Maw of Mirrors

by Attila Nádori

This is the first book in The Arcane Rangers, a young adult, urban fantasy series by Attila Nadori.New York City is at war. Hidden among the towering buildings and labyrinth of subway tunnels is an urban wilderness of magical espionage. The Arcane Rangers struggle to keep the Remnants at bay, but their enemy’s relentless infiltration has brought this secret world to the brink of collapse.Sixteen-year-old Mark Shaw finds himself handcuffed in a police station in complete confusion. When he decided to help the young girl, he had no idea half the city was chasing her. She wouldn’t tell him her name, never mind who or what she was running from – but as they struggled to escape their pursuers, the world itself seemed to shatter. Clouds swirl, thunderclaps overhead, and crevasses tore through the concrete with a quaking roar, only to disappear moments later. It had to be because of her. Mark wasn’t losing control of his magic… was he?Rescued by the Rangers from a chilling interrogation with a detective more interested in him than the missing girl, Mark learns of this underground world. With the Remnants now hunting him, Mark goes to the Bessborough, an ancient training facility hidden in Brooklyn Heights to find his desperate answer to the missing girl. Here, Mark finally meets other magical students and is taught to control his magic while navigating a minefield of ancient rivalries, deception, and double agents. Set in modern-day New York City, Mark is thrust into covert operations and battles fought in the heart of Manhattan; his crash course to a war hidden in plain sight and with control of the city hanging in the balance.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2021

Reviews

[Rebecca Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Remnants are taking over NYC and the Rangers are the only ones who can stop them-indeed-they're the only ones who know about them. An invisible war is happening in and around the city that ordinary citizens know nothing about. Mark knew nothing about it either - only that he was odd, unlike anyone he'd ever met. When he finds himself in a battle he didn't want over a girl everyone wants, he uses his unique ability to stop time to help her escape. Then, comes the really weird part.
Overall, not bad. The ending is a little abrupt - it's obvious there will be a sequel. The plot kept me engaged especially the second half.