Magic Without Mercy (Allie Beckstrom, #8)

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Magic Without Mercy (Allie Beckstrom #8)

by Devon Monk (Goodreads Author)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 1,283 ratings · 106 reviews

Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic, but she’s never faced anything like this.

Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may have left the only cure in the hands of a madman. Hunted by the Authority–the secret council that enforces magic’s laws–wanted by the police, and unab...more

Paperback, 344 pages

Published April 3rd 2012 by Roc

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Apr 21, 2012 Brandi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I love this series. It's one that had snuck up on me, and I'm really not sure why. The world building is genius, the characters wonderfully mysterious, the adventures top notch, but it wasn't until about book 4 that I really clued into how much I looked forward to release day. Being at book eight I am so pleased to report that this series is not stagnant, and there is nary a book to let us down! ~~I'm talking to YOU Kim Harrison and Charlain Harris!!~~

In this one magic has somehow become poisoned, a...more I love this series. It's one that had snuck up on me, and I'm really not sure why. The world building is genius, the characters wonderfully mysterious, the adventures top notch, but it wasn't until about book 4 that I really clued into how much I looked forward to release day. Being at book eight I am so pleased to report that this series is not stagnant, and there is nary a book to let us down! ~~I'm talking to YOU Kim Harrison and Charlain Harris!!~~

In this one magic has somehow become poisoned, and not only is Allie and the crew the only ones even attempting to find a cure, but they're the only ones who even believe there's a problem! Much of this story centers around the inevitable drama that such a situation would put them all in, but we are given several really heartfelt moments. This one is between Maeve and Allie.
"Ah, Allie." She shook her head, the corners of her eyes glittering with tears. "There's a reason I never had a daughter. It's so there'd be room in my heart for you."

Of course Shame and Terric provide massive amounts of awesome to my life and this little snippet of them giving Allie shit was priceless! "Or she could try empty threats," Terric suggested.
"What," Shame said, "like 'I'll sic my big scary pet gargoyle on you after my boyfriend and a mentally disabled ghost find the key to start his engine'?"
"It'd make me want to avoid eye contact with her," Terric said. "That's something, right?"
"Sure it is," Shame said. "Almost like being invisible. Was that your plan? Being so crazy no one would come near you?"
Shame and Terric are absolutely outstanding in this installment, and I think that perhaps they shined the brightest this time. I've long been a fan of Shame's but I became a huge fan of Terric too, and of course Allie and Zay were great, but Stotts was an asshole and Allie should have let Zay at least punch him.

When I think about this series I think of original magic(at least I haven't read anything like it), fantastic world building, perfect cast of characters, and entertainment at it's finest. I push this series on people almost, if not AS hard, as I push the Downside series, and I find Devon Monk to be a breath of fresh air in a saturated genre. (less)

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May 02, 2012 Ferdy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Some spoilers

After Allie killed the corrupt leader of the Authority - Bartholomew Wray, she along with her friends are on the run. There's a lot Allie has to deal with: she's wanted by the police and the Authority, her friend Davy is dying, Portland's magic has been poisoned and the Veiled are infecting and killing people. Allie, Zay, Shame and co work together to try and find a solution to fix the magic all whilst trying to avoid the bad guys.

The Good

-The fight scenes and actions are well writt...more Some spoilers

After Allie killed the corrupt leader of the Authority - Bartholomew Wray, she along with her friends are on the run. There's a lot Allie has to deal with: she's wanted by the police and the Authority, her friend Davy is dying, Portland's magic has been poisoned and the Veiled are infecting and killing people. Allie, Zay, Shame and co work together to try and find a solution to fix the magic all whilst trying to avoid the bad guys.

The Good

-The fight scenes and actions are well written and very entertaining. I just wish Allie would join in more instead of just watching. Even if she's lost her magic she could still join in the fight instead of standing on the sidelines doing nothing but watching.
-Allie's relationship and banter with her dad is interesting and I can't wait to find out who's side he's truly on. I did cringe a few times thinking about whether her dad was aware of her being in the shower and also if he could hear her and Zay getting smexy.
-I love the worldbuilding and the magic in the Allie Beckstrom series.
-The side characters are amazing - Shame, Collins, Terric, Davy and co. I adore Shame on his own and even more when he's having his charged interactions with Terric. My favourite scene was after him and Terric used magic together and reading Terric's reaction to it.

The Not So Good

-I found Allie to be quite annoying, bossy and a little judgemental. Her transition to leader and everyone's acceptance of it just came out of nowhere. Her taking charge of the Hounds is fine but why Zay, Shame, Maeve and co let her take the lead is beyond me. Up until a few months ago she was being mentored by Victor/Maeve/Hayden and she knew very little about the Authority..so it just doesn't ring true that the more experienced and knowledgable members of the Authority would defer to her.
-All Allie seemed to do was state the obvious, boss everyone around and watch whilst other people were fighting. For some bizarre reason Allie thinks that the fight with the corrupt Authority is only her fight. If anything it's less her fight than everyone else's since she's so new to the Authority.
-Nothing seems to have been revealed in this book. There's only 1 book left and we still don't know about Allie's past, her missing memories, how her father lost part of his soul, why she was closed, why she keeps losing her memories, her possible past relationship to Collins, Allie's mother - why she left and where she's been, how magic was poisoned, why Allie had extra magic in her and why she lost her magic after being attacked by the Veiled, what Allie's dad did to Allie when she was younger and what his endgame is. There's so much that needs to be addressed in the last book and I'm doubtful that it'll be done in a satisfactory way, if at all.
-I got tired of hearing about Zay's eyes, how zen and calm he is and how gorgeous Allie thinks he is. Allie also goes on and on about everyone's magic being so powerful, beautiful and unique..if everyone is so skilled and wondeful in magic - I really don't get why Allie was constantly in awe whenever someone cast magic.
-The romance between Allie and Zay..I've liked them less and less as a couple with each book. For most of this book Allie acted like a fussy, overprotective mother towards Zay. It also comes across that Allie loves Zay more than he does her (though it's clear that they both love each other) because of how much she's risked and given up for him and the amount she thinks and worries about him. At one point Allie even wonders if she'll ever fully have Zay's heart..Zay still loves Chase and as he said in the last book he always will..so it looks like Allie will always have to share Zay's heart with his dead ex-girlfriend. Personally, I can't root for a couple or like a couple that much when either the hero/heroine have already had a love of their life..it just makes the love between the hero and heroine less special.
-The storyline for the most part just seems to go round and round in circles.. though the last 1/4 was excellent. Most of the book was just similar to previous installments: Allie and co investigate something or other, they fight bad guys, someone gets hurt, they recover, rinse and repeat. I would have liked if Allie found out more about herself, her memories and start to piece together her life so it's all set up for the last book. I honestly now think that they won't be enough room in the last book for Allie to find out about her past.

Even though this installment wasn't as good for me as Magic on the Line (which I loved), I still enjoyed it overall. And I'm looking forward to the last book to see how everything plays out. (less)

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Apr 30, 2012 Tami rated it 5 of 5 stars

SPOILERS!!!!

I don't really know what to say about this book. The action is great, but still not much resolved. PLUS now we had poisoned magic to the problems. I think it's strange that all of the sudden Allie is the one calling all the shots. I still can't figure out how that seemed to have happened. I mean it works great for her as far as the Hounds are concerned, but with the Authority business, it just doesn't make sense. I do however, admire her take charge attitude. She seems to ask more of...more SPOILERS!!!!

I don't really know what to say about this book. The action is great, but still not much resolved. PLUS now we had poisoned magic to the problems. I think it's strange that all of the sudden Allie is the one calling all the shots. I still can't figure out how that seemed to have happened. I mean it works great for her as far as the Hounds are concerned, but with the Authority business, it just doesn't make sense. I do however, admire her take charge attitude. She seems to ask more of the right questions and has improved her 'figure shit out' skills.

Oh and STILL Zay and Allie have a mostly physical type of relationship.. At this point in the type of relationship the two of them have, I'd HAVE to have some answers. So far Allie seems content with some occasional soul exchange and good sex. Disappointing for her character.

Now for the actual plot. I love the idea that magic has been poisoned. I actually like how Allie and her father work together in this book. I love that she killed Bartholemew, I love the way all the fighting went down, I love that Zay turned rebel, I love how Shame and Terric come closer, and I love that the hounds were involved no questions asked. I love how close Maeve and Allie got. I totally expected the evil duo to take over the Overseer. That was a bit too predictable. I guessed that as soon as they realized the duo was no longer in Portland, a book ago. (can't wait to see how that turns out).. Glad Davy and Sunny are an item, good riddens to Tomi. Sucks that he got so sick.. Kinda cool what he turned into because of it. Shame is a BAD ASS!! LOVE HIM..!! Victor is way better a character than I though. I liked him before, but much more now. And WHO is this Collins guy, and why does he seem to 'know' Allie.? And WHY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IS ALLIE STILL NOT ASKING HER FATHER ABOUT HER MEMORIES!?!?!?!?!? Why don't we ever meet any of Allies ex boyfriends? Lets show Zay what a little jealousy feels like for a change. Love the usage of Rock, Paper Scissors.. Hilarious.. And the Pooh News.. hahahaha... Love the Pooh usage and references..

OH.. almost forgot.. What was the deal with Allie having to trade her 'inner magic' for Zay's soul in Magic at the Gate? STILL don't know why that happened. There was absolutely no significance to it all, other than to make things even MORE difficult for Allie (and to give her a death mark that proves useful, but still) Mikhail wanted her magic REALLY BAD, and then gave it to a woman (probably Sedra) inside death. BUT WHY?!!!

Overall, my favorite I think so far in the series. Still a huge fan and can't wait for the next release.(less)

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Apr 05, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

Magic Without Mercy is the eight installment in Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series. It really does a phenomenal job setting up the ninth and final book due out in November of this year. *takes a moment to try not to panic about the series coming to an end in just a few short months…deep breath…deep breath…*

This time around Allie and her loyal friends from the Authority are being hunted by…well pretty much by everyone. You see, there was a big misunderst...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, urban-fantasy, borrowed-library

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*Review coming*

Magic Without Mercy (Allie Beckstrom # 8) finds our protagonist, Allison Beckstrom, hunted by the Authority (the secret council that enforces magic’s laws) after she killed Bartholomew Wray. She’s wanted by the police for supposedly embezzling money from her own company which was fabricated by the Wray in an attempt to destroy her own father’s work and to keep Allie in check.

Magic has taken a severe toll on Allie’s body from years of abuse and bein...more

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May 28, 2013 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: allie-beckstrom

I'm horrible at summaries so I'll head straight into the review.

Warning, spoilers ahead...

What I liked:

Shame & Terric - As usual, the duo is my favorite part of the book. The mutual sacrifice was awesome and touching. Hopefully, Shame will stop being so stubborn about their bond but I doubt it.

The unclosing of Cody & Collins - They have their memories back but are they going to be as dangerous as they previously were? Collins is uber-creepy. Victor has the right idea when it comes to Col...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Lisa King rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: enjoyed-it

Recap: Allie still can not do magic, still has her dad stuck in her head and she's still trying to cleanse magic. What's changed is that she now leads her group with even Victor and Maeve following her orders. Everyone is following her orders, her rebel Authority members and the Hounds. Allie must disguise herself to hide from the Authority and from the police. The rebels get closer to finding out why magic is poisoned and to a possible cure but a Lock spell is tripped and they must do something...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: uf, 2012

Spoilers.

A lot of the same problems I had with the past few books in the series are still there...
-Why isn't Allie doing any ass-kicking? Yeah, okay, she can see magic and talk to ghosts. Sweet. A few tatoos and a death hand as well...all mysterious and all that good shit we like in our Urban Fantasies, but...she literally has done nothing. Yeah, she's the cruise director for the whole plot, but really, as a few reviewers mentioned, how did she get put in charge? She has the least experience......more

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Aug 17, 2012 Dangerous Romance Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic. But she’s never faced anything like this.

Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may have left the only cure in the hands of a madman. Hunted by the Authority—the secret council who enforces the laws–wanted by the police, and unable to use magic, she’s got to find the cure before the sickness spreads beyond any power to stop it.

But when a death magic user se...more

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May 20, 2012 Hope rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, devon-monk

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I was so excited to get this, the 8th book in the Allie Beckstom series from B&N this past week! I love, *love*, **LOVE** this series even though I stumbled through one or two of the books... around book 3 or 4. Before and after they were fabulous! And the ones I felt like I was slogging through.... they gave valuable insight and information to both previous and future books so I am utterly grateful I did not give up on them! :-)

Magic Without Mercy was a gripping, page-turn...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Tobi Summers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This is a book series that's gotten better with time, and now, with one book left, it's mind-blowing. The magic is so complex that it should be overwhelming, but Devon Monk does a great job explaining it simply and clearly. The chemistry between the characters is fantastic, especially in this book, when characters from many different points in the series are coming together. The series arc is starting to come to a head now, and I can't wait for the last book to find out what happens next.

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Jul 21, 2012 Nicki rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magic, supernatural

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 05, 2012 Stacey Brutger rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

We knew as soon as we stepped out on those streets, we were walking blind into a war. All of us were going to bear the pain for the magic we called upon. And I was going to have to bear the pain for carrying a weapon that made me face what I had become. A killer.

Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic. But she’s never faced anything like this.

Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may ha...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Sooz Acuna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once again, Devon Monk has written an amazing book filled with tension and a little smexy with Zay and Allie (not enough though, but alas, they have a world to save.)
I like that in this book Allie is in charge, no longer a self perceived screw-up. People are looking to her for guidance and she brings it. Not being able to use magic and refocused her strengths.
Also, for those who love Shame (and I am one of them...) you get a bunch of Shame time in this one and it was awesome. However, (view spo ...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-series

As usual, Allie, Zay, Shame, and Terric face horrible odds and an evil authority, and Allie does it while magicless. What an exhausting, but exhilarating story! I laughed, I cringed, I cried, I loved (the interplay between characters especially Allie and Shame---I think I love Shame most of all!) Was there anything I didn't like about the book? Well, it ended too quickly. The ending battle, was very similar to the last big battle with the authority, and it might have been nice if Allie could hav...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

There are so many things I like about this series. The magic world Devon Monk has created is so...cool. It's so twisted and cool that I just love it. It's not overly complicated for me to grasp, which I like. Some series I read and I'm all "I have no idea what's going on" and I keep reading hoping I'll grasp it.

It's the characters. How they interact. They're such a cohesive unit. Allie & Zay (who is rrrawr). Allie & Terric (again....rawr). Allie & Shame (again....rawr). Allie & h...more

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May 02, 2012 Mirjam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

In Magic Without Mercy Allie is taking charge of their little group of rebels as they set out to save the world. Things are looking grim, but they are willing to sacrifice themselves if that is what it takes. The biggest hurdle for Allie is the fact that she cannot use her magic, which is the worst timing imaginable when enemies are out to get you. But Zayvan, Shame, Terric, Maeve, Victor and Hayden still have theirs and have not problem using it against anyone who gets in their way!

Magic Witho...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book #27 of 2012

Someday, I will read all of these books closer together. As it is, I can barely remember the details of the story when I pick up a new one. Since the books have an overarching storyline, that means I'm VERY glad for the little summary that series authors throw in there. Still, it'd be nice to have a handle on more of the details of the books that would be gained by reading them more closely together.

I was very impressed in this book. I was really impressed by Allie's leadership!...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review, hardcopy, signed

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

With Magic unusable to Allie, and everyone under the sun out hunting for her, including the magic council called the Authority, Allie's own freedom is a ticking time bomb. Of course more than just her freedom is at stake because capture would mean losing her mind, literally. Stripping minds is the Authority's standard procedure for renegades. Unfortunately, she cannot lay low until the tide changes as Magic has been poisoned. Allie and her f...more Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

With Magic unusable to Allie, and everyone under the sun out hunting for her, including the magic council called the Authority, Allie's own freedom is a ticking time bomb. Of course more than just her freedom is at stake because capture would mean losing her mind, literally. Stripping minds is the Authority's standard procedure for renegades. Unfortunately, she cannot lay low until the tide changes as Magic has been poisoned. Allie and her friends are the only ones who are willing and hopefully able to fix things before more lives are lost. But more stands in her way than just the police and the Authority as a nasty death magic user has set his sights on consuming the only thing that can heal magic, and she'll have to stop him before it's too late.

It will never cease to amaze me just how much of a whirlwind Allie is. She draws people to her like a moth to a flame, but cannot be corrupted. In fact, she seems to be the only person the corrupted sections of the Authority cannot seem to put down. Of course she wouldn't have made it this far without her friends, but their utter loyalty to her only further shows her strength and fortitude. Yet despite all this, Allie still cannot quite grasp her true worth. Yes she has her own inner confidence in her skill as a magic user, but as a leader, not so much. However, I think a lot of the events in Magic Without Mercy may have started to open up her eyes, and once she fully believes in herself, she will only be that much stronger.

It completely baffles me that with such a far reaching organization as the Authority, there wouldn't be more checks and balances in place to help stem some of the corruption. Of course the saying goes that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that is what these people hold. To make matters worse, it doesn't seem like they are corrupted as a whole, but in many different factions with their own agendas are in the mix. Perhaps that could be explained arrogance, in that these people are so full of themselves that they couldn't possibly believe that they could be fooled or ruined by another. Ironically, their downfall will probably be the very thing that got them into power in the first place.

One of the most impressive things about Magic Without Mercy was Devon Monk's ability to keep a perfect balance between action and character development. In a lot of series after the first few books the focus on the characters seems to drastically drop in favor of plot or series momentum, which can be a shame as it is easy to become detached from characters when you don't see them grow. The fact that this series doesn't, pretty much guarantees me a fantastic read with each new installment. In Magic without Mercy we see lots of character development; From Allie's overwhelming need to be the protector despite a certain lack of confidence in her leadership skills as well as her acceptance of her father's haunting, to Shame and Terric's strange love hate relationship, and even to some of the older members of the group learning to hand over the reins. Each character goes through changes, be they forward or backwards in progress, keeping me fully attached to each of them, and this series overall. As for this installment, from start to finish, Magic Without Mercy was a roller coaster ride. I simply could not put it down!(less)

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Apr 05, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

(3.5 stars) At the end of Magic on the Line, Allie Beckstrom killed the head of Portland’s Authority — who was ignoring a magical plague in the city for his own ends — and now she is a fugitive, along with her lover Zayvion and a handful of her closest friends who have now broken with the Authority as well. In Magic Without Mercy, Allie and her small band investigate the poisoning of Portland’s four magical wells and try to find a way to cleanse magic before the problem can go worldwide. But the...more (3.5 stars) At the end of Magic on the Line, Allie Beckstrom killed the head of Portland’s Authority — who was ignoring a magical plague in the city for his own ends — and now she is a fugitive, along with her lover Zayvion and a handful of her closest friends who have now broken with the Authority as well. In Magic Without Mercy, Allie and her small band investigate the poisoning of Portland’s four magical wells and try to find a way to cleanse magic before the problem can go worldwide. But the Authority is against them now, led by the creepy Jingo Jingo, and a confrontation is inevitable.

It’s becoming difficult to review the Allie Beckstrom books, what with Magic Without Mercy being the eighth installment in a series where the books are heavily linked rather than episodic. If you’ve been reading them all along, you’ll of course want to read this one, and it’s a solid addition to the series. No sharks were jumped in the making of this book. And if you haven’t read the previous books but think they sound intriguing, do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to Magic to the Bone and start there or you’ll get lost.

Allie, for reasons that are still mysterious, is affected more strongly by the taint in magic than most people are; she can’t cast spells without getting sick. This doesn’t stop her from playing a large role in events. Here, she’s the leader and the liaison between several disparate groups; one character tells her she’s the only person they all listen to, and he’s right. But to me the strongest story in Magic Without Mercy is Shame’s and Terric’s, as they learn to work together as Soul Complements and make great sacrifices to save one another.

Magic Without Mercy introduces some new developments and some more intriguing questions about Allie’s father, and culminates in a climactic battle with meaningful casualties. Overall, it’s not my favorite of the Allie Beckstrom books, but it’s a good book and adds some new twists to the series. One more book is planned: Magic for a Price, due out in November 2012. I look forward to seeing what happens but will be sad to see the series end.

Reviewed for FantasyLiterature.com(less)

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Apr 03, 2012 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Let's face it I couldn't have put this book down even if I wanted too. It was AWESOME! The whole book spanned about 2 days but in those days there was so much going on. I can't wait to talk about it with someone/anyone. I am all hyper over it and of course Devon Monk set it up to go perfectly right into the next book. This series is one of my favorites and I cannot wait for that final book. Only one part of the book had me so stressed and mad that I wanted to quit right there and then but of cou...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Tabitha Tomala rated it 5 of 5 stars

I liked how Allie has the barrier to overcome in having no magic she can use. After being a character that predominantly used magic to defend herself, having her struggle to find new ways is interesting. Shame's quips are still as good making me laugh out loud, and the relationship between Shame and Terric is finally making progress and developing into the plot.
I was glad to see some characters from earlier in the series come back and I was glad to see characters being unclosed. However given t...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Lyn Nicholas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, 2012-reviews

Another Urban Fantasy thrill ride from the Allie Beckstrom series!

The magic council known as the Authority, is after Allie Beckstrom. Once they get a hold of her they intend to strip her of all her memories. A dangerous new threat is rising up. Allie has to stop a death magic user while remaining on the run. How on earth will she be able to pull it off? You will definitely want to tune in to see!

The Allie Beckstrom series is proving to be one of the most outstandingly crafted urban fantasy serie...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Hope rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, devon-monk

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Sep 29, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Magic Without Mercy takes off with a hitch! Devon Monk really knows how to thrill an audience! As the series is drawing to a close, things are wrapping up but Allie and her friends are not out of the woods yet! Not even close!

War is coming. What with Leander and Isabella growing stronger and possessing people, Allie has more than her fair share of problems. She's still in a sort of shock from having to kill Bartholomew and plus she can't use magic since it makes her sick.

Right now magic is a pro...more Magic Without Mercy takes off with a hitch! Devon Monk really knows how to thrill an audience! As the series is drawing to a close, things are wrapping up but Allie and her friends are not out of the woods yet! Not even close!

War is coming. What with Leander and Isabella growing stronger and possessing people, Allie has more than her fair share of problems. She's still in a sort of shock from having to kill Bartholomew and plus she can't use magic since it makes her sick.

Right now magic is a problem itself. It's being poisoned and Allie and Shame and Zay and Terric are going to try to find out how it's being done and more importantly how to stop it and fix things so magic can be safe. But magic is already a danger to people.

Everyone seems to be out to get Allie these days, the Authority, Jingo Jingo and now the human police. So naturally she goes in disguise, which sadly, the cover fails to show. But still the cover is awesome!

This was a rather quick read. I started it Thursday after another read became a DNF and finished it today! There's plenty of action going on. Well paced too. Nothing rushed, nothing drawing out. Things seem to be even steven. Yet there's still plenty of lol moments, "aww" moments and much more!

Things are coming to a head here as the series is wrapping up. The end gave us an epic showdown. I am curious to see how this series is going to end. I am going to miss Allie and Zay though! And Shame and Terric too! And the rest of course! I love Shame! He's hilarious. He says pretty much what is on his mind no matter how inappropriate it may be. That's what's lovable about Shame! He and Terric get into some close calls to in the big showdown! Devon will leave you gasping for breath!

Magic Without Mercy was a wonderful addition to the Allie Beckstrom series! It's so hard to say what happened without saying what happened in this one! With the series finale approaching, you pretty much need to have been there from the beginning to truly grasp everything that's happened. Even I am forgetting what's happened to date since I've been reading the series for years now! But this is really a series not to be missed! If you're looking for something different to read that falls slightly--and only slightly--out of the paranormal genre, but still having that kind of paranormal edge, this series is for you. There are no vampires or werewolves. Only magic wielders, but remember magic always comes with a price. If you want to use it, do it right, else magic uses you back!

Overall rating 4/5 stars(less)

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Apr 13, 2012 Zeenat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Synopsis: Magic is still poisoned, the veiled are infect people left and right, and Allie still can't use her magic. Oh let's not forget both the Authority and the Cops are out to get her. Allie and her friends (who are fugitives from the corrupted authority) are out to save the day and save magic.

Review: Another solid installment. Devon Monk has created a truly action and magic filled world where you are always at the edge of your pants. This book probably has the least relationship development...more

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May 10, 2012 Paris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, must-read-series, urban-fantasy

Once again Devon Monk gives us a non stop roller coaster ride that puts Allie and her friends in all sorts of dangerous, deadly positions. A lot happened to this cast of characters in the first seven books and one might think that they’d get a moment to take a breather, but they get a second if that before they are back in action trying to find a cure for the poisoned magic and a way to rescue The Authority from the hands of people who don’t care about the poisoned magic or the innocents that ar...more

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May 31, 2012 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the eighth book in the Allie Beckstrom series. It was a good installment in the series and was an enjoyable read. All of these books encompass one large story, so make sure to start with book one. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, this is a fun and creative series to read.

Magic has been poisoned and Allie and crew are trying to get samples from all of the Wells to try to determine what is wrong. The poisoned magic is still making Allie sicker than anyone else and no one knows why. Just...more This is the eighth book in the Allie Beckstrom series. It was a good installment in the series and was an enjoyable read. All of these books encompass one large story, so make sure to start with book one. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, this is a fun and creative series to read.

Magic has been poisoned and Allie and crew are trying to get samples from all of the Wells to try to determine what is wrong. The poisoned magic is still making Allie sicker than anyone else and no one knows why. Just when the crew thinks they have a chance at fixing magic, the Authority gets in the way and makes things even more difficult.

This series is hard to review because this is just one long continuous story. This book adds to the story and does move some elements forward, not a ton is resolved here though.

I love the magic system in these books, how you have to pay a cost to use your magic. Allie doesn’t use magic much in this book because it makes her extremely ill to do so.

Most of the book is spent trying to get samples from the Wells of magic and trying to figure out how to purify it. We get to see a lot of Zayvion doing awesome magic in this book; he can seriously do some outstanding things...but of course he pays a high cost to do those things.

We also learn a lot more about Stone, the gargoyle, and how he was created and what he can do. A portion of the story is also dedicated to Davy and the crazy way they are dealing with his magic illness.

My personal favorite part of the story was watching Terric and Shane finally start to work together as Soul Complements. It was so nice to see some story progression there; the awesome magic those two wield when they work together is something to behold.

So, yeah, a lot of story progression but not much resolution. I really enjoy the characters and the writing is well done. The book was a fun and quick read. This isn’t my favorite Allie Beckstrom story but it was still entertaining. As I mentioned before you have to start with book 1 or you will be totally lost.

Overall a decent installment in this series. Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy; especially for those who love creative and unique magic systems. Solid characters, a fast-paced plot, and a creative magic system make this a fun read.(less)

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Apr 01, 2012 Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow…..this series is one of my favourites and this book is my favourite in this series. I am always championing it, introducing it to others and trying to get people to read it. I cannot get across how good it is and if you have not read it and you love UF please go out and get hold of the first book.

Magic Without Mercy picks up immediately where Magic On The Line left off. Magic has been poisoned and the Veiled are infecting people and killing them and Allie and her friends have gone rogue and...more Wow…..this series is one of my favourites and this book is my favourite in this series. I am always championing it, introducing it to others and trying to get people to read it. I cannot get across how good it is and if you have not read it and you love UF please go out and get hold of the first book.

Magic Without Mercy picks up immediately where Magic On The Line left off. Magic has been poisoned and the Veiled are infecting people and killing them and Allie and her friends have gone rogue and turned against the Authority. They are on the run desperately trying to find a cure for Magic and desperately trying to stay alive.

Even though this is book 8 in the series I still marvel at the world that Ms Monk has created for us. The Magic that is used is so inventive and beautifully described, especially now Allie cannot use Magic but she can see all of Magic. The characters are fantastic too and it has been great getting to know them over the years they feel like friends now. I have to give a special shout out to my man Shamus Flynn or Shame as he is known. I have loved Shame for some time but in this instalment he really shines. Shame isn’t your typical heartthrob he leaves that to Allie’s boyfriend Zay, in fact he is described as a scrawny Irishman. But he is so cool and laid back, he dresses in black, smokes, drinks and uses Death Magic and is my favourite character by far.

Everything is coming together now in this series building to the last book. Ms Monk reminds us of things that have happened in previous books as she ties up all loose ends. We are given a bit of a teaser from Jingo Jingo about how everything so far has been strategically plotted and manipulated by Daniel Beckstrom, but this could of course by a lie by the evil child killer. It will be interesting to find out anyway. I was hoping for more information on Allie as suggested in the earlier books with her father taking memories from Allie for years and keeping secrets from her and I hope we get to see this in the final book. I was very lucky that I got this book a few days early and I hope I get the next book early too like months early as I NEED to know what happens next. Magic Without Mercy is a totally brilliant book and my favourite of the year so far. Allie Beckstrom fans will not be disappointed and I am going to give it 5 stars.

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Apr 23, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban, fantasy, magic-users, paranormal, people-of-color, read-in-2012, twitter-author

The best thing about this series is that the author has a very clear plan for it. It isn't one of those series where the author just created a fun character who became popular and now she's trying to trying to milk the series for all it's worth by writing the same book over and over again or just sort of figuring it out as she goes along. Every book in this series has a very strong arc and major reveals, keeping it super exciting. But of course it also makes it sad as we get closer and closer to...more

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About Devon Monk

Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She lives in Oregon and is surrounded by numerous family members who mostly live within dinner-calling distance of each other. She writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and the Age of Steam steampunk series. Her collection of short stories, A CUP OF NORMAL is a finalist for the Mythopoeic and Endeavour Awards. When not writing,...more

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Books by Devon Monk

Magic In the Blood (Allie Beckstrom, #2)

Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom, #3)

Magic on the Storm (Allie Beckstrom, #4)

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Quotes from Magic Without Mercy

“What the hell?” I muttered. Then I realized it was Jack Quinn’s car. Jack was a Hound and Bea’s boyfriend. The left blinker flashed on for just a second, and then Jack drove at speed again.

“Zayvion, I’m sorry to tell you I think I have a crush on another man.”

“Who is this unfortunate and soon-to-be-dead fool?” he asked.

“Jack. That’s his car. He must have been waiting for us, or maybe he followed us.”

“Jack Quinn has been following us?” Shame said.

“And now he’s taking us to Collins, I think.”

“Or a trap,” Shame said.

“He’s a Hound, Shame.”

“My statement stands.”

“You still don’t get it, do you?” I turned left, following the car. “Hounds are loyal. Jack and Bea told me they’d help me if they could. They’re not going to turn against me while I’m in trouble.”

“What happens when you’re not in trouble?” Shame asked.

“Don’t know. It’s never happened.” — 5 people liked it

“Everything quiet?"
"You mean Shame"
"I mean your Pooh News. Any rumblies in the tumblies?" I gave him a grin.
He shook his head. "You just can't let that go, can you?...” — 3 people liked it

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Magic Without Mercy (Allie Beckstrom #8)

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