What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadows of the Immortals #1
Stolen Magic
Lexi Jardine may be a thief, but she’s not stupid. When a crooked fireshaper wants her to steal a ring from the boss of his order, she knows it’s a one-way ticket to sleeping with the fishes. Her answer is to drop off the face of the earth.
Safely hidden in a quiet seaside town, she just needs to keep her head down and pretend to be a regular human. Since her only magical ability is the power to control animals, that should be easy, right?
Then a new fireshaper shows up in town. He’s hot as hell but oddly hostile. With his suspicious eyes watching her every move, her safe haven starts feeling more like a trap. When her best friend disappears, Lexi knows the time for hiding is over. The fireshapers might be more powerful, but Lexi’s not one to abandon a friend. It will take everything she’s got to save them both from the flames.
Safely hidden in a quiet seaside town, she just needs to keep her head down and pretend to be a regular human. Since her only magical ability is the power to control animals, that should be easy, right?
Then a new fireshaper shows up in town. He’s hot as hell but oddly hostile. With his suspicious eyes watching her every move, her safe haven starts feeling more like a trap. When her best friend disappears, Lexi knows the time for hiding is over. The fireshapers might be more powerful, but Lexi’s not one to abandon a friend. It will take everything she’s got to save them both from the flames.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2016
871 people are currently reading
1109 people want to read
About the author
Marina Finlayson
31 books252 followersMarina Finlayson is a reformed wedding organist who now writes fantasy. She is married and shares her Sydney home with three kids, a large collection of dragon statues and one very stupid dog with a death wish.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
March 26, 2017
To say this book is action packed is an understatement. Without giving spoilers I cannot say just how much goes on in one car chase towards the end but it is mind boggling! I enjoyed the characters especially Syl and a certain "vampire". It was all great fun and very easy to sit and read all in one go!
I was reading this on Kindle and the ending happened before I expected it and rather took me by surprise but it was good and left me wanting more. Looking forward to the next book.
I was reading this on Kindle and the ending happened before I expected it and rather took me by surprise but it was good and left me wanting more. Looking forward to the next book.
March 22, 2021
This was a really good and entertaining urban fantasy! I love the mix of different ideas in Stolen Magic, setting it apart a bit from many other UFs which often feel very similar to each other.
The main character is a woman who knows her job and is very good at being a thief! But circumstances force her onto a path she didn't really choose...
This is full of action, good characters, an interesting plot, some mysteries and a good dash of humour. It's well and smoothly written and has some of the banter I much enjoy in UF.
The one star missing is for the stereotypical "brooding hot guy" -> who thankfully only player a minor part in the book. It's definitely UF with just a dash of romance, not full on paranormal romance! But as I hate romance in my fantasy, especially if it's the overused and predictable kind, it still annoyed me.
The main character is a woman who knows her job and is very good at being a thief! But circumstances force her onto a path she didn't really choose...
This is full of action, good characters, an interesting plot, some mysteries and a good dash of humour. It's well and smoothly written and has some of the banter I much enjoy in UF.
The one star missing is for the stereotypical "brooding hot guy" -> who thankfully only player a minor part in the book. It's definitely UF with just a dash of romance, not full on paranormal romance! But as I hate romance in my fantasy, especially if it's the overused and predictable kind, it still annoyed me.
January 5, 2019
Stolen Magic
Shadows of the Immortals Series, Book 1
By: Marina Finlayson
Narrated by: Hollie Jackson
Great fantasy with shifters and more. Great world building and very cool characters. Interesting plot that ends well but teases with a great info that made me want the next book now!
Lots of suspense, action, touch of romance, and great fantasy.
The narration was great too!
Shadows of the Immortals Series, Book 1
By: Marina Finlayson
Narrated by: Hollie Jackson
Great fantasy with shifters and more. Great world building and very cool characters. Interesting plot that ends well but teases with a great info that made me want the next book now!
Lots of suspense, action, touch of romance, and great fantasy.
The narration was great too!
August 4, 2017
A fun romp. A bit shallow in both characterization and world building, it was nonetheless fresh in its ideas.
The story ends abruptly. Not exactly a cliffhanger, as it has a resolution of sort, but clearly unfinished for me.
Intriguing.
The story ends abruptly. Not exactly a cliffhanger, as it has a resolution of sort, but clearly unfinished for me.
Intriguing.
January 8, 2019
3.5 stars
This wasn't bad at all. I liked the story, it is pretty fast paced and engaging. I am curious to see what Lexi is and more of the gods as well.
This wasn't bad at all. I liked the story, it is pretty fast paced and engaging. I am curious to see what Lexi is and more of the gods as well.
October 23, 2016
The first of a new series, and once again Finlayson offers a book that’s everything I don’t normally read (urban fantasy? Me? Um…), and has me utterly absorbed, hanging on every word. Right from the start, as heroine Lexi breaks into a house with the aid of nine cats, I loved everything about it.
The world Finlayson lays out is (to me) a little different. There are shifters - were-wolves and a whole array of other were-species. There are vampires. There are shapers — people with a power over one or more elements. And the result is a very different-looking political spectrum. There’s no pretence here that the ‘other’ species are somehow hidden from the human population, nor that they peacefully coexist. No, the shapers are immensely powerful, and as a result, they call all the shots. There are shaper-controlled areas, where shifters and other non-humans live in cautious subjection. There are separate human-controlled areas. The differences are underscored by place-names — Britain is Britannia here, and Australia assumes its 17th century name of New Holland.
So where does our heroine, Lexi, fit in? She’s neither shifter nor shaper — her peculiar talent is to connect to the minds of animals. I’ve used this ability to a limited extent in my own books, but Finlayson uses animals in some wonderfully creative ways — even cockroaches! I’d never thought of the little blighters as anything but an irritating nuisance, but here Lexi manages to make them delightfully useful.
Plot: OK, there’s a plot. Lexi is hiding out in the small seaside town of Berkley’s Bay after a powerful shaper asked her to use her unusual talents to steal a ring from an even more powerful shaper. Not a game she can win, whatever she does, so she’s lying low, running a second-hand bookstore for the vampire who runs the pub, living above the shop with her cat. But then another shaper turns up, and life starts getting difficult…
The author’s always brilliant at drawing her characters, so it goes without saying that Lexi and all the other shifters and shapers in her world feel beautifully real. However, I have to make special mention of Lexi’s cat, Syl, who is quite awesome from start to finish, and utterly catlike in every way. I adored her. There’s also a blossoming romance for Lexi, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out in the rest of the series.
Another terrific book from the author. Great world-building, loads of action that kept me turning the pages when I really should have been doing other things, a wonderful main character, a hot but difficult-to-trust love interest, an awesome cat and a mysterious ring. What’s not to like? Five stars.
The world Finlayson lays out is (to me) a little different. There are shifters - were-wolves and a whole array of other were-species. There are vampires. There are shapers — people with a power over one or more elements. And the result is a very different-looking political spectrum. There’s no pretence here that the ‘other’ species are somehow hidden from the human population, nor that they peacefully coexist. No, the shapers are immensely powerful, and as a result, they call all the shots. There are shaper-controlled areas, where shifters and other non-humans live in cautious subjection. There are separate human-controlled areas. The differences are underscored by place-names — Britain is Britannia here, and Australia assumes its 17th century name of New Holland.
So where does our heroine, Lexi, fit in? She’s neither shifter nor shaper — her peculiar talent is to connect to the minds of animals. I’ve used this ability to a limited extent in my own books, but Finlayson uses animals in some wonderfully creative ways — even cockroaches! I’d never thought of the little blighters as anything but an irritating nuisance, but here Lexi manages to make them delightfully useful.
Plot: OK, there’s a plot. Lexi is hiding out in the small seaside town of Berkley’s Bay after a powerful shaper asked her to use her unusual talents to steal a ring from an even more powerful shaper. Not a game she can win, whatever she does, so she’s lying low, running a second-hand bookstore for the vampire who runs the pub, living above the shop with her cat. But then another shaper turns up, and life starts getting difficult…
The author’s always brilliant at drawing her characters, so it goes without saying that Lexi and all the other shifters and shapers in her world feel beautifully real. However, I have to make special mention of Lexi’s cat, Syl, who is quite awesome from start to finish, and utterly catlike in every way. I adored her. There’s also a blossoming romance for Lexi, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out in the rest of the series.
Another terrific book from the author. Great world-building, loads of action that kept me turning the pages when I really should have been doing other things, a wonderful main character, a hot but difficult-to-trust love interest, an awesome cat and a mysterious ring. What’s not to like? Five stars.
August 4, 2017
I enjoyed this. 4 stars is probably a BIT generous, but... not by much.
I wish the MC had been a bit less Mary Sue-ish (she's beautiful, has unique gifts, everybody loves her and she's formed a tight circle of friends even though she's only been in town for a little while and should be laying low, she does stupid, reckless things but never suffers serious consequences, etc.) but I guess that's par for the course in this genre.
I liked that there were at least SOME new elements to the magic system.
I wish the MC had been a bit less Mary Sue-ish (she's beautiful, has unique gifts, everybody loves her and she's formed a tight circle of friends even though she's only been in town for a little while and should be laying low, she does stupid, reckless things but never suffers serious consequences, etc.) but I guess that's par for the course in this genre.
I liked that there were at least SOME new elements to the magic system.
Read
November 17, 2017Read as part of SPFBO3 on behalf of Fantasy-Faction. Rating/review to come!
January 11, 2017
Shallow world building, cardboard characters, & a boring plot makes for an uninspiring story. Boring 1 star
November 4, 2016
Interesting mix of Greek mythology and magic interwoven together. This is the first book to the series. I'm curious to see where it leads.
The story is about Lexi who is on the run and in hiding from her enemy Anders. Lexi has some unique abilities which have saved her in the past. Her ability to connect to all animals and make them bend them to her will. As far as she knows she's the only one with that ability. We don't know much about her past. The world building is quite simple and not in-depth. The world is divided between - shifters, shapers (who can wield elemental powers) and humans. There is a romance interest, Jake Steele, who is a powerful shaper. However, the romance interest could have used a bit more spark. It seemed bit more clichéd to me. This book was not action packed except for the last 5 minutes or so.
Overall, this book/series piqued me just enough to see where it leads to in book two.
The story is about Lexi who is on the run and in hiding from her enemy Anders. Lexi has some unique abilities which have saved her in the past. Her ability to connect to all animals and make them bend them to her will. As far as she knows she's the only one with that ability. We don't know much about her past. The world building is quite simple and not in-depth. The world is divided between - shifters, shapers (who can wield elemental powers) and humans. There is a romance interest, Jake Steele, who is a powerful shaper. However, the romance interest could have used a bit more spark. It seemed bit more clichéd to me. This book was not action packed except for the last 5 minutes or so.
Overall, this book/series piqued me just enough to see where it leads to in book two.
October 8, 2022
Lexi and her best friend Syl are in hiding. A member of the Fireshaper council - Anders - is after them, driving them away from their home with fire when Lexi ducked out of a job. They get a few, almost peaceful, months in the sleepy seaside town of Berkley's Bay, until Jake shows up and all hell breaks loose. He's suspicious of her from the get go, trying to work out exactly what she is. But how can he when Lexi doesn't even know? She can't be a human, for she can control animals. But no shaper has this power either. However, when her friends are in danger, Jake can put aside his suspicion and help her get them back.
Being a re-read and knowing roughly the plot of the entire series, this is a pretty good first book. It actually hides so much right up until the end where we get a little more information, but still only hints of the main story. I like our main characters, especially Syl, the snarky werecat. It becomes pretty obvious within the first few chapters of Jake appearing that he's going to be the love interest, but Lexi has to get over her prejudice of shapers first, which isn't easy to do, especially when one is trying to kill you. Although saying this, it doesn't go very far in this book. There's some thoughts from Lexi, eye-rolls and sarcastic comments from Syl, but that's almost all. There's too much action going on, and life endangering, for them to really do anything.
The book had a pretty nice pace until near the end. The last few chapters were full of action, definitely one of those don't-put-the-book-down sort of moments. One thing crashed into another, which crashed into another. Also damn was that car chase stressful to read!
I may have remembered the over-arching plot, but I certainly didn't remember the details of this book, making it a great one to come back to.
Being a re-read and knowing roughly the plot of the entire series, this is a pretty good first book. It actually hides so much right up until the end where we get a little more information, but still only hints of the main story. I like our main characters, especially Syl, the snarky werecat. It becomes pretty obvious within the first few chapters of Jake appearing that he's going to be the love interest, but Lexi has to get over her prejudice of shapers first, which isn't easy to do, especially when one is trying to kill you. Although saying this, it doesn't go very far in this book. There's some thoughts from Lexi, eye-rolls and sarcastic comments from Syl, but that's almost all. There's too much action going on, and life endangering, for them to really do anything.
The book had a pretty nice pace until near the end. The last few chapters were full of action, definitely one of those don't-put-the-book-down sort of moments. One thing crashed into another, which crashed into another. Also damn was that car chase stressful to read!
I may have remembered the over-arching plot, but I certainly didn't remember the details of this book, making it a great one to come back to.
February 7, 2018
This book is part of Fantasy Factions grouping and doesn’t have any feedback yet.
-----------------------
Plot:
The book starts out with a robbery taking place at the Mayor’s manor, Lexi, the main character, is breaking into his house to steal something from him. He just fired one of her friends who’s pregnant and really needed the job – so as revenge she’s taking stuff from his house. She decides on an altarpiece of Posieden since he’s a “water shaper” and tosses it into the bay – her friend Syl thinks this is a really bad decision but Lexi does it anyway.
Later on, when Lexi helps find two kids who got lost in the woods using her ability to link with animals, Jake Steele, (a high ranking person in society) figures out that she’s not simply a “human” and has some sort of powers. Jake is convinced that Lexi is up to something and is keeping a close eye on Lexi, making her life difficult.
Syl eventually gets herself into trouble and Lexi has to figure out a way to help her – vampires, lion shifters and fireshapers ensue.
-----------------------------------------------
Characters:
Lexi – the main character, and a little different from the standard magical categorization – neither a shaper or a shifter, she still has command over animals and can absorb some of their attributes. For example, when she uses cats during her robberies she gains better night vision.
Jake Steele – a fire shaper and one that the main character is very interested in despite the gap in social status. He sits on the Ruby Council and is considered a Lord of sorts.
Syl – Lexi’s best friend and a shifter. She’s become so paranoid that someone will recognize her in her human form that she spends the majority of the book in her cat form. Lexi is concerned that she won’t ever change back, and will stay as a cat permanently. She’s much more cautious than
Lexi, often times telling her to be more careful and not to do stupid crap that will get them into trouble.
Alberto – a benevolent vampire that owns a few shops in town, including the bookstore where Lexi works
-------------------------------------
World Building:
Shapers are the “upper class” of this world and can get away with crimes against humans without much fear of consequences. They believe that they are the children of a race of divine beings. Shapers can use different elements and command them – Fire shapers can burn you to death, Water shapers can command tidal waves to wash away villages
Shifters are able to take the forms of animals, Syl, the main characters best friend, is able to shift into a cat.
Humans are lower on the social order of this world. Without being able to perform any kind of magic, they are usually at the mercy of those that can.
There was something called The Great War between the shapers and the rest of humanity. A shaky truce was drawn because both humans and shapers wanted something the other side had. Shapers want the technology that humans produce, and made a pact that they’d stop wiping out towns of humans if they were given access to tech.
One Worlders are a sect that neither the Shapers or most humans like, they are extremists and they’ve been around since The Great War. They want to rid the world of both Shapers and Shifters
------------------------------------------------
Pacing/Prose/Tone:
This isn’t exactly an action filled book, but the pacing was okay. It read pretty quickly since there were no info dumps or long exposition of stuff, the world building was slowly revealed through the book.
It had a much lighter tone than the stuff I’ve read recently, so that was a nice change.
The writing was simpler with the prose getting out of the way of the story. This is sort of an urban fantasy set in an alternate world, so modern terminology was used frequently.
------------------------------------------
Audience:
For people who like female pov
For people who prefer straightforward storytelling
For people who like shapeshifters
For people who like a lot of magic
For people who like thieves as POVs
For people who like “female gaze”
For people who like hierarchical social structure
For people who prefer books without a lot of fight scenes/action scenes
-----------------------
Plot:
The book starts out with a robbery taking place at the Mayor’s manor, Lexi, the main character, is breaking into his house to steal something from him. He just fired one of her friends who’s pregnant and really needed the job – so as revenge she’s taking stuff from his house. She decides on an altarpiece of Posieden since he’s a “water shaper” and tosses it into the bay – her friend Syl thinks this is a really bad decision but Lexi does it anyway.
Later on, when Lexi helps find two kids who got lost in the woods using her ability to link with animals, Jake Steele, (a high ranking person in society) figures out that she’s not simply a “human” and has some sort of powers. Jake is convinced that Lexi is up to something and is keeping a close eye on Lexi, making her life difficult.
Syl eventually gets herself into trouble and Lexi has to figure out a way to help her – vampires, lion shifters and fireshapers ensue.
-----------------------------------------------
Characters:
Lexi – the main character, and a little different from the standard magical categorization – neither a shaper or a shifter, she still has command over animals and can absorb some of their attributes. For example, when she uses cats during her robberies she gains better night vision.
Jake Steele – a fire shaper and one that the main character is very interested in despite the gap in social status. He sits on the Ruby Council and is considered a Lord of sorts.
Syl – Lexi’s best friend and a shifter. She’s become so paranoid that someone will recognize her in her human form that she spends the majority of the book in her cat form. Lexi is concerned that she won’t ever change back, and will stay as a cat permanently. She’s much more cautious than
Lexi, often times telling her to be more careful and not to do stupid crap that will get them into trouble.
Alberto – a benevolent vampire that owns a few shops in town, including the bookstore where Lexi works
-------------------------------------
World Building:
Shapers are the “upper class” of this world and can get away with crimes against humans without much fear of consequences. They believe that they are the children of a race of divine beings. Shapers can use different elements and command them – Fire shapers can burn you to death, Water shapers can command tidal waves to wash away villages
Shifters are able to take the forms of animals, Syl, the main characters best friend, is able to shift into a cat.
Humans are lower on the social order of this world. Without being able to perform any kind of magic, they are usually at the mercy of those that can.
There was something called The Great War between the shapers and the rest of humanity. A shaky truce was drawn because both humans and shapers wanted something the other side had. Shapers want the technology that humans produce, and made a pact that they’d stop wiping out towns of humans if they were given access to tech.
One Worlders are a sect that neither the Shapers or most humans like, they are extremists and they’ve been around since The Great War. They want to rid the world of both Shapers and Shifters
------------------------------------------------
Pacing/Prose/Tone:
This isn’t exactly an action filled book, but the pacing was okay. It read pretty quickly since there were no info dumps or long exposition of stuff, the world building was slowly revealed through the book.
It had a much lighter tone than the stuff I’ve read recently, so that was a nice change.
The writing was simpler with the prose getting out of the way of the story. This is sort of an urban fantasy set in an alternate world, so modern terminology was used frequently.
------------------------------------------
Audience:
For people who like female pov
For people who prefer straightforward storytelling
For people who like shapeshifters
For people who like a lot of magic
For people who like thieves as POVs
For people who like “female gaze”
For people who like hierarchical social structure
For people who prefer books without a lot of fight scenes/action scenes
December 1, 2019
“Stolen Magic (Shadows of the Immortals #1)” is not lesfic, but it is a frenetically paced adventure with plenty of humor, and it’s narrated wonderfully by Hollie Jackson.
In a world of “shapers” (elites able to use control elements such as fire, water, earth and air), “shifters” (yep - werewolves etc) and “humans”, MC Lexi doesn’t quite know how she fits in. She’s been able to control living things (mammals, birds, spiders, cockroaches etc - not plants), for her entire life, but learned to keep her powers a secret.
Thrown out of her home by her mother 18 months ago, Lexi moved from the human-controlled city of her birth to a city controlled by the shapers. She met and befriended Sylvia, her new BFF), but ran afoul of a shaper who wanted her to perform a theft that would result in her death whether she succeeded or failed.
So, Lexi and Syl go on the run to hide. Oh, btw, Syl is a shifter who can transform into a pet-sized black cat….and she likes being a cat so much she doesn’t want to ever shift into her human form….and she loves tuna! Syl has a great voice, too, btw!
A fire shaper enters their small town investigating some matter, and his attention focuses on Lexi. Action abounds. Kidnappings, car chases, a kiss, a vampire….I can’t say more without spoilers.
Very likable characters (Jake tends to threaten killing Lexi, and burns her more often than I’d like, though), lots of humor and almost non-stop action adventure make this book very entertaining! 4.45*
In a world of “shapers” (elites able to use control elements such as fire, water, earth and air), “shifters” (yep - werewolves etc) and “humans”, MC Lexi doesn’t quite know how she fits in. She’s been able to control living things (mammals, birds, spiders, cockroaches etc - not plants), for her entire life, but learned to keep her powers a secret.
Thrown out of her home by her mother 18 months ago, Lexi moved from the human-controlled city of her birth to a city controlled by the shapers. She met and befriended Sylvia, her new BFF), but ran afoul of a shaper who wanted her to perform a theft that would result in her death whether she succeeded or failed.
So, Lexi and Syl go on the run to hide. Oh, btw, Syl is a shifter who can transform into a pet-sized black cat….and she likes being a cat so much she doesn’t want to ever shift into her human form….and she loves tuna! Syl has a great voice, too, btw!
A fire shaper enters their small town investigating some matter, and his attention focuses on Lexi. Action abounds. Kidnappings, car chases, a kiss, a vampire….I can’t say more without spoilers.
Very likable characters (Jake tends to threaten killing Lexi, and burns her more often than I’d like, though), lots of humor and almost non-stop action adventure make this book very entertaining! 4.45*
June 12, 2022
3 1/2 stars rounded up!
This was an easy read. I enjoyed how Lexi could control animals, that was new. And Alberto, swoon! Off to the next!
This was an easy read. I enjoyed how Lexi could control animals, that was new. And Alberto, swoon! Off to the next!
August 2, 2019
An enjoyable first book of a series that ends with a shocker. A recognizable world with some twists. The world-building is revealed throughout the story and not all at once. It is easy to read but it is not throttle to the floor the entire way. Lexi starts the book breaking into the mayor's house to do some vandalism to get him back for the way he treated her friends but that is a big mistake. She is lucky to get away with her life. Things slow down after that as you get a good feel for the town, the characters and the relationships. Finlayson writes very good friendships between women. There isn't a lot of bitchiness though they get angry at each other. It is real.
Things pick up again when her best friend is kidnapped and she must return to the city she ran away from, perform a theft against the most powerful shaper in the land who will burn her to ashes if he catches her (of course, the item happens to be a ring that the man is wearing), get away and try to bring the bad guy down. Not too much to ask. It is a thrill ride to the end.
Of course, then the shocker at the end. It leaves Lexi gaping and a great hook to read the next book.
Things pick up again when her best friend is kidnapped and she must return to the city she ran away from, perform a theft against the most powerful shaper in the land who will burn her to ashes if he catches her (of course, the item happens to be a ring that the man is wearing), get away and try to bring the bad guy down. Not too much to ask. It is a thrill ride to the end.
Of course, then the shocker at the end. It leaves Lexi gaping and a great hook to read the next book.
October 23, 2017
Amusing
So gods exist. This world is similar to ours but shapers and shifters are common and Lexi lives in a shaper controlled territory. No one knows what Lexi is and I doubt Lexi even knows. She thinks she's human. I doubt that.
I was amused how Jake Steele practically had tantrums trying to figure out Alexis. He threatens and gets upset but he doesn't get any farther with her. I also enjoy how she fights her attraction for him.
The car scene at the end was very exciting and I like how Alberto always saves the day.
My only problem really is the ending. What they heck? You don't just announce something like that at the end! Good thing I can get the next book soon.
So gods exist. This world is similar to ours but shapers and shifters are common and Lexi lives in a shaper controlled territory. No one knows what Lexi is and I doubt Lexi even knows. She thinks she's human. I doubt that.
I was amused how Jake Steele practically had tantrums trying to figure out Alexis. He threatens and gets upset but he doesn't get any farther with her. I also enjoy how she fights her attraction for him.
The car scene at the end was very exciting and I like how Alberto always saves the day.
My only problem really is the ending. What they heck? You don't just announce something like that at the end! Good thing I can get the next book soon.
September 5, 2019
Intriguing
This urban fantasy presents an entire universe set with new rules, familiar creatures and a landscape divided into those who have the power... and those that don’t. Toss in a thief, a hidden shifter and a mystery wrapped in red tape and you’ve got an interesting story that teases Gods and sets the stage for a captivating adventure.
Pros:
- Fast paced.
- Her powers are enviable, though rather secret.
- World building.
- Alberto. Enough says.
Cons:
- A few too many questions left.
- Jake is whiplash volatile with his emotions.
This urban fantasy presents an entire universe set with new rules, familiar creatures and a landscape divided into those who have the power... and those that don’t. Toss in a thief, a hidden shifter and a mystery wrapped in red tape and you’ve got an interesting story that teases Gods and sets the stage for a captivating adventure.
Pros:
- Fast paced.
- Her powers are enviable, though rather secret.
- World building.
- Alberto. Enough says.
Cons:
- A few too many questions left.
- Jake is whiplash volatile with his emotions.
October 11, 2022
It was a fun quick read! I like the twist on this UF world. Even though the humans out number the supers the supers rule (which high-key feels more realistic). There hints of the history of the world but not a lot of info dumps. Lexi is caring, protective and capable, so basically easily likable. I can't wait to learn more about her past and see what's going to come up with her future (I have suspicions about who she is). One of my biggest problems is how abruptly it ended.
Read
August 7, 2025DNF @ 40%
I'm not a fan of random deaths of animals and especially when the male lead kills a house cat because it attacked him, and he is a supernatural being supposedly unable to find a way to not kill it.
I don't mind animal deaths in fantasy, but I can't stand a male lead that does that.
it also got really repetitive because the book repeats the same thing several times.
I'm not a fan of random deaths of animals and especially when the male lead kills a house cat because it attacked him, and he is a supernatural being supposedly unable to find a way to not kill it.
I don't mind animal deaths in fantasy, but I can't stand a male lead that does that.
it also got really repetitive because the book repeats the same thing several times.
March 21, 2022
This was a fun en quick read.
the world is interesting, but not really a fan of the insta lust.
that plot twist at the almost made me read the second book, but I wont
the world is interesting, but not really a fan of the insta lust.
that plot twist at the almost made me read the second book, but I wont
November 21, 2016
Intriguing
Okay so this book turned out to be quite intriguing. I was really unsure based on the opening scene. I mean, how great of a heroine could she be if she's running around with a band of cats? But the author wove the tale beautifully, giving us the bits and pieces of the life of a woman on the run in a world filled with magic and the paranormal. It's a nicely crafted world I definitely want to learn more about and characters I'm invested in, whether it be love, hate, or disdain. The author also hit my must-haves with well written, good grammar, interesting plot, and character depth. Worth reading and I'll certainly be following the series.
Okay so this book turned out to be quite intriguing. I was really unsure based on the opening scene. I mean, how great of a heroine could she be if she's running around with a band of cats? But the author wove the tale beautifully, giving us the bits and pieces of the life of a woman on the run in a world filled with magic and the paranormal. It's a nicely crafted world I definitely want to learn more about and characters I'm invested in, whether it be love, hate, or disdain. The author also hit my must-haves with well written, good grammar, interesting plot, and character depth. Worth reading and I'll certainly be following the series.
November 9, 2016
Wish #2 was ready
I got this on a whim and boy am I happy I did! The plot opens smoothly and never loses pace, the characters feel real, the world building was fleshed out just enough to leave me satisfied but wanting more...loved it. My only complaint is I feel like it could've gone another 50-100 pages...but I will happily buy #2 when it's ready. Looking into the authors other books now.
I got this on a whim and boy am I happy I did! The plot opens smoothly and never loses pace, the characters feel real, the world building was fleshed out just enough to leave me satisfied but wanting more...loved it. My only complaint is I feel like it could've gone another 50-100 pages...but I will happily buy #2 when it's ready. Looking into the authors other books now.
October 30, 2016
This series stater is such a treat! I loved the world, familiar enough to urban-fantasy readers so the book isn't a slog but tantalizingly unique with an Australian flavor that really hit the spot. Our heroine was equally delightful --- a thief on the run from an impossible decision. Add in a light introduction to a perfect love interest and you have a major winner. Where's book two?
February 10, 2017
Good start
I feel like this was a good start to a promising series and I enjoyed this book. Who doesn't like a little bit of Robin Hood, in a way?
I feel like this was a good start to a promising series and I enjoyed this book. Who doesn't like a little bit of Robin Hood, in a way?
January 18, 2018
I've been reading a lot of indie published Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance recently (and I think this is indie, but forgive me if I'm wrong) and usually I'm finishing the book because I started it.
This one was a bit better than most of what I've read. It comes down mostly to the characters. In Stolen Magic, we are introduced to a world where humans uneasily coexist with shifters and shapers (elemental magic wielders). Of course the shapers are powerful and in control.
We meet Lexi as she's attempting to steal from the local, small beach town mayor. We find out instantly that while she's not a shifter or a shaper, and in fact hates shapers, she isn't a regular old human either.
Of course complications ensue, and another powerful fireshaper (who also happens to be built like a romance hero, and we're told that several times in the book) comes to town to investigate and she is attracted to him. Of course.
But what set this apart from other kickass heroine Urban Fantasies with romance is the side characters. I got a little tired of Lexi's internal monologue of "shapers are terrible, they are awful, wow Jake looks like a romance hero" but it was always redeemed by her sidekick sarcastic Syl (a cat) or her friendship with a pregnant werewolf and her mate, or the mysterious Alberto who gave lexi a job and a place to live.
So while the romance is so-so, mostly because Jake just doesn't have much of a character, he is either accusing Lexi of shadowy doings or shooting fireballs at someone, the emphasis in this one on bonds between Lexi and her friends is compulsively readable. (and I know this is my pet peeve, but I do dislike the current trend in UF of short "novels" where I just get settled in a world with characters I like and then the book ends abruptly. But I forgive this book for that. At least it ties up the immediate investigative issue before introducing bigger complications)
I'll probably buy the next one in the series.
This one was a bit better than most of what I've read. It comes down mostly to the characters. In Stolen Magic, we are introduced to a world where humans uneasily coexist with shifters and shapers (elemental magic wielders). Of course the shapers are powerful and in control.
We meet Lexi as she's attempting to steal from the local, small beach town mayor. We find out instantly that while she's not a shifter or a shaper, and in fact hates shapers, she isn't a regular old human either.
Of course complications ensue, and another powerful fireshaper (who also happens to be built like a romance hero, and we're told that several times in the book) comes to town to investigate and she is attracted to him. Of course.
But what set this apart from other kickass heroine Urban Fantasies with romance is the side characters. I got a little tired of Lexi's internal monologue of "shapers are terrible, they are awful, wow Jake looks like a romance hero" but it was always redeemed by her sidekick sarcastic Syl (a cat) or her friendship with a pregnant werewolf and her mate, or the mysterious Alberto who gave lexi a job and a place to live.
So while the romance is so-so, mostly because Jake just doesn't have much of a character, he is either accusing Lexi of shadowy doings or shooting fireballs at someone, the emphasis in this one on bonds between Lexi and her friends is compulsively readable. (and I know this is my pet peeve, but I do dislike the current trend in UF of short "novels" where I just get settled in a world with characters I like and then the book ends abruptly. But I forgive this book for that. At least it ties up the immediate investigative issue before introducing bigger complications)
I'll probably buy the next one in the series.
December 3, 2021
Don’t really feel Like writing a review but I really liked this book it was very good and interesting and funny not really funny but but nice nice to read
I’m trying the voice writing thingy kkkk
so this book was about a girl that could talk to animals and the most interesting part I found was the world there wasn’t much of a world building but it was different from the usual
A world where humans, shapers (the shapers are the people that can control the elements) and shifters (people that turn into an animal) cohabit! I found the different and was more curious to know about it!
Our heroine was a pretty nice character - strong, brave and smart - especially when considering that she wasn’t suffering for lack of judgment over her hormones so it as a nice change kkk
I liked her and I liked her friend Syl, a shifter that was too afraid to turn into human after a shaper burned down their building trying to kill them.
So the MC is aparently human with an affinity for controlling animals, and so she can speak and connect with the shifters in animal form - and she can also borrow the animals abilities!
She has some sort of tragic (of course) past that is still very mysterious and I wolf like to know more about it.
Oh! And the book is also about the Greek gods?! How cool can it get?! Hahahaha
I’m trying the voice writing thingy kkkk
so this book was about a girl that could talk to animals and the most interesting part I found was the world there wasn’t much of a world building but it was different from the usual
A world where humans, shapers (the shapers are the people that can control the elements) and shifters (people that turn into an animal) cohabit! I found the different and was more curious to know about it!
Our heroine was a pretty nice character - strong, brave and smart - especially when considering that she wasn’t suffering for lack of judgment over her hormones so it as a nice change kkk
I liked her and I liked her friend Syl, a shifter that was too afraid to turn into human after a shaper burned down their building trying to kill them.
So the MC is aparently human with an affinity for controlling animals, and so she can speak and connect with the shifters in animal form - and she can also borrow the animals abilities!
She has some sort of tragic (of course) past that is still very mysterious and I wolf like to know more about it.
Oh! And the book is also about the Greek gods?! How cool can it get?! Hahahaha
August 18, 2017
Is it sad that reading a book set in Australia is actually jarring for me? Reading about kangaroos and possums instead of wolves and squirrels is just... weird. Anyway, on to the review:
In a world of shifters (able to transform into animals) and shapers (able to control the elements), Lexi Jardine is an anomaly. Able to communicate with animals and borrow their abilities, she's learned long ago that she is an oddity, and is best keeping her magic to herself. Unfortunately, trouble is a little too good at finding her.
Lexi is also a super thief, apparently, although you may struggle to believe this based on the amount of times people stumble across her while she's supposedly thieving.
I'm pretty conflicted about this one. I liked the set up, and the tension between the shifters, shapers, and regular old humans makes for some good world-building. But I think the author needed to do a stack more rewrites, with a solid editor to guide her. Lexi Jardine isn't a very believable character, and doesn't seem to go about things in the cleverest of ways.
Not sure if I can recommend this one. It has potential, but it goes largely unrealised. Maybe after the author has a few more books out I'll give her another look-in. 2.5 stars, rounded down to 2 stars for Good Reads.
In a world of shifters (able to transform into animals) and shapers (able to control the elements), Lexi Jardine is an anomaly. Able to communicate with animals and borrow their abilities, she's learned long ago that she is an oddity, and is best keeping her magic to herself. Unfortunately, trouble is a little too good at finding her.
Lexi is also a super thief, apparently, although you may struggle to believe this based on the amount of times people stumble across her while she's supposedly thieving.
I'm pretty conflicted about this one. I liked the set up, and the tension between the shifters, shapers, and regular old humans makes for some good world-building. But I think the author needed to do a stack more rewrites, with a solid editor to guide her. Lexi Jardine isn't a very believable character, and doesn't seem to go about things in the cleverest of ways.
Not sure if I can recommend this one. It has potential, but it goes largely unrealised. Maybe after the author has a few more books out I'll give her another look-in. 2.5 stars, rounded down to 2 stars for Good Reads.
August 7, 2020
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring down a lot)
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
------------
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes -- of the two first books in a series I've read of hers, this is my favourite.
Would you recommend?: Yes
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
------------
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes -- of the two first books in a series I've read of hers, this is my favourite.
Would you recommend?: Yes
November 26, 2016
This was an interesting book to say the least.
It starts out very intriguing, but slowly lost my interest as time passed. It ended in what seemed to be the middle of things, with no clear conclusion to the book. Granted there is supposed to be a sequel coming, but I feel that some sort of small resolution should have occurred.
I like Lexi and Syl as a team, they seemed like a good duo. However I felt compelled to question Jake Steele (who is frustratingly inconsistently referred to as Jake some times and Steele others) and his sliding scale of trust that he has in Lexi and in others, he seemed inconsistent in his beliefs in others. I think there could have been some more development of these characters and their interactions together in order to alleviate some of the shakiness of the plot.
All in all it was entertaining, but still filled with some holes that could rather easily be patched in my mind.
It starts out very intriguing, but slowly lost my interest as time passed. It ended in what seemed to be the middle of things, with no clear conclusion to the book. Granted there is supposed to be a sequel coming, but I feel that some sort of small resolution should have occurred.
I like Lexi and Syl as a team, they seemed like a good duo. However I felt compelled to question Jake Steele (who is frustratingly inconsistently referred to as Jake some times and Steele others) and his sliding scale of trust that he has in Lexi and in others, he seemed inconsistent in his beliefs in others. I think there could have been some more development of these characters and their interactions together in order to alleviate some of the shakiness of the plot.
All in all it was entertaining, but still filled with some holes that could rather easily be patched in my mind.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews