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lolasreviews's review
4.0
I received a free copy from Tantor Audio and voluntarily reviewed it.
Magic Dark, Magic Divine is one of the best urban fantasy books I've read in a while. I really enjoyed this book and listening to it was an awesome experience. From the first chapter it swept me up in the story and kept me captivated as I wanted to find out what would happen next. The plot was very well done and I really liked how things were foreshadowed and fell in place. I was able to predict a few twists and also was surprised by some even though realizing afterwards how much it made sense.
I liked Penn and seeing how she handled everything. She starts the book off trying to keep the secret of her magic and that she's from 300 years in the past a secret from even her best friends. Then strange things start happening, magic users show up and lose control of their powers and the nightmarish Jigori who eats magic. Penn has a lot to deal with in this book and I liked seeing how she dealt with it. I though her reactions and emotions felt very real, the way she shows her emotions and struggles with what's happening, how she tries to deepen her relationship with those close to her and the way she deal with everything going on. I really felt for her at times as she has to go through some tough stuff. She is a tough warrior, but also has a soft side and really cares for the people around her. While the book has a save the world type of plot, I also liked how it was personal for Penn and it made sense who she got involved.
The side characters are great too and I liked how they play a role in the story as well. I was a bit conflicted about the romance set-up, but I liked how Penn quickly realizes she was wrong about Callan when she gets to know him better and they grow closer. I liked seeing how their romance developed.
The world building was so well done and unique. I liked how the book sticks with 4 different magic classes and then there is dark magic as well. I liked learning about the magic era and also how that past is part of the world today. It made the world feel fresh and unique. I enjoyed learning more about how the different types of magic work and how magic users used their magic. There were also some interesting magic creatures.
I really enjoyed listening to this one. The narrator fit the book well and I really liked how she did everyone's voices. She had quite the variety of voices for the characters and that made every character come even more alive.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book! This is one of the best urban fantasy books I've read in a while and I liked the unique take on magic. The plot was great with enough foreshadowing that later twists and reveals made sense. I liked Penn as great main character and I enjoyed reading about her and seeing how she handled everything. The side characters are great too and I liked the romance. The world building really stood out to me, it felt fresh and unique and I liked how the world had 4 different types of magic and how the magic era left it's impact in the modern day world. The narrator fit the book well and she had quite the variety of voices for the different characters. I really enjoyed listening to this book.
Magic Dark, Magic Divine is one of the best urban fantasy books I've read in a while. I really enjoyed this book and listening to it was an awesome experience. From the first chapter it swept me up in the story and kept me captivated as I wanted to find out what would happen next. The plot was very well done and I really liked how things were foreshadowed and fell in place. I was able to predict a few twists and also was surprised by some even though realizing afterwards how much it made sense.
I liked Penn and seeing how she handled everything. She starts the book off trying to keep the secret of her magic and that she's from 300 years in the past a secret from even her best friends. Then strange things start happening, magic users show up and lose control of their powers and the nightmarish Jigori who eats magic. Penn has a lot to deal with in this book and I liked seeing how she dealt with it. I though her reactions and emotions felt very real, the way she shows her emotions and struggles with what's happening, how she tries to deepen her relationship with those close to her and the way she deal with everything going on. I really felt for her at times as she has to go through some tough stuff. She is a tough warrior, but also has a soft side and really cares for the people around her. While the book has a save the world type of plot, I also liked how it was personal for Penn and it made sense who she got involved.
The side characters are great too and I liked how they play a role in the story as well. I was a bit conflicted about the romance set-up, but I liked how Penn quickly realizes she was wrong about Callan when she gets to know him better and they grow closer. I liked seeing how their romance developed.
The world building was so well done and unique. I liked how the book sticks with 4 different magic classes and then there is dark magic as well. I liked learning about the magic era and also how that past is part of the world today. It made the world feel fresh and unique. I enjoyed learning more about how the different types of magic work and how magic users used their magic. There were also some interesting magic creatures.
I really enjoyed listening to this one. The narrator fit the book well and I really liked how she did everyone's voices. She had quite the variety of voices for the characters and that made every character come even more alive.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book! This is one of the best urban fantasy books I've read in a while and I liked the unique take on magic. The plot was great with enough foreshadowing that later twists and reveals made sense. I liked Penn as great main character and I enjoyed reading about her and seeing how she handled everything. The side characters are great too and I liked the romance. The world building really stood out to me, it felt fresh and unique and I liked how the world had 4 different types of magic and how the magic era left it's impact in the modern day world. The narrator fit the book well and she had quite the variety of voices for the different characters. I really enjoyed listening to this book.
charlie_smiles's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cameo's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tessa_b's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ashthebookdragon's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The pacing had some issues. I feel like some parts of the book needed to have more time between the next event or even fleshed out a bit more. The romance needed to be fleshed out as well. I like romantic relationships to show characters slowly fall for each other and Penn and Callan fell for each other too quickly. The world building of the magic era was great and could be a bit info dumpy but overall I enjoyed this book.
bklynbookbelle's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is everything I’ve wanted in an adult fantasy novel!! Magic, mystery, black folk, adventure, and a little heated fellowship!!!!
Y’all need to read this!!!!
Y’all need to read this!!!!
aliciasplendeur's review
4.0
Looking for a fantasy? I loved every single character and the world this author built was rich and descriptions were easy for my mind to conjure as I read. Go get this book!
Pennrae has magic abilities something that once existed in this world but her actions had consequences she hadn't considered and she found herself suddenly 300 years later to find the world had drastically changed.
She's working as a karate instructor and other than her best friend and his husband she doesn't try to form too many attachments. Especially her colleague Callan. He's hot and annoying.
Things are going well until a magic-eating monster shows up forcing Penn to use the magic she's kept hidden for so long.
That's all you get, go read the book.
Thanks so much to Entangled, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC review.
Working on review
Pennrae has magic abilities something that once existed in this world but her actions had consequences she hadn't considered and she found herself suddenly 300 years later to find the world had drastically changed.
She's working as a karate instructor and other than her best friend and his husband she doesn't try to form too many attachments. Especially her colleague Callan. He's hot and annoying.
Things are going well until a magic-eating monster shows up forcing Penn to use the magic she's kept hidden for so long.
That's all you get, go read the book.
Thanks so much to Entangled, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC review.
Working on review
readlovelisten's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Pennrae is a shaper magic warrior and bounty hunter from the magic era, who wakes up in the future after a 300-year slumber after she went against a Diviner’s card reading during Auraxa Reiv, a rare celestial alignment. In the modern era, she is in NYC, and the magic is gone, or is it? Between trying to keep a low profile, save the world from an apocalyptic end, and a budding, new love interest you will be entertained. I loved this book for its magic systems, world-building, her Circoux familiar named Ashe, the found family, magical time travel, and adventure.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
A good start for a new urban fantasy series: it's gripping, entertaining and well written.
I like the humorous touch, the action packed plot and the world building.
Can't wait to read the next book in this series as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I like the humorous touch, the action packed plot and the world building.
Can't wait to read the next book in this series as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
3.0
There is a lot to appreciate about Magic Dark, Magic Divine. Not least of which is the awesome cover. The main character is likeable. The world is creative and Locke has obviously put a lot of thought into it. The side characters are fun. And I really appreciate the way they're all immigrants of one sort or another. One is a castaway in time, another an adoptee, a third the son of actual geographic immigration, the fourth a refugee from a secret, cloistered culture. They're all outsiders of a sort and, partly as a result, the found-family aspect of the book is very strong.
However, I need you to understand that I am a binger. When I read a book or series I like to do it in as few sittings as possible, one being the most ideal. So, when I tell you that I had to TWICE check this audiobook out from the library (21 days each time) before I managed to finish it, you should understand this to mean I was super disengaged. It took me almost a month to finish this book and I just wasn't bothered that I'd not finished it for most of that time.
I think the biggest issue for me was boredom. The book felt overly long and the pacing off. As I said, Locke obviously put a lot of thought into the magic systems and mystical creatures, etc. But all the way up to the end of the book the reader is still being told this leather comes from such and such animal, etc. It felt like the world-building never quite finished. Then, the villain (who had been a mere shadow throughout) was defeated quite anti-climatically and everything wrapped up pretty as a picture.
It wasn't necessarily bad, just too slow for me, I think. In a sense, I set myself up for the disappointment. I didn't recognize the author as someone I've read before (way back in 2016). I didn't get along with that last book either.
However, I need you to understand that I am a binger. When I read a book or series I like to do it in as few sittings as possible, one being the most ideal. So, when I tell you that I had to TWICE check this audiobook out from the library (21 days each time) before I managed to finish it, you should understand this to mean I was super disengaged. It took me almost a month to finish this book and I just wasn't bothered that I'd not finished it for most of that time.
I think the biggest issue for me was boredom. The book felt overly long and the pacing off. As I said, Locke obviously put a lot of thought into the magic systems and mystical creatures, etc. But all the way up to the end of the book the reader is still being told this leather comes from such and such animal, etc. It felt like the world-building never quite finished. Then, the villain (who had been a mere shadow throughout) was defeated quite anti-climatically and everything wrapped up pretty as a picture.
It wasn't necessarily bad, just too slow for me, I think. In a sense, I set myself up for the disappointment. I didn't recognize the author as someone I've read before (way back in 2016). I didn't get along with that last book either.