What do you think?
Rate this book
Magicfall #1
The Witchkin Murders
Four years ago, my world—the world—exploded with wild magic. The cherry on top of that crap cake? The supernatural world declared war on humans, and my life went straight to hell.
I used to be a detective, and a damned good one. Then Magicfall happened, and I changed along with the world. I’m witchkin now—something more than human or not quite human, depending on your perspective. To survive, I’ve become a scavenger, searching abandoned houses and stores for the everyday luxuries in short supply—tampons and peanut butter. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, but anything’s better than risking my secret.
Except, old habits die hard. When I discover a murder scene screaming with signs of black magic ritual, I know my days of hiding are over. Any chance I had of escaping my past with my secret intact is gone. Solving the witchkin murders is going to be the hardest case of my life, and not just because every second will torture me with reminders of how much I miss my old life and my partner, who hates my guts for abandoning the department.
But it’s time to suck it up, because if I screw this up, Portland will be wiped out, and I’m not going to let that happen. Hold on to your butts, Portland. Justice is coming, and I don’t take prisoners.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2019
179 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Diana Pharaoh Francis
44 books760 followersI was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern California (outside a town called Lincoln which is now part of an enormous sprawl). I taught myself to ride a horse at the age of six, as no one had the time to teach me—they were all busy learning how to irrigate, how to cajole an angry bull into another field, how to pull a calf… Afraid of heights, and absolutely sure I was going to die, I managed to scramble up on the back of a very patient and lazy strawberry roan destrier, and plod off into the sunset.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
October 25, 2019
THE WITCHKIN MURDERS by Diana Pharaoh Francis is the first book in her Magicfall series. To me, this was a combination of urban fantasy, murder mystery and supernatural police procedural, with a little paranormal romance.
Four years ago, Magicfall, an explosion of wild magic, occurred and the world was forever changed. While this story takes place in Portland, Oregon, the rest of the world is in similar or worse shape. There was a war between some supernaturals and those that were human and many died on both sides. Lives changed overnight. Some humans became something else and are known as Witchkin.
The main protagonist, Kayla Reese, was changed into something else and left her job as a police detective to become a scavenger. One day on her way home, she senses something is wrong and finds three individuals murdered as part of a black magic ceremony. She calls her old detective partner, Ray Garza. With this scenario, the story is off and running.
The book hooked me immediately. It combines some of my favorite genres into one enjoyable, entertaining read. The characters are three-dimensional, compelling and have their own flaws and virtues. Their motivations are believable and well-drawn. The relationships between Kayla and Ray as well as with the other characters are a little predictable, but I did not mind that in this case. The tension throughout the book made it a page turner. The author did a great job of world building with vivid descriptions that gave a clear sense of time and place.
This is the only book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I believe those readers that enjoy combining police procedurals with supernatural suspense in an urban fantasy environment will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to BelleBooks – Bell Bridge Books and Diana Pharaoh Francis for a digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Four years ago, Magicfall, an explosion of wild magic, occurred and the world was forever changed. While this story takes place in Portland, Oregon, the rest of the world is in similar or worse shape. There was a war between some supernaturals and those that were human and many died on both sides. Lives changed overnight. Some humans became something else and are known as Witchkin.
The main protagonist, Kayla Reese, was changed into something else and left her job as a police detective to become a scavenger. One day on her way home, she senses something is wrong and finds three individuals murdered as part of a black magic ceremony. She calls her old detective partner, Ray Garza. With this scenario, the story is off and running.
The book hooked me immediately. It combines some of my favorite genres into one enjoyable, entertaining read. The characters are three-dimensional, compelling and have their own flaws and virtues. Their motivations are believable and well-drawn. The relationships between Kayla and Ray as well as with the other characters are a little predictable, but I did not mind that in this case. The tension throughout the book made it a page turner. The author did a great job of world building with vivid descriptions that gave a clear sense of time and place.
This is the only book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I believe those readers that enjoy combining police procedurals with supernatural suspense in an urban fantasy environment will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to BelleBooks – Bell Bridge Books and Diana Pharaoh Francis for a digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
June 10, 2019
It's extremely irritating to pay full price (8$) for a traditionally published book and then get a sub par work because the publisher couldn't make a final quality check. The Kindle edition is 'printed' with half the pages randomly in italics, a perfect choice for a screen no doubt :/
It's very difficult to read on a tablet or phone, but even on a 'kindle paper' it's not pleasant. I found it very distracting.
This is a UF book set in post apocalyptic setting (the usual magic tragedy), nothing new except for the heroine (or rather what she is). Nothing much to say, I'm not sure the plot is that solid, as the mystery has to fight for page space with the romantic and personal threads. Both leads seem to be pretty stupid in their choice to ignore the truth.
I think that this series is linked to the Horngate witches, but it can be read on its own.
This author seems to be a hit or miss for me, and this book confirms the fact.
It's very difficult to read on a tablet or phone, but even on a 'kindle paper' it's not pleasant. I found it very distracting.
This is a UF book set in post apocalyptic setting (the usual magic tragedy), nothing new except for the heroine (or rather what she is). Nothing much to say, I'm not sure the plot is that solid, as the mystery has to fight for page space with the romantic and personal threads. Both leads seem to be pretty stupid in their choice to ignore the truth.
I think that this series is linked to the Horngate witches, but it can be read on its own.
This author seems to be a hit or miss for me, and this book confirms the fact.
June 4, 2019
Magic, secrets and of course murder fuel the plot of this story that's set in a somewhat alternative world. The last thing Kayla needs is her ex partner getting wind of why she really quit the force but the universe is certainly having a lot of fun at her expense. First it gave her the worst family imaginable, then it decided to turn her into a Monster and now it's got Kayla working with Ray on a case only this time would you believe there are godly tantrums to sort out ?
I really liked the world building going on here with lots of mystery to keep me turning the pages. Kayla is one tough cookie and can really take care of herself but at times she truly walked around blinkered. Ray simply confused me. The Ray we meet knows that he's desperate to be with Kayla but the Ray he was when he worked with her wasn't really interested as he had a lover. So his constant thoughts about what I will politely describe as his honeymoon tackle just felt forced.
Now you've probably noticed I'm not saying too much about the plot. Well simply it's perhaps slower initially than I wanted but then we get information about Kaylas family which frankly I wanted more of. Bad things keep happening though and Kayla and Ray are in the thick of it which means Ray discovers the secret that Kayla has struggled to kept hidden . The twist is that they both have not been honest and in this biased society it's high time for change.
So why only a four ? Well the big explanation at the end felt too convoluted to me . I liked that the future for Ray and Kayla not to mention the other Witchkin looked more promising and I can see great potential for this series. It s just that the last chapter introduced a character who I honestly am nonplussed by but hopefully the next book will expand these ideas.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair.
I really liked the world building going on here with lots of mystery to keep me turning the pages. Kayla is one tough cookie and can really take care of herself but at times she truly walked around blinkered. Ray simply confused me. The Ray we meet knows that he's desperate to be with Kayla but the Ray he was when he worked with her wasn't really interested as he had a lover. So his constant thoughts about what I will politely describe as his honeymoon tackle just felt forced.
Now you've probably noticed I'm not saying too much about the plot. Well simply it's perhaps slower initially than I wanted but then we get information about Kaylas family which frankly I wanted more of. Bad things keep happening though and Kayla and Ray are in the thick of it which means Ray discovers the secret that Kayla has struggled to kept hidden . The twist is that they both have not been honest and in this biased society it's high time for change.
So why only a four ? Well the big explanation at the end felt too convoluted to me . I liked that the future for Ray and Kayla not to mention the other Witchkin looked more promising and I can see great potential for this series. It s just that the last chapter introduced a character who I honestly am nonplussed by but hopefully the next book will expand these ideas.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair.
July 9, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Bell Bridge Books for this arc.
I don't believe I've read this author's work before. But a quick check on GR let me know that it likely would have some romance mixed in with the fantasy story. While I'm usually okay with some romance mixed in, I found this to be too heavy on the romance for me in that it was a distraction from the main story.
The world was an interesting one, but apparently there's a previous series -- The Horngate Witches -- in which the world is more fully developed and this book just picks up where the Horngate Witches left off.... so if I had some questions that if I really want answers for, I'd need to read the 4 books of that series to find out.
I found the pacing of this read to be "bumpy". Seemed like every time the action started to ramp up, it was interrupted by either Kayla's or Ray's internal dialogue about their sexual fantasies of the other. Oh good grief.... y'all aren't teenagers anymore, just get a room!
I like Kayla's character a lot better than I liked Ray's. But I liked Raven and Logan better. While it wasn't exactly a cliff-hanger ending, it's very apparent this is just book #1 of a planned series and there were several story lines left unresolved.
2.5 stars rounded up
I don't believe I've read this author's work before. But a quick check on GR let me know that it likely would have some romance mixed in with the fantasy story. While I'm usually okay with some romance mixed in, I found this to be too heavy on the romance for me in that it was a distraction from the main story.
The world was an interesting one, but apparently there's a previous series -- The Horngate Witches -- in which the world is more fully developed and this book just picks up where the Horngate Witches left off.... so if I had some questions that if I really want answers for, I'd need to read the 4 books of that series to find out.
I found the pacing of this read to be "bumpy". Seemed like every time the action started to ramp up, it was interrupted by either Kayla's or Ray's internal dialogue about their sexual fantasies of the other. Oh good grief.... y'all aren't teenagers anymore, just get a room!
I like Kayla's character a lot better than I liked Ray's. But I liked Raven and Logan better. While it wasn't exactly a cliff-hanger ending, it's very apparent this is just book #1 of a planned series and there were several story lines left unresolved.
2.5 stars rounded up
July 5, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Magic has entered the world and pretty much completely changed it. Those who developed some type of power are known as witchkin and left to police themselves. The humans separate themselves which could be their downfall. There is some great world building going on, lots of action, some mystery, a touch of romance, and lots of surprises that will keep you turning the page until there are no more. Perfect for fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Magic has entered the world and pretty much completely changed it. Those who developed some type of power are known as witchkin and left to police themselves. The humans separate themselves which could be their downfall. There is some great world building going on, lots of action, some mystery, a touch of romance, and lots of surprises that will keep you turning the page until there are no more. Perfect for fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
June 10, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Witchkin Murders is the first installment in author Diana Pharaoh Francis' Magicfall Urban Fantasy series. 4 years ago, the world exploded with wild magic. The cherry on top of that crap cake? The supernatural world declared war on humans, and those like Kayla Reese and Ray Garza found themselves living a different life. Kayla Reese went from a cop to scavenger overnight, while Detective Ray Garza, Kayla's former partner, has been hiding in plain sight with a secret that's too great to reveal to anyone.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Witchkin Murders is the first installment in author Diana Pharaoh Francis' Magicfall Urban Fantasy series. 4 years ago, the world exploded with wild magic. The cherry on top of that crap cake? The supernatural world declared war on humans, and those like Kayla Reese and Ray Garza found themselves living a different life. Kayla Reese went from a cop to scavenger overnight, while Detective Ray Garza, Kayla's former partner, has been hiding in plain sight with a secret that's too great to reveal to anyone.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 11, 2019
The Witchkin Murders has everything I could ask for in a book. A strong take no crap heroine; a yummy, flawed hero, interesting world building. Magic, and secrets, and impending doom. Oh my.
I like Diana Pharoah Francis. I loved her Diamond City Magic Series. I dove into this book hoping to find another read like Trace of Magic but did not find it.
This book is a spin-off/offshot? Of “The Horngate Witches” and I really wish I’d read that first. The world building is interesting, but there is a lot of it (a huge info dump). The society is messed up because of the events that happened in The Horngate Witches (more info dump). The magic structure requires a fair amount of explanation (multiple info dumps) Basically there is just a crapload of info dumps
The story starts 4 years after the Witch Wars, and I went into it blind. It felt like reading about someone walking away from a car crash unscathed and not knowing what a car is. Very little made sense. Witches are pariah’s except for Techno Wizards for some reason. Magic is bad, except everyone buys charms all the time. They live in a magical society, and except for the technological aspects of magic the cops seem to ignore it.
When I stopped trying to understand the foundation I started to enjoy the story. Kayla used to be a cop. Then magic walloped Portland and she couldn’t be a cop anymore. Now she’s a woman with a secret. Well if you want to get technical, she has two…no, three secrets. A big one. A monster sized one. And a “What did you just say?” one.
She just stepped into a murder scene She’s not a cop anymore. But some instincts can’t be stifled. So, she’s going to reach out to Ray; the partner she walked away from without a backward glance. A man carrying his own secrets.
There isn't time to find a new balance. They have to hit the ground running. Stuff is about to hit the fan. Cops may ignore magic unless it smacks them upside the head, but magic is coming that they can’t ignore. And they are woefully unprepared for it.
I like Kayla, she is small and scrappy and does not take injustice laying down. I like Ray, he’s a strong character with heart, and enough sense to beat down his inner Neanderthal when Kayla sticks her neck out further than he’d like.
Ordinarily I don't like a shifting perspective. But it works beautifully here. It gave me just enough relationship drama without making me want to throw up my hands and yell "oh my God, just talk to each other already!" The supporting characters keep the story lively. And once it gets going, (and it takes its sweet time getting up to speed) the story is highly entertaining.
I'm giving this a 3.5 on the It's not you it's me premise for a couple reasons.
1- Not understanding the backstory kept me from appreciating the story.
2- It has since been fixed; but when I read the kindle version, poorly executed HTML turned this story into a big italicized mess.
I received a copy from Netgalley for review.
These are my honest thoughts.
#the witchkinmurders/netgalley
I like Diana Pharoah Francis. I loved her Diamond City Magic Series. I dove into this book hoping to find another read like Trace of Magic but did not find it.
This book is a spin-off/offshot? Of “The Horngate Witches” and I really wish I’d read that first. The world building is interesting, but there is a lot of it (a huge info dump). The society is messed up because of the events that happened in The Horngate Witches (more info dump). The magic structure requires a fair amount of explanation (multiple info dumps) Basically there is just a crapload of info dumps
The story starts 4 years after the Witch Wars, and I went into it blind. It felt like reading about someone walking away from a car crash unscathed and not knowing what a car is. Very little made sense. Witches are pariah’s except for Techno Wizards for some reason. Magic is bad, except everyone buys charms all the time. They live in a magical society, and except for the technological aspects of magic the cops seem to ignore it.
When I stopped trying to understand the foundation I started to enjoy the story. Kayla used to be a cop. Then magic walloped Portland and she couldn’t be a cop anymore. Now she’s a woman with a secret. Well if you want to get technical, she has two…no, three secrets. A big one. A monster sized one. And a “What did you just say?” one.
She just stepped into a murder scene She’s not a cop anymore. But some instincts can’t be stifled. So, she’s going to reach out to Ray; the partner she walked away from without a backward glance. A man carrying his own secrets.
There isn't time to find a new balance. They have to hit the ground running. Stuff is about to hit the fan. Cops may ignore magic unless it smacks them upside the head, but magic is coming that they can’t ignore. And they are woefully unprepared for it.
I like Kayla, she is small and scrappy and does not take injustice laying down. I like Ray, he’s a strong character with heart, and enough sense to beat down his inner Neanderthal when Kayla sticks her neck out further than he’d like.
Ordinarily I don't like a shifting perspective. But it works beautifully here. It gave me just enough relationship drama without making me want to throw up my hands and yell "oh my God, just talk to each other already!" The supporting characters keep the story lively. And once it gets going, (and it takes its sweet time getting up to speed) the story is highly entertaining.
I'm giving this a 3.5 on the It's not you it's me premise for a couple reasons.
1- Not understanding the backstory kept me from appreciating the story.
2- It has since been fixed; but when I read the kindle version, poorly executed HTML turned this story into a big italicized mess.
I received a copy from Netgalley for review.
These are my honest thoughts.
#the witchkinmurders/netgalley
June 10, 2019
Three and a half stars.
Four years ago Kayla's world imploded when wild magic exploded and the supernatural world (or Witchkin) declared war on the humans. Now there is an uneasy truce with humans and the technomages on one side and all Witchkin on the other. Kayla was a successful detective until the war, when wild magic hit she transformed into a terrible monster whenever she got wet. Unable to continue working for Portland PD she now scavenges for scarce resources like tampons and peanut butter in areas ravaged by wild magic. Returning from one such scavenge she comes across three murdered Witchkin and despite all her fears, calls her old partner Ray to let him know.
Ray and Kayla had a very bad falling out when she abruptly quit the force without any explanation and emotions have run hot and fierce ever since, strangely when they meet up again for the first time in four years Ray feels more lust and frustration than anything else. They go their separate ways until a high profile kidnapping of two of the most prominent (and wealthy) members of Portland society bring Ray and Kayla back into contact again.
First, the things I liked. The world-building was great, I liked the magic mixed with technomages and shifters and mythology (even though it did seem reminiscent of the glorious world of Kate Daniels). There were strong tensions between humans and Witchkin and I liked some of the uses of magic. I also liked the hitherto less-explored mythologies and the creature which Kayla shifts into - kudos for choosing something out of the ordinary.
Turning to what I didn't like. First Ray only seemed to have one expression, or variants thereof, "his d*&k went hard", it actually started to seem like an almost forced reaction - like he had been infected with magical Viagra rather than a normal reaction to a woman he is in love with. Second, Kayla can't for the life of her understand why Ray gets so worked up when she puts herself in danger - she is in such denial about their feelings for each other that it becomes exasperating - for goodness sake you're supposed to be a detective woman, get a clue! Third there were a couple of very clunky political messages/statements which jarred on me.
Overall, this was a promising start with an interesting world-building and plot, let down slightly by the romance side (as urban fantasy often is). Not in the same league as Ilona Andrews, although so few are, but an enjoyable read nevertheless and I look forward to reading more in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Four years ago Kayla's world imploded when wild magic exploded and the supernatural world (or Witchkin) declared war on the humans. Now there is an uneasy truce with humans and the technomages on one side and all Witchkin on the other. Kayla was a successful detective until the war, when wild magic hit she transformed into a terrible monster whenever she got wet. Unable to continue working for Portland PD she now scavenges for scarce resources like tampons and peanut butter in areas ravaged by wild magic. Returning from one such scavenge she comes across three murdered Witchkin and despite all her fears, calls her old partner Ray to let him know.
Ray and Kayla had a very bad falling out when she abruptly quit the force without any explanation and emotions have run hot and fierce ever since, strangely when they meet up again for the first time in four years Ray feels more lust and frustration than anything else. They go their separate ways until a high profile kidnapping of two of the most prominent (and wealthy) members of Portland society bring Ray and Kayla back into contact again.
First, the things I liked. The world-building was great, I liked the magic mixed with technomages and shifters and mythology (even though it did seem reminiscent of the glorious world of Kate Daniels). There were strong tensions between humans and Witchkin and I liked some of the uses of magic. I also liked the hitherto less-explored mythologies and the creature which Kayla shifts into - kudos for choosing something out of the ordinary.
Turning to what I didn't like. First Ray only seemed to have one expression, or variants thereof, "his d*&k went hard", it actually started to seem like an almost forced reaction - like he had been infected with magical Viagra rather than a normal reaction to a woman he is in love with. Second, Kayla can't for the life of her understand why Ray gets so worked up when she puts herself in danger - she is in such denial about their feelings for each other that it becomes exasperating - for goodness sake you're supposed to be a detective woman, get a clue! Third there were a couple of very clunky political messages/statements which jarred on me.
Overall, this was a promising start with an interesting world-building and plot, let down slightly by the romance side (as urban fantasy often is). Not in the same league as Ilona Andrews, although so few are, but an enjoyable read nevertheless and I look forward to reading more in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 10, 2019
The world exploded with wild magic and the supernatural world declared war on humans and Kayla life went straight to hell. She used to be a detective and now she’s witchkin and a scavenger trying to hide her secret. But any chance she had of escaping her past and keeping her secret disappears when she discovers a murder scene that screams whit signs of black magic ritual. She has to work with her old partner who hates her for abandoning the department and if she screws this up, Portland will be wiped out.
This new urban fantasy screams suspense and magic and while most of the story doesn’t have a lot of romance per say, it does hint at the possibility of a romantic feelings between Kayla and old partner Ray. The chemistry burns hot and heavy throughout the story as they clash, sending sparks flying in every direction. The relationship is chock full of emotional upheaval due to secrets that stem from what happened when magic fell. These two strong, bold characters along with strong supportive characters easily draw readers into their story as they struggle to come to terms with working together again and with how they really feel.
Readers can’t stop reading very fast paced and suspenseful story that is full of stunning twists that change everything in this post-apocalyptic world full of wild magic and monsters where the divide between humans and supernaturals is boiling over the top. Unique elements and a wonderfully descriptive futuristic setting makes it easy for readers to imagine so they really can’t help but this energetic and stunning read.
This new urban fantasy screams suspense and magic and while most of the story doesn’t have a lot of romance per say, it does hint at the possibility of a romantic feelings between Kayla and old partner Ray. The chemistry burns hot and heavy throughout the story as they clash, sending sparks flying in every direction. The relationship is chock full of emotional upheaval due to secrets that stem from what happened when magic fell. These two strong, bold characters along with strong supportive characters easily draw readers into their story as they struggle to come to terms with working together again and with how they really feel.
Readers can’t stop reading very fast paced and suspenseful story that is full of stunning twists that change everything in this post-apocalyptic world full of wild magic and monsters where the divide between humans and supernaturals is boiling over the top. Unique elements and a wonderfully descriptive futuristic setting makes it easy for readers to imagine so they really can’t help but this energetic and stunning read.
January 17, 2021
Note - I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by this author. I think I missed the connection this series has with a previous series written by this author.
Overall, it was interesting and kept me reading. I was curious about Kayla and what she was. The entire investigation was just mysterious enough to keep readers interested. But the entire harping about nobody helping witchkin and others was a little difficult to swallow. I would have liked both Ray and Kayla more if they didn't hate the magical people. It came out way too hypocritical!
The problem I had was with romance. Or rather, lack of. The entire "justified" anger demonstrated by Ray to bring in the conflict was, in my opinion, not very justified. I actually feel that Kayla had more reason to be angry with Ray than Ray did. Afterall, Kayla just left her job. Ray is the one who actually abondaned her. The double standards, where Ray doesn't tell her about himself but expects Kayla to tell her secret, was really annoying. Ray's possessiveness and over-protectiveness was another annoying thing, as well as unbelievable. Not at all keeping with the fact they were police partners and nothing more.
To summarise, I think the book could have been better. But it is interesting enough to keep the readers going.
This is my first book by this author. I think I missed the connection this series has with a previous series written by this author.
Overall, it was interesting and kept me reading. I was curious about Kayla and what she was. The entire investigation was just mysterious enough to keep readers interested. But the entire harping about nobody helping witchkin and others was a little difficult to swallow. I would have liked both Ray and Kayla more if they didn't hate the magical people. It came out way too hypocritical!
The problem I had was with romance. Or rather, lack of. The entire "justified" anger demonstrated by Ray to bring in the conflict was, in my opinion, not very justified. I actually feel that Kayla had more reason to be angry with Ray than Ray did. Afterall, Kayla just left her job. Ray is the one who actually abondaned her. The double standards, where Ray doesn't tell her about himself but expects Kayla to tell her secret, was really annoying. Ray's possessiveness and over-protectiveness was another annoying thing, as well as unbelievable. Not at all keeping with the fact they were police partners and nothing more.
To summarise, I think the book could have been better. But it is interesting enough to keep the readers going.
June 7, 2019
The Witchkin Murders was all over the place for me. I really did love it at times but then it kind of dragged on and on.
Kayla was a police detective when the magicfall happened. She quit her job and disappeared from her partner's life. But now she needs him when she discovers murders in the park.
Ray is angry with Kayla for leaving without a trace but he was pretty mean to her when she said she needed to go. He still has no idea what caused Kayla to quit the force but he sure isn't going to let her get away this time without an explanation.
Mystery, murder and mayhem grab Kayla and Ray in its grip and don't let go for the entire ride.
Overall this was a great read and I would of given it a 4 and here comes the but... but I can't overlook an extremely long and convoluted ending and a few plot directions that led to nothing making it 3.5.
I received this ARC copy of The Witchkin Murders from BelleBooks, Inc - Bell Bridge Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Witchkin Murders is set for publication June 7, 2019.
My rating: 3.5 stars
Written by: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Publication Date: June 7, 2019
ISBN-10: 1611949521
ISBN-13: 978-1611949520
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Witchkin-Murde...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/lu/book/the-w...
Kayla was a police detective when the magicfall happened. She quit her job and disappeared from her partner's life. But now she needs him when she discovers murders in the park.
Ray is angry with Kayla for leaving without a trace but he was pretty mean to her when she said she needed to go. He still has no idea what caused Kayla to quit the force but he sure isn't going to let her get away this time without an explanation.
Mystery, murder and mayhem grab Kayla and Ray in its grip and don't let go for the entire ride.
Overall this was a great read and I would of given it a 4 and here comes the but... but I can't overlook an extremely long and convoluted ending and a few plot directions that led to nothing making it 3.5.
I received this ARC copy of The Witchkin Murders from BelleBooks, Inc - Bell Bridge Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Witchkin Murders is set for publication June 7, 2019.
My rating: 3.5 stars
Written by: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Publication Date: June 7, 2019
ISBN-10: 1611949521
ISBN-13: 978-1611949520
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Witchkin-Murde...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/lu/book/the-w...
June 6, 2019
This is the first book in the Magicfall series. The author is a new one for me and I was not disappointed. Awesome stuff lives in these pages. I realized later that I had another of the author’s books in my Kindle Library (THE CIPHER). So, I may be reaching for that one soon hoping it is as stellar as this one.
This book has a pretty interesting magic system. I used to wonder what people meant when they said that, and this book really schooled me on magic systems and what they truly mean. Basic premise: one day life was normal. The next day some Gods decided that keeping the magical folks of the Earth suppressed was not good. Thus began the war between the Witchkin and the Humans. Witchkin is another name for magical folk. During Magicfall a lot of normal humans changed into other things, witches, mages, technomages, shifters, etc. The whole merging of technology and magic was a very cool concept.
The story is pretty much about two detectives. One became a witch but hid his powers. One became a shifter, or a monster as she came to refer to herself. This is the story of what happens after they meet again four years later after Magicfall. They had been the closest of friends, partners on the force. When Kayla finds three Witchkin murdered and calls Ray to investigate he knows there could be a problem. The human world doesn’t think Witchkin are worthy to protect and serve. The police only protect humans. The Witchkin are little better than vermin. Ray does investigate even though he can’t do it officially. He does it for Kayla.
This book was fascinating. I was enthralled by Kayla and how she dealt with what Magicfall had done to her. She was barely coping. Ray was the same way. He had magic he didn’t know how to control. And being a detective and a witch was not actually playing by the police rules. They each struggled with who they were without the other. They were both hurt and suffering. Being away from each other had cost them immensely in many ways. The Witchkin Murders drew them together.
The book is kind of epic. It has great scope. And I wasn’t sure The title Witchkin Murders did it justice. The title is true but doesn’t quite seem to fit. I would have loved to see a morphed version of Kayla on the cover transforming from the Blue and Gold Water Dragon to her normal human form and Ray with his detective’s badge, magic flowing around it. I don’t have an idea for a new title. But I think Magicfall might have been a better choice.
I am completely invested in this world. I love all the characters, maybe not Dix, but everyone else. Like I said, it was fascinating. I don’t read a lot of fantasy but when they paired it with detectives all the little bells in my head were screaming Yes, Yes, Yes!
This isn’t going to be everyone’s speed. But if you like to read great characterization, conflict and resolution then you need to read this. My highest recommendation.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This book has a pretty interesting magic system. I used to wonder what people meant when they said that, and this book really schooled me on magic systems and what they truly mean. Basic premise: one day life was normal. The next day some Gods decided that keeping the magical folks of the Earth suppressed was not good. Thus began the war between the Witchkin and the Humans. Witchkin is another name for magical folk. During Magicfall a lot of normal humans changed into other things, witches, mages, technomages, shifters, etc. The whole merging of technology and magic was a very cool concept.
The story is pretty much about two detectives. One became a witch but hid his powers. One became a shifter, or a monster as she came to refer to herself. This is the story of what happens after they meet again four years later after Magicfall. They had been the closest of friends, partners on the force. When Kayla finds three Witchkin murdered and calls Ray to investigate he knows there could be a problem. The human world doesn’t think Witchkin are worthy to protect and serve. The police only protect humans. The Witchkin are little better than vermin. Ray does investigate even though he can’t do it officially. He does it for Kayla.
This book was fascinating. I was enthralled by Kayla and how she dealt with what Magicfall had done to her. She was barely coping. Ray was the same way. He had magic he didn’t know how to control. And being a detective and a witch was not actually playing by the police rules. They each struggled with who they were without the other. They were both hurt and suffering. Being away from each other had cost them immensely in many ways. The Witchkin Murders drew them together.
The book is kind of epic. It has great scope. And I wasn’t sure The title Witchkin Murders did it justice. The title is true but doesn’t quite seem to fit. I would have loved to see a morphed version of Kayla on the cover transforming from the Blue and Gold Water Dragon to her normal human form and Ray with his detective’s badge, magic flowing around it. I don’t have an idea for a new title. But I think Magicfall might have been a better choice.
I am completely invested in this world. I love all the characters, maybe not Dix, but everyone else. Like I said, it was fascinating. I don’t read a lot of fantasy but when they paired it with detectives all the little bells in my head were screaming Yes, Yes, Yes!
This isn’t going to be everyone’s speed. But if you like to read great characterization, conflict and resolution then you need to read this. My highest recommendation.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
June 6, 2019
I liked that this book is set in the world of the The Horngate Witches, but if you haven’t read the series you will have no problem reading this one. This books seems to be the aftermath if what happened in the other series a few years later.
I liked the dynamic between Kayla and Ray, how they had a great history of partners when they were cops. Sadly when the magic apocalypse happened their relationship imploded as Kayla left the police force. Now it’s years later, both of them are hiding things, both really miss each other when faced with seeing the other.
It seems like another magic apocalypse is happening, or trying to and these two have to band together to fix it. While battling things out their secrets are revealed, they start healing the breach of plain humans versus the magicking. At the end of the book you can tell it’s going to be a whole new world, one where finally the two groups might be forced to live together without rancor.
I liked the dynamic between Kayla and Ray, how they had a great history of partners when they were cops. Sadly when the magic apocalypse happened their relationship imploded as Kayla left the police force. Now it’s years later, both of them are hiding things, both really miss each other when faced with seeing the other.
It seems like another magic apocalypse is happening, or trying to and these two have to band together to fix it. While battling things out their secrets are revealed, they start healing the breach of plain humans versus the magicking. At the end of the book you can tell it’s going to be a whole new world, one where finally the two groups might be forced to live together without rancor.
July 21, 2019
Diane Pharaoh Francis “The Witchkin Murders – Magicfall” is a great addition to the paranormal urban fantasy oeuvre. Francis knows how to write interesting stories and this “kitchen sink” urban fantasy successfully melds the paranormal, post-apocalyptic, romance and detective genres in the first in a new series about a much changed world after Magicfall and the Witchwar. The world erupted in a cataclysm, magic was strewn around affecting a vast slice of people. Magical creatures have come out of closet and a war was fought prior to the start of the novel. Now humans and the magical creatures live in an uneasy peace, both needing each other. But some humans have gained powers as well and have stayed hidden. But the time for hiding for one of them has ended.
Kayla Reese is an ex-cop, who quit the force four years ago when magic caused her transformation into something else. Her ex-partner Ray Garza is still on the force. When Kayla left the force abruptly, without revealing the reasons, Ray erupted on her hurt and shocked. They have not talked since then, although Garza has been spying on Kayla.
On Kayla' way back into town, she stumbles onto the remnants of a murder scene. Three witchkin shifters have been gruesomely killed and staked out in a park. Kayla calls Ray to have him investigate. The police arrive in force, but are reluctant to investigate. The witchkin are not their jurisdiction.
But it seems across town another crime has occurred, two prominent citizens have been kidnapped, and they were secretly witches with familial ties to Kayla. Now Kayla and Ray are forced to work together to investigate both the murders and kidnappings. And we also learn that Ray has been having problems with Kayla leaving the police force because he had emotional feelings for her, feelings that have become harder to hide. Now they will be forced to work together and face their feelings.
Soon enough we learn that Kayla can transform into a 35 foot long magical sea dragon and that Ray has been hiding that he has magic.
Francis expertly doles out the revelations slowly about Kayla’s powers not wanting to give away the store in one big gulp, but there is much more to Kayla and these Witchkin murders than we first suspect.
There are big players involved, gods have come to town and are engaged in murder as the preliminary steps in a god war, which it will be up to Kayla, Ray and some witches to stop.
While the novel builds a little slowly through the first few chapters, there is plenty of action to go around. These detective magical mashups are like quest novels, with the investigation, impelling the action forward like the traditional quest. Kayla will soon have to learn to harness her powers and Ray will have to confess his feelings and his magical skills.
I know that Francis has won a few awards for Romance novels, but I thought the Romance angle was a little overdone. But liked the magic confrontation as Kayla comes into her powers and understands her new place in this world. The ending fight has all of the best elements of fantasy magical battles, and the characters and story are rock solid.
Definitely worth a read. Cannot wait for the next.
Kayla Reese is an ex-cop, who quit the force four years ago when magic caused her transformation into something else. Her ex-partner Ray Garza is still on the force. When Kayla left the force abruptly, without revealing the reasons, Ray erupted on her hurt and shocked. They have not talked since then, although Garza has been spying on Kayla.
On Kayla' way back into town, she stumbles onto the remnants of a murder scene. Three witchkin shifters have been gruesomely killed and staked out in a park. Kayla calls Ray to have him investigate. The police arrive in force, but are reluctant to investigate. The witchkin are not their jurisdiction.
But it seems across town another crime has occurred, two prominent citizens have been kidnapped, and they were secretly witches with familial ties to Kayla. Now Kayla and Ray are forced to work together to investigate both the murders and kidnappings. And we also learn that Ray has been having problems with Kayla leaving the police force because he had emotional feelings for her, feelings that have become harder to hide. Now they will be forced to work together and face their feelings.
Soon enough we learn that Kayla can transform into a 35 foot long magical sea dragon and that Ray has been hiding that he has magic.
Francis expertly doles out the revelations slowly about Kayla’s powers not wanting to give away the store in one big gulp, but there is much more to Kayla and these Witchkin murders than we first suspect.
There are big players involved, gods have come to town and are engaged in murder as the preliminary steps in a god war, which it will be up to Kayla, Ray and some witches to stop.
While the novel builds a little slowly through the first few chapters, there is plenty of action to go around. These detective magical mashups are like quest novels, with the investigation, impelling the action forward like the traditional quest. Kayla will soon have to learn to harness her powers and Ray will have to confess his feelings and his magical skills.
I know that Francis has won a few awards for Romance novels, but I thought the Romance angle was a little overdone. But liked the magic confrontation as Kayla comes into her powers and understands her new place in this world. The ending fight has all of the best elements of fantasy magical battles, and the characters and story are rock solid.
Definitely worth a read. Cannot wait for the next.
May 31, 2019
I received a free copy of THE WITCHKIN MURDERS (Magicfall: Book 1) by Diana Pharaoh Francis in exchange for an honest review. Magicfall brought the return of magic to the world and a war between the magical witchkin and the humans. The war is now over, and the magical and nonmagical people reside uneasily together in this strange new post-apocalyptic world. Prejudice is rampant, and police assistance is only available to the nonmagical. Kayla was a police detective before Magicfall; afterward, she had to quit because she was affected by magic and would no longer be considered human. For four years, Kayla avoided law enforcement and trouble by keeping mostly to herself and by scavenging for now-scarce commodities in areas now consumed by wild magic. However, trouble and police involvement crash down on Kayla when she stumbles over a black magic sacrifice and can’t keep herself from calling Ray, her former partner. As Kayla and Ray work together to solve one mystery, they learn Portland will soon be destroyed if they can’t stop the perpetrator. Since the world’s at risk, can Kayla and Ray put the past behind them, share their secrets, and work together again?
This was a pretty good story. I’d classify this as an urban fantasy romance. Though there isn’t any actual sex in the book, there are a lot of fantasies and some explicit discussion of body parts affected by lust. Though my personal preference would be that the fantasies and such just be acknowledged and not detailed, that is my own taste. I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy law enforcement investigations, to fans of romance with a supernatural theme, and to fans of Diana Pharaoh Francis.
#TheWitchkinMurders #NetGalley
This was a pretty good story. I’d classify this as an urban fantasy romance. Though there isn’t any actual sex in the book, there are a lot of fantasies and some explicit discussion of body parts affected by lust. Though my personal preference would be that the fantasies and such just be acknowledged and not detailed, that is my own taste. I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy law enforcement investigations, to fans of romance with a supernatural theme, and to fans of Diana Pharaoh Francis.
#TheWitchkinMurders #NetGalley
June 4, 2019
I tried ya'll, I really did. I gave it 50 pages to grab me or to at least feel something other than growing irritation with the two alternating protagonists. But in the first 50 pages we have all the things that I hate in books:
1. Info-dump about the world and what happened in the first 5 pages.
2. A female protagonist that behaves like a hormonal teenager with a short fuse. Actually, scratch that, EVERYONE I met in the first 5 pages behaves like hormonal teenagers with short fuses. How can mature people and seasoned detectives not have learned to behave with civility in public is beyond me. I can be mad/hurt/disgusted by a person's actions, but still have a normal conversation with them without it devolving into a screaming match where NOBODY listens to what the other person has to say.
3. The only other female character I encountered in these 50 pages is a horrible b^%#h. She is horrible to the protagonists (both female and male), she is horrible to everyone below her and is very nice to her superiors. It is implied that she got her position as a detective not because she is skilled, but because she knows the right people. Pleeaaaase... That's a trope I absolutely CAN'T stand. Can we have books populated with normal women other than the protagonist pretty please?
4. The angry boss trope - he will yell at you even if you do your job with perfection. He will put your neck on the line for a hard job and absolutely not have your back because he is too afraid of the powerful people you are investigating... *Sigh*
That's when my cup ran over and I decided to be done with this nonsence. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley, but this is not a book or series I want to invest time in.
1. Info-dump about the world and what happened in the first 5 pages.
2. A female protagonist that behaves like a hormonal teenager with a short fuse. Actually, scratch that, EVERYONE I met in the first 5 pages behaves like hormonal teenagers with short fuses. How can mature people and seasoned detectives not have learned to behave with civility in public is beyond me. I can be mad/hurt/disgusted by a person's actions, but still have a normal conversation with them without it devolving into a screaming match where NOBODY listens to what the other person has to say.
3. The only other female character I encountered in these 50 pages is a horrible b^%#h. She is horrible to the protagonists (both female and male), she is horrible to everyone below her and is very nice to her superiors. It is implied that she got her position as a detective not because she is skilled, but because she knows the right people. Pleeaaaase... That's a trope I absolutely CAN'T stand. Can we have books populated with normal women other than the protagonist pretty please?
4. The angry boss trope - he will yell at you even if you do your job with perfection. He will put your neck on the line for a hard job and absolutely not have your back because he is too afraid of the powerful people you are investigating... *Sigh*
That's when my cup ran over and I decided to be done with this nonsence. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley, but this is not a book or series I want to invest time in.
July 20, 2019
Witches, mages, and Gods. Oh my! Great characters with an exciting new world to explore. Action, mystery, and romance kept me glued to my ereader. The Witchkin Murders is the first book I’ve read by Diana Pharaoh Francis and definitely won’t be my last! I’m looking forward to more in the series!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
June 3, 2019
This is an awesome book. The world building is great. I can't wait to read what comes next!. #TheWitchkinMurders #NetGalley
July 14, 2019
*Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
When the Guardians rose up, tired of the magical community living in hiding from the humans, they brought forth magic and war to the humans. But many people who thought that they were just simple humans had hidden powers brought forth as well, causing them to be altered in surprising ways, even at times losing their human shapes. Kayla is one of the altered ones, leaving behind her past as a police officer to instead scavenge and attempt to get a hold of her unwelcome new abilities. But it seems like the past can't leave Kayla behind, instead dragging her into a murder investigation that brings both sides of her life into conflict.
I have been a super fan of Diana's ever since I discovered her urban fantasy series Diamond City Magic and I have been keeping an eye out for a new world from her. I was so excited when I discovered The Witchin Murders was coming out, which sounded exactly like what I needed in my life. The world that Diana created was really interesting, almost like a mix of post turn Atlanta from the Kate Daniels' series where an event triggered humans to turn into something other with out any real reason or desire, mixed with the dystopian feel of the Diamond City Magic series, where crime and corruption run rampant. I really liked what was created here, I was able to be completely submerged in the world, never able to predict what would pop out next, keeping em on my toes.
The story is narrated by two different characters, Kayla and Ray, both which have secrets and are involved in crime solving. Kayla gave up everything about her life to try to get a grip on her personal changes, distancing herself from the job and the people she loved, but now she has come across a murder that the police won't touch since the victims are hot of the human variety, making her the only person who can help the magical community. I spent a good majority of the book trying to guess what Kayla was now but I can tell you my guesses did not do her justice. Ray on the other hand has kept everything about his life the same- even though his secret could change that. He has spent the last four years since the change hating Kayla for running away, but really he felt abandoned and hurt. Can I just mention that while this is an urban fantasy/police procedural story, it is also every bit the romance I like to see as well? Yep, there is some unresolved feelings between the two former partners and boy was it fun to watch unfold.
I am so glad that this is a series because I am not ready to say goodbye to the characters or the complicated, dangerous world, but it is really nice that the story seemed to wrap up and not leave the reader hanging. I am a fan of Diana's writing and I can't wait until I can back to the Magicfall world.
When the Guardians rose up, tired of the magical community living in hiding from the humans, they brought forth magic and war to the humans. But many people who thought that they were just simple humans had hidden powers brought forth as well, causing them to be altered in surprising ways, even at times losing their human shapes. Kayla is one of the altered ones, leaving behind her past as a police officer to instead scavenge and attempt to get a hold of her unwelcome new abilities. But it seems like the past can't leave Kayla behind, instead dragging her into a murder investigation that brings both sides of her life into conflict.
I have been a super fan of Diana's ever since I discovered her urban fantasy series Diamond City Magic and I have been keeping an eye out for a new world from her. I was so excited when I discovered The Witchin Murders was coming out, which sounded exactly like what I needed in my life. The world that Diana created was really interesting, almost like a mix of post turn Atlanta from the Kate Daniels' series where an event triggered humans to turn into something other with out any real reason or desire, mixed with the dystopian feel of the Diamond City Magic series, where crime and corruption run rampant. I really liked what was created here, I was able to be completely submerged in the world, never able to predict what would pop out next, keeping em on my toes.
The story is narrated by two different characters, Kayla and Ray, both which have secrets and are involved in crime solving. Kayla gave up everything about her life to try to get a grip on her personal changes, distancing herself from the job and the people she loved, but now she has come across a murder that the police won't touch since the victims are hot of the human variety, making her the only person who can help the magical community. I spent a good majority of the book trying to guess what Kayla was now but I can tell you my guesses did not do her justice. Ray on the other hand has kept everything about his life the same- even though his secret could change that. He has spent the last four years since the change hating Kayla for running away, but really he felt abandoned and hurt. Can I just mention that while this is an urban fantasy/police procedural story, it is also every bit the romance I like to see as well? Yep, there is some unresolved feelings between the two former partners and boy was it fun to watch unfold.
I am so glad that this is a series because I am not ready to say goodbye to the characters or the complicated, dangerous world, but it is really nice that the story seemed to wrap up and not leave the reader hanging. I am a fan of Diana's writing and I can't wait until I can back to the Magicfall world.
January 10, 2020
Magic, long underground, has exploded from its confines, leaving the world and its human inhabitants transformed by Magicfall and the subsequent Magic Wars. Most of those transformed by magic – “witchkin,” including witches, dryads, and many even more mysterious creatures – are shunned by humans. When Portland, Oregon, police detective Kayla realized she was one such, she abruptly left the force rather than be discovered. But when she stumbles upon the ritualistic mass murder of witchkin, she calls her old partner, Ray, and gets dragged into the investigation. Someone is slaughtering these marginalized people with a bigger, darker, more horrendous goal. It’s up to Kayla and Ray to overcome their personal hurt, open their hearts, reveal their secrets, and work together to solve the mystery.
The mystery and the angst-ridden characters drew me right into the story, and the pacing kept me turning the pages. The book’s major flaw – for me, anyway, as for other readers it might be a feature, not a bug – was the Romance-style pacing of the unfolding relationship. I get impatient when lovers keep secrets to protect the other person, and especially when the estrangement and misunderstandings that should have been cleared up by a single honest conversation drag on for chapter after chapter. This romantic/erotic tension appeals to many readers, but I found it overly long drawn out in comparison to the fascinating world and its tantalizing mysteries.
The mystery and the angst-ridden characters drew me right into the story, and the pacing kept me turning the pages. The book’s major flaw – for me, anyway, as for other readers it might be a feature, not a bug – was the Romance-style pacing of the unfolding relationship. I get impatient when lovers keep secrets to protect the other person, and especially when the estrangement and misunderstandings that should have been cleared up by a single honest conversation drag on for chapter after chapter. This romantic/erotic tension appeals to many readers, but I found it overly long drawn out in comparison to the fascinating world and its tantalizing mysteries.
August 8, 2019
Advance copy provided by NetGalley.
The story is set in an interesting "post-Magicfall" Portland, when magic has challenged technology for supremacy. Fans of the Kate Daniels series and the show Grimm will likely find the premise familiar. The protagonist is a former cop who's hiding one or two really significant secrets: 1. She's witchkin, and 2. she comes from a background none of her former colleagues would suspect. Once Magicfall hit - when magic became the dominating force over technology - she changed into an unrecognizable shapeshifter, and became one of the "enemy." Which is why she spends her time alone and foraging for rare goods such as peanut butter and chocolate chips. She's drawn back into the world of criminal investigation when a multiple murder takes place - and the victims are all also witchkin.
The unfolding of what she's become, the tension of her return to the fold, and the reveal of the mystery are all interesting and kept my attention after the first few pages. There’s a love triangle, which irks me. The protagonist is at the center, with her former partner and a technomage on the other corners. In the beginning, Her former partner has just realized he’s in love with her, making him possessive, jealous, and angry - in other words, really unattractive. The technomage, on the other hand, is confident, perceptive, witty, and curious. The love triangle seemed to be used initially to add conflict to the romance subplot, and some justification of the split narrative. The split narrative was the other thing I didn't enjoy. The cop partner's voice didn't really seem to fit, or I just didn't like it.
Overall, I enjoyed everything except the romance subplot.
The story is set in an interesting "post-Magicfall" Portland, when magic has challenged technology for supremacy. Fans of the Kate Daniels series and the show Grimm will likely find the premise familiar. The protagonist is a former cop who's hiding one or two really significant secrets: 1. She's witchkin, and 2. she comes from a background none of her former colleagues would suspect. Once Magicfall hit - when magic became the dominating force over technology - she changed into an unrecognizable shapeshifter, and became one of the "enemy." Which is why she spends her time alone and foraging for rare goods such as peanut butter and chocolate chips. She's drawn back into the world of criminal investigation when a multiple murder takes place - and the victims are all also witchkin.
The unfolding of what she's become, the tension of her return to the fold, and the reveal of the mystery are all interesting and kept my attention after the first few pages. There’s a love triangle, which irks me. The protagonist is at the center, with her former partner and a technomage on the other corners. In the beginning, Her former partner has just realized he’s in love with her, making him possessive, jealous, and angry - in other words, really unattractive. The technomage, on the other hand, is confident, perceptive, witty, and curious. The love triangle seemed to be used initially to add conflict to the romance subplot, and some justification of the split narrative. The split narrative was the other thing I didn't enjoy. The cop partner's voice didn't really seem to fit, or I just didn't like it.
Overall, I enjoyed everything except the romance subplot.
June 23, 2019
Title: The Witchkin Murders
Series: Magicfall Book #1
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Genre: Romance, Sci-fi Fantasy
Blurb: Four years ago, my world—the world—exploded with wild magic. The cherry on top of that crap cake? The supernatural world declared war on humans, and my life went straight to hell.
I used to be a detective, and a damned good one. Then Magicfall happened, and I changed along with the world. I’m witchkin now—something more than human or not quite human, depending on your perspective. To survive, I’ve become a scavenger, searching abandoned houses and stores for the everyday luxuries in short supply—tampons and peanut butter. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, but anything’s better than risking my secret.
Except, old habits die hard. When I discover a murder scene screaming with signs of black magic ritual, I know my days of hiding are over. Any chance I had of escaping my past with my secret intact is gone. Solving the witchkin murders is going to be the hardest case of my life, and not just because every second will torture me with reminders of how much I miss my old life and my partner, who hates my guts for abandoning the department.
But it’s time to suck it up, because if I screw this up, Portland will be wiped out, and I’m not going to let that happen. Hold on to your butts, Portland. Justice is coming, and I don’t take prisoners.
Favorite quote(s)/excerpt(s): “What’s that?”
“Some things to soften up a witch’s heart,” she said. “Stuff they can’t get all that easily. Tampons, for one.”
“I could have lived without knowing that,” Ray said, starting the car and backing out of the driveway.
“Men can be so squeamish.”
“We could talk about ball sweat if you’d like,” he offered.
She snickered. “Maybe not. Drink your coffee and drive.”
Something in Ray’s chest loosened like an overtightened rusty valve. He felt himself smile. This was the way things were supposed to be. He’d fight hard not to lose this again.
Thoughts: I absolutely love Diana Pharaoh Francis – she has the most original storylines and I love the wild ride her stories take you on. I really enjoyed these characters, their amazing connection to each other, and their desire to fight to hold their friendship together. Both are attracted to each other, but they don’t want to lose their partnership and friendship with each other to pursue a romantic relationship. Not to mention, readers are thrown into a whole new world – a world in which magic has changed everything, sort of reminiscent of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Trust me, though the world is completely different in the changes it renders. I loved how the story played out and the glimpses of the real feelings and desires we had from each character, as the POV does switch back and forth between the two. One of my favorite reads this year! I look forward to getting the next installment in this series!
Rating: A
Review by Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Magicfall Book #1
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Genre: Romance, Sci-fi Fantasy
Blurb: Four years ago, my world—the world—exploded with wild magic. The cherry on top of that crap cake? The supernatural world declared war on humans, and my life went straight to hell.
I used to be a detective, and a damned good one. Then Magicfall happened, and I changed along with the world. I’m witchkin now—something more than human or not quite human, depending on your perspective. To survive, I’ve become a scavenger, searching abandoned houses and stores for the everyday luxuries in short supply—tampons and peanut butter. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, but anything’s better than risking my secret.
Except, old habits die hard. When I discover a murder scene screaming with signs of black magic ritual, I know my days of hiding are over. Any chance I had of escaping my past with my secret intact is gone. Solving the witchkin murders is going to be the hardest case of my life, and not just because every second will torture me with reminders of how much I miss my old life and my partner, who hates my guts for abandoning the department.
But it’s time to suck it up, because if I screw this up, Portland will be wiped out, and I’m not going to let that happen. Hold on to your butts, Portland. Justice is coming, and I don’t take prisoners.
Favorite quote(s)/excerpt(s): “What’s that?”
“Some things to soften up a witch’s heart,” she said. “Stuff they can’t get all that easily. Tampons, for one.”
“I could have lived without knowing that,” Ray said, starting the car and backing out of the driveway.
“Men can be so squeamish.”
“We could talk about ball sweat if you’d like,” he offered.
She snickered. “Maybe not. Drink your coffee and drive.”
Something in Ray’s chest loosened like an overtightened rusty valve. He felt himself smile. This was the way things were supposed to be. He’d fight hard not to lose this again.
Thoughts: I absolutely love Diana Pharaoh Francis – she has the most original storylines and I love the wild ride her stories take you on. I really enjoyed these characters, their amazing connection to each other, and their desire to fight to hold their friendship together. Both are attracted to each other, but they don’t want to lose their partnership and friendship with each other to pursue a romantic relationship. Not to mention, readers are thrown into a whole new world – a world in which magic has changed everything, sort of reminiscent of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Trust me, though the world is completely different in the changes it renders. I loved how the story played out and the glimpses of the real feelings and desires we had from each character, as the POV does switch back and forth between the two. One of my favorite reads this year! I look forward to getting the next installment in this series!
Rating: A
Review by Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
July 31, 2019
Four years ago the supernatural world declared war on the humans and magic rained down on everyone causing mayor changes for everyone in its path. After Magicfall the world was never the same for anyone.
Kayla’s life changed drastically for her after Magicfall. Kayla is now a witchkin something that is not exactly human anymore. Before Magicfall Kayla was a detective a job she loved very much but after the war changed her she left the department and now she can be found scavenging the streets for anything of value to her that she needs to survive.
One day on one of her scavenging hunts Kayla runs up on a crime scene with a couple of bodies on display. Kayla contacts her old partner Ray. She is reluctant to do this with the way things were left between her and Ray when she left the department but Ray is the only one she can trust.
After Magicfall Kayla and Ray both are harboring secrets from each other and the world. Neither wants to accept what they are and are afraid of the reaction of the other. They both believe if they push their secrets far enough down inside of them hiding from themselves and the world then maybe just maybe it would not be true. Both are afraid the other will hate them if the truth comes out.
Kayla’s aunt and grandmother disappear leaving Kayla and Ray to have to work together to find her aunt and grandmother while trying to solve the murders before war befalls the world once again. Can they find her aunt and grandmother before it is too late? Can they solve the murders in time? Can they stop the impending war that lies ahead? Is the disappearance of her aunt and grandmother tied in with the murders?
The Witchkin Murders is a very intense and intriguing read that had me turning the pages wanting to more about what was going on with all the magic and how it came to be. The magic in The Witchkin Murders is so coolly imaginatively amazing. The Witchkin Murders is a very magically enthrallingly story that had me hooked from the first page. The world building is brilliantly written I loved it so much. The descriptions of the story, characters, world and the magic are just beautiful I could see it all happening inside my head. I can’t wait to see more of the Magicfall world in future books.
I would highly recommend The Witchkin Murders to all fans of mystery, suspense, magic and the paranormal with a touch of romance.
Kayla’s life changed drastically for her after Magicfall. Kayla is now a witchkin something that is not exactly human anymore. Before Magicfall Kayla was a detective a job she loved very much but after the war changed her she left the department and now she can be found scavenging the streets for anything of value to her that she needs to survive.
One day on one of her scavenging hunts Kayla runs up on a crime scene with a couple of bodies on display. Kayla contacts her old partner Ray. She is reluctant to do this with the way things were left between her and Ray when she left the department but Ray is the only one she can trust.
After Magicfall Kayla and Ray both are harboring secrets from each other and the world. Neither wants to accept what they are and are afraid of the reaction of the other. They both believe if they push their secrets far enough down inside of them hiding from themselves and the world then maybe just maybe it would not be true. Both are afraid the other will hate them if the truth comes out.
Kayla’s aunt and grandmother disappear leaving Kayla and Ray to have to work together to find her aunt and grandmother while trying to solve the murders before war befalls the world once again. Can they find her aunt and grandmother before it is too late? Can they solve the murders in time? Can they stop the impending war that lies ahead? Is the disappearance of her aunt and grandmother tied in with the murders?
The Witchkin Murders is a very intense and intriguing read that had me turning the pages wanting to more about what was going on with all the magic and how it came to be. The magic in The Witchkin Murders is so coolly imaginatively amazing. The Witchkin Murders is a very magically enthrallingly story that had me hooked from the first page. The world building is brilliantly written I loved it so much. The descriptions of the story, characters, world and the magic are just beautiful I could see it all happening inside my head. I can’t wait to see more of the Magicfall world in future books.
I would highly recommend The Witchkin Murders to all fans of mystery, suspense, magic and the paranormal with a touch of romance.
June 11, 2019
I received a free copy for an honest review from Netgalley.
This is not the first book by this author I’ve read. I liked the voice and attitudes of the characters in the previous two series’ i’ve read, and this definitely does not disappoint. Like her other books, this is an alternate history- magic came and literally exploded out; changing the landscape and fabric of humanity.
Before, Kayla was a decorated detective, partnered with Ray, and disappeared from the force after Magicfall. According to the history in the book, there was war and species tensions after.
The plot for this is twofold- there’s personal mysteries to sort out, and a kidnapping to solve. There’s too much tied up to go much farther than that, but the plot moves along well, and there’s intelligent introspection the these characters- there are no unrealistic personal issues or rampant senseless stupidity to make a situation or part of the story work. These are just good solid real characters that make you want to read, and root for them.
This was a good mash up of religions and mythologies, and brought some new ones that haven’t really been used yet in fantasy yet. I’m really excited for this series, and hope to read many more in the future.
If you liked the Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson or Hidden Legacy series I think you’d like this as well.
This is not the first book by this author I’ve read. I liked the voice and attitudes of the characters in the previous two series’ i’ve read, and this definitely does not disappoint. Like her other books, this is an alternate history- magic came and literally exploded out; changing the landscape and fabric of humanity.
Before, Kayla was a decorated detective, partnered with Ray, and disappeared from the force after Magicfall. According to the history in the book, there was war and species tensions after.
The plot for this is twofold- there’s personal mysteries to sort out, and a kidnapping to solve. There’s too much tied up to go much farther than that, but the plot moves along well, and there’s intelligent introspection the these characters- there are no unrealistic personal issues or rampant senseless stupidity to make a situation or part of the story work. These are just good solid real characters that make you want to read, and root for them.
This was a good mash up of religions and mythologies, and brought some new ones that haven’t really been used yet in fantasy yet. I’m really excited for this series, and hope to read many more in the future.
If you liked the Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson or Hidden Legacy series I think you’d like this as well.
June 3, 2019
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
This novel was an excellent read to start the series! So much action and mystery, involving murders and magic. The author draws you into this new world. Magicfall occurred four years ago, and some people developed special abilities and powers. This did not sit well with the humans. Kayla is one of those people, who had to leave a job she loved because of her own transformation that she could not control. Her partner, Ray, felt betrayed by her sudden leaving, but he was keeping secrets of his own. Kayla reaches out to Ray after she discovers several witchkin murdered. Their meeting after four years does not go that smoothly, but they will put aside their issues to focus on the crime committed. However, humans do not get involved with witchkin. A kidnapping of a powerful family hits Kayla close to home and Ray is the lead detective. This leads them on a hunt for the killers and each discovering more abilities about their own transformations and their connections to the powerful gods and deities of the past. I am cannot wait to read the next novel in the series!
This novel was an excellent read to start the series! So much action and mystery, involving murders and magic. The author draws you into this new world. Magicfall occurred four years ago, and some people developed special abilities and powers. This did not sit well with the humans. Kayla is one of those people, who had to leave a job she loved because of her own transformation that she could not control. Her partner, Ray, felt betrayed by her sudden leaving, but he was keeping secrets of his own. Kayla reaches out to Ray after she discovers several witchkin murdered. Their meeting after four years does not go that smoothly, but they will put aside their issues to focus on the crime committed. However, humans do not get involved with witchkin. A kidnapping of a powerful family hits Kayla close to home and Ray is the lead detective. This leads them on a hunt for the killers and each discovering more abilities about their own transformations and their connections to the powerful gods and deities of the past. I am cannot wait to read the next novel in the series!
November 27, 2019
DNFing at 16% for primarily it's-not-you-it's-me reasons.
The worldbuilding and base concept of this book are really intriguing and well grounded in a tantalizing setting. The plot is also a juicy genre blend of mystery, procedural, and gritty urban fantasy.
But I'm just not into it.
The main female POV character is strong and engaging, but I had trouble connecting with the main male character, especially when early on, he made this inner dialogue comment about a female coworker: "If she needed or wanted something from someone, she’d suck up to them like a whore on her knees until she got what she wanted."
Additionally, I found the dialogue and several support characters to be stilted and only very thinly fleshed out. I would have liked to find out more about the weird, delightfully creepy things Magicfall did to the world and to find out more about the murders that Kayla discovers in the first chapter, but ultimately not enough to push through.
The worldbuilding and base concept of this book are really intriguing and well grounded in a tantalizing setting. The plot is also a juicy genre blend of mystery, procedural, and gritty urban fantasy.
But I'm just not into it.
The main female POV character is strong and engaging, but I had trouble connecting with the main male character, especially when early on, he made this inner dialogue comment about a female coworker: "If she needed or wanted something from someone, she’d suck up to them like a whore on her knees until she got what she wanted."
Additionally, I found the dialogue and several support characters to be stilted and only very thinly fleshed out. I would have liked to find out more about the weird, delightfully creepy things Magicfall did to the world and to find out more about the murders that Kayla discovers in the first chapter, but ultimately not enough to push through.
August 18, 2019
Wow! This was so good. This was a fascinating world with amazing characters.
Magicfell was an explosion of magic that revitalized and unleashed magic upon the world. Old creatures came back to life and some humans found they were no longer human. Kayla, a ex-cop, left the force right after magicfall when she realized she was a shifter. Four years later she comes across a magical murder and calls in her old partner, Ray, to investigate.
I really loved all the characters in this book. Kayla was strong, powerful, and was born to be a cop. I really loved her shifted side. It was very unique and mysterious. Ray a good cop who is really stubborn. He knows he messed up with Kayla and is trying to fix their relationship, and take it further. I really enjoyed their struggle to overcome their past and have a future relationship.
I can't wait to read the next book.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
Magicfell was an explosion of magic that revitalized and unleashed magic upon the world. Old creatures came back to life and some humans found they were no longer human. Kayla, a ex-cop, left the force right after magicfall when she realized she was a shifter. Four years later she comes across a magical murder and calls in her old partner, Ray, to investigate.
I really loved all the characters in this book. Kayla was strong, powerful, and was born to be a cop. I really loved her shifted side. It was very unique and mysterious. Ray a good cop who is really stubborn. He knows he messed up with Kayla and is trying to fix their relationship, and take it further. I really enjoyed their struggle to overcome their past and have a future relationship.
I can't wait to read the next book.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
June 10, 2019
When Magicfall occurred many humans were changed. When two cops, partners, friends were both changed and neither told the other, feelings were devastated and left to fester for several years. When Kayla discovers and reports a witchkin murder, Ray responds. They work together to solve the crimes and find help along the way. Prejudice and fear, from themselves and others, cloud Kayla and Ray’s actions and must be faced. I enjoyed this fantasy book a lot and look forward to the next in the series. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 8, 2019
Amazing book! My eyes are blurred from not being able to put it down. The intricately detailed and designed world is beyond words. This is the first book by this author I have had the pleasure of reading but it definitely won't be the last. The story is built around Kayla. Her past, her family, her state of being propels this book into epic fantasy. A truly great book! I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and freely leave this honest review.
June 9, 2019
So good
So, so good. What an interesting twist on the genre. Mysteries to solve, powerful bad guys, the formation of a group of heroes. It really doesn't get better. Diana Pharaoh Francis has been a favorite author of mine for years. She's got another winner here. Check it out
So, so good. What an interesting twist on the genre. Mysteries to solve, powerful bad guys, the formation of a group of heroes. It really doesn't get better. Diana Pharaoh Francis has been a favorite author of mine for years. She's got another winner here. Check it out
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews