Hard Magic (Paranormal Scene Investigations #1) by Laura Anne Gilman

May 24, 2011 Chichipio rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I liked it. It didn't blow my mind but it made me curious to read the second installment.

With other series that wouldn't be much, but after the meh feeling left by the original series, Retrievers, I started this ready to hate it. So, reverting my opinion to the point of leaving a positive feeling was a real achievement.

Bonnie is easier to like than Wren, whose shyness and pacifism, though interesting to read, were just off-putting after a while. There was a time when she said something like "if...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

The Good Stuff:

- I like the world Ms. Gilman has created. The magic system is interesting, and unlike any other I'm familiar with.
- The main character, Bonnie, is awesome. Come to think of it, so is everyone else we meet. Ms. Gilman does a great job of creating colourful, realistic characters.
- The interaction of the PUPI team. Also, the fact that PUPI is pronounced 'puppy'. :)
- The tension between Venec and Bonnie. There's some serious sizzle there, complicated by the fact that he's her boss a...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 80-books-2012, e-books, i-own

Several months ago I felt the urge to rad another paranormal-crime-investigator-story, and started to look for one, especially in the ebook section on Amazon.I bought several, buzt not even one came close to being a really good story.
Until last week, when I found Hard Magic.

After this disappointment with the last ebooks I was sceptical in the beginning, but my sceptisism was soon overruled by joy, because I liked this novel.
In the beginning the reader got lots and lots of information, almost to...more Several months ago I felt the urge to rad another paranormal-crime-investigator-story, and started to look for one, especially in the ebook section on Amazon.I bought several, buzt not even one came close to being a really good story.
Until last week, when I found Hard Magic.

After this disappointment with the last ebooks I was sceptical in the beginning, but my sceptisism was soon overruled by joy, because I liked this novel.
In the beginning the reader got lots and lots of information, almost too much, but while readig on you understand why you need those information.
The characters are designed with love, all have their good ways and their bad things, so they are all kind of "real"characters.It's nice to read a novel where the protagonist doesn't take the lead role or is appointed being the boss in a group of characters. In Hard Magic, it's more like a little fight to see who has the guts to be the boss of the investigators, without really finding one who has to be the boss because of his/her "great and best characteristics and power of all". I liked that a lot.

Also, the paranormal world was one to my liking. The enlacement of electricity with current, the thinking of Council, Council, Nulls and Talents, and the enlaced societies were great. Also, the fact that the PUPI-people were the first to be investigators eypecially for the talented society is great, and makes lots of primises for the future.

The crimestory itself was vanishin in the back sometimes, because the first novel of this series needed to make all the characters and their relationships/lifes/powers clear to the reader. Nonotheless, I found myself a bit disappointed by it, especially by the ending, because it felt too rushes, and I missed kind of a fight (yes, there was one, but it was not a fight concerining the murders...).

I really liked this novel and I'm giving it a solid 4 star-rating. I'm looking forward to reading the next one, because so far even this first novel in this series was an enthralling read. (less)

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Mar 01, 2012 Dracolibris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, urban-fantasy

Bonnie Torres is a recent college grad and a Talent who is in need of a job. When she finally gets a call for a mysterious position for a mysterious new organization, she realizes she could be part of a team of magical investigators who are after the truth, and nothing but the truth. Neither enforcers, nor judges, the P.U.P.I. (Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations) group will use their various magical talents to work outside the constrains of the human and Council world to seek the t...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hard Magic (Book 1, Paranormal Scene Investigations)
By Laura Anne Gilman
Paperback: 336 pages
Kindle Edition 322 KB
Publisher: Luna; Original edition (May 1, 2010)
Excerpt
Purchased from Amazon

Back of the Book

Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic.

My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job

...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Rhonda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really have liked this series. Love how all the characters interact. Their is still a lot we dont know about them. Slowly builds what you know what you want to know.
Bonnie has just graduated from collage. She is living in a hotel that her mentor is paying for her. Trying to find a job but no one hires her. Her resume looks good and she gets lots of call backs but because she can not use technolgy she doesn't get hired.
Then one day she gets a message on her answering machine from a business she...more I really have liked this series. Love how all the characters interact. Their is still a lot we dont know about them. Slowly builds what you know what you want to know.
Bonnie has just graduated from collage. She is living in a hotel that her mentor is paying for her. Trying to find a job but no one hires her. Her resume looks good and she gets lots of call backs but because she can not use technolgy she doesn't get hired.
Then one day she gets a message on her answering machine from a business she did not apply for a job, time of her interview and address. She is curious so goes and finds a group of people waiting to be interviewed for a job just like her at same time. after a half hour no one comes into the office they get curious and knock on inner door and look in and find a dead body.
They don't rush to call cops but infact go closer to the body making sure he is dead. They all look around and keep noticing facts asking questions and answering them. Then the dead body gets up and tells them they are all hired.
After they all recover they find out about P.U.P.I. A company that looks into things that talents are doing not for councel but for truth and holding people accountable for their actions. They are all talent. Which means they have magic gifts that they can use to help them find the facts of a case.
They all have different skills. Bonnie is great at remembering details of things she sees.
One is computer hacker that is a very rare skill most can't use technolgy because their power is current so destroys things. One can tell when most people lie.
Ian and Ben are the Top Dogs who started the company because they saw a need. They spend a lot of time teaching them how to use their currents in different ways to gather evidence and find the facts. Forensic magic its never been used that way.
Their are people that don't want the facts comming out about what they might do and try to destroy the company.
Their first case a daughter does not believe her parents committed suicide in a car that know one knows who owns it.
its a well arounded book. I like Laura Anne Gilman's books. I have in last 3 days read 3 of them and plan to read more in the future.(less)

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Feb 08, 2011 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you like CSI and you like paranormal, then you're TOTALLY going to enjoy Laura Anne Gilman's PSI series! I had enjoyed the Retriever's series, so I got this book on principle. Imagine how delighted (but unsurprised) I was to discover another terrific series. Laura continues to twist the paranorma in new and exciting ways. Her PUPI unit (yeah, it's pronounced "puppy") is the paranormal's answer to CSI, but with a lot less respect. So far.

Bonita (Bonnie) Torres, a Talent without a purpose or a...more

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Dec 13, 2010 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bonnie, a recent college grad, comes from a very unique background. She was raised in two different worlds and this makes her a little different from everyone else. She's having a terrible time trying to find a job because of this. But then one day, a mysterious phone call changes everything. She finds herself mixed up in a group on the cutting edge of magical forensics. It's up the her and the team to set out and prove their worth in order to keep their jobs, all the while dodging someone's sab...more Bonnie, a recent college grad, comes from a very unique background. She was raised in two different worlds and this makes her a little different from everyone else. She's having a terrible time trying to find a job because of this. But then one day, a mysterious phone call changes everything. She finds herself mixed up in a group on the cutting edge of magical forensics. It's up the her and the team to set out and prove their worth in order to keep their jobs, all the while dodging someone's sabotaging efforts. Not everyone wants magic to be policed and if they aren't careful they stand to lose a lot more than just their jobs.

Bonnie is a really interesting character. Her birth father was a lonejack, an unorganized magic user, and her mentor/adopted father is a full fledged member of the council, the organized side of magic. This makes her very unique as she comes from "both sides of the river." In this book lonejacks and council just do not understand the other, but Bonnie does, and this is a rare talent. She also has amazing mental recall which makes her really good at capturing a scene. She also is bisexual, which isn't a problem in itself. However every time she meets someone she spends a long time in her head analyzing her attraction to the person, and that got old after a while.

The most enjoyable part of the book was the characters themselves. The team is comprised of individuals that could not be any more different. But somehow they all blend together to work great together. Don't get me wrong, in the beginning it was rough until they learned to play well together, but as time went on you could really see why the boss men picked each of them. Speaking of the boss men, the lone jack of the two, Vasic was really intriguing. I enjoyed the slight sexual tension between him and Bonnie and I'm eager to see whether it is just one sided or mutual.

This book really had a lot of potential for me, but it ultimately fell short. While the premise behind the book was intriguing and original, the book was paced incredibly slow at times, making it hard to stay focused. It became confusing at times because I just couldn't keep my interest in it enough to really pay attention to the fine details. That being said, I think the series could really pick in future books as the world has been fully established. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with each other, so hopefully the next book will pick up the pace and make it a really enjoyable book. I'm rating this one a generous three butterflies based on the potential of the series.(less)

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Jul 15, 2010 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

You've graduated college, you're staying in a hotel paid for by your Talent mentor, you're job hunting. Sounds like a good thing? Right? In some ways it probably was for Bonita Torres. She had finished college well and was qualified for most anything she wanted to do but hadn't made it past the first interview on any of her applications. Then, she gets a call - be there at 2:00 pm the next day. Her mentor strongly disapproves but Bonnie shows up anyway.

And meets four of the most Talented folks s...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Angela (Reading Angels) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It took me almost a week to get through this book, but that is in no way a reflection on the writing. I've once again been suffering with my terrible headaches :-( But I finally got some head-ache free time to dig in, and I whipped right through it.

This book was so original and entertaining. Although there really wasn't much action, or suspense until near the end, the whole premise of the book was entertaining enough not to need it. Bonnie is thrown into this group to try to help solve crimes co...more

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May 30, 2010 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Plot Summary: Bonita Torres is a fresh-faced college grad who is having no luck job hunting in NYC, and knowing how to use magic hasn’t even helped her so far. Just when desperation is starting to kick in, Bonnie gets a call to be at a certain office at a certain time, and despite the vague tidings, she attends the interview, which results in a job with the newly formed Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations (PUPI). She is joined by four other new hires, each with a unique skill set, and...more Plot Summary: Bonita Torres is a fresh-faced college grad who is having no luck job hunting in NYC, and knowing how to use magic hasn’t even helped her so far. Just when desperation is starting to kick in, Bonnie gets a call to be at a certain office at a certain time, and despite the vague tidings, she attends the interview, which results in a job with the newly formed Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations (PUPI). She is joined by four other new hires, each with a unique skill set, and their training time is over when PUPI is asked to investigate a double suicide as a possible homicide.

I’m of two minds with regards to Hard Magic. On one side, I recognize that this is an intelligent, realistic kind of urban fantasy, and readers who enjoy shows like CSI or paranormal investigations plots will enjoy Laura Anne Gilman’s practical approach to her magical world. The magic users may be referred to as Talent, but learning to use the magic is pure, hard work. Readers who like ensemble casts will also enjoy the camaraderie and teamwork between all the characters, and in that regard this urban fantasy is unique; the heroine doesn’t have to go it alone.

So that’s all on the plus side. On the negative side, I found it to be fairly slow going and even a bit dull through some parts. A surprising amount of the story involves the recruits’ training, and it’s not terribly interesting stuff, although I will say that Ms. Gilman is utterly convincing when describing how magic works. She breaks it down to an almost scientific level, so nerdy readers could groove on the authenticity.

The story ended on a down note, almost like an old-fashioned detective noir, and again, I’m torn on whether I approve or not. Part of me loves it, and the other part of me says it’s better to end installments on high notes. What makes me want to try book two, Pack of Lies (February 2011), is the stellar cast of the PUPI team. I can see this series becoming a paranormal mystery powerhouse, with all kinds of interesting interpersonal relationships between the team members down the road. I’m splitting the rating on this one - 3.5 stars.(less)

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May 14, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, netgalley, for-review-read

Bonnie has recently graduated from college and has started working for the newly formed organisation Private, Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations (known as PUPI for short). PUPI is the first organisation of it's kind, started to investigate crimes within the magical community. Magic has never been used for forensic investigations before so Bonnie and her colleagues are going to have to learn on the job and make things up as they go along.

Their first job is to investigate the deaths of an eld...more

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Sep 13, 2010 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lunapome

Shelves: fantastical, dum-da-dum-dum

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've enjoyed Gilman's Retrievers series for ages. Most urban fantasy struggles to reach a note of originality, choosing instead to weave elements of traditional folklore into a modern setting. Gilman takes a twist I haven't seen before. Her magic users, far from using mysterious or misunderstood potions, use electricity to fuel their abilities, gathering their strength from wiring in the walls, skimming off of the third rail of the NYC subway, or from the crackle of lightning in the air during a...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Mikaela rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Luna, available both in print and e-book

Why was it in my TBR? I know Laura Anne Gilman writes books I love.

The Review:

The Blurb:
Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations
A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic.
My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: detective-bounty-hunter, fantasy-other-world, wizard-witch

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations (P.U.P.I.)

Talents - magical people, who pull on electrical current (both natural and man-made) with focus, spells, and execute magic. and the talents are split between Council and lone-jacks. and Stosser and Vanec - two magicians, decide to start a magic investigation unit that objectively, and with magic, search for the truth in crimes that include Talent. an unknown commodity.

Story is told by Bonita aka Bonnie. She's a graduate, looking for a j...more

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May 22, 2010 Melindeeloo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, magic

Laura Anne Gilman returns us to the magical New York of her Retrievers series - a world in which there are Talents - individuals who can manipulate 'current' (electrical energy) to perform magic. Hard Magic takes a step back in time as we see how Bonnie, a 20-something, paranormal investigator and eventual next door neighbor to Wren, gets her start in the investigating biz.

I did enjoy Hard Magic though as a series starter there are some growing pains. The mystery - an apparent dual suicide with...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

The premise of Hard Magic sounded so good that I was really excited to read it. I did find that the book didn’t really focus on the mystery aspect as much as it just set up the characters and the setting for more books in the series.
I think my biggest problem with Hard Magic was that it starts off slowly and builds up the story and it takes a really long time to get to the main plot of the story.
I liked the characters. At this point I’m not sure I have a favourite but I would absolutely love to...more

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May 18, 2011 CRO rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-urban-fantasy, books-read-in-2011

Whoever thought an instruction manual for using modern day magic to solve crimes could be so entertaining and charming?

I'm a fan of Gilman's work - I read the first book in her Retriever series (Staying Dead) a couple of years ago and actually found my way into this series while looking for the 2nd Sergei and Wren book.

Yeah, things that I liked: Gilman's take on using magic or current (as her practitioners like to call it) is fascinating and extremely imaginative to say the least. The plot of he...more Whoever thought an instruction manual for using modern day magic to solve crimes could be so entertaining and charming?

I'm a fan of Gilman's work - I read the first book in her Retriever series (Staying Dead) a couple of years ago and actually found my way into this series while looking for the 2nd Sergei and Wren book.

Yeah, things that I liked: Gilman's take on using magic or current (as her practitioners like to call it) is fascinating and extremely imaginative to say the least. The plot of her story is very well organized and constructed - no huge glaring gaffs or continuity issues that often arise in mystery/ romance/ urban fantasy novels. Gaffs and illogical continuity are huge pet peeves of mine so a nod to the actual mystery or snarl that has to be untangled at the heart of the novel is actually high praise from me. And as with Staying Dead - the gum shoe, 40's detective meets goth/ coffee house girl pat and narrative style is a lot of fun 89.5% of the time.

Things that were not so yeah: Didn't really connect to the characters too much and the first 50 pages were hard to get through (I'm glad I stayed with it b/c the pace really picked up after that). OK that 40's detective/ goth/ coffee house girl geek speak that I said I loved 89.5% of the time - well 10.5% of the time I found it really annoying and too clever for its own good. Sometimes Gilman's very distinctive narrative style got in it's own way and I found myself having to go back and re-read passages so I could keep up with the story. The last thing I didn't like - and I admit this is really picky - was the name of the paranormal investigative team: Private Unaffiliatated Paranormal Investigators - aka PUPI - which until they told me in about the 3rd or 4th chapter was supposed to sound like puppy I got caught in my head as sounding like poopy. Ok this last one is probably all me - I'll take that - but it was kind of hard to relax into the world of the story when my head kept referring to the investigative team as the poopy detectives. Very childish I know....my humble apologies to Ms. Gilman.

Liked the book enough to want to read more in this series:).(less)

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Nov 29, 2010 Wicked Lil Pixie (Natasha) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hard Magic is the first book in the PSI series & it really is a set up book for the rest of a the series. We meet all the main characters & go through the training the get to use magic with forensics.

The main character is Bonnie Torres, she’s recently graduated college & has been applying to all sorts of jobs with no luck. One day she comes home, home being a hotel her mentor has been paying for, to a voicemail that says to come to a location at a certain time, a job she knows she di...more Hard Magic is the first book in the PSI series & it really is a set up book for the rest of a the series. We meet all the main characters & go through the training the get to use magic with forensics.

The main character is Bonnie Torres, she’s recently graduated college & has been applying to all sorts of jobs with no luck. One day she comes home, home being a hotel her mentor has been paying for, to a voicemail that says to come to a location at a certain time, a job she knows she didn’t apply for. It turns out the owners of PUPI (Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations) want her & a few other Talents. Bonnie is a Talent aka a human with magic, who can twist & bend current to suit different needs. But Bonnie also has another skill, photographic memory & the Boys of PUPI need her. Add to it, one of Bonnie’s bosses is smoking hot & she’s in.

Bonnie is a really likable character, she’s a twentysomething & still out to have a good time…sometimes she comes off a bit skanky though. She just comes off as someone you’d be okay hanging out with. But with the whole PUPI crew, no matter the Alpha/Omega struggles they have, you know they’d have each other’s back when need be.

The book reads very CSI like, which I loved…but the plot-line just didn’t do it for me. The death of two talents (magic users) didn’t appeal. I don’t know what it was lacking but to me the ending came to abruptly & left me questioning what had happened, did I miss something? I just think it wasn’t as detailed as it could be. It’s a lot of set up & not much mystery.

What kept me reading was the sexual tension between Bonnie & one of her bosses Ben. Sweet Jesus, it’s so thick you could cut it with a knife. I was waiting for them to fall into bed together the whole entire book. They have some serious chemistry happening. But the secondary characters are all just as awesome, you fall in love with a little bit of each of them.

An okay set up to a new series, but the mystery isn’t really much of a mystery.(less)

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Jul 03, 2012 Sherie Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read the other series this is a spin-off of but I enjoyed this so I might check it out. Only a couple things bugged me. The ending which was arbitrary and didn't really resolve anything. Not ideal. And the other is I guess I just don't get why exactly the two bosses hired everybody and started training them before establishing a business. Like why didn't they do this stuff on their own and then hire more people after they'd sort of proven themselves? The authors way is more interesting...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Randi rated it 3 of 5 stars

The main character, Bonnie, graduated with no employment offers. She was looking for one when she received a strange phone call requesting for an interview at a mysterious place. Even though she would be smart to ignore the phone, her curiosity gets her when she tried to scurry for answers regarding the phone call and found that it was blocked by a Talent (magician). So she went and found an opportunity to become a member of CSI-like team. It'd be PSI (paranormal scene investigations).

Some scene...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-reviews

The premise of Hard Magic appeals to be hugely given its blend of urban fantasy and forensic mystery - both genres I really enjoy. In Gilman's world, crimes by magic users are seldom policed. Despite opposition from the various groups in the community, the Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations (PUPI) is established and recruits a group of bright and determined twenty somethings to create a core investigation group. The group must work together, stretching their skills and knowledge to...more The premise of Hard Magic appeals to be hugely given its blend of urban fantasy and forensic mystery - both genres I really enjoy. In Gilman's world, crimes by magic users are seldom policed. Despite opposition from the various groups in the community, the Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations (PUPI) is established and recruits a group of bright and determined twenty somethings to create a core investigation group. The group must work together, stretching their skills and knowledge to make the concept work.
I like Gilman's idea of current, it has an original twist on what magic is. I particularly enjoy that the forensics that the group is trying to develop also gives insight into how the magic system works.
Some might find the first part of the story a bit slow as the group trains but I found it fascinating. As the group begins working the case I like that they work on the fly, stumbling a bit here and there. The main storyline is complicated by attacks from another group. I admit I felt that to have missed Aden's harrasment seemed a little too convenient but it didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story.
Bonnie Torres is the dominant personality of the group, in her early twenties she is smart, stubborn and curious, traits that make her a natural for the team. I like Bonita's character, she demonstrates loyalty and respect for her family and team, without being subservient. I find it interesting that Gilman identifies Bonnie as bisexual (with out any explicit interaction in case it bothers you)just because it is something a little unusual for the genre. There is a hint of frission with Ben that looks like it could yield romantic possibilities though.
I also like the 'Big Dogs' and the rest of the 'puppies', Gilman gives us enough information and background about them to be able to identify them. They play a supportive role to Bonita in this installment but I was satisfied with that.
I was reasonably sure that I would find the the Paranormal Scene Investigations series interesting because the blend of genres appeals to my reading preferences so I am delighted to confirm Hard Magic is a great series debut.
Luckily I can go on to reading the sequel Pack of Lies (to be released later this month) having successfully requested it from Netgalley.(less)

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May 18, 2010 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, urban-fantasy

This is the first book in a new series. It reminded me of CSI (which I don't really watch) and Law and Order Criminal Intent.

The main character in the book is named Bonnie (Bonita) Torres. She's a recent graduate and unemployed. The reason she's unemployed is because she's a Talent. In this world there are people who have the magical ability to control what is known as current (like electrical current). Some jobs don't want people with these abilities, especially a lot of tech jobs because Talen...more This is the first book in a new series. It reminded me of CSI (which I don't really watch) and Law and Order Criminal Intent.

The main character in the book is named Bonnie (Bonita) Torres. She's a recent graduate and unemployed. The reason she's unemployed is because she's a Talent. In this world there are people who have the magical ability to control what is known as current (like electrical current). Some jobs don't want people with these abilities, especially a lot of tech jobs because Talents have trouble being around technology and not blowing it up. So Bonnie is looking for a job when she gets an anonymous phone call telling her to show up at a location for a job. When she shows up, it's to find 4 other people there who also have Talent. The job is to become a part of P.U.P.I, and investigate crimes via magic means. The team works together to become better at using their magic, and when they get their first case they must work to find a killer while battling resistance from the magical community.

I'm still trying to process what I thought about this one. On one hand, there were things I really enjoyed about it. Namely, it felt different from other UF books. Yes there was the idea of magic and some fey creatures but it also felt a lot like a criminal investigation book. I thought it was a unique combination of genres. I really liked Bonnie (also, I think she is the first bi-sexual lead heroine I've seen - there were no real sex scenes though) she was an interesting mix of tough girl persona and a softee at heart. I found it amusing as she battled against her hormones and would talk to herself. I also really enjoyed the side characters. They were pretty developed, and they definitely added entertainment and drama to the book. I did get a little tired of the sniping between two of them. But otherwise, they were a pleasure to read about.

Some of the things I didn't like, the number one issue was the speed of the book. It was not a fast paced, page turner. It moved at a speed resembling a tortoise IMO. This didn't necessarily make it a "bad" book, but I guess I went into it with expectations of being like the other UF books, constant battle, constant battle, some sex, constant battle. And it wasn't really like that. The worst part for me was the beginning. It was a little slow to start after an interesting Prologue, and then it went a little more slow as the world was becoming built. After that, I got used to the pace eventually and the story was interesting.

I will definitely read the next book in the series, Pack of Lies. There were loose ends that weren't tied up in this book, and I want to see if a relationship becomes more developed.(less)

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Apr 30, 2010 Sophia (FV) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Rating 2.5

Bonita (Bonnie) Torres is fresh out of college and aggressively job searching. She’s living in a hotel thanks to the generosity of her mentor, but is more than ready to find a job and stand on her own two feet. She is also a magic-user, also known as Talent. She, and other Talents are able to use electrical current to create magic. When she receives a mysterious phone call offering a job interview for a job she didn’t apply for, she’s suspicious but decides to go for it. The next thing...more Rating 2.5

Bonita (Bonnie) Torres is fresh out of college and aggressively job searching. She’s living in a hotel thanks to the generosity of her mentor, but is more than ready to find a job and stand on her own two feet. She is also a magic-user, also known as Talent. She, and other Talents are able to use electrical current to create magic. When she receives a mysterious phone call offering a job interview for a job she didn’t apply for, she’s suspicious but decides to go for it. The next thing she knows, she is offered a job as part a brand new paranormal investigative team called P.U.P.I (Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations). It’s sort of a CSI unit for the super-natural community known as the Cosa Nostradamus. Their first case is to investigate the deaths of couple of Talents suspected of being a suicide.

Hard Magic is the first book in the Paranormal Scene Investigations Series. In looking at Laura Anne Gilman’s website I see that it is based in the same world as her Retriever series. Although I have not read the Retriever series, I was able to pick up on the Cosa Nostradamus world quite easily and I believe this series can be read without having read the Retriever series.

Overall I would say that Hard Magic is not your average run of the mill urban fantasy. The world that it is based in is quite interesting and I really did like the CSI aspect on the story. However, I felt like the story fell a little short in actual mystery and suspense and wished there would have been a little more focus on the actual investigative angle.

Bonnie is all the things that I usually like in an urban fantasy heroine. She is independent, proactive and comfortable with who she is. However, I never really connected with her and felt she lacked a certain charisma. There was nothing particularly unlikeable about her, I just didn’t seem to connect. A few of the secondary characters possessed a bit more spark but I felt like they too lacked that wow factor.

While I liked the creative take on magic and the world this book was based in, I didn’t connect with the characters and I had hoped for a bit more in the area of mystery and suspense. Unfortunately this book was not for me, but after reading Hard Magic, I am curious about the Retriever series and I have not totally ruled out reading the next book in the Paranormal Scene Investigations Series. (less)

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May 21, 2010 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

As usual, LAG provides us with a great kick-ass and take names story. Unlike her Retriever novels, she really gets to focus on a group setting. She is awesome at integrating the team, while still allowing them to be individuals with their own quirks. I totally enjoyed the romantic setup and can't wait for the next to come out to see where it leads.

The Talent world that LAG has given us before is expanded here with a twist. I love where she is taking the story and I'm glad that Bonnie gets to tel...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've mentioned before in previous reviews of mine that Urban fantasy is a genre that I find hit or miss. Certainly its popular, authors are doing well cranking them up, but many urban fantasy novels feel like either romance novels with not well worked out paranormal elements, or feel like they are bandwagoners trying to get in on a hot sub-genre. And, I generally like my landscapes more fantastic and bigger. But I am willing to dip into the sub-genre now and again, if for no other reason than to...more I've mentioned before in previous reviews of mine that Urban fantasy is a genre that I find hit or miss. Certainly its popular, authors are doing well cranking them up, but many urban fantasy novels feel like either romance novels with not well worked out paranormal elements, or feel like they are bandwagoners trying to get in on a hot sub-genre. And, I generally like my landscapes more fantastic and bigger. But I am willing to dip into the sub-genre now and again, if for no other reason than to keep abreast of how it is evolving.

Laura Anne Gilman is an author whose work I have not read before, but she has popped up in mentions of blog posts and social media by authors I have varying levels of contact and friendship with. So, I was delighted to enter and win a contest for a copy (signed as it turns out) of one of her books: Hard Magic

Hard Magic starts a new novel in her "Cosa Nostradamus" universe. Seven books in, there is not a lot of explanation of how the universe works, but clues in the book provided by good writing from Gilman allowed me to piece together that Hard Magic and its previous novels are set in a modern-day urban fantasy universe where magicians, and nonhuman races ("fatae") secretly live in a world ignorant of their presence. A major organized faction of practitioners (Talents), called the Council, try to organize the magical community. Opposing them are lonejacks, who are talents who try and make their own, anarchic way in keeping their powers secret and doing the business of making a living.

Bonnie Torres, a character who had appeared as a minor character in previous Cosa Nostradamus books, gets center stage in Hard Magic. With a Council patron, and a lonejack sort of independence, she nicely encapsulates the dichotomy between these factions as she tries to make a living in NYC.

When Bonnie gets a call to attend a job interview she never applied for, she is soon sucked into PUPI--Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations. She joins a number of other misfit Talents similarly recruited, and together learn to harness their powers for magical forensics.

Oh, and of course, they DO get a case, investigate the strange suicide of a prominent pair of Council members that may very well be something more than a suicide. And in the process, Bonnie and her new friends stir up a number of very dangerous hornets nests in the process...

As an expatriate New Yorker, I felt like a slice of home reading this book, as, with the exception of a few teleports to Boston and Chicago, the entirety of the book takes place in New York City. From jokes about the GWB to pumpernickel bagels, Gilman brings forth the spirit of New York. Bonnie is clearly not a native, and we get a sense of her trying to understand the city, like a cat, has decided to adopt her. Unlike some urban fantasy that I have read, the setting is in harmony with the fantastic elements and they work together (much like, say, Elizabeth Bear's Blood and Iron).

The central mystery is a fair one by the standards of the universe. More than the mystery, though, the writing and the text show that Gilman is even more interested in exploring the characters. While we only follow Bonnie's point of view and her mind, Gilman does allow us to slowly reveal aspects of her employers and fellow employees. By the end of the book, we have a good handle not only on Bonnie but also her evolving relationships with PUPI, and her mentor J as well.

The advantage for Gilman to start a new series within her Cosa Nostradamus universe is that it provides a new entry point for people wanting to explore a new urban fantasy universe. If you are looking to try some urban fantasy, or more especially if you are a urban fantasy junkie, I recommend you give Bonnie Torres and the PUPI investigators a try. (less)

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Jun 15, 2011 Leah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, urban-fantasy

So I really only picked this book up because it was one of the few on the library display rack that looked half-way okay. I wasn't really expecting anything much. The main character is okay. She's fairly generic for Urban Fiction. And the supporting cast was nothing spectacular. Although I will always stand by my weakness and affection for the gawky, nerdy guy in any place and tell her to just give Nick a chance damn it!
Beyond that I wasn't really impressed with the plot of the book. The idea of...more

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May 20, 2010 Natasha A. rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW! I absolutely loved this book. I think I devoured it in minutes. I had no idea it was a spin off of another series (Retrievers Series), so I will be definitely going to check those out. Also, I am so extremely grateful that there are more coming in Paranormal Scene Investigations Series.

I love Bonita! She is a fun quirky character. She's smart and has had some knocks in life. But she found help with a mentor named J. He's helped her along being the father that she needed. I absolutely love t...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Glenn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I'm not sure why this book was as highly rated as it is. While the premise is original (paranormal CSI investigating a murder), the writing is boring and the plot is not enough to drive the book. The main character, Bonnie Torres, is supposed to have a Latina exterior and Western European interior. She is also bisexual but is really only interested in men in the book. And unconvincing as a 21 year old recent college graduate. So it's a superficial showing of diversity at best. The scenes of high...more

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May 21, 2010 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

I suppose it must be obvious to anyone who reads my reviews that I enjoy Laura Anne Gilman's writing. I've only read every one of her Retrievers series as well as every one of her short stories sold via Fictionwise (including some that I'd already read in various anthologies, but I didn't want to miss anything). I've been waiting anxiously for Hard Magic, the first in the new Paranormal Scene Investigations series, and it did not disappoint me in the least.

If you've read the Retrievers books, yo...more

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Hard Magic (Paranormal Scene Investigations #1)

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