Black Magic

The Black Records #1

by Alexis Blakely, Alexis Blakely

Using her magic to help others is the only way Alex Black knows how to stay out of trouble herself. After years of living on the street and trying to come to terms with the growing ability she had to teach herself to control, she’s happy to have settled into the relatively quiet life of finding lost pets, crafting the odd charm, and helping people deal with annoying fae creatures and spirits.

But when Alex is asked to investigate the gruesome murder of an artifact dealer who’d lost his life trying to protect his latest acquisition, she’s thrown headlong into a world of danger that threatens to cut her career short at every turn. The closer she gets to tracking down the killer, the more dangerous the trail becomes, and the more Alex realizes that terrible things will happen if the true potential of the artifact is ever unleashed.

Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2016

About the author

mark feenstra // author

Mark is a contemporary and urban fantasy author living in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of several novels and novellas, all of which have been published under various pseudonyms like the not-so-secret Alexis Blakely.

https://www.markfeenstra.com/

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me very much by surprise. Early on in the book, someone references Harry Potter to Alex Black, first-person heroine of this story, and she corrects them: "More Harry Dresden than Harry Potter." And she's absolutely right. If this had not been so enjoyable, it might have been a bit too close to the Dresden Files in theme and tone for comfort (set in Vancouver instead of Chicago). Alex doesn't have Harry's firepower as a wizard, but like Harry she has to make her living, and like him she is good at what she does.

And like in the Dresden Files, nobody's safe. Death comes unexpectedly and early, and Alex herself (like Harry) takes a beating.

Her sidekick, however, is about as far from Lt. Karrin Murphy as it is possible to be.

So, yes, it is very, very reminiscent of Jim Butcher's series. But, fortunately, the writing carries it off. In fact, the only reason I gave this four stars instead of five was a smidgen of disappointment in the climax; the buildup was excellent, but I thought it fizzled a bit.

All in all, though, I had a great time with this – and I just bought the second book. (They're now being published under the pseudonym Alexis Blakely.) Looking forward to it!

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

[Book Reading Gals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Black Magic

Series: Black Records Book #1
Author: Mark Feenstra

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Blurb: Using her magic to help others is the only way Alex Black knows how to stay out of trouble herself. After years of living on the street and trying to come to terms with the growing ability she had to teach herself to control, she’s happy to have settled into the relatively quiet life of finding lost pets, crafting the odd charm, and helping people deal with annoying fae creatures and spirits.

But when Alex is asked to investigate the gruesome murder of an artifact dealer who’d lost his life trying to protect his latest acquisition, she’s thrown headlong into a world of danger that threatens to cut her career short at every turn. The closer she gets to tracking down the killer, the more dangerous the trail becomes, and the more Alex realizes what terrible things will happen if the true potential of the artifact is ever unleashed.

If you're a fan of the Dresden Files or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you'll love following along as the ever-sarcastic Alex Black takes on supernatural beings like vampires, fae, and evil wizards.

Thoughts: Black Magic is an urban fantasy novel featuring Alex Black, who we are introduced to when she is investigating the mysterious death of an artifact dealer. The storyline was a strong one and it was very original and interesting. Along the same lines as other novels in this genre, Alex lends her amazing survival to her odd cast of misfit friends. What is missing is some type of charismatic romantic love interest or soon-to-be love interest – I mention this solely because for some readers who are looking for a great urban fantasy read without any romantic entanglements, this is a plus. For me personally, I enjoy a slow-burning romantic aspect to my books – even if it plays a minimally small role in the overall story. I definitely missed that in this book, and kind of felt like I was waiting for a new character to appear the whole time that would take on that role, but it never happened. That’s not to take anything away from the author, however, who did a great job with the storytelling in this first book in the series. Feenstra did a great job and for me this was a really strong urban fantasy, so if you are a fan of this genre I imagine you will have a great new one-click author to add to your list!

Rate: B+

The second and third books (Black Market and Black Ice) are also available in this series now!

Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com

[Sarah Leenart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dark and compelling read and at times I'm not sure how Alex managed to live through some of the situations she found herself but never did I find her decisions border on stupid, just maybe a bit desperate and I loved that she was a dark and multi layered character. Nothing was quite what it seemed and even though Alex is a powerful Mage, she tries to stay on the edge of the supernatural world. Not for long however and she soon finds there are layers and layers of creatures and people she's be far better staying away from. Her bravery and the need to see wrongs righted saw her thought along with some great characters, notably her ungifted and normal friend. A great start to a new series.

[Shannon Heck · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

Too much narration and not interesting. I only made in 50% in, but in that time the reader is introduced to multiple characters and everyone just starts dying and it's the MC running from one crime scene to the next. I was bored.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited tho received free copy myself. Read the novella, then 1 then 2 back to back. Saw some comments/reviews about typos etc; if I can understand a book, which in my case is usually audio but sometimes actually reading, and story is interesting, that is what counts.

The New Black {newsletter subscriber exclusive novella}
Black Magic {Black Records Book 1}
Black Market {Black Records Book 2}

*That Old Black Magic has me in it's spell*

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find myself completely unable to read even halfway through the book.

It's practically a clone of Jim Butcher's Dresden series, but with a female protagonist. Even the writing style is similar. I find this sort of thing extremely distasteful, and this might be the worst job of "filing off the serial numbers I've ever seen.

Dont bother with this. Buy Jim Butcher's books, this is his jam.

[Magnolia · Rating 1 out of 5]

From Magnolia Reviews: One Petal

I wasn't able to finish this story. There wasn't anything that hooked me, which I found disappointing because this book should have been very interesting. I can't recommend it.

Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...

[Natasha Maltman · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 Star = DNF.
2 Star = Finished. Didn’t really enjoy.
3 Star = Finished. Story was neither good nor bad.
3.5 Star = Finished. Story was good. Will probably pick up next in series if there is one.
4 Star = Finished. Enjoyed story & will definitely pick up next in the series!
5 Star = Bloody LOVED it! ❤️

[Don Burks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendously fun read. I really enjoyed this foray into urban fantasy, and enjoyed the ethical quandaries all of the characters endured and overcame. Being from Vancouver myself, I appreciated the setting and the realism.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: this is currently listed on Amazon (March 2020) as being by Alexis Blakely, not the author listed here on Goodreads (Mark Feenstra).

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, too much narration, abandoned very quickly. And I know 'Alexis Blakely' was a pen-name but using the same first name as the heroine in this book comes off as arrogant and unimaginative.

[Christina Luberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book became very good after chapter 20. What held me back on this book is too much detail. and not enough on what is going on with Alex. I love details in books, it brings it more to life, but these details really didn't do it. I really enjoyed it when Alex and Chase started working together it started bring more of what was really going on and had the right amount of detail. Chase is a normal human. Alex is a mage. Now we need to find out what exactly Alex can do. I hope the other books bring this out. I received a arc copy for my honest review.

[Melissa Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected find

I really enjoyed this book. Alex is like a lot of people, struggling with her talents, trying to make a living, and trying to make a difference. I like her other characters too: Victor, the mysterious and kindly mentor, the apparently-amoral Lorelei, her best friend Chase, etc. I like the unsolved mysteries, and the hints of hidden talents in seemingly ordinary folk. I am glad this is on Kindle Unlimited, so that I felt able to take a chance on it.

[Ryan Toxopeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Black is a mage who, while capable of things that would impress an ordinary person, isn't particularly powerful among her own kind. She does a bit of consulting work, but it's hard to find jobs when you're part of a secretive subset of the population. When she's hired to find a magical murderer, she might have taken on a job that's too much for her to handle.

Set in Vancouver, it was refreshing to read something set in Canada. The idea that fae (a term given to all magical creatures) live among us in not-small numbers is fun. Seeing how Alex interacts with them, and mundane humans, acting like a bridge between worlds adds to the complexity of her character. The pacing was excellent, with plenty of drama and action to keep my head in the story.

My only quibble (and it's a small one) was that the magic seemed uneven. At the start of the book, a big deal is made of using magic. It has some unpleasant aftereffects, and can't be used for long without draining the mage. Replenishing magical energy is not trivial for Alex, taking a very long time to re-energize without aids. She spends much of the book tired or even exhausted, yet continues to cast spells. By the end of the book, she's casting quite a few more spells, and holding them for longer periods of time. Given that it was stated earlier in the book that it takes a great deal of studying to improve your control over magic, it felt like she was gaining strength at an unnaturally quick pace. Also, I can't figure out why mages would use wards if they're so easy to disable. Or maybe Alex is just very good at that sort of magic.

Either way, the plot of the book was good, with a few surprises along the way. The characters were entertaining, with almost everyone you meet having a deeper background that unfolds over the course of the story.

I liked the eventual pairing of the two characters who work together at the end. While Alex says she couldn't have succeeded without her partner, if you reverse the camera, there's no way in hell he could have dealt with the problems. Non-magic people just aren't a threat to mages at all. But her partner isn't useless, either. It's nice to see two characters who both have their virtues, instead of having one come off as useless while the other saves the day.

I'd recommend this book if you're looking for something fun to read, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

[Lyssa Sue Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong new entry to the genre

Take Harry Dresden now breed him with V I Warshawski, drop the resulting girl child off in Vancouver BC as a foundling and wait. You have now set the stage for Black Records.

Urban fantasy at its best. Consulting detective work and the establishment of protagonist and sidekick. What is not to like? I am off top buy the next volume in what will hopefully be a long term series.. ttfn

[K Idamari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and Mystery

Alex Black is a mage who takes on odd jobs that require her specific skill set. A visit to a prospective client about her dead husband puts Alex on the trail of a powerful and mysterious fae that kills it's victims after it tortures them for information on an ancient and powerful artefact.

Being new to the whole detective thing, Alex bungles along, with death dogging her every step. Despite numerous threats and advice to stay away from the case Alex persists, even if only out of sheer stubbornness. She discovers people aren't who they appear to be and she isn't sure who she could trust, which adds to her mounting frustration and self-doubt.

The story starts off with a cosy mystery vibe, but things escalate fast and I found myself unable to stay away from the story. The cast is rich: from a bisexual, succubus-like fae to a chubby millionaire gamer on a no-sugar diet. Throw in a few hundred vampires, a kobold, a couple of secret organisations that would kill you for uttering their name, and a mysterious dark mage, you have got the right cast for a fast paced story.

Mark Feenstra's world is at once both alluring and dangerous (the story's set in Vancouver). I loved the magic with consequences idea. I had an okay connection with the protagonist, though the book is form a first person's POV. The book has some glaring typos, especially in the beginning, that tripped me but that's publishing.

All said, this is the HP series for adults.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Great fun with lots of action and magic. Loved the characters and the story. I need to get the next one immediately 😀

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Black is the classic underdog in over her head. She's a mage, but not an especially powerful or popular one. She hasn't had much training, though she has raw talent. So, she's making her way through the magical world by doing some supernatural sleuthing, sort of a magic detective for hire.

Of course, her case turns out to be much bigger than she realizes. Of course, she turns out to be more powerful and creative than we expected. Of course, she finds help in unexpected quarters. That's what's supposed to happen in these kinds of books. Feenstra knows his genre and this book hits all the beats you want in a magic detective story. If you liked the Harry Dresden series, you'll probably also like this one.

I really liked Alex, and will seek out more of this series. The supporting cast was interesting, too, and I'm hoping there will be more development of those characters in future books in the series.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of those rare occurrences where I both bought (a free copy from Amazon) and requested the same book from Netgalley (in exchange for my honest review) because the book sounded so good, yet I forgot I already had it from one of the sources.

One thing I hate: I had A LOT of questions about Alex that weren't answered, we get very, very little back story. I find out at the end of the book that there's a prequel which may provide those details. Not fair. Not only do we think we're reading the first book, but the prequel isn't even listed at Amazon at this time. You can only get it if you sign up for the author's mailing list. Yay, it's free, but it's too late. What back story we do get is at 44%.

Alex is apparently a mostly self trained mage who works little jobs magically unlocking things. She is called in to find a murderer. This leap from a two bit "locksmith" to a PI/murderer chaser is a crazy leap and isn't logical. I found the story sluggish and rather uninteresting until the 70% mark.

We are introduced to a lot of characters, but like Alex, we get minimal details. I liked the character of Chase, but again there's a crazy leap of character, he is a couch potato gamer (with an interesting income source) who becomes a rabid hero type in the blink of an eye. I also couldn't see why Alex wasn't able to better explain her abilities to Chase so he knew her limitations to help their working as a team. Something important is revealed subtly about Mark but is never followed up on. Very frustrating.

I'd give this 1 out of 5 stars because I really had to push myself to finish it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me strongly of the Dresden Files series, only with a reversal of gender roles. Alex is an underdog female mage with a sketchy background, and her sidekick is Chase, a gamer with no prior knowledge of the world of magic.

There's quite a lot of humour, and pop culture references (including a Dresden one) to go with the action and adventure. It's missing a more thorough introduction to Alex and her backstory, which would make it easier to understand her, but as a first book, it's a good hook into a long-term series.

I quite enjoyed Alex, her abilities, her humour, and her tendency to get into trouble, along with the familiar Canadian setting. What misadventures and over-her-head situations will she get into next? I'm already looking forward to finding out.