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Kate Hamilton #1
Cast into Darkness
An ancient, deadly magic is rising, and she’s the only one who can harness it…
Kate Hamilton hates being treated like an outcast. Born a powerless Null to America's pre-eminent magical family, she escapes to a distant college and the life of a theater major. The last thing she wants is to be dragged into her family's war for global domination against the rival Makris clan. But when an innocent favor pulls Kate into a perilous contest with a legendary magical stone, she plunges into their dangerous world of spellcasting and scheming. A world Kate's sexy, devious boyfriend Kris is all too familiar with…
Hardened magical operative Kristof "Kris" Makris chafes under the rule of his lunatic father, but he's found the perfect way to overthrow his leader and save his people. But the artifact he needs is in the hands of the Hamilton family, and each attempt to steal it from Kate brings him closer to blowing his cover. If he does, he'll do more than alert his father to his treachery. He'll lose Kate. And that possibility bothers him more than he cares to admit.
As the ancient power inside the stone begins to transform Kate into a vessel of world-destroying magic, the line between friends and enemies blurs. Kristof must choose between his family and the girl he's grown to love. And Kate must either trust the man she thought she knew or lose herself to the stone’s deadly embrace.
Kate Hamilton hates being treated like an outcast. Born a powerless Null to America's pre-eminent magical family, she escapes to a distant college and the life of a theater major. The last thing she wants is to be dragged into her family's war for global domination against the rival Makris clan. But when an innocent favor pulls Kate into a perilous contest with a legendary magical stone, she plunges into their dangerous world of spellcasting and scheming. A world Kate's sexy, devious boyfriend Kris is all too familiar with…
Hardened magical operative Kristof "Kris" Makris chafes under the rule of his lunatic father, but he's found the perfect way to overthrow his leader and save his people. But the artifact he needs is in the hands of the Hamilton family, and each attempt to steal it from Kate brings him closer to blowing his cover. If he does, he'll do more than alert his father to his treachery. He'll lose Kate. And that possibility bothers him more than he cares to admit.
As the ancient power inside the stone begins to transform Kate into a vessel of world-destroying magic, the line between friends and enemies blurs. Kristof must choose between his family and the girl he's grown to love. And Kate must either trust the man she thought she knew or lose herself to the stone’s deadly embrace.
424 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2014
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1546 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 7, 2019
Full disclosure: Janet Tait is a close friend and colleague of mine and I was an early beta reader of this book. That being said, I LOVED this story from page one. The author drew me into an original world of magic that I'd never read before, where the spells have scents and each one comes with a steep price to the spell caster.
Kate is a great heroine. I love stories about a person's journey to discovering their power, and this one didn't disappoint. Kate starts the narrative as an outcast in her world, but it's that perspective of marginalization that makes her even stronger by the story's end.
Another element that I thoroughly enjoyed were the settings. The author does a tremendous job painting an image with words. I felt like I was right there with Kate, whether it was within her family's compound or on the shores of Greece.
This is a fantastic debut from an author I can't wait to read more from!
Kate is a great heroine. I love stories about a person's journey to discovering their power, and this one didn't disappoint. Kate starts the narrative as an outcast in her world, but it's that perspective of marginalization that makes her even stronger by the story's end.
Another element that I thoroughly enjoyed were the settings. The author does a tremendous job painting an image with words. I felt like I was right there with Kate, whether it was within her family's compound or on the shores of Greece.
This is a fantastic debut from an author I can't wait to read more from!
June 22, 2014
A good UF, above all if one considers this is either a debut or the work of a still minor author. Great idea and good plot, characters of the shaky side of the building. Less naivete on the lead characters, they sounded way too young for their story, and a bit more firmness on their development would have helped. I didn't like the "let's pretend" game, but kudos to the author. She didn't let this game rule nor destroy the story. It didn't turn the book into a fairy tale. It remained a wish, never became reality.
May 7, 2014
I liked the story and setting in this book. It put a different spin on magic and it's magic welders. But what killed this book for me was it's main character Kate. She was sooooo stupid. How are you gonna go back to the man that pretty much betrayed you. He used you all the way through this book until like the last 20% of the story yet you still went back to him pretty much. How dumb can a person be?! Ughh I won't read the next book or any after this one. Which is a shame because I would love to know what happens next in this world of casters, but with Kate as the main character I can't stomach it. =(
April 26, 2014
I found out about this book due to a promotional handout at WonderCon. It's quite a good read, and I look forward to the next book.
April 17, 2015
***LOVED IT!*** 5-stars for quality, story, execution. Next one will prolly be a 6-star.
Really really really good book excellently written. The prose was polished, the characters realistic in the world she created. The story was very, very good. In truth, if you took out the magic and replaced it with Tommy guns, you'd have a great Mafia book, what with all the controlling families, as well as inner factions, betrayal, mixed loyalties. The magic was juicy cherries in a thick chocolate icing on a rich black forest cake.
The dialog was organic amid the tricky talk about magic, lies, love, intrigue. Even though we could feel the youth of Kate, she wasn't a whiny brat (usually) ;-). She was strong enough to avoid Bella's Syndrome, but vulnerable enough to get herself into tight spots.
Never once slow. Never once predictable, except you knew Kate was going to become powerful, but how?
What Janet did best though was to indoctrinate us into the world of magic without lecturing, info-dumping, and never ever boring us. It seemed that as Kate learned, so did we. Masterful. The magic world she created was more plausible than most of this genre, and the mechanics of making magic not only believable but intuitively obvious in its interface (tapping out the symbol). The magic itself was fascinating, and actually as much a part of the conflict as the conniving rival family members.
Allow me to wrap this up with an analogy: So many books containing magic are stuffy, dank, musty with a peaty aftertaste, much like a rare scotch whisky. But Janet Tait's novel is neon bright, beach breezy, seaside refreshing, so unlike whisky that it reminds me of a mojito, like the one Kate drank. The story is the seltzer, the lime and the cane sugar is a likeable, genuine, strong young female character, and the magic is the mint. Drink up!
<3,
Frankie Mahrle
Really really really good book excellently written. The prose was polished, the characters realistic in the world she created. The story was very, very good. In truth, if you took out the magic and replaced it with Tommy guns, you'd have a great Mafia book, what with all the controlling families, as well as inner factions, betrayal, mixed loyalties. The magic was juicy cherries in a thick chocolate icing on a rich black forest cake.
The dialog was organic amid the tricky talk about magic, lies, love, intrigue. Even though we could feel the youth of Kate, she wasn't a whiny brat (usually) ;-). She was strong enough to avoid Bella's Syndrome, but vulnerable enough to get herself into tight spots.
Never once slow. Never once predictable, except you knew Kate was going to become powerful, but how?
What Janet did best though was to indoctrinate us into the world of magic without lecturing, info-dumping, and never ever boring us. It seemed that as Kate learned, so did we. Masterful. The magic world she created was more plausible than most of this genre, and the mechanics of making magic not only believable but intuitively obvious in its interface (tapping out the symbol). The magic itself was fascinating, and actually as much a part of the conflict as the conniving rival family members.
Allow me to wrap this up with an analogy: So many books containing magic are stuffy, dank, musty with a peaty aftertaste, much like a rare scotch whisky. But Janet Tait's novel is neon bright, beach breezy, seaside refreshing, so unlike whisky that it reminds me of a mojito, like the one Kate drank. The story is the seltzer, the lime and the cane sugar is a likeable, genuine, strong young female character, and the magic is the mint. Drink up!
<3,
Frankie Mahrle
June 12, 2014
Finally a book worth reading!
Lately I have been going through an awful book phase. I love paranormal fantasy books and this has been one of the first ones worth reading in awhile. I love the manipulation, spying, intrigue and magic all rolled into one very well written story. the story definitely resolves but leaves the door open for the sequel which I will definitely be reading, if and when it comes out. The romance is subtle and not like all these trashy paranormal pornos floating around lately. I absolutely loved the fact that it could almost be realistic and that the story had depth and background with interesting characters. so do yourself a favor and read this book now and I know you will be just as pleased as I was to delve into Kate's world of magic and adventure.
Lately I have been going through an awful book phase. I love paranormal fantasy books and this has been one of the first ones worth reading in awhile. I love the manipulation, spying, intrigue and magic all rolled into one very well written story. the story definitely resolves but leaves the door open for the sequel which I will definitely be reading, if and when it comes out. The romance is subtle and not like all these trashy paranormal pornos floating around lately. I absolutely loved the fact that it could almost be realistic and that the story had depth and background with interesting characters. so do yourself a favor and read this book now and I know you will be just as pleased as I was to delve into Kate's world of magic and adventure.
June 22, 2014
This book's plot could be summoned up in one feeling. Threatened.
Think: Swimming in the deep end surrounded by sharks with nothing but a few swimming lessons completed decades ago to help in your survival. Throughout the book I felt confused, cheated, threatened, sad, sorry for Kate. Her journey was filled with limited resources & difficult tasks. But....this made me her personal cheerleader. The writing was fantastic I was invested in the outcome. Originally the light romance was interesting but had a filler quality to it i later determined it was a necessity to the plot & served as a deeply personal lesson to Kate.
Bottom Line: I loved the world, the character & the continuous arc has my attention.
Will I read the next installment in this series? Definitely this series has great potential.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
Rating? 4.5 stars.
Think: Swimming in the deep end surrounded by sharks with nothing but a few swimming lessons completed decades ago to help in your survival. Throughout the book I felt confused, cheated, threatened, sad, sorry for Kate. Her journey was filled with limited resources & difficult tasks. But....this made me her personal cheerleader. The writing was fantastic I was invested in the outcome. Originally the light romance was interesting but had a filler quality to it i later determined it was a necessity to the plot & served as a deeply personal lesson to Kate.
Bottom Line: I loved the world, the character & the continuous arc has my attention.
Will I read the next installment in this series? Definitely this series has great potential.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
Rating? 4.5 stars.
January 12, 2015
An excellent start to a wonderful new series. I really enjoyed the book and Kate's world with the casters. It's a new and unique magical world,and one I can't wait to read more of.
February 11, 2024
A compelling magic system and world, and an interesting plot, but what ruined it for me was SPOILERS:
The main character's boyfriend early on is revealed as one of the bad guys who used magic to disguise himself, to spy on the main character (and get into her pants). After she finds out about this deception, she struggles with her feelings for him. I was really hoping for her to tell him to get lost at the end, but unfortunately she sticks with him, after all his betrayals. A really weird choice!
The main character's boyfriend early on is revealed as one of the bad guys who used magic to disguise himself, to spy on the main character (and get into her pants). After she finds out about this deception, she struggles with her feelings for him. I was really hoping for her to tell him to get lost at the end, but unfortunately she sticks with him, after all his betrayals. A really weird choice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2014
It's a magical take on Romeo and Juliet -- which the author acknowledges, I believe, by having the heroine performing in that play at the beginning of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue, magic, and most of the characters.
I do have some issues with the main character and some of the development pacing --- deaths that should have major impact on her seem to be given hardly a thought, she doesn't stand up for herself very well and unlike most UF heroines she's seems to completely devoid of any spunk and easily let's other people lead her around and make her decisions. I agree with another reviewer regarding how easily she seems to forgive a person who completely manipulated her and lied to her, even if he was attempting to make amends.
I don't think it's necessary for all heroines to be spunky, witty, and totally badass --- but I also can't stand to see someone who has absolutely no backbone or even true depth of character. (Kind of reminds me of watching Kristen Stewart on screen -- it's like you're watching a cardboard cutout)
I believe it's a first novel for this author, and I'm intrigued enough by the writing to see how events at the end of this novel might change all the issues I've got with the main character --- there is certainly the potential for that to happen. But if the same issues continue to plague the second novel, I'm not sure I would be willing to continue.
I do have some issues with the main character and some of the development pacing --- deaths that should have major impact on her seem to be given hardly a thought, she doesn't stand up for herself very well and unlike most UF heroines she's seems to completely devoid of any spunk and easily let's other people lead her around and make her decisions. I agree with another reviewer regarding how easily she seems to forgive a person who completely manipulated her and lied to her, even if he was attempting to make amends.
I don't think it's necessary for all heroines to be spunky, witty, and totally badass --- but I also can't stand to see someone who has absolutely no backbone or even true depth of character. (Kind of reminds me of watching Kristen Stewart on screen -- it's like you're watching a cardboard cutout)
I believe it's a first novel for this author, and I'm intrigued enough by the writing to see how events at the end of this novel might change all the issues I've got with the main character --- there is certainly the potential for that to happen. But if the same issues continue to plague the second novel, I'm not sure I would be willing to continue.
February 17, 2015
Everything was going along fine until she almost got killed and started acting like a little twit. Then I realized this is yet another story where the protagonist is a privileged stubborn princess who can't even say 'thank you' after getting saved. It's bad enough that she has to get saved, but to act like a thankless dimwit is just too much for me. I don't feel like reading through another story where I hate the leading lady. The cover made her look so bad-ass too, but it was misleading. I'm moving on.
July 11, 2014
This was an enjoyable read. A good array of characters with a heroine which is someone you can empathise with. including the teenage bit of rebellion. My main reservation sat with lengthy forays into details which I found distracting and the level of detail unnecessary.
My other issue was with the end where my big question was 'huh?' Why is this the outcome rather than a possible resolution? That made no sense to me.
I haven't made up my mind whether I shall go for the next novel.
My other issue was with the end where my big question was 'huh?' Why is this the outcome rather than a possible resolution? That made no sense to me.
I haven't made up my mind whether I shall go for the next novel.
June 8, 2014
Not a bad book. I liked the plot and how it was carried out. Although people were dropping like flies. Oh I just met this character and now he's dead? wait why's he dead.... The overall theme of the book. It all gets sorted at the end, well kind of.
June 18, 2014
An enjoyable read. I look forward to the next book and the new adventures it will bring.
-K
-K
dnf
February 25, 2016Unfortunately, I didn't connect with this one.
I feel a bit bad, since I won this in a giveaway... but I promise to find it a good home! Hopefully, someone who has a Goodreads ;)
I feel a bit bad, since I won this in a giveaway... but I promise to find it a good home! Hopefully, someone who has a Goodreads ;)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews