by: A.J. Locke
Series: Warrior of the Divine Sword
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Release Date: November 15, 2021
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Falling asleep for almost 300 years was never part of Pennrae’s plan.
Of course, when you’re a mercenary with magical abilities and defy a spellbinding prophecy…bad stuff happens.
Now, magic is long gone from the world. So Penn works as a karate instructor, trying very hard to dodge her hot, flirty, and super annoying colleague, Callan. All is well until a Jigori – a nightmarish magic-eating monster – shows up at a New York City street fair, forcing Penn to use her Shaper magic, which allows her to transform wood and metal into deadly weapons.
Now, the Jigori’s master has her scent, and their eye on stealing her 300 years of life. If they succeed, Penn succumbs to centuries of sleep again, and magic will be unleashed on a completely unprepared world.
And to add to her ridiculously complicated life, something isn’t quite right with Callan. Which she could figure out if it weren’t for that evil, apocalyptic plot she’s trying to stop. But Penn may not have a choice – Callan could be the secret weapon she needs to save the world…
Magic Dark, Magic Divine is the first book in A.J. Locke’s Warrior of the Divine Sword series. The book starts a little slow, as the groundwork for the story is slowly laid out. Pennrae “Penn” Linbry was once a warrior bounty hunter, living in the magic-era, roughly 300 years ago. In order to save her mother and sister, she went against a Diviner’s prophecy resulting in her being forced to sleep for 292 years. Since waking up eight years ago, she lives in what is now Brooklyn, New York, working as a karate instructor and moonlighting as private security. Penn pretty much keeps to herself and only has a couple of friends, Gideon Tophe, a huge magic-era enthusiast who owns a consignment shop, and his husband, Toji Shimizu, an RN.
For 300 years, magic has ceased to exist. That is until Penn’s past and present worlds collide when the three attend a magic-era street fair where dangerous magic is unleashed. Unfortunately, this marks the beginning of the end of Penn’s quiet solitary new life. Soon she finds herself in a race against time to save not only Gideon, Toji, and Callan Rieve, her workplace enemy turned lover, but the world.
I LOVED Magic Dark, Magic Divine! A.J. has written a story with so much depth. The characters are all multi-layered. The mystery surrounding what’s happening is gripping and intriguing. The action scenes are well written, making the scenes easy to visualize. Magic Dark, Magic Divine reads like a teen/new adult romance, except for one very adult scene. The story alludes to something happening in the future, but to me doesn’t necessarily end in a cliffhanger. Needless to say, I need more books in this series.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“Sometimes laughter is all we have.”
“Don’t ever underestimate the power of true friendship.”
“Actions spoke louder than words.”
“There are always choices.”
“There are consequences for every choice.”
“The power of friendship…it’s something else.”
**Personal Purchase**
Rating: 5
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The Warrior of the Divine Sword Series:
Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers releases April 17, 2023
Places to find A.J. Locke:
great cover!
ReplyDeleteIt is! It's even better in person.
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