Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migrai...
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Sep 23, 2010
Laura
rated it: 
*** Warning as this is the second in a series I've tried my hardest, but it's almost impossible to write the review without a couple of spoilers for the first book ***
This is the second book in the Allie Beckstrom Urban Fantasy series that's set in a world where magic is a powerful, commercial commodity. The use of which always comes with a physical price for its use for the user. A price Allie is intimately familiar with. If you use magic, you must be prepared to pay the price, and More...
This is the second book in the Allie Beckstrom Urban Fantasy series that's set in a world where magic is a powerful, commercial commodity. The use of which always comes with a physical price for its use for the user. A price Allie is intimately familiar with. If you use magic, you must be prepared to pay the price, and More...
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Dec 26, 2011
Holly
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allie is coming to grips with the death of her father and trying to piece together the events around it and all changes surrounding her and her magic capabilities. She only has flashes of the events that drastically changed her life and is using what her friend nola told her as a guide since she forgot to write it down. She no longer remembers her deep feelings for zayvion but is trying to recover her memories and find someone to trust. She is hired to do a hounding job for the police for a dete
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Jan 11, 2011
Ithlilian
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Magic in the Blood picks up where the last novel left off. Allie has lost her memory of what happened in the previous novel, but that doesn't stop all manner of creatures from coming after her. Trager is out to get her, invisible creatures are sucking things out of her, hounds want to be her friend, and there is Zay of course. I love the Allie Beckstrom novels because they are unique. It's refreshing to have something different in the multiverse of urban fantasy. Allie isn't completely tough as
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Oct 23, 2009
Kalynn
rated it:
The final third of this book is really good, fast moving and engaging. The first hundred pages, though, are slow. The next hundred are quicker, but not as engaging as I expected. The problem is that, while this is the second book in a series, we still have hundreds of pages of world building, and it's nitty gritty world building without the engaging wonder of coming into a brand new universe that we got in the first book.
As readers of Magic in the Bone know, Allie Beckstrom suffers m More...
As readers of Magic in the Bone know, Allie Beckstrom suffers m More...
Feb 02, 2012
Beanbag
rated it:
Another good one. I have to stop myself after this one or I'll devour the whole series in one go and that would be bad.
In the world of this series magic has been discovered and harnessed and is sold like a utility. Anyone can use it if they've got the means to buy it or they only use it for tiny things. It also demands a secondary price for itself, giving the user a fever, headache, pain, even blackouts in the aftermath of its use.
It's an interesting world. Set in Portland, More...
In the world of this series magic has been discovered and harnessed and is sold like a utility. Anyone can use it if they've got the means to buy it or they only use it for tiny things. It also demands a secondary price for itself, giving the user a fever, headache, pain, even blackouts in the aftermath of its use.
It's an interesting world. Set in Portland, More...
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Jan 04, 2012
Pikachu
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I haven't come across an urban fantasy/thriller series this engrossing since Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series. Seriously, where to begin? I've already sung my praises in my review of the first book, but all of what I said before holds true to the sequel. The plot is fantastic, fast-paced, with romance taking a backseat. Allie is resourceful and smart; she doesn't go off seeking danger like some dumb bimbo in a B-horror movie from the 1980s. I like me a savvy heroine who's snappy, but doesn't
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Oct 12, 2011
Marsha
rated it:
How to review this book - I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it, so we'll see how this all plays out...
I liked the book, maybe even 3.5 stars worth of like, but there were just a few things that are holding me back from rounding up (again).
Allie Beckstrom is fighting to retain as much of her memory as she can, if she can only remember to set a Disbursement. You would think that someone who is as good as she is at Hounding and magic, she would be able to remember, but... More...
I liked the book, maybe even 3.5 stars worth of like, but there were just a few things that are holding me back from rounding up (again).
Allie Beckstrom is fighting to retain as much of her memory as she can, if she can only remember to set a Disbursement. You would think that someone who is as good as she is at Hounding and magic, she would be able to remember, but... More...
Aug 17, 2009
Schnaucl
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 06, 2011
Novels On The Run
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MICEHLLE'S REVIEW:
RATING: 4 MAGICALLY ORIGINAL STARS!!
Allie is one tough , stubborn woman. She is really growing on me as a character. She is learning how to care, rather than lust after. She is starting to think more about herself and what she wants, needs in her life. Her memory loss, makes for a great way for Devon to explore Allie’s character. She really has to work hard at trying to hold onto those slithers of memory that pop into her head. Trying to remember Zayvion More...
RATING: 4 MAGICALLY ORIGINAL STARS!!
Allie is one tough , stubborn woman. She is really growing on me as a character. She is learning how to care, rather than lust after. She is starting to think more about herself and what she wants, needs in her life. Her memory loss, makes for a great way for Devon to explore Allie’s character. She really has to work hard at trying to hold onto those slithers of memory that pop into her head. Trying to remember Zayvion More...
Oct 13, 2010
Shelley
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For me, this book was frustrating to review and read, especially the first third of this book. Allison, is still suffering the effects of losing 3 weeks of her memories from the events in Magic to the Bone. That includes all memories of her so called love entanglement with the mysterious Zavyion Jones, who, like it or not, I don't trust. How can we? The story is told in the POV of Allison, and not the other characters in the book. I don't even trust her fathers newest wife #6 to have her best in
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Oct 01, 2010
Mare
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 10, 2011
Lynsey
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This was a pretty decent follow up to the first book and went some way to improving on the characterization that I felt was lacking in book one, Magic to the Bone.
Having the main character, Allie Beckstom, have her memories reset back to her back to her 25th birthday, which was the opening scene of book one, was both a blessing and a curse for us as a reader. A blessing because it gave us a chance to get to know the love interest, Zayvion Jones' character a little more, and for them to More...
Having the main character, Allie Beckstom, have her memories reset back to her back to her 25th birthday, which was the opening scene of book one, was both a blessing and a curse for us as a reader. A blessing because it gave us a chance to get to know the love interest, Zayvion Jones' character a little more, and for them to More...
May 06, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
I complain sometimes about urban fantasy heroines who keep racking up more and more improbable powers over the course of a series, eventually becoming such spectacular demigoddesses that it would take a small army to give them so much as a black eye.
That's one problem Allie Beckstrom doesn't have. I'm beginning to think Allie needs more powers to deal with everything Devon Monk is throwing at her. Monk is great — maybe a little too great — at describing the agony of trekking all over More...
That's one problem Allie Beckstrom doesn't have. I'm beginning to think Allie needs more powers to deal with everything Devon Monk is throwing at her. Monk is great — maybe a little too great — at describing the agony of trekking all over More...
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Jul 28, 2010
Kt from A Book Obsession..
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After losing her memory of the terrible events of the last month, as well as everything about the man she supposedly loves, Allie is trying to pick the pieces of her life up and put them back together. She accepts a job tracking kidnappings for a special police division called MERC, and as a result finds suspicion in a fellow hound. Once again Allie finds herself in the middle of a dangerous plot and if she's to survive she must trust more than just her magical instincts.
I found the ma More...
I found the ma More...
Nov 30, 2011
Tal
rated it:
Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.
even though this is the seco More...
even though this is the seco More...
Aug 24, 2009
Cathy
rated it:
Loved it! As with the first book, Allie has immediate presence and energy. The story is vibrant and alive. The take on magic and it's consequences is original and supports an interesting story. Zay is hot, if overly mysterious. I like the build of Allie's relationship with Violet and look forward to seeing how that plays out. It's just a good read, all urban fantasy fans should pick it up.
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May 16, 2011
Ami
rated it:
I think I have a new favorite series ... Magic in the Blood is captivating. The story happens not long after the first book, Magic to the Bone. Allie is asked for help by the Magical Enforcement Response Corps to help find missing girls. But that is not all what she is facing. She starts seeing her Dad's ghost and there are watercolor people who seem to eat on her magic. It is fast and tight paced from the beginning until the (cliff-hanger) ending. Allison "Allie" Beckstrom is a strong
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Feb 08, 2011
Littlechoo
rated it:
I was really looking forward to reading it so started it right after I finished the first book and I was not disappointed. It starts where Magic to the Bone finishes, and I liked that it does. I prefer this to the story jumping a year later or something as some other books do. I was a little frustrated that Allie couldn’t remember her relationship with Zay though, but I guess that’s that’s Monk’s aim; for us to feel Allie’s frustration. It was good to see under Zay’s zen and see a little of his
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Jan 24, 2010
Tina
rated it:
This book starts weeks after Magic In The Bone ends.
Stars Breakdown - This should be 3.5 stars.
Plot 3 stars - It was a little slow for awhile but once it picks up, the book is hard to put down.
Cover 4 stars - drew me in.
Writing 4 stars
Originality 4 stars - There's magic. There's ghosts. There's ghosts feeding off the magic in Allie's body. There's body possession. Yeah, I'd say this story is original.
Characters 3 stars - More...
Stars Breakdown - This should be 3.5 stars.
Plot 3 stars - It was a little slow for awhile but once it picks up, the book is hard to put down.
Cover 4 stars - drew me in.
Writing 4 stars
Originality 4 stars - There's magic. There's ghosts. There's ghosts feeding off the magic in Allie's body. There's body possession. Yeah, I'd say this story is original.
Characters 3 stars - More...
Jun 03, 2009
Eric
rated it:
It is often the case the second books aren't nearly as interesting as first books. Of course, the author gets blamed even though it is actually a result of low advances and fast turnarounds imposed by the publishing industry. In spite of the fact that she's on a publisher's schedule where she's turning out a book every six months, Devon Monk manages to provide a really fun read that capitalizes on her first novel's characters and story line. The book reads well alone, but it really rocks as a se
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Mar 17, 2010
Shelly
rated it:
Second book in the Allie Beckstrom series.
This one has us following Allie on a Hounding job for the police while trying to figure out when she started to see ghosts. Add to that her still confused feelings about Zayvion, trying to dodge her father's ghost, getting tangled up in some bad blood magic and trying to keep the rest of her life organized... well this girl would have no luck if it weren't for the bad luck in her life.
Again, a good page turner for an urban fantas More...
This one has us following Allie on a Hounding job for the police while trying to figure out when she started to see ghosts. Add to that her still confused feelings about Zayvion, trying to dodge her father's ghost, getting tangled up in some bad blood magic and trying to keep the rest of her life organized... well this girl would have no luck if it weren't for the bad luck in her life.
Again, a good page turner for an urban fantas More...
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Nov 30, 2010
Jessica(Spinecracker)
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Originally Posted at http://thespinecracker.blogspot.com/
One of my new favorite heroines is back, and Allie has to sort through a lot of emotions and missing memories in hopes of figuring out who she's become, this time around. We start a couple weeks after the end of Magic to the Bone, and I really enjoy when an author does that in a series. I feel like my characters haven't made any important moves or decisions without me. {I'm aware how bizarre that sounds}
Allie is v More...
One of my new favorite heroines is back, and Allie has to sort through a lot of emotions and missing memories in hopes of figuring out who she's become, this time around. We start a couple weeks after the end of Magic to the Bone, and I really enjoy when an author does that in a series. I feel like my characters haven't made any important moves or decisions without me. {I'm aware how bizarre that sounds}
Allie is v More...
Jan 31, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
As mentioned by lots of other reviewers, the first third of this book was really slow, with discussions of Allie's memory loss and it dragged so much for me, that I put the book down and read some other stuff first. Since I picked it up again, the story picked up speed and I really enjoyed it.
This is a complex, magical world, where nothing comes easy and every time someone uses magic, there is some kind of payback - headache, fever, coma, memory loss. My biggest problem with the me More...
This is a complex, magical world, where nothing comes easy and every time someone uses magic, there is some kind of payback - headache, fever, coma, memory loss. My biggest problem with the me More...
Jan 20, 2011
Archer
rated it:
From: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/devo...
Working as a Hound - tracing illegal spells back to their casters - has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, More...
Working as a Hound - tracing illegal spells back to their casters - has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, More...
Aug 07, 2010
Nanci
rated it:
Another strong entry in the urban fantasy area.
Allison Beckstrom is the disenfranchised only child of Daniel Beckstrom inventor of how to safely store and draw upon the magic that pools beneath cities. Allie wants nothing to do with her father's company or wealth, preferring instead to Hound spells gone wrong to find the not so innocent bad guys.
Unfortunately there are many different layers in the political pie regarding Beckstrom Industries and things go from bad to worst wh More...
Allison Beckstrom is the disenfranchised only child of Daniel Beckstrom inventor of how to safely store and draw upon the magic that pools beneath cities. Allie wants nothing to do with her father's company or wealth, preferring instead to Hound spells gone wrong to find the not so innocent bad guys.
Unfortunately there are many different layers in the political pie regarding Beckstrom Industries and things go from bad to worst wh More...
Nov 24, 2011
Shdnx
rated it:
I kind of liked this one better than the first book of the series, but I'll admit that the main factor was that it featured a lot less paranormal-romance kind of scenes.
The book was moderately exciting, sometimes it even got interesting, but overall it's not worth more than 3 stars. Again there was a lot of stupidity in the book: Allie is still dumb and naive (not to mention how ignorant she is), and other characters also make decisions that make no sense whatsoever (not rationally a More...
The book was moderately exciting, sometimes it even got interesting, but overall it's not worth more than 3 stars. Again there was a lot of stupidity in the book: Allie is still dumb and naive (not to mention how ignorant she is), and other characters also make decisions that make no sense whatsoever (not rationally a More...
Jan 03, 2011
Carolyn F.
rated it:
First thing, has Allie ever heard of a rain coat. I have a very nice lined Anne Klein black rain jacket with a removable hood. Although Sacramento gets half the rain of Portland, I use it instead of wool hats, wool jackets, no umbrellas. Does she want to suffer? So many times when she's soaked I think, why in the hell would you not have a thick rain jacket? Ridiculous!
In the last book Allie had forgotten a big chunk of time because she used too much magic and it included falling i More...
In the last book Allie had forgotten a big chunk of time because she used too much magic and it included falling i More...
Jun 03, 2009
Jocelyn
rated it:
Though this is the second book in a series, I read it first, and that worked out pretty well since one of the side effects of the heroine using a lot of magic is that she's lost her memory of everything that happened in the last book. So when I went back to read book one, it didn't spoil anything for me.
That said, the introduction to the character was much better in book one. Starting with book two, I didn't realize the heroine is almost six feet tall until the thing was half over More...
That said, the introduction to the character was much better in book one. Starting with book two, I didn't realize the heroine is almost six feet tall until the thing was half over More...
May 03, 2009
Rhianna
rated it:
Allie Beckstrom, bad-ass Hound in Portland, Oregon, is back! She might not remember her last adventure but she's definitely living with the consequences. Something in her remembers Zayvion Jones but can she trust the thought that they were more than just friends? He's a hard man to read but Allie might have to trust him and his advice about some powerful people who police the use of magic. People her father was involved with.
But there isn't time to dwell on her missing memories becau More...
But there isn't time to dwell on her missing memories becau More...
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Jan 19, 2012
Sarah
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Magic in the Blood picks up Allie's story not long after the ending of Magic to the Bone. After events at the end of the first book forced her to use a great deal of magic Allie is still recovering both physically and mentally from the after effects. She has very few memories from the past few weeks and is trying to piece together everything from the death of her father to her strange new magical abilities, not to mention her possible relationship with Zayvion. It's not long before she has mo
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