and look forward to reading the next book!
June 28, 2025
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I do think we went a little too quickly into "oooh cute boy, I'm kinda jealous" zone, but I'm glad it didn't affect the MC for the most part. I like the grittiness of this and am looking forward to book 2.
August 13, 2025
An absolutely brilliant book with a action packed storyline,with an us and them scenario through out. A gripping tale of lies and deception leading to life changing decisions.
I absolutely recommend this book.
I absolutely recommend this book.
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