Venators: Magic Unleashed by Devri Walls

Mar 06, 2020 Whispering Stories rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

Venators: Magic Unleashed is the first book in a new series by Devri Walls. It has been a long time since I have read a book featuring mythical/supernatural beings and so it took me a little while to get into the story.

The book begins on Earth and the fantasy element took a few chapters to emerge. There were a lot of characters to understand and to get to know, so many that I ended up having to write a list to remind me who was who.

The plot opens with so Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

Venators: Magic Unleashed is the first book in a new series by Devri Walls. It has been a long time since I have read a book featuring mythical/supernatural beings and so it took me a little while to get into the story.

The book begins on Earth and the fantasy element took a few chapters to emerge. There were a lot of characters to understand and to get to know, so many that I ended up having to write a list to remind me who was who.

The plot opens with someone called Tate awaiting a portal to open. I wasn’t quite sure a first whether Tate was a supernatural person or whether he was some kind of creature. We then met Rune and Ryker, twin teenage humans. Rune is forever looking out for her brother who happens to be a bit of an arse. She is also experiencing some strange sensations and reactions within her body.

We also have Grey, another teenage human who was attacked six years ago by some kind of troll/eel/pig looking creatures. Ever since he has found he has special abilities including the ability to run fast. He keeps his abilities hidden in case people want to experiment on him.

I hope you are keeping up with me so far. Turns out that these teenagers are ‘Venators’, enhanced beings and they are wanted by hunters from another realm.

The book is fast-paced and there are a lot of supernatural beings thrown in together. The world-building was interesting and easy to imagine. The plot is filled to the brim with magic, mystery, and mayhem and it certainly takes you on an adventure.

There are a few subplots that interweave within the main and as the book progresses secrets are revealed and the roll of the Venators and why they are wanted is brought to the forefront.

If you are a lover of supernatural or even sci-fi YA books then this is certainly the book to pick up. I believe book two is already released. Unfortunately, whilst it was certainly enjoyable and intriguing I took so long trying to make sure that I understood everything that was happening and had to make so many notes that I don’t think it will be a series I will be following.
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Mar 03, 2020 Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, read-in-2020

Very grateful and excited to be part of the blog tour for this book, it's a pleasure, but as you always know, my thoughts are 100% my own.

Venator is a super entertaining and easy-to-read book that really surprised me. I used to be a big fan of the urban genre in the past, but I haven't read anything related for a long time and I enjoyed that aspect a lot, especially since I feel a lot of nostalgia reading it. It has very well created action scenes and the world-building seemed very successful fo ...more

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Mar 12, 2020 Alice (Married To Books) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kobo, read-in-2020

3.75 stars!

I don’t tend to pick up urban fantasy books, since I’m not the most confident reader when it comes to lots of high stakes action and a range of supernatural creatures/occurrences. Venators was easy to get into. It certainly doesn’t hold back from the adventure and sometimes some brutality however, that’s what kept the story interesting. Each chapter contained something new that enticed me on further until the final page. I liked the fantasy world-buildings and meeting Rune, who is clo ...more

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Apr 12, 2018 Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: g-r-shapeshifters, g-t-another-world, g-t-contemporary, genre-coming-of-age, imo-neat-premise, series-book-1, rp-edelweiss, genre-ya-paranormal, stars-4, 2018

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Attacked by creatures that can’t possibly exist 6 years ago, Grey hides strange new abilities. Whenever Rune’s around anything remotely supernatural, an angry pressure builds and she wants to know why… before she loses control. By order of an unknown council they are pulled through a portal into an alternate dimension where creatures of myth and legend exist. A realm that calls them, Venators.

The review...

I quite enjoyed this book. My brothers ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Lili Marcus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, 2020-reads, fantasy, young-adult

Venators: Magic Unleashed surprised me. I was expecting it to be good - it exceeded good. The book introduces Venators, beings who have specific abilities, and reintroduces every paranormal and magical being we only read and see on TV. This element of the story alone is enough for me to pick up this book, but I didn't know this because I decided to dive into the story knowing nothing. And imagine my surprise when little by little the fictional world and its magic system is introduced to me. Es ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Dini - dinipandareads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour, urban-fantasy, ya-fantasy-scifi, series

I'm rounding my rating up because I really enjoyed this fast-paced supernatural fantasy. There were some elements that stopped me from fully immersing myself in the story but it was a lot of fun to read and I'm looking forward to learning what happens next!

The story is set in two places: modern day earth complete with frat parties and college life, and Eon, the alternate world where all supernaturals such as faeries, elves, werewolves, vampires, witches and a wide range of other creatures, are r I'm rounding my rating up because I really enjoyed this fast-paced supernatural fantasy. There were some elements that stopped me from fully immersing myself in the story but it was a lot of fun to read and I'm looking forward to learning what happens next!

The story is set in two places: modern day earth complete with frat parties and college life, and Eon, the alternate world where all supernaturals such as faeries, elves, werewolves, vampires, witches and a wide range of other creatures, are real. Yep, we literally get all of the creatures but I didn't mind it! We spend a very small amount of time on earth before crossing over to Eon, although it took a while before this world's name was mentioned (our characters were there for several chapters before the name 'Eon' came up). Eon seems like a really shady and scary world that's full of unruly blood thirsty creatures. It's the kind of world that would very likely kill me within the first five minutes of setting foot on it LOL but death aside, it does sound like a cool world!

Walls' writing style is straight forward, easy to follow, and her descriptions of the setting are vivid, making it easy to envision the surroundings. I thought that the story flowed well although there were some transitions that jumped a little too quickly from one scene to the next. We are pretty much thrown into the thick of the action from page one; it was almost like picking up a book from the middle of a story, which was initially confusing but it didn't take long to catch on. The story seems to be more political than I thought it'd be but it's intriguing! The book is pretty full of tropes but I personally don't mind if the story is enjoyable and holds my attention. There's no romance as of book one but there is plenty to indicate that there will be much more in the coming books. I have a feeling there might even be some kind of love triangle too (nooooo) but I'm desperately hoping I'm wrong :) I'm looking forward to seeing how this plot progresses now that the motivations behind the council's summoning of the venators has been 'revealed'.

We're introduced to a lot of characters but many we don't learn much about. Grey and Rune are our MCs but we also see a lot of Tate and Verida, both of whom I liked a lot. I adored Grey! He's a smol cinnamon roll marshmallow man-boi that I just wanted to scoop up iand never let go of! He had a rough childhood and there are allusions to his experiencing abuse at some point and it's absolutely heartbreaking. He's soft but there's clearly also strength in that. Rune was difficult to like although she's much better than her brother, Ryker. I found myself swinging back and forth between thinking her okay and disliking her intensely. I empathised with her once we learn her backstory but she continues to act childish/petulant, and it was hard to see past that. I am curious to see how her arc will progress though!

We learn intriguing bits of information about the characters we meet, and I'm really hoping we get to learn more about them in the coming books. The council was evil and corrupt but not as bad as I thought they'd be. I'm keen to see if that will change in the next book. I feel like a few side characters have the potential to become more central in the future, such as Beltran and Tashara, who really intrigued me! I was surprised how much I liked both of them although Beltran's "romance arc" had me groaning and rolling my eyes just a *little* bit 😂

I'm not a fan of open endings and this ending seemed to come out of nowhere. Obviously it has me eager to pick up the sequel to see what happens next, but I thought it was just way too abrupt--almost as if the characters were cut off mid-thought. That said, this was a fun supernatural fantasy that was literally non-stop full of action. It's an easy and enjoyable read and I would recommend it for anyone who likes supernatural elements! ...more

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Feb 28, 2020 Becky'sBookBlog rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rune Jenkins is starting to freak out, her life isn’t going the way she expected and she keeps experiencing an unexplainable anger whenever she reads/see’s something remotely related to the paranormal or monsters. Grey Malteer is obsessed with monsters ever since he was attacked by indescribable creatures one night six years ago. Rune and Grey have known each other for years and have a tenuous friendship, mainly tested by Runes twin brother Ryker, but what they don’t know is just how linked they Rune Jenkins is starting to freak out, her life isn’t going the way she expected and she keeps experiencing an unexplainable anger whenever she reads/see’s something remotely related to the paranormal or monsters. Grey Malteer is obsessed with monsters ever since he was attacked by indescribable creatures one night six years ago. Rune and Grey have known each other for years and have a tenuous friendship, mainly tested by Runes twin brother Ryker, but what they don’t know is just how linked they are. When a stranger appears and tells them they are Venators, an ancient race of monster hunters and drags them through a portal to a world where vampires, werewolves, the fae and much more exist, they will have to rely on each other and their untested powers if they are going to make it out alive.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was reading from both a female and male perspective. Rune and Grey are similar in so many ways and then completely different in others. I loved how the author managed to make them both vulnerable but in an almost role reversal way; Grey gets paranoid about wearing skin tight clothing and Rune is annoyed that her relative fitness in our world is not enough to cut it here. Because of this I found the characters quite fresh and though they don’t have a whole lot of growth I enjoyed reading from their perspectives. My one problem was that I almost liked the side characters more. Beltran, a character that comes into the book late on made more of an impression on me in one scene than Rune did for a big chunk of the book, and while she and Grey grew on me I didn’t bond with them in the way I do with a lot of protagonists.

I found the premise for this book really intriguing, that there is a world parallel to ours but filled with all the monsters we read about and watch TV shows/ Movies about. At one point portals between the two worlds occurred regularly and so people could travel accross which is where we get a lot of our myths; Dracula, Van Helsing etc. But the monsters started to fear the Venators, humans with enhanced abilities, which led to an attempt to close the portals for good. Unfortunately they were unable to close them indefinitely but now random portals appear, leaving days, months and sometimes years in between appearances. I hadn’t really read any portal fantasy before this and so I had little expectations going in but I found this bit of the book the most gripping. I enjoyed learning about the parallel world, their council and the evil forces which forced them to allow Venators back through the portal.

The author brings us a whole host of creatures vampires, werewolves, fae, elves, succubus, shapeshifters, wizards and created a hierarchy within the races. The Council is compromised of one of each of the ‘higher’ creatures and beings not in this list are seen as lesser. It was a great way to show the divide between cultures and classes of people in the world she created. Her descriptive writing was expertly done and I found it easy to imagine myself travelling along on Rune and Grey’s journey and easily immersed in the battle scenes. One thing I will say is the book ends pretty abruptly, not even on a cliffhanger it just ends, which thew me a little, and I had to make sure I hadn’t missed a chapter, though it definitely leaves you eager to read book two.

It took me a bit to get into the swing of this book and a while for me to decide that I liked the main characters but I’m glad I stuck with it. There is so much promise for future books in the series and I will definitely be carrying it on. ...more

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Oct 09, 2016 Faith The Assassin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Once again, I am blown away by Devri Wall's writing style and how she weaves these amazing stories with such creative and unique worlds and such interesting characters. First The Solus Series, then The Wizard's Heir and now this- Venators: Through the Arch- all which I have enjoyed immensely.

Venators was such a fun and captivating read. Such a unique take on the paranormal/fantasy genre. I really enjoyed every thing this story had to offer- the unique world building, the characters that continue Once again, I am blown away by Devri Wall's writing style and how she weaves these amazing stories with such creative and unique worlds and such interesting characters. First The Solus Series, then The Wizard's Heir and now this- Venators: Through the Arch- all which I have enjoyed immensely.

Venators was such a fun and captivating read. Such a unique take on the paranormal/fantasy genre. I really enjoyed every thing this story had to offer- the unique world building, the characters that continue to develop in such a beautiful way, and just how fast paced it is.

Venators follows the stories of two characters; Grey and Rune. Where in the beginning, the are living the usual college life but then are called to jump through an arch into a different world. A world that has every kind of mythical creature you can imagine - vampires, werewolves, faeries, elves, Wizards, dragons, goblins and even Giants. And they are called to be what is known as the Venators, which is Latin for hunter. And they are called to be basically the Warriors and law of the land.

This was such a fast paced and thrilling story I didn't want to put it down.

Now let's talk about how awesome the characters are. Because the way Devri creates such awesome characters is something to be discussed.

Rune- Rune is our female protagonist. For a while, it took me while to connect or really enjoy her character because she kind of starts out as a weak character. The whole reason , she agreed to enter this strange world is because her twin brother Ryker has been taken. And she's always been the one to look after and take of him and she's got to get him back. But she constantly freaked out in most situations. I don't think it was until more towards end of the book that I began to like her because she's slowly shedding that weak and scared girl she was in the beginning and she's starting to become really badass and I love it.

Grey- Aw Grey. Where do I begin? Grey is an amazing character. Very handsome too. Six years ago, he was already introduced to this new world by an attack from some of the creatures that came through to his side. And he's always been curious to go to this other world. And no matter what the situation is, he really knows how to handle it. He's sweet and compassionate and a fast learner. And he handles everything in such a calmly matter. He really thinks things through instead of caving into pressure. He's just an all around amazing guy and I can't wait to see how he continues to develop throughout.

Beltran- my personal favorite. I love Grey, but the minute this character was introduced, I knew he was a keeper. He's kind of your troublemaker , bad boy not entirely certain you can trust him kind of character which I absolutely love those kind of characters. He's witty, and fun but he's also really smart and kind. And I call dibs on this guy so nobody else gets to have him .

This story is also told from other point of views aside from the main two which I really enjoy because I love seeing the different thoughts and getting to know all the characters .

I would really recommend it to those who love fantasy and looking for something that's a little different then your usual story.

I really enjoyed this book so much and I can't wait for more!!!! Thanks Devri again for yet another exciting story and such amazing characters. Can't wait to see how this story progresses! Beltran forever!!! ...more

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Mar 15, 2020 Anca Antoci rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Venator is my first encounter with Devri Walls, but given how much I enjoyed it, I’m sure it won’t be the last. Her writing style is fluid, without many embellishments, which helps with the fast-paced action of the story. I found the difference between the two realms exciting.

The story starts in the human world with relatable situations such as family problems, frat parties, and getting drunk. The world as we know it disappears once we get to Eon, another realm, a different reality where every m ...more

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Feb 19, 2020 A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy, year-2020, e-book, 4-stars, tour, the-write-reads

Book source ~ Tour

Rune Jenkins loves all things supernatural, but has to suppress her fascination around her twin, Ryker. For some reason he’s taken an extreme dislike of the things she likes and it’s exhausting hiding it from him. One person she knows embraces the supernatural though and Grey Malteer doesn’t seem to care that people think he’s weird. When creatures suddenly come hunting for them, Rune is in for a rude awakening. The things she’s been drawn to are not fantasy, they’re real and s ...more

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Mar 05, 2020 Elizabeth Tabler rated it liked it · review of another edition

Venators is a fast-paced novel about two intertwining stories, Grey Malteer and Rune Jenkins and Rune Jenkins. At the beginning of the story, Rune and Grey are just typical college students. Rune and Grey study for classes and avoid bullies and studying for classes. Rune has a fit of wild anger that erupts whenever she is around anything paranormal. Gray has powers that that that he tries to keep quiet. Through a bit of craziness, Rune and Gray are pulled through a portal into a world of the par ...more

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Mar 15, 2020 Devyani rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My Rating: 4.5 stars

This review is part of the #Venators Blog Tour Hosted by the WriteReads.

Thanks a ton, Dave from @TheWriteReads and the author-Devri Walls, for giving me this opportunity and providing me with a free e-book copy of ‘The Venators: Magic Unleashed’ on exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

What are Venators first of all? They are a group of humans with genetic mutations which render them immense power, strength and agility and immunity to vampire bites, fae magic, werewolve My Rating: 4.5 stars

This review is part of the #Venators Blog Tour Hosted by the WriteReads.

Thanks a ton, Dave from @TheWriteReads and the author-Devri Walls, for giving me this opportunity and providing me with a free e-book copy of ‘The Venators: Magic Unleashed’ on exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

What are Venators first of all? They are a group of humans with genetic mutations which render them immense power, strength and agility and immunity to vampire bites, fae magic, werewolves venom amongst other things, but certainly not all things. They are beings to be feared and with so much potential and uniqueness, they once became the law enforcers and keepers of peace in another realm. But due to internal political turmoil, the Venators are extinct now in that other realm.

Three Venators- Grey Malteer, Rune Jenkins and her twin brother, Ryker– are teleported from this side of the world to the other side where all the myths about fairies, vampires, werewolves, dragons come true. And what is the purpose?- To re-take control over the law and order of the realm just like before, only this time the council’s policies are a bit different- more sinister, self-serving and with a purpose so fierce and menacing.

I could relate to Grey’s persona so much- full of secrecy and soberness. Grey Malteer is bullied in college. Because of his calm and reticent demeanor and seemingly unique choice of clothing and also his interest toward supernatural things, he is often mocked by his college mates, especially Ryke, Rune Jenkins’ twin brother, who has gone way too far harassing Grey. Grey is a hidden ball of wonders. With the Venator blood flowing through his veins, Grey constantly trains to boost his power and strength though the purpose seems quite nebulous when he comes to think of it. Grey who seems so fragile at the beginning, shows his true self when he is in the world he has always fantasized about- the other side. The confidence, power, courage, intellect all seem to have ruptured the shell which has been hiding them all this while in this side of the world. Grey’s character has impressed me very much. His character is such a fine blend of pacificity and vigor, with so much maturity and balance.

Rune Jenkins character on the contrary is a bit too angsty. Rune has always lived her life in subjugation- that is one reason. She is constantly in a state of confusion and worry, unsure and very much unaware of why she reacts so oddly whenever she is around anything that is remotely supernatural. After reaching the other side of the realm, Rune seems to lack behind as a venator. The constant backing from Grey and frequent encounters with deadly instances in this other realm, gradually ameliorates the “Venator” fervor within her. By the end of the book, Rune does quite well. She is totally a different person- more strong and determined. I really hope to see more of her courage and strength come to light in the next book in the series.

The book is like an all in one combo offer! Every mythical being you have heard of and fantasized about as a child, pays you a thrilling visit here, in this book. Faeries, vamps, werewolves, succubi and incubi, elves, dragons, halfbloods- all in one! Among all these mythical characters, I really liked Verida (daughter of Dracula, quite interesting) and of course the shape-shifter- Beltran! I love him! Full of wit and humor. Really looking forward to getting to know more about him.

The Venators is an action packed YA fantasy story. Devri Walls is an amazing writer. You feel like you are breathing and thriving in that other side of the world where these three venators are persistently fighting for their survival. The total atmosphere of the story and the narration is so powerful and extraordinarily detailed that a reader is bound to be engrossed in it! Each and every chapter is a thriller and full of action! The constant fight for survival and the malicious detailing of the powerful beasts in the story are so very riveting that you can’t get off your mind of the pages of the book! It is a complete page turner! As you gradually progress with the story, that curiosity within you grows- and this allows you to read the story at a much faster pace. I have come across several books where in the middle of the story you’ll feel that you are just dragging yourself reluctantly, just to complete the book because you have that slight feeling within you that this book might end well and so you want to finish it, and in most cases it does, the endings are quite satisfactory! However, that apathy you have developed on your way to completing the story, brings the overall rating and experience down (exception- when the endings are extraordinarily fabulous). It has happened with me so frequently. But with this book my experience has been different. The novel ideas behind each and every chapter ensure that the readers retain their interest in the story and look forward to completing it with an enthusiasm. So I would say that I am very much impressed by the author’s imaginative powers and of course her writing style.

I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone who is interested in folklore and fantasy novels. This will not disappoint you in any way! I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next book in the series! There are so many questions and assumptions inside my mind that I am curious enough to learn more about the Venators and the world of these amazing supernatural entities!

Check out my blog: https://musingsofanepeolator.home.blog/ ...more

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Mar 25, 2020 Sammie rated it really liked it

You can read my full review on my blog, The Writerly Way, here.

Many thanks to TheWriteReads and Devri Walls for a finished copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I was basically told I had to read this book, under pain of … well, I don’t actually know, but they used or else, and you know that New Yorkers mean business when they say that, so I took notice.

Magic Unleashed is a portal fantasy to a dark, unforgiving world where danger lurks around every turn … so, you know, my kind of p You can read my full review on my blog, The Writerly Way, here.

Many thanks to TheWriteReads and Devri Walls for a finished copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I was basically told I had to read this book, under pain of … well, I don’t actually know, but they used or else, and you know that New Yorkers mean business when they say that, so I took notice.

Magic Unleashed is a portal fantasy to a dark, unforgiving world where danger lurks around every turn … so, you know, my kind of place.

I’m not for sure I’d want to live there, but visit? Heck yes! Spoiler alert: there’s even dragons. If I were a Venator, that’s all you’d have to say to convince me. Yes, please.

My Thoughts:

- This book is just chock full of relatable characters, and I can see parts of myself in all of them.

- The other world (Eon) is dark and foreboding, and it’s absolutely glorious. Be still, my dark, withered heart. Oh how I just absolutely loved this world. If you’ve heard of it, it probably exists. It’s a pretty big generalization, but also, imagine the possibilities. Terrifying, right? I love it. There’s a great juxtaposition between the wonder and beauty of this world and the downright deadliness of it. The world-building here is a little bit of a double-edged sword, because it felt both wonderful and also a bit vague. I suppose what I mean is there were parts of the world where I had a really freaking good picture of things (like the forest they first land in), and then other times, it was a bit foggy and I really wanted some more grounding.

- There’s a bit of a political game hinted at here from all the powerful parties, and I’m really hoping book two explores it more, because gosh was it fun. I am all for underhandedness, betrayal, and playing the politics game to win. I actually really enjoyed the councils’ interactions with each other, as strained as they were, and all the little hints that things may not be quite as they seem. Everyone in this book has an ulterior motive. Even more exciting was watching Grey and Rune learn how to play the game, little by little, to further their own purposes. The only big problem I had with this was that in this political tug-of-war, there were so many characters introduced that I had a hard time keeping them all straight, especially when they were all on a page together.

- This book pulls absolutely no punches when it comes to the ugliness of this world. Because it ain’t pretty, folks. I mean, okay, parts of it are, absolutely, and I loved the juxtaposition there, as Grey and Rune wonder at the gorgeous scenery and then five minutes later are facing yet another potentially lethal danger. There are quite a few scenes that are absolutely brutal when it comes to how callous the world is, and it really highlights what a dangerous journey our intrepid heroes are on.

- Once the main characters cross over into Eon, there’s not a lot of downtime, and it’s just one thing after another, keeping things moving at a pretty fast pace. So if you’re into action and fast-paced stories, this one’s for you. I thought the beginning was a little slow, but also sort of out of necessity, as the scene was set and everything was introduced. It definitely didn’t stay that way for very long. Once the action got going, it got going. I had a hard time putting it down, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next or what new creature might be lurking in the next chapter.

- I really enjoyed Walls’ writing style, which was easy to fall into, but also lovely and descriptive. I’m not going to lie: sometimes the descriptions tripped me up a little with the metaphors that were used, but for the most part? I just loved it. There were some really stunning passages that were so poignant I had to read them twice.

- Sorry, ladies, but I’ve decided that I get to marry Beltran, so y’all will just have to find someone else. Beltran is just my kind of guy. He’s undecided about where he stands as far as “sides,” except that he’s thoroughly and completely on his own side, to whatever end. His allegiance seems … wavering, at best. At worst, he’s a liability, which makes him all the more interesting. I can’t wait to find out more about his character in the next books. ...more

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Mar 12, 2020 Caffeinated Fae rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-for-review, audiobooks-i-own, book-tour, audiobooks-audible

TW: Sexual Assualt, Child Abuse, Abuse, mention of slavery, mention of forced prostitution, Victim blaming verbiage.

When I was approached about this book tour, I knew I needed to jump in. Magic Unleased is right up my alley, and I couldn't wait to get started. I ended up low on time, so I snagged the audiobook so that I could read it while reading a few other books in between. The narrator did a good job of portraying the characters, though, at times, his voice bordered on monotone.

Devri Walls TW: Sexual Assualt, Child Abuse, Abuse, mention of slavery, mention of forced prostitution, Victim blaming verbiage.

When I was approached about this book tour, I knew I needed to jump in. Magic Unleased is right up my alley, and I couldn't wait to get started. I ended up low on time, so I snagged the audiobook so that I could read it while reading a few other books in between. The narrator did a good job of portraying the characters, though, at times, his voice bordered on monotone.

Devri Walls sure knows how to write a vast world. The descriptions were great, and at times I felt like I was walking around with Rune & Grey. The setting itself was well done, and I liked to see the author's interpretations of the supernatural characters. My favorite was how the fae were portrayed. They weren't sweet, helpful things but tricksters. I just loved it.

The characters were also well done. I wanted to get to know more about Grey and Rune, and I liked seeing how they interacted with all of the characters. I enjoyed the side characters, as well. It seems like everyone, for the most part, was three dimensional. I will admit, I struggled with how young Grey & Rune acted though this is more of a me issue and not a book issue.

The one thing that didn't sit well with me was some of the victim-blaming verbiages in a specific scene. I felt that the character had every right to be upset, and I feel like she was gaslit because she didn't just accept that something "had" to happen. This scene soured me on the book, and I have to admit, I almost DNFd right then and there. After that scene, I started to notice just some of the ways that Rune was treated, and I hated how she was consistently berated instead of helped.

Though I did find some faults with this book, I ended up pushing through. In the end, I enjoyed the world that created. It was fun to see a more sinister side of faeries, and I enjoyed how fast-paced the plot was. I'm not sure that I will continue in the series, but I do understand why so many people have enjoyed it.

...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Lel Budge rated it really liked it

Grey and Rune are seemingly typical college students, but they have powers they keep relatively hidden.

They are pulled through a portal and enter a very different world. A world of magic and chaos, of vampire, werewolves and so much more.

With a large cast of characters, great world building and an exciting plot, this fast paced fantasy tale is enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining.

Thank you to The Write Reads for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and a ...more

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May 07, 2018 April Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, signed

3.5 stars
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuySd...
*I received a copy of this book for an honest review. ...more

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Feb 11, 2020 Tessa (Talks Books) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Favorite Character: Beltran

A shapeshifter who relishes the role of trickster, he seems an unlikely choice for favorite character. He is dastardly and self-serving and follows only his desire for fun and what’s best for Beltran. Tate tells Gray and Rune not to trust him, ever, and I took him at his word. So why is he my favorite character? You’ll have to read the novel to find out.

What I Loved

The setting is our world and another world that exists alongside ours, accessible only through special ga Favorite Character: Beltran

A shapeshifter who relishes the role of trickster, he seems an unlikely choice for favorite character. He is dastardly and self-serving and follows only his desire for fun and what’s best for Beltran. Tate tells Gray and Rune not to trust him, ever, and I took him at his word. So why is he my favorite character? You’ll have to read the novel to find out.

What I Loved

The setting is our world and another world that exists alongside ours, accessible only through special gates that appear randomly. This other world is full of supernatural creatures – the kind of beings who cause fear in the hearts and minds of humans from both worlds. A realm with castles and a dragon, villages with medieval-like cottages and no electricity, Rune, and Gray have to quickly learn the rules that this realm is run by, or it could be disastrous.

The characters are each complex and sympathetically flawed. Everyone has a secret goal they are working toward, so no one is what they seem to be. Gray and Rune are the main characters – the Venators. Friends for many years, Gray is shocked when Rune and her twin brother Ryker end up at the same college as him. Gray tries to hide in loose clothing and hair that conveniently covers his face when he wants not to be noticed. Rune is a talented athlete, pushed by a perfectionist mother, who feels that only she can keep her brother from being his own worst enemy. Rune and Gray, along with a cast of various supernatural beings, give us many compelling stories that create a thrilling tone and keep the pages turning quickly.

The theme of self-discovery is perfect for a YA book. Rune and Gray are discovering their true selves in a world that is alien and scary, not unlike the real teens who are the intended audience. Their journey is not complete by the book’s end, and I imagine it will be carried throughout the series. Learning to find our place in the world and figure out who we are is a journey that plagues many of us well into adulthood.

I love the wisdom dispensed in the novel; Wisdom, such as the following:
“You’ll have to determine that for yourself—also an important lesson you’ll need to learn. And quickly. You decide who you are. You decide what’s right. And you decide where you stand. Stop trying to pick a side, because—speaking from one highly valued species to another—everyone you meet will try to get you on theirs. In this world, you are a tool for those in power. Nothing more. You must stand where you are, on your side, and decide just how exactly you’re going to change this world. For better or for worse—the choice is yours. But it’s a choice you need to make now.”

Overall, I found this story at times to be magically fun and, at other times, to be tragic and heart-rending but at all times, unique and compelling. Rune and Gray are two authentic teenagers whose lives have been less than idyllic but whose hearts are pure, and it takes a magical journey for them to discover their potential and their purpose. A fantastic read on many different levels.

To Read or Not to Read

The Venators is a fantastical tale of self-discovery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, as the pages turn faster and faster. If you love fantasy and the creatures of myth – you will want to pick up this book and discover the unique story contained within its pages.

Thank you to The Write Reads and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Mar 14, 2020 Flora rated it liked it

Shelves: arcs-alcs, pnr-young-adult-1418, epic-fantasy-high-fantasy, 2020-reading-challenge

You can read my full review on my blog, Flora's Musings...

What did I like?I don’t usually read Young Adult (YA) books or stories about college students but agreed to read Magic Unleashed for a number of reasons; the front cover caught my eye – you’ve got to agree, it screams “powerful female” and the story description piqued my interest – a world where all manner of supernatural creatures live, descendants of genetically altered humans, political intrigue, untapped magical powers, yes please an ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Lorraine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Review originally posted on Geeky Galaxy

You didn't think I was going to get my hands on an urban fantasy and not review it did you? I started Venators: Magic Unleashed only a few days before this post is up, because I work best under pressure, apparently. Or, that's what I keep telling myself. From the description, I went in with high expectations. Read the summary above, "fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi". What more could I want?

The Plot

The introduction was short and action-filled Review originally posted on Geeky Galaxy

You didn't think I was going to get my hands on an urban fantasy and not review it did you? I started Venators: Magic Unleashed only a few days before this post is up, because I work best under pressure, apparently. Or, that's what I keep telling myself. From the description, I went in with high expectations. Read the summary above, "fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi". What more could I want?

The Plot

The introduction was short and action-filled, with only a few chapters before we dive right into the action. The action doesn’t really slow from there, and I mean all the way up until the end! Because of that, I felt like the book wasn’t really a full book. It’s not a standalone story, so much relies on the next book that it feels like book one and book two may have been randomly cut down the middle. The end didn’t feel anything like an end and was a bit too abrupt for my liking. Of course, it’s making me want to read the next one, which serves its purpose, but I wish there’d been more of an end, rather than a sudden stop.

The Characters

After about 20%, I couldn’t help but feel the characters were a little cliché. You’ve got Grey, the “weird kid” with long, black hair, always wearing a trench coat. Using his long hair to hide from the world. And then Rune. The beautiful girl, mostly achieving straight As, great at sport, and somehow still friends with the weird kid, even though everything says they shouldn’t be. It’s a trope I’ve seen a lot, and it’s a little bit tiring. Despite that, I did enjoy the relationship Rune and Grey had. And as the book progressed, they grew into their own characters more, stepping a little away from their clichés. Come the end, they’d grown into two defining characters and I’m intrigued to know where the path takes them next.

As well as Rune and Grey, we’ve got Beltran, Verida and Tate, all very different characters. Again, Tate could fall into the “old warrior mentor” category. Beltran, though, was probably my favourite character of the lot. He’s fun and has a sense of humour, but is also calculating and clearly intelligent. I think there’s a lot more to come from him, and I can’t wait to read it.

The World

So, this is the fun part! In Venators: Magic Unleashed, we’ve got somewhere called Eon, which is a separate plane from the world we know. The world was filled with every supernatural creature you could probably imagine, and perhaps some you can’t. The author did well balancing the world-building so as not to bombard with too much information in one go. It also has similarities to your average fantasy world, elves have a sense of arrogance, vampires are elegant but violent etc. It’s all very familiar, but also different. The introduction of the Venators was an added element that really pulled me into this, and I look forward to reading more about them. The political intrigue with the council of supernatural beings could definitely be explored more, and I hope it is in the next book. There's an element there that could really add something to the world if done right! ...more

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Jun 11, 2017 Indira rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-ish, action-amazing-love, i-would-almost-die-for, good-to-really-good-book, above-and-beyond-me-dreams

Hey guys, so I just finished Venators:Magic Unleashed(used to be Through The Arch) (#1) by Devri Walls. I have no idea why it took me so long to read this amazing novel. Seriously, I loved her other series, why did I have any doubt that I wouldn't enjoy this one? Silly me. So obviously, I loved this novel. It was descriptive, but I liked how...causal it was. It wasn't too fancy or hard to read. The description added essential background information to the characters that I grew to love. Oy, let ...more

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Mar 05, 2020 Hollylovesbooks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

After reading some awesome reviews my first thought when I picked up this book was ‘where is Beltran’? Butt i was captivated by this world and characters and therefore forgot about Beltran for a while… maybe… hehe

The world building and characters where (as I said) definitely the main thing that caught my interest. We are introduced to so much of this world at once that I was afraid I wouldnt be able to understand it but I could imagine the world so vividly in my mind that I felt like I was their ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 Sophie added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 2020-reads, fantasy

I received this book for part of blog tour for The Write Reads. All thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book as it had many aspects I really liked from the fantasy, to the characters (and their banter) and the political aspect. But in the end of was left feeling like I wanted a bit more from the story and that some parts weren’t the most original. I would still recommend if you love YA fantasy or even if you don’t, it would be a good one to check out.

I'm rating it 3.5 stars!!!

You can se ...more

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Mar 14, 2020 (Ellie) ReadtoRamble rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book so much! It's been so long since I've been totally caught up in a book like this one, totally engulfed by it and I read it so fast that I was so sad when I turned the last page and hit a brick wall! I really wanted this to continue and the reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that I wanted just a little bit more. Everything was so good, the characters were so well developed and fleshed out, but I really wanted to keep reading it for a long time ahah! I'm really looking forward to bo ...more

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Nov 03, 2016 Haley ~ YA-Aholic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Omg...Devri has done it again! I LOVED this! Can't wait for book 2, full review coming soon! ...more

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May 11, 2018 Jules.Bookverse rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review, arcs-sent-for-review

I was one of the lucky people who got this book send and signed by the author to write an honest review.
Thank you so much, Devri Walls!

So first of all, I love fantasy and new worlds! This book takes you into a magical new world were all legends come to life. That kind of reminded me of the shadowhunters quote "all legends are true", but trust me there is soo much more in the world of Eon. It's a parallel dimension where every creature you could think of exists and even beyond that.

The two main I was one of the lucky people who got this book send and signed by the author to write an honest review.
Thank you so much, Devri Walls!

So first of all, I love fantasy and new worlds! This book takes you into a magical new world were all legends come to life. That kind of reminded me of the shadowhunters quote "all legends are true", but trust me there is soo much more in the world of Eon. It's a parallel dimension where every creature you could think of exists and even beyond that.

The two main Characters are called Venators and are part of a species that was evil in the past and now have been brought back to Eon - or rather kidnapped from Earth - to save the planet. I had a good feeling about Grey, the male character, from the beginning. There just had to be more to him. His super trained body, knowledge of the supernatural world and sense of justice was revealed later and made me like him more. Rune, the female character, was keeping everything under control at first and showed how strong she really was. But I always thought the Grey would be the leader of the both of them. Well, guess in some situations Rune can kick more ass than Grey and put on a better show for their keepers, the corrupt council of Eon.

Of course, I thought there would be something going on between Rune and Grey, but then a third party came into the picture: Beltran! He's an adorable, cocky shape-shifter that definitely has an eye for Rune. It seems that she is the only reason he helps the Venators at all. I wonder where this love triangle will go! :)

The end of the first book shocked me a little or rather let me rethink my feelings about Grey. What is he up to and does he really know what he's getting into?

Also, a nice treat was the first chapter of the second book at the end. Finally, you heard something about Ryker Runes brother - the reason why Rune went along to Eon. Hopefully, their sibling bond will not totally be destroyed and Ryker will come to his senses. Can't wait to see how the story continues.

I know it is always hard to create a new world and if the story is supposed to be in a series the first book tends to lack a little bit of more tension. The further I read the more I liked the book and could relate to the story better because of the descriptions of this new world that compared things to our world. This always makes a reader get hooked faster to the story. Although I really like this new world I wished it had more exciting situations and tension which build up in the second half of the book.

Also, just a side note: I had to go on a reading break because of assignments for uni otherwise I would have finished this book much faster! So everybody out there who's in love with all things supernatural definitely check out this new world of Eon!! ...more

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May 08, 2020 Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was a mixed bag for me. I thought the premise was pretty interesting but there were some plot elements that didn't really sit with me. Like there are some instances when a female character (Rune) gets (justifiably) angry at someone but she's basically told that she's crazy while a man (Grey) gets angry for a pretty similar reason and he's told he's right to feel that way. And its not just that its also a major plot point that Rune has to control her anger and rage and that she is just like ...more

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Apr 30, 2019 Hobart rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-reads, re-read-project, letsreadindie-2019

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up) This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Back in 2016, I read and blogged about Venators: Through the Arch, which was later picked up by a new publisher, given a re-write, a spiffy new cover, and was re-born as Venators: Magic Unleashed . I haven't read that old post in a long time, and won't until I finish with this one, I'm only linking out of habit. I hate to say it, but I remember very little about the original version of this book beyond a vague gra ...more

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Feb 19, 2020 Proud Book Reviews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the first book in a series (there are only 2 books?) about a world that is parallel to our own. There are doorways that connect the two, except these have been cursed to open at random times and there’s no set time the door will be open for. This makes it super hard for anyone to move between the two worlds.

Given all the fantasy creatures like werewolves, dragons, vampires, elves, faeries etc are all in this alternate world and many of them aren’t that friendly that’s probably a good thi This is the first book in a series (there are only 2 books?) about a world that is parallel to our own. There are doorways that connect the two, except these have been cursed to open at random times and there’s no set time the door will be open for. This makes it super hard for anyone to move between the two worlds.

Given all the fantasy creatures like werewolves, dragons, vampires, elves, faeries etc are all in this alternate world and many of them aren’t that friendly that’s probably a good thing! Except the only people capable to enforcing laws in this world are Venators. Bred from humans and modified to be especially invulnerable to the supernatural (for example, a werewolf bite won’t turn them).

Due to their bloodlust and hatred of all things supernatural they got banished from Eon back to Earth. I think, a few hundred years later we get to follow the first two Venators to enter Eon and their struggles as they come to grips with their new lives, roles, powers and their own moral conscience.

Reading the blurb and checking it out on Goodreads I was a little unsure about this because it sounded like it would be a YA novel. After chatting to Dave, he assured me it was closer to a New Adult read than YA, so I agreed to read it. And I’m glad I did.

Contrary to what Goodreads suggests, the writing style to me screams New Adult. The focus is on the world building, one’s conscience, politics and espionage. Those silly niggly things I don’t like about YA novels wasn’t evident in this book at all. The two Venators (both 19) are aware that they don’t know everything, they seek advice and they learn from their mistakes. Something most YA seem to miss out on.

The first couple of chapters were a little boring, but they are necessary to set the scene and the Venators personalities. Once Tate join’s them though, everything changes. It becomes full of action, so full that the whole 416 pages only spans like 3 days. There’s so much depth to each character, the locations, the sights and the politics that it’s impossible to be bored.

By the time you get towards the end you feel like you’re exhausted from all the adrenaline pumping through your body. Every description had me on edge and feeling like I was there right with the characters, experiencing both physically and emotionally what they were going through.

And then I was suckered in by people’s motives so much that when the book ended on a short chapter from one of the side characters where you get a hint of those motives. All I could think was “No! Why is he thinking that? What does that mean? What is he? What’s he mean to this world? Why did you have to end like THAT?!”

Suffice it to say, I’m going to need to get the second book to find out what happens coz I need more. ...more

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May 18, 2020 Alexandra Mack rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Magic Unleashed transports you to a new world full of vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, succubi, and Venators. My favorite character for this novel was Rune, a strong college-age girl who spends most of her time trying to keep her twin brother Ryker out of trouble for her parents. She was tired of her normal life, but she wasn't ready to be transported to this new world. Her first thought when she was there was worrying about whether or not her brother was safe on the other side. I was excite Magic Unleashed transports you to a new world full of vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, succubi, and Venators. My favorite character for this novel was Rune, a strong college-age girl who spends most of her time trying to keep her twin brother Ryker out of trouble for her parents. She was tired of her normal life, but she wasn't ready to be transported to this new world. Her first thought when she was there was worrying about whether or not her brother was safe on the other side. I was excited to see how she would grow into her powers, as she was brand new to everything in this new world.

Grey was Rune's friend, but his relationship with Ryker was very different. Ryker seemed to hate his guts, and no matter how Rune tried to draw the two together, Ryker refused to be cordial to him. Grey wasn't sure why Ryker hated him, but he tried to stay out of his way as much as possible. I wish that the reason why Ryker hated Grey had been explained more in this book, but I hope it is expanded on in future installments of the series. Now Rune and Grey are both away from Ryker in this new world, but they have new dangers to worry about. Grey knew about these dangers from an event that occurred many years ago, but he still couldn't have imagined what the future would bring.

My favorite part about Grey's storyline was how he knew about the world from years prior. Most characters who have some sort of traumatic event happen to them at a young or preteen age tend to convince themselves that they were dreaming/hallucinating. Grey knew that something had really happened to him, even if he didn't understand everything about the event, and decided to prepare himself. He did not know when this world would try to hurt him again, and he wanted to be prepared. He trained physically daily in order to be strong enough to fight back next time. Even if he didn't understand/know his powers he knew that he would stand a chance against these unknown creatures if he was strong enough.

The side characters in this book are pretty amazing. I don't want to go into too much detail about them because of spoilers, but I enjoyed every scene with them. The only thing that I disliked about the book was that I felt that the ending scenes were a bit weak. I was looking forward to an action-packed ending/action-packed fight scenes, but they felt weak to me as I was reading it.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA fantasy novel.

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. ...more

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Mar 14, 2020 Toya (the reading chemist) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Whenever there is a chance to participate in an Ultimate Blog Tour with The Write Reads, I always jump at the opportunity because the books are always top notch, and Venators: Magic Unleashed was no exception.

Six years ago, Grey was attacked by supernatural beings that couldn’t possibly exist. Since the attack, he has gained some interesting supernatural abilities that he must go above and beyond to hide as to not draw attention to himself.

Rune and Ryker are twins. Rune is sick of cleaning up af Whenever there is a chance to participate in an Ultimate Blog Tour with The Write Reads, I always jump at the opportunity because the books are always top notch, and Venators: Magic Unleashed was no exception.

Six years ago, Grey was attacked by supernatural beings that couldn’t possibly exist. Since the attack, he has gained some interesting supernatural abilities that he must go above and beyond to hide as to not draw attention to himself.

Rune and Ryker are twins. Rune is sick of cleaning up after Ryker who has turned into a massive bully and drunk, but she can’t just turn her back on her brother. Rune notices that she keeps getting an itch sensation that seems to keep building, but she can’t seem to put her finger on what is going on.

Everything changes when Grey and Rune are attacked by goblins, which leads to Tate opening a portal to Eon to get them both to safety. In doing so, Rune has no idea what will happen to her brother Ryker, and neither Grey or Rune understand the danger they are in as Venators (humans with enhanced powers) in this other realm.

Holy smokes was this a fast-pace, thrilling read packed with a hoard of supernatural beings (vampires, werewolves, goblins, faeries, etc) and complex world building. There is so much magic and adventure in this story that I honestly just couldn’t get enough!

I was immediately pulled into the plot with the lure of supernatural creatures lurking in the background surrounding both Grey and Rune. I was a bit unsure of Tate since his role wasn’t quite clear at first, but you do get to learn more about him as the plot progresses. Grey was such an easy character to gravitate towards. You can tell he’s suffered, and he just wants to always do the right thing. Rune was a bit much to handle at first because she is a bit whiny. However, it becomes clearer later why she acts the way she does with the fears that she keeps under her surface.

Then there’s Beltran. He’s the mysterious vampire guide that clearly has a thing for Rune and is probably the only reason he decides to help Grey and Rune. He’s the cocky, bad boy type that you can’t help by love.

Overall, if you’re a fantasy lover like me and looking for a new world filled with magic and supernatural beings to get lost in, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you so much to Dave for my tour invite and providing my review copy! This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own. ...more

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