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My name is Levi. I’m a journalist, I’m autistic, I’m bad at magic, and I swear I didn’t kill her.
Research for the paper usually falls into a few basic patterns. Someone in the city says there’s a troll under Buck O'Neil Bridge, or they’ll call just so a friendly ear will listen to them complain about a pixie infestation.
That sort of content carries me through slow news weeks. It’s rare that I uncover a murder.
Being framed for murder, though? That’s a first.
With the Wizard’s Council hunting me for a crime I didn’t commit, I’ve got no choice but to solve the murder and clear my name. If I don’t unravel this case, nobody will, and I’ll go down for it so hard I might never see the light of day again.
Research for the paper usually falls into a few basic patterns. Someone in the city says there’s a troll under Buck O'Neil Bridge, or they’ll call just so a friendly ear will listen to them complain about a pixie infestation.
That sort of content carries me through slow news weeks. It’s rare that I uncover a murder.
Being framed for murder, though? That’s a first.
With the Wizard’s Council hunting me for a crime I didn’t commit, I’ve got no choice but to solve the murder and clear my name. If I don’t unravel this case, nobody will, and I’ll go down for it so hard I might never see the light of day again.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2020
22 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
M.N. Jolley
11 books14 followersM N Jolley is a creative professional born and raised in Kansas City, where he still lives. Working with a background in film and cinematography, he began writing seriously in 2016 and has recently completed “The Stone Warrior”, the first book in “The Sacrosanct Records”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 6, 2021
This is not my usual genre, but the synopsis did sound appealing to me and I will read anything that has good autism rep. And this one really does! Right from the start, Levi was such a relatable main character, in a way that often cracked me up because I could completely understand why he acted the way he did.
I genuinely had a lot of fun reading this. I don't normally gravitate towards crime stories, but the supernatural aspect made it a lot more interesting for me. What also worked incredible well, is the way the story was structured: when we meet Levi, he's being interrogated about his involvement in a crime, and we see flashbacks when he's explaining what happened, so we gradually find out along with the officers interrogating him. The story is told with such a dry sense of humour, which makes it extra fun to read and keeps the story relatively lighthearted.
And like I said, I really liked the autism rep. Especially because this is not a book about Levi being autistic, it's a book about him and what happens to him and he just happens to be autistic. It's all very casual and incidental, and the rep was often subtle, which really made me feel like it was written for autistic readers - I feel like allistic (non-autistic) readers might not necessarily pick up on it.
I genuinely had a lot of fun reading this. I don't normally gravitate towards crime stories, but the supernatural aspect made it a lot more interesting for me. What also worked incredible well, is the way the story was structured: when we meet Levi, he's being interrogated about his involvement in a crime, and we see flashbacks when he's explaining what happened, so we gradually find out along with the officers interrogating him. The story is told with such a dry sense of humour, which makes it extra fun to read and keeps the story relatively lighthearted.
And like I said, I really liked the autism rep. Especially because this is not a book about Levi being autistic, it's a book about him and what happens to him and he just happens to be autistic. It's all very casual and incidental, and the rep was often subtle, which really made me feel like it was written for autistic readers - I feel like allistic (non-autistic) readers might not necessarily pick up on it.
September 17, 2022
Anyone who knows me knows I am not the biggest reader of this genre but as it has an autistic main character and I myself am autistic, I decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did!
KC Warlock Weekly: Book One: Accused is a book with brilliant pacing and incredible characters. We get thrust in right in the midst of the story and the way M.N Jolley uses parallel timelines - one with Levi being interrogated and the one where he is reliving the story he is telling in the interrogation - works so well. I found myself never quite knowing what to expect yet not feeling like things were getting ridiculous. I mean, a book with magic and supernatural beings can very easily get ridiculous but somehow this was very much believable!
I also loved the autism rep in here. Levi does state his diagnosis at one point in the book but before then, he very clearly has autistic traits - and these aren't exaggerated, overwritten things made to scream "LOOK. AUTISTIC CHARACTER". In fact, if you don't know much about autism you would just think that's the character - it's subtle, but also obvious which I really appreciated. We also have a non-binary character and again, Jolley does the same thing where it's never screamed "LOOK AY THIS REP" but done subtly and only ever pointed out when necessary (the entire time Levi just refers to the character as "they" but when another misgenders, Levi plainly states the character is NB and uses they/them pronouns. No fuss.)
I cannot wait to read more from this author and to continue this series. I enjoyed reading it so much!
KC Warlock Weekly: Book One: Accused is a book with brilliant pacing and incredible characters. We get thrust in right in the midst of the story and the way M.N Jolley uses parallel timelines - one with Levi being interrogated and the one where he is reliving the story he is telling in the interrogation - works so well. I found myself never quite knowing what to expect yet not feeling like things were getting ridiculous. I mean, a book with magic and supernatural beings can very easily get ridiculous but somehow this was very much believable!
I also loved the autism rep in here. Levi does state his diagnosis at one point in the book but before then, he very clearly has autistic traits - and these aren't exaggerated, overwritten things made to scream "LOOK. AUTISTIC CHARACTER". In fact, if you don't know much about autism you would just think that's the character - it's subtle, but also obvious which I really appreciated. We also have a non-binary character and again, Jolley does the same thing where it's never screamed "LOOK AY THIS REP" but done subtly and only ever pointed out when necessary (the entire time Levi just refers to the character as "they" but when another misgenders, Levi plainly states the character is NB and uses they/them pronouns. No fuss.)
I cannot wait to read more from this author and to continue this series. I enjoyed reading it so much!
January 10, 2021
https://youtu.be/6zMVX5_CXn0
Spoiler Free Review linked above prepare to hear me gush and talk about all the feelings
Spoiler Free Review linked above prepare to hear me gush and talk about all the feelings
March 29, 2022
Reasons to read Accused:
1. So much Chaos – so much fun
2. Intriguing murder mystery
3. brilliant autistic MC
I had so much fun reading this! I swear, if you like this genre (and maybe even if you don’t tend to gravitate towards it) and you are in a reading slump? This one will save you!
I was fully invested in the story basically from the beginning, pulled in by the humour and the writing style. I loved that it was written in two timelines, present-day and flashbacks and one is a little more unreliable as it is Levi telling the story. It really keeps you on your toes trying to guess how everything fits together.
And it got a special place in my heart for the autism rep, which was very well done. I loved that Levi both confidently states that he is autistic but that there are also so many subtle (but still very obvious if that makes sense) little hints! I could see myself in so many tiny things, so relatable!
Also, this is not about autism, he just is who he is and that is so wonderful to read about. Same with the LGBTQ+ rep. It was handled the exact same way.
Levi is such a joy to read about or rather read from his perspective. He is so funny and I truly admire his passion for establishing the KC Warlock Weekly, especially when everyone around him tries to tell him and it won’t work. It’s also quite interesting that he is not a powerful magic-wielding bad-ass, but just a regular guy who kind of stumbles into trouble and is determined to do what he believes is right.
Does he always make the smartest choices? No! Is he still very lovable and charming in his way? Absolutely! Another thing I quite liked was, that not everyone he meets like him, in fact, they usually don’t. Both because he asks too many questions but also sometimes because he can ask them in the wrong way?
Since he is the focus of the story, Levi is the most fleshed-out character, and from time to time that means, that some other characters remain more of a mystery. But I didn’t mind. Especially with Ben, since it made me question whether he was trustworthy or not. And I’m looking forward to learning more about both Levi, Ben, and all the other characters in future installments.
There was so much magical chaos, I loved it! So entertaining to read and I am most definitely continuing the series as soon as possible! I’m so happy it got third place, more than deserved!
1. So much Chaos – so much fun
2. Intriguing murder mystery
3. brilliant autistic MC
I had so much fun reading this! I swear, if you like this genre (and maybe even if you don’t tend to gravitate towards it) and you are in a reading slump? This one will save you!
I was fully invested in the story basically from the beginning, pulled in by the humour and the writing style. I loved that it was written in two timelines, present-day and flashbacks and one is a little more unreliable as it is Levi telling the story. It really keeps you on your toes trying to guess how everything fits together.
And it got a special place in my heart for the autism rep, which was very well done. I loved that Levi both confidently states that he is autistic but that there are also so many subtle (but still very obvious if that makes sense) little hints! I could see myself in so many tiny things, so relatable!
Also, this is not about autism, he just is who he is and that is so wonderful to read about. Same with the LGBTQ+ rep. It was handled the exact same way.
Levi is such a joy to read about or rather read from his perspective. He is so funny and I truly admire his passion for establishing the KC Warlock Weekly, especially when everyone around him tries to tell him and it won’t work. It’s also quite interesting that he is not a powerful magic-wielding bad-ass, but just a regular guy who kind of stumbles into trouble and is determined to do what he believes is right.
Does he always make the smartest choices? No! Is he still very lovable and charming in his way? Absolutely! Another thing I quite liked was, that not everyone he meets like him, in fact, they usually don’t. Both because he asks too many questions but also sometimes because he can ask them in the wrong way?
Since he is the focus of the story, Levi is the most fleshed-out character, and from time to time that means, that some other characters remain more of a mystery. But I didn’t mind. Especially with Ben, since it made me question whether he was trustworthy or not. And I’m looking forward to learning more about both Levi, Ben, and all the other characters in future installments.
There was so much magical chaos, I loved it! So entertaining to read and I am most definitely continuing the series as soon as possible! I’m so happy it got third place, more than deserved!
March 23, 2022
4.5
Book source~ Tour
Levi Lawson sunk his entire savings and his soul into his weekly newspaper, The KC Warlock Weekly. But the magic community is small and most of the news travels by mouth, so he’s floundering. To put it mildly. But subscriber woes are the least of his worries right now. He’s been accused of murder and he needs to solve the case before he goes down for it. Not easy to do when people with magic are tracking you and Levi sucks at magic. And let’s not mention he’s unlicensed and shouldn’t be doing any. But when you’re running for your life, what are you gonna do? Hopefully not die while solving the murder.
It’s time for something completely different. I don’t think I’ve read a book written quite like this. Levi tells the story but it goes back and forth between the beginning of events and present when he’s in custody telling us (and the counselors) how it all went down from his POV. It switches from past back to present as the counselors have questions and then Levi dives right back in. As he tells his tale, the story unfolds. From a murder to the reason for the murder and finally, who did it. We get to meet many great characters along the way as Levi tries to figure out who the murderer is and why anyone would murder in the first place. It’s a rollicking good romp! My only complaint is a tiny one, there’s not a whole lot of world building going on. I’m not sure exactly how the magic community fits in with the regular peeps or how things are done and I honestly don’t understand why the “secret” is so important that a murder had to be committed to keep it so. I know it’s probably because Levi was running for his life against a ticking clock, so I hope there’s more depth to this world in the next book. Also, vampires are scary as fuck in this world. Yikes. I will definitely be picking up book 2 at some point.
Too many books, not enough time, and all that.
Book source~ Tour
Levi Lawson sunk his entire savings and his soul into his weekly newspaper, The KC Warlock Weekly. But the magic community is small and most of the news travels by mouth, so he’s floundering. To put it mildly. But subscriber woes are the least of his worries right now. He’s been accused of murder and he needs to solve the case before he goes down for it. Not easy to do when people with magic are tracking you and Levi sucks at magic. And let’s not mention he’s unlicensed and shouldn’t be doing any. But when you’re running for your life, what are you gonna do? Hopefully not die while solving the murder.
It’s time for something completely different. I don’t think I’ve read a book written quite like this. Levi tells the story but it goes back and forth between the beginning of events and present when he’s in custody telling us (and the counselors) how it all went down from his POV. It switches from past back to present as the counselors have questions and then Levi dives right back in. As he tells his tale, the story unfolds. From a murder to the reason for the murder and finally, who did it. We get to meet many great characters along the way as Levi tries to figure out who the murderer is and why anyone would murder in the first place. It’s a rollicking good romp! My only complaint is a tiny one, there’s not a whole lot of world building going on. I’m not sure exactly how the magic community fits in with the regular peeps or how things are done and I honestly don’t understand why the “secret” is so important that a murder had to be committed to keep it so. I know it’s probably because Levi was running for his life against a ticking clock, so I hope there’s more depth to this world in the next book. Also, vampires are scary as fuck in this world. Yikes. I will definitely be picking up book 2 at some point.
Too many books, not enough time, and all that.
April 3, 2022
I received a copy of this book to read as part of the 2021 BBNYA competition. Thank you to the TWR and BBNYA teams for organizing this blog tour and providing me with the materials for it.
I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this book, but I am so grateful that I got to read it because it ended up being one of my favourite reads from the later part of last year.
The KC Warlock Weekly: Accused follows Levi, a normal guy who runs a newspaper. The catch is, his newspaper reports on magical things, a world that he didn’t intend on getting himself mixed up with. In this book, he also happens to get himself accidentally tied up with a murder and now he’s on the run, trying to prove his innocence while trying to solve the murder. This book was an action-packed, wild ride, that had me hooked from the beginning and desperately wanting to know what happened next.
I really liked the main character in this book. I liked reading about him scrambling around, trying to solve the mystery to clear his name. I liked his personality, and I definitely want to read more books that feature him. I also liked that this book had autistic rep in it, though I cannot comment on the quality of the rep.
I liked the world building in this book. Urban fantasy is my second preferred type of fantasy (middle-grade being my first choice) and I thought this book fell excellently into the urban fantasy category. This book takes place in our world, and I liked learning about the hidden magical world that co-exists secretly with the normal world. I liked how the magical community all knows each other, and I also liked the idea of magic existing in plain sight.
I also liked the mystery aspect of this book. I’m a fan of mysteries in general and the mystery in this book did not disappoint. I liked following Levi as he followed the clues, trying to put the story together. I liked watching him fall deeper and deeper into a world he didn’t know existed, uncovering secrets that he wasn’t supposed to discover.
I also liked that there was a tiny bit of romance in this book with Levi and Ben. I enjoyed their scenes together, I enjoyed how they worked together, and I’m hoping that Ben shows up again in the sequel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it. I’m hoping to read the second book in this series soon and I am so grateful that this book came into my life.
I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this book, but I am so grateful that I got to read it because it ended up being one of my favourite reads from the later part of last year.
The KC Warlock Weekly: Accused follows Levi, a normal guy who runs a newspaper. The catch is, his newspaper reports on magical things, a world that he didn’t intend on getting himself mixed up with. In this book, he also happens to get himself accidentally tied up with a murder and now he’s on the run, trying to prove his innocence while trying to solve the murder. This book was an action-packed, wild ride, that had me hooked from the beginning and desperately wanting to know what happened next.
I really liked the main character in this book. I liked reading about him scrambling around, trying to solve the mystery to clear his name. I liked his personality, and I definitely want to read more books that feature him. I also liked that this book had autistic rep in it, though I cannot comment on the quality of the rep.
I liked the world building in this book. Urban fantasy is my second preferred type of fantasy (middle-grade being my first choice) and I thought this book fell excellently into the urban fantasy category. This book takes place in our world, and I liked learning about the hidden magical world that co-exists secretly with the normal world. I liked how the magical community all knows each other, and I also liked the idea of magic existing in plain sight.
I also liked the mystery aspect of this book. I’m a fan of mysteries in general and the mystery in this book did not disappoint. I liked following Levi as he followed the clues, trying to put the story together. I liked watching him fall deeper and deeper into a world he didn’t know existed, uncovering secrets that he wasn’t supposed to discover.
I also liked that there was a tiny bit of romance in this book with Levi and Ben. I enjoyed their scenes together, I enjoyed how they worked together, and I’m hoping that Ben shows up again in the sequel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it. I’m hoping to read the second book in this series soon and I am so grateful that this book came into my life.
May 24, 2021
Review to come!
March 28, 2022
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by The Write Reads Tours. Special thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review! 3 stars
I'd had my eye on this book ever since I first heard about it through the BBNYA Awards Finalists announcement. The cover and premise piqued my interest so when I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for it! This was a fast-paced murder mystery set in a version of reality where magic and supernatural creatures (such as vampires!) co-exist in secret amongst humans.
What I liked:
What I was on the fence about:
Despite there still being some loose ends that I would definitely like to know the answers to, I think the story does wrap up pretty neatly and in a way could stand on its own as the answer of the murder mystery does get solved. I'm curious to know more about this world though and while this didn't end up being a favourite read, I'm still curious to see what happens next, especially as Levi finds success in the end (yay for him cos he definitely deserved it).
I'd had my eye on this book ever since I first heard about it through the BBNYA Awards Finalists announcement. The cover and premise piqued my interest so when I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for it! This was a fast-paced murder mystery set in a version of reality where magic and supernatural creatures (such as vampires!) co-exist in secret amongst humans.
What I liked:
- The story is told in a non-linear fashion with flashbacks to the present day as told from Levi's pov. Although events on the timeline were occasionally a little confusing, I still really enjoyed the way the story was told! It kept me engaged as I wanted to know what exactly happens to get to where Levi is recounting the events of the previous day under interrogation by council agents who're holding him behind a magical illusion in a kid's park. 😂
- Levi was an interesting MC! I wouldn't say that he's the most likeable character nor the one who made the best decisions, but I liked that he was just this regular guy without any special powers or magical abilities—he's not the "have it all" MC with powers, smarts and resources—Levi has a whole lot of luck on his side! I loved his passion for establishing the KC Warlock Weekly and providing the community with information they need to know, despite them. not wanting to commit to his venture. I also appreciated that he was autistic without that being his whole personality (and this wasn't a story about his autism, it was just something about him).
- The mystery was fast-paced as Levi bounces from one magical person to another in his chase to clear his name and learn the truth behind the community member's death. Along the way, we meet a few supernatural creatures including a fae and vampire and it was fun how they're portrayed as regular humans doing regular human things, like being a mechanic and paralegal. I loved the little twists and turns in the story where Levi would mention "this is what really happened" cos I was convinced the whole way through about everything that I thought happened! 😂
What I was on the fence about:
- The world-building felt rushed. Though this is technically set in the real world, I wanted more of an explanation of how magic functioned and about the magical elements that are brought up like wells, ley lines, power sources etc. The details were brushed over and it was a little confusing. I would've liked to know how Levi knew what he did, being someone that's not overly familiar with magic and isn't licensed to use it.
- The characters were not as well developed as I would've liked. The focus is on Levi but it would've been great to learn more about Ben, Levi's "LI", as he actually plays a big role throughout the whole story. I liked him, although I was wary about how trustworthy he was initially, but I felt that his involvement and the way he'd just know about or how to do magical things very convenient! The "bad guys", who were a surprise to me as I wouldn't have guessed, also felt flat and I never really understood their motive in the end. The speed at which they become villainous towards Levi at the end kind of surprised me because it felt extreme.
- Admittedly, the reveal about the mystery felt a little underwhelming and maybe it's because I didn't fully understand the world building and the implications the reveal would have for the community, but it honestly felt a little anticlimactic.
Despite there still being some loose ends that I would definitely like to know the answers to, I think the story does wrap up pretty neatly and in a way could stand on its own as the answer of the murder mystery does get solved. I'm curious to know more about this world though and while this didn't end up being a favourite read, I'm still curious to see what happens next, especially as Levi finds success in the end (yay for him cos he definitely deserved it).
November 9, 2020
Full disclosure: M.N. Jolley gave me a free ARC for a review. Below is my honest and spoiler free thoughts.
Why do I love this book? Simple. There is almost NO intersectional main characters in many genres, and almost none in Urban Fantasy. So what did Jolley do instead of whining? He became part of the movement for change.
If a character has a disability, the writer usually write something akin to “disability porn”, or “idiot savant”, or a side character, or that character somehow ends up being a burden and pitiful. Enter Levi. Levi, the wannabe journalist isn’t super-human, and Jolley skips on the overused super-charged and the chosen one themes. Jolley walks the delicate line of being able to portray difference without “othering”, or exaggerating issues, or worse - emphasising the most visible aspects without it adding value to the storyline. Those who are on the autistic spectrum or whose lives have been touched by autism will appreciate the added layers of lived in experience in the book that can only come from a person who KNOWS, and who’s LIVED it. There are so many touches and layers that made me smile, giggle, or shout “YES! That’s fudging it!”
Representation matters. I love the fact LGTBQ+ people are in this book – having a blossoming gay or queer relationship was made that much more glorious for Levi’s sexuality NOT being the focal point of the book, and avoiding “neon signalling”. The casual slipping in of a non-binary character was not forced, and perfect.
So what's the plot?
It’s a kind of Urban Fantasy “who dunnit” with someone who is extra-ordinarily-ordinary. There’s wizard cops, a murder, a frame-up, and desperate fly-the-seat-of-your-pants decision-making mixed with enough cool and logical thinking that makes Levi likeable and realistic protagonist. Levi is the most fleshed out character in the book. His sidekick is adorable, and while I’m not totally convinced by why he’d make all the actions he did; I’m totally shipping it. The bad guys are actually grey and in the beginning not terribly complex but by the end I was satisfied by their character arcs and motivations.
So overall?
BUY THE D*MN BOOK. Is it perfect? No. But it WILL make you laugh. It is clever. Most of all? You’re supporting someone writing stories that aren’t mainstream and making them mainstream. I love Levi and I can’t wait for more adventures.
Why do I love this book? Simple. There is almost NO intersectional main characters in many genres, and almost none in Urban Fantasy. So what did Jolley do instead of whining? He became part of the movement for change.
If a character has a disability, the writer usually write something akin to “disability porn”, or “idiot savant”, or a side character, or that character somehow ends up being a burden and pitiful. Enter Levi. Levi, the wannabe journalist isn’t super-human, and Jolley skips on the overused super-charged and the chosen one themes. Jolley walks the delicate line of being able to portray difference without “othering”, or exaggerating issues, or worse - emphasising the most visible aspects without it adding value to the storyline. Those who are on the autistic spectrum or whose lives have been touched by autism will appreciate the added layers of lived in experience in the book that can only come from a person who KNOWS, and who’s LIVED it. There are so many touches and layers that made me smile, giggle, or shout “YES! That’s fudging it!”
Representation matters. I love the fact LGTBQ+ people are in this book – having a blossoming gay or queer relationship was made that much more glorious for Levi’s sexuality NOT being the focal point of the book, and avoiding “neon signalling”. The casual slipping in of a non-binary character was not forced, and perfect.
So what's the plot?
It’s a kind of Urban Fantasy “who dunnit” with someone who is extra-ordinarily-ordinary. There’s wizard cops, a murder, a frame-up, and desperate fly-the-seat-of-your-pants decision-making mixed with enough cool and logical thinking that makes Levi likeable and realistic protagonist. Levi is the most fleshed out character in the book. His sidekick is adorable, and while I’m not totally convinced by why he’d make all the actions he did; I’m totally shipping it. The bad guys are actually grey and in the beginning not terribly complex but by the end I was satisfied by their character arcs and motivations.
So overall?
BUY THE D*MN BOOK. Is it perfect? No. But it WILL make you laugh. It is clever. Most of all? You’re supporting someone writing stories that aren’t mainstream and making them mainstream. I love Levi and I can’t wait for more adventures.
December 22, 2020
I LOVED this book and I am so excited for the sequel to come out.
Levi is an LGBTQ+ autistic man. It is not pointed out in any huge way or the main point of the story, but if that is something that you don't want to be reading about, go find another book.
Levi is a journalist in Kansas City who has started his own newspaper for the magical community. He doesn't really know much about it yet himself, but is learning as he goes. He gets a very strange call from someone who believes they are in grave danger, but Levi all but ignores her, thinking she must be prank calling him or out of her mind. Unfortunately, she was right, and the magical police have decided to blame him for her murder. Determined to find out the truth and clear his name, Levi speeds across Kansas City following leads while trying to evade capture. This obviously fails, as the story is told my him giving his statement of the past day to the magical police officers.
The timeline jumps back and forth, and sometimes goes over the exact same scenes multiple times, while Levi goes over what he knows and continues trying to figure out who killed this woman and why.
The characters are all very complex and thought out, and I am really looking forward to the expansion of the universe created in this book. I've read a lot of urban fantasy this year, and this is definitely one of my favorite works.
Levi is an LGBTQ+ autistic man. It is not pointed out in any huge way or the main point of the story, but if that is something that you don't want to be reading about, go find another book.
Levi is a journalist in Kansas City who has started his own newspaper for the magical community. He doesn't really know much about it yet himself, but is learning as he goes. He gets a very strange call from someone who believes they are in grave danger, but Levi all but ignores her, thinking she must be prank calling him or out of her mind. Unfortunately, she was right, and the magical police have decided to blame him for her murder. Determined to find out the truth and clear his name, Levi speeds across Kansas City following leads while trying to evade capture. This obviously fails, as the story is told my him giving his statement of the past day to the magical police officers.
The timeline jumps back and forth, and sometimes goes over the exact same scenes multiple times, while Levi goes over what he knows and continues trying to figure out who killed this woman and why.
The characters are all very complex and thought out, and I am really looking forward to the expansion of the universe created in this book. I've read a lot of urban fantasy this year, and this is definitely one of my favorite works.
April 9, 2022
“At my last job, when someone called in ranting about seeing a monster under the Buck O’Neil bridge, I’d probably have dismissed it as a crank call and hung up on them.
I missed those days.”
I reached for this book because I’ve been enjoying books with a bit of mystery recently and I thought mystery with a hint of fantasy in the mix would be a really fun combination for me. I was not disappointed.
This story follows two timelines - the police investigation in the present day, as well as Levi experiencing everything the day before. I really enjoyed working through the mystery with him.
Levi was a really interesting main character. It was fun to see someone so involved in the magical world actually not be any good at magic - although he had a grasp of it, he has to learn about how it worked in real-time.
I couldn’t necessarily see the autism rep in his character but, reading reviews from autistic readers, I don’t think that’s a bad thing! He’s a character who happens to have autism, rather than a character whose story is based around being autistic.
I really enjoyed the world that was set up. I found it easy to read and understand, but found that enough questions were opened up to make me want to check out the rest of the series - which I will definitely do!
I missed those days.”
I reached for this book because I’ve been enjoying books with a bit of mystery recently and I thought mystery with a hint of fantasy in the mix would be a really fun combination for me. I was not disappointed.
This story follows two timelines - the police investigation in the present day, as well as Levi experiencing everything the day before. I really enjoyed working through the mystery with him.
Levi was a really interesting main character. It was fun to see someone so involved in the magical world actually not be any good at magic - although he had a grasp of it, he has to learn about how it worked in real-time.
I couldn’t necessarily see the autism rep in his character but, reading reviews from autistic readers, I don’t think that’s a bad thing! He’s a character who happens to have autism, rather than a character whose story is based around being autistic.
I really enjoyed the world that was set up. I found it easy to read and understand, but found that enough questions were opened up to make me want to check out the rest of the series - which I will definitely do!
dnf
October 29, 2020Setting this one aside for now at 30%
I like the set-up for the story and the concept with a normal human getting involved into the magical world and the way magic works from what we've seen so far. Sadly I can't get used to the time switches. The story starts with the main character already captured and being interrogated and then goes back and forth to the past as he tells them what happened. Then it keeps going back and forth at times with short scenes in the present and most of the story of the day before. I thought this might only take a short while, but at 30% this is still going on. It gets me out of the story. I liked the casual way the autism of the main character was handled, it was mentioned, but wasn't the main focus, it was just there and part of who he was. I might give it another try later.
I like the set-up for the story and the concept with a normal human getting involved into the magical world and the way magic works from what we've seen so far. Sadly I can't get used to the time switches. The story starts with the main character already captured and being interrogated and then goes back and forth to the past as he tells them what happened. Then it keeps going back and forth at times with short scenes in the present and most of the story of the day before. I thought this might only take a short while, but at 30% this is still going on. It gets me out of the story. I liked the casual way the autism of the main character was handled, it was mentioned, but wasn't the main focus, it was just there and part of who he was. I might give it another try later.
January 26, 2022
I admit it’s not hard for me to enjoy a book because I read fast and a lot, and I love to be entertained via words. However, this book just hit all the spots for me, and I am thrilled to find another great author to add to my list. Levi, the main character, is a non-magical in a magical world, and he’s a journalist. He isn’t a good fighter, he makes mistakes, and he’s on the spectrum. I love that he’s just a normal MC without special powers. The way this book is written is different than most, and I loved that uniqueness. This well-written book just really captured my attention, and I didn’t want to put it down once I started reading it. After the way the book ended with Levy having made some powerful enemies, I’m wondering how that is going to shake out in other books. I can’t wait to find out!! Highly recommend.
August 26, 2022
"Smiling enough to show teeth, I looked Ben right in the eyes. “You’re a genius!” “I’m just asking questions,” he said, though his smile made me think it was false modesty."
2.) Captured ⭐⭐⭐⭐
IMPRESSIONS
➽ I was having such a good time with this book! This wasn't even remotely on my radar but I saw it recommended and wanted to try it out. The KC Warlock Weekly is a New Adult Fantasy book about a young, autistic journalist who is trying to put together a newspaper for magical folk and accidentally gets involved in a murder mystery. Levi is having issues with his business, as the magical community is relying on rumors and gossip with no need for any paper. Still, he's not giving up and investigating interesting stories, which is how he ends up accused of murder and on the run from the Wizard's council.
➽ It was interesting to see a character who is not a magician - like I initially thought - trying to evade the authorities and trying to solve the murder, when a lot more powerful people are trying to stop them. The story is told in two timelines that eventually cross: Levi being held by the police and how he got to this point, which makes this such an intriguing mystery 👀 I also loved the aspects of the magic system, which is very complex and incorporates different species. I'm guessing there will be a sequel so I'm hoping to see more of the world! There's also a sweet romance between Levi and Ben. Both meet up on a date, but then Levi gets into trouble and Ben accidentally becomes his partner in crime, trying to help as best he can as a Normal without any prior knowledge of magic. I love the chaotic dynamic of involving your date in a murder mystery and it goes to show that Ben really likes this guy 😄
INFORMATION
➽ CW's: Murder, Violence
➽ Representation 🌷 Autistic Queer MC
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March 31, 2022
Levi Lawson stands accused. He’s already on probation for an earlier run-in with the magic authorities in Kansas City, and now he’s being blamed for a murder he didn’t commit. His friends among the magical authorities don’t want to help, citing “politics”. Something deep seem wrong within the KC magical community, and the only way for Levi to figure it out and prove he’s falsely accused is is for him to solve the murder himself.
Accused is M. N. Jolley’s first entry in his planned five book series The Kansas City Warlock Weekly. It was the Bronze Medalist in last year’s Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Awards competition, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a murder mystery wrapped up in a fantasy novel, that’s set in an alternative Kansas City filled with magic potions and crystals, witches, warlocks, trolls, vampires, and more. The story unfolds in flashback, as Levi relates it while being interrogated by two counsellors (magic community policemen).
In this world, magic operates underground, outside the gaze of the everyday unmagical folk (the “straights” in the lingo of this world). Levi himself is not a member of the magical community - he’s not licensed to perform magic. But he uncovered the magic community as a young reporter and his editor agreed to publish a story on what he found. The story was magically quashed, and Levi found himself on probation after facing charges before the magical court.
Levi’s newspaper career seemed over, but he’s struck out on his own, trying to survive by starting a weekly newspaper aimed at KC’s small magical community. It’s while he’s working to gather stories for one of his first editions that he suddenly finds himself drawn into a murder scene.
Luckily for Levi he’s not alone in facing his accusation. Ben, his matching-app date right before things went haywire, steps up and helps Levi out. But it will take everything they can think of to get to the bottom of this mystery.
I’m a sucker for a good mystery, so needless to say I enjoyed this book. Jolley did a good job building out the characters in the book, especially Levi. The setting of the story, in the “small community” of magic practitioners in Kansas City, shades the book toward the “cozy mystery” end of the mystery book spectrum. But the plotline includes enough chase scenes and magical elements to also put it squarely in an urban fantasy realm.
I also appreciated the gay and nonbinary representation and loved how Jolley worked in that Levi is on the autism spectrum. These elements were a natural part of the overall story and helped to flesh it out.
But there’s not a lot of time spent fleshing out the magical world. The action comes too thick and fast for that. I suspect that over the arc of the whole series the magic world building will become clearer, but in this book some things seemed to come a bit out of the blue. For example, there wasn’t any real backstory before the appearance of a vampire, making it seem more like a plot device than an outgrowth of the world Levi and Ben inhabit.
Aside from small quibbles like that it’s a solid recommendation from me. A good story for fans of fantasy, who also love a good mystery. Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Accused is M. N. Jolley’s first entry in his planned five book series The Kansas City Warlock Weekly. It was the Bronze Medalist in last year’s Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Awards competition, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a murder mystery wrapped up in a fantasy novel, that’s set in an alternative Kansas City filled with magic potions and crystals, witches, warlocks, trolls, vampires, and more. The story unfolds in flashback, as Levi relates it while being interrogated by two counsellors (magic community policemen).
In this world, magic operates underground, outside the gaze of the everyday unmagical folk (the “straights” in the lingo of this world). Levi himself is not a member of the magical community - he’s not licensed to perform magic. But he uncovered the magic community as a young reporter and his editor agreed to publish a story on what he found. The story was magically quashed, and Levi found himself on probation after facing charges before the magical court.
Levi’s newspaper career seemed over, but he’s struck out on his own, trying to survive by starting a weekly newspaper aimed at KC’s small magical community. It’s while he’s working to gather stories for one of his first editions that he suddenly finds himself drawn into a murder scene.
Luckily for Levi he’s not alone in facing his accusation. Ben, his matching-app date right before things went haywire, steps up and helps Levi out. But it will take everything they can think of to get to the bottom of this mystery.
I’m a sucker for a good mystery, so needless to say I enjoyed this book. Jolley did a good job building out the characters in the book, especially Levi. The setting of the story, in the “small community” of magic practitioners in Kansas City, shades the book toward the “cozy mystery” end of the mystery book spectrum. But the plotline includes enough chase scenes and magical elements to also put it squarely in an urban fantasy realm.
I also appreciated the gay and nonbinary representation and loved how Jolley worked in that Levi is on the autism spectrum. These elements were a natural part of the overall story and helped to flesh it out.
But there’s not a lot of time spent fleshing out the magical world. The action comes too thick and fast for that. I suspect that over the arc of the whole series the magic world building will become clearer, but in this book some things seemed to come a bit out of the blue. For example, there wasn’t any real backstory before the appearance of a vampire, making it seem more like a plot device than an outgrowth of the world Levi and Ben inhabit.
Aside from small quibbles like that it’s a solid recommendation from me. A good story for fans of fantasy, who also love a good mystery. Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
December 25, 2021
I've been meaning to get to this one for a while. I connected with the author in an urban fantasy Facebook group a few months back and really enjoyed the chapter-by-chapter story he was posting there (enough that I joined his Patreon based on it), and I bought this book at the same time.
And I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed it.
There's a vaguely Dresden-esque flavour to the narrative voice and the snarkiness that I enjoyed, but Levi (said the Hebrew way: 'levvy') definitely isn't a Harry wannabe. He's a journalist/indie newspaper owner for a start, and while he's familiar with magic and knows how to use magical objects, he doesn't have any power of his own.
And I loved the diversity rep in the book too. Levi himself is both autistic and gay (well, I mean, he might be bi, but we only see him on a date with/kissing another guy, so I'll go with gay until given more information), and there's an NB character in there too, and it's all just part and parcel of who these characters are - very much no big deal to anyone else.
I also quite enjoyed the way the story was told - flicking back and forth between the past and present as Levi is explaining what happened to the Counsellors (magical cops) who are interrogating him. It made for a different reading experience than a lot of urban fantasy I've read.
Plus I hadn't realised that Maggie - the main character in the chapter-by-chapter book I've been enjoying so much - started off as a minor character in this one. So coming across her scenes in this book was a real treat.
On the negative side, I did pick who the murderer was going to turn out to be almost from the moment the character was introduced though. And I'm not sure about the scene where Levi figures out who it is - I can't say why without spoilers, but I'll just say that it felt... unsatisfying to me.
But still - as I said above, I really did enjoy the book. I believe there's a second one that will release sometime next year, so I'll definitely be grabbing it as soon as it's available.
And I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed it.
There's a vaguely Dresden-esque flavour to the narrative voice and the snarkiness that I enjoyed, but Levi (said the Hebrew way: 'levvy') definitely isn't a Harry wannabe. He's a journalist/indie newspaper owner for a start, and while he's familiar with magic and knows how to use magical objects, he doesn't have any power of his own.
And I loved the diversity rep in the book too. Levi himself is both autistic and gay (well, I mean, he might be bi, but we only see him on a date with/kissing another guy, so I'll go with gay until given more information), and there's an NB character in there too, and it's all just part and parcel of who these characters are - very much no big deal to anyone else.
I also quite enjoyed the way the story was told - flicking back and forth between the past and present as Levi is explaining what happened to the Counsellors (magical cops) who are interrogating him. It made for a different reading experience than a lot of urban fantasy I've read.
Plus I hadn't realised that Maggie - the main character in the chapter-by-chapter book I've been enjoying so much - started off as a minor character in this one. So coming across her scenes in this book was a real treat.
On the negative side, I did pick who the murderer was going to turn out to be almost from the moment the character was introduced though. And I'm not sure about the scene where Levi figures out who it is - I can't say why without spoilers, but I'll just say that it felt... unsatisfying to me.
But still - as I said above, I really did enjoy the book. I believe there's a second one that will release sometime next year, so I'll definitely be grabbing it as soon as it's available.
March 25, 2022
Accused: The KC Warlock Weekly Book 1. Is a good book that falls a little short in one or two key areas.
Levi is a journalist who writes, yes you guessed it, The KC Warlock Weekly. He lives in a world of magic, but lacks powers himself.
I love the premise, and I'm always down for a good murder mystery, and the world is interesting, though I felt the author could have spent a bit more time helping us get to know that world. It is also fairly well written as a general thing, but the author really let himself down in one area, and unfortunately its a pretty important area - the main character, Levi, just makes one stupid choice after another to the point where it disrupts your immersion in the plot, because its hard to imagine somebody being so stupid in real life.
Having said all that you might think I dislike the book, but I don’t, mainly because of the premise. The book also makes some clear efforts to be inclusive and diverse which is appreciated. I like the fact that Levi doesn’t really have magical abilities while so many around him do. It’s just a pity the author didn’t do a better job taking a great premise and all these great little pieces and combining them into a great book. And it wouldn’t even take much more to make it a great book, just a little reworking in some areas to make some things feel more organic and natural rather than occurring because they are wanted for the plot and the author wondering ‘How do I make this happen? Oh, I know, Levi will open door number dumb again’.
What we have here is a book that could have been really good, but ends up just being ok. I do think the positives outweigh the negatives overall I just wish I could have liked the main character more. Now, having said that if you are looking for a book that has a good premise with good diverse rep then by all means give it a shot. You might like it!
Source - tour
Levi is a journalist who writes, yes you guessed it, The KC Warlock Weekly. He lives in a world of magic, but lacks powers himself.
I love the premise, and I'm always down for a good murder mystery, and the world is interesting, though I felt the author could have spent a bit more time helping us get to know that world. It is also fairly well written as a general thing, but the author really let himself down in one area, and unfortunately its a pretty important area - the main character, Levi, just makes one stupid choice after another to the point where it disrupts your immersion in the plot, because its hard to imagine somebody being so stupid in real life.
Having said all that you might think I dislike the book, but I don’t, mainly because of the premise. The book also makes some clear efforts to be inclusive and diverse which is appreciated. I like the fact that Levi doesn’t really have magical abilities while so many around him do. It’s just a pity the author didn’t do a better job taking a great premise and all these great little pieces and combining them into a great book. And it wouldn’t even take much more to make it a great book, just a little reworking in some areas to make some things feel more organic and natural rather than occurring because they are wanted for the plot and the author wondering ‘How do I make this happen? Oh, I know, Levi will open door number dumb again’.
What we have here is a book that could have been really good, but ends up just being ok. I do think the positives outweigh the negatives overall I just wish I could have liked the main character more. Now, having said that if you are looking for a book that has a good premise with good diverse rep then by all means give it a shot. You might like it!
Source - tour
February 22, 2024
This one was pretty good. It’s not a genre I often read and honestly I’m not 100% sure how to classify it—mystery/fantasy/suspense/procedural/ish? But basically, I usually go for books that focus more on character development and less on non-stop action. Which isn’t to say that there was no character development in this one. But it took a backseat to the action.
ANYHOW. Despite it not being my usual fare, I still enjoyed it. The Kansas City location mentions throughout were fun and I enjoyed watching Levi and Ben’s relationship develop a bit, in the middle of all the detecting and escaping and everything. I also really liked the back-and-forth timeline. I’m a huge fan of that plot device if it’s done well, which I feel like it was here.
The main character, Levi, and the author are both on the autism spectrum. And honestly, I feel like you can tell the that the author’s on the spectrum, because the way he describes Levi’s autistic characterstics is so nonchalant and matter-of-fact. It’s not like someone going, “Hey look, guys! I’m writing a book about an autistic person.” It was more like, “Here’s Levi. He owns a newspaper. He lives in Kansas City. Oh yeah, and he’s on the spectrum.” Which felt more authentic to me, and according to some of the other reviews I’ve read on here, readers that are on the spectrum agree and really appreciate that approach.
Still trying to decide if I’m going to read the next book in the series, what with it not being my usual cup of tea and all, but I’m leaning towards yes, especially since it will help a local author out financially (my library didn’t have a copy of the book, so I asked them to purchase it, which they did and I’m assuming they would also purchase book 2 if I requested it [I didn’t realize there WAS a book 2 when I requested this one]).
ANYHOW. Despite it not being my usual fare, I still enjoyed it. The Kansas City location mentions throughout were fun and I enjoyed watching Levi and Ben’s relationship develop a bit, in the middle of all the detecting and escaping and everything. I also really liked the back-and-forth timeline. I’m a huge fan of that plot device if it’s done well, which I feel like it was here.
The main character, Levi, and the author are both on the autism spectrum. And honestly, I feel like you can tell the that the author’s on the spectrum, because the way he describes Levi’s autistic characterstics is so nonchalant and matter-of-fact. It’s not like someone going, “Hey look, guys! I’m writing a book about an autistic person.” It was more like, “Here’s Levi. He owns a newspaper. He lives in Kansas City. Oh yeah, and he’s on the spectrum.” Which felt more authentic to me, and according to some of the other reviews I’ve read on here, readers that are on the spectrum agree and really appreciate that approach.
Still trying to decide if I’m going to read the next book in the series, what with it not being my usual cup of tea and all, but I’m leaning towards yes, especially since it will help a local author out financially (my library didn’t have a copy of the book, so I asked them to purchase it, which they did and I’m assuming they would also purchase book 2 if I requested it [I didn’t realize there WAS a book 2 when I requested this one]).
March 27, 2022
DISCLAIMER: I received this book to read and review as part of the BBNYA tours organized by the TWR tour team. All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest.
Urban fantasy is one of those genres that’s not hard for me to enjoy, but this book’s funny and charming and smart and very much enjoyable overall. Levi is a character I found myself rooting for the moment he mentioned the rock in his shoe, and he just kept endearing himself to me as the story went on. Ben is also fantastic; I thought he’d only be a passing character or just eye candy so to speak, but I’m glad he wasn’t either of those things. Maggie was also delightful, as well as one L. Lysander.
I was a little worried about the flashback-style narrative at the onset, yet in the end it held itself pretty well. It was especially fun when we got to the reveals and I appreciated the “what actually happened” approach, laughing out loud and cheering as things fell into place. The story’s well-paced, the lore and concepts aren’t too out of this world that I had to stop and Google every now and then, and the writing’s fluid and easy to get through that I finished the entire book in a matter of hours.
And mad props for representation — but most especially how it was done. It was smart and not to anyone’s face. No “woe I’m autistic” or “you neurotypicals don’t get us how dare,” and the gender rep was also handled in the same way. There was in fact a bit more emphasis on the non-magical people (called straights in-verse), but Levi also made an adorable joke about it when it was notably brought up (the part about him getting a ride from Ben).
Already added book 2 to my TBR and looking forward to reading it!
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: Living My Truth by Fearless Soul
Urban fantasy is one of those genres that’s not hard for me to enjoy, but this book’s funny and charming and smart and very much enjoyable overall. Levi is a character I found myself rooting for the moment he mentioned the rock in his shoe, and he just kept endearing himself to me as the story went on. Ben is also fantastic; I thought he’d only be a passing character or just eye candy so to speak, but I’m glad he wasn’t either of those things. Maggie was also delightful, as well as one L. Lysander.
I was a little worried about the flashback-style narrative at the onset, yet in the end it held itself pretty well. It was especially fun when we got to the reveals and I appreciated the “what actually happened” approach, laughing out loud and cheering as things fell into place. The story’s well-paced, the lore and concepts aren’t too out of this world that I had to stop and Google every now and then, and the writing’s fluid and easy to get through that I finished the entire book in a matter of hours.
And mad props for representation — but most especially how it was done. It was smart and not to anyone’s face. No “woe I’m autistic” or “you neurotypicals don’t get us how dare,” and the gender rep was also handled in the same way. There was in fact a bit more emphasis on the non-magical people (called straights in-verse), but Levi also made an adorable joke about it when it was notably brought up (the part about him getting a ride from Ben).
Already added book 2 to my TBR and looking forward to reading it!
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: Living My Truth by Fearless Soul
March 26, 2022
Accused is book one of The Kansas City Warlock Weekly. This urban fantasy entertains with its irreverent humor, magical elements, and mysteries.
I’m not sure I have ever read a book quite like this. The autistic lead character is treated as common-place as the magical systems. I found that refreshing and left me hopeful that more people will learn to treat things they don’t understand with empathy.
The pace was a bit chaotic for me as I was occasionally taken out of the tale by not following the jumps. However, the further I read, the better I was able to follow the story.
I enjoyed the mystery as much as the magical universe. They melded together to make a coherent story from a chaotic world. The author took a somewhat unlikeable character and made him endearing by the end. You could take out all the magic and still have a fabulous tale about the little guy fighting against a corrupt system… but, the magic makes this book memorable.
I can certainly recommend Accused to all lovers of urban fantasy, mysteries, and general entertaining fiction.
I received a copy of the book for the 2021 BBNYA competition. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
I’m not sure I have ever read a book quite like this. The autistic lead character is treated as common-place as the magical systems. I found that refreshing and left me hopeful that more people will learn to treat things they don’t understand with empathy.
The pace was a bit chaotic for me as I was occasionally taken out of the tale by not following the jumps. However, the further I read, the better I was able to follow the story.
I enjoyed the mystery as much as the magical universe. They melded together to make a coherent story from a chaotic world. The author took a somewhat unlikeable character and made him endearing by the end. You could take out all the magic and still have a fabulous tale about the little guy fighting against a corrupt system… but, the magic makes this book memorable.
I can certainly recommend Accused to all lovers of urban fantasy, mysteries, and general entertaining fiction.
I received a copy of the book for the 2021 BBNYA competition. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
March 31, 2022
Some aspects of this book I really liked. I loved that Levi was on the autism spectrum and gay, but they're just aspects of his character, same as being brunette or riding a motorcycle. There wasn't a plot-related excuse for it or any particular drama about it. He was just allowed to be as he was. I also just plain like Levi as a character and thought the world interesting.
However, I was a little iffy with Ben—the magical equivalent of a Tinder date—being all-in for the danger and law breaking, after their first meeting with Levi. It just felt like there was a lot more trust there than there should have been. And I never quite grasped if the crime committed that led to the murder was business as usual or if anyone within the system was outraged over it. Not to mention if the perpetrators were actually caught and punished. And this left me feeling a little uncertain.
All in all, however, I liked a lot more than I didn't and will happily read another Jolley book. (How dad-joke cheesy would it be to say it was a jolly good read?) Plus, Nikola Hamilton did a great job with the narration.
However, I was a little iffy with Ben—the magical equivalent of a Tinder date—being all-in for the danger and law breaking, after their first meeting with Levi. It just felt like there was a lot more trust there than there should have been. And I never quite grasped if the crime committed that led to the murder was business as usual or if anyone within the system was outraged over it. Not to mention if the perpetrators were actually caught and punished. And this left me feeling a little uncertain.
All in all, however, I liked a lot more than I didn't and will happily read another Jolley book. (How dad-joke cheesy would it be to say it was a jolly good read?) Plus, Nikola Hamilton did a great job with the narration.
January 31, 2025
I stumbled on to this author through a Facebook Urban Fantasy reader group, and I'm so glad that I did! There are so many things I like about this story, starting with the main character, Levi; who is a journalist and owner of the KC Warlock Weekly newspaper. Magic is real, and even though Levi isn't magical, he writes for the magic community and is struggling to make a living with the paper. I think that Levi is a high-functioning autistic, and there is at least one non-binary character in the story, which are unusual and interesting twists (to me, anyway). What I really loved about the story is the clever way it was told. Levi is being held for a charge of murder, and the story is recounted through his explanation during his interrogation by "counselors" (read: magical law enforcement) interspersed with interaction with the counselors. The story is captivating; I hated to put it down, and the characters are interesting. If you like quirky urban fantasy, with a good mystery, unusual characters, good world building and a twist at the end, do pick up this book. Then find a quiet place, put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign, and dig in!
March 24, 2022
I discovered this book thanks to the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA 2021) where it placed inside the top ten. Based off the blurb it is not something I would pick up for myself, but since it came with such a high recommendation from my fellow book bloggers I thought I would give it a try.
The MC in this book is accused of murder and has to find a way to prove his innocence. I liked the way you had to work out with him what had happened, and also how the plot stayed unpredictable throughout.
While the narrative is certainly engaging and shows the author's ability to write, something about the book kept me from enjoying it more. One reason for that was the main character himself. He was just not very likeable, and not very interesting either. Furthermore, the non-linear back and forth fashion of the plot made it hard to follow at times.
All in all, it didn’t really pull me in as much as I would have liked, I guess the writing is just not my cup of tea, but I can see why others liked it more.
The MC in this book is accused of murder and has to find a way to prove his innocence. I liked the way you had to work out with him what had happened, and also how the plot stayed unpredictable throughout.
While the narrative is certainly engaging and shows the author's ability to write, something about the book kept me from enjoying it more. One reason for that was the main character himself. He was just not very likeable, and not very interesting either. Furthermore, the non-linear back and forth fashion of the plot made it hard to follow at times.
All in all, it didn’t really pull me in as much as I would have liked, I guess the writing is just not my cup of tea, but I can see why others liked it more.
September 22, 2023
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. First, I can say that I purchased the second book in the series before I finished the first one. I definitely liked Levi and Ben and wanted to see what happened next to the poor journalist who just wanted the scoop and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It started off a little slow for me, but then all of the action kicked in and Levi (as in, drove my Chevy to the...) was having to think on his feet and use everything around him to stay afloat until the truth could be revealed. There were so many twists and turns to this book--honestly, there foreshadowing on the very first page that becomes extremely important later on.
The magical law system brings to mind the councils in the Harry Dresden or Alex Verus books, so it's a good thing Levi had brains and a Ben and knew how to use them. I will definitely read the next book for more on the two of them and hope that a third and a fourth book are forthcoming.
It started off a little slow for me, but then all of the action kicked in and Levi (as in, drove my Chevy to the...) was having to think on his feet and use everything around him to stay afloat until the truth could be revealed. There were so many twists and turns to this book--honestly, there foreshadowing on the very first page that becomes extremely important later on.
The magical law system brings to mind the councils in the Harry Dresden or Alex Verus books, so it's a good thing Levi had brains and a Ben and knew how to use them. I will definitely read the next book for more on the two of them and hope that a third and a fourth book are forthcoming.
March 24, 2022
I first heard of Accused (The KC Warlock Weekly 1) through it being a finalist in BBNYA (Bloggers novel of the year award) - So that should tell you all you need to know about the book's quality.
The book revolves around Levi, and I instantly loved that they were basically a squib at Hogwarts. Levi is in a world of magic, but is crap at magic. Normally in a book like this the MC will be the chosen one with loads of powers etc so this was a nice change. Instead Levi writes a newspaper about magic (The KC Warlock Weekly) and it doesn't take them long to get all tied up and mixed up in an intriguing murder mystery.
The book jumps around and back and forth in quite a complex manner but I found it to be fast paced, entertaining and well edited throughout.
Its a solid 4 stars from and a recommendation for anybody looking for something a little bit different.
The book revolves around Levi, and I instantly loved that they were basically a squib at Hogwarts. Levi is in a world of magic, but is crap at magic. Normally in a book like this the MC will be the chosen one with loads of powers etc so this was a nice change. Instead Levi writes a newspaper about magic (The KC Warlock Weekly) and it doesn't take them long to get all tied up and mixed up in an intriguing murder mystery.
The book jumps around and back and forth in quite a complex manner but I found it to be fast paced, entertaining and well edited throughout.
Its a solid 4 stars from and a recommendation for anybody looking for something a little bit different.
November 13, 2020
I loved this book.
As a Kansas City resident, I really enjoyed the story playing out all around the city and in/on/near local landmarks. It was exciting to guess where Levi was heading next and to picture these magical events in places I see every day.
I love and appreciate that Levi is autistic, and also that it isn’t a main focus of the book. It’s just part of Levi’s life, as it is for so many of us.
I am a huge fan of mysteries, and fantasy, and magical things in general. This book is a mystery in a world with magic, and it’s such a fresh take on the two subjects.
M. N. Jolley’s writing is wonderful. It is a unique and exciting novel and I have already pre-ordered the second book.
Highly recommend!
As a Kansas City resident, I really enjoyed the story playing out all around the city and in/on/near local landmarks. It was exciting to guess where Levi was heading next and to picture these magical events in places I see every day.
I love and appreciate that Levi is autistic, and also that it isn’t a main focus of the book. It’s just part of Levi’s life, as it is for so many of us.
I am a huge fan of mysteries, and fantasy, and magical things in general. This book is a mystery in a world with magic, and it’s such a fresh take on the two subjects.
M. N. Jolley’s writing is wonderful. It is a unique and exciting novel and I have already pre-ordered the second book.
Highly recommend!
July 11, 2022
This was a lightning quick story with a lot of back and forth. It is almost written in a screenplay format. I think that due to the speed of the story and events, it may have made it a little more difficult to connect with the characters. They never really stood in one place long enough to get to know them. That being said, once you get caught up in the race it is an easy read to the finish. I'm not certain that I truly caught the autism connection (I'm on spectrum, as well as my son). It is hard to capture because the spectrum itself is quite large in scope. I highly recommend it for a light, fast, story, particularly for folks who like a lot of action and quick movement through the storyline.
July 27, 2022
I did not expect get hooked by this book - but I did within the first few paragraphs all because our trusty " Gum-shoe?, Reporter? Failed Wizard? nosy neighbor?" was being interrogated and made a side remark : " And there was a rock in my shoe."
this ran through the narrative for a bit - and as anyone who has had a rock in their shoe can tell you it is very annoying and it is hard to keep track of what is happening around you.
All in all this is the kind of book you want if you are traveling, need a quick read or while waiting for appointments. It is fun, has multiple twists and when I hit the last sentence on part 1 still have no clue "who dun it". But I had a smile on my face and I wanted to find out - so on to part 2...
this ran through the narrative for a bit - and as anyone who has had a rock in their shoe can tell you it is very annoying and it is hard to keep track of what is happening around you.
All in all this is the kind of book you want if you are traveling, need a quick read or while waiting for appointments. It is fun, has multiple twists and when I hit the last sentence on part 1 still have no clue "who dun it". But I had a smile on my face and I wanted to find out - so on to part 2...
April 11, 2025
The goodreads description really isn't doing this story any favours. It's in first person and just reads unpleasant so I was never going to pick this book up were it not for the email I got from the author (who I follow for a different series) telling me the third (?) book was out and I wanted to support.
This book is good. I got sucked in immediately and in the blink of an eye I was 35% in. The first chapter alone is excellent but Levi is such a likeable character and he tells his story so well. There is also constant action. I don't really read mysteries/thrillers/crime novels anymore unless they're heavily steeped in fantasy and this hit all the right spots.
The ending was so satisfying too. Worth staying up for. 5 stars.
This book is good. I got sucked in immediately and in the blink of an eye I was 35% in. The first chapter alone is excellent but Levi is such a likeable character and he tells his story so well. There is also constant action. I don't really read mysteries/thrillers/crime novels anymore unless they're heavily steeped in fantasy and this hit all the right spots.
The ending was so satisfying too. Worth staying up for. 5 stars.
December 28, 2020
As a Kansas City native I had to read a book set in KC, especially since I had never seen it done before in fantasy. I fully expected the novelty of the KC setting to carry the story, but I'm happy to say I was wrong. The story could have been set in New York or Chicago and it wouldn't have lost an ounce of its charm. The book was fast paced and fun, keeping you on the edge of your seat wondering what Levi will do next and guessing at the identity of the murderer. I never knew I needed kazoo playing demon summoners in my life but now that I've found them they must stay. The book wrapped up well without a cliffhanger, but left room for lots of future shenanigans.
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