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Magic For A Price (Allie Beckstrom #9)

by Devon Monk (Goodreads Author)

4.3 of 5 stars 4.30 · rating details · 758 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

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

Published November 6th 2012 by ROC (first published November 1st 2012)

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Nov 06, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

What came to mind when I reached the very last page of Magic for a Price, the ninth and final installment in Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series? “Now THIS is how you write a final book in a series!” I loved this book. From the moment I started reading it to the very last word, it was brilliant. The pace was perfect, the character development was perfect, the story was perfect, and the ending was perfect. Yes people, it was that good.

Now let me expand a...more Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

What came to mind when I reached the very last page of Magic for a Price, the ninth and final installment in Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series? “Now THIS is how you write a final book in a series!” I loved this book. From the moment I started reading it to the very last word, it was brilliant. The pace was perfect, the character development was perfect, the story was perfect, and the ending was perfect. Yes people, it was that good.

Now let me expand a little bit for you guys…

The pace. Seeing that this is the last book in the series, I sort of expected it to be a bit rushed. You know, because all of the questions that have come up over the last eight books need to be answered and all. But of course it wasn’t rushed because Devon is better than that. Instead it was a rush! The book starts off strong, and from pretty much exactly where the last book left off, and zooms you to the end.

The character development. Yes, in a ‘book nine’, it IS possible to continue developing your characters. Allie has grown consistently in each book of the series and she grew even more as a character, as a person in this last book. I really felt like she found herself and found peace, for lack of a better word. And she’s not the only character who grew in this book; pretty much everyone did. Especially Shane, which makes sense since he and Terric will be the focus of Devon’s new series, coming…eventually but not soon enough to bookstores near you. *grin* In fact, Devon did such a great job with Shane that even though I have loved him since the first time I met him on the page, I absolutely can’t wait to see what his books hold. There is just so much to his character already and yet, I know there is much left for us to discover. I am looking forward to seeing him reach the same harmony that Allie attains at the end of her series. Because goodness knows he deserves it.

The story. Oh my goodness the story. Allie and friends have to figure out a way to clean the magic that has been poisoned, saving Portland, her friends and the world. No biggie, right? *snort* The twists, the turns…oh my goodness the twists and the turns! All amazing. And really, there is barely a quiet moment in the book. The story was amazing with everything I was hoping would happen did and everything I didn’t know I wanted to happen did.

The ending. I literally hugged the book to my chest and sighed when I reached the end. I know I’m using the word ‘perfect’ a lot in this review but really, it’s the best word for many aspects of this book. But for you, so you won’t find me redundant, I shall open up my thesaurus and see what it says to use instead of that word. *opens thesaurus* Flawless! Yes! Great word! The ending was flawless. With this ending, Devon not only managed to take care of Allie and her story line in a very thorough way but she also managed to leave you wanting to send her tweets and possibly emails about Shame and Terric’s books, turning you into a borderline stalker, because now there are questions about them. Really, it’s just perfect for a last book in a series. Not perfect, sorry. Not that word again… Nope, I’m going back to perfect. It’s the perfect ending.

I want to chat quickly about the series as a whole. I really liked how Devon wrote this series. It was not one looooong nine book story arc. She changed it up every few books. She kept it fresh. But some of the little pieces that were left behind when she took the series on a new direction came back in the last book to tie everything up just right. This is a wonderful urban fantasy series. The way Devon describes magic and how it’s used in her books is just phenomenal. I have not read magic used like that anywhere else. How it uses you while you use it, how there is a price to pay when you use it…it’s so cool! And even though there were some stronger books than others in this series, not once did I finish a book and think I had just wasted my time or think that Devon dropped the ball on that one. Every book advanced the story and set things up for this awesome finale.

In case you didn’t catch it, I loved this book. I really hope Urban Fantasy fans give this series a try. Devon Monk has a wonderful writing voice, her imagination so rich and unique and her characters are fantastic. And there is just enough humor to keep things fresh. Overall, Magic for a Price reminds us how talented Devon is and how lucky we are to have read such an entertaining series.(less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Deborah Blake rated it 5 of 5 stars

The "Magic" series featuring Allie Beckstrom has been one of my favorites for many years and I have been feeling somewhat bittersweet about it coming to an end. As both a reader and an author, I know how hard it is to tie up all the loose ends and bring a series to a satisfying conclusion.

Thankfully, I can report that Devon Monk has done this in spades. MAGIC FOR A PRICE was a fast and furious, clever, nail-biting ride from beginning to end, full of twists and turns and ending up with a conclusi...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

It took me until half way through for me to go "Wait...is this the last book?"

Then I got sad because I love the Allie Beckstrom series.

But then I wasn't sad because this book kicked ass!

I've read series enders and I was all "well...that was anti-climactic" but not this one. Holy cow it was a ride from beginning to end with Allie, Zay (mmm Zay), Shame (mmm Shame), Terric (mmm Terric) et al once again waking up to discover they have to kick ass and save the world. Armed with her dead dad still po...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Karissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is final book in the Allie Beckstrom series and what a ride it’s been! This book does an excellent job of tying up the main storyline while staying realistic. Definitely don’t start with this book, go back and read the rest of the series first or you will be totally lost.

Jingo Jingo may be dead but magic is still poisoned. When Allie and crew find out that the head of Seattle Authority has been possessed by the Soul Complements Leander/Isabelle time becomes of the essence. Leander/Isabelle...more This is final book in the Allie Beckstrom series and what a ride it’s been! This book does an excellent job of tying up the main storyline while staying realistic. Definitely don’t start with this book, go back and read the rest of the series first or you will be totally lost.

Jingo Jingo may be dead but magic is still poisoned. When Allie and crew find out that the head of Seattle Authority has been possessed by the Soul Complements Leander/Isabelle time becomes of the essence. Leander/Isabelle want to shut down Portland and control all magic. Allie and crew must cure magic and ensure that Portland isn’t blown to pieces if they are ever to survive as a city.

This was a fast-paced and engaging conclusion to this series. Allie, Zayvion, Shame, and Terric are all pushed to their breaking points and forced to do the impossible to save magic. I continue to enjoy the creative magic system and how every spell has a price to pay.

The action scenes were awesome and there is a ton of magic wielding going on. Shame and Terric finally use magic as Soul Complements and they do some pretty darn awesome things with it.

Allie is forced to work a lot with her dad to figure out how to purify the wells. During the process of the well purification and the final stand off with Leander/Isabelle Allie finally learns her dad’s master plan. As a result of this we learn more about Allie’s history and her father.

Zayvion also does some awesome magic, but serves more as support to Allie than anything else. There isn’t much romance here because so much is going on and the characters are so beat up the whole time. Still it is obvious that Allie and Zay have a loving relationship based on mutual respect.

Shame and Terric were really the ones that stole the show. They are finally coming to terms with their magical relationship and finding some peace...it’s a pretty bumpy ride to get to that point but a pretty awesome one too. There are rumors that a book/series from Shame/Terric’s POV may be in the works...that would be so cool!

Overall an excellent conclusion to this series, fans of the series should be pleased. This book is well-written, easy to read and fast-paced. Magic, action, and mystery are all perfectly balanced. I will definitely be checking out future series by Devon Monk and do hope that we do see a story on Shame and Terric in the future. This is a solid urban fantasy series and I recommend to those who are urban fantasy fans.(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Jenni Ebba rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am satisfied with this ending. It didn't feel rushed as most would. After reading many reviews about this one, I thought I would honestly hate it, but I didn't. This series is about a world where magic has been torn asunder and a small ragtag group of rebels fight against overwhelming odds to fix it; all while fighting a devastating enemy who wants to control magic and through it- the world.
This story has been focused around a woman who pays a steep price for her use of magic~she often loses...more

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May 08, 2013 Brandi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Ah, sweet hells how I adore this series!! I cried off and on like a little baby, and that was just from the s/l, not that it's the last in my beloved series.

I don't even know what to say. It won't do justice to how much I love this world and those people, so I'm not going to try right now. What a great feeling knowing that this is the second time in only a few days that a book has made me speechless (the other one was Iced).

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Nov 14, 2012 Ferdy rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars — spoilers

Allie and the gang try to save magic.

-The plot was fast paced, most of the characters were likeable, the action was spot on, the romance was kind of lame but since there were so many other things going on, it wasn't that big a deal.

-Allie was a decent enough heroine, she wasn't quite as annoying as she used to be although she still had her moments.
For the most part, I thought Allie was useless in the fight to save magic and defeat Leander/Isabelle — her dad was the one with...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Lisa King rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolutely-loved-it

It's hard to sum up this book, indeed this whole series, because SO much has happened and relieved in this final chapter. Devon Monk, hat's off to you. I remember reading in her blog that she planned for nine books in the series and she did complete her story in nine books. I don't think it could have been told in less books and if there were more in the series, it may have been dragged out.

To recap, Allie still can not use magic, Isabelle and Leander are possessing the Overseer of the Authority...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: hardcopy, received-for-review

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

Allie Beckstrom has faced down some pretty steep odds and came out on top in the past, but this time things may just be insurmountable. Magic itself is poisoned and killing people at an alarming rate. Even worse, while Allie has always been able to rely on her magic in the past, she now suffers in agony after using only the smallest spell. But, she's the only one who even stands a chance at healing magic, and no matter the price, she'll pay...more Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Allie Beckstrom has faced down some pretty steep odds and came out on top in the past, but this time things may just be insurmountable. Magic itself is poisoned and killing people at an alarming rate. Even worse, while Allie has always been able to rely on her magic in the past, she now suffers in agony after using only the smallest spell. But, she's the only one who even stands a chance at healing magic, and no matter the price, she'll pay it to keep both her city and the people she loves safe.

After finishing Magic For a Price I knew I would have to wait a few days before writing this review to let the epicness really sink in so I wouldn't sound like an incoherent fan girl squealing. However, even after taking those extra days, I'm still having a hard time putting my thoughts to words. It's just hard to express all of the emotions that were running through my head, from outright anger to devastation, and even the other end of the spectrum with sheer and utter joy. It really is amazing when you take a step back to look at the range and depths of emotions that were in Magic For a Price.

When it comes to series ending books I'm always a bit a wary to start reading them because I know that no matter how good they are, there still will be the bittersweet goodbye. There also is the worry that not only will I have to say goodbye to characters that I have grown to love, but there also might be plot threads left open that will never be solved. Granted when things are wrapped up too neatly in a perfect bow, it does seem to lessen the realism of the story, but it still drives me insane when I'm left with unanswered questions. So, when Magic For a Price didn't let me down in either of those areas, you cannot possibly imagine my sigh of relief and contentment. There wasn't the bittersweet goodbye, because while Allie's narration is ending, Shame (LOVE that guy) will be getting his own turn in the limelight in a spin off and that means that there will be more from these awesome characters. On the second front, there weren't any major plot threads left open, but it also didn't turn into a sappy picture perfect ending. It ended perfectly and stayed true to the characters and the world, and I couldn't be happier. Seriously, I cannot remember the last time I was this content with a series ending book, and considering how many I have read, that is no small feat.

I realize I've been rather vague in this review, but the last thing I would want to do would be inadvertently spoil something as Magic For a Price truly deserves to be savored without any outside influence. In fact, this book easily earned itself a place on my top ten reads for the year. Fans of the series cannot possibly be disappointed with Magic For a Price as it is truly an amazing and incredibly satisfying end to the Allie Beckstrom series that will stay with you long after you finish. (less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Piseog rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm so sad this series is finished:( But it was a great ending to a very good series. Allie and Zayvion are one of my favourite couples. It's so nice to have a strong and loving couple where you are certain they will never break up. No couple drama. I'm gonna miss them. All the characters played a great role in this epic, exciting finale. Sometimes I wished for a breather here and there. I felt the whole book was serious fight-for-your-life scenes over and over. It was intense but I still loved...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Tabitha Tomala rated it 5 of 5 stars

Extremely sad this is the last Allie book! I put off reading it for a while because I don't want this awesome series to end. Only a few chapters in and I have to pace myself because it is so good!
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I absolutely love the relationship Allie and Shame have, the closeness that only really good friends can have, she cares for him and loves him, but not in a sexual or over the top way. I suppose that's one of the biggest draws for me with this series, the relationships Allie has with ea...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Sooz Acuna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was worried about this last book of the series. I loved this series and sometimes the last book tends to get hokie and over dramatic. Happily, this one did not. Yes, of course, there was some of that, but it was necessary. Zay and Allie are such a great couple and while they have a deep and abiding love, it never gets overly sappy. Plus, they kick some serious ass!

Shame is amazing as always, and I am thrilled to know that we will see more of Shame and Terric in a spin-off series. The world nee...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-reality, magic, urban-fantasy

Stunning conclusion to a series that rocked from book 1 to book 9.

Devon Monk remained true to her characters and true to the world she created throughout the entirety of the Allie Beckstrom series.

I re-read the first six books before reading the finally mini-arc of books 7-9 - and I just couldn't put the books down. I loved everything about the Magic filled (infested) Portland these novels were based in.

Using Magic really does extract a toll on the user and that is demonstrably true in 'Magic fo...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from the author via a contest for review, I was in no way compensated for this review.

It's the series finale and boy are things about to go out with a BANG! Magic for a Price concludes Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series, one I started years ago and fell in love with. Although quick comment on the cover, yet again I love it! Allie is totally fierce, yet her hair is still supposed to be super short and it's not. Oh well!

So Portland is in major trouble. The BIG BAD--Leander an...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Sabrina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Its really 4.25/4.5 stars..... but because its one of my fave series I had to round up. As always it was action packed and we had a lot of our main fave characters for most of the book. As the last in the series the main story line was nicely tied up; while still leaving a lot to go ahead with the spin-off (which I cant wait for)!! Shame and Terric are going to be hysterical!! What didn't make it as good as some of previous books is there seems to have been a lot of repetition and stagnant dialo...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, arcs, urban

I've had a mixed relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series, and MAGIC FOR A PRICE addressed many of my issues. But a nine book build up to get answers means high expectations, and my own reaction was mixed to say the least. Monk makes sweeping changes to her world, something I wish had happened earlier in the series. I would have liked MAGIC FOR A PRICE so much more if I could see Allie and company dealing with the consequences of their battle. As a series finale, however, I didn’t care enoug...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Zeenat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summary: Isabelle and Leander, the first known soul complements and apocalypse bringers are still out there, And Allie Beckstrom still can't use magic. Oh and her dead dad is still in her head. With her boyfriend and soul complement Zayvion, and her friends Shame and Terric, can she save the world? And what is her dad STILL hiding from her?

Review: This is the conclusion of the Allie Beckstrom saga and it was awesome! The world created by Devon Monk had a satisfying conclusion, even though there...more

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May 22, 2013 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Finally it's over - I'm really talking about the whole Allie Beckstrom series and not just this last book. I don't like reading a series this way: buying each volume as it comes out. Luckily, there were no really long waits, but I had still forgotten some characters and what they do. I wonder if I would have liked it if I had read the whole thing in one go?

Very fast moving, lots of action, interesting characters. I found some of the magic categories a bit vague - light, dark, blood magic was mad...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Winged_One rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Dammit, it was just hitting its stride after nine books and now the series is over?! I want MORE! I really hope the books about Shame and Terric pick up a few of the threads just hinted at in this final book. Shame has always stolen the show in my opinion so I can't wait to read his story; especially after the events in Magic for a price.
There were a few things I wanted to argue about but they don't take away from the main story enough for me to rate it lower. I hate how much damage Monk makes...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Dr susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-again

Magic for a Price is an incredibly satisfying conclusion to the Allie Beckstrom series. This book reminded me how much I loved some of the earlier books. Price is a roller coaster through disaster with no easy way to safety. The gargoyle, Stone, is so funny and often serves as comic relief. The love between Allie and Zayvion is a strong constant that readers have learned to rely on in all the books. Magic for a Price deserves a better review, but I am very tired and wanted to write something bef...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant! Devon Monk did an Amazing job bringing this series to an end. I loved every minute of this book. It was fast paced,explosive and one heck of a ride. There were many moments that I had to dry my eyes and by the end I had to have my box of tissues ready at hand. All of the questions I had were answered and many more things were revealed. The Allie Beckstrom Series has always been one of my favorites and I am very sad to see it end but I am also ready to see what she has instore for us w...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars

It's been 2 months, so I'll stop kidding myself. I can't finish this. It's sad to say, since I gave almost every book a 5 and forced my obsession on others to read it too.

This feels like several of the other books:

Allie and Zay! I've over it and I find them boring and predictable.

Terric and Shamus. Are they gay? I always wished they would get together or at least that Shamus would stop feeling so awkward.

Allie STILL can't use her fucking magic! This has been going on for several books and I c...more

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Dec 02, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: november-2012-hotp, reviewed-by-julia

I’ve had a fraught relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series, and MAGIC FOR A PRICE addressed many of my issues. But a nine book build up to get answers means high expectations, and my own reaction was mixed to say the least. I enjoyed MAGIC FOR A PRICE very much as an individual book, but it’s ending suffered significantly from my issues with the series as a whole.

In past books I felt like the action moved too slow, with Allie facing the same magical problems over and over. This contributed...more I’ve had a fraught relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series, and MAGIC FOR A PRICE addressed many of my issues. But a nine book build up to get answers means high expectations, and my own reaction was mixed to say the least. I enjoyed MAGIC FOR A PRICE very much as an individual book, but it’s ending suffered significantly from my issues with the series as a whole.

In past books I felt like the action moved too slow, with Allie facing the same magical problems over and over. This contributed to my difficulty in keeping track of which books I had read before as the events and descriptions from Allie’s perspective changed so little I always struggled to find my place in the series. This isn’t a problem at all in MAGIC FOR A PRICE. Monk interweaves new action with unobtrusive references to past events, making it very easy to refresh my memory on the series while moving forward with the plot.

And Monk does make sweeping changes to her world in MAGIC FOR A PRICE, something I wish had happened earlier in the series. I would have liked this book so much more if I could see Allie and company dealing with the consequences of their battle in future books. As a series finale, however, I didn’t care enough about these conflicts, stretched long and thin over nine books, to make the resolution pack significant punch. The magical architecture Monk has created is unparalleled, the relationships (between both living and dead) are unique and nuanced, but there is some elemental aspect of pacing and character that is missing for me. It’s telling that my affection for Stone is so much stronger than my interest in Allie’s love life, or that my curiosity is so much stronger for the Hounds than the Assembly. This series and I have been just half a step out of sync the whole way through.

For readers who have enjoyed the incremental plotlines while staying invested in the mystery of Allie’s past and relationship with her father, MAGIC FOR A PRICE will be a bittersweet treat that answers longstanding questions while bringing the series to a close. I enjoyed this individual book very much, though my relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series as a whole stays where it started, conflicted.

Sexual Content: Brief scene of sensuality.(less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the last book in the series *crying* and I get so wary about last books as more often than not they don’t live up to those books that came before them. I am so pleased that this was not the case. Magic For A Price was a perfect last book.

Over the eight previous books we have seen Allie use magic and get used by magic, make friends and loose friends and fight to save Portland and keep magic pure. Allie has had ups and downs and there have been many questions raised that I hoped…no, that...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Tami rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5..

I really wish I could give this book 5 stars. It really was a great read, but there were some things that bugged the bajezus outta me. For one, why must Monk think she needs to explain to us what soul compliments are and what they can do about a dozen or more times in ONE BOOK? We get it already. In fact, she managed to over explain several things.. Almost like she was reaching for a word limit or something. And how many times can one person die in a single book, let alone a whole series.?...more 4.5..

I really wish I could give this book 5 stars. It really was a great read, but there were some things that bugged the bajezus outta me. For one, why must Monk think she needs to explain to us what soul compliments are and what they can do about a dozen or more times in ONE BOOK? We get it already. In fact, she managed to over explain several things.. Almost like she was reaching for a word limit or something. And how many times can one person die in a single book, let alone a whole series.?
Allies was more of a story teller in this book than an active part of it, IMO. I mean she did stuff, and stuff happened to her, but nothing like what usually happens with her. She was very limited with her magic after the last book. Even Zay wasn't as rugged bad ass as usual. Shame and Terric? AMAZING.. They come together in a way that's so beautiful. I feel like, in this book, we got to see more than hear the characters. There seemed to be a lot less 'conversation' between them all.. Which nixed out a lot of the witty comebacks and such. Which I really missed.. Specially from Shame. There were still a few retorts, but nothing like the usual. Allie's father ended up being the guy I though he was from the beginning. But I won't go into details.

Allie and her crew meet up for a final battle against Leander and Isabelle, without much rest since the last battle. The Overseer (LeandAbelle), set out to destroy the world.. Starting with Portland. She/they convinced the entire Authority outside of Portland that Portland has been compromised and must be contained. Seattle is sent in to 'deal' with the situation. Allie finds herself in the position of leading everyone through the disaster. She decides to do something very drastic. Shut down the magic. She and her crew run around town to cleanse the magic and close the well's after the cisterns to the city were shut off so no one could use magic. This is the majority of the book.. But still managed to be a good follow. Then the time comes to fight LeandAbelle and it seems like all was for naught. In the end, good conquered evil and questions were answered. It was a fine way to end the series. (less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, magic-users, fantasy, read-in-2012, romance, urban, twitter-author

A satisfying conclusion to a terrific series full of action and emotion. This one suffered a little bit from too perfect heroine syndrome, the typical UF sudden leadership malady. It's hard for me to believe that people who've been leaders for their entire lives, or practicing magic for up to thirty years, would turn to a young woman who's always been a loner, has no leadership or battle experience, and has only been aware of what magic can really do for one year and doesn't really understand th...more A satisfying conclusion to a terrific series full of action and emotion. This one suffered a little bit from too perfect heroine syndrome, the typical UF sudden leadership malady. It's hard for me to believe that people who've been leaders for their entire lives, or practicing magic for up to thirty years, would turn to a young woman who's always been a loner, has no leadership or battle experience, and has only been aware of what magic can really do for one year and doesn't really understand the applications of that because she's been fighting not studying, unconscious, lied to, purposely kept in the dark by those same people, or otherwise occupied for most of that year, to be the leader of their entire war effort. It happens a lot in UF, people with no experience become battle leaders and it always bugs me. It bugged me more this time because this book didn't need it, Allie was enough of a hero for the pieces of the effort she was helping with without making it necessary for her to take on leading the whole shebang. I would have bought into accidental hero or part of a leadership team more easily than having a giant room full of people expecting her to lead them out of trouble.

Nevertheless, the book worked and the series worked. And the reason it worked was because it had a plan from beginning to end. As sad as I am to see it end, having an end in sight is why it worked so well. It isn't one of those series that's just wandering on and on, milking the fans' interest in the characters by re-writing the same story over and over again with just a few changes in details. Or one of those series where the books just get progressively worse and worse as it gets more and more obvious that the author just doesn't have any idea where she's going with the characters and has completely lost any sense of direction for the series, she's just trying to sell more books. Every book in this series had a purpose, every step of the journey was planned and well executed. Each step led logically and inevitably to the next. But only in hindsight of course, that's why we had to keep frantically turning the pages and buying the books, to see what happened next. It was really a great series, a terrific balance of action, magic, mystery, and most of all, love. I'm glad I went along for the ride.(less)

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Nov 12, 2012 Yani rated it 5 of 5 stars

:'( Good bye Allie, Zay, Shamus, Terric and Stoney and all others. How do you even compare????????? There is no comparison to the wonderful adventure and all the magics thats been presented throughout this series. I love Devon for her style in writing and her wits, humour and wonderful plots and mysteries in these books. I am in love with Allie's life and felt really sad that this is the final book :'(

I don't know how I can read any other book after this without comparing the quality and the con...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

So all good things must come to an end ...

Book #8 ends with sort of a cliffhanger, when Roman Grimshaw told Allie and Zayvion that the Overseer has been possessed by Leander and Isabelle and they are bringing the apocalypse war to Portland. Now, Allie, Zayvion, Shame, Terric, and the rest of Portland magic users, the Hounds, even the cops, are ready to defend their city, no matter what. Starting with closing the Wells, so no magic can be used. Then, it's basically a race against time and a four-...more So all good things must come to an end ...

Book #8 ends with sort of a cliffhanger, when Roman Grimshaw told Allie and Zayvion that the Overseer has been possessed by Leander and Isabelle and they are bringing the apocalypse war to Portland. Now, Allie, Zayvion, Shame, Terric, and the rest of Portland magic users, the Hounds, even the cops, are ready to defend their city, no matter what. Starting with closing the Wells, so no magic can be used. Then, it's basically a race against time and a four-characters battle against Leander and Isabelle.

On one hand, I love how it finally all comes together and almost all of the characters introduced play a part in this book. Plus (view spoiler). The story keeps the pace just right, building the momentum until the very end. On the other hand, I do have niggle which stop me from giving this a perfect 5-stars rating, despite it being the series finale.

I feel like Allie is more like a passive player in this final war. She doesn't really do anything -- instead, it's her Dad who does things using Allie's body. It's not her own ability that helps end the war. I miss the Allie who storms past the Gate of Death to bring Zay's soul back. I already feel this way in book #8 when Allie cannot use her magic anymore. I thought she would find another source of power for this finale... but she doesn't. So in that sense, I'm disappointed. I feel like more power comes from her Dad instead, or even Stone, and Cody. They play a bigger part to stop Leander and Isabelle and brings the magic back together.

I'm also a bit sad that after such intense emotional event in book #8 regarding Shame and Terric, this one is lacking in that division. I'm not hoping for sudden romance or anything ... but despite their amazing display of power as Soul Complements, I don't think that Shame and Terric's issue is completely resolved -- meaning whether or not Shame finally accepts being Terric's Soul Complement. I wish there's a scene about them talk about what it means for them and how they will deal with it (view spoiler).

Zayvion though, holds my heart for his fierceness in protecting Allie. Daniel Beckstrom surprises me with his secret of Allie's past. And I can't stop saying how much I LOVE Stone the Gargoyle and Cody the Savant. It's very interesting how big Cody's role in this, when back in the earlier books, I thought Cody would just be a side character...

This has been one of my favorite urban fantasy series. A rather weak series finale, but still it has been a solid entertaining throughout, and I love it. I'm already start missing these characters now that I'm finished with this one.(less)

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Nov 01, 2012 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-releases, arc-wishlist, publishers-arc

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Review*

Magic for a Price picks up right where Magic without Mercy left off. Allie, Zayvion, Terric, Shamus, Maeve and others are on the run from the Authority. They have survived the great show down with Jingo Jingo and his supporters but not without heavy losses. Unfortunately, they are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination.

Magic around Portland, Oregon has been poisoned spawning the veiled, ghosts of dead magic users who in turn are infectin...more

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Review*

Magic for a Price picks up right where Magic without Mercy left off. Allie, Zayvion, Terric, Shamus, Maeve and others are on the run from the Authority. They have survived the great show down with Jingo Jingo and his supporters but not without heavy losses. Unfortunately, they are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination.

Magic around Portland, Oregon has been poisoned spawning the veiled, ghosts of dead magic users who in turn are infecting and kill the living. There is also the pending arrival of Leander and Isabel, two undead and super powerful magic users who are on the loose and in the body of the Overseer. Leander and Isabel’s mission seems to be the permanent removal of all Soul Complements like Shamus and Terric, Allie and Zayvion as well as the reuniting of dark and light magic to rule the world. They also have a special target in sight for Allison’s father Daniel who just happens to possess a part of her mind.

Allie has become something of the de facto leader of the rag tag remnants of the Authority as well as her hounds like Davy and Sunny and that aspect is put to the test when she has to lead the entire group of Portland magic users against the threat of a lifetime in Leander, Isabel, and those they control. She knows that magic is slowly killing her, yet with her father possessing her mind, she knows she has no choice but to stand up for herself and her friends. Allie has known that the use of magic takes a heavy toll on the body. So much so, that she has lost tons of memories over the years and has taken to writing things down in her notebook so that she can remember them.

Monk puts the emphasis on concluding her series by tying up loose ends in such a way that won’t leave readers disappointed or angry that they’re no longer going to be seeing Allie and Zavy around unless they are part of any spin-off series the author may have in store for us. Monk has to face the music when all is said and done that the story makes sense and the loose ends are not tied up in such a way that it will make readers eyes roll out of their heads in angst and disgust. I personally think she did a pretty decent job.

I was understandably reserved when reading this last book in the series. I wanted to know for myself what Daniel Beckstrom did to his only daughter to cause her so much pain while using magic. I wanted to know what Stoney, the gargoyle, was really made for and what his final part in this series was. I also wanted to know more about Cody Miller and why it seems he is destined to be the one who is able to stop things from going to straight to hell. Lastly, I also wanted a HEA for Allie and Zavy since they’ve been through a lot over the course of this series. I believe I got all my questions answered in a way that made me walk away from this series with a smile on my face and not wonder what if.

In conclusion, Magic for a Price is not the perfect book. The ending kind of drags on for a while after everything is said and done and the action comes to a blazing crescendo. However, because of the whole HEA aspect of a final book in a series, I will reserve my dislike for what I believe was hyperbole and just say, go, go out and rent or purchase this book if you have read this series. You won’t be wrong in doing so.

*ARC was accepted from the publisher in lieu of an honest review on my part. No monetary award was accepted, and none was expected.*

Expected Publication is November 6, 2012(less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Mindi Ridgeway rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I think, finally, this series is done? These books are always so action-packed & fun to read, but truthfully also very exhausting. It's just non-stop apocalyptic craziness with never a moment's rest. Reading about how exhausted the characters are gives me a headache. It was so nice to be able to wrap everything up & let everyone stop, and rest, for a change. Plus it ended very nicely, which also helps. Not nice as in no death & no apocalypse, but nicer than go-go-go-go aaaaaannnnd, n...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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“Do you know the Guardians?” I asked Zay. “Is there some kind of club or yearly get-together where Guardians get drunk, wear funny hats, and compare war stories?” — 1 person liked it

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Magic For A Price (Allie Beckstrom #9)

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