Of Mettle and Magic

The Magicsmith #5

by L.R. Braden

Part fae, part human, all magic. . .
Now it’s time to choose a side.
When the Unified Church in Rome is destroyed by rogue sorcerers, tensions explode. Alex Blackwood will do whatever it takes to prevent a war between the humans, fae, and Earth paranaturals--even turn herself over to the PTF. But when a man she thought long dead walks back into her life at the head of a sorcerer army, surrender is no longer an option.
With all the world watching, and half hoping she fails, Alex and her friends scramble to find a peace that won’t cost them everything.
About the L.R. Braden is the bestselling author of the Magicsmith urban fantasy series. Her work has won the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Sci-fi/Fantasy, the New Horizon Award for debut authors, and the Imadjinn Award for Best Urban Fantasy. She lives in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies with her wonderful husband, precocious daughter, and psychotic cat. To connect online, visit her website and Facebook page.

Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Fae, Vampires, Magic

322 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2021

About the author

L.R. Braden is a bestselling, multi-award-winning author of dark-yet-hopeful urban fantasy stories. Her published works include the Magicsmith series, the Rifter series, and several works of shorter fiction.

A bit of a recluse, she enjoys collecting skills that may (or may not) prove useful in the event that she is suddenly transported to an inhospitable alternate reality. Since that hasn't happened yet, she mostly spends her days weaving fantastic tales, playing with her family, and getting lost on purpose.

Her writing has won many awards, including the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Sci-fi/Fantasy, the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Paranormal Fiction, and the Imadjinn Award for Best Urban Fantasy.

Connect with her online at https://www.lrbraden.com

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so eager to read this book, I couldn’t contain my excitement when I got it. I dived right in so I could immerse myself in Alex’s world once again. So much happened in this one and I can’t say too much. But I will say that there were surprising reveals, interesting new characters, surprising twists, and lots of action. Alex and James are such a wonderful couple, and even though there isn’t much romance, I can tell theirs is a wonderful pairing. I think this was supposed to wrap up the series (but I don’t know if that’s true), but there were still some questions left open for more book, and I’m seriously hoping for more! Great addition to this well-written, fun series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy / Paranormal
*Rating* 4.0

*Thoughts*

Of Mettle and Magic is the Fifth installment in author L.R. Braden's The Magicsmith series. After saving a dozen human children from Shedraziel, including Emma's younger sister May, and erasing their memories of what happened to them, Alex Blackwood and her friends now have to figure out a way to save them since they are now addicted to goblin fruit. They were promised help from Alex's grandfather Bael, but that help is slow in coming. What's worse is that Alex's recorded confession about being a Fae halfer who can handle iron without any side affects, is now spreading across the country and the PTF, Paranatural Task Force, wants very much to speak to Alex.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been building and building and the crescendo was absolutely fabulous.

Alex finds herself in the thick of things once again, as tensions between the PTF, the paranormals, and a group of rogue sorcerers come to a head.

It was edge-of-your-seat, breath-stealing, non-stop action. Throughout it all, Alex is trying her best not to lose herself or her friends. She is fighting for a future that will benefit everybody.

I'm sure the book's not perfect, but I was so immersed in it all that I didn't notice any issues there might be with the story.

After this installment, I'm firmly behind Alex and James as a couple. He has proven himself to her over and over again. The two of them finally got to a point where the trust was absolute.

But we're not quite done yet with this world and I can't wait to continue Alex's journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Alex is back and her life is all set to implode. She's made an enemy of her grandfather's general but saving the children that the Fae woman was torturing is worth it to Alex. Now she needs to heal them but with the human council hunting her down safety is paramount. That isn't the only problem Alex has though because with rogue sorcerers attacking the Fae now feel with humanity divided its time to end the peace treaty and attack and ultimately conquer !
Well let's face it the girl just cannot seem to catch a break ! Alex just seems to constantly have to fight for what she sees as right. I am increasingly enjoying the way she's collecting allies and she definitely needs them. Things are changing though as the Vampire she loves is going through changes that I'm not a hundred percent sure will ultimately make Alex happy. Plus someone very important from her past is back and that pushes all of Alex's buttons. My only criticism of this instalment is that I really wanted more from the Fae but I cannot deny the ending means life for Alex is about to get very busy going forward.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite fictional worlds to visit. Each time I see a new part I get so excited and promise myself I'll take my time, but I know that's a lie. As with the other parts, I devoured this like a reader starved for every word, gulping yet somehow managing to savor the delightful taste of the story. If you are up to this part I don't have to tell you the characters are phenomenal, all of them, even the walk ons have reasons. The main and secondary characters are as rich and real as people I interact with outside of fiction. The plot continues to be complex and intelligent yet easily entertaining, making it a series that will appeal to readers that range from those looking for fun and those looking to sink deeper, a brilliant accomplishment. There were a lot of threads that came to satisfying endings in this part, awesome climaxes, and yet the end also promised room for more, which thrills me. I hope the next part is coming very soon. I can't wait to visit this world again... I'll try not devour the next part. Maybe.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic series it is so action packed from start to finish that I highly recommend reading it in order. This series is full of wonderful characters and plenty of intriguing storylines to keep you turning the pages until the very end.

Alex is back and her life is in shambles she has made an enemy of her grandfather's general but feels no remorse because saving the children trapped in Fae was worth it.

Now on top of the children's care rogue sorcerers are attacking the Fae. At the same time the fragile peace between human and Fae is at the breaking point and on the verge of war.

During all this someone very important from Alex's past is back and that causes even more tension. I loved every page and I absolutely can't wait for more. This series never disappoints snd just keeps getting better with each installment. I highly recommend it!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! This is a great book to continue the series! I love stories where there is a strong female who takes on challenges including saving a bunch of children. There is fighting and intrigue and more battles. There is a lot going on in the book but it's not overpowering. The pace is perfect. Alex's relationship with James continues to mature and grow. There are also a lot of characters that work very well together. I loved the book which is awesome as often series get strained as they get longer. I still can't wait for the next book!

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed this series immensely. Alex is strong and capable. I enjoy that she uses not just her powers, which are increasing, but her intelligence to work through the many dilemmas she encounters. Her friends are loyal to her and work together in whatever capacity they are able. The world building is expansive and well done. The relationships are deep and involved. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is creative, sometimes scary and always riveting. This ongoing series is an excellent one and I eagerly anticipate the next one. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and freely leave this honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tensions between the human and the fae are growing ever higher, and Alex Blackwood is once again in the precarious position of walking between the two warring factions. Now that she has helped rescue several children from the evil Shedraziel, Alex must return to the Realm of Enchantment to help persuade her grandfather Bael to build a union that will help avoid a war that seems all but inevitable. But there are more factors at play than Alex initially realized, and the complexities of the situation make peace less tenable than she would like. Alex is not one to be easily discouraged, however, and even when she is faced with challenges, she bravely turns to less conventional means of achieving her goals.

This fifth in the Magicsmith series continues directly after the fourth book ends and does not include much preamble. The strength of the writing and world building make this work, as very little is needed to remind readers of what happened in previous installments. Whenever that is necessary, though, the narrative easily flows around the included backstory without breaking in its momentum. Additionally, there is a good amount of detail included throughout the story, painting vivid imagery without hindering the overall pacing. Everything in the previous four novels has built to this one, and readers will appreciate the ways in which the characters they have come to know become interwoven as they unite against a common enemy.

Like other books in this series, this one features a wide variety of fae and magic wielders who exist alongside humans in both a recognizable reality and a more fantastical fairy realm. By now, readers will be familiar with each of the primary characters, making the introduction of new ones fit easily into the plot. Echoes of familiar human challenges are found within this tale of urban fantasy, and themes of unity and positivity exist even when circumstances become ever more dire. Readers interested in fantasy stories anchored in a real world will fall for this series, and they will anxiously await the conclusion after this book ends. This is an accessible and immersive story for mature young adult readers and older readers, as well.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a joint review for books 3, 4 and 5 in this series since I had the same response to all three. I read book 1, Drop of Magic, and thought it was ok. I did not read book 2, Courting Darkness. Netgalley gave me copies of 3 (Faerie Forged), 4 (Casting Shadows) and 5 (Of Mettle and Magic) in exchange for my honest review. I read all three in the course of two days.

I'm giving these three all a like rating because I enjoyed them. However, it is not at the top of the list of UF series I'd recommend.

The stories kept me reading, perhaps helped in part that the storylines don't really stand alone, it's one long saga so when a book ends, you are left wanting to see what happens. Not a true cliffhanger, but there's no overall resolution. I also really enjoy UF because of the strong secondary character development that usual takes place since there's usually time to have lots of character development with 3 or more books. There is some, but not enough and characters just seem to disappear. Sometimes that's due to the storyline taking Alex elsewhere, but a smoother transition would be nice.

Each book had some slow spots, but Casting Shadows and Of Mettle and Magic kicked up the action.

The author's latest release, Demon Riding Shotgun, let's one of the most recent secondary characters take a front seat. I just hope this doesn't mean we won't get another book wrapping up Alex's situation.

[Anne Szlachcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have waited (im)patiently for this latest book in this entertaining series - and I was not disappointed .
Reading the previous books in the series is really essential to fully understand the characters and their relationships , and the worlds they are set in .

Alex's naivety and angst knows no bounds - every attempt to get the disparate parties to work together
backfires - even kidnapping the local head of the PTF doesn't work . What will it take to prevent a new
war ......... a war started by her father , she long presumed dead ? Can she kill him ? Are her powers strong enough - even with the help of her friends - to overcome the battles to come ?
Simmering in the background are the relationships she must juggle - can she rid James of his demon , will her
grandfather compel her to return to Faerie? who will stand by her side to ensure Humanity survives ?

This was a fast paced , entertaining , paranormal read that draws a reader in and won't let go ...... what does the future hold for Alex ........ she only has one year to achieve the impossible - PEACE !

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my ow

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

I don't know why this didn't grab me more TBH. Things have reached a climax. Rogue sorcerers have destroyed the Unified Church in Rome and Alex is desperate to prevent a war, whether between the Fae and humans or humans and paranaturals she doesn't care.

There are battles and more paranormals than you can shake a stick at, Alex has to decide what/who she really is, and pick a side, can she bring everyone together and win before it descends into out-and-out war? As she finally understands the truth of her halfer status she begins to understand her magic and how to use it properly.

Sounds great right? Demons, fae, vampires, sorcerers, shifters, witches and more! Yet this felt more like the build up to a finale than the epic battle that it was - maybe because it ended in 'to be continued'?

So, I enjoyed it and the battle scenes were crazy scary but I didn't love it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this series. In this book Alex shows real growth and is getting more of the training she needs to embrace all of her gifts. Rogue practitioners attacked the Church and took out many of its members, Alex is once again under suspicion and is on the wanted list. As she is turning herself in she is kidnapped by another group who are trying to enlist her services in defeating the rogues. Alex see this as an opportunity to try and broker some sort of peace between the paranormals and humans but each faction has their own agenda and the PTF are making things more difficult especially when the fae threaten to get involved. I liked how Alex’s friends seem to rally around her and pitch in to help. I’m glad she is learning more and more how to use her magic, not just the fae magic but also the practitioner magic. There are many big changes in this book, not all of them good but it makes me want the next book now. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than a decade after the Fae Wars, humanity and paranaturals coexist uneasily. Alex Blackwood has recently discovered that she's a "halfer" - half human, half fae, and one of the few who can handle iron. In "Of Mettle and Magic," Alex finds out that she may have even more reason to fear the PTF who police the paranaturals, and who are determined to drive them from Earth, or eradicate them entirely. Alex will have to sacrifice to keep the peace.

I had recently read the first two books in the series, and was approved for this one before I'd gotten to the third and fourth. I'm pleased to say that the storyline was easy to pick up (although I will go back and read the others to fill in a few details). Alex is a likeable heroine and she has a great group of friends. I do question the health of her relationship with the vampire James, but he shows in this book that he is committed to helping her, even at the cost of something he holds dear.

War is imminent. The various groups of fae, weres, and other paranaturals are being hunted by the PTF. A group of sorcerers commits an act of terrorism that sets Alex on a course to stop the war, but she has to make some hard bargains and give up some of her freedom to make it work.

Alex gets help from old friends, such as Kai, Maggie, and Morgan, and her uncle provides backup and support. Alex works well both autonomously and with the team, and it's great to see the bonds she's forged with the others have survived the turmoil of the last few months, especially her friendship with Maggie. I liked how Alex didn't try to go it alone, and worked with everyone.

The series is great for readers who like urban fantasy and a spunky heroine, but a tad less snark than you find in a lot of UF novels.

Recommended.

[Bobbie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of OF METTLE & MAGIC (Book 5 of The MagicSmith urban fantasy series) by L.R. Braden in exchange for an honest review. Alex Blackwood has solved the most urgent problem at hand and decides to turn herself in to the authorities so that she can work with them to avoid the upcoming war. However, when the Unified Church in Rome is destroyed and Alex fails to establish a hoped-for alliance, Alex must regroup and find new alliances to because war is now imminent on three fronts. In order to succeed, Alex will have to expand her knowledge and control of her powers as well as her knowledge and implementation of both political and battle strategy.

I like this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy.

#OfMettleandMagic #NetGalley

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to congratulate this writer for making such a wonderful and intricate worldbuilding story.
This is a part of an ongoing series.
While different races promise to go to war, can one mixed heritage person, or abomination the fear would call others her, get a hold on the situation and try for a co-existence?
We shall see with Alex and her James.
It is an ongoing problem in the real world also, the fear of differences. When you do not know what another can do to you will you lash out or try to understand each other.
Alex has her powers and her art to try something that no one else can do.
with fear, uncertainty, love, found family, courage and stubbornness she stumbles on to find a world worth living in.

[Ashley Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought that, in all, this was a fun and interesting move forward. I think tying up the loose family threads was wonderfully done, and I liked how the fae threat was blunted in the end, but now she has a year to do the near impossible- peace between the factions. Although I wished I could have seen more of the issues with her grandfather the king, after reading, I think it’s better served as a focus for some other time. I think if the father and grandfather were both the main antagonists, it would have been too muddy and had less impact.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 5 in the Magicsmith series and all the main characters are back with major roles. Rogue Sorcerers have destroyed the Church in Rome and the humans and Magics must trust each other to fight them. Alex must bring the fae and the paranormals together before the sorcerers take over the earth. This book should be read following others in the series, it need a lot of background from previous books. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book picks up right where the last one left off. I still can't get over the world building and the character even this far in the series. Just when Alex thinks that she has solved one problem another one comes up and this brings back someone she thought was no longer part of this world. Now she knows she has to keep pushing forward. I am ready for the next one. Amazing.

[Stephani Amstadter]

Loved it!!

I waited a long time for this one, only to finish it way too fast!! Can't wait for the next one...

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Sharon Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this storyline- couldn't put the book down. My imagination works overtime when I read the books written by L.Braden! LOVE her books!

[Ben Slaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tied up this series well and threw in some punches

This series was great fun. I love a good women here with crazy friends. Moved at a good pace for all the books.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Wow! Book five in the series continues the building momentum and action of the previous titles and then goes into overdrive. With the kidnapped children rescued but still addicted to goblin fruit, Alex and her allies have a big task ahead of them, detoxing the kids to a point where they can survive life without imbibing goblin fruit regularly.

However, just as things seem to smooth out the situation with the PTF, paranaturals and the Fae boils over with the appearance of and attacks by rogue sorcerers who have escaped the church’s control.

Alex is forced into taking a leading role with the paranaturals trying to broker a peace with the PTF while subduing the rogue sorcerers as an act of good faith. Action packed once again, this is a rollicking read.

I await the next title in the series.

[Charmaine Ohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Argh. I got to the end and saw "to be continued" now I have to track down and buy book 6 🤣. A great end to alot of the already existing problems is reached and while I would have been happy to not to see TBC... at the end I am also glad I get to go along further with Alex and see how things do finish up completely.