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The Guild Codex: Spellbound #4
Demon Magic and a Martini
When I first landed a bartending job at the local guild, I didn't know a thing about magic. These days, I'm practically an expert on the different magical classes, but there's one nobody ever talks about: Demonica.
Turns out they have a good reason for that. My guild is strictly hellion-free, because who wants to risk life and limb to control the biggest bullies on the mythic playground?
Well, some people do, and now a demon has been loosed in the city. My three best friends are determined to slay it, but even badass combat mages are critically out-magicked. And that's not all. The monster they're tracking—it's not hiding. It's not fleeing. It's not leaving a trail of corpses everywhere it goes.
The demon is hunting too. And in a city full of mythics, it's searching for deadlier prey.
If we can’t unravel the demon’s sinister motivations, more innocent people will die, but finding the answers means digging into dark secrets … and learning truths I never wanted to know.
Turns out they have a good reason for that. My guild is strictly hellion-free, because who wants to risk life and limb to control the biggest bullies on the mythic playground?
Well, some people do, and now a demon has been loosed in the city. My three best friends are determined to slay it, but even badass combat mages are critically out-magicked. And that's not all. The monster they're tracking—it's not hiding. It's not fleeing. It's not leaving a trail of corpses everywhere it goes.
The demon is hunting too. And in a city full of mythics, it's searching for deadlier prey.
If we can’t unravel the demon’s sinister motivations, more innocent people will die, but finding the answers means digging into dark secrets … and learning truths I never wanted to know.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2019
1931 people are currently reading
2012 people want to read
About the author
Annette Marie
52 books7,173 followersAnnette Marie is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the expansive urban fantasy series The Guild Codex, epic urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.
A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.
Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca
A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.
Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca
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February 11, 2019Please tell me I am not the only one that already missing Zak??
July 11, 2023
My favorite of the Spellbound series so far!
Two things made this book great:
1. We get lots and lots of Ezra content
2. We get introduced to Robin and Zylas
An unbound demon terrorizes the streets of Vancouver, putting all the guilds on lockdown while anyone able to fight is out trying to kill the demon. Tori and Ezra end up in the path of the demon, revealing too much about Ezra’s true magical affinity. A gang of demon hunters find out too, and begin hunting Ezra.
Now that Tori knows that Ezra is a demon mage (how hot is that, btw) and has decided she won’t be separated from her three mage friends, they are closer than ever. And I’m now fully convinced that Ezra is Tori’s endgame love interest.
I still don’t love Tori, but she was alright this time.
I can’t wait to start the Demonized series. The Robin cameo had me practically frothing at the mouth to find out more about her and her demon. Luckily, Demonized #1 is next in the reading order.
Two things made this book great:
1. We get lots and lots of Ezra content
2. We get introduced to Robin and Zylas
An unbound demon terrorizes the streets of Vancouver, putting all the guilds on lockdown while anyone able to fight is out trying to kill the demon. Tori and Ezra end up in the path of the demon, revealing too much about Ezra’s true magical affinity. A gang of demon hunters find out too, and begin hunting Ezra.
Now that Tori knows that Ezra is a demon mage (how hot is that, btw) and has decided she won’t be separated from her three mage friends, they are closer than ever. And I’m now fully convinced that Ezra is Tori’s endgame love interest.
I still don’t love Tori, but she was alright this time.
I can’t wait to start the Demonized series. The Robin cameo had me practically frothing at the mouth to find out more about her and her demon. Luckily, Demonized #1 is next in the reading order.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
Q: What was with mythics and cryptic warnings? (c)
The darker go at Tori the intrepid barwoman's adventures, fresh equipped with her shiny new Magical number thingy she got at the end of the previous installment. She's so good with bartending:
Q:
“We just want to wet our whistles alongside our mythic compatriots. What’s wrong with that?”
“You can wet your whistles in a puddle outside. Try one near the dumpster.” (c)
Too bad Zak didn't make an appearance here. Well, at least we've got a bookful of Ezra. And Tori. And more Ezra - did I say how fascinating he is? Well, he's got a lot of demonic fun in him...
I love the turn the series seems to be taking: one can't have too much angst and my taste is bad enough to lap up all the magical fun happening around, what with all the demonic pendant artefacts.
Q:
Tori was about to humiliate someone again and they had front-row seats. I swear that’s why the tables nearest my station were always full. …
He wasn’t a person I should antagonize.
Keeping that firmly in mind, I stuck my tongue out at him. …
I knew Darren could mess me up if he wanted to, but sometimes, showing no fear was the best defense. (c)
Q:
I whipped my phone out, flipped to the camera, and yelled, “Hey, idiots!” (c) Yeah, that's Tori
Q:
“I’m recording you,” I called, “just so you know. Are you sure you want to kill each other? Maybe you could save this for a better time—such as never.” (c)
Q:
I planned to inform Mario of that—with significant volume and a lot of bad language. (c)
Q:
I was as open to divine guidance as I was to pyramid schemes. (c)
Q:
Are you having issues with addiction, Tori?”
“Uh, no.”
“What about a new obsession? An unusual fixation? Wanton temptation?”
“No, no, and no.”(c)
Q:
The look on Ezra’s face when we walked in with the first load of pumpkins was only slightly less memorable than the look on Kai’s face when Aaron informed him we’d all be carving pumpkins before Halloween. (c)
The darker go at Tori the intrepid barwoman's adventures, fresh equipped with her shiny new Magical number thingy she got at the end of the previous installment. She's so good with bartending:
Q:
“We just want to wet our whistles alongside our mythic compatriots. What’s wrong with that?”
“You can wet your whistles in a puddle outside. Try one near the dumpster.” (c)
Too bad Zak didn't make an appearance here. Well, at least we've got a bookful of Ezra. And Tori. And more Ezra - did I say how fascinating he is? Well, he's got a lot of demonic fun in him...
I love the turn the series seems to be taking: one can't have too much angst and my taste is bad enough to lap up all the magical fun happening around, what with all the demonic pendant artefacts.
Q:
Tori was about to humiliate someone again and they had front-row seats. I swear that’s why the tables nearest my station were always full. …
He wasn’t a person I should antagonize.
Keeping that firmly in mind, I stuck my tongue out at him. …
I knew Darren could mess me up if he wanted to, but sometimes, showing no fear was the best defense. (c)
Q:
I whipped my phone out, flipped to the camera, and yelled, “Hey, idiots!” (c) Yeah, that's Tori
Q:
“I’m recording you,” I called, “just so you know. Are you sure you want to kill each other? Maybe you could save this for a better time—such as never.” (c)
Q:
I planned to inform Mario of that—with significant volume and a lot of bad language. (c)
Q:
I was as open to divine guidance as I was to pyramid schemes. (c)
Q:
Are you having issues with addiction, Tori?”
“Uh, no.”
“What about a new obsession? An unusual fixation? Wanton temptation?”
“No, no, and no.”(c)
Q:
The look on Ezra’s face when we walked in with the first load of pumpkins was only slightly less memorable than the look on Kai’s face when Aaron informed him we’d all be carving pumpkins before Halloween. (c)
September 25, 2019
REREAD Sept 25, 2019
I'm upping my rating from 4 stars to 4.5. Missing half a star because half of my heart () was missing from this book.
This book was A LOT more fun to read after reading Taming Demons for Beginners. As a reader, I find it fun to know the bigger plot picture. It ups the enjoyment level of the story for me.
I am SO READY for The Alchemist and an Amaretto, you have no idea (actually if you've read up to this point in the series you probably do understand)
-------
4 stars
OhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhMG
THIS BOOK. Okay. There's a lot to unpack here.
First and foremost, this is Ezra's book. We got a lot of Aaron in the first two, a lot of Kai in the third, and now Ezra (finally). Curious about his scars? His chill factor? His muscular physique? All your questions will be answered!....And more questions will arise that we need to wait for another book to answer *cry face*
Second, Demon Magic definitely took on a darker tone than it's predecessors. The stakes are higher than ever, and the consequences more severe. This story wasn't quite as much "fun" as the rest, but Tori's worldview isn't quite as "fun" as it was in the first book. Sure, mythics and magics and all that is awesome....but there are some very real consequences for the choices that she and her friends make. Watching Tori grow over the last couple of books and come to realize that it's not all fun and giggles has been fulfilling to see. I wasn't her biggest fan with the first book, but she's grown on me a lot.
Finally, WHAT WAS THAT LAST SCENE WITH THAT ONE CHARACTER!!!!! WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT??????? WHAT IS HAPPENING?????
The author has described this book kind of as the end to Season 1, which it for sure had that feeling. The next book doesn't come out until October *more crying*, but it will be well worth the wait!
---------
The ARC has landed!
----------
Dreaming about how much I want this book right now...
I'm upping my rating from 4 stars to 4.5. Missing half a star because half of my heart () was missing from this book.
This book was A LOT more fun to read after reading Taming Demons for Beginners. As a reader, I find it fun to know the bigger plot picture. It ups the enjoyment level of the story for me.
I am SO READY for The Alchemist and an Amaretto, you have no idea (actually if you've read up to this point in the series you probably do understand)
-------
4 stars
OhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhMG
THIS BOOK. Okay. There's a lot to unpack here.
First and foremost, this is Ezra's book. We got a lot of Aaron in the first two, a lot of Kai in the third, and now Ezra (finally). Curious about his scars? His chill factor? His muscular physique? All your questions will be answered!....And more questions will arise that we need to wait for another book to answer *cry face*
Second, Demon Magic definitely took on a darker tone than it's predecessors. The stakes are higher than ever, and the consequences more severe. This story wasn't quite as much "fun" as the rest, but Tori's worldview isn't quite as "fun" as it was in the first book. Sure, mythics and magics and all that is awesome....but there are some very real consequences for the choices that she and her friends make. Watching Tori grow over the last couple of books and come to realize that it's not all fun and giggles has been fulfilling to see. I wasn't her biggest fan with the first book, but she's grown on me a lot.
Finally, WHAT WAS THAT LAST SCENE WITH THAT ONE CHARACTER!!!!! WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT??????? WHAT IS HAPPENING?????
The author has described this book kind of as the end to Season 1, which it for sure had that feeling. The next book doesn't come out until October *more crying*, but it will be well worth the wait!
---------
The ARC has landed!
----------
Dreaming about how much I want this book right now...
September 20, 2019
Even though this was somewhat darker feeling than the previous books (hello, Demons!) I absolutely loved it! I love Tori's growth throughout this series so far and I love me some hunky mages! And Ezra! Eep, so happy we finally got more of his mysterious past, powers, and story. I can not wait for more! And even though I did miss Zak in this I think with the title of future books, we will definitely be seeing him again.
February 14, 2023
Every bit as good as book 1.
This series is great.
Characters, stories....I love everything about it.
This series is great.
Characters, stories....I love everything about it.
May 8, 2024
05/08/2024: Reread. (Audiobook.)
12/21/2022: Reread. (Audiobook.)
06/16/2021: Reread. (Audiobook.)
09/18/2020: Reread. (Audiobook.)
08/01/2020: Reread! (Listened on audiobook with my son, Maddox.)
07/14/2020: Reread!
09/30/2019: Reread!
Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions contained in my review are my own.
Annette Marie has really upped the ante in the fourth installment of The Guild Codex: Spellbound. Emotions, stakes, and shock factors could not be any higher in this book! I have been waiting for this book for so long and I could not have been more pleased with it. Each book in this series gets better than the last. If this book is the middle of the series then I can't even imagine what a blowout this series will have.
The thing that I love most about this book of the series (besides more EZRA, because yeah...) is the very strong representation of friendship. Friendship has been a theme throughout the series, but I love how important it becomes in this book. Tori hasn't had the best childhood and she has trust issues. She runs from things and closes herself off from things as a defense mechanism. (At least, it seems that way to me.) In this book, she has to choose between that part of herself and her friends. She has to meet that part of herself head-on and make some important decisions about herself or risk losing her friends forever. The lengths that Tori will go to for her friends in this book is inspiring. I love Tori so much. Not only do we get to see a beautiful portrayal of friendship, but we get to see Tori take on her personal demons. I was so waiting for this to happen and I am happy with how it played out.
Everything that we learn about this world with each book makes me that much more obsessed with this fantasy world. I love every bit of it and I am forever hanging on the edge after I finish each book craving more like an addict. Getting a deeper look into demons and Demonica in this book really made the world feel more real. We finally get to see what Demonica is all about and it really brings this world to life when mixed with all of the other mythic classes that we've seen in the other books. Annette Marie is the queen of creating complex worlds and characters. She introduces her readers to her worlds much the same way as she does with her slow-burn romances. She intrigues us with enough to get our hearts pumping, but she doesn't overwhelm us either. With each book in the series the world grows.
With the expansion of the world also comes more development in the plot of the series. I like how each book in this series has a self-contained plot but also builds upon an overarching series plot. The plot is engaging, exciting, and much more intense than the previous books. This book definitely has a more serious tone, though it isn't without the humor and snark that you have come to expect from the other books in this series.
I mentioned Tori's character development earlier, but there is also a lot of development for Ezra's character. Though there is still so much to learn about Ezra, we do get to learn about his big secret and how it affects the mages and their friendship. The three of them have such a strong bond. It's really beautiful. They have each other's back no matter what. And Tori is now a part of that so it goes from three mages to the four musketeers. I loved getting to see Ezra on a more personal level. I can't wait to find out more about Ezra's past. I also liked the addition of new characters and how they played into the story. I am excited to see more of them in future books.
Overall, I am beyond impressed with this book! It obliterated my expectations and left me with a powerful need to start writing fanfiction just so I don't have to wait any longer for more. =P If you haven't started this series yet then I urge you to. This series is spectacular! It has an exciting world, amazing characters, and a plot that will keep you reading until the end. I am overjoyed with the news about the expansion of this world. Now I keep asking myself what demon do I have to summon to bring myself closer to the release of the next book?
More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
12/21/2022: Reread. (Audiobook.)
06/16/2021: Reread. (Audiobook.)
09/18/2020: Reread. (Audiobook.)
08/01/2020: Reread! (Listened on audiobook with my son, Maddox.)
07/14/2020: Reread!
09/30/2019: Reread!
Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions contained in my review are my own.
Annette Marie has really upped the ante in the fourth installment of The Guild Codex: Spellbound. Emotions, stakes, and shock factors could not be any higher in this book! I have been waiting for this book for so long and I could not have been more pleased with it. Each book in this series gets better than the last. If this book is the middle of the series then I can't even imagine what a blowout this series will have.
The thing that I love most about this book of the series (besides more EZRA, because yeah...) is the very strong representation of friendship. Friendship has been a theme throughout the series, but I love how important it becomes in this book. Tori hasn't had the best childhood and she has trust issues. She runs from things and closes herself off from things as a defense mechanism. (At least, it seems that way to me.) In this book, she has to choose between that part of herself and her friends. She has to meet that part of herself head-on and make some important decisions about herself or risk losing her friends forever. The lengths that Tori will go to for her friends in this book is inspiring. I love Tori so much. Not only do we get to see a beautiful portrayal of friendship, but we get to see Tori take on her personal demons. I was so waiting for this to happen and I am happy with how it played out.
Everything that we learn about this world with each book makes me that much more obsessed with this fantasy world. I love every bit of it and I am forever hanging on the edge after I finish each book craving more like an addict. Getting a deeper look into demons and Demonica in this book really made the world feel more real. We finally get to see what Demonica is all about and it really brings this world to life when mixed with all of the other mythic classes that we've seen in the other books. Annette Marie is the queen of creating complex worlds and characters. She introduces her readers to her worlds much the same way as she does with her slow-burn romances. She intrigues us with enough to get our hearts pumping, but she doesn't overwhelm us either. With each book in the series the world grows.
With the expansion of the world also comes more development in the plot of the series. I like how each book in this series has a self-contained plot but also builds upon an overarching series plot. The plot is engaging, exciting, and much more intense than the previous books. This book definitely has a more serious tone, though it isn't without the humor and snark that you have come to expect from the other books in this series.
I mentioned Tori's character development earlier, but there is also a lot of development for Ezra's character. Though there is still so much to learn about Ezra, we do get to learn about his big secret and how it affects the mages and their friendship. The three of them have such a strong bond. It's really beautiful. They have each other's back no matter what. And Tori is now a part of that so it goes from three mages to the four musketeers. I loved getting to see Ezra on a more personal level. I can't wait to find out more about Ezra's past. I also liked the addition of new characters and how they played into the story. I am excited to see more of them in future books.
Overall, I am beyond impressed with this book! It obliterated my expectations and left me with a powerful need to start writing fanfiction just so I don't have to wait any longer for more. =P If you haven't started this series yet then I urge you to. This series is spectacular! It has an exciting world, amazing characters, and a plot that will keep you reading until the end. I am overjoyed with the news about the expansion of this world. Now I keep asking myself what demon do I have to summon to bring myself closer to the release of the next book?
More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
November 7, 2019
Star Rating: —> 5 STARS !!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️, Baby!
If I had to describe this novel in one word it would be, without question, EZRA !!!
[can I just say- I finished 3 books in this series within 24 hrs. All of them within 48, I believe? That is proof enough I think, that these are fantastic and so addictive it hurts! Thank Goodness for Amazon’s suggestions for meee]
UGH This. This was everything I’ve been waiting for and moreeeeeeeeee! Brilliant. Thank the Good Lord for this! We FINALLY learn about class Demonica! The book revolves around it, actually, and it is nothing short of the amazing I’d expected it to be.
If I had to choose a quote from this novel that kind of embodies the tone of the novel and made me snort my drink out of my nose, and there were many hilarious moments, it would be this one, hands down:
“The demon had come out of the pendant like a Pokémon out of a poké ball. Beelzebub, I choose you!”
Seriously. How does Annette Marie manage to be effing hilarious & witty, and still be dark & suspenseful while depicting crazy battle scenes?? I love her. I don’t think I’ve declared my love for an author before, but, alas, it’s true.
So much darker than the previous installments! Be still my heart- I loved it. Each book has gotten more and more action packed so let me just say- WOAH. What. A. RIDE! So exciting the whole way through. Plus, though there is a crazy plot line that is phenomenal, intertwined perfectly, this book really belongs to Ezra. We finally learn a bit more about him... we find out why he’s so intensely dark and broody sometimes, while he’s normally light, deeply loving, witty, perfect...
Also, hot & heart melting AF. 🤐
As expected, the related “incidents-“ why the area around him in intense situations changes (which usually happens when his past is brought up, when he’s upset, or when he’s worried about the ones he loves- ugh my loyal bby- especially when they are in immediate danger *bites fingernails*). He works HARD to control this throughout all the books, and we finally find out the WHY. Let me just say... by the end of the book my jaw had long since DROPPED.
I cannot WAIT for the 5th book... I’m only (impatiently I might add!) waiting because I have to. *pouts*. Lol
Seriously though. You guys HAVEEEE to check this series out. The magic! The sass! The camaraderie- squad effing goals ! The wit! The HOTDAMN! The demons (yes they finally made their big appearance in this one and it is fanfrickingtastic)! The secrets! revealed! Ezra! EZRA!
[Just FYI no Druid in this one 😱]
Real talk: 😢 Still processing the fact that I have to wait until September
[For a NEW SPIN-OFF SERIES !
*claps hands excitedly*
A NEW SPIN OFF SERIESSSSS!
How to Tame a Demon (The Guild Codex: Demonized: Book One)]
Mmk;
*resumes looking lost & lonely*
[Sorry; I’m easily distracted by new and shiny things?🤷🏼♀️]
&
That I have to wait until
October
For installment #5 in this series, The Alchemist and an Amaretto
I’m an impatient person. Like, really impatient.
*shakes fist at sky*
WHHHHHYYYYYYYY
do I have to wait to enter this world again? 🥺
Needless to say post-book/post-series depression is hitting HARD.
What would I do for an ARC of the next book, The Alchemist and an Amaretto you ask? The real question is- what WOULDN’T I DO? Haha :-P
Okay, can someone get me a drink (possiblyanamaretto? hintARChint? Annette Marie *stretches & looks around*)
because I just wound myself up again and just like that I’m coming back down to The Guild Codex Book-less me. Ugh. Time! Hurry up!
I’m addicted. It’s not a problem!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️, Baby!
If I had to describe this novel in one word it would be, without question, EZRA !!!
[can I just say- I finished 3 books in this series within 24 hrs. All of them within 48, I believe? That is proof enough I think, that these are fantastic and so addictive it hurts! Thank Goodness for Amazon’s suggestions for meee]
UGH This. This was everything I’ve been waiting for and moreeeeeeeeee! Brilliant. Thank the Good Lord for this! We FINALLY learn about class Demonica! The book revolves around it, actually, and it is nothing short of the amazing I’d expected it to be.
If I had to choose a quote from this novel that kind of embodies the tone of the novel and made me snort my drink out of my nose, and there were many hilarious moments, it would be this one, hands down:
“The demon had come out of the pendant like a Pokémon out of a poké ball. Beelzebub, I choose you!”
Seriously. How does Annette Marie manage to be effing hilarious & witty, and still be dark & suspenseful while depicting crazy battle scenes?? I love her. I don’t think I’ve declared my love for an author before, but, alas, it’s true.
So much darker than the previous installments! Be still my heart- I loved it. Each book has gotten more and more action packed so let me just say- WOAH. What. A. RIDE! So exciting the whole way through. Plus, though there is a crazy plot line that is phenomenal, intertwined perfectly, this book really belongs to Ezra. We finally learn a bit more about him... we find out why he’s so intensely dark and broody sometimes, while he’s normally light, deeply loving, witty, perfect...
Also, hot & heart melting AF. 🤐
As expected, the related “incidents-“ why the area around him in intense situations changes (which usually happens when his past is brought up, when he’s upset, or when he’s worried about the ones he loves- ugh my loyal bby- especially when they are in immediate danger *bites fingernails*). He works HARD to control this throughout all the books, and we finally find out the WHY. Let me just say... by the end of the book my jaw had long since DROPPED.
I cannot WAIT for the 5th book... I’m only (impatiently I might add!) waiting because I have to. *pouts*. Lol
Seriously though. You guys HAVEEEE to check this series out. The magic! The sass! The camaraderie- squad effing goals ! The wit! The HOTDAMN! The demons (yes they finally made their big appearance in this one and it is fanfrickingtastic)! The secrets! revealed! Ezra! EZRA!
[Just FYI no Druid in this one 😱]
Real talk: 😢 Still processing the fact that I have to wait until September
[For a NEW SPIN-OFF SERIES !
*claps hands excitedly*
A NEW SPIN OFF SERIESSSSS!
How to Tame a Demon (The Guild Codex: Demonized: Book One)]
Mmk;
*resumes looking lost & lonely*
[Sorry; I’m easily distracted by new and shiny things?🤷🏼♀️]
&
That I have to wait until
October
For installment #5 in this series, The Alchemist and an Amaretto
I’m an impatient person. Like, really impatient.
*shakes fist at sky*
WHHHHHYYYYYYYY
do I have to wait to enter this world again? 🥺
Needless to say post-book/post-series depression is hitting HARD.
What would I do for an ARC of the next book, The Alchemist and an Amaretto you ask? The real question is- what WOULDN’T I DO? Haha :-P
Okay, can someone get me a drink (possiblyanamaretto? hintARChint? Annette Marie *stretches & looks around*)
because I just wound myself up again and just like that I’m coming back down to The Guild Codex Book-less me. Ugh. Time! Hurry up!
I’m addicted. It’s not a problem!
January 15, 2020
This one was definitely the best book so far in this series. I'm glad I decided to stick with it! There was a lot of action, reveals, and I like the way the character arcs are heading. Good stuff. Now on to the next book according to the 'universe' reading order, and is actually a different series? I don't know, I'm kind of confused, but willing to give it a try.
May 6, 2019
Originally posted at:
I may be biased but this is the best book in the series so far! I've been on Team Erza since the beginning and this book finally gave us a look into why he is how he is and so much more. For that alone, I consider this the best book to date in this series!
Now that I've gotten the fangirling out of the way, let's talk about the story. I can agree with a lot of other reviewers when they say Tori was in the background for the first half of this story, but it didn't bother me. She's human, she hasn't been training in any fighting style for most of her life like the warriors in the guild have. Unless we want her to get killed early on in the series I'm happy to let her take a step back every now and then.
I love how the author built this story up and organically introduced the main character for the spin-off series that will be intertwined with this one. I'm very curious about the new heroine and all the trouble she gets into with her demon companion.
The guys were awesome as always, especially Erza! I want to know more about his background and why he thought he had no other option than to become what he became.
The ending wasn't something I was expecting but it does make a lot of sense for the spin-off series to belong to the same guild. It'd be really interesting see how the author flips the demons-are-bad ideology this series has set up with the spin-off probably having one as a main character.
The Audio Book:
The narration was awesome! The voices were distinct enough to the point where I didn't get lost on who was who. This narrator is definitely growing on me!
I may be biased but this is the best book in the series so far! I've been on Team Erza since the beginning and this book finally gave us a look into why he is how he is and so much more. For that alone, I consider this the best book to date in this series!
Now that I've gotten the fangirling out of the way, let's talk about the story. I can agree with a lot of other reviewers when they say Tori was in the background for the first half of this story, but it didn't bother me. She's human, she hasn't been training in any fighting style for most of her life like the warriors in the guild have. Unless we want her to get killed early on in the series I'm happy to let her take a step back every now and then.
I love how the author built this story up and organically introduced the main character for the spin-off series that will be intertwined with this one. I'm very curious about the new heroine and all the trouble she gets into with her demon companion.
The guys were awesome as always, especially Erza! I want to know more about his background and why he thought he had no other option than to become what he became.
The ending wasn't something I was expecting but it does make a lot of sense for the spin-off series to belong to the same guild. It'd be really interesting see how the author flips the demons-are-bad ideology this series has set up with the spin-off probably having one as a main character.
The Audio Book:
The narration was awesome! The voices were distinct enough to the point where I didn't get lost on who was who. This narrator is definitely growing on me!
April 3, 2019
LISTEN. if you haven't read the first three books of this series, first of all, WHY; and second, this is your ✨ official warning ✨
✨ spoiler alert homies ✨
✨ seriously, please steer clear ✨
okay, now with that out of the way: Y'ALL. i have been waiting for this book since two witches and a whiskey! april couldn't have come fast enough because it would bring this book and more news from annette marie herself. i am absolutely BESIDE myself with this—i was so, so excited and impatient to see where she would take things with demon magic.
that's one of my favourite things about reading marie's works: with each addition in a series, she ups everything. stakes, relationships, the world its set it. characters grow and they learn and combined with what i've listed, it makes the next instalment even more exciting.
with the fourth book in the guild codex: spellbound series, it's FINALLY EZRA'S BOOK. oh you guys, i lovelovelove ezra soso much! even more so after this book! for the first three books, a lot of readers, myself included, were wondering what exactly ezra is because there's certainly more to the (soft) aeromage than meets the eye! there were so many questions, from tori and myself alike: how can he make a room so cold? where are the scars from? how are his reflexes impossibly fast?
and with the addition of demons—actual DEMONS!—and more on the demonica class, demon magic was a wild ride. tori's view of the supernatural world has not been easy from the get-go, but demons are a whole other level for her.
i found this book more serious than the others. there were definitely funny quips throughout, of course, but this felt like a real gamechanger for tori and the guys. with everything about ezra going on and a demon running rampant, stakes and tensions are super high and everything is more dangerous. it's a little bit darker than the other books, and it feels like a real eye-opener for tori. i've really come to respect her with each new book, and this one continued that pattern. she realises some important things about herself and i feel like she's set on changing that about her character. i admire her a lot!
there is another, bigger reason why i was anticipating this book but lol, i won't say because i'd have no idea where to begin. let's just say i see where you're leading with this, annette marie, and i. love. it.
one more thing: the dynamic between kai, ezra, and aaron! i say this about them in all my reviews, BUT UGH. they're... wow. i've never read a more tightly knit group. kai and aaron would do anything, no matter the risks to them, for ezra, and it really pulls at my heartstrings. ezra would do anything—anything—to protect his friends, and i ached for his situation throughout the book. we find out so much about him and there's still so much left to learn, but i'm just glad he's getting more page time! (i always feel like he and kai never got as many scenes as aaron did, but i'm glad that's changing—and continues to do so, in kai's case).
overall, another solid book from annette marie, and once again, i am beyond excited for the next book! that ending was the first time i felt like i'd been left on a cliffhanger, and i am way too antsy to sit still and patiently wait for the fifth instalment.
✨ spoiler alert homies ✨
✨ seriously, please steer clear ✨
okay, now with that out of the way: Y'ALL. i have been waiting for this book since two witches and a whiskey! april couldn't have come fast enough because it would bring this book and more news from annette marie herself. i am absolutely BESIDE myself with this—i was so, so excited and impatient to see where she would take things with demon magic.
that's one of my favourite things about reading marie's works: with each addition in a series, she ups everything. stakes, relationships, the world its set it. characters grow and they learn and combined with what i've listed, it makes the next instalment even more exciting.
with the fourth book in the guild codex: spellbound series, it's FINALLY EZRA'S BOOK. oh you guys, i lovelovelove ezra soso much! even more so after this book! for the first three books, a lot of readers, myself included, were wondering what exactly ezra is because there's certainly more to the (soft) aeromage than meets the eye! there were so many questions, from tori and myself alike: how can he make a room so cold? where are the scars from? how are his reflexes impossibly fast?
and with the addition of demons—actual DEMONS!—and more on the demonica class, demon magic was a wild ride. tori's view of the supernatural world has not been easy from the get-go, but demons are a whole other level for her.
i found this book more serious than the others. there were definitely funny quips throughout, of course, but this felt like a real gamechanger for tori and the guys. with everything about ezra going on and a demon running rampant, stakes and tensions are super high and everything is more dangerous. it's a little bit darker than the other books, and it feels like a real eye-opener for tori. i've really come to respect her with each new book, and this one continued that pattern. she realises some important things about herself and i feel like she's set on changing that about her character. i admire her a lot!
there is another, bigger reason why i was anticipating this book but lol, i won't say because i'd have no idea where to begin. let's just say i see where you're leading with this, annette marie, and i. love. it.
one more thing: the dynamic between kai, ezra, and aaron! i say this about them in all my reviews, BUT UGH. they're... wow. i've never read a more tightly knit group. kai and aaron would do anything, no matter the risks to them, for ezra, and it really pulls at my heartstrings. ezra would do anything—anything—to protect his friends, and i ached for his situation throughout the book. we find out so much about him and there's still so much left to learn, but i'm just glad he's getting more page time! (i always feel like he and kai never got as many scenes as aaron did, but i'm glad that's changing—and continues to do so, in kai's case).
overall, another solid book from annette marie, and once again, i am beyond excited for the next book! that ending was the first time i felt like i'd been left on a cliffhanger, and i am way too antsy to sit still and patiently wait for the fifth instalment.
February 25, 2020
This is fourth in a series. Don't read them out of order.
This one had the action ramped to eleven. And we finally get the full low-down on Ezra. And Tori commits, like, for realsies and pretty irrevocably. All great things, making this the best of the series so far.
Correspondingly, I'm going to give it all five stars. The world building continues weak and there's a new wrinkle introduced that feels like the author shoehorning a new series in and it feels a little like she's got a new favorite kid or something. I dunno. We'll see. Where was I? Oh yeah, five stars that it only gets because this far into a series means that something is going right that I'm still gulping them down like a frat boy looking to spend summer break in a dry county.
A note about Chaste: Tori is unattached and events in this story left zero time for any deepening relationships, let alone sexy shenanigans. There was some minor hintage that more might develop with Ezra and I've been quietly shipping them from the beginning, so that'd be awesome. But I'm not going to count on it...
This one had the action ramped to eleven. And we finally get the full low-down on Ezra. And Tori commits, like, for realsies and pretty irrevocably. All great things, making this the best of the series so far.
Correspondingly, I'm going to give it all five stars. The world building continues weak and there's a new wrinkle introduced that feels like the author shoehorning a new series in and it feels a little like she's got a new favorite kid or something. I dunno. We'll see. Where was I? Oh yeah, five stars that it only gets because this far into a series means that something is going right that I'm still gulping them down like a frat boy looking to spend summer break in a dry county.
A note about Chaste: Tori is unattached and events in this story left zero time for any deepening relationships, let alone sexy shenanigans. There was some minor hintage that more might develop with Ezra and I've been quietly shipping them from the beginning, so that'd be awesome. But I'm not going to count on it...
February 22, 2024
It's Halloween and now we are really being introduced to Demons and our favorite mages link to them. This is another fun, action-packed great book that really explores one of our mages pasts.
Tori is once again in the thick of Mythic chaos. If she is around S*** is going to go down and she is going to be right in the middle of it. This book sets you up to want that up-coming book. Especially with what happens at the very end.
Tori is once again in the thick of Mythic chaos. If she is around S*** is going to go down and she is going to be right in the middle of it. This book sets you up to want that up-coming book. Especially with what happens at the very end.
January 6, 2020
Demon Magic and a Martini
The Guild Codex: Spellbound, Book 4
By: Annette Marie
Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
Trouble abounds with a rival guild, a rogue demon,and a powerful secret. Loads of action, suspense, magic, and romance. I really love this series!
The narration is excellent too!
The Guild Codex: Spellbound, Book 4
By: Annette Marie
Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
Trouble abounds with a rival guild, a rogue demon,and a powerful secret. Loads of action, suspense, magic, and romance. I really love this series!
The narration is excellent too!
November 8, 2019
Addictive series
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 16, 2019
I bumped this one up to 4 stars because there's one thing I really, really appreciate about this series, and I need to tell you guys about it.
Tori is a human. And she's stayed human.
In every single other paranormal/fantasy book I can remember reading, the heroine is either magical herself or ends up becoming one, because it's no fun always being the one on the outside of the cool powers. Tori suffers from understandable deep feelings of exclusion. I LOVED that the author didn't use shortcuts to give Tori Mary-Sue-ish powers; she really acts like the human she is, and Marie deserves a ton of credit for that.
Still no real progress on the romance front, though...
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Tori is a human. And she's stayed human.
In every single other paranormal/fantasy book I can remember reading, the heroine is either magical herself or ends up becoming one, because it's no fun always being the one on the outside of the cool powers. Tori suffers from understandable deep feelings of exclusion. I LOVED that the author didn't use shortcuts to give Tori Mary-Sue-ish powers; she really acts like the human she is, and Marie deserves a ton of credit for that.
Still no real progress on the romance front, though...
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
April 16, 2019
Did anyone else find Tori utterly useless until the last 4 chapters?
___
Okay so I love this series, but I feel like the more I read each book, the more I dislike Tori. I can't quite pinpoint the reason why. Initially, I loved her fieriness and her stupidity/bravery to jump into danger to save the 3 mages (Aaron, mostly) despite knowing that she's facing magic. Lately, it seems that bravery is starting to lean more into stupidity and utter recklessness - but I'm referring more to her actions in the 3rd book so I'll move on. The one really annoying point against Tori in this book is her refusal to train for MONTHS. She's acutely aware she's human and can only provide very limited backup with her artifacts, but she refuses. What the hell!?! Other reviewers keep saying that she's grown so much over the course of these books, but I don't see enough to praise. I see a bit, but not enough to be proud.
Good points:
- Yay, we finally get Ezra's backstory. Not loving the 'will-they?-won't-they?' atmosphere between Erza and Tori. I don't quite see Ezra's interest in Tori yet and Tori usually focuses on how good-looking all the mages are, but I guess we'll see how it develops.
- The appearance of Robin Page. I think she'll make a great unassuming badass in her own story.
___
Okay so I love this series, but I feel like the more I read each book, the more I dislike Tori. I can't quite pinpoint the reason why. Initially, I loved her fieriness and her stupidity/bravery to jump into danger to save the 3 mages (Aaron, mostly) despite knowing that she's facing magic. Lately, it seems that bravery is starting to lean more into stupidity and utter recklessness - but I'm referring more to her actions in the 3rd book so I'll move on. The one really annoying point against Tori in this book is her refusal to train for MONTHS. She's acutely aware she's human and can only provide very limited backup with her artifacts, but she refuses. What the hell!?! Other reviewers keep saying that she's grown so much over the course of these books, but I don't see enough to praise. I see a bit, but not enough to be proud.
Good points:
- Yay, we finally get Ezra's backstory. Not loving the 'will-they?-won't-they?' atmosphere between Erza and Tori. I don't quite see Ezra's interest in Tori yet and Tori usually focuses on how good-looking all the mages are, but I guess we'll see how it develops.
- The appearance of Robin Page. I think she'll make a great unassuming badass in her own story.
March 14, 2025
Ok, mit den Enthüllungen in diesem Band hab ich irgendwie nicht gerechnet, aber natürlich macht es Sinn😄😄
Tori wirkte auf mich dieses Mal weniger nervig und aufmüpfig als in den letzten Bänden - definitiv eine Verbesserung 😉
Freue mich sehr auf den nächsten Teil, brauche glaub ich mal eine Knutschszene😂 vielleicht hab ich ja Glück
Tori wirkte auf mich dieses Mal weniger nervig und aufmüpfig als in den letzten Bänden - definitiv eine Verbesserung 😉
Freue mich sehr auf den nächsten Teil, brauche glaub ich mal eine Knutschszene😂 vielleicht hab ich ja Glück
April 18, 2019
“Lungs on fire and legs hurting, I settled into what should’ve been an easy jog but felt more like death in motion.”
Relatable
Another funny book in this series. But when will Zak come back?
Relatable
Another funny book in this series. But when will Zak come back?
July 28, 2023
He lowered again, his body flexing under my hands, under my thighs, under my ----Oh God. Heat radiated off him, soaking into my skin, and perspiration shone on the back of his neck dampening his curls. He pushed up again lifting me and my head spun. Bad, bad, bad ...and so good!
So are we finally starting to see Tori and someone in the midst of an adult relationship? NO. This is Tori's and her 3 mage best friends, Aaron, Kai and Ezra doing pushups at the end of their workout with Tori sitting on Ezra (to make the pushup harder). Oh well.
This fourth book in the series finds the Mages, Tori and the rest of the Crow & Hammer Guild looking for an unbound demon. Pretty intriguing stuff. We get a lot more of Ezra's back story and we also see how Rogue Guilds sometimes operate (a Guild is a collection of people with different magical abilities who chose to band together. Tori through her use of magical artifacts is classified as a witch and got her Guild Card). This book has a slightly different feeling to it, less light and airy and much more sinister,
There is also a new character introduced, Robin, who joins the Guild. She will also be in the cross-over book "Taming Demons for Beginners" and yes it is already queued up on the Kindle App of my tablet. (thanks Kindle Unlimited).
These Guild Codex: Spellbound books continue to be very entertaining urban fantasy. Each book improves on the last, though the very first one is good and if you are looking for a change in pace, you might give Spellbound #1 a read. I wouldn't make #4 my first book though.
So are we finally starting to see Tori and someone in the midst of an adult relationship? NO. This is Tori's and her 3 mage best friends, Aaron, Kai and Ezra doing pushups at the end of their workout with Tori sitting on Ezra (to make the pushup harder). Oh well.
This fourth book in the series finds the Mages, Tori and the rest of the Crow & Hammer Guild looking for an unbound demon. Pretty intriguing stuff. We get a lot more of Ezra's back story and we also see how Rogue Guilds sometimes operate (a Guild is a collection of people with different magical abilities who chose to band together. Tori through her use of magical artifacts is classified as a witch and got her Guild Card). This book has a slightly different feeling to it, less light and airy and much more sinister,
There is also a new character introduced, Robin, who joins the Guild. She will also be in the cross-over book "Taming Demons for Beginners" and yes it is already queued up on the Kindle App of my tablet. (thanks Kindle Unlimited).
These Guild Codex: Spellbound books continue to be very entertaining urban fantasy. Each book improves on the last, though the very first one is good and if you are looking for a change in pace, you might give Spellbound #1 a read. I wouldn't make #4 my first book though.
March 24, 2025
Audio: 5 stars for Cris Dukehart, the audio is apart of the Audible plus catalog, so free! Haha
Book: 4.5 stars
Wow okay, had a feeling that would happen, but enjoyed this book all the same! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Since I am going to read it in Annette Marie’s recommended reading order, the next book is “Taming Demons for Beginners”.
Book: 4.5 stars
Wow okay, had a feeling that would happen, but enjoyed this book all the same! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Since I am going to read it in Annette Marie’s recommended reading order, the next book is “Taming Demons for Beginners”.
August 25, 2019
Demon Magic and a Martini is the fourth book in the Guild Codex series by Annette Marie. A demon has been let loose on the city and Tori Dawson, or more specifically her three best mage friends, have decided they're going to kill it. Not afraid of being outclassed, the mages start tracking the beast just and quickly realize they're being hunted in return.
This was one wild ride! Finally more information about the Demonica mythic class. And, more importantly, this was Ezra's book!! My goodness is this boy keeping one hell of a secret. Turns out there are worse things than demons in this universe. As you can imagine the story takes a darker turn and it's so much fun that its set during Halloween.
One of the great things about this series is how Tori is forced to grow as a character, this time facing down her trust issues and how she lies to herself. She takes a very human approach as Tori tries to evade the choices she must make until she's finally ready to face her inner demons head on in a similar way that the guys are tackling the magical equivalent. The timing and theming works out well.
I continue to listen to the series narrated by Cris Dukehart. While some of the background character voices started to overlap, Dukehart continues captures Tori's voice and personality perfectly.
This was one wild ride! Finally more information about the Demonica mythic class. And, more importantly, this was Ezra's book!! My goodness is this boy keeping one hell of a secret. Turns out there are worse things than demons in this universe. As you can imagine the story takes a darker turn and it's so much fun that its set during Halloween.
One of the great things about this series is how Tori is forced to grow as a character, this time facing down her trust issues and how she lies to herself. She takes a very human approach as Tori tries to evade the choices she must make until she's finally ready to face her inner demons head on in a similar way that the guys are tackling the magical equivalent. The timing and theming works out well.
I continue to listen to the series narrated by Cris Dukehart. While some of the background character voices started to overlap, Dukehart continues captures Tori's voice and personality perfectly.
May 23, 2019
Tori and the guys face a new challenge when an unbound Demon is set loose in their city. Every mage in town is trying to track it down before it kills anyone. Also present are the Keys of Solomon, a guild that specializes in collecting the bounties of dead demons which they are willing to break all rules to obtain before anyone else. When Tori and Ezra survive a demon attack, it attracts the Key's attention and threatens to expose Ezra's most guarded secrets.
Yay! We get to know more about Ezra!!! I used to want this series to be an RH but after the last book, Ionly mostly had eyes for Ezra. Poor Ezra really goes through some stuff in this book; I just wanted to hug him at the end of every chapter. Tori grows a lot in this book too as she faces her fears and solidifies her place in their group. The ending isn't exactly happy; it's more transitional as it alludes to what will come in the future. There is still plenty of unresolved items from previous books to tackle. I'm just sad that I have to wait so long for it and the next book in this series (October!). There is also a spin-off series coming in September with Robin Page's story. Her character is briefly introduced in this book. I love Annette Marie, so I'll probably give it a try.
Yay! We get to know more about Ezra!!! I used to want this series to be an RH but after the last book, I
May 22, 2019
The best yet!
Why?
P
R
O
G
R
E
S
S
At last!!
It was also the most action packed! And contains one of my now favourite scenes ever... Tori’s first training session.
I can not wait for the next one and it’s sooooooo far away .
Also very excited for the spin off series coming, we meet the MC for the first time in the this book. I immediately like her and her demon and can’t wait for more.
Why?
P
R
O
G
R
E
S
S
At last!!
It was also the most action packed! And contains one of my now favourite scenes ever... Tori’s first training session.
I can not wait for the next one and it’s sooooooo far away .
Also very excited for the spin off series coming, we meet the MC for the first time in the this book. I immediately like her and her demon and can’t wait for more.
June 8, 2020
4.5 stars. Much better than the last one and it really tied in with the other series. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.
April 22, 2023
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
My review, as always, is as spoiler free as possible!
This is the fourth book in Annette Marie's latest series 'The Guild Codex: Spellbound" and by now it's safe to say that the author has won me over yet again with another favourite; A favourite series, a favourite set of characters, a favourite set of friendships and a favourite world. I already knew that I loved this series but the books have gone from strength to strength and this has been the best one yet, and not least because I finally have some answers about one of my favourite mages.
Annette Marie has always been able to build the sorts of worlds that I enjoy the most: incredibly complex and obviously well thought out and yet revealed simply and slowly to the point where you have no idea how you have learned so much about the world and the way it works but if you tried to explain it to someone else it might take you more words to convey than the entire book you just put down. And it's not just the places and societies; it's how the world actually spins; where people earn their livings and how hard they work to attain the positions that they have; who polices the world and an overview of the politics. It gives you far greater insight when you can infer character motivations and in doing so, builds more complex plots and immerses you more fully into the experience.
There's also something wonderful about these characters, who, at first glance could seem to be a cursory Urban Fantasy characters but even from the first chapter of the very first book you will realise that there's far more than meets the eye.
The main character is Tori Dawson - a red headed, hot tempered Sagittarius who sometimes acts before she thinks. She's also fiercely loyal and would jump headlong into anything for those that she loves.
Aaron Sinclair
Mythic Class - Elementaria: Pyromage
Another redhead to add to the excitement yet also steadfast with his friends, forgiving and adaptable. Basically an adorable cinnamon bun.
Kai Yamada
Mythic Class - Elementaria: Electramage
A more mysterious character, Kai's background is cryptic however his friendship with Aaron and Ezra is clear. He's the coolheaded one, someone who doesn't stumble or hesitate and he will always do what it takes.
Ezra Rowe
Mythic Class - Elementaria: Aeromage
A calm and serious and most mysterious guy, Ezra might be my favourite of the three mages. His secret however is deep and dark and now what Tori is hiding from him and the others? Well that could impact the whole team.
I adore the friendships in this entire series and just how human all these characters are; they have their own pasts and experiences and insecurities and all of these things influence their motivations and effect their decisions.
While the trademark humour and snark of the series is still alive and well in this instalment, there is definitely an air of seriousness and the stakes are higher than ever before. There's an intensity that is almost palpable and characters and friendships are tested in a way that they haven't been before.
Tori's doubts about the guys and their friendships and using denial as her coping mechanism lead to a confrontation that I was actually happy to see. Even though she is our POV character, we know that Tori is far from perfect and is allowed to make mistakes that any human could make and she is called out on it by her friends. There are many great interactions throughout the series but it was in this pivotal moment that I saw them double down on their friendship and our four musketeers have become some of my favourite fictional friends.
If you haven't checked this series out yet, do yourself a favour and have a look for it. It's fast, fun and a wild ride from start to finish.
While this is an episodic series where each book wraps up it's own plot, there's plenty to look forward to with the next book, "The Alchemist and an Amaretto" and even more new characters to be intrigued by (anyone else excited for Robin Page?????). October has never seemed so far away....
My review, as always, is as spoiler free as possible!
This is the fourth book in Annette Marie's latest series 'The Guild Codex: Spellbound" and by now it's safe to say that the author has won me over yet again with another favourite; A favourite series, a favourite set of characters, a favourite set of friendships and a favourite world. I already knew that I loved this series but the books have gone from strength to strength and this has been the best one yet, and not least because I finally have some answers about one of my favourite mages.
Annette Marie has always been able to build the sorts of worlds that I enjoy the most: incredibly complex and obviously well thought out and yet revealed simply and slowly to the point where you have no idea how you have learned so much about the world and the way it works but if you tried to explain it to someone else it might take you more words to convey than the entire book you just put down. And it's not just the places and societies; it's how the world actually spins; where people earn their livings and how hard they work to attain the positions that they have; who polices the world and an overview of the politics. It gives you far greater insight when you can infer character motivations and in doing so, builds more complex plots and immerses you more fully into the experience.
There's also something wonderful about these characters, who, at first glance could seem to be a cursory Urban Fantasy characters but even from the first chapter of the very first book you will realise that there's far more than meets the eye.
The main character is Tori Dawson - a red headed, hot tempered Sagittarius who sometimes acts before she thinks. She's also fiercely loyal and would jump headlong into anything for those that she loves.
Aaron Sinclair
Mythic Class - Elementaria: Pyromage
Another redhead to add to the excitement yet also steadfast with his friends, forgiving and adaptable. Basically an adorable cinnamon bun.
Kai Yamada
Mythic Class - Elementaria: Electramage
A more mysterious character, Kai's background is cryptic however his friendship with Aaron and Ezra is clear. He's the coolheaded one, someone who doesn't stumble or hesitate and he will always do what it takes.
Ezra Rowe
Mythic Class - Elementaria: Aeromage
A calm and serious and most mysterious guy, Ezra might be my favourite of the three mages. His secret however is deep and dark and now what Tori is hiding from him and the others? Well that could impact the whole team.
I adore the friendships in this entire series and just how human all these characters are; they have their own pasts and experiences and insecurities and all of these things influence their motivations and effect their decisions.
While the trademark humour and snark of the series is still alive and well in this instalment, there is definitely an air of seriousness and the stakes are higher than ever before. There's an intensity that is almost palpable and characters and friendships are tested in a way that they haven't been before.
Tori's doubts about the guys and their friendships and using denial as her coping mechanism lead to a confrontation that I was actually happy to see. Even though she is our POV character, we know that Tori is far from perfect and is allowed to make mistakes that any human could make and she is called out on it by her friends. There are many great interactions throughout the series but it was in this pivotal moment that I saw them double down on their friendship and our four musketeers have become some of my favourite fictional friends.
If you haven't checked this series out yet, do yourself a favour and have a look for it. It's fast, fun and a wild ride from start to finish.
While this is an episodic series where each book wraps up it's own plot, there's plenty to look forward to with the next book, "The Alchemist and an Amaretto" and even more new characters to be intrigued by (anyone else excited for Robin Page?????). October has never seemed so far away....
July 26, 2019
This was an intense installment and focused on Tori and the three Mages, particularly Ezra Rowe. We’ve always known there is something different about him, what with the freezing when he gets upset and the way Aaron Sinclair and Kai Yamada protect him. The three Mages are roommates and I have so many questions! Until now Tori hasn’t asked a lot of questions. Thankful we finally get some answers!
Danger, asshat hunters, and badass demon wielders await you. Hold on cause it’s one hell of a ride.
I loved the growth we see in Tori. Her friendships and ties to the Guild have aided her. She has a tendency to go with the flow and not asked questions. Like… Oh, you turned the living room to ice and popped all the light bulbs. Cool. Not, “How did you do that, what abilities do you have?” Nope.… just ignore the pink elephant in the room. Normally this kind of attitude would frustrate me, but Tori is loyal and not afraid to step in and help, regardless of her lack of skills. Her actions are a coping mechanism and stem from childhood and personal experiences. I loved how Jason and Kai called her own it, but also stood by her.
While the tale sounds heavy, don’t be fooled, there is plenty of humor, snark and terrific battle scenes involving all sorts of the supernaturally gifted. We meet a new character; a demon contractor.
Cris Dukehart rocks the narration. Normally my sweet spot for listening is between 1.3x and 1.5x but Dukehart is a fast talker and I slowed it down to 1.2x. She has become the voice of these characters and nails their comradery and emotions from humor to anger.
Secrets, friendship, and danger gave way to an action-packed story in Demon Magic and a Martini.
The next installment doesn’t release until October 2019 and I am crossing my fingers it’s on audio! I highly recommend this snarky, fun, urban fantasy series on audio! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Danger, asshat hunters, and badass demon wielders await you. Hold on cause it’s one hell of a ride.
I loved the growth we see in Tori. Her friendships and ties to the Guild have aided her. She has a tendency to go with the flow and not asked questions. Like… Oh, you turned the living room to ice and popped all the light bulbs. Cool. Not, “How did you do that, what abilities do you have?” Nope.… just ignore the pink elephant in the room. Normally this kind of attitude would frustrate me, but Tori is loyal and not afraid to step in and help, regardless of her lack of skills. Her actions are a coping mechanism and stem from childhood and personal experiences. I loved how Jason and Kai called her own it, but also stood by her.
While the tale sounds heavy, don’t be fooled, there is plenty of humor, snark and terrific battle scenes involving all sorts of the supernaturally gifted. We meet a new character; a demon contractor.
Cris Dukehart rocks the narration. Normally my sweet spot for listening is between 1.3x and 1.5x but Dukehart is a fast talker and I slowed it down to 1.2x. She has become the voice of these characters and nails their comradery and emotions from humor to anger.
Secrets, friendship, and danger gave way to an action-packed story in Demon Magic and a Martini.
The next installment doesn’t release until October 2019 and I am crossing my fingers it’s on audio! I highly recommend this snarky, fun, urban fantasy series on audio! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 1, 2020
YES. AT LAST THE CROSSOVER BEGINS. If you didn't know, The Guild Codex series Spellbound and Demonized cross paths and this book shows a certain epic demon battle from Tori and the guys' POV while Taming Demons for Beginners (the first book in the Demonized series) shows it from Robin and Zylas' POV. I admit I read the first two Demonized books before diving into the Spellbound series but either order you choose to read them in it's still really fun viewing the story from different viewpoints and getting to be smug because you know more than either party hehe.
We finally learn a lot more about the mysteries Ezra hides (although to be honest they seemed pretty easy to guess at least in a vague sense but maybe that's because I read Taming Demons... first and wasn't purposely burying my head in the sand like Tori? ) but of course there is still more we must wait to unearth. I like Tori, but sometimes she really irritates me...regardless she does come in clutch in the end so yay haha (and I like that she's a human, it's convenient to explain stuff to the reader but also nice to throw in someone without a bunch of magical powers at their fingertips, ya know?).
I'm hoping for more Zak, I fell in love with Ezra since book one, all three mages are fantastic, Tori has her moments, and I am pumped for more crossover scenes between Spellbound and Demonized! Onto the next book!
P.S. Annette Marie has posted her recommended reading order if you plan on reading both series and it's on her website if you're interested but know that you can read them separately or just one and not the other and get full enjoyment from it (just not as much enjoyment as knowing everything and everyone by reading both series hehe).
We finally learn a lot more about the mysteries Ezra hides (although to be honest they seemed pretty easy to guess at least in a vague sense but maybe that's because I read Taming Demons... first and wasn't purposely burying my head in the sand like Tori? ) but of course there is still more we must wait to unearth. I like Tori, but sometimes she really irritates me...regardless she does come in clutch in the end so yay haha (and I like that she's a human, it's convenient to explain stuff to the reader but also nice to throw in someone without a bunch of magical powers at their fingertips, ya know?).
I'm hoping for more Zak, I fell in love with Ezra since book one, all three mages are fantastic, Tori has her moments, and I am pumped for more crossover scenes between Spellbound and Demonized! Onto the next book!
P.S. Annette Marie has posted her recommended reading order if you plan on reading both series and it's on her website if you're interested but know that you can read them separately or just one and not the other and get full enjoyment from it (just not as much enjoyment as knowing everything and everyone by reading both series hehe).
April 8, 2019
I have been enthralled with this series since the first book I read, but I think this one is the very best one. We learned so much in this book, and I think Tori has really grown as a character, not that she wasn’t great before. I can’t say too much, but I think this book is a game-changer, and it is in some ways darker. That doesn’t mean it was funny and was light-hearted at time. Also, at one point, I was “flipping” the pages faster and faster because I just had to find out what was coming. And, finally, finally, I think I know who her love interest is, and I highly approve. As I said before, this is the best one yet, and I really can’t wait to see what comes next; do I really have to wait until October?!? I highly recommend this book! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
April 16, 2019
This series is seriously only getting better with each book that is released. Annette’s writing is fantastic. The descriptions are great and you can see the different sides to everyone in this book. Our heroine Tori is faced with a difficult choice, confronting her inner fears, and secrets are finally revealed. This book may possibly be a black hole because I could not put it down.
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