Guilty Spark

Dark Magic Enforcer #4

by Al K. Line

I'd been gone for a year, incarcerated in a hidden prison. The verdict was guilty; the punishment, death.

Invoking the Law, I've got my freedom until my sentence is carried out. Three days, then I'm history. Gone, not even a memory. Wiped from the collective consciousness of those that knew, even loved me.

Magic drives me on as I try to right so many wrongs committed in the name of justice. The vamps are mad, everyone's acting weird, I've got to clear my name, and nobody seems to believe I don't know what to do. Panic makes me act irrationally as the hours slip away and I become increasingly frantic.

If it wasn't for Kate, and the need to help my nearest and dearest, I'd have let the Council put me out of my misery. But I'm alive, and I uncover information that ensures I'll do whatever it takes to remain that way. I just have to avoid getting crushed, bitten, beaten, eaten, or zapped with the dark arts.

I should have stayed in prison. At least in there nobody tried to stomp me.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Vampires, Magic, Fiction, Audiobook

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2016

About the author

Al K. Line is a British author who lives in rural England with his wife, son, and dogs.

When asked to describe himself for this bio all we got was the following:

"Who am I? Degrees, jobs, living in other countries, fighting squirrels, cuddling monkeys, amused by penguins, all the usual stuff."

Reviews

[Karsyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Really? That was the what was behind all the stuff going on? Didn't make any sense, didn't like it at all, and the resolving of it was very anti-climatic. Least favorite so far.

[Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the type of story from the Dresden files or the Iron Druid chronicles or Felix Castor they are so much fun and this is series is just as good just as fun but a little cheeky and more light hearted. simple, fun, quick read and continuation of a great characters.

Only one complaint the author used their apparent new favorite word "manic" bout 4000 times in this book.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Harry Dresden you may fall in love with this series as I have. Black Spark has a very similar sense of humor and gets into just as much trouble without trying. He also has a bunch of friends and supporting cast that make it a blast to see what he'll try next. I did listen to this as an audio book so the narrator may have influenced how I visualize the characters.

[Thomas Tymstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can only say, why is a man, more than 100 years old and full of magic have to be so impetuous and so immature? I'm all for levity and fun but to be so ridiculously stupid sometimes is asking a lot from the reader...ugh!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better. Getting ready to read the next book highly recommended .

[Helen Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully sneaky!

Lots of twists and turns in this one, making it probably my favourite so far. Faz is more fun than Dresden!

[Bram Slaats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the book wasn't the strongest of the series but good nonetheless.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt the nail bite ending, twist and turns I wasn't expecting and an enjoyable ride the whole time.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummm what was that??? That was a surprise.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of this book was quite unexpected but I enjoyed the story a lot and the characters are great, as expected, even if some didn’t make it in the end. I’m looking forward to the next book.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faz Spark has been thrown in jail for murder, and he has languished there for a year, awaiting sentencing. Now, he's been found guilty, and he has three days free of jail to get his life in order before being put to death. That's not how he's going to spend it. Faz knows he didn't commit the murder and that something strange is going on because memories of the event have been altered. Add to trying to prove himself innocent, while Faz was in jail, Rikka was told to step down from the council and Grandma has been put in charge in his place. Now, Rikka has a hit out on him, and he needs Spark to stop the hit and to help him get his place back. Between proving his innocence and helping Rikka, will Spark be able to do everything he needs to to keep from being executed? Or will his hidden enemies finally get to him?

I've come to really enjoy Faz Spark's snarky humor and all around fun outlook on life. This character is very interesting, and the unique way the magic world works in these books really appeal to me. The writing continues to be great and I'm really looking forward to the next book which, if I read the end of this book right, will be Faz's fight with the person who killed his parents. That's been a long time coming. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the person behind all of the trouble. I would be willing to say, though, it could have been me in not seeing the clues. I can't say too much about this because I don't want to give anything away. Don't be turned off by this, however, because this book was still a true delight to read and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series. Faz's new addition should be interesting to find about, as well. Great book (and series) and I highly recommend it!

Thanks to the author for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

[Charles Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faz Pound, aka Black Spark, has spent a year incarcerated—accused of killing a fae—before being brought before the Council of Hidden and condemned to die. Under Council protocols, he’s allowed his freedom during the three days leading up to his execution. Faz is determined during that brief spell of freedom to prove his innocence, but a powerful force, one able to control the minds and actions of others, is just as determined to see him die.
Guilty Spark by Al K. Line is book four in the Dark Enforcer series, and it continues in the same vein as those that came before it. Blood-curdling action and biting humor (considering the number of vampires in these stories, that pun is intended) fly at you from page one like gnats in a barn. Despite his other-worldly origins, you can’t help but sympathize with Faz as he deals with one seemingly insurmountable problem after another: his vampire girlfriend, Kate, in his absence has gone to the dark side, and he has an invincible giant coming to kill him. Just another day in the life of an enforcer; except this could be his last day—ever.
Seldom do books about the supernatural manage to scare the crap out of you at the same time they have you laughing hard enough to wet your pants, but the author has managed to do it quite capably. He’s managed to make the non-human and inhuman characters that populate this story all too human. After reading this one, you’ll check your closets every night before you go to bed, just to be sure.
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I have yet to read, New Spark, book 3 in the series, but the nice thing about this series is that each one can be read as a stand-alone story. I have that one teed up for the coming weekend, and I’m almost hoping for a thunderstorm to provide the sound effects as I read it.

[Jennifer Tooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure – I received a free copy of this book from the author as part of his “A-Team” in exchange for an honest review.

Three long days

Guilty Spark, the fourth installment in the Dark Magic Enforcer series, resumes the tale of Faz Pound approximately one year after the close of New Spark. Having spent the last year in a Hidden jail accused of murder, Faz has been released pending sentencing to “get his affairs in order.” He has three days to unravel the mystery of a dead Faery and clear his name; but it seems that everything is conspiring against him to fail. From a marauding giant intent on killing Mage Rikka to a strangely familiar shifter dead set on murder, Faz has a lot on his plate with no signs of rest. The more he searches for evidence to clear his name, the more confusing things become. With time ticking down and a giant on his heels, can Faz unravel the web of mystery and save his life?

Guilty Spark is probably my favorite in the series so far. We see a stronger Spark emerge from the Hidden jail and immediately trouble ensues. The usual suspects are present, and throughout the story Spark begins to realize who he can and cannot trust. The pace of this book can only be described as “breakneck” - like a snowball slowly forming and rolling down the proverbial hill gathering speed and momentum to come crashing down in a frantic “hail Mary” of a conclusion. The mystery behind his parent’s death also begins to unravel, as does the web of deceit surrounding this dark event in his life.

Guilty Spark is a definite must read and a brilliant set up to the fifth book yet to come: “Neon Spark!”

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Spark or Faz is in real trouble this time and for once he is innocent, he thinks, but even he cannot remember what truly happened 50 years ago. I thought this would be the end of Spark and his troublesome ways but like usual the author not only keeps the series going but takes us into a whole new world of the spark we have grown to love. Every character in this story finally reaches a point of learning who they are and must face a challenge they truly hoped would not come, but like anyone else, no matter who you are someday you must face who you are and what makes you the way you are. Sentenced to death, Spark must prove his innocence or die, leaving behind all those he truly loves and the family he now has that has grown beyond his own comprehension. This story in the series is heart wrenching, funny as always and the best so far. The next book in the series must be awesome if it is to compare to this one.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series

I love this series, its like nothing I've read before, its filled with magical being both good and bad.
Usually I have a good idea of who the bad guy is before I get to the end of a book but this one was a complete surprise.
I am an arc reader for this author and get a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review good or bad.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot. Could do with more foreshadowing and less "oh yea that's obviously what happened."

[Don Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues the story quite well and has a very interesting twist at the end.

[Michael White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talks too much

Saturates you with useless detail. Is infested with a lot of detail that makes me skip a page or two and he's still talking about someone's ass.

[Roberta Grenier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good series

I always knew there was a plot to have to wear mismatched socks. This is just plain BRIlliant! Keep writing !