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Medicine and Magic #3
Malignant Magic
An ancient and deadly magic comes calling in my ER.
I’ve managed to stay under the radar as I continue my ER residency. All I need is to finish it out and I can get away from Minneapolis and the magic all around me. For so long, that was what I wanted. And still do… even if I can’t help it as magic begins to creep into my work.
When an injured shifter shows up in my ER with my name on him, I have no choice but to try and understand why, but doing so risks exposing my magical side to the one place I wanted to conceal it from.
Partnering with Aron leads to a discovery in the north woods that I alone think will impact magic in the city. When the mage council refuses to get involved with shifter business, I lean on a different sort of ally, but even that might not be enough to save us.
The magic attacking is like nothing I’ve faced before. This time, the Veil can’t protect us. A search for answers yields only more questions. And as the attacks progress, I need to figure out what sort of magic I have to stop the threat—or I’ll be the next victim.
Malignant Magic is a fast-paced fantasy mystery with a mixture of medicine and magic that will keep you reading late into the night.
I’ve managed to stay under the radar as I continue my ER residency. All I need is to finish it out and I can get away from Minneapolis and the magic all around me. For so long, that was what I wanted. And still do… even if I can’t help it as magic begins to creep into my work.
When an injured shifter shows up in my ER with my name on him, I have no choice but to try and understand why, but doing so risks exposing my magical side to the one place I wanted to conceal it from.
Partnering with Aron leads to a discovery in the north woods that I alone think will impact magic in the city. When the mage council refuses to get involved with shifter business, I lean on a different sort of ally, but even that might not be enough to save us.
The magic attacking is like nothing I’ve faced before. This time, the Veil can’t protect us. A search for answers yields only more questions. And as the attacks progress, I need to figure out what sort of magic I have to stop the threat—or I’ll be the next victim.
Malignant Magic is a fast-paced fantasy mystery with a mixture of medicine and magic that will keep you reading late into the night.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2018
364 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Magnusson
21 books51 followersSA Magnusson lives in Minneapolis and writes urban fantasy and scifi. As a practicing physician, SA wanted to mix medicine with a love for fantasy fiction, particularly urban fantasy, creating what one reader described as ER meets the Dresden Files.
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Website: www.samagnusson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samagnusson
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 8, 2018
MALIGNANT MAGIC continues what is fast becoming one of my favorite series this year, the Medicine and Magic series. Kate is really starting to embrace her magic and her role in the local supernatural community, while still hunting for clues about her heritage.
MALIGNANT MAGIC still beautifully blends medicine and Kate’s job at the ER into the story without seeming forced. I also liked that there was less of Kate saying she had to go into work so she couldn’t do something else. There’s still some of that, but it wasn’t quite as often. I felt that fits well with Kate being more willing to help out with supernatural problems instead of just trying to ignore them.
The magic system in Medicine and Magic is getting a lot more fleshed out with each installment, and I’m really enjoying it. It’ll never be a true hard magic system, but it has a lot more to it than just handwavium.
However, MALIGNANT MAGIC isn’t a 5 bat book like the previous two were. Kate has made a lot of progress, and I love seeing that. But there hasn’t been a loose end tied up yet, and it is starting to get frustrating. There were a couple of times in MALIGNANT MAGIC where Kate learned a few little pieces of information, but not enough to satisfy me. It’s time for some resolution in Medicine and Magic. I'm not looking for the series to be over. I hope to read many more books in Medicine and Magic, but closing up a few loose ends and opening up new plot lines would be great.
I really enjoyed MALIGNANT MAGIC, and I’ve already preordered HEMORRHAGE. I’ve got a lot of high hopes for Medicine and Magic and I trust that SA Magnusson won’t let me down.
MALIGNANT MAGIC still beautifully blends medicine and Kate’s job at the ER into the story without seeming forced. I also liked that there was less of Kate saying she had to go into work so she couldn’t do something else. There’s still some of that, but it wasn’t quite as often. I felt that fits well with Kate being more willing to help out with supernatural problems instead of just trying to ignore them.
The magic system in Medicine and Magic is getting a lot more fleshed out with each installment, and I’m really enjoying it. It’ll never be a true hard magic system, but it has a lot more to it than just handwavium.
However, MALIGNANT MAGIC isn’t a 5 bat book like the previous two were. Kate has made a lot of progress, and I love seeing that. But there hasn’t been a loose end tied up yet, and it is starting to get frustrating. There were a couple of times in MALIGNANT MAGIC where Kate learned a few little pieces of information, but not enough to satisfy me. It’s time for some resolution in Medicine and Magic. I'm not looking for the series to be over. I hope to read many more books in Medicine and Magic, but closing up a few loose ends and opening up new plot lines would be great.
I really enjoyed MALIGNANT MAGIC, and I’ve already preordered HEMORRHAGE. I’ve got a lot of high hopes for Medicine and Magic and I trust that SA Magnusson won’t let me down.
August 4, 2018
Kate's life is getting more and more complicated and the likelihood that Kate can just be a normal doctor is becoming less and less. Magic and all that encompasses seems to be invading more and more of Kate's life. This time with a literal body dropped at the hospital with Kate's name. That is the start of things, things that Kate being Kate, feels the need to get to the bottom of. Along the way she calls old allies, Aron and her Grandparents, brings in a new ally and finds things that were legend. Once again Kate came out on top, learned some things about herself, it remains to be seen if they are good or bad.
June 29, 2018
Why do I keep reading these?
My issues with the book track with the previous books in the series: painfully stilted dialog; endless repetition and stating of the obvious; few unique, believable, interesting voices; dragging the Big Mystery - what's up with Doctor Kate's magic - through yet another book without much resolution, though it still retains its (ahem) magical ability to do whatever she needs in any given moment, regardless of lack of training. Sometimes it's a force multiplier for her martial arts, like Bruce Leroy's in The Last Dragon. In another moment it's a WiFi sniffer for magical juju. It can be a shield or a sword or a prison or a siphon. Her abilities impress, annoy, frighten, and flummox everyone around her, except the Big Bad of the moment that drops tantalizing hints about knowing more about her magic (The Precious) than she does, without getting to the freaking point.
Grrr.
Anyway. This installment again starts in the ER, where our hero gets a patient with her name pinned to him. Turns out he's a Shifter, this world's take on men/wolves. He's been chomped on, hard, and his magic is draining away. With a bit of meatball magical surgery and a handoff to more traditional surgeons, the Shifter survives. But who sent him? and Why? The usual cast of characters parade through: the archer Aron, her grandparents, the Dark Council - not *really* dark, just different, haterz - shifters, and fae. Along with more creatures from the leaky sieve that is the "heavily" guarded Veil in Minnesota.
Hijinx ensue. Somehow, she manages some epic confrontations with the supernatural while (more or less) continuing her residency in the ER with only a little extra personal time off. I'd hoped that in the course of Dr. McWizard, MD's adventures, her medical training would give her magic an interesting twist, and vice-versa. So far, aside from setting up an encounter in the ER, I'm not really seeing it. Death seems to be a power-up for her for some reason, but it's not helping her save the unsaveable in the ER.
Frustrated as I am with the execution, I keep reading. I hold out hope the writing/editing will improve. Book 4 comes out next month, and I'll likely give it another chance. But I'm getting impatient.
My issues with the book track with the previous books in the series: painfully stilted dialog; endless repetition and stating of the obvious; few unique, believable, interesting voices; dragging the Big Mystery - what's up with Doctor Kate's magic - through yet another book without much resolution, though it still retains its (ahem) magical ability to do whatever she needs in any given moment, regardless of lack of training. Sometimes it's a force multiplier for her martial arts, like Bruce Leroy's in The Last Dragon. In another moment it's a WiFi sniffer for magical juju. It can be a shield or a sword or a prison or a siphon. Her abilities impress, annoy, frighten, and flummox everyone around her, except the Big Bad of the moment that drops tantalizing hints about knowing more about her magic (The Precious) than she does, without getting to the freaking point.
Grrr.
Anyway. This installment again starts in the ER, where our hero gets a patient with her name pinned to him. Turns out he's a Shifter, this world's take on men/wolves. He's been chomped on, hard, and his magic is draining away. With a bit of meatball magical surgery and a handoff to more traditional surgeons, the Shifter survives. But who sent him? and Why? The usual cast of characters parade through: the archer Aron, her grandparents, the Dark Council - not *really* dark, just different, haterz - shifters, and fae. Along with more creatures from the leaky sieve that is the "heavily" guarded Veil in Minnesota.
Hijinx ensue. Somehow, she manages some epic confrontations with the supernatural while (more or less) continuing her residency in the ER with only a little extra personal time off. I'd hoped that in the course of Dr. McWizard, MD's adventures, her medical training would give her magic an interesting twist, and vice-versa. So far, aside from setting up an encounter in the ER, I'm not really seeing it. Death seems to be a power-up for her for some reason, but it's not helping her save the unsaveable in the ER.
Frustrated as I am with the execution, I keep reading. I hold out hope the writing/editing will improve. Book 4 comes out next month, and I'll likely give it another chance. But I'm getting impatient.
June 28, 2018
I've come to love these books and they are most definitely on my auto buy list. They are fast paced, original, I love the combination of mixing traditional medicine with magic ability. I really liked that Kate is beginning to learn more about her magic, is most definitely not afraid from running from a fight and her bravery is definitely not in question! Whereas she once wanted to run from a fight, she now tackles it head on. She is even questioning whether she really wants to live her life without her magic once she finishes her doctors residency training. All things that Kate thought she knew are being turned on its head. Now that her fears of being a dark mage are unrealised she is more determined than ever to find out what she is. I find her view point of magic users delightfully refreshing and proves what an outside can sometimes see that those too involved cannot. A wonderful supernatural book that gives thoughtful study on human nature and our differences. All packed up in action and great story telling.
There were a few minor points for me that prevented it from getting an all out 5 star for this book. Aron treated Kate like a child and not a love interest at times, and all those around her, her grandparents included, did their absolute best to hide things from her 'for her own' good. Kate's ignorance of the world, whilst once explained away by her own unwillingness to learn, is now no longer valid. I am also left wondering how on earth the supernatural world is hidden when strange events are happening under humans' noses and I am getting a little frustrated at the lack of answers and world development. However that being said my enjoyment of the story was huge and I am most definitely in the for the long haul with this series.
There were a few minor points for me that prevented it from getting an all out 5 star for this book. Aron treated Kate like a child and not a love interest at times, and all those around her, her grandparents included, did their absolute best to hide things from her 'for her own' good. Kate's ignorance of the world, whilst once explained away by her own unwillingness to learn, is now no longer valid. I am also left wondering how on earth the supernatural world is hidden when strange events are happening under humans' noses and I am getting a little frustrated at the lack of answers and world development. However that being said my enjoyment of the story was huge and I am most definitely in the for the long haul with this series.
June 26, 2018
Not as Hood as the first two.
The first two of the series were good. The heroine was strong and rolled with the punches.
But my god in this one she is a whiny character who literally asks a fifty questions. Just tons and tons of questions with no answers. Or stilted answers. I have up after the visit with Solera.
Why does she even care for her job anymore? And why does insist INSIST on following up on the quest for Ariel even as she insists on keeping her residency and keeping a normal life.
Seriously if you want to keep a demon sword around, you are not normal and shouldn’t pretend. Her mindset hasn’t changed in three volumes and her dogooder personality has me grinding my teeth.
God I’m out. This one drove me bonkers and it’s a shame since it started off so promising.
The first two of the series were good. The heroine was strong and rolled with the punches.
But my god in this one she is a whiny character who literally asks a fifty questions. Just tons and tons of questions with no answers. Or stilted answers. I have up after the visit with Solera.
Why does she even care for her job anymore? And why does insist INSIST on following up on the quest for Ariel even as she insists on keeping her residency and keeping a normal life.
Seriously if you want to keep a demon sword around, you are not normal and shouldn’t pretend. Her mindset hasn’t changed in three volumes and her dogooder personality has me grinding my teeth.
God I’m out. This one drove me bonkers and it’s a shame since it started off so promising.
June 7, 2018
Not as good as the previous installments
3 star rating.
I like the series but this installment in particular wasn't as good. The characters were still very interesting and the plot line good but I had a very hard time was the repetitive sentences. It was very difficult when the same phrase and sentences were used over and over too many times within the same page. There was also more missed words in the sentences in this installment.
Overall it was good and I'm hoping the next installment will not be a repeat of this one. It's good to read about what the heroine thinks about what's going on with her but not have it repeated every other sentence.
3 star rating.
I like the series but this installment in particular wasn't as good. The characters were still very interesting and the plot line good but I had a very hard time was the repetitive sentences. It was very difficult when the same phrase and sentences were used over and over too many times within the same page. There was also more missed words in the sentences in this installment.
Overall it was good and I'm hoping the next installment will not be a repeat of this one. It's good to read about what the heroine thinks about what's going on with her but not have it repeated every other sentence.
June 1, 2018
I’m done
I liked the concept, and the authors medical expertise makes for credible medical-speak, but I just can’t warm up to the main character. At all. I tried to love this series, but it’s just not working. I won’t be following any other books from here.
I liked the concept, and the authors medical expertise makes for credible medical-speak, but I just can’t warm up to the main character. At all. I tried to love this series, but it’s just not working. I won’t be following any other books from here.
August 7, 2018
The 3rd book in the Medicine and Magic series is not as good as the 1st 2 books. While invested in the main characters, the relationship growth is stagnant. The writing of conversations becomes more stilted and formal. The story itself is still interesting
August 27, 2018
The magic is the question.
Nobody still knows what magic is really in play. However we do discover more beings from the other side of the Veil, all of whom are much more powerful than those from this side of the Veil. It is a conundrum, that it is.
Nobody still knows what magic is really in play. However we do discover more beings from the other side of the Veil, all of whom are much more powerful than those from this side of the Veil. It is a conundrum, that it is.
March 26, 2019
Things are getting more complicated for Kate and she is a little more comfortable with her magic. However, she hasn't really learned much more about her magic, which is getting a little frustrating. However, I enjoyed the book.
January 4, 2020
Another fantastic read. Having read the other two books in the series, I thought I should carry on. I was not disappointed. I am loving how the characters are growing with each book.
Can't wait to read the next book.
Can't wait to read the next book.
June 8, 2018
3.75 *
June 13, 2018
Better and better. Love this series.
July 31, 2018
Another great book in a great series
Less focus on the medicine and more focus on the magic in this book. The story is still great and the mystery continues to unravel.
Less focus on the medicine and more focus on the magic in this book. The story is still great and the mystery continues to unravel.
November 12, 2018
Wonderful...wolves etc....
Book 3 of series is great. I was interested from beginning to end. Book is worth 5 star. I recommend it. Now I will read book 4 of series.
Book 3 of series is great. I was interested from beginning to end. Book is worth 5 star. I recommend it. Now I will read book 4 of series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews