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Arcane Artisans #2
Enchantress Under Pressure
Magic is breaking.
Newly recruited by the Void Union, enchantress Adrienne Morales plans to stay on good terms with her magic-immune handlers. That’s hard to do when everyone knows about the enchantment tattoo storing catastrophic magic on her body. Then she discovers a murder victim with an identical tattoo. That corpse means only one thing: the cult that enchanted Adrienne has a lethal operative in town, and her conflict with the Voids just became her smallest problem.
With mysterious fires destroying Voids across the nation, the Union Legionnaire has his hands full. Catching the murderer is up to Adrienne. But as her search intensifies, magic begins breaking down around her: Ghosts rise, enchantments go haywire, and the specter of war looms over San Francisco. Plagued by fears from her past, mistrust from the Voids, and the sudden unreliability of her powers, Adrienne isn’t sure where to turn.
Worse, Adrienne’s life isn’t the only one hanging in the balance. If she goes down, her friends will fall beside her, and the entire city might be next. To defend the paranormal world, she must stop the murderer, uncover the cult’s secret plot, and decide whom to trust–when she’s not even sure she can trust herself.
An Urban Fantasy Nove.l
Newly recruited by the Void Union, enchantress Adrienne Morales plans to stay on good terms with her magic-immune handlers. That’s hard to do when everyone knows about the enchantment tattoo storing catastrophic magic on her body. Then she discovers a murder victim with an identical tattoo. That corpse means only one thing: the cult that enchanted Adrienne has a lethal operative in town, and her conflict with the Voids just became her smallest problem.
With mysterious fires destroying Voids across the nation, the Union Legionnaire has his hands full. Catching the murderer is up to Adrienne. But as her search intensifies, magic begins breaking down around her: Ghosts rise, enchantments go haywire, and the specter of war looms over San Francisco. Plagued by fears from her past, mistrust from the Voids, and the sudden unreliability of her powers, Adrienne isn’t sure where to turn.
Worse, Adrienne’s life isn’t the only one hanging in the balance. If she goes down, her friends will fall beside her, and the entire city might be next. To defend the paranormal world, she must stop the murderer, uncover the cult’s secret plot, and decide whom to trust–when she’s not even sure she can trust herself.
An Urban Fantasy Nove.l
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2019
9 people are currently reading
14 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 23, 2019
As the title suggests, the pressure is mounting in this second book of the Arcane Artisans. Adrienne is in enough hot water just trying to keep the Void Union happy, but now her old cult has come looking for her, ghosts are rising, and magic, which has unbreakable laws, is... breaking.
This book is fast-paced from the get-go, but still manages a wonderful balance through Adrienne's friends and their often hilarious banter. You can always count on the squirrel-shifter to break the tension. While weird things are happening around Adrienne, the adrenaline filled climax (with that twist I never saw coming) brings us all five steps closer to understanding what's going wrong with magic. Just before, yeah, that happens. Guess you're just gonna have to read it to find out what I mean now. ;)
Recommend for urban fantasy fans and readers of fast-paced action and adventure with a nice dose of magic.
This book is fast-paced from the get-go, but still manages a wonderful balance through Adrienne's friends and their often hilarious banter. You can always count on the squirrel-shifter to break the tension. While weird things are happening around Adrienne, the adrenaline filled climax (with that twist I never saw coming) brings us all five steps closer to understanding what's going wrong with magic. Just before, yeah, that happens. Guess you're just gonna have to read it to find out what I mean now. ;)
Recommend for urban fantasy fans and readers of fast-paced action and adventure with a nice dose of magic.
October 2, 2022
I liked the new addition to the team of Adrienne's apprentice. I also liked that each character had a twist or showed a new side to them. It was interesting seeing enchanters, shifters, and voids officially working together for the Union. It was maybe a bit formulaic in that a sequel often shows the strong main character weakened and temporarily retreating at the end as the bad guy gets the upper hand, but why mess with a good system? I'm not saying it was predictable; I'm fairly good at guessing plotlines, but I was surprised by the direction of things several times. Overall, a great second book and I've immediately got to crack open book three.
Maturity rating: young adult. Small handful of swearing, nothing indecent in the romance area or drugs/drinking. Really I bump it up to YA because of the tension and violence. There are deaths and injuries, not too gruesome, but it's like how the Harry Potter books get bleaker as it goes along.
Maturity rating: young adult. Small handful of swearing, nothing indecent in the romance area or drugs/drinking. Really I bump it up to YA because of the tension and violence. There are deaths and injuries, not too gruesome, but it's like how the Harry Potter books get bleaker as it goes along.
May 30, 2019
I have come to the conclusion that true magic has exploded in the world, but only affected those who wield the mighty pen (or should I say computer?)! What is going on? How are so many newer authors turning out to be such amazing writers? Well, one thing is for sure. A.C. Spahn has definitely joined the ranks of amazing authors in my book! And while she may not be new exactly, she certainly came to shine with her Arcane Artisans series.
What a ride! Adrienne has been driven to such a chaotic life, and taken us along with her. Between the cult that is searching for her and the Void council that is supposedly helping her, she doesn't know what is up and what is down. All she knows for sure is her friends, Desmond (also her love), Kendall and Sam, are loyal and true and people she can count on without hesitation. With them she tries to just run her little artisan business of handmade pieces designed most often to siphon off her residual magic, but good enough that ordinary people like to buy them as trinkets, knick-knacks, and jewelry. But of course, the Void council won't just let her be, and the cult that is chasing her is zeroing in, so no ordinary life for her.
The action, the emotion, the friendships and conspiracies, all of it comes together to create a crazy, chaotic life for Adrienne, one of the most powerful Enchantresses out there, not to mention one of the most sought after ones. And we find ourselves drawn along with her and her crew as they try so very hard to just live.
In this volume of her life she has definitely come under pressure from the forces that seek to use and abuse her. Some very hard decisions have to be made, and making decisions based on love and trust was never something she expected to become familiar with so she has to first wrap her head around it, and then learn to live with it. Friends. People who care about her and aren't either trying to kill her, control her or abuse her. What a new and wonderful experience! But also heartrending, because she is so torn between wanting to stay with them and live the life she has created for herself, and believing she should just run, get as far away as she can and protect them at all costs.
This action packed book 2 in the Arcane Artisan series captured me from the first word to the last. Now I have to patiently wait for the next one? I'll probably combust before that finally comes, cause I have zero patience!
This was so Very Very Well Done, AC! I'm floored! Flabbergasted! And completely enamored. So Very Very Well Done, indeed!
I received this as an ARC and am offering up this review in my own words and of my own volition. Doesn't matter cause I plan to buy it anyway!
What a ride! Adrienne has been driven to such a chaotic life, and taken us along with her. Between the cult that is searching for her and the Void council that is supposedly helping her, she doesn't know what is up and what is down. All she knows for sure is her friends, Desmond (also her love), Kendall and Sam, are loyal and true and people she can count on without hesitation. With them she tries to just run her little artisan business of handmade pieces designed most often to siphon off her residual magic, but good enough that ordinary people like to buy them as trinkets, knick-knacks, and jewelry. But of course, the Void council won't just let her be, and the cult that is chasing her is zeroing in, so no ordinary life for her.
The action, the emotion, the friendships and conspiracies, all of it comes together to create a crazy, chaotic life for Adrienne, one of the most powerful Enchantresses out there, not to mention one of the most sought after ones. And we find ourselves drawn along with her and her crew as they try so very hard to just live.
In this volume of her life she has definitely come under pressure from the forces that seek to use and abuse her. Some very hard decisions have to be made, and making decisions based on love and trust was never something she expected to become familiar with so she has to first wrap her head around it, and then learn to live with it. Friends. People who care about her and aren't either trying to kill her, control her or abuse her. What a new and wonderful experience! But also heartrending, because she is so torn between wanting to stay with them and live the life she has created for herself, and believing she should just run, get as far away as she can and protect them at all costs.
This action packed book 2 in the Arcane Artisan series captured me from the first word to the last. Now I have to patiently wait for the next one? I'll probably combust before that finally comes, cause I have zero patience!
This was so Very Very Well Done, AC! I'm floored! Flabbergasted! And completely enamored. So Very Very Well Done, indeed!
I received this as an ARC and am offering up this review in my own words and of my own volition. Doesn't matter cause I plan to buy it anyway!
June 6, 2019
First of all, it was so lovely to return to this world! I love the magical elements in it, basically in this world the magic is done through a channel, and a target. Both of these being objects, not people! It plays an important part that makes everything a jumbled mess in a good way!
In comparison to the first book, this book showcases loyalty, trust issues and holy hell, how pressured Adrienne is. Yeah no pun intended, okay maybe that’s a lie.
Anyways, I was worried at first that the second book wouldn’t live up to expectations that I had, and it did! I loved the new elements and twists and turns that occured. I missed these characters so much, Sam and Adrienne are probably my favorite. The bond they started to have in book 1 has a level up. They become so close to one another, learning as they go and protecting each other.
Something I want to say is that these 2 books have distinct vibes or moods. I felt like this one was so much more complex and dark than the first. In a way it’s the beginning of the big twist. At each turn there’s a complication, each step forward is a thousand steps back. Which was so frustrating but at the same time it’s what kept me hooked to find out how it was going to be resolved.
And wow if the first book left we shocked Enchantress Unerpressure left me in a state of silence. I just sat there with the book next to me contemplating on how everything ended. Good news is that there are a few more books to come! Thank the book gods.
You really need to read this it’s amazing I love it! Thank me later.
In comparison to the first book, this book showcases loyalty, trust issues and holy hell, how pressured Adrienne is. Yeah no pun intended, okay maybe that’s a lie.
Anyways, I was worried at first that the second book wouldn’t live up to expectations that I had, and it did! I loved the new elements and twists and turns that occured. I missed these characters so much, Sam and Adrienne are probably my favorite. The bond they started to have in book 1 has a level up. They become so close to one another, learning as they go and protecting each other.
Something I want to say is that these 2 books have distinct vibes or moods. I felt like this one was so much more complex and dark than the first. In a way it’s the beginning of the big twist. At each turn there’s a complication, each step forward is a thousand steps back. Which was so frustrating but at the same time it’s what kept me hooked to find out how it was going to be resolved.
And wow if the first book left we shocked Enchantress Unerpressure left me in a state of silence. I just sat there with the book next to me contemplating on how everything ended. Good news is that there are a few more books to come! Thank the book gods.
You really need to read this it’s amazing I love it! Thank me later.
May 20, 2019
I really love this world. All the magical strangeness only makes it more compelling for me. While you can probably start your entrance to the series here, book 1 was amazing, so you should really start from the beginning.
Adrienne has made a deal with the devil, the leader of the Void Union, to keep everyone around her safe. It has the side benefit of giving her access to some sweet medical treatment, and a bunch of commandos ready to protect her (begrudgingly). She’s still shaping magic around her but things are starting to get… weird. She and her friends are sent out almost nightly to put down what used to be randomly occurring ghosts. It seems like a minor nuisance until she spots someone from her past.
Things escalate quickly from there. Adrienne is forced to make some tough choices, most notably focused on whether she wants to run or fight. With her newly formed relationship and her supportive friends and apprentice, this is no longer a simple decision. There is a mess of mistakes, guilt, determination, and love all rolled in to a tough place for Adrienne. Oh, and maybe the end of the world? Is that enough pressure? I couldn’t put this book down, and am completely invested in Adrienne now. This is a wonderful world to lose yourself in, even if there are some tough outcomes to handle.
Adrienne has made a deal with the devil, the leader of the Void Union, to keep everyone around her safe. It has the side benefit of giving her access to some sweet medical treatment, and a bunch of commandos ready to protect her (begrudgingly). She’s still shaping magic around her but things are starting to get… weird. She and her friends are sent out almost nightly to put down what used to be randomly occurring ghosts. It seems like a minor nuisance until she spots someone from her past.
Things escalate quickly from there. Adrienne is forced to make some tough choices, most notably focused on whether she wants to run or fight. With her newly formed relationship and her supportive friends and apprentice, this is no longer a simple decision. There is a mess of mistakes, guilt, determination, and love all rolled in to a tough place for Adrienne. Oh, and maybe the end of the world? Is that enough pressure? I couldn’t put this book down, and am completely invested in Adrienne now. This is a wonderful world to lose yourself in, even if there are some tough outcomes to handle.
September 28, 2019
It's a 3.5 for me because the pacing between the first and second installments were some getting used it. About a month had passed before I finally read this one and Adrienne's relationship with Desmond was something she still struggled to accept because of how hard her life's been. She's not used to growing roots and settling when she's always been ready to run at the first sign of cult danger. But watching her come to terms with it and finally taking a chance was nice. I enjoyed her relationships with her other friends, Kendall and Sam. Sam is a gem that Spahn created and I'll never get over how much I love what she did for her character. Kendall was a comedic relief in the first book but now I just love her. She's so ridiculous and makes me laugh at unexpected times.
This was more dangerous and suspenseful, which I loved. Seeing the sad things occur made me cry a little and the ending was so sudden and intense that I still had to wrap my mind around what just happened even after I finished. A major turn is definitely occurring in the series, and it's a recommended read.
This was more dangerous and suspenseful, which I loved. Seeing the sad things occur made me cry a little and the ending was so sudden and intense that I still had to wrap my mind around what just happened even after I finished. A major turn is definitely occurring in the series, and it's a recommended read.
July 19, 2019
ENCHANTRESS UNDER PRESSURE (Arcane Artisans Book 2) by A.C. Spahn begins where Book 1 left off. The magic cult is after Adrienne; what will happen when they catch up to her? The Voids were intolerant of her before; is there a spy from the cult in their midst now? The book ends at a logical point, but there is enough of an unexpected twist that the full story will need at least another book to wrap up. Kendall, the squirrel shifter, is still a hoot. I noticed a few minor editing errors, but if you enjoyed Book 1, you will enjoy Book 2.
I received an ARC for the purpose of writing a voluntary review. I would read and review the next book in the series.
I received an ARC for the purpose of writing a voluntary review. I would read and review the next book in the series.
June 1, 2019
The pressure is definitely on in this sequel!
I don't want to give away spoilers, but book two in this series really delivers a punch. The stakes are going up with magic behaving in ways it shouldn't, especially for our enchantress who struggles with the nature of her own power. The sidekicks continue to shine in all their quirky ways. I just love the dynamic of this group. AND THAT ENDING! Twists everywhere!!
Bring on book 3!
I don't want to give away spoilers, but book two in this series really delivers a punch. The stakes are going up with magic behaving in ways it shouldn't, especially for our enchantress who struggles with the nature of her own power. The sidekicks continue to shine in all their quirky ways. I just love the dynamic of this group. AND THAT ENDING! Twists everywhere!!
Bring on book 3!
August 4, 2019
The action and clever dialogue are engaging, and the inner struggles of the main character, Adrienne, add to the overall conflict. Adrienne's relationship with Desmond evolves in curious ways in this second book of the Arcane Artisans series, which sets the stage for what is sure to be a riveting . . . conclusion? I hope not.
August 8, 2021
Good plot lots of twists and turns
Smooth reading. I like the dichotomy of characters. There were a few glitches but the story arc was strong enough so I could overlook them.
Smooth reading. I like the dichotomy of characters. There were a few glitches but the story arc was strong enough so I could overlook them.
July 13, 2019
As Adrienne and her friends fight the Void Union’s battles against creatures that shouldn’t exist, a chance encounter brings Adrienne face to face with the darkness and terror she’d fled years earlier. Geralt and his fleshwriters have picked up her trail, and they’re closing in. But powerful ghosts are rising from their graves and the world’s magical field is unravelling, as tensions build towards an epic clash between Geralt and the Void Union. In the final battle, Adrienne’s little band suffers an unimaginable loss, and they stumble away to a future where everything has changed.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews