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Wizard Hall Chronicles #2
Black Market
Annie stared at the dead body.
Nobody knew anything about him – who he was, why he was in the middle of the forest… and why he was dumped outside the portal to the Black Market.
But the body hides a secret, an ancient artefact imbued with a powerful magic able to control the mythical demons. With wizards and witches disappearing without a trace, Annie once again finds herself thrown into a world of mystery and murder.
With the help of her new wizard guards, Annie and her team must hunt down the killer and stop the artefact from falling into the wrong hands. But when their investigation takes them into the sights of an ancient and secretive society, Annie soon becomes the target of powerful figures… who are hell-bent on stopping her no matter the cost.
To save the world of magic, will Annie be forced to let the killer go… or will she do what’s right?
Nobody knew anything about him – who he was, why he was in the middle of the forest… and why he was dumped outside the portal to the Black Market.
But the body hides a secret, an ancient artefact imbued with a powerful magic able to control the mythical demons. With wizards and witches disappearing without a trace, Annie once again finds herself thrown into a world of mystery and murder.
With the help of her new wizard guards, Annie and her team must hunt down the killer and stop the artefact from falling into the wrong hands. But when their investigation takes them into the sights of an ancient and secretive society, Annie soon becomes the target of powerful figures… who are hell-bent on stopping her no matter the cost.
To save the world of magic, will Annie be forced to let the killer go… or will she do what’s right?
378 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2017
About the author
Sheryl Steines
18 books226 followersAs a self-proclaimed television junkie and an avid reader, Sheryl Steines writes what she loves. From the character/relationship story from one of her writing inspirations (Judy Blume), to the fantastical world of magic and mayhem in another inspiration (J.K. Rowling), to the strong female character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sheryl uses the world of magic and mystery, mashed with a bit of detective work, to weave a story of women who face challenges, overcoming them with dignity and honesty, using her own challenges as inspiration.
Sheryl has written two books in her Wizard Hall Chronicles series (The Day of First Sun and Black Market) and working on a new series, The Empaths (Gracie Madison Feels the World). Both series introduce the reader to young women battling demons of the supernatural kind and the personal kind, each fighting to find their way.
Sheryl Steines has been writing since she was seven years old, since she picked up her first Nancy Drew novel and hasn’t stopped. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found tooling around in her convertible, supporting causes and raising her kids, dealing with extra ordinary challenges.
For more about Sheryl Steines, her books and her life check out www.Sherylsteines.com, @SherylSteines, FB Sheryl Steines Author, and Instagram at Wizardhall.
Sheryl has written two books in her Wizard Hall Chronicles series (The Day of First Sun and Black Market) and working on a new series, The Empaths (Gracie Madison Feels the World). Both series introduce the reader to young women battling demons of the supernatural kind and the personal kind, each fighting to find their way.
Sheryl Steines has been writing since she was seven years old, since she picked up her first Nancy Drew novel and hasn’t stopped. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found tooling around in her convertible, supporting causes and raising her kids, dealing with extra ordinary challenges.
For more about Sheryl Steines, her books and her life check out www.Sherylsteines.com, @SherylSteines, FB Sheryl Steines Author, and Instagram at Wizardhall.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 16, 2017
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let us start on a positive note here: a magical police station has to solve a crime threatening to expose the magical world and / or destroy the biggest controlled black market of said world, which turns serious really quickly when an ancient object gets thrown into the mix. Sounds amazing. Is - story-wise - amazing. Fast-paced, full of suspense, funny, great characters. I liked the learning and "try this, I am not sure" element of the magic, which is always a lot more believable than perfect knowledge. Magical library police work research is always a win, as are magical school headmasters wearing Hawaiian shirts (take that, Dumbledore!). I also quite enjoyed the ancient "has been here forever" vibe of this magical community, where ties of blood or through objects reach back literally to biblical times and even further back.
But - and here is the big but: it was rough around the edges.
There was not enough detail about the magic, not enough explanation, too many systems going on at once (spells or hand movement? English sentences, poems, wordless, single Latin phrases - what is a spell?). I am going to give Sheryl Steines the benefit of the doubt here: this is the second part of a series and I have not read the first part, so I am going to assume those issues would have been revolved by reading part one.
However, the writing style also suffered. There were a weird phrases and "just-off" word choices, repetition of words and jokes, tiny plot holes and logic issues, same really annoying blatant grammar and spelling mistakes. That made me wrinkle my nose a couple of times and spoiled the fun a little.
Other than that, though, narrative-wise, this is still a recommendable modern-fantasy novel! Especially for readers who enjoyed the first part of this series.
Let us start on a positive note here: a magical police station has to solve a crime threatening to expose the magical world and / or destroy the biggest controlled black market of said world, which turns serious really quickly when an ancient object gets thrown into the mix. Sounds amazing. Is - story-wise - amazing. Fast-paced, full of suspense, funny, great characters. I liked the learning and "try this, I am not sure" element of the magic, which is always a lot more believable than perfect knowledge. Magical library police work research is always a win, as are magical school headmasters wearing Hawaiian shirts (take that, Dumbledore!). I also quite enjoyed the ancient "has been here forever" vibe of this magical community, where ties of blood or through objects reach back literally to biblical times and even further back.
But - and here is the big but: it was rough around the edges.
There was not enough detail about the magic, not enough explanation, too many systems going on at once (spells or hand movement? English sentences, poems, wordless, single Latin phrases - what is a spell?). I am going to give Sheryl Steines the benefit of the doubt here: this is the second part of a series and I have not read the first part, so I am going to assume those issues would have been revolved by reading part one.
However, the writing style also suffered. There were a weird phrases and "just-off" word choices, repetition of words and jokes, tiny plot holes and logic issues, same really annoying blatant grammar and spelling mistakes. That made me wrinkle my nose a couple of times and spoiled the fun a little.
Other than that, though, narrative-wise, this is still a recommendable modern-fantasy novel! Especially for readers who enjoyed the first part of this series.
May 5, 2017
This is my favorite book of the series so far. I really enjoyed the way ancient stories, religion, and mythos were tied together in a modern day treasure hunt. The story itself was faced paced and entertaining, keeping me guessing and turning the pages. The world was richly described, but more than that, I could feel the dirt and grime of the black market. The scenes there were my favorites, just because of the description put into it.
My only issue with the story was a brief moment where there was an awesome opportunity to cash in on the building suspense, and it was easily resolved by the next scene. I understand the reason behind how it was done, and it was explained well. I just wanted more action, so take this criticism with a grain of salt.
The characters were well developed and fun. Annie reminds me of myself in that no matter how I’m feeling, I’m not a good patient and refuse to take things easy. She really drove the story and I chuckled every time she had to deal with the elf in her house. It was a classic odd couple moment where I felt her pain, but wanted it to keep going.
Like the first book, this is an awesome combination of various mythos and a great story. It also has me jonesing for the next book. I can’t wait to read it.
My only issue with the story was a brief moment where there was an awesome opportunity to cash in on the building suspense, and it was easily resolved by the next scene. I understand the reason behind how it was done, and it was explained well. I just wanted more action, so take this criticism with a grain of salt.
The characters were well developed and fun. Annie reminds me of myself in that no matter how I’m feeling, I’m not a good patient and refuse to take things easy. She really drove the story and I chuckled every time she had to deal with the elf in her house. It was a classic odd couple moment where I felt her pain, but wanted it to keep going.
Like the first book, this is an awesome combination of various mythos and a great story. It also has me jonesing for the next book. I can’t wait to read it.
March 30, 2018
This is the second book in the Wizard Hall Chronicles by newcomer Sheryl Steines. Though I hadn't read the first book, I was able to jump right into this one with only minor difficulty - interpersonal relationships between characters and discussions of previous cases. So if you have the chance, start with The Day of First Sun.
The mystery revolves around King Solomon. It's well thought-out and intricate enough to keep this reader's attention. I liked the main characters - Annie and Gibbs but wondered why Gibbs had such an attitude when speaking with Annie (probably another thing that would have made more sense if I'd read book one). I liked the dynamic between Annie and Cham and would have liked to follow their courtship (so to speak).
All told, a thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy / mystery. Guess I'll have to get my hands on the first book and play catch up. I look forward to further adventures with the Wizard Hall Chronicles.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The mystery revolves around King Solomon. It's well thought-out and intricate enough to keep this reader's attention. I liked the main characters - Annie and Gibbs but wondered why Gibbs had such an attitude when speaking with Annie (probably another thing that would have made more sense if I'd read book one). I liked the dynamic between Annie and Cham and would have liked to follow their courtship (so to speak).
All told, a thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy / mystery. Guess I'll have to get my hands on the first book and play catch up. I look forward to further adventures with the Wizard Hall Chronicles.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
April 4, 2018
Interesting characters and a surprising beginning.
What this really is, is a murder investigation with a serious magical bent to it.
A secret society, a rash of missing wizards and witches and a vampire striving for power who unleashes something of a nightmare in the form of Ezekiel, the djinn.
It has all the ingredients for a good read and it was enjoyable, but I wish the magic system had been explained a little more as not having read the first book in the series that was a necessary detail that was rather missing from this one. One can sort of work it out, but a few sentences of explanation would have helped immensely.
Repetitive phrases were rather annoying and detracted from the book's plot at times.
I received this as an eARC and chose to post a review.
What this really is, is a murder investigation with a serious magical bent to it.
A secret society, a rash of missing wizards and witches and a vampire striving for power who unleashes something of a nightmare in the form of Ezekiel, the djinn.
It has all the ingredients for a good read and it was enjoyable, but I wish the magic system had been explained a little more as not having read the first book in the series that was a necessary detail that was rather missing from this one. One can sort of work it out, but a few sentences of explanation would have helped immensely.
Repetitive phrases were rather annoying and detracted from the book's plot at times.
I received this as an eARC and chose to post a review.
April 2, 2018
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mix of an FBI agent having experience with the magical side of life and the actual magical investigative units solving magical crimes makes for a great read. I stayed up reading this until I finished it in the early hours of the morning as I just couldn’t put it down until I finished.
Annie works for the Wizard Guard and gets a call from Jack, an FBI Agent, about a body found in the woods, near a magical portal, with a strange wound on their chest. The magic portal is shielded from humans and is the main entrance to the magical Black Market. A place where items are bought, sold and bartered. At least having it in a known location means the city guards can keep an eye on matters.
The body being left so close to the portal is leaving the magical world exposed. A journalist, who took too much notice of Annie’s previous involvement in a high profile case, puts her nose into this case and has far too much knowledge of magic for a non-magical person. Another, ancient and secret organization also wants something the murder victim was supposed to be in possession of.
Mix in history of archaeological digs, ancient societies, the magic of shapeshifters, a wicked Djinn and murder investigations, then it makes for a great read, which moves at a swift pace and keeps your interest the whole way through.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have gone on to purchase both this book ad the previous one, to catch up on the characters and read something else by this author. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Annie works for the Wizard Guard and gets a call from Jack, an FBI Agent, about a body found in the woods, near a magical portal, with a strange wound on their chest. The magic portal is shielded from humans and is the main entrance to the magical Black Market. A place where items are bought, sold and bartered. At least having it in a known location means the city guards can keep an eye on matters.
The body being left so close to the portal is leaving the magical world exposed. A journalist, who took too much notice of Annie’s previous involvement in a high profile case, puts her nose into this case and has far too much knowledge of magic for a non-magical person. Another, ancient and secret organization also wants something the murder victim was supposed to be in possession of.
Mix in history of archaeological digs, ancient societies, the magic of shapeshifters, a wicked Djinn and murder investigations, then it makes for a great read, which moves at a swift pace and keeps your interest the whole way through.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have gone on to purchase both this book ad the previous one, to catch up on the characters and read something else by this author. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 25, 2020
Recently read Black Market ,the second book by Sheryl Steines in the Wizard Hall Chronicles series. As we know through the First edition Annie works for the Wizard Guard, the story starts when Annie gets a call from Jack and told her about the body found in the woods near a magical portal which had a bizzare wound on chest. The magic portal is human shielded and is the main entrance to the magical black market.
The Black Maket is described as the place where magic can find anything that their hearts want legally or illegally. It is a shady place with lots of dark magic items for sale inside. It was really interesting to witness how Annie and her team hunt down the killer and stop the commodities from falling into the wrong hands.
I really enjoyed the way ancient narratives and mythologies were tied together in a treasure hunt of the modern day. The magical world was such amazingly described that I could feel the black market's dirt and grime more than that. My favourites were the scenes in there, just because of the description put in it. Wonderful and surprising, couldn't put the book down. A must read for people in love with magic and detectives. This book has it all.
The Black Maket is described as the place where magic can find anything that their hearts want legally or illegally. It is a shady place with lots of dark magic items for sale inside. It was really interesting to witness how Annie and her team hunt down the killer and stop the commodities from falling into the wrong hands.
I really enjoyed the way ancient narratives and mythologies were tied together in a treasure hunt of the modern day. The magical world was such amazingly described that I could feel the black market's dirt and grime more than that. My favourites were the scenes in there, just because of the description put in it. Wonderful and surprising, couldn't put the book down. A must read for people in love with magic and detectives. This book has it all.
April 8, 2018
Whilst this is technically book 2 in a series, it's perfectly fine to read it without having read book 1, like I did (though I'm certainly interested in reading book 1 after reading this one!). The concept of magical beings living alongside us may not be original, but the way that the author has devised a whole society with magical schools, prisons, governments, marketplaces, media and more is so great. And the story is a really engrossing read, keeping you hooked to the action until the very end. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves their stories with a magical theme, lots of action, a touch of romance (but not slushy-ness - ew!) and enough twists to really keep you on your toes.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
June 6, 2018
First let me state, I received an Advance Reader Copy, (ARC), but this in no way influences my review. I always leave an honest review. Also, this is my first read with this author & it won't be my last.
This being my first story with this author means I never got to read book one. Well, I'll be remedying that ASAP. This is book 2 in this series, but luckily it can be read as a standalone. This story was Gr8. There are magical & nonmagical people and the nons are not supposed to know about magic & when they do, they get mind erased. There is one person, Special FBI agent, Jack ???, who is nonmagical but knows of the magical world. Annie is magical & part of the wizard guard, and so is Cham her boyfriend. This story has a lot going on and I truly enjoyed reading it. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up.
This being my first story with this author means I never got to read book one. Well, I'll be remedying that ASAP. This is book 2 in this series, but luckily it can be read as a standalone. This story was Gr8. There are magical & nonmagical people and the nons are not supposed to know about magic & when they do, they get mind erased. There is one person, Special FBI agent, Jack ???, who is nonmagical but knows of the magical world. Annie is magical & part of the wizard guard, and so is Cham her boyfriend. This story has a lot going on and I truly enjoyed reading it. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up.
April 3, 2018
Ok, this is just a a “quickie” review. Unfortunately, I’m in a hospital and asked my husband to post this since I don’t have the time or ability right now to do better - even though the book definitely deserves it.
Bottom line: five stars. This was one wonderfully fun novel and definitely recommended. I loved the cicely of the Wizard Guard. It had just what I wanted and was well written and with a great plot, a great lead character in Annie Pearce and great cast of characters overall (with kudos for the creativity behind Bitherby the elf).
Bottom line: five stars. This was one wonderfully fun novel and definitely recommended. I loved the cicely of the Wizard Guard. It had just what I wanted and was well written and with a great plot, a great lead character in Annie Pearce and great cast of characters overall (with kudos for the creativity behind Bitherby the elf).
April 3, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in The Wizard Hall Chronicles by Sheryl Steines about the magical world trying to keep the nonmagical world from finding out about magic, spells, wizards, genies, and of course the existence of The Black Market itself. The author took this reader on quite a whirlwind ride from the first page to the last, which of course, turned into one of the most unexpected twists ever. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
April 4, 2018
It took several chapters before I decided if I wanted to continue reading. Just as I started to become invested in the prologue it jumped to 1970. I work my way into 1970, grasp the concept that there is an object bringing bad luck and then I am with an FBI agent on vacation. Hang in there, don't give up. There is mystery, murder of course. A magical "police" and non magical police. This is urban fantasy with magic and death, laughter and sex. Though you can read this book without reading book one, I suggest reading book 1 first. Thank you Hidden Gem for the opportunity to review.
April 8, 2018
Magic exists in our non-magical world, but only a select few are able to experience it. This story has it all: magic, romance, mystery, suspense. Well written, with attention to detail, it hooked me right from the first sentence. I really liked the way the ring's story unfolds, from 1920 to the present.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.
April 2, 2018
This is a very good PNR mystery. The storyline is developed with magic, mystery, murder, and some CSI and detective work. The characters are good and the story is interesting. I liked it. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
March 27, 2018
This book was amazingly well written. I got sucked into the story easily and had a hard time putting the book down. I truly enjoyed reading it!
April 1, 2018
I did not read book 1 but after reading Black Market I am definitely going back to read it. This was an enjoyable mystery with interesting characters. My first from this author but not my last!
July 29, 2018
King Solomon
An interesting follow up to Annie, Chem and all their friends and co-workers.
Good series will be interesting to see what happens next.
An interesting follow up to Annie, Chem and all their friends and co-workers.
Good series will be interesting to see what happens next.
December 7, 2018
Great second book in the Chronicle's. Loving the characters even more
April 28, 2017
This ended up being an extremely engrossing story, though I had a very hard time getting into the story for the first six chapters or so. This is right up my alley, with magic, mystery, and explosions aplenty! This was a very well written story that sucked me in for a mystery that deepened every time they thought they'd solved any part of it! At the end of the story there was still a good amount of whodunnits left to make you eager to dive head first into the next book! Absolutely loved it, and will add the first to my TBR pile! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to dive into this gem!
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September 21, 2018Author's guest post at my blog:
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews