A Murder of Mages

Maradaine Sequence #2

by Marshall Ryan Maresca

The first book of the Maradaine Constabulary series blends high fantasy, murder mystery, and gritty urban magic...Marking the debut of the second series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine, A Murder of Mages introduces us to this spellbinding port city as seen through the eyes of the people who strive to maintain law and the hardworking men and women of the Maradaine Constabulary.   Satrine Rainey—former street rat, ex-spy, mother of two, and wife to a Constabulary Inspector who lies on the edge of death, injured in the line of duty—has been forced to fake her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to support her family.   Minox Welling is a brilliant, unorthodox Inspector and an Uncircled mage—almost a crime in itself. Nicknamed “the jinx” because of the misfortunes that seem to befall anyone around him, Minox has been partnered with Satrine because no one else will work with either of them.   Their first case together—the ritual murder of a Circled mage— sends Satrine back to the streets she grew up on and brings Minox face-to-face with mage politics he’s desperate to avoid. As the body count rises, Satrine and Minox must race to catch the killer before their own secrets are exposed and they, too, become targets.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, High Fantasy

340 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 7, 2015

About the author

Marshall Ryan Maresca is a fantasy and science-fiction writer, author of sixteen novels, most of which are part of the Maradaine Saga: Four braided series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine. He is also the author of the standalone dieselpunk fantasy, The Velocity of Revolution. He is a four-time Hugo finalist as the co-host of the podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, and has been a playwright, an actor and an amateur chef. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.

Reviews

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a whim--still whittling down that TBR list, don't you know--I picked this one out of the list. Well, actually, a whim and Carly's review. She's often my book-twin in the fantasy world:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

What stands out here is a fantasy setting that is an action-focused plot structured like a police procedural. A woman and a man sharing lead, sharing narrative, and yet--this is remarkable here--not about to fall in love. I hope I don't regret those words later. There are complex back stories for both characters that eventually get somewhat fleshed out. It's one of the more interesting things about this tale, the feeling that both characters have lived through some significant personal events, particularly Satrine, the woman. And can we just talk about the woman a minute? A street rat grown up, undercover job in Intelligence, then married with kids and now a disabled husband. Seriously, sadly, unique in fantasy-land. But she is as tough as nails, and I believe both her rough beginning, passion for the job, and love for her family. I also like how feminist issues are woven into this story, although I'd probably question the realism of the character in that context. We'll see. First book in the series and all that.

Writing is above average, with a nice balance between image, dialogue, and action. I'd say the most notable deficits seem to be in pacing/plotting. Most of the story takes place in three days, which is borderline insane. It's not steam-punk, at this point. It feels like Victorian England-ish (I'm terrible at time periods) with a horse-cart based transportation system, a sewer system in place, and shop economies, along with various magical, secretive mage guilds.

I found the story very absorbing and finished in the same night. Granted, I wasn't working, but it was that engaging. I'll be picking up the next. Many thanks to Ms. Carly!

Three-and-a-half stars, rounding up.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/06/18/b...

UPDATED: US Giveaway for the book running from 6/18 to 6/28, details: http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/06/18/b...

A Murder of Mages is the first book of a series dedicated to the Maradaine Constabulary, set in the same wonderful world as Marshall Ryan Maresca’s debut novel The Thorn of Dentonhill. No need to read one before the other, though; that’s the beauty of it. Despite their shared setting, the series are companions to one another, each featuring separate stories and starring completely different characters.

And having read both books now, I can say they are both equally great. However, A Murder of Mages might have just the slightest itty-bitty edge here, since I admit a penchant for detective stories, not to mention a super soft spot for lady cops.

One of the main protagonists is Satrine Rainey – a wife, a mother of two, and a former street rat and ex-spy. After her constable husband suffers a grave injury in the line of duty, it is up to Satrine to figure out a way to support and care for the family. Using her skills, she is able to fake her way into the Maradaine Constabulary to land herself a job as an Inspector third class, where she is promptly paired up with another inspector who no one wanted to partner with – Minox Welling, an Uncircled mage nicknamed Jinx because his past partners have all met with unfortunate accidents.

Her first day on the job, Satrine is sent out with Minox to the streets where she grew up to investigate the body of a mage found in an alley, staked to the ground with his heart cut out. When more victims of these ritual murders are discovered, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues as the inspectors race against time to track down the elusive killer.

Once again, the author is able to create something altogether unique and fresh by adding his own twist to a familiar idea like the male and female crime-solving duo. I enjoyed the dynamics in the relationship between Satrine and Minox, especially since we know right off the bat that it will be a platonic one. The narrative makes it clear that Satrine has a disabled husband at home who she is deeply devoted to, which in and of itself is an intriguing albeit heartbreaking element to throw into the mix.

Satrine is genuinely one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever met. Without overwhelming us with details, Maresca gives us a glimpse into her rough childhood as a street urchin. After she was recruited by the Druth Intelligence and doing her stint as a spy, Satrine met and married Loren Rainey and they had two daughters. In light of the devastating accident that leaves Satrine as the sole provider and caregiver for her husband and their girls, I really couldn’t blame her for deceiving the Constabulary to get her job under false pretenses. A mother wants the best for her children, and in Satrine’s case she wanted to give Rian and Caribet a good life and a good education, the sort of opportunities Satrine could only dream about when she was their age. It’s hard to fault her for those sentiments.

I didn’t get as deep of a feel for Minox Welling, but he’s a great character as well. Mages are a complex class in these Maradaine novels, as evidenced by the protagonist of Maresca’s first novel The Thorn of Dentonhill. Through Minox the reader was able to get a better feel for how mages fit in this society. Uncircled mages like him appear to be treated with disdain (you’re either a failure, in hiding, or a late-bloomer – none of which are good to be) and even Circled mages seem feared and distrusted by the local populace. Having a child who is a mage is even a source of shame for some families.

Having two series in tandem is certainly a remarkable way to build a world, but it is also very effective. Despite not being a sequel or even a follow up to The Thorn of Dentonhill, A Murder of Mages added a lot to what we know of Maradaine, providing a look at the everyday hustle and bustle of its citizenry from all walks of life. Marshall Ryan Maresca has a true knack for creating rich settings as well as characters that feel very real and well-rounded. There’s always something special to the people he writes about, whether they are mage students or constable inspectors. A Murder of Mages was another hit for me, a fantastic read from a new talent whose star continues to be on the rise.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satrine Rainey is a former street rat and ex-spy. Now she is a mother and wife to Constabulary Inspector Loren who was so brutally attacked that it's a wonder that he is alive. But he is not able to support his wife and two daughters anymore so Satrine fakes her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to be able to support her family.

I was quite looking forward to reading this book, loved the cover and the blurb was intriguing. Satrine Rainey is a very interesting character and I liked her working relationship with Minox "Jinx" Welling. I especially like that there weren't any romance in this book. Well, Satrine is married, but there isn't any instalove to ruin the book. I liked this fantasy world and its characters, but I must admit that I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle, but luckily it got better towards the end. One thing, though, I figured the bad guy quite fast, or should I say I guessed and that in a way ruined the story somewhat for me because I do like it when I'm kept in the dark. Sure I like to guess who the bad guy is, but I like twists, I want to arrive at the end and suddenly the rug is pulled out under my feet, figuratively of course.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading this book for the most part and I liked the world and I liked Satrine and Minox so I will, without a doubt, read the next one in the series.

3.5 stars

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!

[Althea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lately, Satrine Rainey has been a stay-at-home mom. However, life has catapulted her into an untenable situation. Her husband, a police officer of the city of Maradaine's Constabulary, has suffered an on-the-job injury leaving him severely disabled. Unfortunately, while Maradaine offers something like life insurance, disability insurance isn't a thing.

The force has offered Satrine a 'minimum-wage' clerk's position - but that won't pay for the family's rent and grocery bills, let alone the full-time caretaker her husband now needs, or her two daughters' tuition fees. Satrine comes up with an audacious solution: she'll lie and bluff her way into a full-time Inspector's position on the force. Satrine's former career as a spy aids her in this endeavor.

Just as she takes her new desk, and meets her new partner - a man ominously nicknamed 'The Jinx' - a new case comes across their messy desk. A mage has been murdered, in a particularly gruesome way which hints at magical ritual. And soon, it looks like they have a serial killer on their hands.

Solving the case may be the only hope Satrine has at proving herself and making it past her probationary period. It also may be the only way to save a great many lives.

The book is very much a genre mystery with a fantasy setting. It's more of a 'follow-the-action' than a 'keep track and figure out the clues' mystery, but I'm fine with that. It moves along quickly, has likable and appealing characters, and is overall, great fun. I'd definitely read the sequels!

Many thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read this book, which I'd heard good things about. As always, my opinion is solely my own.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder of Mages is an excellent new fantasy novel with a distinct urban fantasy feel, a rich and imaginative police procedural that tries to do so much and for the most part succeeds. It is a very dark novel set in Maradaine, a poverty-ridden city in which violence happens at every corner. We follow Satrine Rainey as she struggles to find her footing after an accident which leaves her husband unable to provide for their family.

It’s clear from the start that Satrine is a true mama bear, ready to do almost anything to feed her two daughters. She has no problem falsifying her letter or recommendation to become a police inspector, even if it means going back to her old neighborhood where she suffered terribly as a child.

Her partner there is Minox Welling, brilliant and misunderstood. He solves impossible cases, but he doesn’t play well with others and his fellow inspectors avoid and ridicule him. Welling soon realizes that Satrine is keeping secrets, but he also sees that she’s a great investigator and he decides to keep quiet. He has his fair share of secrets too, so why would he work against the first partner he’s liked in ages?

I enjoyed Satrine and Minox’s dynamic, especially since there was no possibility of romance. Satrine has a husband at home, and although he’s unable to walk or communicate, it’s clear that she loves him very much. With romance completely out of the picture, we are able to focus on what is truly important – the ritualistic murders of mages Satrine and Welling are working on.

As we learn more about the unforgiving city called Maradaine, we can’t help feeling grateful that we’re observing it from afar, and not actually living in it. It’s a dark and gritty place where poverty and crime rule the streets. It has a distinct historical feel, especially when it comes to women’s rights, and it’s vaguely reminiscent of Victorian London, at least the more unsavory parts of it. Maresca didn’t focus too much on worldbuilding in this first installment, choosing instead to give us only the information we absolutely need. His priority was always the mystery, and it was an excellent one. This is my first book by Maresca, but from what I understand, this isn’t his first series set in this world. It’s possible that the worldbuilding suffered because he counted on his old readers, the ones already familiar with it. But the setting was good enough even for us newbies and it provided a decent enough foundation that can be built upon in later installments.

There will be time for more details about Maradaine down the road. With two well-established characters and so much potential to work with, I predict an even better second installment. Like most series, this takes a while to really pick up, but it’s clear already that we have much to look forward to.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.

[Geek Furioso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poco a poco sigo abriéndome paso por el mundo de Maradaine. Siguiendo las recomendaciones del autor, estoy acometiendo esta serie por orden cronológico, o lo que es lo mismo, empezando por el primer volumen de cada serie. En este caso, toca A Murder of Mages.

Me gustan muchísimo los procedurales de policía. Desde niño he sentido interés por los misterios y por el mundo policíaco, y siempre he disfrutado de una buena dosis de misterio y asesinato de manos de una pareja de detectives carismáticos. En ese aspecto, y en su tendencia de repartir cosas que ya has visto antes con un sabor interesante, Maresca cumple.

Satrine Rainey, antes conocida como Trini "Trucos", es una ex-rata callejera, ex-espía y ex-esposa de un inspector de la Policía de Maradaine... bueno, sigue siendo su esposa, aunque el pobre hombre se ha quedado vegetal tras una emboscada en el cumplimiento del deber. Para conseguir sacar a su familia adelante, Satrine hace lo que toda buena mujer en su situación haría: falsificar documentos y engañar al capitán de la estación de Inemar para que la nombren inspectora. De alguna forma sale bien y es emparejada con Minox "Gafe" Welling, un medio desquiciado detective y un mago Sin Círculo (o lo que es lo mismo, sin entrenamiento y por lo tanto una potencial bomba de relojería) con el que nadie quiere trabajar debido a la creencia extendida de que trae la desgracia a todo compañero que le toca. ¿Su primer caso juntos? Resolver los misteriosos asesinatos rituales de varios magos por todo el barrio de Inemar.

Una cosa que me gusta mucho de este libro es que los personajes son atípicos, no solo a los procedurales de policía sino también a la propia fantasía urbana. Para empezar, al contrario que prácticamente el cien por cien de los procedurales que involucran a una pareja formada por un hombre y una mujer, no hay ninguna atracción ni amor platónico entre Satrine y Minox, sino una relación de respeto profesional y amistad, lo cual genera una dinámica genial entre ambos protagonistas. La familia es también un punto importante en sus dinámicas y que en fantasía no se suele tener en cuenta, con Satrine teniendo que cargar con el peso de cuidar a su marido y sus hijas y Minox teniendo que superar las expectativas de tres extensas generaciones de Wellings destinados al servicio a la ciudad.

También es un placer ver cómo Maresca no tiene ningún reparo en describir a la Policía de Maradaine como una panda de abusones y corruptos, siendo los policías que hacen su trabajo de corazón una excepción y no una norma, y en muchas ocasiones los agentes que avisan de la mala praxis de sus compañeros son humillados y rechazados. En una escena, Corrie, la prima de Minox y una agente de patrulla a caballo, tuvo serios problemas para exponer a dos compañeros que estaban chantajeando a un tabernero local, y Satrine se enfrentó a represalias de dos agentes por detener a un teniente corrupto.

En general me ha parecido muchísimo mejor que "La Espina de Dentonhill" y además aprecio mucho que se esté empezando a entrever ese universo entrelazado de Maradaine que Maresca ha creado. Voy a continuar con "La Banda de Holver Alley", que al parecer es una novela de atracos. Es lo que más me gusta junto a los procedurales policiales, así que creo que me lo voy a pasar muy bien.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

~4.5

“Satrine Rainey walked to the Inemar Constabulary House carrying a lie.”

Yep, from the first sentence, I was hooked.

The TL;DR version: I enjoyed this book so much that I’ve already purchased Maresca’s other book. If you don’t happen to know me, I basically don’t ever buy books. So that’s about the strongest affirmation I can give.

So why was this book so much fun? To start with, I absolutely adore high-fantasy detective fiction, especially if the world feels solid and yet distinct from our own. The world that Maresca creates definitely fits the bill. While the story itself doesn’t directly involve major politics or war, the issues are there, and they’re casually mentioned by the characters. It does a ton to give the world a grounded, solid feeling. At the same time, there’s plenty of fantasy elements. Some people are born with innate magical abilities, which tend to surface around their teens. Mages quickly become part of mage circles, which are a combination of a school, a fraternity, a union, and a religion. Saying that relations between the law and the circles are tense is an understatement, and someone like Minox--an Uncircled mage who also happens to be a policeman--ends up on everyone’s bad side.

Characters are everything to me, and I loved the diverse characters that Maresca created. The story is told from the perspectives of Satrine Rainey, a brand new constable, and Minox Welling, her unwilling partner. Satrine is a refreshing change from the typical unattached naive female protagonist. She joins the constabulary under false pretenses: after her policeman husband suffers from a terrible injury, she has to support her family in any way she can. Since the only positions open to her have ridiculously low salaries, she tricks her way into a position as constable, third class. She may not have earned her position rightfully, but she certainly works at it--she climbs into sewers, climbs onto roofs, engages in hand-to-hand combat, and appears to be an adept at her world’s equivalent of Parkour. Throughout the book, she has to balance all this with her troublesome kids and her invalid husband.

I liked Minox even more. Already an outcast due to his uncontrolled magical abilities, Minox’s personality doesn’t assist in his ability to win friends and influence people. He’s obsessive, precise, and intense, and follows rigid schedules, with an elaborate vocabulary and an almost complete inability to grasp humor or figurative speech. Dialogues with Minox tend to go like this:

“If you weren’t half crippled I’d knock you in your rutting head.”
“I assure you, I am at most a quarter crippled,” Minox said.

...and I’m pretty sure he’s completely serious.
He appears to have difficulty judging others’ expressions--while he is able to distinguish others’ emotions, he does so through classifying changes in facial muscle or posture. He likes rules. A lot. I think he’s adorable. Basically, I’d say that he has every characteristic of AS (Aspberger’s Syndrome), and I really warmed to his complex character.

I was completely hooked by the plot. As soon as Satrine joins, she and Minox are sent out to investigate a ritualistic murder of a mage. All too soon, it becomes clear that there’s a serial mage-killer on the loose, and tensions between the constabulary and the Circles are about to explode. While I spent the whole book guessing, if there is a fault to find with the book, it’s the mystery itself. It is actually unguessable until the end because basically all of the important pieces of information are withheld. (It’s especially aggravating because I can think of several ways the relevant facts could have been snuck in unobtrusively.) There are also a few details that don’t fit with the final solution. But given the interesting worldbuilding and strong and complex characters, I just don’t care. I adored the interactions between Satrine and Minox. It was great to see a male-female protagonist duo just be comrades, with no romantic entanglement in sight. One aspect that made the story so satisfying was the way the plot touched tangentially on a wide variety of issues from affirmative action to family expectations to rebellious daughters. While the mystery solution is perhaps less satisfying than I could wish, I’m impatient to know more about the plot threads that Maresca left open. Interesting characters, intricate worldbuilding, and a mystery that kept me hooked? Count me in for the sequel. It can’t come soon enough.

*Note: I originally gave this 4 stars, but I enjoyed it so much that I ended up rereading it, and that is enough to bump it up to a 4.5, which I round to 5 on GoodReads.

~~I received an advanced reader copy of this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Penguin Group. Thank you!~~

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 3 out of 5]

***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato

It’s always so refreshing to read a fantasy novel after not having read one in a while, and this one came with the added advantage of also being a mystery, so it was a book set out to win my heart. The sad thing is that I ended up not falling head over heels for the book even though I had lots of fun reading it.  I felt like there was a spark missing that prevented me from feeling right at home with the novel.

This review is going to take on a slightly different format then my previous ones (NO I AM NOT BEING LAZY) in that I am going to divide it into three distinct parts: The world building, the characters and the plot. Those are the things that I found to be the most important in the novel (and usually most other novels) and want to focus solely on those aspects instead of other little things.

The World Building

World building, in my opinion, is one of the most important things in a fantasy novel but the world building in this novel wasn't all that great. It was there, and there were details, but there were only minimal details. Details that would make sure we understood the story but not much else. I don’t like being left in the dark about fantastical elements which is why it was kind of a big disappointment that this book didn’t go into as many details. We’re told there had been wars, we are told about mage circles and about mages themselves but I am left with so many questions. Like what was the war about? Who was the fight against? What are the other regions surrounding the setting of the book? Are mages the only supernatural creatures in the world? What’s the government like? There were so many aspects to the world that weren't explored and that made it harder for me to really feel at home in the world. I think, the lack of focus on the world building could be the result of the fact that this book is primarily a mystery, but it is set in a fantastical world that is clearly different from our world which is why I felt that the world needed to be established a little more.

The Plot

This brings me to the plot. I think the mystery elements were a lot better done in the novel as opposed to the fantastical elements and that doesn’t come as a surprise. I think the plot was pretty solid except for that moment when the identity of the murderer was actually revealed. Do you ever have those moments when reading a mystery when you’re expecting a turn that will just swoop you off your foot and make you go “OMG, THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE” and instead you get a firecracker that didn’t go off right? That was my reaction to the identity of the murderer. The murderer wasn’t predictable at all and not in a good way. That said, the pacing in the novel was great and I was never bored. I think the author put a lot of detail into developing the investigation itself and that paid off because it was very believable but also really exciting. A little bit of foreshadowing, I think could have helped but that’s just me as a reader.  I like being surprised but I also like it when there are legitimate clues to pick up on that can help you guess the identity of a killer with some accuracy.

The Characters

The characters in the novel are clearly the highlight. I actually went into the book thinking there might be a romance between the two main character but I turned out to be wrong. There is no romance between the two characters and NO romantic tension. I guess I am just so used to expecting romance in a lot of what I read that I am surprised when there isn't one.

Satrine and Minox have a fantastic dynamic and it all comes from the fact that they are very intelligent and observant investigators that work well together. They read each other well and have each other’s backs and I LOVE that sort of dynamic between partners (it doesn’t always have to be romantic). I also just love the two as individuals.

Satrine had a rough upbringing and after a stunt in the Druth Intelligence, she managed to find a nice HEA which was disrupted when her husband was beaten within an inch of his life. Now, she has to go out and find a way to earn money to support her family. It’s easy to root for her especially since she can be so witty and SO BADASS.

Minox is also really charming in the way he never outwardly expresses his feelings but you know they are there. I also love how intelligent he is and how determined he is to bring justice and make sure cases are solved to his satisfaction.

This novel, on the whole, while not up to standards in some departments also featured some diversity but also a lot more females than can usually be found in this genre (females who work and females who go to school and university!!!) which already gives it more plus points in my opinion.

This is not a perfect read but one that is still very enjoyable and I can only hope that the following books in the series will get better and win me over completely!

NOTE: Half way through writing this review I just realized that there is another series set in the same world and the first book just came out this year… I GUESS I HAVE SOME READING TO DO.

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Mon avis en Français

My English review

While reading the summary, I wondered if the book would go more towards the fantasy side or the urban fantasy one. Finally I think this is a good mix of both, even if the purpose converges towards the second.

Satrine is a young woman who must face the consequences of the loss of her husband. He is not really dead, but in a vegetative state that requires her to take care of his body, as well as her two children. That’s why she needs to find a job as soon as possible to meet the needs of her family. And so, Satrine, by presenting a false letter of recommendation, is engaged as an Constabulary agent. Being back in the city of her childhood, she will face the demons of her past and the politics existing among the different population groups living there. Teaming up with the only person that nobody wants in the Agency, Minox, they will investigate a strange murder. Indeed, they fall on a case starring a mage and whose realization seems more than intriguing.

Launched in a race against time to prevent the fast increase of the number of bodies, Minox and Satrine will have to put all their talents ahead before understanding what is really happening. Besides, we follow the two alternately and although I prefer Satrine’s POV and how she plunges back into her past, it was also interesting to see how Minox was working. His non-circled mage condition is quite unprecedented and it is true that his life is not necessarily simple, especially compared to his work. His interactions with other mages are also still very tense about that fact and it was fascinating to see all that.

In all cases I loved to understand the investigation and see what exactly hapenned. Besides, I was quite surprised by the revelations at the end of the story. The only point to note and what bothered me a bit the length of certain events. That’s I was sometimes a little behind the story as the events could be quite slow.

In any case, it was an interesting book to discover and I am curious to see what we will have for the future.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder of Mages by Marshall Maresca is a splendid fantasy / mystery / crime and murder blend from the author of the very good "Thorn of Dentonhill". Not too heavy on the magical elements, this intelligent cop fantasy features a pair of smart detectives on the hunt for a murderer. Minox Welling, an untrained mage, who comes from a multi-generational cop family and really investigates is the main detective. Unlike some of the other officers, he solves crimes rather than sweeping them under the rug with a convenient, but wrong answer. He has problems with his magic. His new partner is Satrine Rainey, the first female investigator in Inemar, who has more than a few tricks up her sleeves. She is a very convincing, honorable and true character that you really want to read about. One of Maresca's best traits is his ability to infuse his characters with real lives and back stories. This is a really good book.


Satrine Rainey is used to deception and trickiness. She grew up on the gritty south streets of Inemar known as Tricki Trini, where she had to constantly fight to merely survive. An unknown father, a derelict mother, gangs, criminals and Idre Hoffer, a despicable girl, who tormented and bullied Satrine, were only some of challenges that she faced. Only the strong and the smart survived that life.

Plucked from that terrible life by Druth intelligence because of her resemblance to a dead enemy princess, she was trained by them and assumed the princess's life and provided intelligence to her country about an enemy. But that was some time ago, and most of the people in Inemar think she is dead.

Now she is living on the nicer side of Maradaine, the mother of two girls, one a fourteen year old, and it is them, and the fact that her constabulary husband has been attacked and beaten so bad that he is an invalid, that has led her to brazenly travel south across the Upper Bridge back into Inemar. Rainey needs money to live so her daughters do not have to live like she did when she was a young girl. Rainey claims to the head of the Inemar Constabulary and provides a forged note stating that she has been appointed an investigator - with its more significant salary - based on her intelligence work background. Her lie is believed and she becomes an investigator.

She joins Welling just as a cunning murderer brazenly kills a trained mage on a public street. While Rainey may need the money to help her family, she soon proves herself to Welling, showing a wit and intelligence that he never found in any of his former partners. In a confrontation with a gang who are accosting a young constabulary page, she also shows a flair for hand to hand combat as well. Rainey is a force to be reckoned with.

Maresca does not only focus on Rainey's life and her past, which all comes out in bits and pieces during the story, but also explores Welling's problems with his magic, which he does not know how to control but is unwilling to join a Circle of Mages, who will control him.

Welling and Rainey will make a convincing team in the hunt for the murderer, who will not stop killing until he is stopped. Several additional murders will occur, each brazenly staged. The murderer has magical weapons that work on mages.

When Welling becomes the next intended victim, it will be up to Rainey to figure out the killer's identity and try to rescue Welling before its too late.

This is the first tale about the Maradaine Constabulary. Maresca is writing another. We cannot wait.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]

Pretty entertaining, in the vein of urban medieval fantasy I tend to favour (as opposed to more traditional "travel" fantasy). Gritty streets, characters with a past and forced to hide secrets that could be so easily exposed, family issues, corruption in the ranks, bureaucracy, a criminal to catch, seedy dealings going on at night on the docks and in warehouses... Yes, I definitely prefer my fantasy tinged with such themes.

I especially liked the main characters here. Each of them had their share to deal with, and couldn't conveniently ignore what was going on in their daily lives. In fact, it was even the contrary of the "conveniently an orphan" trope: both Satrine and Minox have families. And they're in their faces. Every day. Whether because they are so many members that you could lose count of them, or because the few left need to be taken care of in more than one way.

Satrine's deception was motivated by the need to feed her family—her husband was heavily injured, unable to care for them anymore, and she had to deal with the fact that perhaps, just perhaps, it would've been easier on them all if he had died, as she would've been able to collect her widow's pension and school her daughters. That would've been the easy way out. Instead, she remained fiercely loyal to him, still nurturing hopes thay someday, he'd slowly wake up and become who he used to be again. Should her forgery be forgiven? Perhaps, perhaps not. In any case, her motives were clearly born from love, and she still held her own and showed that the only fake thing in all this was a piece of paper: as a former Intelligence operative, she had the right set of mind, and the right skills, to earn her place among other inspectors.

Minox had his own issues to face. I guess his story wasn't as fascinating as Satrine's in that he didn't have the same hurdles to face, in a line of work where women could expect to be lowly-paid clerks or only very slowly climbing the latter. However, there were other sides to his development that were interesting, and could go on being so. Being an untrained mage in a city where all trained ("Circled") mages spat on him, for starters. People around him knowing what he was, fearing and despising it for him, or choosing to never talk about it. His ability as an inspector was real no matter what, with a black sheep aspect that set him aside, yet pushed him to work hard (cf. the numerous, somewhat freaky cold cases he considered as actually unsolved). One intriguing thing as well was how he somehow appeared as alone among a crowd, his family, due to his character and to his awkward position as a late-bloomer when it came to magic; in fact, he was probably closer to his somewhat crazy/obsessed/depressed/I'm not sure what cousin, with a history of madness running in the family, and the lingering, everlasting question: "Will he turn like our grandfather... and will *I* turn like that, too?"

And no romance! There's no room for useless romance her, only solid partnership resting on cooperation, skills and mutual respect. It would've been so easy to throw in some silly feelings and/or sexual attraction. The author didn't go that way, which I'm tremendously thankful for. Satrine and Minox have enough to worry about without adding that to the mix.

Maradaine seemed like a teeming place, bustling with various people, some very normal for such a setting, and others fairly quirky, like the mystery-meat pie seller, the street urchins turned bad mothers (or spies, like Satrine), or the butcher with a tendency to immediately throw "sticks" (policemen) out of his shop. All those people contributed to make the city look like a place filled with diversity. I would've liked to know more about the mages and their circles, though. I understand this series runs parallel to another one, so perhaps I'd need to read both to fully grasp that side of the world building? I thought there weren't that many insights into the Circles' politics, about what their potential feuds would involve (apart from obvious destruction), or about where exactly they stood when it came to the various powers and government type in Maradaine.

The novel also neatly ties up the main crime plot (a little too neatly, considering there weren't that many clues for the reader to work with, so I didn't have much to chew on in that regard), while leaving open other avenues for more stories. How Satrine will have to deal with the other inspectors and patrol(wo)men, and balance the dangers of her new job with her family's needs. Minox's need to deal with his magic ability, even though he'd like to ignore it. Corruption inside the Constabulary, possibly higher in the hierarchy. And what really did happen to Loren Rainey? Was it an investigation gone wrong, or something shadier? I can forgive the somewhat weak mystery, as long as those get more limelight later.

This is a series whose second installment I'm definitely willing to pick.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...

3.5/5 stars


I should preface this review to clearly state that detective stories are more often a miss for me than a hit. I decided to give this one a try because I really enjoyed The Thorn of Dentonhill and was excited to explore more of the city/world.

Murder of Mages takes places after The Thorn of Dentonhill, and while it can definitely be read separately, there are cases and events that are referred to that happened in the the other series. Mysterious murders and such. It was amusing to get the perspective of the Inspectors trying to puzzle out the remnants from some of the action scenes from TToDH.

The story introduces us to Satrine Rainey, the wife of an Inspector that has been grievously injured, leaving him pretty much comatose. Faced with both the loss of her husband’s income and the sudden need to play caretaker to her spouse, while continuing to try and provide for and raise their daughters (now alone), Satrine is faced with some difficult choices on how to keep her family off the streets. What you quickly learn is about Satrine is that she is not one to give up. If there’s not an agreeable option before her, she will find a way to make one. So, that is what she does. She has a very unique background, growing up on the streets and then being trained and serving in Intelligence as a spy. She is certainly not without skills. So, she finagles her way in to an Inspector position across town. One that will pay well enough to support her family.

Her partner, Minox Welling (aka “Jinx”) is an eccentric man that initially appears to be the joke of the Inspectors office. It is quite clear that she is paired with him because no one else is willing to work with him. He earned the nickname Jinx because none of his partners last long. But, as we get to know him, there is a serious method to his madness and he is quite bright. It is also revealed that he is an Uncircled Mage, which adds a very interesting dynamic. I grew to really like Minox, he’s the misunderstood, undervalued, slightly odd character that proves himself to be more than what others seem to think of him.

Now, here comes what didn’t work well for me. This book was very explain-y (I don’t care if that’s not a word. I’m using it). The inspectors would spell out motives and theories, and then come to conclusions that by this point were clear enough that any one should see them coming a mile away. Then they would act like it was ingenious and none of the other inspectors could possible be as smart as they are. Sigh. Maybe it wasn’t actually that extreme, because as I said earlier, I often don’t do well with detective stories but this was my honest reaction.

But, set the detective parts aside, I enjoyed this. I liked Minox, I loved Satrine’s character. It is a change of pace getting a female lead character that is also a mother and is fully devoted to her husband, even when him being pretty much gone despite still being there in body. I also enjoyed the parallels to the other series. So, despite a bit of eye rolling with the detective work, I did like this book. I also think there’s a very good chance I will read the subsequent books because I’m quite curious about the characters in this one and want to know what happens next for them.

[Vleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Grabbed my attention from the start with gruesome murders and interesting characters. Of course there's a kickass female and magic involved. Sorry, no romance to be found. I plan to continue the series.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from (DAW) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Fantasy, Magic
*Rating* 3.5-4

*My Thoughts*

A Murder of Mages marks Marshall Ryan Maresca's debut novel of The Maradaine Constabulary series. This series is separate from his Maradine series, which unfortunately I have not had the pleasure of reading. A Murder of Mages introduces readers to Satrine (Tricky) Rainey and Minox (Jinx) Welling, two third class inspectors who partner together to work the mean streets of Maradine. A Murder of Mages reads as a fantasy novel that intermixes with mystery elements. The world building has the feeling of a story that might take place in the late thirteenth or fourteenth century France, although Satrine wearing pants makes that unlikely.

*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

*Recvd 05/07/2015 via NetGalley* Published: July 7th 2015 by DAW

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pitka knjiga, ne posebno revolucionarna i nikome neće promeniti život, ali sasvim dobar izbor za čitanje kada na polici nema ničeg pametnijeg, bitnijeg ili voljenijeg. Karakterizacija je solidna, zaplet tu i tamo - a čitao sam daleko lošije knjige daleko većih autorskih imena. Žargon deluje kao da je nastao organski i autor ga sjajno koristi i ako sam u prethodnom romanu po činima koje čarobnjaci bacaju video uticaj D&D-a, u ovoj knjizi po slengu vidim uticaj Planescapea.

Nosio sam se mišlju da ovom romanu dam zvezdicu manje, ali na kraju sam ga uporedio s nekim naslovima zvučnijih imena urbane fantastike (jer ovo jeste urbana fantastika u doslovnom smislu, iako radnja nije smeštena ni u naše vreme ni u naš svet) i zaključio da je A Murder of Mages napisan i osmišljen daleko bolje nego prvih pet-šest Bučerovih romana o Drezdenu. Maršal Rajan Mareska se čita kao pismeniji i promišljeniji Brandon Sanderson i ovaj serijal bih preporučio svima kojima se svidelo "Poslednje carstvo", recimo.

4*

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun read. One of those easy, effortless, less than 24-hour novels. A bit outside my norm. I'm not a Urban Fantasy guy. I'm not a Crime reader. This sweet little adventure did provide comfort reading with fine characters, plot and setting in world I'm looking forward to exploring again. Sometime real soon.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love murder mysteries and when it's combined with a fantasy world, I'm in heaven. "A Murder of Mages" is a police procedural with a lead character, Minox, who reminded me strongly of Sherlock Holmes; amazingly observant and a firm believer in reason, deduction, and investigation. He also seemed to have some autistic tendencies, such as a difficulty reading people's emotions and obsessing on certain topics. While that can make him difficult to get along with, his obsessions, at least, work to his benefit as an investigator. But he has a reputation as a jinx as his previous partners had a tendency to get hurt.

His new partner, Satrine, is desperate. Her husband, also a member of the constabulary, was injured and is in a vegetative state. They have two school-age daughters and no income. If her husband had died, she'd receive funds but there's nothing for disability. So she lies her way into a job as an investigator and becomes Minox's new partner. It's rare for a woman to be on the force so reactions are mixed when she's hired. She has a background that give her useful skills in her new job and to Minox's surprise, Satrine is actually quite good at the job.

Maresca creates a fascinating world. It's not set on Earth but has a similar feel. The city is a lot like London in the 18th or 19th centuries but with differences of course. Parts of the world were well thought and developed while there are gaps in some areas. Presumably, those holes will be filled in as the series goes along. The mystery was well done, though I do think the author could have given us a few more clues as the solution, and the villain, seemed to come out of nowhere. The lead characters, Minox and Satrine, are fleshed out but will lots of room for revelations and growth. The mage politics and magic system were fascinating and I want to know more. The story didn't grab me right away but it didn't take long before I was pulled in; I read the book in one afternoon. I'm looking forward to the next one. :)

http://beasbooknook.blogspot.com/2015...

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

I knew I was going to like A Murder of Mages when I read the title. It was clever, it had undercurrents of subtle humour and darkness, and it promised a great deal. A bit like the book underneath it, really.

Maresca gives us the world of Maradain, a city seemingly at boiling point. There are groups of magic users, working together in groups as ‘Circles’. There are other mages, unmonitored outside those circles. There’s an ongoing war – and as a consequence, there are groups of returning veterans. There’s the poor, the needy, the criminal. And where there’s crime, Maresca gives us the Constabulary. The world of Maradain is a curious mixture of the oppressively claustrophobic and the terrifyingly expansive. On the one hand, the entire narrative takes place within the city walls. The wider world comes to the reader in asides, in passing remarks, in assumptions made by characters in dialog. The presence of the city, a dark, grimy, lively place, invades the reader by degrees. It’s not a place that leaps off of every page – but rather, one that seeps into your fingers as you turn those pages.

The centre of the narrative, however, is crime.

Specifically, the investigation of a case by two members of Maradain’s city police force. It’s rare to get this sort of boots-on-the-ground view in fantasy (the only immediate comparison I can make is Pratchett’s Guards!, Guards!), and if nothing else did, the sheer novelty might carry the text. Fortunately, it has more going for it in any case. The centre of the text is the relationship between these two investigators, our protagonists. One is the first female inspector in the Constabulary. The other is a borderline eccentric, an uncircled mage, with undertones of Sherlock Holmes.

The two of them begin, as is traditional, unsure whether they need each other. Over the course of the text, their relationship grows more complex, as they begin to rely upon each other. This isn’t the will-they-won’t they romance, however – it’s a nicely drawn platonic relationship, camaraderie under fire and with a shared purpose serving to tie the two together. They’re also both fascinating characters in their own right. The mage is tightly wound, intense, and extremely analytical – watching him tear into the deeper aspects of their case, whilst remaining slightly detached from those around him, is wonderful. Seeing his relationship with a large, boisterous, and occasionally broken family is also a joy – the family dynamics are complex, barely visible to the reader, and hold promise for impact on later books.

By contrast, the other inspector’s struggles to be taken seriously are tough to read – but her no-nonsense attitude, professionalism, and amply demonstrated ability to crack skulls are a similarly great read. She also has a complex relationship waiting for her at home – and the frailty of the emotions here, the implied depth, leaves the reader swimming in very deep waters. Maresca isn’t afraid to throw in a punch to the emotional gut when required, but manages to wrap it under a complex layer of humanity that leaves it feeling affecting and genuine.

Really, the relationship between these two characters sparkles. The dialog is first rate, the relationship feels plausible, and, most importantly, it feels real – fraught with all the little knocks and lifts that tie real people together.

The plot, beginning with an investigation into the gruesome murder of a mage, is quite intriguing stuff in itself. The reader is learning the details of the murder, as well as the motive, along with the investigators. It’s well paced, and there’s a nice mix of action and moments of quiet reflection. There’s also the requisite red herrings – but pleasantly enough, each of the steps forward in the investigation feels consistent, logical, and plausible. I was left trying to work out whodunit until the last couple of pages, and there were some genuinely tense moments in there.

The fantasy police procedural is a rarity, and this is a good one. It’s accessible and easy to read. The world presented is sparse, but has all the details the reader needs. The mystery itself is both suitably obfuscated and a lot of fun – and the relationship between the lead characters is pitch perfect. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, this one’s worth your time.

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a well done classic fantasy, particularly when it's combined with my other love, mystery. A Murder of Mages, Maresca's debut Maradaine Constabulary novel, does just that. It combines a well-developed fantasy world with fascinating characters and a mystery complex enough to satisfy serious armchair detectives.

After her husband, an inspector, is seriously injured during an investigation, it is up to Satrine to support her family. As a newly hired inspector third class, she is partnered with Inspector Minox Welling, a brilliant and unorthodox investigator as well as an uncircled mage with a history of losing partners.

When the naked body of a circled mage is discovered, heart removed, hands pinned to the ground with spikes Minox and Satrine are given the case. Secretive by nature and a law unto themselves, the Circles are reluctant to assist the constabulary, even after another member is found gruesomely murdered. With a skilled killer with an unknown agenda targeting mages, and another violent conflict between Circles threatening to erupt, Minox and Satrine have only a limited time to uncover the truth and save their city.

Maresca's writing is impressive. Rarely does a novel do such a good job grasping the reader's attention and interest in the first few pages. Both Minox and Satrine are fascinating characters with a complicated family life that adds verisimilitude. Female inspectors are a rarity, and Satrine faces challenges gaining the respect of both the men and women of the constabulary. As an uncircled mage and an inspector, Minox is treated with a combination of fear and disgust. Even within the walls of the constabulary, he is an outsider. This unlikely team proves to be an effective one.

If you enjoy character driven classic fantasy with a twist, you will love A Murder of Mages.

A Murder of Mages is available for preorder and will be released July 7, 2015.

I received a copy of A Murder of Mages from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review


--Crittermom

[J.M. Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several good things going on here. First, Maresca's writing style was clear, compelling, and every word mattered. The story was engaging, with enough things constantly moving that I never felt bored and was always eager for the next chapter.

Also, I HIGHLY appreciated that the male and female protagonists did not develop any love interest. They worked super close with each other since they were partners investigating a crime, but that's all it was - they were partners working together on a crime. Too often when a male and female work that closely together in books, they fall in love, and it was refreshing that that didn't happen here.

I loved the different characterization between Welling and Rainey, so when they spoke you knew who was talking because they each had their own unique speech pattern. Welling was analytical with a sort of elaborate approach to words, and Rainey was more normal. Their personalities too were clearly defined.

The cover is perfect, showcasing both characters in a way I feel was accurate. Now on the hunt for more books connected to this one.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kevin recommended the book and I'm happy that I followed the recommendation in this case. Thank you Kevin!

A Murder of Mages delivers a fantasy world which is in this case a really big town enriched with magic. The police procedural is described very well and the inspector tandem reminds in some aspect of Holmes and Watson.
The the two main characters are the stars of the book.
I like Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling a lot and their first case is full of twists and turns. The blend of work and private life is excellent.
It is a dark novel

I would have liked to get more information about the town and more fleshed out secondary characters.

All in all a more than promising start of a new series.

There is a second series set in the same town which I need to discover too.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this one quite as much as the thorn book, but it was close... a bit of Sherlock holmes in a magical world... Well-written with great character development... If you have not tried Maresca's stuff yet its time that you did!

[Olga Godim]

I tried. It’s not really a bad story: the pace is fast, the mystery intriguing, and the writing utterly professional, but I didn’t care for any of the characters. Everyone is cold, bitter, irascible, and aggressive. Nobody has any emotional softness or tenderness or love for anyone. No whiff of compassion. No hint of affection. Perhaps they are all hidden deep inside of the characters’ hearts, but the reader is only allowed into their heads, and only to see all sorts of negative cogitations.

Satrine couldn’t stop being angry. She had attempted to curb this by hitting random bystanders when the Riot Call was made, but it wasn’t helping.

This one quote on page 176 reflects the entire book. The protagonist is angry (for a legitimate reason, of course) so why not hit everyone in her way? She is a policewoman, she has the right to beat people – so she does, with very little provocation. Maybe that’s how men feel, or at least some men? Maybe that’s how most policemen feel and act? I don’t know. But I should’ve known better than to read a book by a male writer. I never liked men writers in the past, with rare exceptions, and this book just confirmed my dislike.

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, surprisingly this wasn't typical fantasy and I mean that in a few ways. It does have a good mix of police procedural and fantasy, and Maresca does a very good job of making sure the two mesh well.

Now, the characters aren't the most original ever, but compared to most fantasy books (and compared to most mystery books) they're actually a bit novel. Although Rainey is a newbie cop, like the protagonist at the beginning of most mystery series these days, she's not some fresh-faced barely legal chick. She already has a husband at the start of the book, as well as a daughter who is old enough to date. I was kind of impressed with the author for that. I also enjoyed the interactions between the characters. They seemed realistic for the most part, with Maresca really giving each character their own sort of voice.

Altogether, I would say that Maresca took typical character and plot devices in fantasy and mystery and made them a little bit newer, better and more interesting. It really was nice to come across a book that didn't go exactly where I expected it to, and didn't repeat the exact same characters that I'm already tired of reading about.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Maresca's world of students, street rats, constables and mages.
The story introduces us to a pair of troubled but gifted Inspectors in the Maradine Constabulary, Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling, both of whom face serious challenges in their personal lives and a lack of acceptance at the stationhouse. They are set the task of solving the murder of a mage -- a case which soon explodes into further murders and puts both their lives in danger.
This is an enjoyable read. The characters are edgy, the world draws the reader in, and revelations near the end hint at problems yet to come -- problems the Thorn of Dentonhill got a glimpse at as well. So... perhaps in a future book we'll get to see the two sets of characters -- the constables and the vigilante -- working toward the same goals even as their positions require them to thwart each other. That could be fun. Either way, this book is a great intro to a couple of characters I look forward to seeing again.

[Maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.75]

I actually prefered the Thorn of Dentonhill bu I still really liked this book. Satrine and Minox were really interesting and I like their dynamic as a partnership (and also the fact that they were no romance involvel between the two of them, they were great as friends).
I don't read a lot of mystery but I enjoyed this one eventhough I figured out the killer before the protagonists (and I was quite happy with myself for it actually).
However it wasn't a full 4* for me because I would have liked a little bit more for example the synopsis tells you that Minox is going to get involved into "mage politics" which was not really the case. I love political intrigues in fantasy and I was kind of disappointed on this level.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book, it was really fun and I would genuinely recommend it to you !

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Julie McCahill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75. Perfect and exactly what I needed while stuck at home with the coronavirus doing laundry...and always cleaning. Light, but not too light.

[Eva Müller · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I not pick up this book? I mean look at that blurb! A wizard solving murders in a fantasy world. It's everything I ever wanted. Still, I didn't expect to be absolutely blown away by it (blame my previous disappointing experience with Ten Little Wizards another book about a crime-solving wizard), I just hoped to be entertained. Well, it wasn't the Ultimate Fantasy Novel that
overshadows all others but it did also more than just entertain me for a bit.

The worldbuilding was a bit of a kitchen sink (Victorian-era technology but a legal system that felt newer but general politics that were all over the place...not that I'm saying all fantasy world has to be an exact copy of Xth century place but with magic...but it felt all a bit vague and incoherent- but perhaps that also due to the fact that while it's the first book in this particular series there have been more set in the same world) and the comments the characters made about number of murders that happen every week make me think that either this city is ridiculously huge or by book 5 there will only be ten people left. (But with all that the worldbuilding still makes a lot more sense than in Ten Little Wizards so I'm not complaining much).

Anyway, my biggest positive surprise were the characters. It would have been very easy to turn both leads into stereotypical crime novel lone wolf characters that are bitter and can't stand each other but that's not what happens. Instead, they meet, take some time to get used to each other, realise that the other one is a good but slightly odd detective who matches their own oddities and then they work well together. Additionally, Minox (whose back story screams even more lone wolf than Satrine's) has a huge family he cares about and that cares about him. And even his colleagues care about him (not that they always show it). So while there are no knights in shining armour who always know exactly what's right and what's wrong, the characters in this book are...decent people who try to do the right thing and will punch anybody who tries to stop them (or who very obviously is not so decent).

What bothered me a bit was that it was one of those novels were a lot happens in a very short time span - the whole plot takes place over the course of three days and in the course of it both Santrine and Minox get roughed up quite a bit and barely sleep but just power through it by sheer willpower which is a trope that does make me roll my eyes quite a lot but overall it didn't bother me that much.

[Jamie (Books and Ladders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders

This one was great, actually. It did remind me of a mix between the X-Files and Sherlock Holmes, but it was very good and original. I enjoyed the dynamic of Satrine and Minox. I think I enjoyed it more because she was married so there was no chance of an unnecessary romance between the two of them.

One of the things I didn't like was the lag between the action sequences. I think it was an attempt at character development, but these scenes were not needed. There were some that I did find useful and enjoyable -- and I think they will come into play if there is more to the series. But mostly, they were not necessary.

The whole circled vs. uncircled mage thing was a tad confusing to me because there wasn't much explanation or back story around magic or mages except that no one really liked them and they did not trust anyone but their own.

I quite enjoyed Satrine. She was a badass and did what she had to in order to survive and provide for her family. Which is an admirable quality. I would love to have more of her back story including her time as an undercover spy during the war. I am looking forward to seeing more of her quick wit in action because she was a treat to read about.

Minox was also quite the character. He was an uncircled mage which means he has magic but no real control over it. He was good at deducing things that didn't seem obvious to everyone else and followed his head and his logic when trying to solve cases. He was probably the most expanded on character in the novel and was my favourite character.

The minor characters were all present and some of them had some redeeming qualities, but I would like to see more of them before passing any real judgement on them.

In terms of plot, it was your typical layout of a mystery novel, but it was really good. There was a logical flow and an interesting enough premise. I would like to know more about the inner workings of the Constabulary and how they determine when cases are solved compared to what Minox believes solved cases are, but otherwise there was enough explanation and world building to get through this one without many questions.

Overall: 4/5. I quite enjoyed this one! I hope there is more for Satrine and Minox.