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Aftermagic #1
In the Shadow of Dragons
Magic wasn't real -- until dragons happened. Since then, our world has never been the same.
Six years after the dragons, magic is an insidious infection leaving some people untouched, others scarred, and more slowly transforming into mythological creatures. But once a year, on the anniversary of dragons, a worldwide Eclipse and an intense surge of magic puts everyone at risk for Changing completely -- with deadly results.
The Bishop Corporation was a small, unremarkable drug company until they released HeMo, a drug that combats the magic infection and prevents people from turning into monsters. Most of the time. Now a rising global power, BiCo patrols the population to detect and detain those who show Magesign -- and the elite BiCo Knights ride forth to slay the monsters and protect the people from themselves.
But not everyone believes in BiCo's benevolent stranglehold on magic. The Darkspawn, a small group of rebels, fight to destroy HeMo and allow magic to take hold naturally. For better or worse.
When BiCo sends Teague Harlow, one of their Knights, to join the Darkspawn as a spy, she soon uncovers dark secrets -- but not those she was sent to find. Because BiCo's rule isn't always the beneficial security blanket they claim to provide.
And the real danger may lie in the drug that's supposed to save the world.
Six years after the dragons, magic is an insidious infection leaving some people untouched, others scarred, and more slowly transforming into mythological creatures. But once a year, on the anniversary of dragons, a worldwide Eclipse and an intense surge of magic puts everyone at risk for Changing completely -- with deadly results.
The Bishop Corporation was a small, unremarkable drug company until they released HeMo, a drug that combats the magic infection and prevents people from turning into monsters. Most of the time. Now a rising global power, BiCo patrols the population to detect and detain those who show Magesign -- and the elite BiCo Knights ride forth to slay the monsters and protect the people from themselves.
But not everyone believes in BiCo's benevolent stranglehold on magic. The Darkspawn, a small group of rebels, fight to destroy HeMo and allow magic to take hold naturally. For better or worse.
When BiCo sends Teague Harlow, one of their Knights, to join the Darkspawn as a spy, she soon uncovers dark secrets -- but not those she was sent to find. Because BiCo's rule isn't always the beneficial security blanket they claim to provide.
And the real danger may lie in the drug that's supposed to save the world.
- GenresParanormalDragons
599 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2017
48 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 8, 2017
The book almost makes me think of a western fantasy complete with magic. You have your bad guy’s verses good guys. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a western (which isn’t really what I like to read) or a fantasy. The action in the book takes off very quickly which keeps your attention. There’s a lot of information in the book it touches bio physics, medical, and even ethical question I missed out on the meet the main characters from the inside of the flap. On the kindle edition meet the main characters was missing from my copy. My favorite character in the book is Rook. This would have helped me keep the characters in mind but the characters are very quick to prove themselves to you and you find yourself falling into their world. I think that is that is the highest praise I can give any book. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book free for my honest opinion.
May 25, 2018
Good story with intrigue and a world suddenly dealing with magic
While we learn fairly early on that not all is as it seems, there are still several mysteries which clear up as the book progresses. I really enjoyed reading this book, for many reasons:
- good character development (the introduction of three at the beginning was useful, plus it was somewhat nostalgic for me as I do not see that often these days)
- believable and likable characters
- interesting twist on why the eclipses are occurring
- several moments of surprise, even with some foreshadowing, which I thought was well done (the messages about the future were both clear and cryptic at the same time, then made perfect sense as more data became available)
- the story wrapped up nicely: there is obviously more which could be written, but it is not a frustrating cliffhanger for me and is more like I am anticipating the next book. :)
While we learn fairly early on that not all is as it seems, there are still several mysteries which clear up as the book progresses. I really enjoyed reading this book, for many reasons:
- good character development (the introduction of three at the beginning was useful, plus it was somewhat nostalgic for me as I do not see that often these days)
- believable and likable characters
- interesting twist on why the eclipses are occurring
- several moments of surprise, even with some foreshadowing, which I thought was well done (the messages about the future were both clear and cryptic at the same time, then made perfect sense as more data became available)
- the story wrapped up nicely: there is obviously more which could be written, but it is not a frustrating cliffhanger for me and is more like I am anticipating the next book. :)
March 21, 2017
Please write the next installment quickly! I need to see what's going to happen!
Dystopian fantasy can be tricky. It could be overdone and trite. Or it could be like this one and be a superb roller coaster ride.
I did have a bit of trouble getting into the story in the beginning. Some characters are introduced in the first chapter, then the story is told via newspaper and magazine articles. It's a short section, then the story gets going in earnest.
I like that the story is told in various points of view. Each voice engaged me, tugging me along, allowing me to know each character. I had my favorites. I know Teague is the main character, but I was drawn to Naomi and Sawyer. Naomi is stronger than she appears and takes on challenges even though she's scared. She knows it's the right thing to do. And there's a compelling mystery that is Sawyer. I am a sucker for a compelling mystery....
Magic, dragons, disappearing sun, power struggles...what's not to dig?
Please write faster, Sonya!! I need to see what's going to happen next!!
Definitely recommend.
Dystopian fantasy can be tricky. It could be overdone and trite. Or it could be like this one and be a superb roller coaster ride.
I did have a bit of trouble getting into the story in the beginning. Some characters are introduced in the first chapter, then the story is told via newspaper and magazine articles. It's a short section, then the story gets going in earnest.
I like that the story is told in various points of view. Each voice engaged me, tugging me along, allowing me to know each character. I had my favorites. I know Teague is the main character, but I was drawn to Naomi and Sawyer. Naomi is stronger than she appears and takes on challenges even though she's scared. She knows it's the right thing to do. And there's a compelling mystery that is Sawyer. I am a sucker for a compelling mystery....
Magic, dragons, disappearing sun, power struggles...what's not to dig?
Please write faster, Sonya!! I need to see what's going to happen next!!
Definitely recommend.
April 21, 2020
I could not stop reading.
This book grabbed me from the first chapter. I love Bateman’s Deathspeaker Codex and this new series will not disappoint either. I am just sad the rest of this series isn’t complete!
This book grabbed me from the first chapter. I love Bateman’s Deathspeaker Codex and this new series will not disappoint either. I am just sad the rest of this series isn’t complete!
March 16, 2017
I have been a fan of Sonya Bateman for a while now i have read her Gavynn Donnatti Series and her Deathspeaker series and absolutely love them both. I received this book free in exchange for an honest review and its quite different from her other series and at first i wasn't sure if i would like it but she quickly creates an engaging and detailed new world and establishes the rules and nature of this world nicely without overwhelming the reader. i don't always like books that change point of view often but i think it works well in this book slowly fleshing out the world without giving too much away.
Her books as always are such an easy read and i found that not unlike her others i found it hard to put down and only did when i absolutely had to go to sleep. i have to say that it is well worth a read especially if you have read her other books and i look forward to the next instalment of this series as well as the others
Her books as always are such an easy read and i found that not unlike her others i found it hard to put down and only did when i absolutely had to go to sleep. i have to say that it is well worth a read especially if you have read her other books and i look forward to the next instalment of this series as well as the others
September 6, 2017
9/10: Fantastic, left me wanting more.
Absolutely brilliant. I've found a new author to stalk. And she has books in KU. Yay!
Loved the world building and loved the characters. I only wish there was more to their story. Book two, please? Yes? No? Maybe?
Absolutely brilliant. I've found a new author to stalk. And she has books in KU. Yay!
Loved the world building and loved the characters. I only wish there was more to their story. Book two, please? Yes? No? Maybe?
March 16, 2017
2.5 stars
The story has an interesting premise, but there were a few things that hampered my enjoyment of it. Teague, the protagonist, often was annoyingly stupid, both about what was happening in the world and about whom to trust and love. Aspects of both the world-building and the actions of some of the characters made little sense or at least were poorly explained.
I understand that more information about the world will be revealed in later books. I did like a few of the characters, particularly Naomi, and suspect she may play a larger role in the next book. If so, I may continue reading then.
The story has an interesting premise, but there were a few things that hampered my enjoyment of it. Teague, the protagonist, often was annoyingly stupid, both about what was happening in the world and about whom to trust and love. Aspects of both the world-building and the actions of some of the characters made little sense or at least were poorly explained.
I understand that more information about the world will be revealed in later books. I did like a few of the characters, particularly Naomi, and suspect she may play a larger role in the next book. If so, I may continue reading then.
March 19, 2017
Wow!
Every book Sonya Bateman writes is better than the last. I love her Death Speaker series and this new series is even better! The world she has built is fascinating and I fell in love with every character. I can't wait for the next book!
Every book Sonya Bateman writes is better than the last. I love her Death Speaker series and this new series is even better! The world she has built is fascinating and I fell in love with every character. I can't wait for the next book!
June 20, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
This book was so good. The plot was different than any other paranormal/urban fantasy that I have read to date. I couldn't guess what was going to happen very often. There was at least two really good plot twists that I didn't see coming. The story starts off in much the same world as the one we live in. But then the eclipse comes and the world is changed forever. Magic is real. People can change into different creatures. A medical company claims to know how to keep you safe from changing. The first bit of the story is told in a very engaging and unique manner. It moves through the first five years after the original eclipse and makes sure that readers are relatively up to speed on what has happened during that time. Then the true story begins as the fifth year of the eclipse looms ahead. Slowly more information is revealed to the reader while also very slowly lifting the veil on who can really be trusted in this world. Ugh! This review is very difficult to write because I don't want to give anything away. A very large part of this book's success is because the reader easily becomes invested in the novel's large pool of characters. I have to say that Diesel, Noah, Sawyer and Naomi are brilliantly written. They are each unique and have their flaws but they feel so real that you can't help but become drawn to them. The only thing I say that is even slightly critical of this book is that I didn't care for Teague. I know real people who become so attached to people that they make dumb decisions and don't see clearly. Teague definitely fit that description. I think that she will grow on me a little after the events of this first novel but there were times I wanted to kick her! (See, I'm invested!) To summarize: Wonderful, unique plotline (dragons!) and well-written characters. This is one to pick up as soon as possible. I'm very eager for the next installment.
This book was so good. The plot was different than any other paranormal/urban fantasy that I have read to date. I couldn't guess what was going to happen very often. There was at least two really good plot twists that I didn't see coming. The story starts off in much the same world as the one we live in. But then the eclipse comes and the world is changed forever. Magic is real. People can change into different creatures. A medical company claims to know how to keep you safe from changing. The first bit of the story is told in a very engaging and unique manner. It moves through the first five years after the original eclipse and makes sure that readers are relatively up to speed on what has happened during that time. Then the true story begins as the fifth year of the eclipse looms ahead. Slowly more information is revealed to the reader while also very slowly lifting the veil on who can really be trusted in this world. Ugh! This review is very difficult to write because I don't want to give anything away. A very large part of this book's success is because the reader easily becomes invested in the novel's large pool of characters. I have to say that Diesel, Noah, Sawyer and Naomi are brilliantly written. They are each unique and have their flaws but they feel so real that you can't help but become drawn to them. The only thing I say that is even slightly critical of this book is that I didn't care for Teague. I know real people who become so attached to people that they make dumb decisions and don't see clearly. Teague definitely fit that description. I think that she will grow on me a little after the events of this first novel but there were times I wanted to kick her! (See, I'm invested!) To summarize: Wonderful, unique plotline (dragons!) and well-written characters. This is one to pick up as soon as possible. I'm very eager for the next installment.
March 28, 2017
Exciting
This was a book that was difficult to put down. Wonderful and interesting characters that you enjoy learning about throughout this book. They grow as the book progresses. I really enjoyed this ebook.
This was a book that was difficult to put down. Wonderful and interesting characters that you enjoy learning about throughout this book. They grow as the book progresses. I really enjoyed this ebook.
May 3, 2017
Complex world building
In this book, life was going along as usual when an unexpected eclipse of the sun happened, and dragons appeared and began fighting each other. No one knows how any of this happened. But it seemed to have an after effect. Magic. People began changing. It was scary, but one company had the answer. A preventative medicine. The developer died in the dragon outbreak, but his son now runs the company. The eclipses continue to occur and no one knows why. Every eclipse releases more magic and technology does not , work till the eclipse is over. As people changed with the magic, they turned into violent monsters and had to be put down. Our heroic company can help. Their security force has people who were given magical gifts that were more controllable. That could be used to protect the population.
Our story follows many people. All the characterizations are strong. There are two romances between a younger and older couple that slowly progress through the book. Many of the minor characters develop into major characters over the course of the book.
As the book starts we begin to follow one group of characters. A family practitioner who lost her brilliant husband a year ago and is attending a conference where she meets his best friend, a viralogist. She sets up a clinic and becomes a distribution point for the magic controlling drug. However, she doesn't take it. It just doesn't seem right somehow. Her focus is on caring for her patients. The security force doesn't seem to be acting with the care of the people in mind.
Then we are following the owner of the drug company and his security force. Our focus is a young woman whose family had a violent change in the dragon attack. Her family members tried to kill her as they changed and her dark, new magic killed them instead. She KNOWS they all need to take the drug and control the magic, but it too late for her. The magic has already got her. Our drug company owner took her in after her family died. He gave her a spot on his security force and one thing led to another. However now, he has decided that his path lies with marrying a cute, rich publicist. Their relationship is strained. She has always provided personal security for him and she respects him, even while she is struggling to come to terms with their break up, but now he is changing her job and she isn't sure exactly what is going on or where her life is headed. Her magic is DANGEROUS and she learned to be an extremely effective security officer without it.
The third group we are following is group of rebels. They are led by an older man. He was an executive in his last life. He worked for the drug company. But his wife got sick and the drug company treated him badly. Now he runs a rebel band that focuses on harrying the drug company and destroying their drug. When the eclipses come, the drug company gets everyone their doses of the drug at drug distribution centers and sets up security to protect the population and kill those who change. However many of the changed survive and have put together a resistance. Our group is one such group, however they , are only about mid level in the hierarchy of the rebellion. One area of the town has degenerated to be mostly under the control of the changed.
We meet multiple people, each of them well drawn and engaging in each of these groups as they struggle to understand what has happened to their world and what they need to do make their world a happy and secure place again. We don't get all the answers in this book, just further along the journey as the pieces that each of these groups hold comes together to reveal unexpected answers.
In this book, life was going along as usual when an unexpected eclipse of the sun happened, and dragons appeared and began fighting each other. No one knows how any of this happened. But it seemed to have an after effect. Magic. People began changing. It was scary, but one company had the answer. A preventative medicine. The developer died in the dragon outbreak, but his son now runs the company. The eclipses continue to occur and no one knows why. Every eclipse releases more magic and technology does not , work till the eclipse is over. As people changed with the magic, they turned into violent monsters and had to be put down. Our heroic company can help. Their security force has people who were given magical gifts that were more controllable. That could be used to protect the population.
Our story follows many people. All the characterizations are strong. There are two romances between a younger and older couple that slowly progress through the book. Many of the minor characters develop into major characters over the course of the book.
As the book starts we begin to follow one group of characters. A family practitioner who lost her brilliant husband a year ago and is attending a conference where she meets his best friend, a viralogist. She sets up a clinic and becomes a distribution point for the magic controlling drug. However, she doesn't take it. It just doesn't seem right somehow. Her focus is on caring for her patients. The security force doesn't seem to be acting with the care of the people in mind.
Then we are following the owner of the drug company and his security force. Our focus is a young woman whose family had a violent change in the dragon attack. Her family members tried to kill her as they changed and her dark, new magic killed them instead. She KNOWS they all need to take the drug and control the magic, but it too late for her. The magic has already got her. Our drug company owner took her in after her family died. He gave her a spot on his security force and one thing led to another. However now, he has decided that his path lies with marrying a cute, rich publicist. Their relationship is strained. She has always provided personal security for him and she respects him, even while she is struggling to come to terms with their break up, but now he is changing her job and she isn't sure exactly what is going on or where her life is headed. Her magic is DANGEROUS and she learned to be an extremely effective security officer without it.
The third group we are following is group of rebels. They are led by an older man. He was an executive in his last life. He worked for the drug company. But his wife got sick and the drug company treated him badly. Now he runs a rebel band that focuses on harrying the drug company and destroying their drug. When the eclipses come, the drug company gets everyone their doses of the drug at drug distribution centers and sets up security to protect the population and kill those who change. However many of the changed survive and have put together a resistance. Our group is one such group, however they , are only about mid level in the hierarchy of the rebellion. One area of the town has degenerated to be mostly under the control of the changed.
We meet multiple people, each of them well drawn and engaging in each of these groups as they struggle to understand what has happened to their world and what they need to do make their world a happy and secure place again. We don't get all the answers in this book, just further along the journey as the pieces that each of these groups hold comes together to reveal unexpected answers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews