Of Magic and Mating

New Canton Republic #1

by Odessa Lynne

Thousands of years hasn’t been enough to bring an end to the conflict between humans and the aliens who share their world. But the last of the old Canton Wars has brought a fragile peace and the New Canton Republic’s been holding steady for more than a hundred years.

Then Thrace meets Gregory.

The time’s coming for the ages old conflict between species to end and magic’s got just the plan to make it happen.

Of Magic and Mating is the first book in the New Canton Republic Trilogy, from the author of The King’s Guard.

Magic and monsters don’t mix … until they do. The result is amazing sex … and a love that could change a world.

This book contains explicit sex and language. Male/Male Sexual Content.

Words: 33857 (approximate)

Genres: M M Romance, Magic, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Aliens, Romance, Fantasy

198 pages, ebook

First published September 26, 2012

Reviews

[Icedave · Rating 3 out of 5]

• interesting world (building)

• on the smutty side

• the ending is a bit sudden

• instead of a triology of novellas I'd prefer a longer novel (especially at that price per book)

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot interspecies sex and some decent word building. There were a lot of holes in the plot. Where did the magic come from? What's the story between Gregory and his family? Hopefully these holes will be answered in book two.

[Trip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has interesting world building, magic and aliens yet sadly it all fell rather flat. Its pretty fast paced with plenty of action and a lot of steam from start to finish, with two very interesting main characters and yet it's too short to give anything a chance to develop completely or focus on anything long enough.

It ends rather suddenly with nothing exactly resolved and the next book isn't about Thrace or Gregory, so that's rather disappointing. I liked these two together and the challenge between them, both are rather flawed and I found their situation a lot of fun. Gregory's magic involves pheromones so that was fun and Thrace monster seemed fascinating, these two are hot as hell together.

There's also an assassination plot and learn a little about both of their history along with family which was interesting. I wish it had been longer to have explored relationship, mating and plot development further as it kind off just finishes with none of these complete.

Still I might give the second book a try sometime as Dominay seems fun from the small amount seen of him here.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by Odessa Lynne. I thought that Thrace and Gregory were very interesting and so was the dynamics of their relationship. Thrace is a Yeeru alien and Gregory is a human assassin. The would they live in is abundant in magic and Gregory uses his gift for his job. Everything pretty much goes wrong from the get go but the journey is very interesting. My only complaint is that the book ended rather abruptly. I hope there is a sequal. *Warning* Spoiler - there is quite a bit of sex so if that isn't your thing may not enjoy the story. Thought it is an important plot point.

[Sev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this more than I thought -- dystopian societies are so not my thing. Why 4 stars then instead of 5? Because it took at least 20 pages before I could ignore the feeling I'd accidentally come in at the middle of the story and was trying to catch up. Also a couple of the author's invented words just annoyed the crap out of me, it seemed like they were totally unnecessary kludges done just to add a "sci-fi" feel.

Just found out there are two more books in this series. Looks like my go-to-bed reading list will be occupied with them for the next couple of nights.

[Mickelange · Rating 2 out of 5]

no beginning, no ending.... the second book is about the brother...
i want to know what happens next... and that will never happen, l'm affraid...

[Niquie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but too short and unresolved for how much this cost. But of course I'm gonna buy the next one, which will hopefully include closure.

[Omega696 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept of the Yeeru but overall didn't get very interested with the book. I may still read the continuation but it was not for me I think. I can't even pinpoint why exactly...

[Bekka]

This was a bit too quick and rushed
otherwise interesting concept and characters

[Fujosan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just read the first chapter and literally could not

[Adelaide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor world building, there's no clear picture of what happened before or where the whole thing even takes place. The characters are one-dimensional and undeveloped, all the reader knows about them is that one is an assassin and the other is a half-breed, that's it, there's not even a clear description of what they are supposed to look like. The plot is barely there and the ending is extremely abrupt, with pretty much everything left unresolved. I wouldn't even call this a book, more like a draft for one.

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this on a whim, and so glad I read it! I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting to! Interesting storyline, plot and the sex, while alot of it, was smoking hot. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gonna have to bump the rating up to 4 stars, because despite its flaws (and believe me, there are a few), this is also my 4th reread of this damn book, so clearly there is something here worth coming back to. Though I have no earthly idea what exactly that might be.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and smutty with interesting world building.