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Tara Knightley #1
Edge of Magic
Runner for the Fae mob by day. Professional thief by night. Haunted by what could have been . . .
Between paying off a debt to a Fae mob boss, working as a professional thief, and keeping up with her busy three-generation household, Tara Knightley barely has time to eat and sleep. But thieving supports her family, and her mother’s life depends on the Fae mobster’s magic, so Tara can’t quit either job. She’s used to the juggling act, but sometimes it feels like she’ll never really have a life of her own. Then she learns of a bounty for a mysterious magical skull. The reward would bring her close to paying off her debt to the Fae mob, finally freeing her from the grip of her powerful, manipulative boss.
She decides she must get her hands on that prize.
But just as Tara is ready to go after the skull, her childhood best friend and crush, wolf shifter Judah McMahon, shows up unannounced and begging for her help. It’s been a decade since the falling out that ended their friendship, and Tara knows she shouldn’t get involved. She doesn’t have time for side projects or distractions. But Judah’s life is threatened, so Tara gives in. The deeper she gets, the more her orderly existence unravels. Suddenly, she stands to lose everything—her family’s home and security, her shot at freedom from the Fae mob, and a chance to make things right with Judah. How will she pull through?
Between paying off a debt to a Fae mob boss, working as a professional thief, and keeping up with her busy three-generation household, Tara Knightley barely has time to eat and sleep. But thieving supports her family, and her mother’s life depends on the Fae mobster’s magic, so Tara can’t quit either job. She’s used to the juggling act, but sometimes it feels like she’ll never really have a life of her own. Then she learns of a bounty for a mysterious magical skull. The reward would bring her close to paying off her debt to the Fae mob, finally freeing her from the grip of her powerful, manipulative boss.
She decides she must get her hands on that prize.
But just as Tara is ready to go after the skull, her childhood best friend and crush, wolf shifter Judah McMahon, shows up unannounced and begging for her help. It’s been a decade since the falling out that ended their friendship, and Tara knows she shouldn’t get involved. She doesn’t have time for side projects or distractions. But Judah’s life is threatened, so Tara gives in. The deeper she gets, the more her orderly existence unravels. Suddenly, she stands to lose everything—her family’s home and security, her shot at freedom from the Fae mob, and a chance to make things right with Judah. How will she pull through?
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2019
1057 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Faith
37 books227 followersHi there! I'm Jayne Faith, author of the urban fantasy Ella Grey Series and paranormal romance Sapient Salvation Series. When I'm not tapping away at my keyboard while swilling coffee and tea, I'm playing with my dog; eating, flipping through recipes online, fantasizing about food, dreaming up my next meal (you get the idea); doing yoga or Pilates; or watching TV. Connect with me on Facebook, just search "Jayne Faith" or go to facebook.com/AuthorJayneFaith
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 8, 2019
This had a lot of cool elements in it I liked, but they were put together in ways that tended to grate on me.
I should have liked Tara as a strong character who willingly shouldered the burdens of her family at a young age, but then she does nothing but internally gripe about her situation. It's completely understandable to be bitter and resentful, but it's not an endearing quality in a protagonist. She also only has 3 thoughts she cycles through during the novel:
1) How crappy her blood oath with Shaw is,
2) Her work/ financial woes,
3) Her (non-)relationship with Judah, a guy who left her behind a decade ago and she hasn't spoken to since. Now he's back though and hot, so weak knees and googly eyes it is!
This hardly makes her a well rounded, interesting, yet flawed character I am intrigued by and desperately want to know more about in the future. She honestly just came across as tired, depressed, and done with life at the tender age of 27 (going on 17).
If Tara's ability is so useful why is she beholden to a company for work? Why doesn't she have her own small time retrieval business like Ray? Give the character some agency! She'd have been much more likeable if she was living at home still to keep down costs as she paid off business loans and demonstrated some control over her situation.
The family's financial woes and Tara's constant bane were, by the way, nonsensical and offensive to anyone who actually grew up poor . They completely brought the problems on themselves by poor budgeting and prioritising luxuries and hobbies over rent and bills, and if Tara already knew her mum and sister weren't great with money then why was she working herself to exhaustion but leaving them in charge of family finances?
I think if there was a need to keep the family together then having her mum and sister still be physically frail and their life in the hands of Tara and her good behaviour was enough. If there needed to be more tension then it should have been Shaw actively threatening their lives or something
As for The Love Interest, Judah seemed kind of blah. His defining characteristics seem to be:
1) Being a hot wolf Shifter,
2) Financially stable/ well off, and
3) Used to be friends with Tara.
I'm honestly not sure how Tara can be sad and hurt over how their friendship ended on day 1 and by day 3 being all giddy and tingly at his every glance. Especially since he spends the entire novel sort of leading her on...? Like he makes "I want to bone you" eyes constantly but as soon as she starts reciprocating he immediately backs off. If he doesn't end up being in some sort of long-term relationship or signed up for some BS Shifter arranged marriage he's "conveniently" forgotten to mention then I will be majorly surprised.
Overall this wasn't a bad story, and maybe had I known this was a spin-off/ "set in the same world as..." deal then I'd have had slightly more of a connection going in, but as it is there's not much here that makes me want to set time and other books aside to continue reading.
I should have liked Tara as a strong character who willingly shouldered the burdens of her family at a young age, but then she does nothing but internally gripe about her situation. It's completely understandable to be bitter and resentful, but it's not an endearing quality in a protagonist. She also only has 3 thoughts she cycles through during the novel:
1) How crappy her blood oath with Shaw is,
2) Her work/ financial woes,
3) Her (non-)relationship with Judah, a guy who left her behind a decade ago and she hasn't spoken to since. Now he's back though and hot, so weak knees and googly eyes it is!
This hardly makes her a well rounded, interesting, yet flawed character I am intrigued by and desperately want to know more about in the future. She honestly just came across as tired, depressed, and done with life at the tender age of 27 (going on 17).
If Tara's ability is so useful why is she beholden to a company for work? Why doesn't she have her own small time retrieval business like Ray? Give the character some agency! She'd have been much more likeable if she was living at home still to keep down costs as she paid off business loans and demonstrated some control over her situation.
The family's financial woes and Tara's constant bane were, by the way, nonsensical and offensive to anyone who actually grew up poor . They completely brought the problems on themselves by poor budgeting and prioritising luxuries and hobbies over rent and bills, and if Tara already knew her mum and sister weren't great with money then why was she working herself to exhaustion but leaving them in charge of family finances?
I think if there was a need to keep the family together then having her mum and sister still be physically frail and their life in the hands of Tara and her good behaviour was enough. If there needed to be more tension then it should have been Shaw actively threatening their lives or something
As for The Love Interest, Judah seemed kind of blah. His defining characteristics seem to be:
1) Being a hot wolf Shifter,
2) Financially stable/ well off, and
3) Used to be friends with Tara.
I'm honestly not sure how Tara can be sad and hurt over how their friendship ended on day 1 and by day 3 being all giddy and tingly at his every glance. Especially since he spends the entire novel sort of leading her on...? Like he makes "I want to bone you" eyes constantly but as soon as she starts reciprocating he immediately backs off. If he doesn't end up being in some sort of long-term relationship or signed up for some BS Shifter arranged marriage he's "conveniently" forgotten to mention then I will be majorly surprised.
Overall this wasn't a bad story, and maybe had I known this was a spin-off/ "set in the same world as..." deal then I'd have had slightly more of a connection going in, but as it is there's not much here that makes me want to set time and other books aside to continue reading.
July 22, 2019
I managed to finish the book even though it was slow moving. The FMC lacked self-confidence & was caught in an unfortunate situation. Sadly, I'm not a fan of self sacrificing MCs & I prefer my h to be less reliant on others. Seemed most original thoughts were attributed to others. The book has an interesting premise & perhaps book 2 will have a quicker pace.
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August 9, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/9/2020)! 🎁
November 16, 2020
Good for a freebie! A fun read when Tara isn't feeling sorry for herself!
September 16, 2021
This book has a lot to like about it -- it has elements of lots of different magic systems that meld well in urban fantasy (witches, shifters, fae, and others), it's got shifting allegiances and power struggles, it's got ancient artifacts, and a sprinkling of romance.
But the main character frustrated me. She is smart and resourceful, which comes out when she is stealing things, making deals with the fae, and protecting her family, but there are many other times when she doesn't seem to negotiate or fight enough for her goals. One specific aspect that bugged me is the love interest Judah -- he left the main character a decade ago and comes back at the beginning of the book to ask her a favor. Then he proceeds to indicate that he regrets how he behaved, wants to rekindle their relationship, etc. Not once does our main character ask "Why now?" or "What changed after ten years?" She basically accepts everything he says, even though she's often skeptical of other characters' motivations.
Overall, I liked many elements of this book, but the main character wasn't always easy for me to root for.
But the main character frustrated me. She is smart and resourceful, which comes out when she is stealing things, making deals with the fae, and protecting her family, but there are many other times when she doesn't seem to negotiate or fight enough for her goals. One specific aspect that bugged me is the love interest Judah -- he left the main character a decade ago and comes back at the beginning of the book to ask her a favor. Then he proceeds to indicate that he regrets how he behaved, wants to rekindle their relationship, etc. Not once does our main character ask "Why now?" or "What changed after ten years?" She basically accepts everything he says, even though she's often skeptical of other characters' motivations.
Overall, I liked many elements of this book, but the main character wasn't always easy for me to root for.
July 24, 2022
I have very middle of the road feels about this book. On one hand, I liked the characters, the world seemed interesting, and—barring a few editing mishaps—the writing is pretty good.
On the other, the plot meanders. There is quite a lot of time dedicated to things that aren’t particularly plot relevant. (I’m thinking the knife throwing training session and, honestly, the whole sword side-quest.) It wasn’t until the very end that something resembling an actual single plot appeared.
The love interest is supposed to be super regretful for leaving her a decade ago and we’re expected to root for a re-ignition of romance. But I didn’t feel it. He had 10 years to come back, or just call/text/email. He’d even been in town several times. But he never contacted her until he needed something. I don’t feel any desire to see that romance bloom. How guilt-ridden and sorry could he truly be?
Further, I’ve gotten to an age that I’m just kind of done with plot in which women are in desperate financial straits and a man swoops in with his money/resources/connections and fixes everything for her. I think Faith needed to decide if she was writing a contemporary, second chance romance or a fantasy romance, because the whole Judah plot-line felt disconcertingly contemp romance and out of place in the fantasy plot. And it sure took up too much page time.
But worst of all, I’m 100% sick of reading books that don’t end. A cliffhanger in which some threads wrap up and others are left open is one thing. This book literally just abruptly stops. I flipped the last page back and forwards because I hadn’t sensed any sort of drawing to a close and basically felt like I walked into a wall with the sudden, “Look for Echo of Bone, the next book in the Tara Knightley Series by Jayne Faith!” In fact, the plot looked to finally be starting to settle into a single trajectory and ramping up. So, the precipitous ending felt especially unforeseen and jarring.
So, meh. I’d probably read the next book if I found it free. But I feel no need to go buy it.
On the other, the plot meanders. There is quite a lot of time dedicated to things that aren’t particularly plot relevant. (I’m thinking the knife throwing training session and, honestly, the whole sword side-quest.) It wasn’t until the very end that something resembling an actual single plot appeared.
The love interest is supposed to be super regretful for leaving her a decade ago and we’re expected to root for a re-ignition of romance. But I didn’t feel it. He had 10 years to come back, or just call/text/email. He’d even been in town several times. But he never contacted her until he needed something. I don’t feel any desire to see that romance bloom. How guilt-ridden and sorry could he truly be?
Further, I’ve gotten to an age that I’m just kind of done with plot in which women are in desperate financial straits and a man swoops in with his money/resources/connections and fixes everything for her. I think Faith needed to decide if she was writing a contemporary, second chance romance or a fantasy romance, because the whole Judah plot-line felt disconcertingly contemp romance and out of place in the fantasy plot. And it sure took up too much page time.
But worst of all, I’m 100% sick of reading books that don’t end. A cliffhanger in which some threads wrap up and others are left open is one thing. This book literally just abruptly stops. I flipped the last page back and forwards because I hadn’t sensed any sort of drawing to a close and basically felt like I walked into a wall with the sudden, “Look for Echo of Bone, the next book in the Tara Knightley Series by Jayne Faith!” In fact, the plot looked to finally be starting to settle into a single trajectory and ramping up. So, the precipitous ending felt especially unforeseen and jarring.
So, meh. I’d probably read the next book if I found it free. But I feel no need to go buy it.
October 1, 2020
I have to say I went into this one not really knowing what to expect but being pleasantly surprised. This was a fun and quick read and I liked the main character Tara enough to be interested in her. She has a lot on her shoulders and loved that she was ok with doing it all. I do feel like she has moments where she pities herself too much and it becomes a little annoying. I didn't really care for Judah much as the maybe maybe not love interest. I feel like the story could flow without adding any of that in. Overall I liked it enough to read the next in the series.
October 14, 2021
2.5 stars
November 28, 2021
A bit slow for my liking, but it deserves a try!
April 3, 2020
Too much finance talk not enough action
The premise of the story is of a halfling that works for a mob boss and a human boss stealing artifacts. She takes care of her family w the money she gets. Her family consists of her mother sister and 4 kids. The writing is well done. What took off stars for me was the inane emphasis on how much she had to take care of the family. Alot of it was on their extra curricular activities, etc so i found it irritating that she was more worried about that than rent. It was just too much talk & worry about finances. Its possible a single mother would relate to this but for me it was like "ok we get it", pets move on to the rest of the story. The rest of the story has her crossing paths w old friends, searching for artifacts, and making deals w mob bosses w the main thing seemingly on 1 particular skull which the story ends on her beginning that search. I havent decided on whether it's worth it to read the next installment; I'm torn between figuring out what happens w the bosses/artifact and not wanting to keep reading all the woe is me stuff.
The premise of the story is of a halfling that works for a mob boss and a human boss stealing artifacts. She takes care of her family w the money she gets. Her family consists of her mother sister and 4 kids. The writing is well done. What took off stars for me was the inane emphasis on how much she had to take care of the family. Alot of it was on their extra curricular activities, etc so i found it irritating that she was more worried about that than rent. It was just too much talk & worry about finances. Its possible a single mother would relate to this but for me it was like "ok we get it", pets move on to the rest of the story. The rest of the story has her crossing paths w old friends, searching for artifacts, and making deals w mob bosses w the main thing seemingly on 1 particular skull which the story ends on her beginning that search. I havent decided on whether it's worth it to read the next installment; I'm torn between figuring out what happens w the bosses/artifact and not wanting to keep reading all the woe is me stuff.
August 4, 2020
Intro book to a series. Good use of tropes as background pillars to a story of a woman with strong sense of family, trapped by a number of obligations and oaths. Interesting fae mob.
October 15, 2020
A Golden Ticket
In the film version of Willy Wonka, Grandpa Joe spends 20 years in bed and upon being offered the opportunity to visit the Chocolate Factory leaps out of bed and starts dancing. Meanwhile, Charlie’s mother has spent the past 20 years of her life taking care of Charlie’s grandparents and at least 10 years taking care of Charlie without a single word of thanks or appreciation from any of them. It’s standard cookie-cutter misogyny.
This book has similar elements.
At some point in a previous series by the author, Tara had to take a blood oath to save her mother’s and sister’s lives. In the current series, the mother guilts Tara for having to pay back the blood oath and does nothing to help herself, her family, or Tara - even though Tara was still a teenager when whatever happened happened. Tara’s sister had 4 kids with no father and both she and her mother have spent the last 10 years expecting Tara to fully financially support all of them and does nothing to help Tara. At the end of the book, the mother and the sister agree that Tara will get to have her own bedroom in the house that Tara pays for.
I can’t even make a sarcastic comment about how old Tara is before she gets her own room because the author says that Tara is 25...but she was also 17 when she made the blood oath 10 years ago, which would make her 27...and she is also nearly 10 years older than her 17 year old nephew, which would make her 26. So the character is somehow simultaneously 25, 26, and 27, and has never had her own bedroom in the house that she’s paid the rent on for the past 10 years.
As it is, it was hard to care about Grant Shaw, or the sword of noonecares, or some guy Tara knew in high school, and the constant references to the earlier series were a distraction. If readers need to have read the previous series to understand the AU and characters of this series, the author should include that information in the description.
In the film version of Willy Wonka, Grandpa Joe spends 20 years in bed and upon being offered the opportunity to visit the Chocolate Factory leaps out of bed and starts dancing. Meanwhile, Charlie’s mother has spent the past 20 years of her life taking care of Charlie’s grandparents and at least 10 years taking care of Charlie without a single word of thanks or appreciation from any of them. It’s standard cookie-cutter misogyny.
This book has similar elements.
At some point in a previous series by the author, Tara had to take a blood oath to save her mother’s and sister’s lives. In the current series, the mother guilts Tara for having to pay back the blood oath and does nothing to help herself, her family, or Tara - even though Tara was still a teenager when whatever happened happened. Tara’s sister had 4 kids with no father and both she and her mother have spent the last 10 years expecting Tara to fully financially support all of them and does nothing to help Tara. At the end of the book, the mother and the sister agree that Tara will get to have her own bedroom in the house that Tara pays for.
I can’t even make a sarcastic comment about how old Tara is before she gets her own room because the author says that Tara is 25...but she was also 17 when she made the blood oath 10 years ago, which would make her 27...and she is also nearly 10 years older than her 17 year old nephew, which would make her 26. So the character is somehow simultaneously 25, 26, and 27, and has never had her own bedroom in the house that she’s paid the rent on for the past 10 years.
As it is, it was hard to care about Grant Shaw, or the sword of noonecares, or some guy Tara knew in high school, and the constant references to the earlier series were a distraction. If readers need to have read the previous series to understand the AU and characters of this series, the author should include that information in the description.
June 15, 2019
I jumped right in to this book, excited to start another series by this author. Tara is a very interesting character in a bad situation. She has a large family to take care of and a debt to pay which is part of the “taking care of” angle. But she might be able to pay the debt off if she can get into the hunt for a powerful object. Tara’s in an untenable position, but she makes the best of what she’s got. I really, though, had a hard time at first with connecting with Tara’s family as I resented them for placing all the burden on her shoulders. But it didn’t take long to find out all the details about what happened and why they are the way they are, and I came to really like and respect them, and I loved all the characters even the minor ones. By the end of the book, I was hurriedly reading to find out how it was going to end. And, wow, what an ending. Of course, there is much more to come and I’m eagerly awaiting the next one to find out what is coming next for Tara, Judah, Roxanne, etc., and Tara’s race to make her and her family’s lives better. Great for fans of this author and urban fantasy with a little romance thrown in. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
July 4, 2019
Great new urban fantasy series spanning the faerie & human realms. Tara has a unique talent that has caused her to be bound to Mr Shaw, a shady fae who collects powerful magical objects; in exchange for healing charms needed to save the lives of her sick mother & sister. No matter how hard she works, she's no nearer paying off her debt to him & desperately needs a way to be free of her crippling burden. To add to her troubles, someone she loved & thought she would never see again, comes back into her life seeking her help! Will she ever be free from her debt; should she help Judah, can she keep her family together & is there a powerful rival to Mr Shaw's organisation who might be willing & able to solve her problems forever? Action-packed read that'll grab your attention & have you rooting for the MCs whilst drawing you into their wonderful magical world! Highly recommended - when's book 2?!
November 21, 2019
Sadly couldn't bring myself to finish
The author made the heroin so pathetically used by her own family, Boss, associates & even an old crush that you wondered why you were supposed to care about such a pathetic person. Nothing about these secondary characters was worth the sacrifices she gave to help them. So what she can find things. How about she finds her self worth? Stop enabling people to use you, disrespect you, manipulate your life & steer you into doing things that endanger you. It's overkill. There's just nothing there to make her life worth moving forward....maybe move to another country & start over with better people.
The author made the heroin so pathetically used by her own family, Boss, associates & even an old crush that you wondered why you were supposed to care about such a pathetic person. Nothing about these secondary characters was worth the sacrifices she gave to help them. So what she can find things. How about she finds her self worth? Stop enabling people to use you, disrespect you, manipulate your life & steer you into doing things that endanger you. It's overkill. There's just nothing there to make her life worth moving forward....maybe move to another country & start over with better people.
October 16, 2019
Ended with only a portion of the major plot finished... The only resolution we got was something about where her family was going to live.
This is a perfect example of what I hate to see in books. Over-arching plots are great, as long as you can provide a real resolution of something at the end of each book. Will not be continuing the series.
It's a pity, because generally, I liked the plot and the world. I would have been interested in reading more, but I really, really am annoyed at the non-ending.
This is a perfect example of what I hate to see in books. Over-arching plots are great, as long as you can provide a real resolution of something at the end of each book. Will not be continuing the series.
It's a pity, because generally, I liked the plot and the world. I would have been interested in reading more, but I really, really am annoyed at the non-ending.
May 13, 2021
While I read this whole book and enjoyed great parts of it, I realized that the MC was a self sacrificing victim who had to be rescued just before the cliffhanger by the hero who's been given a second chance in her life mostly because her mother contacted him. She's too afraid to trust anyone, including him to ask for his help. It was a totally depressing thought and put THE END on this one rather than SEE BOOK TWO.
May 26, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
5 years ago I read the prequel and rated it two stars. I finally decided to read this book since I had it sitting around for years. I had the entire series, so skimmed the other books as well, the 1 star is for the series. -- So some stuff might be more evident in later books.
I do not like the MC. -- For me she was often TSTL.
I do not like the love interest in this book.
I didn't like the MC's mother and sister. -- Also the two teens were a bit too oblivious to family finances and both could have helped out by mowing lawns, dog walking etc. on weekends, but nope, idiot MC has to shoulder most of the costs.
I didn't like her female friend. --
First time read the author's work?: No -- I prefer her other series set in this universe.
Will you be reading more?: Maybe thought might just re-read the books of hers I know I like.
Would you recommend?: Not this series.
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
5 years ago I read the prequel and rated it two stars. I finally decided to read this book since I had it sitting around for years. I had the entire series, so skimmed the other books as well, the 1 star is for the series. -- So some stuff might be more evident in later books.
I do not like the MC. -- For me she was often TSTL.
I do not like the love interest in this book.
I didn't like the MC's mother and sister. -- Also the two teens were a bit too oblivious to family finances and both could have helped out by mowing lawns, dog walking etc. on weekends, but nope, idiot MC has to shoulder most of the costs.
I didn't like her female friend. --
First time read the author's work?: No -- I prefer her other series set in this universe.
Will you be reading more?: Maybe thought might just re-read the books of hers I know I like.
Would you recommend?: Not this series.
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
March 23, 2022
Plucky young girl with special skills (can detect magic items) makes her way in the world and tries to get out from a mountain of college debt...sorry, I mean - an oath made to a faerie kingpin. Still lives at home with her family - mom, sister, and her sister's kids (no father; where did all these kids come from and why no alimony?). Landlord is a jerk, bosses are inflexible when she's late - almost seems like I'm reading an urban fantasy retelling of Cyndi Lauper's "Manic Monday" song.
Decent part of the book is about money issues but part of this seems self-inflicted, with them paying for the kids' entertainment and hobbies (sports, music, etc.) when they're having trouble covering the rent. Maybe they need to budget better rather than take on risky second story work for the magical mafia? I suppose we wouldn't have a story, though, if they managed their money better, so...
Attractive (and rich! Can't decide which is more appealing, his looks or his wallet!) old boyfriend comes into town; hilarity ensues. The romance is kept to a minimum and that is what keeps this mediocre book from slipping into the lower half of the rating scale.
Decent part of the book is about money issues but part of this seems self-inflicted, with them paying for the kids' entertainment and hobbies (sports, music, etc.) when they're having trouble covering the rent. Maybe they need to budget better rather than take on risky second story work for the magical mafia? I suppose we wouldn't have a story, though, if they managed their money better, so...
Attractive (and rich! Can't decide which is more appealing, his looks or his wallet!) old boyfriend comes into town; hilarity ensues. The romance is kept to a minimum and that is what keeps this mediocre book from slipping into the lower half of the rating scale.
June 27, 2025
Very enjoyable. Interesting plotline with relatable characters. The magical realism helped with that - there's a fairy world and magic, packs of wolf shape shifters and druids - but there's also cell phones and cars and email. There's real life places like Los Angeles and Portland. It made the story feel more original than a lot of books in the genre, where the story takes place in a generic midieval-inspired fantasy world.
This is the first book in a series so the main plot is not resolved, and in fact it is just getting started. This volume was mostly about introducing the characters and main idea, so understand that this isn't a standalone story before you pick it up. But it's good enough that reading the sequel is worth it.
I wanted to take off half a star because the writing style is slightly amateur-ish, but only Storygraph allows that so I rounded up to 5. I wouldn't call the writing bad at all, just a little more plain than what you'd get from professional best-selling author. For some people this is not a big deal but for others it's a factor in what they choose to read. If you're the type to usually only read NYT bestsellers it might be noticeable.
This is the first book in a series so the main plot is not resolved, and in fact it is just getting started. This volume was mostly about introducing the characters and main idea, so understand that this isn't a standalone story before you pick it up. But it's good enough that reading the sequel is worth it.
I wanted to take off half a star because the writing style is slightly amateur-ish, but only Storygraph allows that so I rounded up to 5. I wouldn't call the writing bad at all, just a little more plain than what you'd get from professional best-selling author. For some people this is not a big deal but for others it's a factor in what they choose to read. If you're the type to usually only read NYT bestsellers it might be noticeable.
April 22, 2025
Twenty-seven-year-old Tara Knightley has an unusual gift. She can sense and find magical objects. The work keeps her gainfully employed, but it’s also indentured her to a nasty man named Grant Shaw. Shaw lives in the Fairie world and forced Tara to take a blood oath to save her mother’s and sister’s lives. Working for two people has its problems, however. Complicating her life are money problems and the return of an old friend Judah she had a serious crush on a decade ago. Judah needs her help to find a kidnapped victim.
This is a quick, page-turning urban fantasy that spends as much time on family issues as it does on her work. Tara, her mom and sister along with young nieces and nephews, have gone through hard times that worsen when they’re evicted from their home. This subplot adds an important layer to the story and also changes Tara’s life in a subtle but important way. Not all of the subplots are resolved in this story, but the ending will likely entice many readers to continue with this entertaining series.
This is a quick, page-turning urban fantasy that spends as much time on family issues as it does on her work. Tara, her mom and sister along with young nieces and nephews, have gone through hard times that worsen when they’re evicted from their home. This subplot adds an important layer to the story and also changes Tara’s life in a subtle but important way. Not all of the subplots are resolved in this story, but the ending will likely entice many readers to continue with this entertaining series.
January 30, 2022
I read 45% of the book and basically forced myself to get that far; why, because I just didn't care. I didn't care about the MC who was under a blood oath for the means to save her mother and sister (who, by-the-way, couldn't handle finances worth a darn and had expensive past-times for the sisters 4 kids who no-one else was supporting). Tara paid for everything and was guilted into having nothing to make sure everyone else had what they wanted. Then she's bitch to herself and then feel guilty over doing so.
I didn't care about Jason, the oh-so-hot ex (aren't they always).
I didn't care to find out what this super wonderful job was that Tara wasn't allowed to know about that could pay off most of her blood debt.
I decided I had other books to read that I might possibly care about.
I didn't care about Jason, the oh-so-hot ex (aren't they always).
I didn't care to find out what this super wonderful job was that Tara wasn't allowed to know about that could pay off most of her blood debt.
I decided I had other books to read that I might possibly care about.
October 11, 2020
This is the the first urban fantasy I've read for a while. It had some great reviews and I am pleased to say that they were well earned. The main character, Tara is a tough, no nonsense, part-fae with a strong morals and a heart of gold. As a character she is very believable and really makes the story. The plot line is great and I can't wait to see where the series goes. I'm also dying for her relationship to develop with Judah... arggghh! Talk about slow burn! I know it's gonna be worth it though. I definitely recommend this book.
April 20, 2022
This book was OK.
The character and the setting were interesting enough. There were many relationships to grab ahold of.
My biggest problem, I think, was that Tara was just TOO kind and TOO caring and rarely looked after herself in her efforts to take on the world for her people. She has her mother, her sister, and her nieces and nephews all for her to take care of - with little to know help. She has put her life at risk to take care of them.
I am not completely convinced that the choices she made were intelligent. I am likely to move on in this series just to see how it evolves.
The character and the setting were interesting enough. There were many relationships to grab ahold of.
My biggest problem, I think, was that Tara was just TOO kind and TOO caring and rarely looked after herself in her efforts to take on the world for her people. She has her mother, her sister, and her nieces and nephews all for her to take care of - with little to know help. She has put her life at risk to take care of them.
I am not completely convinced that the choices she made were intelligent. I am likely to move on in this series just to see how it evolves.
March 29, 2025
Not a complete book
I liked the juxtaposition of the life of a fae rogue and a person living in our post-capitalist hellscape. It's not a complete book. It's not even to the climax in the plot. It feels like right before the inciting incident that changes everything. I don't know what it is trying to be and honestly, I'm not interested in finding out. Too many cast members to care and backstory for another series just wedged into this one. A connected universe isn't always the way to go.
I liked the juxtaposition of the life of a fae rogue and a person living in our post-capitalist hellscape. It's not a complete book. It's not even to the climax in the plot. It feels like right before the inciting incident that changes everything. I don't know what it is trying to be and honestly, I'm not interested in finding out. Too many cast members to care and backstory for another series just wedged into this one. A connected universe isn't always the way to go.
April 7, 2020
Edge of Magic
Tara Knightley was in a bind; a bad one. Being only a quarter Fae was NOT fun. She could sense magic, but not wield it. Her hair grew in pastel, but not in a pretty way. She was the main support for her family, AND she was under a blood oath to Shaw, one of the most dangerous of the Fae. What else could go wrong? Well, Tara was about to find out...
Wow, what a ride! Non stop action from start to finish! Loved it!
Tara Knightley was in a bind; a bad one. Being only a quarter Fae was NOT fun. She could sense magic, but not wield it. Her hair grew in pastel, but not in a pretty way. She was the main support for her family, AND she was under a blood oath to Shaw, one of the most dangerous of the Fae. What else could go wrong? Well, Tara was about to find out...
Wow, what a ride! Non stop action from start to finish! Loved it!
April 27, 2020
Enjoyable enough.
It was okay. I found the characters likeable (except for Shaw, etc.), and the storyline was pretty decent. The pacing was good, and kept the story chugging along at a reasonable pace. Just found the various plots - Shaw, rescue of Laine, betrayal, domestic drama, backstabbing coworkers, etc. - to be too much if they aren’t going to be delved into. Too chaotic.
3 stars ⭐️
It was okay. I found the characters likeable (except for Shaw, etc.), and the storyline was pretty decent. The pacing was good, and kept the story chugging along at a reasonable pace. Just found the various plots - Shaw, rescue of Laine, betrayal, domestic drama, backstabbing coworkers, etc. - to be too much if they aren’t going to be delved into. Too chaotic.
3 stars ⭐️
August 5, 2020
Engrossing read.
An epic adventure, set between the Fae and human worlds, it follows our heroine, a retriever of stolen magical artefacts as she struggles to pay off an oath debt while supporting her extended family. A fast-paced adventure with twists and turns to keep you turning pages. A well written storyline with strong relatable characters draws you in from the start, Highly recommended,Baz
An epic adventure, set between the Fae and human worlds, it follows our heroine, a retriever of stolen magical artefacts as she struggles to pay off an oath debt while supporting her extended family. A fast-paced adventure with twists and turns to keep you turning pages. A well written storyline with strong relatable characters draws you in from the start, Highly recommended,Baz
February 8, 2021
Jayne Faith is a talented author, who write interesting characters in a fun setting. But, this book badly disappointed me. I expect a book to be a complete story, not the first three chapters (see main character in their element, see main character take a fall) stretched across 75% of the book, and a rushed deus ex machina that only resolved one of the problems created. I do not plan to read more from this author I was so disappointed.
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