Review: Magic on the Storm

Devon Monk
Urban Fantasy
344 pages
Allie Beckstrom #4
Chapter 1
ROC/Penguin Usa 


Synopsis:
Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path...



Review: 
Allie wears many hats, assumes many different roles, and she's struggling to understand how to juggle all her new responsibilities and how best to protect the ones she cares about. Her positions are starting to dangerously bleed the lines of one another, leaving Allie in sticky situations time and time again. She's the new leader for the city's Hounds; looking out for them and providing safe harbor in the warehouse she's leasing.  She's also a member of the Authority now, the secret ancient society that act as governing body set out to protect the city.  But the Hounds can't know about the Authority and the power that they possess.  She's also still a Hound herself, working for the Merc, the magical division of the police who also can't know about the presence of the Authority.  And oh yeah, she's still simply a daughter, and soon to be sister to her half brother or sister, and a girlfriend to Zayvion Jones.  The fact that she can even keep all her roles straight is why she's one of my favorite superheroes. Monk expertly blends all the different parts of Allie's crazy, mixed-up life into a joyride of fights and narrow misses.  


Allie and Zayvion's lover/mentor relationship it at a new level this time around. And I love where they're at. Allie is more open with her emotions, showing more of her feminine side. Don't worry she's still a kick-ass warrior, but her sharp edges are starting to dull just a tiny bit.  And Zayvion, even though still all-together mysterious, shows his affections and his emotions to Allie over and over again throughout this book.  Their admiration and respect for one another is profound and makes my heart pound even without wild, steamy loves scenes.  They're a joy to watch together.


Monk's skillful plot deviously keeps you occupied with non-stop action and character involvement, making some of the twists and surprises even more twisty. The plot keeps you constantly involved and eager for answers.  And Monk's fight scenes remain some of the best I've ever read, and are maybe my favorite part of the story.  The way she pulls all the characters together and creates balance while at the same time tearing everything to shreds is simply awe-inspiring. I know that I said the major fight scene in her last book was my favorite, but this battle might have taken the #1 spot.  I felt as if I was on the edge of the battlefield, wide-eyed and terrified.  And the ending will leave you with so many questions you'll be DESPERATE for the next book. 


Bottom Line: Monk has kept the series fresh again by diving into the world of the Authority and readers will be eager to see what happens when they pull back the curtain.


4 stars