A review by ccgwalt
Boundary Born by Melissa F. Olson

4.0

So far this series just keeps getting better. It's an fun, action-packed urban fantasy with solid world-building and characters you care about.

In this, the third installment, Lex is trying to find the new normal after she tells her brother in law that his daughter is a "null." A null is a person who cancels out all magic around them. They are sought after for reasons both good and evil by other "old worlders" or people with magic abilities. Her brother-in-law, John, didn't react well to the knowledge of the old world or that his toddler daughter could be in danger. Lex is also navigating the growing relationship with the vampire, Quinn, and continuing to work for the head of the Colorado vampires, Maven. She's learned just about all she can about how her own magic works from her witch friends, Simon and Lily, and isn't sure where to go next for more information.

Into this mix comes someone who introduces himself as her father, causing confusion and suspicion. About the time her father shows up obviously wanting something from her, vampires start dying from belladonna poisoning and Maven is severely wounded in an attack. Lex and Quinn, along with Simon and Lily, help Maven while trying to figure out what's going on. If it becomes known Maven is out of commission, it's likely a struggle for power will ensue, which could lead to an all out war between the different old world factions--witches, vampires, and werewolves. Lex tries to figure out the puzzle of who and why, but keeps coming up a few pieces short. The author cleverly weaves the plot with more information and world-building, as well as more backstory for both Quinn and Lex. I loved the growth in Lex over this book, as she learns to accept who she, and also learns to "work smarter, not harder."

I've enjoyed Kate Rudd's narration from the beginning, and now in book three she simply is the voice for this series. In each books she has gotten stronger and her voices for all the characters are well done and easy to differentiate.