Magic for a Price

Allie Beckstrom #9

by Devon Monk, Emily Durante (Narrator)

With Portland about to descend into chaos, Allie Beckstrom needs to find a way to purify the wells of tainted magic beneath the city. But the only options left to her are grim: attempt to close down magic forever, or follow her father's plan to set magic into the right hands-even though she's learned to never trust his word. Now, Allie will have to make a choice and face the darkness of her own deepest fears, before time runs out for them all...

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

10 pages, Audio CD

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Devon Monk is a national best selling writer of urban fantasy. Her series include Ordinary Magic, House Immortal, Allie Beckstrom, Broken Magic and Shame and Terric. She also writes the Age of Steam steampunk series, and the occasional short story which can be found in her collection: A Cup of Normal, and in various anthologies. She has one husband, two sons, and lives in Oregon. When not writing, Devon is either drinking too much coffee or knitting silly things.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

What came to mind when I reached the very last page of Magic for a Price, the ninth and final installment in Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series? “Now THIS is how you write a final book in a series!” I loved this book. From the moment I started reading it to the very last word, it was brilliant. The pace was perfect, the character development was perfect, the story was perfect, and the ending was perfect. Yes people, it was that good.

Now let me expand a little bit for you guys…

The pace. Seeing that this is the last book in the series, I sort of expected it to be a bit rushed. You know, because all of the questions that have come up over the last eight books need to be answered and all. But of course it wasn’t rushed because Devon is better than that. Instead it was a rush! The book starts off strong, and from pretty much exactly where the last book left off, and zooms you to the end.

The character development. Yes, in a ‘book nine’, it IS possible to continue developing your characters. Allie has grown consistently in each book of the series and she grew even more as a character, as a person in this last book. I really felt like she found herself and found peace, for lack of a better word. And she’s not the only character who grew in this book; pretty much everyone did. Especially Shane, which makes sense since he and Terric will be the focus of Devon’s new series, coming…eventually but not soon enough to bookstores near you. *grin* In fact, Devon did such a great job with Shane that even though I have loved him since the first time I met him on the page, I absolutely can’t wait to see what his books hold. There is just so much to his character already and yet, I know there is much left for us to discover. I am looking forward to seeing him reach the same harmony that Allie attains at the end of her series. Because goodness knows he deserves it.

The story. Oh my goodness the story. Allie and friends have to figure out a way to clean the magic that has been poisoned, saving Portland, her friends and the world. No biggie, right? *snort* The twists, the turns…oh my goodness the twists and the turns! All amazing. And really, there is barely a quiet moment in the book. The story was amazing with everything I was hoping would happen did and everything I didn’t know I wanted to happen did.

The ending. I literally hugged the book to my chest and sighed when I reached the end. I know I’m using the word ‘perfect’ a lot in this review but really, it’s the best word for many aspects of this book. But for you, so you won’t find me redundant, I shall open up my thesaurus and see what it says to use instead of that word. *opens thesaurus* Flawless! Yes! Great word! The ending was flawless. With this ending, Devon not only managed to take care of Allie and her story line in a very thorough way but she also managed to leave you wanting to send her tweets and possibly emails about Shame and Terric’s books, turning you into a borderline stalker, because now there are questions about them. Really, it’s just perfect for a last book in a series. Not perfect, sorry. Not that word again… Nope, I’m going back to perfect. It’s the perfect ending.

I want to chat quickly about the series as a whole. I really liked how Devon wrote this series. It was not one looooong nine book story arc. She changed it up every few books. She kept it fresh. But some of the little pieces that were left behind when she took the series on a new direction came back in the last book to tie everything up just right. This is a wonderful urban fantasy series. The way Devon describes magic and how it’s used in her books is just phenomenal. I have not read magic used like that anywhere else. How it uses you while you use it, how there is a price to pay when you use it…it’s so cool! And even though there were some stronger books than others in this series, not once did I finish a book and think I had just wasted my time or think that Devon dropped the ball on that one. Every book advanced the story and set things up for this awesome finale.

In case you didn’t catch it, I loved this book. I really hope Urban Fantasy fans give this series a try. Devon Monk has a wonderful writing voice, her imagination so rich and unique and her characters are fantastic. And there is just enough humor to keep things fresh. Overall, Magic for a Price reminds us how talented Devon is and how lucky we are to have read such an entertaining series.

[Ferdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars — spoilers

Allie and the gang try to save magic.

-The plot was fast paced, most of the characters were likeable, the action was spot on, the romance was kind of lame but since there were so many other things going on, it wasn't that big a deal.

-Allie was a decent enough heroine, she wasn't quite as annoying as she used to be although she still had her moments.
For the most part, I thought Allie was useless in the fight to save magic and defeat Leander/Isabelle — her dad was the one with all the power and knowledge, if he hadn't possessed her, she would know nothing. I just wasn't convinced about her being elected as a temporary leader..I could see why the hounds would follow her since she earnt their respect and was a hound herself. But it was ridiculous for the Authority to follow her, unless of course they were only using her for her dad.
I was irritated by the amount of times Allie would observe everyone else fighting and using magic — it was boring to read about her descriptions of magic and what everyone else was doing.
I was disappointed that she didn't try to find out more about her past — her accident, her relationship with Eli, her mum… she was told important things about her life and it was like she wasn't even bothered. Maybe in Shame's books, Allie will look into her past in more detail?

-Zay was slightly more likeable this time around, I've always thought Zay was quite boring and one dimensional — he was always too closed off and unemotional..since book 1, he's barely had any character growth.
I've also never been convinced of his love for Allie because apart from when they have sex, he's rarely shown any deep feelings or love towards Allie..he was better in this book though. But I was still hoping that they wouldn't end up together.

-Shame and Terric were great together. I thought it was unrealistic that they were made the heads of Portland Authority at the end… First they were too young - I'm sure there were more experienced members that would have been more suited to the job. Secondly, Shame was far too undeserving, unstable and unpredictable..why would he be promoted?
I think the only reason Shame and Terric were given the jobs at the end was to set up their story for future books.
The addition of Eleanor has me thinking that she'll be a part of a love triangle of some sort with Shame and Terric - especially with the mention that she used to have a huge crush on him and also the fact that that side plot was left unresolved.

-I didn't understand Allie's dad — one minute he seemed to want to protect Allie and the next he was all cool about her being dead?! It didn't make sense.

-I was disappointed that there wasn't more of Eli, and also that his connection with Allie was quickly explained in a few paragraphs and then just forgotten about… I mean they dated for 2 years, and I can't imagine Allie dating him that long if she didn't love him… their relationship must have been something special yet it was barely touched upon. I'm hoping Allie's relationship with him will be further explored in the Shame/Terric's books.

Overall, this was enjoyable - I'm mostly pleased with how things were wrapped up although it did feel rushed and I would have preferred if answers had been spread out over the last few books rather than being crammed in the final book.
I'm looking forward to Shame and Terric's books..hopefully Allie will have a decent sized role in their books..I'm not bothered about Zay.

[Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I always forget how intense these books are. Constant drama and action. I'm a little sad to see this series end but I was happy with the way DM handled it. I'll definitely be checking out the Shame and Terric spin off. I was very intrigued with the direction their characters took in this book. I had a few gripes about them praising Ally again. I'd have liked a few more details about Eli but there was so much packed in this book it's barely a blip. Great series.

[Deborah Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "Magic" series featuring Allie Beckstrom has been one of my favorites for many years and I have been feeling somewhat bittersweet about it coming to an end. As both a reader and an author, I know how hard it is to tie up all the loose ends and bring a series to a satisfying conclusion.

Thankfully, I can report that Devon Monk has done this in spades. MAGIC FOR A PRICE was a fast and furious, clever, nail-biting ride from beginning to end, full of twists and turns and ending up with a conclusion that was both natural to the story and rewarding to the reader. With just enough romance to make you close the book with a happy sigh.

If you haven't read this series yet, you can easily start with this book, since Monk is terrific at recapping previous events without being boring to those who read the other books--but all the books in this series are so amazing, I'd strongly suggest you start at the beginning with MAGIC TO THE BONE and take the entire wild ride with Allie and her friends. I promise, you won't be sorry.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming spin-off with favorite characters Shame and Terric, too.

Kudos, Devon, for a job well done!

[Melliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mon avis en français

My ENglish review

It took me some time before reading this last novel. I always have a little trouble with the end of the series, especially those that I like. And now, after so many years Allie comes to an end. But fortunately, a spin-off of with Terric and Shame is here and it’s also a very good series. Whenever I begin a final, I wonder if the author will really manage to hook us and finish in style. Something which I think is always a very difficult task.

The chaos extends into the city and the war is approaching more and more for our characters and Portland. And who better to lead this rebellion? You guessed right, our dear Allie. Something that she doesn’t really enjoy, but she will do this with all her heart, especially if it means saving the people she loves. From the beginning of the novel, our heroes decide to close and completely purify magic, but their enemies are approaching increasingly doing great damage in their wake, all that to destroy Allie and Zay. But our heroes are tenacious, even if their life is at stake, they will go through all that.

It was a very good book, a nice conclusion. We can read it very fast as everything happens very quickly, allowing us to immerse ourselves completely in the pace of the action and the speed of the events. Zay and Allie will face many dangers, and even more than we might think, and yet they remain united, supporting the one and the other. We discover the consequences of the magical union between Shame and Terric and I must say that it was amazing. Shame is always equal to himself, still funny and subconscious but we love him like that. I loved his speech at the end of the book elsewhere. I had many questions with the other books and I wondered if Devon Monk would give us our answers and I have to say that I’m really glad I learned the truth about many events. We thus discover Daniel from a new perspective and we then understand his character and the sacrifices he has made throughout his life. But that’s not all, we also know a little better Allie and the person she was before meeting Zayvion. However, I have a little disappointment, I really wanted to learn more about Eli, and although we have a few scraps of truth, his character remains rather vague and I’m a little disappointed not to have learned more about him. We go through many emotions throughout the story, joy to tears, but all well balanced.

So it’s a very good book, a nice conclusion and I’m really glad to have discovered this whole series.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been 2 months, so I'll stop kidding myself. I can't finish this. It's sad to say, since I gave almost every book a 5 and forced my obsession on others to read it too.

This feels like several of the other books:

Allie and Zay! I've over it and I find them boring and predictable.

Terric and Shamus. Are they gay? I always wished they would get together or at least that Shamus would stop feeling so awkward.

Allie STILL can't use her fucking magic! This has been going on for several books and I can't take it. It's one of the reasons I liked the series. I've never seen magic protrayed in such a unique way and it's frustrating to watch the MC not be able to do it while every one else can. She's sort of flakey anyway and that most certainly didn't help.

Her dad is still in her head!!!! Dude, wtf? I always thought it was creepy that he was in her head while her and Zay were getting it on. No matter how far back and unaware he was at the time. Maybe he shouldn't have died since he is needed so much.

In conclusion, I loved the series, but the wells and someone coming after them, allie's inability to use magic...it just all feels like the same old same old and I don't really care enough to finish reading it. I read some spoilers and that's good enough for me.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe it’s over. I’m very sad to see the Allie Beckstrom series draw to a close, but I have to give Devon Monk credit where credit is due. The lady clearly had a plan. That may sound like it should be a given in a series like this, but I can tell you that when you get past book 3 or book 5 in an ongoing arc, many (if not most) stories start to lose their way. Threads get lost. The focus changes. But in this series, it feels like everything was done for a reason… to get us to this place. And I think that’s pretty fantastic.

This is the book where Allie and her gang must finally face off with the Big Bad, Soul Compliments Isabelle and Leander. They have possessed the highest member of the international Authority and now all of the magical heavyweights from around the world are being turned against Portland. This, as our band of good guys are already worn to the bone from the magical wars they have barely survived over the last few days. They must pull on every last reserve to just keep moving forward. And it’s Allie who has to lead them.

As with the last few books in the series, there is absolutely no rest for these characters. That keeps the pace of the story barreling forward. But what really keeps you invested is the continued growth of –and revelations about– Allie, Zay, Shame, Terric, and so many others who make up the true heart of the books. Monk takes Shame and Terric to an entirely new level in preparation for their spinoff series. And I am definitely interested in seeing what she does with that.

Monk gave me the kind of ending I needed. The characters ended up in places I could live with. Most of my questions are answered. And she did not end the book immediately after the climax, which let me leave on an emotional note, rather than an adrenaline rush. I even sort of understand Allie’s dad.

But I’m left with a few niggles. I didn’t like the way Allie’s dad’s behavior was explained. It was too dry and a missed opportunity for greater impact. I would have like to see this explored with him there, to allow some interaction over it. I was also very unsatisfied with the lackluster explanation of what caused Allie’s massive memory losses. This was a huge deal in her life that amounted to very little in the end. Another problem: I felt like Collins was an odd thread. Yes, his connection to Allie was explained, but why create the connection at all, if it only amounted to a tiny scene with very little context? And finally, what is the deal with Zayvion’s magic? A fine point was made about its state after the big battle, so where is it now?

Maybe the last thing will be addressed in the spinoff. Maybe these things were a conscious decision to keep the ending from being “too perfect.” But they kept this otherwise awesome book from being an A-read for me. Don’t get me wrong. Like I said at the beginning, Monk impressed me with her story planning. I was largely satisfied. I definitely ended this series, a fan. And I will continue on with the Broken Magic spinoff.

Rating: B

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

So all good things must come to an end ...

Book #8 ends with sort of a cliffhanger, when Roman Grimshaw told Allie and Zayvion that the Overseer has been possessed by Leander and Isabelle and they are bringing the apocalypse war to Portland. Now, Allie, Zayvion, Shame, Terric, and the rest of Portland magic users, the Hounds, even the cops, are ready to defend their city, no matter what. Starting with closing the Wells, so no magic can be used. Then, it's basically a race against time and a four-characters battle against Leander and Isabelle.

On one hand, I love how it finally all comes together and almost all of the characters introduced play a part in this book. Plus nobody died. The story keeps the pace just right, building the momentum until the very end. On the other hand, I do have niggle which stop me from giving this a perfect 5-stars rating, despite it being the series finale.

I feel like Allie is more like a passive player in this final war. She doesn't really do anything -- instead, it's her Dad who does things using Allie's body. It's not her own ability that helps end the war. I miss the Allie who storms past the Gate of Death to bring Zay's soul back. I already feel this way in book #8 when Allie cannot use her magic anymore. I thought she would find another source of power for this finale... but she doesn't. So in that sense, I'm disappointed. I feel like more power comes from her Dad instead, or even Stone, and Cody. They play a bigger part to stop Leander and Isabelle and brings the magic back together.

I'm also a bit sad that after such intense emotional event in book #8 regarding Shame and Terric, this one is lacking in that division. I'm not hoping for sudden romance or anything ... but despite their amazing display of power as Soul Complements, I don't think that Shame and Terric's issue is completely resolved -- meaning whether or not Shame finally accepts being Terric's Soul Complement. I wish there's a scene about them talk about what it means for them and how they will deal with it especially now that they're appointed as Head of the Authority in Portland.

Zayvion though, holds my heart for his fierceness in protecting Allie. Daniel Beckstrom surprises me with his secret of Allie's past. And I can't stop saying how much I LOVE Stone the Gargoyle and Cody the Savant. It's very interesting how big Cody's role in this, when back in the earlier books, I thought Cody would just be a side character...

This has been one of my favorite urban fantasy series. A rather weak series finale, but still it has been a solid entertaining throughout, and I love it. I'm already start missing these characters now that I'm finished with this one.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is final book in the Allie Beckstrom series and what a ride it’s been! This book does an excellent job of tying up the main storyline while staying realistic. Definitely don’t start with this book, go back and read the rest of the series first or you will be totally lost.

Jingo Jingo may be dead but magic is still poisoned. When Allie and crew find out that the head of Seattle Authority has been possessed by the Soul Complements Leander/Isabelle time becomes of the essence. Leander/Isabelle want to shut down Portland and control all magic. Allie and crew must cure magic and ensure that Portland isn’t blown to pieces if they are ever to survive as a city.

This was a fast-paced and engaging conclusion to this series. Allie, Zayvion, Shame, and Terric are all pushed to their breaking points and forced to do the impossible to save magic. I continue to enjoy the creative magic system and how every spell has a price to pay.

The action scenes were awesome and there is a ton of magic wielding going on. Shame and Terric finally use magic as Soul Complements and they do some pretty darn awesome things with it.

Allie is forced to work a lot with her dad to figure out how to purify the wells. During the process of the well purification and the final stand off with Leander/Isabelle Allie finally learns her dad’s master plan. As a result of this we learn more about Allie’s history and her father.

Zayvion also does some awesome magic, but serves more as support to Allie than anything else. There isn’t much romance here because so much is going on and the characters are so beat up the whole time. Still it is obvious that Allie and Zay have a loving relationship based on mutual respect.

Shame and Terric were really the ones that stole the show. They are finally coming to terms with their magical relationship and finding some peace...it’s a pretty bumpy ride to get to that point but a pretty awesome one too. There are rumors that a book/series from Shame/Terric’s POV may be in the works...that would be so cool!

Overall an excellent conclusion to this series, fans of the series should be pleased. This book is well-written, easy to read and fast-paced. Magic, action, and mystery are all perfectly balanced. I will definitely be checking out future series by Devon Monk and do hope that we do see a story on Shame and Terric in the future. This is a solid urban fantasy series and I recommend to those who are urban fantasy fans.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to a terrific series full of action and emotion. This one suffered a little bit from too perfect heroine syndrome, the typical UF sudden leadership malady. It's hard for me to believe that people who've been leaders for their entire lives, or practicing magic for up to thirty years, would turn to a young woman who's always been a loner, has no leadership or battle experience, and has only been aware of what magic can really do for one year and doesn't really understand the applications of that because she's been fighting not studying, unconscious, lied to, purposely kept in the dark by those same people, or otherwise occupied for most of that year, to be the leader of their entire war effort. It happens a lot in UF, people with no experience become battle leaders and it always bugs me. It bugged me more this time because this book didn't need it, Allie was enough of a hero for the pieces of the effort she was helping with without making it necessary for her to take on leading the whole shebang. I would have bought into accidental hero or part of a leadership team more easily than having a giant room full of people expecting her to lead them out of trouble.

Nevertheless, the book worked and the series worked. And the reason it worked was because it had a plan from beginning to end. As sad as I am to see it end, having an end in sight is why it worked so well. It isn't one of those series that's just wandering on and on, milking the fans' interest in the characters by re-writing the same story over and over again with just a few changes in details. Or one of those series where the books just get progressively worse and worse as it gets more and more obvious that the author just doesn't have any idea where she's going with the characters and has completely lost any sense of direction for the series, she's just trying to sell more books. Every book in this series had a purpose, every step of the journey was planned and well executed. Each step led logically and inevitably to the next. But only in hindsight of course, that's why we had to keep frantically turning the pages and buying the books, to see what happened next. It was really a great series, a terrific balance of action, magic, mystery, and most of all, love. I'm glad I went along for the ride.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5..

I really wish I could give this book 5 stars. It really was a great read, but there were some things that bugged the bajezus outta me. For one, why must Monk think she needs to explain to us what soul compliments are and what they can do about a dozen or more times in ONE BOOK? We get it already. In fact, she managed to over explain several things.. Almost like she was reaching for a word limit or something. And how many times can one person die in a single book, let alone a whole series.?
Allies was more of a story teller in this book than an active part of it, IMO. I mean she did stuff, and stuff happened to her, but nothing like what usually happens with her. She was very limited with her magic after the last book. Even Zay wasn't as rugged bad ass as usual. Shame and Terric? AMAZING.. They come together in a way that's so beautiful. I feel like, in this book, we got to see more than hear the characters. There seemed to be a lot less 'conversation' between them all.. Which nixed out a lot of the witty comebacks and such. Which I really missed.. Specially from Shame. There were still a few retorts, but nothing like the usual. Allie's father ended up being the guy I though he was from the beginning. But I won't go into details.

Allie and her crew meet up for a final battle against Leander and Isabelle, without much rest since the last battle. The Overseer (LeandAbelle), set out to destroy the world.. Starting with Portland. She/they convinced the entire Authority outside of Portland that Portland has been compromised and must be contained. Seattle is sent in to 'deal' with the situation. Allie finds herself in the position of leading everyone through the disaster. She decides to do something very drastic. Shut down the magic. She and her crew run around town to cleanse the magic and close the well's after the cisterns to the city were shut off so no one could use magic. This is the majority of the book.. But still managed to be a good follow. Then the time comes to fight LeandAbelle and it seems like all was for naught. In the end, good conquered evil and questions were answered. It was a fine way to end the series.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, sweet hells how I adore this series!! I cried off and on like a little baby, and that was just from the s/l, not that it's the last in my beloved series.

I don't even know what to say. It won't do justice to how much I love this world and those people, so I'm not going to try right now. What a great feeling knowing that this is the second time in only a few days that a book has made me speechless (the other one was Iced).

[mrsj · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE END

End of series.
End of magic.

I loved it.
It's amazing.
The twists. The irritating trust issues.
I love everything from this book.

I love Shame. Perhaps a short story on him soon?

And I love Daniel Beckstrom.

I wish I know more about Eli.

This is really a wonderful journey.
I'm glad that I did not give up on this series.

[Marianne Boutet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, no - it's the end of the series! And what an end, indeed. Applause to you, Ms. Monk, for wrapping up the story so well, leaving the characters nicely sorted with things to do, places to go. Wonderful read.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had a fraught relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series, and MAGIC FOR A PRICE addressed many of my issues. But a nine book build up to get answers means high expectations, and my own reaction was mixed to say the least. I enjoyed MAGIC FOR A PRICE very much as an individual book, but it’s ending suffered significantly from my issues with the series as a whole.

In past books I felt like the action moved too slow, with Allie facing the same magical problems over and over. This contributed to my difficulty in keeping track of which books I had read before as the events and descriptions from Allie’s perspective changed so little I always struggled to find my place in the series. This isn’t a problem at all in MAGIC FOR A PRICE. Monk interweaves new action with unobtrusive references to past events, making it very easy to refresh my memory on the series while moving forward with the plot.

And Monk does make sweeping changes to her world in MAGIC FOR A PRICE, something I wish had happened earlier in the series. I would have liked this book so much more if I could see Allie and company dealing with the consequences of their battle in future books. As a series finale, however, I didn’t care enough about these conflicts, stretched long and thin over nine books, to make the resolution pack significant punch. The magical architecture Monk has created is unparalleled, the relationships (between both living and dead) are unique and nuanced, but there is some elemental aspect of pacing and character that is missing for me. It’s telling that my affection for Stone is so much stronger than my interest in Allie’s love life, or that my curiosity is so much stronger for the Hounds than the Assembly. This series and I have been just half a step out of sync the whole way through.

For readers who have enjoyed the incremental plotlines while staying invested in the mystery of Allie’s past and relationship with her father, MAGIC FOR A PRICE will be a bittersweet treat that answers longstanding questions while bringing the series to a close. I enjoyed this individual book very much, though my relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series as a whole stays where it started, conflicted.

Sexual Content: Brief scene of sensuality.

[Yani · Rating 5 out of 5]

:'( Good bye Allie, Zay, Shamus, Terric and Stoney and all others. How do you even compare????????? There is no comparison to the wonderful adventure and all the magics thats been presented throughout this series. I love Devon for her style in writing and her wits, humour and wonderful plots and mysteries in these books. I am in love with Allie's life and felt really sad that this is the final book :'(

I don't know how I can read any other book after this without comparing the quality and the content and the style of writing. It's been sooooo much fun to read the Magic series even when I've read it 3 times! I find myself still enjoying it as though it was the first time I'd read it.

Thank you Devon, for introducing us to Allie and her dad. He is a wonderful man even with his faults...I admire his ability when it comes to magic, its too sad that he had to leave. Ilaugh, smiled, grin, cry and grin again throughout this series, never a dull moment.
"Magic for a price. It is always the way of things." Daniel Beckstrom.
The title to this last series is SO fitting! All the sacrifices that Daniel made for Allie...magic for a price. WONDERFUL book!!!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Devon Monk did an Amazing job bringing this series to an end. I loved every minute of this book. It was fast paced,explosive and one heck of a ride. There were many moments that I had to dry my eyes and by the end I had to have my box of tissues ready at hand. All of the questions I had were answered and many more things were revealed. The Allie Beckstrom Series has always been one of my favorites and I am very sad to see it end but I am also ready to see what she has instore for us with her next Novel. You will not be disappointed with this book.

[Aros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, my thanks for writing such an amazing series has to go to Devon Monk. Never have I read anything so addicting, so captivating, so everyday-reality in my life. The author definitely had me on the edge of my chair, laughing, crying and even a bit jealous lol but I fell in love with these characters in so many way.
Thank you Devon Monk for writing such an amazing series.

[D2licious · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great build up to the end of the series. It's been a great ride. I can't wait to see how it ends....

[Tracy T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

And that is how you end a series, ladies and gentlemen.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ninth and, thank god, last in the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and revolving around a young Hound who has found her Soul Complement. And the only one in the world who can save it…poor thing.

It's been two days since Magic Without Mercy , 8.

My Take
Well, this was annoying. I've only been reading this series to find out how her father behaves at the end, and…what a letdown. The greatest intrigue in the whole series has been Dad shifting and shying away from telling Allie anything meaningful. She has to drag it out of him. Continually. And he's always holding something back. When we finally do learn why Dad behaved as he did. Lame. I should have expected this. Being lame must be a genetic thing since I find Allie so lame.

You may have noticed that I can't stand Allie. And I am consistent to the end. I still hate her. She behaves so stupidly. She doesn't like that the Portland Authority is using Proxies again to push the pain of using magic onto others (who have signed up to do just that). Because, oh yeah, it's so much more practical for those who must defend Portland against the enemies to be wracked with pain and not able to keep people alive. And even better, just being around magic makes Allie sick. So, hey, let's make sure Allie has to use magic AND take the pain of it. How helpful would that be?? Sorry, sarcasm run amuck…

Allie just doesn't stop handing me that ammunition to hate her. She gets sick if she uses magic. She's practically dying after this second well. She'll be needed on the third one. And she's being pissy because no one is planning to let her attack and protect to get to that well. Even though it's iffy that she can even seal that third one. And that she's the only one of them all who can do it. No, she wants to play at everything. Wahhh. Slap that bitch for me!

She's whining at everyone to do their job. To suck it up. And as soon as Zay takes off to help others, she starts whining about how she can't do this without him. Wahhhh. Slap her some more. What? Zay is going to sacrifice himself? Not without her. No, she'd rather go die with him than do the job she's supposed to be doing. Saving the people of Portland. The ones she's been whinging on about it being a sacred trust for her to protect. Wahhh, some more. Okay, so it's actually Allie's dad doing the spells and using her body. It's desperately beyond important that they get this job done. So what does Allie do? You got it. She wants to argue with her father about "what magic is doing to us". Bugger me blind. Then she gets annoyed that daddy has told her to shut up and let him concentrate. Well, how dare he!

That's Allie, consistent all the way. Shame lost control for a bit and drank down lives. He's miserable about it, and Allie is pushing at him to talk about it. Oh, yeah. That's the time you want to sit someone down and have a heart-to-heart, right in the middle of battle. We'll just ask everyone to take a time-out, shall we?

It is an interesting world of magic that Monk has created. Such a powerful ability to fling magic about, but such a price to pay to use it. Having the five types of magic — Faith, Blood, Flux, Death, and Life — is another fascinating twist. More interesting is that the world has been using magic to replace electricity, natural gas, and oil for the past 30 years. Although, Allie does note that "it cost too much in pain to run your house on magic". Which begs the question: so why is the world being run on magic? Oh, wait, it's cheaper to use when you're using taxes to pay for it, and it's not coming out of your pocket. Settles that question.

At last! Shame and Terric finally work magic together to find out what they can and cannot do together. It's an amazing end result, stunning in so many ways.

Interesting that Davy's anger with Allie is all gone now. As if it had never been. Even more interesting is that revelation about Allie and Eli. Yuck.

It does annoy me greatly that Allie keeps jumping into leadership roles, especially since I still haven't seen any great reason for it other than her money. She's so easily distracted. But Zay's reasoning on why Allie should lead this fight are excellent ones. Reasons I can finally get behind.

Yep, it's life and death now. Does Allie pay attention to the spells her dad uses in case she has to step in? Naw. Why would she do that? I mean, life always goes as you plan, doesn't it?

Finally, everyone in Portland is on the same page, magic-users and non-magic people. It only makes sense. And I do love how they work together using their individual strengths.

I don't get these people. Why would each city's Authority be so autonomous? So unwilling to ask hard questions? Someone says jump, and all they ask is how high? Gimme a break. Seattle and Portland obviously know each other. They've worked together. The fight a couple days ago included Seattle magic-users. Didn't they report back to their own Authority? Don't they know each other? Don't they wonder???

Okay, I like getting the explanation about why Allie's memories were lost. But it doesn't explain why Allie kept losing her memories as an adult. Sure Monk claims it's the magic, but considering how important this particular weakness has been, I think we deserved better than this one-off, vague explanation. Of course, I am prejudiced against the series.

The Story
Magic is still poisoned. The Veiled are still attacking the living. And Seattle has been ordered to kill every magic-user in Portland.

The Portland Authority will need the help of the entire city to enable everyone to survive. And they're all ready to step up.

Luckily, Roman Grimshaw locked down gate travel when he died.

The Characters
Allie Beckstrom is a Hound and a magic-user. Daniel Beckstrom is the dead father possessing her mind. The one with the plans for his immortality and how magic should be used. Violet Beckstrom is her stepmother and her father's widow. She's also the new mother for Daniel Beckstrom, Jr. Kevin Cooper has been Violet's bodyguard from the beginning, and we find out that he's incredibly wealthy with his own estate. So, why has he been playing bodyguard? He's also secretly in love with Violet. Stone is the Animate gargoyle who adores Allie.

Nola Robbins is Allie's best friend, a full-human with no magic who has always kept Allie on track. And she takes her frustrations out in baking. I could use a friend like this… Cody Miller is the young man she had taken in some time ago when his self was split in two, although he has been put back together. The son of Mikhale and Sedra Miller, two Soul Complements, Cody is a savant, "an artist whose ability with magic is even more rare than Soul Complements". Detective Paul Stotts heads up the Magical Enforcement Response Corps within the Portland PD. He's in love with Nola. His MERC team includes Roberts, Garnett, and Julian.

Zayvion Jones can use all magics and is Portland's Gate Guardian. He and Allie are in love and Soul Complements.

The Hounds are…
…magic-users who can follow the scent of magic to the person who cast it. While they usually work for the police and anyone who can pay them, for the past few stories they have been working for Allie. Davy Silvers is Allie's righthand man in the Pack. Yep, he's still around although he has to work hard to stay solid. On the positive side, he wields magic like a frickin' demon. Sunny is a Blood magic user and Davy's girlfriend. Jack Quinn and Bea, Jamar Legare, and Sid are some of the other Hounds.

The Authority is…
…the policing organization that governs the use of magic throughout the world. Leander and Isabelle are still "alive" (they were the first two Soul Complements and because of them magic had to be broken) and possessing the Overseer, the most powerful person within the Authority, Margaret Stafford. Sam Arch is the Ward, the regional director.

The Portland Authority has been…
…in a war. Jingo Jingo is dead. The walking wounded include Victor Forsythe, the former Voice for Faith, and Maeve Flynn, the former Voice for Blood, who have had their memories restored. Maeve is also Shamus Flynn's mother. Hayden Kellerman is Maeve's boyfriend who lost a hand in Magic Without Mercy , 8. Thomas is overseeing the Proxy pool. Grace has returned from an assignment in Canada. Dr. Fischer is their medic. Brant, Irene, and Ethan Katz are there.

Shame Flynn wields Death magic like a master, and he is the Life-magic-using Terric Conley's Soul Complement. No matter how strongly Shame denies it. In past stories, they have sacrificed themselves over and over for the other, and those sacrifices have done something to them, to their magic.

We first met Mama Rossitto in Magic to the Bone , 1, when she asked for Allie's help. She's spent her life rescuing young boys — and they're all named Boy . Now we've come full circle to the truth about her and Daniel Beckstrom.

The Seattle Authority is being…
…sent to kill every magic user in Portland and includes Rodney and Eleanor Roth.

I guess Carl and La are helping Portland.

George and Lorraine were Soul Complements in Wales; John and Cherie in France; and, Alessandro and Anna in Italy. Hector and Chloe in New York. Michael and Lark are the first willing to listen.

Grant runs Get Mugged, Allie's favorite coffee shop.

Dr. Eli "the Cutter" Collins had been Closed and kicked out years ago for his torturous experimentations. He's also saved Davy's life and stood with them against Jingo Jingo.

Soul Complements are two magic users who are linked to each other and can make magic bend the rules. Using magic is painful, so magic-users can choose a Proxy, someone who is paid to bear the pain for them. Void stones tamp down your magic.

The Cover and Title
The cover is Allie in her black leather jacket and jeans, her katana behind her head, both hands on the hilt. She's looking at us with intent, ready to swing as the world erupts in swirls of fire behind her, a bridge above her and the city of Portland behind.

The title is the deal Daniel made, the Magic for a Price to save what he held most dear.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars... A high octane, thrilling conclusion to this riveting series... Non-stop action from the very beginning as Allie, Zayvion, Shame, Terric, and a host of other unforgettable characters battle to purify magic and save the world from an ancient power set on domination... Unsure of how this read was going to end, I sat captivated by each page seeking those unanswered questions and secrets revealed... I loved how Devon Monk pulled it all together and turned enemies into allies and the broken into whole entities... I will miss getting lost in this storyline and these unique characters, thank you to Devon Monk for sharing this adventure with all of her readers:)

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic for a Price is the final book in Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series. I got a late start to this series, but my procrastination to start it paid off because I was able to jump from book to book without a single minutes wait. And, it was glorious. Each book ends on a cliffhanger - each cliff and its hang varied, but I do not envy those who had to wait between installments.

Magic for a Price picks up days after Magic Without Mercy. Allie and gang are recuperating and dealing with the aftereffects of a major magical battle. In Allie's world, "The first rule of magic is if you use magic, it uses you. There is always a price to pay for using magic. Always." This fact really set the tone for the unique world Monk created with this series. Throughout each book and the battles fought in them, the characters' price for using magic changes them - sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

I'd accrued quite a list of questions throughout this series and Monk did a great job of answering them in a very fluid manner throughout the finale. Similar to Monk's House Immortal series, this series' side characters are as big a part to the story as the mains, in my opinion. They are all well hashed out with their own journeys and growth throughout the series.

Speaking of side characters, I'm so happy I don't have to leave Allie's world entirely just yet - I have the spin-off Broken Magic (featuring Shame and Terric) duet to read next. And, in Monk's last newsletter, she announced a spin-off spin-off, of sorts.

I wrote a new Shame and Terric novel!

BACK LASH will be available as an ebook in November 2015 and I hope to heck all you Shame and Terric fans will enjoy it.Those folks who haven't read any Shame and Terric books (HELL BENT, STONE COLD) should be able to pick this one up and jump right in too, as it really is a stand-alone that takes place a year after STONE COLD ends.

Think of it as a spin-off of my spin-off.

This is my first foray into publishing some of my work myself, and I have some really cool new projects lined up for 2016, which I will (of course) announce here first.

At this time, BACK LASH is going to be digital only. Sometime next year, I might be able to go print with it. I'll keep you all up to date on that as things progress.

Series Reading Order:


Favorite Book(s) in the Series:


Finale Rating: ✮✮✮✮½
Series Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆

[Jessica (a GREAT read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the author via a contest for review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


It's the series finale and boy are things about to go out with a BANG! Magic for a Price concludes Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series, one I started years ago and fell in love with. Although quick comment on the cover, yet again I love it! Allie is totally fierce, yet her hair is still supposed to be super short and it's not. Oh well!

So Portland is in major trouble. The BIG BAD--Leander and Isabelle possessing a new host aka hostage--is coming. To Portland. With help. Only because of who they are possessing, they have moved onto the big leagues. And they are killing Soul Complements. Since we have 2 in Allie's group--Allie and Zay, Shame and Terric--things are going to get pretty scary pretty damn quick!

But before we can have the battle to end all battles, Allie and her friends have to close the wells that host the magic in Portland. There are four of them, and it will be a race against the clock and Leander and Isabelle and their supporters to close them. By doing this they close off magic to Portland and have to take the bad guys out the old fashion way. Obviously along the way, Allie and her crew run into a few problems. One being which Allie is still made sick by magic, yet she needs her father to take control of her so that he can close the wells, with magic.

There were some pretty close calls for a lot of the characters. There were moments when I was thinking how could Devon do this!? Devon wouldn't do this! You know the feelings. Needless to say there are a lot of shockers and twists to this story!

I really like how Devon wraps this series up nice and neat, yet with a few things to leave you wondering, since next year her Shamus series comes out! You heard right, the all mighty Shame is getting his own series! Which he narrates! We can expect visits from other characters too, like Terric, possible Allie, but Devon has not really confirmed that. But moving on.

Devon ties up the loose ends nicely, even bringing Mama back into the mix. And Allie's father, Daniel. There is so much I can't remember about the beginning of the series, since it was like 1000s of books ago, but I could tell that the details that were brought up at the end were important. Everything seemed to flow nicely together, even if my memory was lacking. I really liked how things ended.

The action, as always was pretty fast paced, yet it had interludes of comedy relief and some attempted romance. Poor Allie and Zay will not be getting a break any time soon. They are constantly moving. Their feelings for one another are constantly being jerked back and forth with all the almost dyings and what not.

I truly loved the connection with Zay and Allie throughout the series. The love that they had for one another, how they were willing and did do anything and everything to protect one another. It was deeply moving.

Sadly the book had to come to an end. I don't even want to go with how I was feeling by then. Besides what I already said about enjoying the end. I feel like if I were to use more words then I would get to spoilers, but obviously you know what kind of ending you'll get since it's the series finale. And like I said, Devon ends it beautifully! And adds in a nice little twist at the end--not enough to totally wreck the series finale, but perhaps to spin off new plot details for Shame's book. Only time will tell...

Magic for a Price is a fabulous ending to a fabulous series! If you are curious to read this series, please note that it is best to read them in order as it is one of those series when that must be done. Sure you could skip, but would miss out on another great adventure and wouldn't have the full details told to you in the next book, so read the whole series in order, it's definitely been a thrilling ride!



Overall rating 5/5 stars


Magic for a Price releases November 6, 2012

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Review*

Magic for a Price picks up right where Magic without Mercy left off. Allie, Zayvion, Terric, Shamus, Maeve and others are on the run from the Authority. They have survived the great show down with Jingo Jingo and his supporters but not without heavy losses. Unfortunately, they are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination.

Magic around Portland, Oregon has been poisoned spawning the veiled, ghosts of dead magic users who in turn are infecting and kill the living. There is also the pending arrival of Leander and Isabel, two undead and super powerful magic users who are on the loose and in the body of the Overseer. Leander and Isabel’s mission seems to be the permanent removal of all Soul Complements like Shamus and Terric, Allie and Zayvion as well as the reuniting of dark and light magic to rule the world. They also have a special target in sight for Allison’s father Daniel who just happens to possess a part of her mind.

Allie has become something of the de facto leader of the rag tag remnants of the Authority as well as her hounds like Davy and Sunny and that aspect is put to the test when she has to lead the entire group of Portland magic users against the threat of a lifetime in Leander, Isabel, and those they control. She knows that magic is slowly killing her, yet with her father possessing her mind, she knows she has no choice but to stand up for herself and her friends. Allie has known that the use of magic takes a heavy toll on the body. So much so, that she has lost tons of memories over the years and has taken to writing things down in her notebook so that she can remember them.

Monk puts the emphasis on concluding her series by tying up loose ends in such a way that won’t leave readers disappointed or angry that they’re no longer going to be seeing Allie and Zavy around unless they are part of any spin-off series the author may have in store for us. Monk has to face the music when all is said and done that the story makes sense and the loose ends are not tied up in such a way that it will make readers eyes roll out of their heads in angst and disgust. I personally think she did a pretty decent job.

I was understandably reserved when reading this last book in the series. I wanted to know for myself what Daniel Beckstrom did to his only daughter to cause her so much pain while using magic. I wanted to know what Stoney, the gargoyle, was really made for and what his final part in this series was. I also wanted to know more about Cody Miller and why it seems he is destined to be the one who is able to stop things from going to straight to hell. Lastly, I also wanted a HEA for Allie and Zavy since they’ve been through a lot over the course of this series. I believe I got all my questions answered in a way that made me walk away from this series with a smile on my face and not wonder what if.

In conclusion, Magic for a Price is not the perfect book. The ending kind of drags on for a while after everything is said and done and the action comes to a blazing crescendo. However, because of the whole HEA aspect of a final book in a series, I will reserve my dislike for what I believe was hyperbole and just say, go, go out and rent or purchase this book if you have read this series. You won’t be wrong in doing so.

*ARC was accepted from the publisher in lieu of an honest review on my part. No monetary award was accepted, and none was expected.*

Expected Publication is November 6, 2012

[Literary George (For Your Literary Pleasure Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to ending a series it is often difficult for everyone to get that feeling of satisfaction. Answering the unanswered questions and making everything tie up nicely is a challenge. So for the final instalment of the Allie Beckstrom series I held my breath. Allie has always been a fiery heroine whom I have a slight girl crush on and Zayvion Jones is one smoking hot, sexy, powerful man. Ahem, excuse me. The last book left us with Portland's magic poisoned, illness spreading like wildfire and Leander/Isabelle still out to destroy the world. I was interested to see how Monk would pull them both out of this alive and whether she would do it well.

Of course she didn't. Neither of them stayed alive yet they did and she didn't do well, she did better. This book and series were beautifully ended. Allie steps into the role of revolutionary leader and city defender with ease. She keeps the mismatch group of Hounds, city police and ex-Authority members glued together in a battle that is practically impossible. The beauty of Allie is, she does it both grudgingly and with a bumbling, self destructive manner that has always attracted me to her character. Zayvion is beside her every step of the way doing what needs to be done and keeping Allie safe. The relationship between Terric and Shamus (Shame) develops into something truly spectacular as they accept their Soul Complement status and make magic like bosses. Even Allie succumbs to a brief adoration of their awesomeness much to Zayvion's jealousy.

Leander/Isabelle are in possession of the International Head of the Authority, Margaret something or other and are going to "blow Portland off the map." Allie decides to shut down and cleanse the wells of magic before L/I arrive with their cavalry. Allie, Zayvion, Shame, Ter and Eli Collins of all people, head out on their mission to save Portland and thus doing so THE WORLD. No but really, the world and magic. Allie's Father lends a helping dead hand and everything goes to custard as per usual. Allie makes a deal and her father reveals the truth about his split personality. Zayvion, Shame and Terric save Allie from death on multiple occasions, Cody becomes one Cody and everything... well I'm not going to tell you. The tying up is done with artistic grace and a twist that wasn't expected though completely needed.One character whom I had previously believed had no soul, surprised me with their humanity.

Needless to say I ended this book a satisfied customer of Allie Beckstrom novels. I will admit that this is not the best book in the series and though the ending is satisfying I was hoping for a bit more of a send off for the great Allie and Zayvion. Fireworks, kids, marriage, a happily ever after on steroids. But I know when it is time for a series to end and Allie was reaching hers. Maybe there will be a spin off of Shame and Terric though I am certain it is highly unlikely. I am sad to say goodbye to a wonderful series but this book is a solid ending to a more than solid series. If you haven't read any of the Beckstrom novels then why are you even reading this?! Go get the book and start! Jeez.
However, if you are an Allie Beckstrom lover you know what I mean when I say I wish there was one more book...

5/5

xxx
George

[Kt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Allie Beckstrom has faced down some pretty steep odds and came out on top in the past, but this time things may just be insurmountable. Magic itself is poisoned and killing people at an alarming rate. Even worse, while Allie has always been able to rely on her magic in the past, she now suffers in agony after using only the smallest spell. But, she's the only one who even stands a chance at healing magic, and no matter the price, she'll pay it to keep both her city and the people she loves safe.

After finishing Magic For a Price I knew I would have to wait a few days before writing this review to let the epicness really sink in so I wouldn't sound like an incoherent fan girl squealing. However, even after taking those extra days, I'm still having a hard time putting my thoughts to words. It's just hard to express all of the emotions that were running through my head, from outright anger to devastation, and even the other end of the spectrum with sheer and utter joy. It really is amazing when you take a step back to look at the range and depths of emotions that were in Magic For a Price.

When it comes to series ending books I'm always a bit a wary to start reading them because I know that no matter how good they are, there still will be the bittersweet goodbye. There also is the worry that not only will I have to say goodbye to characters that I have grown to love, but there also might be plot threads left open that will never be solved. Granted when things are wrapped up too neatly in a perfect bow, it does seem to lessen the realism of the story, but it still drives me insane when I'm left with unanswered questions. So, when Magic For a Price didn't let me down in either of those areas, you cannot possibly imagine my sigh of relief and contentment. There wasn't the bittersweet goodbye, because while Allie's narration is ending, Shame (LOVE that guy) will be getting his own turn in the limelight in a spin off and that means that there will be more from these awesome characters. On the second front, there weren't any major plot threads left open, but it also didn't turn into a sappy picture perfect ending. It ended perfectly and stayed true to the characters and the world, and I couldn't be happier. Seriously, I cannot remember the last time I was this content with a series ending book, and considering how many I have read, that is no small feat.

I realize I've been rather vague in this review, but the last thing I would want to do would be inadvertently spoil something as Magic For a Price truly deserves to be savored without any outside influence. In fact, this book easily earned itself a place on my top ten reads for the year. Fans of the series cannot possibly be disappointed with Magic For a Price as it is truly an amazing and incredibly satisfying end to the Allie Beckstrom series that will stay with you long after you finish.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I marathoned this entire series so my review is more for the whole thing than for just this book.

The series reminded me a lot of Kalayna Price's Alex Craft Series, although that series isn't done yet. Still the hated but powerful Dad and a rebellious job as a PI.. yeah pretty similar, except Alex Craft has that whole triangle thing and this doesn't.

This has fine world building, although man is the world hard on Allie, just reading it felt exhausting. Constant physical pain, memory loss, a relationship she has to be careful she never loses herself in, and a Dad who is an asshole. And he is an asshole regardless of how the author tried to clean him up in this last book, he continually used and abused his daughter throughout the series, first with Influence and by messing with memory so often she had permanent damage just so she would think the mother who had loved her, had abandoned her instead of died.. yeah that's kinder *sarcasm* and then by forcing control of her body. I honestly can not fathom why Violet ever loved him except that he wasn't as much of an asshole to her. And I have no idea why Collins was included the way he was. It was unnecessary and honestly illogical that they dated.. she hated her father even in college. Why would she date his assistant who hero worshiped him. And why was he so creepy asking her if she enjoyed killing as much as he did in the previous book? Freaking illogical that the author needed everyone cleaned up as if they loved Allie all along and never meant her any harm when all they did was harm her.

[Ithlilian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bad guys are coming and the big showdown is here...no wait that was the last book. A large group of less menacing not really bad guys are coming so let's close off magic so we can stand a chance to stop them. That's pretty much all I have to say, it was ok. I don't love the individual characters so the banter and their personal growth doesn't appeal to me. There isn't much world building left and only a few loose ends that I stopped caring about long ago, so it's just prep, battle, conclusion. There is plenty of I love you so much I will never let you go staring into eyes and longing sighs though...which I just skip over. I am underwhelmed because it's all the same. The UF book introduces it's magic system and describes society and it's relationship with whatever paranormal aspects exist. The main character has powers, meets other similar entities. Main character and friends get chummy and have sarcastic banter. Main character gets a male love interest or two and they say tons of end of the world soul mate stuff. Some sort of war or conflict comes up around book 7, ended by 9. Next.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion to this series packs a powerful punch. The world of magic is completely changed and not everyone is happy about it. This came to be only after a non-stop fight to keep the two soulmated psychos from bringing the world to an end. There is a lot of loss in this story as well as a bit of redemption. I'm a bit shocked at the ending as I feel like there should be more. Ms. Monk is good at ending her series at the height of them. It keeps us wanting more. There is fortunately a spin off which interests me greatly. It's a m/m one without all the drama of being m/m. I can't wait to continue in this world with their spin off.

I'd like to think this book ends in a happily ever after. It is implied but not absolutely confirmed. We leave a world with many questions answered but still some questions left to our own interpretation. Ms. Monk does stellar job of creating a world that I will revisit with pleasure. Recommended for urban fantasy lovers who like magic, true love and rooting for the underdog.