Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Dime Store Magic
***** Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong. Contemporary fantasy.
This is the third book in the "Women of the Otherworld" series. Following events in the previous book, Stolen, witch Paige Winterbourne has her hands full as guardian to a super-powerful thirteen-year-old, Savannah, and head of a coven that's more interested in safety and secrecy than anything else.
When we first met Paige in Stolen, she was young, arrogant, and hot-headed. She's only a year older here, but her responsibilities have matured her. Which is a good thing: Savannah is arrogant and hot-headed enough for both of them.
But then Leah, the half-demon who killed Paige's mother, shows up with a custody suit on behalf of a sorcerer claiming to be Savannah's father. Sorcerers and witches are ancient enemies, and when Paige tries to counter the suit by bringing in a human lawyer, the sorcerer's cabal proceeds to destroy her life.
Since the witches in the coven won't help, Paige is forced to accept the help of a sorcerer/lawyer who's heir to another cabal, Lucas Cortez.
There's so much going on here, I've barely scratched the surface. It's definitely a page-turner. The villains are clever, and Paige and Lucas have to be clever in return--it's not an easy or easily predicted victory.
And we learn more about the Otherworld as well--in particular, about the witches and the sorcerers and the difference between their spells, and the source of their enmity.
I could feel Paige's frustration with the coven, and enjoyed how as the story progressed, she had all her support taken away from her, a bit at a time. Nothing like stripping away a heroine's support to show what she's really made of.
Lucas is a fascinating character as well, and I'm looking forward to learning more about him in the next book, which is on my TBB (to be bought) list.
...more
Categories: Books, 5stars, ContemporaryFantasy
Labels: 5 stars, books, ContemporaryFantasy
