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adowling's review against another edition
4.0
I cannot read this series fast enough. It started off kind of meh, but after I finished the second book I couldnt stop. The character development, relationship dynamics, the overall story telling and scene setting just keep getting better.
maferg01's review against another edition
5.0
Holy crap I can't believe that just happened! I can't wait for the next one. Needless to say I won't be waiting at all to start Magic Without Mercy. This was a complete crazy next step for the series and I love where it is going. Devon Monk keeps her readers on their toes and waiting for more.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
3.0
OK. I'm getting a little sick of the never ending story. This isn't a series of books. It's one long telenovella in print. What I'd like to see very soon:
- Some conclusion to the never ending story. OK, that's probably not going to happen. How about this instead?
- A more active role by some female characters other than Allie? OK, her best friend is a woman, but she only gets trotted out occasionally and doesn't play a major role. There's another woman, a mother of one of Allie's magic using friends, who's active, but doesn't have a discernible personality. Usually, it's Allie fighting next to three or four boys. Isn't there room for another women amidst Allie's boy club?
- A little less battering. How is it that so much damage gets done to these people without ongoing effects? Sure, they have scars and magic helps heal them. But don't you think that with concussion / gun wound / coma / broken limbs / hole in your heart, you'd need to go into rehab for a while?
This trope -- cranky woman, battered, bruised, but continuing to fight -- is popular right now and, while admirable for showing strong, determined women, I'm getting a little worried about the preoccupation with bodily damage.
- Some conclusion to the never ending story. OK, that's probably not going to happen. How about this instead?
- A more active role by some female characters other than Allie? OK, her best friend is a woman, but she only gets trotted out occasionally and doesn't play a major role. There's another woman, a mother of one of Allie's magic using friends, who's active, but doesn't have a discernible personality. Usually, it's Allie fighting next to three or four boys. Isn't there room for another women amidst Allie's boy club?
- A little less battering. How is it that so much damage gets done to these people without ongoing effects? Sure, they have scars and magic helps heal them. But don't you think that with concussion / gun wound / coma / broken limbs / hole in your heart, you'd need to go into rehab for a while?
This trope -- cranky woman, battered, bruised, but continuing to fight -- is popular right now and, while admirable for showing strong, determined women, I'm getting a little worried about the preoccupation with bodily damage.
hjhill_55's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
We are definitely at the point of the series you need to have read the previous books, and people are choosing sides and nobody has all the information. I look forward to reading the next one. Fantastic binge reads.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Book 7 of an ongoing series that I read for the Endeavour Award. Definitely one of the best two that I've read (I think the other was book 4). This was primarily a simple book and not overly long. For the first 100 pages pretty much nothing happens - except for the main character getting a chance to breathe and touching in with lots of the supporting characters - though not all. And then one thing happens that explains a lot of where the last 3 books had been going. And then it was a race to the end of the book. 4.5 of 5. Good enough that I finally want to go back and read book 1.
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
If you have not read the first 6 books I think you would be a bit lost trying to start at book 7 MAGIC ON THE LINE. There is a lot of back story that you would have missed and needed to follow along with everything. The Allie Beckstrom series is fantastic though so you wouldn't be disappointed in starting it. All the books up to date have been fast paced, full of action, adventure and interesting story line's to keep you coming back for more.
As always I really enjoyed MAGIC ON THE LINE. It was a great continuation of the series. So much has happened to Allie in such a short time and things really kick up another notch by the end of the book. Zayvion and Allie continue to fit well together. There is a point in the book that he goes completely against what he has always said and stands beside Allie and his friends. I cant get enough of Allie's friends specifically Shame and Terric. Shame although in a funk continues to be someone that is always there when he is needed. Terric always surprises me with what he will put up with and his loyalty. Allie's father being in her head is kinda starting to grow on me. I still don't like him but he sure ends up helping out a lot in moments of need. I'm still really upset with the fact that Allie doesn't have her personal magic. I don't know why it gets to me so much but its a constant thought with me and I really want her to get it back. The book ends with Allie and her closest friends being in a pretty bad position. There is a lot to do to get there lives back and I'm going to be along for the new ride.
As always I really enjoyed MAGIC ON THE LINE. It was a great continuation of the series. So much has happened to Allie in such a short time and things really kick up another notch by the end of the book. Zayvion and Allie continue to fit well together. There is a point in the book that he goes completely against what he has always said and stands beside Allie and his friends. I cant get enough of Allie's friends specifically Shame and Terric. Shame although in a funk continues to be someone that is always there when he is needed. Terric always surprises me with what he will put up with and his loyalty. Allie's father being in her head is kinda starting to grow on me. I still don't like him but he sure ends up helping out a lot in moments of need. I'm still really upset with the fact that Allie doesn't have her personal magic. I don't know why it gets to me so much but its a constant thought with me and I really want her to get it back. The book ends with Allie and her closest friends being in a pretty bad position. There is a lot to do to get there lives back and I'm going to be along for the new ride.
rclz's review against another edition
5.0
This is the seventh book in Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series and like all the rest in this series it's keeper. My only quibble and this is a small one is she left it hanging and the next one's not out until April 2012. Loved this book and can't wait to see what happens next.
drey72's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been meaning to pick this one up, but either haven’t found the time or been in the mood (yeah, weird, I know!)… But I did, and boy was there a lot to go through. Now I’m anxiously awaiting Magic Without Mercy, due out next April. Hurry up already!
drey’s thoughts:
Devon Monk sure packed this seventh installment with lots of action and tension. After the craziness that was Magic on the Hunt, the Authority has a new guy in town to clean things up and set things straight. Only thing is, will he?
Allie doesn’t have time to wonder about that though, as people start dying – and the Authority starts culling the herd. Not only is the new boss cleaning house, he’s making questionable decisions and ignoring the magic-related deaths. So what else is a girl supposed to do but look into things? Which Allie does, of course.
What she finds is enough to scare any magic user, and should scare all residents of Portland. But when she reaches out for help, she finds instead that she’s been framed for a multitude of sins. And there’s no help coming. So, is anyone surprised when Allie decides that things that need doing can’t wait? No, me either.
I like Allie. I like her stance and her convictions. I like that she cares about a gargoyle. I like that she cares about her friends. And I want to know where she’s going next. Devon Monk did something right with this one, hooking you in quickly and keeping you turning those pages until you run out of them. I haven’t loved all prior six books, but I did thoroughly enjoy Magic on the Line.
drey’s rating: Excellent!
drey’s thoughts:
Devon Monk sure packed this seventh installment with lots of action and tension. After the craziness that was Magic on the Hunt, the Authority has a new guy in town to clean things up and set things straight. Only thing is, will he?
Allie doesn’t have time to wonder about that though, as people start dying – and the Authority starts culling the herd. Not only is the new boss cleaning house, he’s making questionable decisions and ignoring the magic-related deaths. So what else is a girl supposed to do but look into things? Which Allie does, of course.
What she finds is enough to scare any magic user, and should scare all residents of Portland. But when she reaches out for help, she finds instead that she’s been framed for a multitude of sins. And there’s no help coming. So, is anyone surprised when Allie decides that things that need doing can’t wait? No, me either.
I like Allie. I like her stance and her convictions. I like that she cares about a gargoyle. I like that she cares about her friends. And I want to know where she’s going next. Devon Monk did something right with this one, hooking you in quickly and keeping you turning those pages until you run out of them. I haven’t loved all prior six books, but I did thoroughly enjoy Magic on the Line.
drey’s rating: Excellent!
nerdywerewolf's review against another edition
5.0
A lot happened in this book that was very obvious groundwork for a big battle to come. What's perplexing (in the best way) is that it didn't *feel* that way when I was reading it. It didn't give that semi-boring 'middle-book' impression. I don't really know how to explain it better. I love books that have a lot of action: explosions, all-out-brawls, life-or-death-let's-save-the-world-stuff. While this installment had little of that, it was compelling to the last page. Devon Monk is definitely one of my very favorite authors.