Tag: tentacles-tails-and-other-squishies • BookLikes

review 2017-03-24 11:36

This author has skills! Urban fantasy lovers might want to check it out

SheReadsALot...seriously. — feeling star

4.5 HEARTS--I knew this author's first novel would be great. It was magical.

This isn't my first T.J. Nichols; all previous works were urban fantasy/ paranormal short stories: The Vampire's Dinner and A Wolf's Resistance . Both works had great world building and paranormal ideas. The same can be said for Warlock in Training. But what I wanted to see is what the author could do with something novel length.

Not disappointed.

Earth has changed, new countries have formed and magic is known. Well I should say warlocks and wizards are real on Earth, or Humanside. The Earth is continuing to change, forget global warming, it's approaching an ice age. Most of the population doesn't know what the cause is for it. Warlocks are believed to be the saviors to stop it, But what they don't want people to know is they're the culprits. Magic exists in Humanside and Demonside, a second world where demons and other paranormal beings live. Demonside is experiencing extreme global warming, the world turning into a desert, water is scarce. Do these changes share something in common?

Wizards practice magic without using demons. Warlocks on the other hand drain demons for their magic to be more power, have stronger magic. Wizards are looked down on in the magical society. Warlocks are the upper echelon, the 1% if you will.

Nineteen year old ginger Angus Donohue doesn't want to be a warlock, despite his prestigious warlock family history. His father is forced him to attend warlock college and threatened him not embarrass the family name or him. Angus doesn't even want to summon a demon during a requisite class and tries to fail.

And that's where the magic begins.

Enter demon Saka (I am 1000% for him). He chooses Angus despite Angus trying to fail and takes him to Demonside across the void (the bridge between the two worlds). Points to the story being dual POV. Both worlds are too interesting not to immerse yourself in.

The cover is so fitting! Because I think Angus has the potential to be the bridge.

Saka is a demon mage and is trying to help his world. He's smart, calm and wicked with a knife. He shows Angus there is more to life and magic. I couldn't help but imagine Saka something like Hellboy (black horns instead, no hair, the similar skin tone)

I always try to find a Hellboy in demons I read about. LOL

Saka teaches different types of magic: soul, blood and sex. Saka's really great at the last two.

A lot of urban fantasy, tends to have an alpha type as the lead. Not the case in Warlock in Training. Angus is nineteen and reads nineteen - unsure of himself, still learning his place in the world, exploring relationships with potential partners. But he's not the typical teenager. Demonside helps open his eyes.

There is a battle between two magical worlds that felt similar to what the political and global feel is right now. The 1% is ruining both worlds, damn the results as long as they're in power. It's magical politics. People are dying for a cause that does not benefit the greater good. The ones in charge lie to the masses and attacks any form of resistance.

But there is a resistance.

And it's growing.

The book ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. There are loose threads that need to be answered. Such as who really is in charge? Why the harvesting of so much power? The suspense is well written.

Before jumping all over this, I feel I should warn potential readers of possible triggers/deal breakers: There are romantic undertones rather than a defined romance. Both main characters have sex with other people (But I feel I should explain demons have different views on 'relationships' - monogamy is not the norm,) There were brief MF moments. (Also, didn't mind. The moments were a blip on the entire scale of things) Cutting is practiced for magical purposes.

How erotic does this get? There is on page sex but don't expect pages of a drawn out sex scene. (Quite happy about that, it can be a chore to read drawn out pages) The relationship between Saka and Angus is still forming, is kinda fluid. There is another character that has a potential of maybe making this a love/lust triangle. It's not romantic. More as a means to an end but there is potential for deeper feelings. Sex on Demonside can be and is used for ritualistic needs. If you are a reader who needs the one and only, I would say to approach with caution. Because the way the sex, relationship and openness is written fits the characters. And they struggle. But it's secondary to the world building, action and suspense.

I want to rate this all the hearts but I have tiny issues, pretty minor. Technically, the story reads well. But I feel some of the chapters ended in odd spots. I like the fact the chapters aren't overly long but some ended with where it could have just combined with half of the next chapter for better impact.

But I see this book as the foundation for more to come. War is approaching. What side are you on? Will the resistance win?

Bonus was that this book stars my favorite paranormal beings: DEMONS!

And a ginger warlock! It was like it was written just for me. ;P

Fans of urban fantasy should definitely check this series out because the world building is tops. The author obvious is an urban fantasy fan and it shows in their work. The first third is mostly building. The other two thirds are fast paced and filled with intrigue. My heart started to crumble in the last 5-8% but the author pulled it through.

I am so there for this series! And I'm definitely a fan of this author after this. It's 3 out of 3 for me!

Recommended.

A copy provided for an honest review.

review 2016-05-04 22:53

Mages, Haldur and Vyr...Oh My!

SheReadsALot...seriously. — feeling happy

A Hearts On Fire Review

3.75 Hearts--Mages, Haldur and Vyr...Oh My!

Aundrea Singer's "Blood For Magic" is a high fantasy, action packed tale that reads like it was written by a gamer. There is so much magic, blood and violence in this novel. It wasn't necessarily dark but it got brutal in some sections.

Tarquin is the Mage of the Realm in a fantasy land called Kelor. He's only twenty and is the top mage due to his mother's death. Mages have to sacrifice their blood as payment to wield their magic. Poor Tarquin isn't a fan of having to cut himself over and over again, but it was what he has to do to in order to protect his country and city. While on the hunt for a ravaging beast that has been attacking a nearby town, he and his cousin Ainya are attacked be the most feared beast called a haldur. And they are saved by a mute solider of origins unknown who Tarquin and his cousin nicknamed Five. Tarquin is also son of the current queen by marriage so his royal ties run deep. He has a sick brother he tries to save, while preparing for attacks and falling in love with Five.

This high fantasy story drops the reader directly into the action from the first chapter. I should warn if blood and violence isn't your thing, you might not enjoy as much. I thought the world of Kelor was cool! From the matriarchal society (shout out for the non-specific gender roles!) to the different species (*coughs*dragons*coughs*) to the way magic is practiced (mage magic is cool minus the sharp objects things) I was enthralled. And it takes skill to emote for a character who can't speak in a book. Five was my fave character...even if most of the book the mystery of what type of species Five was loomed in the background.

The romance takes a backseat to the action, with the way of the pacing, it was more insta-lovey. I tend to let that slide when lives are on the line and the world could possibly end as the main characters know it. But a little more tender times between the men and less talking about Tarquin's thoughts on things that already happened wouldn't have been bad.

You know when a story is solid but it just needs some tightening up in a few areas? Maybe a re-edit? The parts where a lull slowed the fast pace the story started with, like fighting and action, then we get Tarquin going into detail of mage history and I feel some parts could have been edited out.

Another thing that I will lump into my gripe on why this story isn't a full 4 hearts or better: too many names, species and information about each faction to keep track of. If there was ever a book that could've benefited from a glossary to help the reader know who is who and what is what. I won't complain about the different character names but when paired with all the magical beings, it was a lot. The author seemed to know what was going on, but some parts didn't relay the information quick enough to get the full extent of what was happening. And the odd names and species were starting to meld in a couple of places.

The epilogue was good to certain point and then it dragged a little. Same with the climax of the story, it got bogged down by extra words and not enough explanations. It ended in a weird spot for me. But hooray for the HEA and solving the mystery of Five.

(I wonder if there might be a sequel that could jump off from this. I think it could. There is so much more to this world the author created.)

Overall, the imagination was there, the key elements that I as a high fantasy lover enjoy were there. Just some tightening up, more romance times (sex fiends this book won't be for you either - it's barely a blip and more about the feels) and a glossary could have made this a stellar read for me.

Recommended for high fantasy lovers who could possibly be gamers too! ;)

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