I’d led a deadly squad of genetically enhanced, uber-powerful magic wielders through life-threatening missions multiple times in the first twenty-one years of my life.
When marked for death, I’d led the escape from those who’d bred us, controlled us. Utterly annihilating the Collective’s compound, and destroying everything that had gone into creating us — the Five.
I found Christopher and Paisley a home, a safe haven. Then, despite being bred and raised to be a sociopath, I learned to love. And even some of the nuances of the act of loving.
To protect the life I’d built, I’d faced off against black witches. Survived demons. Held powerful dark sorcerers at bay. I had thwarted an immortal entity.
And despite all that, I was nervous.
About attending a coven retreat. About revealing any part of myself to witches of the light.
Witches who could hurt me without a lick of magic or a single sharp blade. Just by denying Opal the future she wanted. Because of me. And everything I could no longer hide. Or hide from.
Instincts and Impostors is the fifth book in the Amplifier Series, which is set in the same universe as the Dowser, Oracle, Reconstructionist, Archivist, and Misfits of the Adept Universe series. The paperback edition also contains the novella, Recon Mission: Bee (Amplifier 5.5)
Meghan Ciana Doidge writes tales of true love conquering all, even death. Though sometimes the love is elusive, the vampires and werewolves come out to play in the daylight, and bloody mayhem ensues.
Meghan Ciana Doidge books were to me as The Tiger King was to the rest of the world during the pandemic/2020. I discovered them early in the lockdown and devoured every one like the adventurous, well-told, thrilling, can't wait to see what happens next lifeline they were. Doidge writes several series, all interconnected, set in the same world with an overlapping reading order (suggested reading order listed in the front of every book). This is her next to last book in the Amplifier series, but it has several overlapping story lines and characters from previous books. Highly suggest reading in the prescribed reading order. So, so good, and I look forward to anything Doidge chooses to write.
I took a little while between books in this series before coming back to book #5. I’ve read all the other books in this world as they overlap timeline-wise, but it was still kind of jarring to join back in with the very… robotic (?) Emma. I eventually got over the learning curve here, but it definitely took a little while.
Emma is taking Opal to a cover retreat at the start of the book. While it’s only supposed to be them going with their fellow-witch-ish friend, it ends up bringing along most if not all the characters in some form or another. Also, if you’re a reader of the other series, we get lots of familiar faces for the coven. What should be a somewhat simple matter is made into a big ordeal that starts with a strange witch showing up with a raven. It snowballs from there, involving Paisley, Aiden, and Emma as they band together to save their little family.
I really did enjoy how much Emma manages to pull through as a leader when all her newfound emotions are rebelling. The way that she almost instantly makes really difficult decision is crazy, but fun to watch. I was on the edge of my seat until the end of this book, hoping for the best and generally being rewarded for it. You’ve done it again - I’m back on Team Emma.
Opal is invited on a retreat with the Godfrey coven which she plans to join. Emma attends to support her. Of course, there is danger and adventure of the paranormal type. I was pleasantly surprise to see Scarlett and Pearl Godfrey in a different light. They seem much more powerful in this book than I originally thought. I suppose they often took a back story to Jade in the previous books. It was so heartbreaking to see Paisley threatened. I always felt Paisley was invulnerable and such a part of the family! Emma seemed more emotional in this installment of the series and I think it shows her emotional growth.
The latest in the Amplifier series and the wider Adept Universe. Emma's, soon to be adopted, daughter Opal is to be inducted into the Godfrey coven. We do get to see some of our old favorites like Pearl and Scarlett, but unfortunately Jade doesn't show up. Probably a good thing since the story would have ended far quicker.
First Paisley acts up, and then everything goes crazy after the induction.
MCD gave me a world I love to visit and characters I care about. Not just in this series, but in all of them..
Does not matter if they include sex or not (it does not overwhelm the story) The stories, characters (both good, gray and evil) are well written and I can feel their emotions while I am reading. I know this will be a world I visit again and again.
I blew through this book so quickly! I always love everything by this author. I always enjoy when the different adepts come into contact in books like the Godfreys with Emma, Aiden and Opal in this one. I felt like it was missing a little something, though I can't put my finger on what. I think I wanted more interaction and a bit more lead-up to the climax. I still liked it and will most definitely read the next one.
After 4 books of great plot and awesome antagonists, this one fell a little flat for me. The 4th in the series was the best so far and this next installment was a let down. The villain felt like they were just cobbled together and Emma was a lot more out of her depth and over thinking than usual. But what makes this book and the rest of the series great is still there here - the bonds/relationships between the characters.
Meghan never fails to satisfy. She has the ability, through her words, to make you genuinely care for the characters she creates. I know I will not be disappointed when she publishes a new book. To those who have not yet discovered her, I highly recommend! But you'll want to read her books in the order she intended.
Can I just... "Squee!!!!" for a moment. I mean seriously. Emma meeting Pearl and Scarlett is perfect and gaining an adopted family for Opal... I love this and am just swept away by MCD's talent and am just in awe. As always my absolute favorite author.
So many layers to this story and so many surprises. It if anyone ever thought they could get anything over on the Godfrey coven or the Five, they were sadly misinformed
Emma wants to be the best mom she can be, so she goes to support Opal's induction to the Godfrey coven. Another good entry ensues with heartbreaking injuries to a beloved character. A great installment!
I love her books, second time they blend the 2 series. Looking forward to more. Will be happy to see if the get all 5 together again finally. Then fish to meat the oracle, his sister.
Emma and Opal head out to a witches retreat so that Opal can join the Godfrey coven. Aidan and Paisley show up even though they were supposed to stay home. While there we get to see a few characters from the Dowser series (I love a good crossover). Things start to go downhill when Paisley does something she really shouldn’t have. This is book 5 of The Amplifier series. This particular story did not disappoint. But do they ever? I got a few laughs, worried what would happen and definitely shed a few tears.
All the books in the Adept universe are great & this one is no exception. It's a bit more sentimental than the previous Amplifiers & at this point Emma's untouchability in combat does take some of the sting out of threats. Still, I enjoyed the book & I admire how Meghan gives each of her narrators (here Emma, but we get one per series) a personality through descriptions of what they do/don't notice.