Celestial Magic

Celestial Marked #1

by Emma L. Adams

Devi Lawson might be one of the chosen few gifted with divine magic to defend the earth from demons, but she's never been particularly good at following orders. After leaving the celestial guild behind following her partner's death at the hands of a demon, she struck out to hunt netherworld creatures alone. After all, it's what she does best.

But now a demonic killer is targeting other celestials, and they need Devi's help to find the culprit. Not only is she being labelled as a potential suspect, but the methods the killer uses are awfully familiar to her. To gain vital information, Devi is forced to ally with an immensely powerful warlock whose magic is entirely too close to the demons she's hunting, and who knows things about her past that nobody else does. If word about her dealings with the netherworld makes it back to the celestials, Devi will get a one-way ticket to jail at best -- a death sentence at worst.

The trouble is, the netherworld holds all the answers. And to catch the killer, Devi might have to step into the very demon realms that destroyed her life...

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Demons, Magic, Vampires, Angels

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2017

About the author

I'm Emma, a fantasy author, book collector, gamer, and wanderer. I write urban and epic fantasy novels, including the international bestselling Changeling Chronicles, the Relics of Power trilogy, and the Death's Disciple quartet.

*Note: I use Goodreads only to keep a record of what I'm reading. Please don't send me unsolicited review requests.*

Reviews

[Feminista · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hero rubbed me the wrong way. He almost sent the heroine to her death several times by promising that he would let no harm come to her. Not the best UF I have read by Emma Adams.

[Devz Milady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its not the most awful book out there but neither is this a very cohesive read.
Its like listening to a kid talk about his/her fantasy - too many gaps, too many what-the-heck-are-you-talking-about, all 'action' scenes where heroine does this and that and somehow escapes unscathed.

Devi(Devina) Lawson is a Celestial. Now what is a Celestial - not very clearly established in the story. No idea what Divinities are, other than beings who create Celestials and have a grudge ongoing with Demons. Emma throws around terms like Arch-demon, demonglass, warlock etc without explaining what is meant that. Is the reader supposed to guess?

It is not clear why Devi had so much issues with the Celestial Guild, not clear why so many people there hate her - the kind of language used by Sam is extremely vile and antagonistic and why it is being tolerated by a somewhat-official organization, no idea!

There is the So-Called Guild but we are not introduced to any positive aspect of this so called global organization. Its unclear what their role and authority is - how is a Guild able to randomly arrest Warlocks and other species?
What law and authority system is there?
Who the heck is this inspector guy and why is he doing random things that none checks up on?
Who the heck is in charge?

I managed to finish the book in a bid to see if things become somewhat clear at least partway through the book - but nah. Things remain as clear as mud.
And there is virtually no real relationship elements in this book.

Devi has a weird chemistry with Nikolas - who is initially introduced as some kinda ultra-bad-ass guy but then is quickly transformed to just a side-kick.
She speaks of Fiona -her human neighbour- as an ordinary friend in the first part of the book but towards the end, she is suddenly her best friend. What changed???????
Devi and her mentor Gav has been out of touch for the time she has been out of guild, but suddenly the guy is dead and she is all out for revenge for a guy she hasn't been much in contact of, nor has any close relationship with, at least till the point of his death in the story.
Again -why?how?

And how come this girl has no other contacts other than a Fiona and people in Guild? Especially if she is out on streets doing amateur work?
Her whole persona is very crudely and naively sketched by Emma and has no interesting features.

Overall - a book you can read if you have nothing else to read and nothing else to do!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't go into this book expecting much. A few books I have tried to start off recently just haven't hit the right spot but this was good. I enjoyed the ups and downs etc.

I'm curious to see where this story goes.

Devina is such a good name, its matching for someone that is a Celestial. Shes pretty kick ass and I do think its shown rather than told which is nice. When she meets the warlock, I thought ah here is the love interest. Which again is fine, we needed the love interest.

Nikolas is great. I really enjoyed his character. Almost dark and mean but he wasn't mean. His and her character got on well there wasn't any teenage almost drama where they're so attracted to each other they don't get on for ages.

[Kari Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book checked just about every trope for the genre I can think of. Angry young woman with a tragic past that works along and doesn't trust or get along with others. Pedantic incompetent asshole in a position of authority. Handsome, cryptic stranger who might be the bad guy but that our angry young woman is inexplicably attracted to. It was all very exciting when I sat down and was reading as fast as I could. There's a reason those tropes succeed - they can be interesting and I do enjoy the idea of them. However, I had to put the book down and go to bed. The next day I found that without momentum behind my reading the ideas and characters just fell flat. There was nothing to them besides the tropes. And I can only put up with angry untrusting loners for so long before I want to start hitting them over the head.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celestial Magic is a really great read. I’m not going to summarize it as the kindle blurb does a good job of that. Instead I will focus on the important stuff. This first book of the Celestial Marked series delivers all the things a first book should deliver. It’s an excellent story on a standalone basis, with a plot filled with action, thrills, twists and turns, adventure and even the start of an unexpected romance. It also sets the stage for much more to come. It’s lead, Devi Lawson, is exactly the kind of kick-a** heroine I love and, as strong as she is there is clearly a path to further greatness that she’s just starting. The supporting cast is also excellent, with characters that are already complex and hint at layers to be uncovered. The world-building, with it’s different demons, mages and vampires, is excellent and the writing superb. As I stated at the top, this book simply delivers all that’s needed - and is highly recommended.

[Arabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first series I read by this author and I was not disappointed! The urban fantasy world she's created was unique and totally fun to learn about. I loved that Devi does whatever she wants instead of following rules. She's a flawed protagonist, and that really humanizes her and allowed me to connect with her. I also love the whole conspiracy about what was going on with the hunters and everything.

Devi's relationship with Nikolas is tension ridden and super fun! I loved the way it unfolded and parts where they bond. I think their tentative friendship-ish, and their slow burn romance, was done really well. The secondary characters of the novel were also really fleshed out and I came to like (and hate) them as much as the main characters--like Rachel and Javos.

For the first novel in the series, it was a fun read. Can't wait until the entire series is out.

[Salwa Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess, i m nervous when the possible love interrest is untrustworthy. He has been unrealable, and he is obviously intent on corrupting her. He wants her to embrace her demonic mark and he will probably help expose her in the future, in order to make her an ennemy of the celestials. So i can't appreciate the romance. But, thankfully, it s not insta_love nor insta_lust and she seems aware of his manipulations, even if she goes with it. I like her though. I loved the story too. I guess i m wary because of the possible betrayals to come. The guy is fishy and he has an adgenda and i don't believe that he doesn't know any thing about the Archangel who marked her. I m guessing he is his agent, or it s his father even. It s a true dilema lately: i want no anxiety while reading, but i want a good story too.

[Sylvia Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome first book! It features devi who died at 16 and was brought back to life by one of the Divinities. They marked her and she was sent to the celestial academy and trained to be a celestial soldier. She made it to a grade 3 soldier before something happened to her partner and she quit the guild. Two years later someone is unaliving celestials and the guild wants devis help finding out who. But of course the inspector has other ideas and refuses to listen to devis pleas. So she finds an alliance with an unlikely being. A warlock named Nikolas. She first suspected him of being the unaliver, but soon found that to be untrue. Together can they find out who's behind all this? Read the story and find out! Quite a few twists and turns in this one. Looking forward to the next book.

[Kaitlyn Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. However I may be biased as I have read every single book this author has written and she is one of my favourite fantasy/sci Fi authors out there today. It is like Harry Potter of the demon world

So about this book, it has a unique take on demons while mixing in some other lore that avid readers may have come across before. Yet Emma once again has exceeded my expectations with her character development and plot. If I could give this book 6 stars I would.

So hard to comment without ruining the plot. Besides the main character I would say Nikolas is my favourite.

So what are you waiting for? Buy it or borrow it already ;)

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off Emma L Adams is an automatic read for me. Any new books are added to my TBR pile and devoured quickly.
I thoroughly enjoyed the new world that this is set in. It is a nice change from the Changling Chronicles + world. There are gods and demons and magically imbued warriors. Devi is a kick ass heroine, my favorite. She has the skills and magic to back up her attitude and get the job done despite the many detours and problems she faces. The secondary characters were fun to learn about as well and I look forward to reading more about them in the coming books. I won't spoil anything, but I can say that I am excited for book 2 after the ending of Celestial Magic.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly didn't like this book very much, because I like the Legacy of Flames trilogy by the same author. The characters were OK and the story was fairly imaginative. It seemed like the author was distracted when she wrote this one. Dialog between characters was stilted and clunky at times. There were occasional comments dropped in that didn't seem to have anything to do with what was going on or being discussed. Also (without spoilers) there were a couple of times where conditions were suddenly different from one page to the next, like the author forgot where a character was and suddenly had them somewhere else or doing something different, with no explanation. Careful editing would have helped this story, it had promise.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Beginning

Celestial Magic is a good beginning to a new series. I am impressed with the worlds that Emma Adams has developed. The main character, a woman that is strong and knows what is right, certainly fits well in this world. The other lead characters are raw yet and need to be more well rounded but it seems that this will occur in the future books. There is plenty of action and the possibility of a love interest between the two main characters. I would definitely suggest reading this his book.

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celestial Magic is Book 1 in what is sure to be a must read series for all paranormal fans. The Author has created a fast paced, action packed story with in depth characters that I quickly became invested in. The world building is top notch in that I can see the story unfold in front of me like a movie. The female lead is strong yet flawed which is my favorite type of lead since I can relate. I was captivated from start to finish and am looking forward to more in this series and from this Author.

[Julie Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite step in a new direction.

This series is very different than the Ivy Lane or Raine Warren books. Totally new world-building. I'm not sure I like it but I'm going to read the next one so tat I can figure out if the somewhat frenetic pacing is just me getting used to new characters and new places so not taking in information quickly enough or if the book simply moves too fast without sufficient information. We'll see. Either way, I would give it a chance because Adams is a good writer and I've liked every other series.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced action packed supernatural read

Wow what a start to a series, a supernatural crime fighting bad ass with light and dark power. I'm hooked, fast paced action from the start Devina is the main character who used to work for the celestial bureau till her partner is killed, new agents start dying and she's called back to help solve this case because she literally tripped over the first two bodies. Meanwhile she crosses paths with a sexy as sin demi god warlock, come off it what's not to love

[Holly Minch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the angles and demons and their soldiers, I liked the world building and thought it was a good start to a new series I look forward to seeing where it goes and how the author builds up the world and the characters. I liked that it was more focused on the story than romance and that the main characters Div was willing to stand up for what she believed was right even if it made her an outcast in many circles.

[Cheryl Kulas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divinely intriguing, demonicaly enticing

The story was interesting & intense. It shows the two sides of what this world is constantly fighting about. The celestials & totality of demons working against each other to have humans believing them is what it all boils down to. When you add all other supernaturals into the mix - vampires, weres, witches, & everything in between - there's so much more that can be brought into the story. Totally, insanely fantastic!!!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhh, I loved this new series!!!

I love books by Ms. Adams, but I think this is my favorite series to date. Something new and refreshing to read and not the same old same old that seems to saturate urban fantasy right now. If you love urban fantasy, then you're going to love this book. Definitely recommending to everyone I know.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celestial's and Demons

Pretty interesting book. I am not usually into reading about angels and demons but I have read Emma's other series about the Fae and decided to give it a chance. I really enjoyed the different aspects of her worlds created here and how the different beings go together. I will definitely be reading on to see what happens next.

[Mae Padua-janusas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly delightful

Didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book. I was intrigued and was surprised that I actually really liked it. It’s full of action and adventure with just the right hints of romance. The lead characters provide just enough comic relief so that the book didn’t seem too drab or too serious throughout. With that, I’m on to the next book.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Le fleur de mal

I received a short story about divinity Divi when I registered to get updates on Emma Adams books. I love the story so I decided to get the first book on Celestial Mark. The series is exiting and I enjoyed the main characters. I'm getting book too and I'm looking forward to new adventures. I highly recommended it.

[Helen Wawrejko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging read

Devi has left the hunters guild after the horrific death of her partner. Celestial magic was given to her when she died in a car accident and reborn to hurt demons. When novices are dying gruesome burning deaths, she is brought back to help find the demon that seems to be the serial killer. Good read. Thank you KU for this book.

[Jack Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book! I loved the way she kept at it despite the obstacles. There was plenty of action throughout the book, and I never suspected the surprise at about how she was able to receive both a celestial and a demon mark.

[Mike Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

A great story of good versus evil light versus dark. Great cast of characters plenty of Supernatural action angels and demons Celeste Jill Warriors battling evil and saving earth. Definitely worth the read check it out

[Jana Gundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from this author!

I'm a huge fan and I knew I would love this book, just based on this author's other series. Devi is a great character, one i know everyone will let be and get a kick out of. There is plenty of action, mystery and drama to satisfy anyone.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of adventure and the plot was different and creative. The characters were likable and well developed. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Subhajit Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the highly capturing and twisting plot and the way the author portrayed the scenes with full of action, lifted this book on a high spirit. I loved reading this book. I'd like to recommend this book to every avid reader. Thank you.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent introduction

A really enjoyable read! I liked the overall premise of the story, and definitely how the events played put. The characters were interesting, too. I’d definitely want to find out what happens next!

[Tash L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first book

I really enjoyed this book, Devi is a great strong female lead. Nikolas and Rachel are good strong characters I can’t wait to read more about.
Looking forward to the next book

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable fast paced urban fantasy

The main characters were well written and the story very engaging. It was fun to read and the heroine had some good interactions with her ex employers the celestial organisation. In this book the hidden world is very much out in the world.