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Darkling Mage #1
Shadow Magic
The gods are dying. But for one man, death is only the beginning.
Murdered as a ritual sacrifice, amateur thief and professional charmer Dustin Graves mysteriously survives, finding himself gifted with strange, dark magic. Then more dead bodies turn up. Some are human, but one is a god of the old world, slain at his own doorstep.
Mortal or divine, the bloodshed must end, and Dust is the mage for the job. But first he must contend with a succubus, a talking sword, a spider queen, a goddess of magic, and eldritch abominations from beyond the stars. No big deal… right?
If you like snarky heroes, snappy dialogue, and a bit of grit and gore, you’ll love the first standalone book in Nazri Noor’s series of urban fantasy novels. Explore the Darkling Mage universe and discover a taste of Shadow Magic today.
Murdered as a ritual sacrifice, amateur thief and professional charmer Dustin Graves mysteriously survives, finding himself gifted with strange, dark magic. Then more dead bodies turn up. Some are human, but one is a god of the old world, slain at his own doorstep.
Mortal or divine, the bloodshed must end, and Dust is the mage for the job. But first he must contend with a succubus, a talking sword, a spider queen, a goddess of magic, and eldritch abominations from beyond the stars. No big deal… right?
If you like snarky heroes, snappy dialogue, and a bit of grit and gore, you’ll love the first standalone book in Nazri Noor’s series of urban fantasy novels. Explore the Darkling Mage universe and discover a taste of Shadow Magic today.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2018
1002 people are currently reading
1353 people want to read
About the author
Nazri Noor
52 books393 followersHi, I'm Nazri, a Filipino-Malaysian author based in California. I’m trilingual, but I really only write in English. I can also speak just enough Sindarin and Valyrian to impress absolutely no one. My urban fantasy novels focus on realistic heroes who use wits, style, and their wildly unpredictable magic to (try) and save the day. Think sass and class, while kicking ass.
My influences come from horror and fantasy: HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, Chuck Palahniuk, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Growing up I was shaped by the Blood Sword, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, and Grey Star game book universes. I'm also inspired by video games, specifically the Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Persona series.
TL;DR: I'm a huge nerd. And yes, that's my real hair. I try to donate it to the American Cancer Society as often as I can. Also, have you heard? You can get a free book at www.NazriNoor.com.
My influences come from horror and fantasy: HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, Chuck Palahniuk, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Growing up I was shaped by the Blood Sword, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, and Grey Star game book universes. I'm also inspired by video games, specifically the Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Persona series.
TL;DR: I'm a huge nerd. And yes, that's my real hair. I try to donate it to the American Cancer Society as often as I can. Also, have you heard? You can get a free book at www.NazriNoor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
November 15, 2018
"No, that stench came from the third corpse. The one that had a man’s body, but the unmistakeable dead red eyes, whiskered muzzle, and matted fur of a rodent. It was half man, and half giant rat.
Yeah. Just another day on the job."
Color me surprised. If I hadn't known in advance that this was a self-published book, I would not have guessed. The writing flows smoothly, the cover art is pretty great, there are no glaring grammatical or spelling errors. Overall, it was a decent read. The three stars is for the fact that urban fantasy isn't really my thing, but I can see it being hugely enjoyable for someone who enjoys the genre more than I do.
The book is set in modern-day California. It's the standard "magic exists but nobody knows about it" kind of thing. Dustin Graves is a Hound for a magical organization called the Lorica. That's to say, he finds shit for them. One night on a routine job, he stumbles onto the corpse, and all hell breaks loose.
It really was an enjoyable read. Dustin is a good narrator. I didn't find him boring. He doesn't try too hard to be clever or witty, but he's a fairly snarky character all the same, which I like. There are no characters that particularly got on my nerves, and there's plenty of action to keep things going. I could use some more introspection, but this really is not that type of book. Overall, a solid book.
August 16, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was really good! When I first saw this book, I had a feeling that it was my kind of story. Then I saw that the narrator was Luke Daniels and I had to give this book a try. Once I started listening to the book, I didn't want to stop and was very eager to see how things would work out. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Dustin is a Hound for an organization. He has a pretty handy ability in that he is able to shadow walk, which means he can step from one shadowy space to another. He also has already died once. This book had a whole lot going for it from the very beginning. I thought that the main character, Dustin, was incredibly interesting and wanted to know more about what he could do and how he had apparently died before even though he seemed to be very much alive.
Dustin works for the Lorica which was also a very interesting group filled with a variety of unique characters. There is plenty of things going on to keep Dustin and his co-workers busy and before long Dustin finds himself in danger. This book was exciting from the start and I loved the fact that I never knew what might happen next because really anything seemed possible.
Luke Daniels does a fantastic job with the narration. The story is told from Dustin's point of view and I thought that he was able to bring Dustin to life. I really liked Dustin's sense of humor and I thought that the performance made it even more enjoyable. I liked the variety of voices used in this story and thought that everything flowed very nicely.
I would recommend this series to others. This is a very solid start to a promising urban fantasy series. I really liked the characters and found the story to be exciting. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of this series in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from the author via Audiobook Boom.
Initial Thoughts
This was entertaining. I really liked the world that this book was set in and I enjoyed the characters. Dustin has some pretty unique abilities and an interesting back story. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the story which really kept me guessing until the end. Luke Daniels did a fabulous job with the narration which I think added to my overall enjoyment.
This was really good! When I first saw this book, I had a feeling that it was my kind of story. Then I saw that the narrator was Luke Daniels and I had to give this book a try. Once I started listening to the book, I didn't want to stop and was very eager to see how things would work out. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Dustin is a Hound for an organization. He has a pretty handy ability in that he is able to shadow walk, which means he can step from one shadowy space to another. He also has already died once. This book had a whole lot going for it from the very beginning. I thought that the main character, Dustin, was incredibly interesting and wanted to know more about what he could do and how he had apparently died before even though he seemed to be very much alive.
Dustin works for the Lorica which was also a very interesting group filled with a variety of unique characters. There is plenty of things going on to keep Dustin and his co-workers busy and before long Dustin finds himself in danger. This book was exciting from the start and I loved the fact that I never knew what might happen next because really anything seemed possible.
Luke Daniels does a fantastic job with the narration. The story is told from Dustin's point of view and I thought that he was able to bring Dustin to life. I really liked Dustin's sense of humor and I thought that the performance made it even more enjoyable. I liked the variety of voices used in this story and thought that everything flowed very nicely.
I would recommend this series to others. This is a very solid start to a promising urban fantasy series. I really liked the characters and found the story to be exciting. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of this series in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from the author via Audiobook Boom.
Initial Thoughts
This was entertaining. I really liked the world that this book was set in and I enjoyed the characters. Dustin has some pretty unique abilities and an interesting back story. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the story which really kept me guessing until the end. Luke Daniels did a fabulous job with the narration which I think added to my overall enjoyment.
May 28, 2018
Nice first book in this new YA/NA UF series. There is a (free) prequel - Penumbra - that you can read beforehand. It isn't necessary to have read it, you do get caught up pretty well in Shadow Magic, but I think it would be helpful to read it first - it's not a long novella.
This time there are minor gods/entities being killed, which creates a rift in the environment and the system, and the Lorica are investigating. Dustin gets to brush up on his shadowstepping and learn some magic creation as well. Oh, and there are portals. Everyone seems to like Dustin. He's charming, and good looking - just ask him, he'll tell you. He's still reeling from his premature and nasty death and coping with the new world he finds himself in, but he still cruises past his dad's house and wishes he could go in and tell him he's okay. It hurts to see his dad obviously grieving.
The same characters in Penumbra pop up - lovely, kickass Prudence and handsome, motorcycle riding, and annoying to Dustin, Bastion. Thea, Dustin's Lorica boss. Herald the archivist/alchemist. Vanitas the telepathic sword and quite a few new characters, like Gil the werewolf, Sterling the vampire and their... interesting boss, Carver.
There are a lot of status updates attached to this review to check out the writing style.
Blog review.
This time there are minor gods/entities being killed, which creates a rift in the environment and the system, and the Lorica are investigating. Dustin gets to brush up on his shadowstepping and learn some magic creation as well. Oh, and there are portals. Everyone seems to like Dustin. He's charming, and good looking - just ask him, he'll tell you. He's still reeling from his premature and nasty death and coping with the new world he finds himself in, but he still cruises past his dad's house and wishes he could go in and tell him he's okay. It hurts to see his dad obviously grieving.
The same characters in Penumbra pop up - lovely, kickass Prudence and handsome, motorcycle riding, and annoying to Dustin, Bastion. Thea, Dustin's Lorica boss. Herald the archivist/alchemist. Vanitas the telepathic sword and quite a few new characters, like Gil the werewolf, Sterling the vampire and their... interesting boss, Carver.
There are a lot of status updates attached to this review to check out the writing style.
Blog review.
June 21, 2018
About the most interesting and important thing Dustin Graves has ever done in his life is be a human sacrifice in a dark magic ritual (and if you want to read about that, it's in Penumbra, which is free on the author's website). For reasons Dustin doesn't understand (among many other things he doesn't understand), this has activated latent magical powers...
Shadow Magic picks up shortly afterwards, when Dustin has become part of the Lorica, a sort of magical police/investigative force. Someone is killing gods - how do you kill an immortal, and what did the killer hope to achieve?
What I liked
Dustin is an engaging main character - he's got a sense of humour, and doesn't take himself too seriously. You might want to smack him at times, but you'd probably smile while doing it. :-)
Noor also has some pretty interesting ideas, and has put his own spin on older ideas. It all adds up to a story set-up that has enough that is new and interesting that it seems unlikely that this series will feel interchangeable with everything else out there.
Stuff that could have been better
This is Nazri Noor's first book, and to be fair, it shows a little. The pacing is a little off - not much happens, plot-wise, in the early part of the book - although we get some fairly cool world-building! Plus, Dustin seems to accept things at face value a little too often, especially for a man who got used as ritual sacrifice: you think he'd've learned... And he's just a little too lucky.
However, all that said, it was a fun read. Will I carry on with the series? Yes, I rather think I will. :-)
Shadow Magic picks up shortly afterwards, when Dustin has become part of the Lorica, a sort of magical police/investigative force. Someone is killing gods - how do you kill an immortal, and what did the killer hope to achieve?
What I liked
Dustin is an engaging main character - he's got a sense of humour, and doesn't take himself too seriously. You might want to smack him at times, but you'd probably smile while doing it. :-)
Noor also has some pretty interesting ideas, and has put his own spin on older ideas. It all adds up to a story set-up that has enough that is new and interesting that it seems unlikely that this series will feel interchangeable with everything else out there.
Stuff that could have been better
This is Nazri Noor's first book, and to be fair, it shows a little. The pacing is a little off - not much happens, plot-wise, in the early part of the book - although we get some fairly cool world-building! Plus, Dustin seems to accept things at face value a little too often, especially for a man who got used as ritual sacrifice: you think he'd've learned... And he's just a little too lucky.
However, all that said, it was a fun read. Will I carry on with the series? Yes, I rather think I will. :-)
Read
July 17, 2018Now available on Amazon under the Kindle Unlimited program. Make sure to read the prequel, too. Some readers have even said that it's best to read Penumbra before Shadow Magic. Get the prequel for free from my website by hitting the link below:
www.nazrinoor.com
www.nazrinoor.com
May 3, 2023
I was gonna give this a 4 but the appearance of a Filipino restaurant at the end with Mama Rosa and her Chicken Adobo just added a .25 star from me. Hahah! Her description fits a typical grumpy carinderia owner and I laughed out loud. 🤣
Imagery? Outstanding.
POV narration? Engaging.
World building? Clever and well-done.
Dustin Graves? I like him and the air of both ordinary and special.
Overall concept? A little bit genius. His inspirations definitely paid off!
I like checking out books from authors I haven't tried yet and I just happened to find Nazri Noor. I was supposed to start with his Wild Hearts series but I saw his website and found this at the top of the reading order. Was it a good choice? IT. WAS. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The cool cover and 'About the Author' already sold me but the first chapter hooked me right in. I honestly didn't care much about the blurb so everything was a pleasant surprise. Sometimes diving right in without any idea pays off real good. 🥰
And wasn't that exciting? 😂 I like how Dustin's character was built. Our not quite so dark hero. I thought he would be too greasy but no, just charming enough to be endearing. I might like him more further in the series.
I'm thinking, if the universe of Lightning Thief and Harry Potter got married and gave birth to new magical worlds and grown-up progenies, this is it. Reading Shadow Magic is like watching anime through a novel. Exciting, engaging, artistic, imaginative, and fantastical. I was so absorbed in reading before I realized towards the end that there's NO ROMANCE in it. What sorcery is this? 🤣 I didn't mind it that much. Still a good experience. But wait, there's so much potential with Bastion though! However, if he's meant to be a powerful being, then he'll match someone with god-like powers like Carver. He seems hot, by the way. 😋 We'll see. I don't want to cheat and read all the blurbs!
Imagery? Outstanding.
POV narration? Engaging.
World building? Clever and well-done.
Dustin Graves? I like him and the air of both ordinary and special.
Overall concept? A little bit genius. His inspirations definitely paid off!
I like checking out books from authors I haven't tried yet and I just happened to find Nazri Noor. I was supposed to start with his Wild Hearts series but I saw his website and found this at the top of the reading order. Was it a good choice? IT. WAS. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The cool cover and 'About the Author' already sold me but the first chapter hooked me right in. I honestly didn't care much about the blurb so everything was a pleasant surprise. Sometimes diving right in without any idea pays off real good. 🥰
See, there was a certain thrill to being a professional thief, this acknowledgement that I was being naughty and breaking rules on purpose.
And wasn't that exciting? 😂 I like how Dustin's character was built. Our not quite so dark hero. I thought he would be too greasy but no, just charming enough to be endearing. I might like him more further in the series.
I'm thinking, if the universe of Lightning Thief and Harry Potter got married and gave birth to new magical worlds and grown-up progenies, this is it. Reading Shadow Magic is like watching anime through a novel. Exciting, engaging, artistic, imaginative, and fantastical. I was so absorbed in reading before I realized towards the end that there's NO ROMANCE in it. What sorcery is this? 🤣 I didn't mind it that much. Still a good experience. But wait, there's so much potential with Bastion though! However, if he's meant to be a powerful being, then he'll match someone with god-like powers like Carver. He seems hot, by the way. 😋 We'll see. I don't want to cheat and read all the blurbs!
April 4, 2023
Another great read by Nazri Noor!
This book has everything that I’ve come to expect from this author: humor, snark, banter, a great story, and a whole lot of heart. I started reading about the arcane underground backward so it’s been fun reading the beginning of this incredible world I’ve grown to love so much.
Dustin is an interesting narrator. He seems like he has a lot of growing up to do at the beginning of the story but I have faith that this author has the skill to develop his character as the story goes on.
There were parts of the Big Reveal that I saw coming from the beginning but some of it was a huge surprise. I even shouted at my book in the break room at work!
Also, a snarky talking sword? Hell yeah!
This book has everything that I’ve come to expect from this author: humor, snark, banter, a great story, and a whole lot of heart. I started reading about the arcane underground backward so it’s been fun reading the beginning of this incredible world I’ve grown to love so much.
Dustin is an interesting narrator. He seems like he has a lot of growing up to do at the beginning of the story but I have faith that this author has the skill to develop his character as the story goes on.
There were parts of the Big Reveal that I saw coming from the beginning but some of it was a huge surprise. I even shouted at my book in the break room at work!
Also, a snarky talking sword? Hell yeah!
May 26, 2018
Dustin Graves was the victim of an attempted ritual sacrifice. This trauma resulted in his legal death, (so he cannot return to his previous life), and discovered that he has some special abilities. He's taken in by the Lorica - an organisation dedicated to protecting "normals" from paranormal interference. As a Hound, Dustin locates and extracts magical artefacts.
This was a really well-crafted novel. I found it to be an extremely satisfying read. It was exciting and full of action. The character development was very well handled - it's the first novel in a series, so all is not revealed, but enough to whet the appetite. The author does an excellent job with description. I found the story to be really engaging - there were two or three times when I thought the novel would end (and I was disappointed at the thought), but it carried on further. I found the ending was satisfying enough, but also left me eager to keep reading.
I did notice some small errors that could be cleaned up in another editing pass, but there weren't so many that it was a distraction.
I'm very interested to see what direction the author will take the series. I think the world-building is very well done, and I'm eager to continue to learn along with Dustin.
I received a free copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.
This was a really well-crafted novel. I found it to be an extremely satisfying read. It was exciting and full of action. The character development was very well handled - it's the first novel in a series, so all is not revealed, but enough to whet the appetite. The author does an excellent job with description. I found the story to be really engaging - there were two or three times when I thought the novel would end (and I was disappointed at the thought), but it carried on further. I found the ending was satisfying enough, but also left me eager to keep reading.
I did notice some small errors that could be cleaned up in another editing pass, but there weren't so many that it was a distraction.
I'm very interested to see what direction the author will take the series. I think the world-building is very well done, and I'm eager to continue to learn along with Dustin.
I received a free copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.
September 16, 2018
Wasn’t a fan
May 27, 2019
I really liked the magic in here. Takes some several different popular books and I don't mind at all. The writing style took some getting used to, but I like this new world and the characters in it so far. Will be picking up the rest in due time.
July 3, 2019
I won't bother with the synopsis as it's already in goodreads. I'll get straight to the point.
Dustin is an odd character. This is the first time am reading this type of books. He is very "human". Meaning that he is just like us. Not like most books where the hero handsome, smart and good in everything. Dustin have fears and weakness too. At times, I felt that he is slightly wimpy.
Some parts of the books are a bit too fast and I find it hard to understand what is happening. Especially the part with the Spider Queen and the kissing part.
Ending was quite dramatic.
Hope to get my hands on the next book soon.
Dustin is an odd character. This is the first time am reading this type of books. He is very "human". Meaning that he is just like us. Not like most books where the hero handsome, smart and good in everything. Dustin have fears and weakness too. At times, I felt that he is slightly wimpy.
Some parts of the books are a bit too fast and I find it hard to understand what is happening. Especially the part with the Spider Queen and the kissing part.
Ending was quite dramatic.
Hope to get my hands on the next book soon.
July 12, 2020
I think I've just found my new favourite Urban fantasy series. Sorcerers, a Vampire, a Werewolf and a talking sword.... Magic!
May 7, 2020
The beginning was kind of boring, but it got much better towards the end.
June 17, 2018
First off I'm very glad I took the advice to read Prenumbra before tackling this book. The back story helped when I jumped into this book. Have to say this was a great story and looking forward to what follows since this was a cliff hanger ending. Dustin definitely knows how to get himself into trouble, but there is no way he could have ever figured out who the bad guy would be. He doesn't see himself as anything special, but he is being used all the same. Is he magic? You'll have to read the adventure to find out more. And....it is well worth the read. Characters are fully lifelike and you can see yourself joining along.
Noor is a new author to me and I'm glad I took the chance and time to read this book.
Noor is a new author to me and I'm glad I took the chance and time to read this book.
May 28, 2018
Loved the book. The main character Dustin was murdered and now suddenly he is thrown into a world that has magic in it. Somehow Dustin was not quite dead, his murder was a ritualistic sacrific that left him alive but looking dead to the rest of the non-magic world. Dustin wants to find out who killed him and while he does that he works as a Hound, a department of the Lorica, finding and retrieving magical items for them. Love the characters in this book that interact with Dustin while he learns the world that he has now been thrust into. Great book, fast paced and I can't wait to read the next book.
May 11, 2020
So Dustin or Dust as he is called was killed but brought back by a Mage of great power. Since he has been working as a "Hound" for the Lorica a magical organization. His job is simple find other magical or find objects retrieve them before a normal human bumps into them and causes chaos. But when he tries to retrieve a book he discovers that the humans have been killed. Not only that a Deity has also been killed at the same house. Now the stakes are higher and Dust is the mage with the nimble fingers. Can he survive?
September 28, 2023
This book was pretty good, I will definitely be reading the next book in the series to see what happens. The start of this book was slightly bumpy, but it quickly progressed into a solid story.
On a quick side note, the humor in the book reminded me of the guild codex series by Annette Marie. (Not a complaint)
On a quick side note, the humor in the book reminded me of the guild codex series by Annette Marie. (Not a complaint)
May 29, 2018
While I found the book slow to start, by the end I was left wanting more. I enjoyed the different take on abilities and magic users. I look forward to the next book in the series
September 21, 2020
Oh lort.
June 27, 2020
Very enjoyable
Thoroughly enjoyed this urban fantasy. Filling a Harry Dresden shaped hole in my life. Looking forward to reading more about Dustin Graves and his world.
Thoroughly enjoyed this urban fantasy. Filling a Harry Dresden shaped hole in my life. Looking forward to reading more about Dustin Graves and his world.
October 22, 2018
I like the characters' attitudes.
February 23, 2019
I couldn't get more than a couple of chapters into this book. The MC was cocky, but not in an amusing way. There were all these "types" within whatever organization it was this guy worked for, and they just sounded stupid. Maybe the story would have been worth hanging around for, but I was not sufficiently intrigued.
February 25, 2019
The MC so is god damn annoying to read i was actually hoping he would die. those little convos he has in his head every 5 seconds makes me want to burn the book and throw it away.
December 27, 2019
Another Passive Protagonist
DNF @ 23%
My tolerance of passive protagonists seems to erode with every book I read. I only got up to 23% before I had to stop listening and let me tell you, the narrator was doing an excellent job. You'd think that "amateur thief and professional charmer" would mean that Dustin's personality would be one of his strongest points, able to mask his emotions and talk his way out of any situation, but it isn't.
From the entirety I have read, he spends the time being led by the nose from one scene to the next. His story is so rigid and controlled by others that I was surprised that the novel wasn't setting it up as a "escape from the chains of society" kind of plot-line.
You may (probably will) have a different experience with this novel than I did. I just hate protagonists who serve no more a purpose than to allow the reader a lens into the world. Why not simply make the story from the view of the other characters? You clearly like them more than your protagonist.
DNF @ 23%
My tolerance of passive protagonists seems to erode with every book I read. I only got up to 23% before I had to stop listening and let me tell you, the narrator was doing an excellent job. You'd think that "amateur thief and professional charmer" would mean that Dustin's personality would be one of his strongest points, able to mask his emotions and talk his way out of any situation, but it isn't.
From the entirety I have read, he spends the time being led by the nose from one scene to the next. His story is so rigid and controlled by others that I was surprised that the novel wasn't setting it up as a "escape from the chains of society" kind of plot-line.
You may (probably will) have a different experience with this novel than I did. I just hate protagonists who serve no more a purpose than to allow the reader a lens into the world. Why not simply make the story from the view of the other characters? You clearly like them more than your protagonist.
June 20, 2019
2.5 to 3 stars. It was okay, I liked the MC but was not developed enough. The main story/plot was okay but nothing earth shattering. If the magic was explained and done better than this book could have been a easy 3 stars but it was not really explained and was more of a side note. It was okay and did show some potential but I am on the fence if I will continue with the series.
November 2, 2018
It’s ok
This book took a while to get into to be honest. It was extremely slow at the beginning. Maybe it’s just not my thing. In my opinion it left a lot to be desired.
This book took a while to get into to be honest. It was extremely slow at the beginning. Maybe it’s just not my thing. In my opinion it left a lot to be desired.
April 4, 2019
Duration 7 hrs 35 mins.
Shadow Magic by Nazri Noor is the first book in the Darkling Mage series, a supernatural adventure which introduces us to thief-turned-mage Dustin 'Dust' Graves. We meet Dust as he is beginning to come to terms with a more magical existence, and learns that he must use his new powers for something a bit more dangerous than pilfering some supernatural pottery.
Dust is a classic 'lovable rogue', though one who probably told you that himself while excusing some sketchy behaviour. This wise-cracking wizard seems to find trouble wherever he goes, but has a cat-like ability to wriggle out of it. In the employ of a Top Secret Magical Corporation known as the Lorica, he is charged with solving the murders of old gods - 'entities' - who are being sacrificed by someone who is intent on absorbing their power. Someone who may also have been responsible for Dustin's own murder...
Shadow Magic was well written and I enjoyed the story. I really liked the premise but as the first book in a series I would have preferred Dustin's first adventure to have kept him at the Lorica. It is difficult to find the balance between setting up a series arc and creating a standalone story, but I would have loved to learn a little more about it and the other mages with Dustin still on the inside and part of the team, so I hope it features again in later audiobooks. Noor does a good job of setting up the alternate universe in which it is set; one where magical artefacts and supernatural creatures rub shoulders with the 'normals' in modern-day California. The book's lore develops nicely, and because our glimpse behind the veil mirrors Dustin's own journey of discovery it never feels as though there is unnecessary exposition. Some of the humour was a little laboured, with far more time than necessary given to a magical book of very little importance just so that Noor could make a joke about Facebook, but in a way that, too, was authentic. Guys like Dustin who make jokes about everything are going to drop a few clangers.
As I was listening it did feel as though there were parallels to a few other series' which may have had some influence on the author. Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series and Jim Butcher's early Dresden Files bear a few distinct similarities, though fortunately without the misogyny which plagued the latter. It's difficult to incorporate old gods in 21st Century America without making people think of an acclaimed novel by Neil Gaiman, but Strange Magic is very different in tone and execution to American Gods, and does not feature the deities with as much prominence. The incessant snark and first-person narrative reminded me of the Magic 2.0 series by Scott Meyer, though that may be because the narrator also worked on that series. (Something I hadn't realised until I plucked Off to be the Wizard out of my Audible library to double-check the spelling of the author's surname for this review.)
I was very pleased to note that despite reminding me of these other great books, Strange Magic never felt as though it was borrowing from them too heavily and - most importantly - did not pale in comparison. It held its own very well, keeping me engaged and entertained until the end, and I will certainly add the rest of the series to my wishlist if this one does well enough for them to become available in audio.
The narrator, Luke Daniels, has an enthusiastic, expressive delivery which suited the protagonist's snarky showmanship. There were times when the relentlessness of the dramatic, irreverent, quips became a little annoying but that had more to do with the character than the narrator.
I would recommend this audiobook to fans of the other books I have mentioned, and anyone who likes urban fantasy.
An ebook copy of the prequel to Shadow Magic, Penumbra, is available free to anyone who subscribes to the author's mailing list.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
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Shadow Magic by Nazri Noor is the first book in the Darkling Mage series, a supernatural adventure which introduces us to thief-turned-mage Dustin 'Dust' Graves. We meet Dust as he is beginning to come to terms with a more magical existence, and learns that he must use his new powers for something a bit more dangerous than pilfering some supernatural pottery.
Dust is a classic 'lovable rogue', though one who probably told you that himself while excusing some sketchy behaviour. This wise-cracking wizard seems to find trouble wherever he goes, but has a cat-like ability to wriggle out of it. In the employ of a Top Secret Magical Corporation known as the Lorica, he is charged with solving the murders of old gods - 'entities' - who are being sacrificed by someone who is intent on absorbing their power. Someone who may also have been responsible for Dustin's own murder...
Shadow Magic was well written and I enjoyed the story. I really liked the premise but as the first book in a series I would have preferred Dustin's first adventure to have kept him at the Lorica. It is difficult to find the balance between setting up a series arc and creating a standalone story, but I would have loved to learn a little more about it and the other mages with Dustin still on the inside and part of the team, so I hope it features again in later audiobooks. Noor does a good job of setting up the alternate universe in which it is set; one where magical artefacts and supernatural creatures rub shoulders with the 'normals' in modern-day California. The book's lore develops nicely, and because our glimpse behind the veil mirrors Dustin's own journey of discovery it never feels as though there is unnecessary exposition. Some of the humour was a little laboured, with far more time than necessary given to a magical book of very little importance just so that Noor could make a joke about Facebook, but in a way that, too, was authentic. Guys like Dustin who make jokes about everything are going to drop a few clangers.
As I was listening it did feel as though there were parallels to a few other series' which may have had some influence on the author. Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series and Jim Butcher's early Dresden Files bear a few distinct similarities, though fortunately without the misogyny which plagued the latter. It's difficult to incorporate old gods in 21st Century America without making people think of an acclaimed novel by Neil Gaiman, but Strange Magic is very different in tone and execution to American Gods, and does not feature the deities with as much prominence. The incessant snark and first-person narrative reminded me of the Magic 2.0 series by Scott Meyer, though that may be because the narrator also worked on that series. (Something I hadn't realised until I plucked Off to be the Wizard out of my Audible library to double-check the spelling of the author's surname for this review.)
I was very pleased to note that despite reminding me of these other great books, Strange Magic never felt as though it was borrowing from them too heavily and - most importantly - did not pale in comparison. It held its own very well, keeping me engaged and entertained until the end, and I will certainly add the rest of the series to my wishlist if this one does well enough for them to become available in audio.
The narrator, Luke Daniels, has an enthusiastic, expressive delivery which suited the protagonist's snarky showmanship. There were times when the relentlessness of the dramatic, irreverent, quips became a little annoying but that had more to do with the character than the narrator.
I would recommend this audiobook to fans of the other books I have mentioned, and anyone who likes urban fantasy.
An ebook copy of the prequel to Shadow Magic, Penumbra, is available free to anyone who subscribes to the author's mailing list.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
| Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
September 30, 2018
You can read the full review on my blog, The Writerly Way, here.
Shadow Magic is full of snarky characters, magic, old Gods, and a sinister mystery that remains to be solved. What this boils down to: will I read the sequel? Heck yes. That says pretty much all that has to be said, right? No? Fine. Let’s get into it, then.
Thoughts:
- Did I mention there’s a talking sword?! The sword is charming and every bit as sarcastic and pithy as talking swords are required to be by nature.
- The main character, Dustin Graves (Dust for short), is a thief, and a darn good one, thank you very much, and he’s quite proud of it. Which is interesting in and of itself. What makes it even more interesting is that he steals magical artifacts so that humans don't accidentally destroy themselves, which seems like a pretty good use of his time, if I do say so. Oh, and there’s this teensy little note about Dust totally having been used as a human sacrifice in a ritual.
- There are gods (yes, plural) and they’re 100% aware of how awesome they are, and I think that just makes me like them even more? The book opens with the murder (and subsequent coverup) of Resheph, a Canaanite plague deity. Also, half man, half giant rat, so not the sort of thing you want to stumble over, dead or alive. Just saying. Each deity has its own realm, and in order to open the door to that realm, certain sacrifices are required. Dust has to go toe-to-toe with some powerful gods to gain their favor, which takes some thought and cunning and maybe more than a little luck, and I was always guessing who would pop up next.
- Beyond just magic and gods, there are plenty of supernatural beings in general … but it’s not quite what you think. I loved the dynamic between the Ludica, with the mages, and the other supernaturals and clearly magical elements that exist in the world. The book didn’t dive too much into it, but I got enough of a taste to get a feel for it, and I have a good feeling that book two will broach more of this subject, and I am so ready for it.
- The tone and characters combine to form a funny, entertaining, easy read, which is just what I was looking for. Dust is a sarcastic narrator (so, in other words, totally my sort) and when he’s not in his head, he’s basically trading barbs with other characters.
Sticking Points:
- The pacing just felt off in some places, which led to a climax that fell a bit short, in my opinion. The book took a long time building up to what I was expecting to be an epic fight, and then it just sort of … fizzled? Parts of the book were great in terms of pacing. But then others dragged on, and I was waiting for them to tie together or make sense.
- There’s a big reveal toward the end, which would have been a pleasant surprise if I hadn’t seen it about a quarter of the way in and then spent the rest of the time yelling at the characters for not also seeing it. Master thief? Yes. Observant people person? No.
Shadow Magic is full of snarky characters, magic, old Gods, and a sinister mystery that remains to be solved. What this boils down to: will I read the sequel? Heck yes. That says pretty much all that has to be said, right? No? Fine. Let’s get into it, then.
Thoughts:
- Did I mention there’s a talking sword?! The sword is charming and every bit as sarcastic and pithy as talking swords are required to be by nature.
- The main character, Dustin Graves (Dust for short), is a thief, and a darn good one, thank you very much, and he’s quite proud of it. Which is interesting in and of itself. What makes it even more interesting is that he steals magical artifacts so that humans don't accidentally destroy themselves, which seems like a pretty good use of his time, if I do say so. Oh, and there’s this teensy little note about Dust totally having been used as a human sacrifice in a ritual.
- There are gods (yes, plural) and they’re 100% aware of how awesome they are, and I think that just makes me like them even more? The book opens with the murder (and subsequent coverup) of Resheph, a Canaanite plague deity. Also, half man, half giant rat, so not the sort of thing you want to stumble over, dead or alive. Just saying. Each deity has its own realm, and in order to open the door to that realm, certain sacrifices are required. Dust has to go toe-to-toe with some powerful gods to gain their favor, which takes some thought and cunning and maybe more than a little luck, and I was always guessing who would pop up next.
- Beyond just magic and gods, there are plenty of supernatural beings in general … but it’s not quite what you think. I loved the dynamic between the Ludica, with the mages, and the other supernaturals and clearly magical elements that exist in the world. The book didn’t dive too much into it, but I got enough of a taste to get a feel for it, and I have a good feeling that book two will broach more of this subject, and I am so ready for it.
- The tone and characters combine to form a funny, entertaining, easy read, which is just what I was looking for. Dust is a sarcastic narrator (so, in other words, totally my sort) and when he’s not in his head, he’s basically trading barbs with other characters.
Sticking Points:
- The pacing just felt off in some places, which led to a climax that fell a bit short, in my opinion. The book took a long time building up to what I was expecting to be an epic fight, and then it just sort of … fizzled? Parts of the book were great in terms of pacing. But then others dragged on, and I was waiting for them to tie together or make sense.
- There’s a big reveal toward the end, which would have been a pleasant surprise if I hadn’t seen it about a quarter of the way in and then spent the rest of the time yelling at the characters for not also seeing it. Master thief? Yes. Observant people person? No.
February 6, 2020
Rating 2.5 stars
This wasn't that bad, there was just something a little .... off about the story. The premise was interesting but some things with the execution didn't work for me. The story follows Dustin. He works for a group of people called the Lorica. They are made of of magic users whose job is to protect the world from supernatural threats. Dustin is able to use shadow magic. He can move through shadows. His job is to retrieve dangerous items that have fallen into the wrong hands. Dustin only got his powers about a month ago when he was murdered. People have their magical abilities awakened when they undergo stressful events. Dustin was stabbed through the heart and almost died. The magic in the blade he was stabbed with had a spell on it that put him in stasis. The police found his body before the Lorica could get to him and heal his wounds, so to the human world he is dead. Overall the setup isn't that bad, but there were a couple of things that really didn't make sense with the execution
I sort of understood the ending of the story but it didn't work for me. I ended up skimming through the last 1/4 of the book.
This wasn't that bad, there was just something a little .... off about the story. The premise was interesting but some things with the execution didn't work for me. The story follows Dustin. He works for a group of people called the Lorica. They are made of of magic users whose job is to protect the world from supernatural threats. Dustin is able to use shadow magic. He can move through shadows. His job is to retrieve dangerous items that have fallen into the wrong hands. Dustin only got his powers about a month ago when he was murdered. People have their magical abilities awakened when they undergo stressful events. Dustin was stabbed through the heart and almost died. The magic in the blade he was stabbed with had a spell on it that put him in stasis. The police found his body before the Lorica could get to him and heal his wounds, so to the human world he is dead. Overall the setup isn't that bad, but there were a couple of things that really didn't make sense with the execution
I sort of understood the ending of the story but it didn't work for me. I ended up skimming through the last 1/4 of the book.
March 5, 2019
•audiobook•
Almost 3 Stars
Language (mostly F bombs); seems over gratuitous, as it comes and disappears
Snafu in my copy @ 7m26sec into the audio.
There’s something to be said about snarky main characters. Well, a few things. One, they can all start to sound alike. Or like teenagers. Two, they talk to the reader/in their head way too much or over explain or over simplify. Three, the author gets ahead of the game while breaking the wall and the details don’t mesh.
In this case, the snark is just enough to keep him front and center; it also keeps him from melding into all the other snark out there.
But he does talk/think too much. Annoying. I have no qualms with people who talk too much, but daaaaamn. Shut it already. This brings new heights and definition to telling, not showing.
And the third point is spot on. Supposedly, Dust has only been in this new realm/afterlife for a couple weeks. Well, he tells us he’s only been dead a couple weeks, when he learns about this plane that exists with us Normal human beings. So did he have osmosis that in a couple weeks he’s learned so much about everything in this new reality? I find it incredibly hard to believe, in turn hard to swallow.
Shadow stepping, in his cockiness when we meet Dust is a piece of cake. When we get to Magical Transportation explanations in Chapter 6, it turns out he misspoke. Like grossly misspoke because he’s a novice, by admission, and it was dark and spooky or not recommended.
The world building, as hinted earlier, is more solid than to be expected, but makes one wonder how he knew so much in so little time. If the delivery wasn’t in first person POV, it would have exceeded 99% of the books out there.
I did like the characters, overall. But had I opened a fortune cookie that hinted the above, I would have passed.
Being in Dust’s head or crosshairs aside, the writing, itself, was above average.
The climax, ‘twists, turns’ is predictable and common.
Yay for no apparent love triangle.
Luke Daniels was amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever described another narrator like that. Hands down, he’s the reason I gobbled this up so quickly.
Would I follow the series? Maybe. IF I happen to come across the others. And IF my Listening Library isn’t overflowing with To Be Listened. And IF Luke narrated the others.
It’s a more solid and entertaining book than a lot of Urban Fantasy out there. But it’s not a must-have.
Almost 3 Stars
Language (mostly F bombs); seems over gratuitous, as it comes and disappears
Snafu in my copy @ 7m26sec into the audio.
There’s something to be said about snarky main characters. Well, a few things. One, they can all start to sound alike. Or like teenagers. Two, they talk to the reader/in their head way too much or over explain or over simplify. Three, the author gets ahead of the game while breaking the wall and the details don’t mesh.
In this case, the snark is just enough to keep him front and center; it also keeps him from melding into all the other snark out there.
But he does talk/think too much. Annoying. I have no qualms with people who talk too much, but daaaaamn. Shut it already. This brings new heights and definition to telling, not showing.
And the third point is spot on. Supposedly, Dust has only been in this new realm/afterlife for a couple weeks. Well, he tells us he’s only been dead a couple weeks, when he learns about this plane that exists with us Normal human beings. So did he have osmosis that in a couple weeks he’s learned so much about everything in this new reality? I find it incredibly hard to believe, in turn hard to swallow.
Shadow stepping, in his cockiness when we meet Dust is a piece of cake. When we get to Magical Transportation explanations in Chapter 6, it turns out he misspoke. Like grossly misspoke because he’s a novice, by admission, and it was dark and spooky or not recommended.
The world building, as hinted earlier, is more solid than to be expected, but makes one wonder how he knew so much in so little time. If the delivery wasn’t in first person POV, it would have exceeded 99% of the books out there.
I did like the characters, overall. But had I opened a fortune cookie that hinted the above, I would have passed.
Being in Dust’s head or crosshairs aside, the writing, itself, was above average.
The climax, ‘twists, turns’ is predictable and common.
Yay for no apparent love triangle.
Luke Daniels was amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever described another narrator like that. Hands down, he’s the reason I gobbled this up so quickly.
Would I follow the series? Maybe. IF I happen to come across the others. And IF my Listening Library isn’t overflowing with To Be Listened. And IF Luke narrated the others.
It’s a more solid and entertaining book than a lot of Urban Fantasy out there. But it’s not a must-have.
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