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Wolf and Unicorn #3
Black Magic
The final installment of the Wolf and Unicorn series Bree West and Jack Bastian are now connected, to each other, and to the new black unicorn, Jonquil. With Jonquil’s new powers, the unicorns have begun plans to crush the regime of the witches once and for all. Then the witches attack, vaporizing a unicorn with their deadly new weapon. Powered by the alicorn sword, it is a bomb that can wipe out swaths of unicorns and humans alike. Now, conquering the witches is a dangerous and risky proposition. But Bree has a plan. With the help of scavengers and thieves from her past, she and Jack will sneak into the high witch’s fortress, dismantle the bomb, and take back the alicorn sword.
- GenresShapeshiftersFantasy
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2017
21 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Val St. Crowe
61 books84 followersVal St. Crowe is the fantasy and sci-fi pen name for USA Today Bestselling author V.J. Chambers.
Under the name V.J. Chambers she writes mysteries, thrillers and horror.
Under the pen name Jove Chambers she writes dark romance.
A Joss Whedon fanatic, she loves all that is speculative, from Elemental Assassin to Arrow to The Lost Boys.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV with her partner Aaron, their son, and their kitty cat.
Under the name V.J. Chambers she writes mysteries, thrillers and horror.
Under the pen name Jove Chambers she writes dark romance.
A Joss Whedon fanatic, she loves all that is speculative, from Elemental Assassin to Arrow to The Lost Boys.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV with her partner Aaron, their son, and their kitty cat.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 16, 2017
DETAILS:
Black Magic is the third and final book of Val St. Crowe's Wolf and Unicorn Series, it follows Necessary Magic and Cruel Magic. The first three (of seven) titles in Val's City of Dragons are her only other books I've had the pleasure of reading thus far. My library does also include book one of The Toil and Trouble Trilogy (T&T #1), and given its free download via Kindle your library should include it as well. The first three books in City of Dragons were among the many that helped me zero in on what became my favourite fantasy subgenre: Urban Fantasy. Having experienced Val's fast paced and entertaining style, little thought was needed before jumping into these latest efforts. A detail you should also be aware of is that Val does write under another pen name, V.J. Chambers; creating a pretty impressively sized library.
I've included her two Amazon author page links. Please be aware this doesn't cover the full extent of her novels. You'd achieve a more complete picture by examining Goodreads, and definitely through Val's Website. Such links cannot be provided herein due to Amazon reviewing guidelines, though. I've also included review links to her other exciting and enjoyable books that I've read, which in order of the links below, these include: Cruel Magic; Necessary Magic; Fire Song; Fire Storm; & Fire Magic. Finally, given my above hint, I've also included a link to downloading T&T #1.
Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Val-St.-Crowe/...
Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/V.-J.-Chambers...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R3FT...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R2ZG...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R1OT...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R4D7...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/RRMW...
T&T #1 - https://www.amazon.com/Toil-Trouble-T...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION - THE STORY:
Two pivotal developments have happened in each of the two main camps that will set the stage for the environment that'll arise from the ashes of the war seemingly destined to happen. Whilst winning would've been presumed from the outcome of Jonquil's ascendance in light of High Mistress Zhanna's foiled kidnap and execution plans for Bree, Jack left behind the one weapon that facilitated that rescue, that which had been entrusted to him. Had he not left the coveted Alicorn in the possession of the witches, then the joining that spurred Jonquil's ascendance would've ensured the aces in their camp.
Instead, both sides of any impending war now have in their camp the power to vaporise their opponents, and casualties have already begun accruing. As detailed in the history of Jonquil's ancestor, namely tales his demise, the black unicorn is capable of great magic but is nonetheless as vulnerable as his bonded couple. In a presumably positive byproduct, coupling bolsters the store of power he can draw on, so Bree and Jack have an open license to have at it. The witches' access to the magic of a black unicorn is much less vulnerable, presumably they only need another gloved hand to take up the weapon should any user die. That the witch camp has also found a way to combine the Alicorn's magic to bolster other individual weaponised technologies, spreads out the benefits they gained.
With Zhanna's absolute disdain for followers who aren't powerful enough to ensure their survival, she has an open source of cannon fodder she's more than willing and happy to throw at her problems. The witches once proved a millenia ago that losses in their ranks were acceptable as long as victory was assured. During that war and since then the unicorns have always seen the loss of life as the paramount issue; going so far in their pacifism as to count witch, and now human - especially their virgins, losses among that number which outweighs the benefits of open conflict. The treaty ensured only a state of passive aggression which has escalated to outright breaches since the Collision. Most unicorns too young to remember the pain of past losses are willing to lay down their white flags in favour of violence.
If outright war does now occur, then between Jonquil and the Alicorn, staggering losses will be assured in both camps. That is, unless once again (not so) Virgin Bree can become pivotal as she has in every driving force for the unicorns and human scavengers. Since she was abducted by villagers seeking to avert their contract with the unicorns, Jonquil's herd and her young friend have seen a flurry of changes. But between the use of far more devastating human weaponised technologies augmented by the Alicorn, the witches have plans to wreak destruction none but the unicorns have even a chance of standing against; whether they wish to go to war is irrelevant, it's coming for them.
Through the accidental discovery of how Jonquil changed upon the coupling of his bonded virgins, it should've been a cause only for celebration. Things are not as they seem regarding the black unicorn, though. Thus it falls to Bree and Jack to carry out a plan of Bree's making, which if successful it'll be back the witches into a corner from whence they'll be unable and/or unwilling to move against the unicorns and their collaborators. It's only the unicorns who are prepared to curry any non-violent resolution. But as long as Zhanna sits upon the proverbial throne, the same cannot be said therein. A timely coup could've been the best thing that happened, but such plans are now impossible given she controls the Alicorn.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OPINION:
Admitting it could be totally misconstrued, I can't help finding myself in the position of praising Val for her thinking along the lines of equine characters. If it were possible to mind-speak with the unicorns outside the boundary of this story, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find their communication is at least similar to that portrayed herein. In any event, the diversity and range of ways the unicorns find their niche within the story, and larger still the series, is an unchartered benefit for at least this one reader. I think I made mention of it in my appraisal of prior books, but regardless I'll do so again: the utilitarian aspects of the storylines fulfilled through the use of unicorns has opened my eyes to possibilities I'd be hard pressed to have ever guessed at.
With the post coital changes in this new stortline there's a certain degree of orgasmic giddiness that isn't necessarily reserved to just that small margin of a window that's typically seen, which is to say, the after effects maie Bree's road to sexual expertise a community event. Even as serious as the plot developments and actual events are, it brings a certain jocularity with it. If nothing else, when either Bree or Jack should one day look back to reflect on the events carrying over in the pages from Cruel Magic to Black Magic, when either should say that the other rocked their world, both will quite literally have spoken the truth.
Just how many alternate examples can you bring to mind of the same being said for two other sexual partners. Irony sits in between the lines of how Zhanna intended her grand scheme to be the ultimate of punishments, and yet it was the ultimate something else entirely different; I'm still coming down from the high experienced through living and reliving Bree's narration of what and how she felt. I'd surmise that as far as virginal performance were concerned, all of her nails have sore hesds. If that's what witch contrived aphrodisiac and virgin cocktails truly are like, then sign me up.
The combination of Bree, Jack, and Jonquil, whilst admittedly containing only one and a bit magically capable, they do still remind me of the rarely considered triumvirate in magical fantasy lore. Traditionally, combining three magical reservoirs or essences from three voluntarily bonded magical beings, such as mages or witches, compounds and dramatically heightens the power of the components when cast by a single caster. Those who do enter the circle willingly and cooperatively do compound their individual strengths, to devastating proportions, which is much like any channelling of combined casters except that in certain prophetic or mystical storylines, the triumvirate is considered more powerful again. Thus, it's sort of like the black unicorn
If colour stereotypes are combined with the knowledge of the type of sexual energy harnessed by the unicorns, then a reasoning surfaces regarding the making of a black unicorn. Theoretically, as long as you have a bonded unicorn with their virgin, you potentially have the makings of a black unicorn; a theory completely of conjecture, but one testable nonetheless. If the white unicorns are that colour because of the purity of the sexual energy harnessed, that is pure potentiality instead of the less pure actualised type, then its just a hop skip and jump to reasoning that unicorn colours and power pertain to the sexual energy they are able to feed off. None of these comments relate specifically to spoilers, as the greatest majority of this knowledge accrued through books one and two, with observations barely more than five percent into this new tale.
The number of intuitive aspects of the magic and the plot remains a highlight of the series. As too the utilitarian benefits of using unicorns as a fantasy creature. The Collision is a great and versatile feature in creating the dystopian world where magic and modern society and technologies can coexist. These and other mentioned aspects about the functionality of Val's creations throughout the three books I've reviewed are the sum parts of success in unique, or rare terms, reasons why readers would benefit from the experiences in the Wolf and Unicorn Trilogy (it's not necessarily Val's usage of trilogy, but as per her advice that this third book is the final that I've used trilogy). I'd have no reservations in recommending the series, at the bare minimum it's a rare combination, and it's been done in style. This latest book has even managed to add some jocularity despite the dire stage that characters find themselves in.
Black Magic is the third and final book of Val St. Crowe's Wolf and Unicorn Series, it follows Necessary Magic and Cruel Magic. The first three (of seven) titles in Val's City of Dragons are her only other books I've had the pleasure of reading thus far. My library does also include book one of The Toil and Trouble Trilogy (T&T #1), and given its free download via Kindle your library should include it as well. The first three books in City of Dragons were among the many that helped me zero in on what became my favourite fantasy subgenre: Urban Fantasy. Having experienced Val's fast paced and entertaining style, little thought was needed before jumping into these latest efforts. A detail you should also be aware of is that Val does write under another pen name, V.J. Chambers; creating a pretty impressively sized library.
I've included her two Amazon author page links. Please be aware this doesn't cover the full extent of her novels. You'd achieve a more complete picture by examining Goodreads, and definitely through Val's Website. Such links cannot be provided herein due to Amazon reviewing guidelines, though. I've also included review links to her other exciting and enjoyable books that I've read, which in order of the links below, these include: Cruel Magic; Necessary Magic; Fire Song; Fire Storm; & Fire Magic. Finally, given my above hint, I've also included a link to downloading T&T #1.
Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Val-St.-Crowe/...
Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/V.-J.-Chambers...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R3FT...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R2ZG...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R1OT...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R4D7...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/RRMW...
T&T #1 - https://www.amazon.com/Toil-Trouble-T...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION - THE STORY:
Two pivotal developments have happened in each of the two main camps that will set the stage for the environment that'll arise from the ashes of the war seemingly destined to happen. Whilst winning would've been presumed from the outcome of Jonquil's ascendance in light of High Mistress Zhanna's foiled kidnap and execution plans for Bree, Jack left behind the one weapon that facilitated that rescue, that which had been entrusted to him. Had he not left the coveted Alicorn in the possession of the witches, then the joining that spurred Jonquil's ascendance would've ensured the aces in their camp.
Instead, both sides of any impending war now have in their camp the power to vaporise their opponents, and casualties have already begun accruing. As detailed in the history of Jonquil's ancestor, namely tales his demise, the black unicorn is capable of great magic but is nonetheless as vulnerable as his bonded couple. In a presumably positive byproduct, coupling bolsters the store of power he can draw on, so Bree and Jack have an open license to have at it. The witches' access to the magic of a black unicorn is much less vulnerable, presumably they only need another gloved hand to take up the weapon should any user die. That the witch camp has also found a way to combine the Alicorn's magic to bolster other individual weaponised technologies, spreads out the benefits they gained.
With Zhanna's absolute disdain for followers who aren't powerful enough to ensure their survival, she has an open source of cannon fodder she's more than willing and happy to throw at her problems. The witches once proved a millenia ago that losses in their ranks were acceptable as long as victory was assured. During that war and since then the unicorns have always seen the loss of life as the paramount issue; going so far in their pacifism as to count witch, and now human - especially their virgins, losses among that number which outweighs the benefits of open conflict. The treaty ensured only a state of passive aggression which has escalated to outright breaches since the Collision. Most unicorns too young to remember the pain of past losses are willing to lay down their white flags in favour of violence.
If outright war does now occur, then between Jonquil and the Alicorn, staggering losses will be assured in both camps. That is, unless once again (not so) Virgin Bree can become pivotal as she has in every driving force for the unicorns and human scavengers. Since she was abducted by villagers seeking to avert their contract with the unicorns, Jonquil's herd and her young friend have seen a flurry of changes. But between the use of far more devastating human weaponised technologies augmented by the Alicorn, the witches have plans to wreak destruction none but the unicorns have even a chance of standing against; whether they wish to go to war is irrelevant, it's coming for them.
Through the accidental discovery of how Jonquil changed upon the coupling of his bonded virgins, it should've been a cause only for celebration. Things are not as they seem regarding the black unicorn, though. Thus it falls to Bree and Jack to carry out a plan of Bree's making, which if successful it'll be back the witches into a corner from whence they'll be unable and/or unwilling to move against the unicorns and their collaborators. It's only the unicorns who are prepared to curry any non-violent resolution. But as long as Zhanna sits upon the proverbial throne, the same cannot be said therein. A timely coup could've been the best thing that happened, but such plans are now impossible given she controls the Alicorn.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OPINION:
Admitting it could be totally misconstrued, I can't help finding myself in the position of praising Val for her thinking along the lines of equine characters. If it were possible to mind-speak with the unicorns outside the boundary of this story, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find their communication is at least similar to that portrayed herein. In any event, the diversity and range of ways the unicorns find their niche within the story, and larger still the series, is an unchartered benefit for at least this one reader. I think I made mention of it in my appraisal of prior books, but regardless I'll do so again: the utilitarian aspects of the storylines fulfilled through the use of unicorns has opened my eyes to possibilities I'd be hard pressed to have ever guessed at.
With the post coital changes in this new stortline there's a certain degree of orgasmic giddiness that isn't necessarily reserved to just that small margin of a window that's typically seen, which is to say, the after effects maie Bree's road to sexual expertise a community event. Even as serious as the plot developments and actual events are, it brings a certain jocularity with it. If nothing else, when either Bree or Jack should one day look back to reflect on the events carrying over in the pages from Cruel Magic to Black Magic, when either should say that the other rocked their world, both will quite literally have spoken the truth.
Just how many alternate examples can you bring to mind of the same being said for two other sexual partners. Irony sits in between the lines of how Zhanna intended her grand scheme to be the ultimate of punishments, and yet it was the ultimate something else entirely different; I'm still coming down from the high experienced through living and reliving Bree's narration of what and how she felt. I'd surmise that as far as virginal performance were concerned, all of her nails have sore hesds. If that's what witch contrived aphrodisiac and virgin cocktails truly are like, then sign me up.
The combination of Bree, Jack, and Jonquil, whilst admittedly containing only one and a bit magically capable, they do still remind me of the rarely considered triumvirate in magical fantasy lore. Traditionally, combining three magical reservoirs or essences from three voluntarily bonded magical beings, such as mages or witches, compounds and dramatically heightens the power of the components when cast by a single caster. Those who do enter the circle willingly and cooperatively do compound their individual strengths, to devastating proportions, which is much like any channelling of combined casters except that in certain prophetic or mystical storylines, the triumvirate is considered more powerful again. Thus, it's sort of like the black unicorn
If colour stereotypes are combined with the knowledge of the type of sexual energy harnessed by the unicorns, then a reasoning surfaces regarding the making of a black unicorn. Theoretically, as long as you have a bonded unicorn with their virgin, you potentially have the makings of a black unicorn; a theory completely of conjecture, but one testable nonetheless. If the white unicorns are that colour because of the purity of the sexual energy harnessed, that is pure potentiality instead of the less pure actualised type, then its just a hop skip and jump to reasoning that unicorn colours and power pertain to the sexual energy they are able to feed off. None of these comments relate specifically to spoilers, as the greatest majority of this knowledge accrued through books one and two, with observations barely more than five percent into this new tale.
The number of intuitive aspects of the magic and the plot remains a highlight of the series. As too the utilitarian benefits of using unicorns as a fantasy creature. The Collision is a great and versatile feature in creating the dystopian world where magic and modern society and technologies can coexist. These and other mentioned aspects about the functionality of Val's creations throughout the three books I've reviewed are the sum parts of success in unique, or rare terms, reasons why readers would benefit from the experiences in the Wolf and Unicorn Trilogy (it's not necessarily Val's usage of trilogy, but as per her advice that this third book is the final that I've used trilogy). I'd have no reservations in recommending the series, at the bare minimum it's a rare combination, and it's been done in style. This latest book has even managed to add some jocularity despite the dire stage that characters find themselves in.
August 29, 2017
I initially thought the books were for teens or young adult, and its possible they are i don't know. However i couldn't stop reading, its a bit idealistic, or simple..hard to describe but it didn't turn me off it, has a certain charm to it and had to read all 3 books. A great ending, the world and characters gave me warm fuzzies, add in unicorns and it turned a 45 year old woman into s little girl again reading a favourite fairytale. Well done to the author who made this all work, not many could, and for some reason whether it was a person or unicorn showing kindness or understanding....well i guess that comes from the writer's own kind heart :-)
August 2, 2021
Where is the action
I waited 3 books to see a Witch and Unicorn war and didnt get one. I enjoyed the book. There was a lot of comedic relief and suspense. I was just expecting more. I felt like the relationship between the leader of the Unicorns and the black unicorn (don't want to butcher the spelling) was an afterthought. I didn't see that coming and it felt forced. Then it didnt really fully span out. The same thing with the long lost brother who can wield magic. I would have loved to engaged with that more. I was just expecting more.
I waited 3 books to see a Witch and Unicorn war and didnt get one. I enjoyed the book. There was a lot of comedic relief and suspense. I was just expecting more. I felt like the relationship between the leader of the Unicorns and the black unicorn (don't want to butcher the spelling) was an afterthought. I didn't see that coming and it felt forced. Then it didnt really fully span out. The same thing with the long lost brother who can wield magic. I would have loved to engaged with that more. I was just expecting more.
December 26, 2017
The conclusion to the series. Everyone lives happily ever after, except for the bad guys. I found it just a bit silly. Nice drama and characters though. I skimmed a bit.
Typos: pectoral muscles are called pecs, not pecks. The character Haven is called "the Haven" once. Affect (result) is confused with effect (action). Weapon has a 1 attached (weapon1). An extra comma causes confusion "[It] turned one. wide yellow eye on them both."
Typos: pectoral muscles are called pecs, not pecks. The character Haven is called "the Haven" once. Affect (result) is confused with effect (action). Weapon has a 1 attached (weapon1). An extra comma causes confusion "[It] turned one. wide yellow eye on them both."
June 21, 2017
Wonderfully Fantastic!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading each book! And I would not hesitate to read any of their books. I look forward to reading the next series!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading each book! And I would not hesitate to read any of their books. I look forward to reading the next series!
August 21, 2017
Loved it!
I was hooked after the first few chapters of the first book! I just shade to find out how it all turned out.
I was hooked after the first few chapters of the first book! I just shade to find out how it all turned out.
August 8, 2019
Fair
Least enjoyable of the trilogy. I enjoyed the 1st half of the book well, yet was offended with the language of the last half. Good ending.
Least enjoyable of the trilogy. I enjoyed the 1st half of the book well, yet was offended with the language of the last half. Good ending.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews