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Arcane Artisans #4
Enchantress Under Fire
It’s time to risk everything.
Adrienne has lost more than she ever imagined. Friends lie dead. The man she loves has been captured. The alliance she worked so hard to forge is close to breaking. She might have a plan to rebalance the world’s chaotic magic, but enacting it requires the help of other enchanters. Unfortunately, they’ve all been recruited or killed by Geralt. That leaves her with only one infiltrate his cult.
Masking her innate magical ability, Adrienne embarks on a dangerous mission to lure cult members to her side. That won't be easy since Geralt has bought his followers’ loyalty and filled them with suspicion of the outside world. Adrienne has little to offer against his promises of protection and belonging. But manipulation goes two ways, and Adrienne is no stranger to using the cult’s tactics for her own ends.
When Adrienne begins to bond with those she only intended to exploit, her compassion for the cult members clashes with her loyalty to the Underground. Caught between two worlds, with countless lives on the line, Adrienne must figure out what she truly stands for before she loses what little she has left.
Adrienne has lost more than she ever imagined. Friends lie dead. The man she loves has been captured. The alliance she worked so hard to forge is close to breaking. She might have a plan to rebalance the world’s chaotic magic, but enacting it requires the help of other enchanters. Unfortunately, they’ve all been recruited or killed by Geralt. That leaves her with only one infiltrate his cult.
Masking her innate magical ability, Adrienne embarks on a dangerous mission to lure cult members to her side. That won't be easy since Geralt has bought his followers’ loyalty and filled them with suspicion of the outside world. Adrienne has little to offer against his promises of protection and belonging. But manipulation goes two ways, and Adrienne is no stranger to using the cult’s tactics for her own ends.
When Adrienne begins to bond with those she only intended to exploit, her compassion for the cult members clashes with her loyalty to the Underground. Caught between two worlds, with countless lives on the line, Adrienne must figure out what she truly stands for before she loses what little she has left.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2019
8 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Spahn
14 books39 followersA. C. Spahn wanted to be an interstellar starship captain when she grew up. Since nobody was hiring, she became a writer instead.
She enjoys breaking boards with her fists, organizing messy rooms, and debating the physics of fictional technologies. When not commanding imaginary starships, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids.
She is the author of the USA Today bestselling Endurance series, the “Cara Watt, P.I.” stories on Daily Science Fiction, and other short pieces published by Flash Fiction Online, Star*Line, and more.
She enjoys breaking boards with her fists, organizing messy rooms, and debating the physics of fictional technologies. When not commanding imaginary starships, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids.
She is the author of the USA Today bestselling Endurance series, the “Cara Watt, P.I.” stories on Daily Science Fiction, and other short pieces published by Flash Fiction Online, Star*Line, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 10, 2022
What an ending to a series! Adrienne has infiltrated the cult to try to convince the enchanters that there is another way to save magic. Along the way she makes some discoveries about the fleshwriters and about herself and how much she's really willing to sacrifice in order to be the leader everyone needs. She also makes some unexpected friends and has to confront some old faces from her past. The new perspective of seeing the war from the enemy's side kept the story fresh and readers on edge. Is this the moment Adrienne blows her cover? How will she convince them to listen? Are all the bad guys as bad as we thought? The end battle was pretty awesome with a ton of magic flying around and a resolution I did not see coming. I missed the art aspect of creating enchantments on objects, and we don't get to see as much of the Underground characters since Adrienne wasn't with them for most of the book.
Maturity rating: young adult. Nothing much to do with drugs/drinking or romance, very light swearing, so this is mostly about the age of the characters and violence. There are some gruesome injuries, including prisoners being tortured and others getting punished for disobedience in the cult, not to mention the all-out battles that occur between the fleshwriters and the Underground.
Maturity rating: young adult. Nothing much to do with drugs/drinking or romance, very light swearing, so this is mostly about the age of the characters and violence. There are some gruesome injuries, including prisoners being tortured and others getting punished for disobedience in the cult, not to mention the all-out battles that occur between the fleshwriters and the Underground.
September 14, 2019
It's always hard to come to the end of a series. You don't want to say goodbye to the characters you've come to know and love. But when it's done as well as this? Well, that makes it so much easier.
Adrienne is desperate, as are all the people in the Underground Resistance. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, Adrienne takes one. This is as authentically done as it is unexpected. I'll let you read what she does and how she accomplishes it because I don't do spoilers. Just know it's a brilliant idea...all the way up until it isn't.
In a time when magic is going a little bonkers, Adrienne and her group realize something needs to be done to stabilize it, but it appears Geralt has already devised a plan. Only problem is, his plan calls for Adrienne's death. Needless to say, Adrienne and group would rather find a different way. And they think they have. Only before this is done, they have to do something to neutralize Geralt and his cult, or turn them to their side.
This is a harrowing story fraught with danger, magic gone awry threatening to kill all of San Francisco, anger, desperation and such overwhelming fear. Amy Spahn takes us through this tale with smooth expertise that at times leaves us holding our breath and at other times holding back tears. It's a touching tale of loss and gain that is expressed so very well.
It is also an end to a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed and am going to miss. But I will say that the ending was one of the cleanest I've ever seen. It touched on every point that was left to question, it gave us closure on the outcome of their desperate measures and it allowed us to feel that we really had been told the whole story, no stone left unturned. I believe that is very hard to do, but she did it beautifully. I can't give her enough praise for how complete this was.
I am just sorry to see a series I was enjoying end, not to mention not being able to continue reading Amy Spahn's work. But, however long it takes for her to come out with her next series, whether it be next week or next year, I will be here waiting for it, because I believe I've found a new writer I want to be reading for years to come.
Very Well Done, A.C. Spahn! Very Well Done indeed! I couldn't have asked for more.
I received this as an ARC from the author, and I give this review of my own volition and in my own words, as always!
Adrienne is desperate, as are all the people in the Underground Resistance. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, Adrienne takes one. This is as authentically done as it is unexpected. I'll let you read what she does and how she accomplishes it because I don't do spoilers. Just know it's a brilliant idea...all the way up until it isn't.
In a time when magic is going a little bonkers, Adrienne and her group realize something needs to be done to stabilize it, but it appears Geralt has already devised a plan. Only problem is, his plan calls for Adrienne's death. Needless to say, Adrienne and group would rather find a different way. And they think they have. Only before this is done, they have to do something to neutralize Geralt and his cult, or turn them to their side.
This is a harrowing story fraught with danger, magic gone awry threatening to kill all of San Francisco, anger, desperation and such overwhelming fear. Amy Spahn takes us through this tale with smooth expertise that at times leaves us holding our breath and at other times holding back tears. It's a touching tale of loss and gain that is expressed so very well.
It is also an end to a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed and am going to miss. But I will say that the ending was one of the cleanest I've ever seen. It touched on every point that was left to question, it gave us closure on the outcome of their desperate measures and it allowed us to feel that we really had been told the whole story, no stone left unturned. I believe that is very hard to do, but she did it beautifully. I can't give her enough praise for how complete this was.
I am just sorry to see a series I was enjoying end, not to mention not being able to continue reading Amy Spahn's work. But, however long it takes for her to come out with her next series, whether it be next week or next year, I will be here waiting for it, because I believe I've found a new writer I want to be reading for years to come.
Very Well Done, A.C. Spahn! Very Well Done indeed! I couldn't have asked for more.
I received this as an ARC from the author, and I give this review of my own volition and in my own words, as always!
October 5, 2019
I am so sad to see this series come to an end! More, please? I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world, all the characters, and the unique magical quirkiness! That being said, this was a fabulous ending to a wonderful story. If you are reading this and have not yet read book 1 - go back and do that! You would be doing yourself a disservice by starting at the end of this fantastic journey.
We join Adrienne as she embarks on what will undoubtedly be her most dangerous mission. At the end of the previous book, we learned she was going off on her own to infiltrate Geralt's cult and rescue her boyfriend. Seems silly, but she's desperate for enchanters, and Geralt holds all those cards. This story starts quickly and just doesn't let up on the terror and anxiety. Sure, it takes some time for her to gain some trust and allies, but there is a constant worry that she will be found out and sacrificed, killing way too many people in the process.
Don't worry - we get lots of familiar faces, even though Adrienne was insistent she do this on her own. I wouldn't mind some spin off books, though, to get even more of our friendly PU members (hint-hint). There are so many twists and turns to get to the big showdown that I wouldn't know where to start with a spoiler-free review. Things I can promise? Magic - more awesome magic. Big showdown - the one you want. Happy endings? Of course! These endings, however, come in the most unexpected way (that I was shocked and happily surprised by). This world is still one of my favorites, and I'm so happy I got to see it all play out.
We join Adrienne as she embarks on what will undoubtedly be her most dangerous mission. At the end of the previous book, we learned she was going off on her own to infiltrate Geralt's cult and rescue her boyfriend. Seems silly, but she's desperate for enchanters, and Geralt holds all those cards. This story starts quickly and just doesn't let up on the terror and anxiety. Sure, it takes some time for her to gain some trust and allies, but there is a constant worry that she will be found out and sacrificed, killing way too many people in the process.
Don't worry - we get lots of familiar faces, even though Adrienne was insistent she do this on her own. I wouldn't mind some spin off books, though, to get even more of our friendly PU members (hint-hint). There are so many twists and turns to get to the big showdown that I wouldn't know where to start with a spoiler-free review. Things I can promise? Magic - more awesome magic. Big showdown - the one you want. Happy endings? Of course! These endings, however, come in the most unexpected way (that I was shocked and happily surprised by). This world is still one of my favorites, and I'm so happy I got to see it all play out.
September 28, 2019
*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from the author*
4.5 for me
This was so INTENSE. I honestly didn't know what i was getting myself into when I read the first book, and now that the war has come-and-is-almost-done, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Adrienne chose to fight for the last time by infiltrating the cult she'd been running from all her young life and seeing her having to interact with them again was heady. Not because of what she had to pretend to do, but because Spahn really gave us an insight on what the 'other side' looked like. It proved that not everyone was innately bad or good, and seeing the people in the cult reminded her of just what it was she was fighting, and what really mattered.
I loved Adrienne's struggle to maintain her essence- the very thing she felt needed to be sacrificed for the greater good when she decided to lead the Underground in war- and it blows my mind with how Spahn did it all. I got reminded so many times that not everything is black and white, that things are more complicated. Knowing that Geralt isn't as villainous, or that our heroine and her friends aren't that perfect, it all made the series feel well-rounded. This installment is probably my favorite because of everything that happened, and i thought it tied up any possible loose ends while making you feel like it's not over yet and more needs to be done. I'm not ready to say goodbye!
4.5 for me
This was so INTENSE. I honestly didn't know what i was getting myself into when I read the first book, and now that the war has come-and-is-almost-done, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Adrienne chose to fight for the last time by infiltrating the cult she'd been running from all her young life and seeing her having to interact with them again was heady. Not because of what she had to pretend to do, but because Spahn really gave us an insight on what the 'other side' looked like. It proved that not everyone was innately bad or good, and seeing the people in the cult reminded her of just what it was she was fighting, and what really mattered.
I loved Adrienne's struggle to maintain her essence- the very thing she felt needed to be sacrificed for the greater good when she decided to lead the Underground in war- and it blows my mind with how Spahn did it all. I got reminded so many times that not everything is black and white, that things are more complicated. Knowing that Geralt isn't as villainous, or that our heroine and her friends aren't that perfect, it all made the series feel well-rounded. This installment is probably my favorite because of everything that happened, and i thought it tied up any possible loose ends while making you feel like it's not over yet and more needs to be done. I'm not ready to say goodbye!
October 11, 2019
With the resistance in tatters and Geralt's forces in control of the city, Adrienne goes deep, deep undercover in the heart of the enemy stronghold. Living unrecognised (for now) alongside the man who has planned her assassination for years, she tests the loyalty of Geralt's enchanters and searches for Desmond, her kidnapped boyfriend.
While Adrienne seeks new friends among her enemies, squirrel shifter Kendall risks her own life to maintain communication with allies on the outside.
Enemy agents are closing in as Adrienne uncovers proof of the darkest side of Geralt's plan to restore magic, and the fate of an entire city hangs by a thread as the final conflict plays out between Adrienne and her nemesis.
Enchantress Under Fire is the not-to-be-missed conclusion to an unputdownable series. And as she's done in each of the preceding volumes, A.C Spahn pulls off an ending you'll never see coming.
Five stars, guaranteed awesome read!
While Adrienne seeks new friends among her enemies, squirrel shifter Kendall risks her own life to maintain communication with allies on the outside.
Enemy agents are closing in as Adrienne uncovers proof of the darkest side of Geralt's plan to restore magic, and the fate of an entire city hangs by a thread as the final conflict plays out between Adrienne and her nemesis.
Enchantress Under Fire is the not-to-be-missed conclusion to an unputdownable series. And as she's done in each of the preceding volumes, A.C Spahn pulls off an ending you'll never see coming.
Five stars, guaranteed awesome read!
October 3, 2019
This book blew me away with the author's expertise in bringing this series to a very satisfying conclusion. Not only is the plot exciting, interesting and unpredictable but also the challenges for the protagonist increase in difficulty and complexity and the moral dilemmas deepen. I love that Adrienne doesn't just do the obvious, that she weighs her choices and questions her actions so that she doesn't become what she hates in others. And I love that it is her ability to see people as people, rather than as 'enemies' that actually helps her in achieving her goals.
I love this whole series, but this final book is exceptional.
I love this whole series, but this final book is exceptional.
October 1, 2019
I was lucky enough to get an ARC and the finale was everything I hoped it would be! I kept guessing at what would happen or how the conclusion would go, and man, I guessed wrong the whole time - something I think I've said of previous installments but it keeps ringing true. I'm sorry to see the series come to an end (and would LOVE to get a novella or three about some of these quirky and hilarious side-kicks), but the story ended on a perfect note and I so enjoyed the adventure.
June 18, 2020
Enchantress Under Fire left me considering why people make malevolent choices. You'll find just as much action in this one, and it really makes you feel, which I appreciated as much as the unexpected ending.
January 10, 2021
A nice ending to a joyful ride.
A nice ending to a joyful ride. Reading this series helped me get through 2020 and the first two weeks of 2021.
(If you're reading this in the future, lookup the year 2020 and you'll understand how helpful this series truly was to me.)
A nice ending to a joyful ride. Reading this series helped me get through 2020 and the first two weeks of 2021.
(If you're reading this in the future, lookup the year 2020 and you'll understand how helpful this series truly was to me.)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews