Rune Magic

Counterfeit Psychic #2

by Thea Atkinson

I'm not just wanted by the police. I'm wanted by a dark coven.
The moment I saw my mother's ghost in the attic of my psychic shop, I knew I wouldn't be able to put my past behind me. Bad enough someone is out there murdering witches; now the logo for my shop is found at the scene of another horrific murder. Drawn in blood on the walls, it's an exact match for the symbol on my windows and on the amulet my mother gave me. An amulet that has been stolen from the police's evidence locker.

With the hot AF detective who started all this out of town and the investigation tossed over to a nasty little man who drags me in for questioning, I'm desperate to clear my name. As if it's not bad enough being a suspect for a brutal murder, this new detective accuses me of being the leader of some ages old, evil cult. And the more I dig into my mother's old tomes and trunks, the more evidence I find of black magic, and the more I seem connected to that murderous dark coven.

I'm going to need more help than a few dusty tomes this time to prove my innocence. Because as I scour those books and clippings, I find mention of wolf shifters and cursed objects, and men that don't age. I'm going to have to beg that arrogant and hot AF wolf-shifter detective to leap into the mess with me. A favor that might implicate his entire pack.

And if it's one thing I do crossing a wolf pack isn't just bad for business.

It's bad for survival…

If you love your urban fantasy dark with a slow burn romance and sassy heroines, curl up with book two in the Counterfeit Psychic and let a world of fantasy and magic take you away for a spell.

Scroll up to dive back into this action-packed witches and wolf shifter urban fantasy.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2022

About the author

Thea is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author. She used to have a black lab at her feet when she wrote, warming up the calves. It can be cold in rural Nova Scotia. Now it's just a cuppa tea keeping her warm.

Her urban fantasy pulses with dark themes and action-packed intrigue. Her characters are always deeply wounded creatures struggling for redemption.

Hang out with her on Instagram or Facebook or follow her on Amazon. Grab a free book at her website.

Find her on the web:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0046DIT0U
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaatkinso...
TT: http://https://www.tiktok.com/@theaat...
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a special shout out to Brenda Levy Tate for the awesome author photo wherein I don't look too dog-lady crazy.

Reviews

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rune Magic“ the second instalment in Thea Atkinson brand-new UF series “Counterfeit Psychic” takes place barely a couple of weeks after “Stone Magic” (Book 1) and while I would heartly recommend reading the first book before this one, this is not strictly necessary as Atkinson does a wonderful work of bringing the reader up to speed without spoiling any details (just for those who just found this book and haven’t the restraint to start at the beginning).

Brie Duncan is back in her mystical shop, still impersonating a psychic with special powers to make a living, but she has been changed by past events, being in mortal danger just for being what you are can surely change you, thus Brie tries to keep a low profile and keep doing her job. Things go rapidly out of hand as a policeman (Farrel) comes into the shop ‘asking’ to take her to the precinct. Brie immediately recognizes him from the previous case. At the precinct Brie learns three things:

1) it’s happening again…. three new victims of what appears to be ritual killings have just been found;
2) Farrel not only distrust her, but even despise her and want to pin the new cases on her;
3) to make things even worse, Detective Layne Garder seem to have left town without a word.

With Farrel on her heels, Layne out of town (for now) and the killer on the loose, Brie knows that its up to her to solve the case before she herself becomes a casualty.

“Rune Magic” is a well-written story, in the incomparable witty/sassy style that Thea Atkinson is already well-known for. The plot is entertaining, easy-to-follow and funny, Brie & Garder show a high-octane chemistry that is not only due to Garder’s Hugo Boss attire, but could very well have something to do with his own ‘nature’ 😊. Struggles, tribulations, sharp turns, unexpected twists, very detailed descriptions, and a very savoury seasoning of captivating personalities and attractive characters with a generous side of funny situations and ironic chatter, make the story enjoyable from the very beginning to the very end. An amazing and highly entertained follow up to “Stone Magic”

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rcvd an advanced reader copy from Booksprout for giving my two cents. We met Brie in the previous book. The craziness is all behind her. She had a well-off lady come into her shop to exorcise a mask of her mothers face for her. She claims the eyes watch her and it's unsettling. Brie promises she will do her best. What she doesn't expect is the shadow dog make an appearance and it happens when things go down. Layne is off doing who knows what and hasn't heard from him. On top of that, his creepy part er takes her in for questioning as more murders have been committed and he wants her input...but smtg is off with him but she can't put her finger on it. Parrish shows up at her place covered in blood...and she wants Bries help. They go to thr crime scene and Brie accidently touches the marks on the wall and she sees what looks like memories of death and feels searing pain. The next day Layne finally shows up and comments of Bries new tattoos...what the heck...she doesn't have any...when she looks at her body she ia covered in them and they are sore. Strange things keep happening to Brie and somehow the previous murders are all connected...but how? Can Brie survive long enough to solve the new riddle of her weird tattoos and visions? Good read!!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rune Magic is book 2 in the Counterfeit Psychic series.. the story picks up not far after book 1 has ended.
1. Brie Duncan, is doing her best to stay busy after all that happened weeks prior when the law needed her Psychic help..
2. Layne Garner, a officer of the law and a hot wolf shifter Alpha..
3. Parish, she is also a wolf shifter .. she is the forensic officer and she really has her work cut out for her.
This book has lots of mystery, some magic and a twist that I saw coming from the beginning. I found Rune Magic very exciting to read.
I loved reading Rune Magic .. it kept me pulled in from the first page all the way to the end and I still wanted more when I finished.
Definitely worth 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s and more if I could give them. I can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what is going to happen next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Natalie Noblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic continuation of the series. Thea Atkinson is definitely one of my top three authors. There is not a book of gets that I haven't enjoyed. Rune Magic is the second instalment in the Counterfeit Psychic series. In this book we see Brie getting herself more mixed up with the Dark deeds of a coven of black witches. The mystery surrounding their identity is slowly being revealed and maybe Brie's mother might not have been as involved as she first thought. There is a tions, suspense, still lots of unsolved mystery and, of course, Brie getting herself caught up in it! I was slightly disappointed with the lack of relationship development with Layne but is was nice seeing Parrish becoming a great friend.

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting mystery with fun magical elements to solve! Brie is back to running her psychic shop, but once again, there’s people being murdered and Brie is getting dragged into it. I like the feel to this story; a bit of humor and a bit of darkness. Brie still has her sass and tenacity that I appreciate. I was hoping for some romance development, but still enjoyed this read. Cool ideas, fun suspense! Looking forward to more!

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read 4.5 stars! My new favourite Thea Atkinson series.

[Cali Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An edge of your seat highly entertaining journey from beginning to end. Action packed, heart racing, thrilling adventure filled with dangerous and engaging charters, witty dialog, emotional twists and exciting emotional turns.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wild read! So Good! Filled with action, suspense, and tons of drama, you do NOT want to miss reading this book in this new supernatural series. Rune Magic being the second in the series, takes the foundation of the previous and builds on it with more suspense, greater risks, and an ever evolving heroine.
A must read!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rune Magic follows Stone Magic, there is suspense and mystery. The series just gets better with each book I want to read the next one. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debra Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always amazed at the creativity of some authors and Ms. Atkinson is one of the masters. Where do these ideas come from? Should you be scared? Not at all, but what you will be is deeply entrenched and on the edge of your seat reading the dark and edgy second volume of her new series “Counterfeit Psychic.

Once again Brie Duncan becomes embroiled in a new murder case much against her will. She has cleaned up her business and now just wants to make enough money to pay her rent, buy groceries and maybe have a little left over. Of course, that’s not what happens when Detective Farrel walks into her magic shop and demands she accompany him to the precinct. She’s right to be nervous because as she looks at the newest crime scene photos, she knows somehow witches, and not the good kind, are involved. Things go from bad to worse for Brie and even when Layne comes back after being MIA for two weeks, she’s in for some rough times. There is definitely chemistry between these two, but events keep spiraling out of control before they can do more than longingly gaze at each other.

There is so much happening in this story that it will make you dizzy and terrified for our girl Brie. Could she have magic—the real kind and not the kind based on the help of drugs? She finds out some crucial facts about her childhood and it leads her to become even more involved in the latest murders. All she wants is to lead a quiet life, but when all the clues lead to WHO (the black coven) is committing the murders, there are no leads to WHY they’re doing it. Parrish, the local ME, is a welcome addition to the story. I love her kick-ass attitude. As with all the other Thea Atkinson books I’ve read, this one will take you on a roller coaster ride of thrills, terror and questions upon questions. March 2022 cannot come fast enough to find out what’s in store for Brie, Layne and Parrish. A must read for fans of urban fantasy.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

[Vannessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the Counterfeit Magic series was fantastic! Brie Duncan is back in her "psychic" shop, having learned a lesson about her practices from the first book, Stone Magic. She is trying to make an honest living now, but when Officer Farrell appears in her shop to ask her questions about another set of murders, she fears that the events from the previous book are not over and somehow she feels she might get the blame once more. If only Detective Layne Garder were around to stop this officer from trying to implicate Brie when it is clearly obvious she is not involved, or is she?

Trying to find a way to clear her name means Brie has to search through her mother's belongings, specifically her grimoire, but that in itself causes more problems than Brie, Layne or Parrish (the local ME and friend) ever could have imagined!

I loved this book! Just when you think they are on the right path, something happens that twists everything around and throws another spanner in the works! I have loved everything that I have read from Thea Atkinson - her writing style is smooth and flows really well. She gives her characters a great background and depth through which you can feel connected to them!

Brie is a great character to read about, even if at times she comes across as a damsel in distress as she puts it, but she is far from one. She's a young woman, finding out things about her past that she wished had stayed buried in her memories and discovering new things about herself too. Layne is a great character too, but I just wish he would ask Brie out already! There is definitely a great chemistry between the two of them and I hope it will progress more throughout this series.

My favourite though has to be Parrish - she is feisty, strong and hilarious. Despite being a lower ranking wolf than Layne, she has no qualms about standing up to him and making fun of him at times too.

This series is a great one to read and highly recommended.

I did receive a copy of this book from the author, but this review is all my own!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book 2 of the series, Brie finds out that she and Layne may not have really gotten the murderer of three psychics (Stone Magic). Another three people have been ghoulishly murdered and Brie is one again brought in for questioning. For some reason, Layne is MIA and his partner seems to have a real problem with Brie. Somehow her mother's amulet turned up at the crime scene, which is pretty suspicious since it was supposed to be in the police evidence locker.

Things don't get any clearer when Parrish drags her to the crime scene and fills in more details about the murders. When Brie accidentally touches a wall that has a bloody symbol on it, strange things start happening to her. I will not spoil the story for you. I will say that black witches play into the story and there is a weird meeting with Layne's father who is the Alpha of Layne and Parrish's pack. It seems he likes to try to steal his son's girlfriends....

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Popularity isn't all it is cracked up to be, particularly when it is a dark coven and the police that want her. Our heroine may be innocent of the crime, but she it going to have a hard time proving it.

This is book two of the series, but it works pretty well as a standalone. All the essential bits are explained early on.

This is a urban fantasy story. The story is well written and easy to read with an intriguing setting that is fun to explore. The characters are well developed and they are what drew me into the story. I particularly like our heroine and her partner. It was also fun to learn a bit more about the world. The plot moved at a solid pace, keeping me engaged and flipping pages. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what happens to our heroine.

Highly recommended

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the series and follows the plot that began in the first book. Brie is trying to get on with things after the events in the previous few weeks. Layne has disappeared at the beginning of this book without contacting Brie. Layne's partner Farrel and Parrish show up, separately, after a new murder and at the recommendation of Layne (before he left) to consult with Brie. Brie is as sweet as she was in the first book, once Layne comes back he is the caring Alpha he appeared to be, however his family issues surface, and Parrish adds the humor needed to keep the book entertaining. The tension and interest between Brie and Layne continues with no resolution (yet), lots of action keep this book moving. Looking forward to the next in series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rune Magic follows Stone Magic, taking place shortly after the end of book one. Brie is back in her old job, trying to keep a low profile when Farrel comes to her asking to take her to the precinct. Brie learns everything is happening again, Farrel despises her and Detective Gardner has left town.

I loved that this book brings the reader up to speed, so reading book one isn't completely necessary to read this one (although I recommend it). Brie is definitely changed from book one to now, and you can see her grow as she learns.

The writing was done well, but the pacing was really slow. It seemed like we got more details than necessary, so it made the book a little sluggish to read in some areas.

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brie is still shaken after her run-in with a killer so when she sees a policeman standing in her shop, she wants to bolt. Detective Farrel says he needs to talk to Brie at the station so she goes with him. Once there, Farrell begins interrogating her, and when he throws her amulet at her and it burns her hand, she has no idea what to think. Then, when Brie begins losing time and finding herself in places she does not know how she got there, she has Layne and Parrish trying to keep her safe. This book includes an incest scene plus several deaths and ends in a cliffhanger. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crystal Bookreader Amason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely loving this series!
Brie has once again found herself at the center of a murder investigation. Layne is m.i.a., Ferrell seems set on her taking the fall, Parrish has dragged her to a murder scene once again. All this going on while she is to perform an exorcism for a new wealthy client. It seems as if her past is injecting itself into her current life. She is beginning to believe magic is real, and she may be more than a woman of power as she puts it. So many things don't add up, and the ending is completely 100 percent unexpected! And the cherry on the cake, Layne's father is making a move on Brie.....

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bodies were found in the pychic district. Brie has a spiritual logo at her shop and it was found painted in blood at the murder scene. She is suspect number one after her amulet was found there as well. This book was so exciting that I was actually holding my breath through the tense parts. The chemistry between Brie and Layne is so hot. They work together to try and solve the murders. The clues are tricky to follow but this book is just freaking amazing. I definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you're looking for a story that is instantly engrossing and captivating, this novel by Thea Atkinson ticks all the boxes. Don't be fooled by the sedate opening scenes - this bountiful nugget packs a wallop that has a few surprising twists and turns to make you want to jump into the pages and lend a hand to the harassed heroine. This is the second in the series. I highly recommend this novel. I received this novel from Booksprout. This is my true and honest review.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brie is back for another story full of magic and discoveries that blew her mind. It starts out strong and gets weirder as it goes but that is the fun of the series. Plus get the entertainment that is Brie and Layne together, not together, maybe interested. Not really sure but it did add a fun secondary fun to the main story of what in the world is going on and how does Brie fit in. Enjoyed the story and the twists and trying to guess what is really going on and how it all fits together.

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome follow up to Stone Magic. I really enjoyed the way the story moved along and kept me totally interested in what was going on from start to finish. I love this wonderfully written Urban Fantasy that has me waiting to see what happens in the next book. I feel that this is a Great Read and I want more!!! No Spoilers!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining read from Thea. A psycho or a "psychic"... but Brie better scurry because someone is framing her for a series of murders.
The detective in charge wants it to be her, a neat easily solvable crime and a despicable psychic off the street in one go. Well not so fast buddy, because Brie has got something to say about that!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Rune Magic, Brie, Layne and Parrish return to follow up on the case that they thought was finished in the first book of the series. There are so many interesting twists that it keeps you on your toes and turning pages. This is by far my favorite series by Ms. Atkinson. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[William Vegvari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Book 2 of the series. The characters are growing along with the story.
The main character, Brie, is developing very well to be capable in becoming who she is meant to be.
loved it and highly recommended

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suez · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will be ensnared … There’s a lot mystery, suspense and excitement in this magical spellbinding series. As the story continues our characters are growing and twisting along its path. This is definitely a not-to-be-missed journey. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brie finds herself in a lot of trouble as she’s beefing framed for a murder! But it seems that a dark coven is involved so she has to ask Layne for help to clear her name! But these two have a push and pull time with each other! Will she find the killer and clear her name as the police are closing in?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy intense! This was just freaking awesome. Brie finds that she has some powerful magic and some just as powerful enemies. I wonder if Layne’s father is behind her enemies. I can’t wait to find out how this all plays out!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic, mayhem, murder, and mystery are present in these pages, along with great characters. This is an engaging and entertaining read that is well-paced and I liked it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vanessa Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the best series, I love how it’s a bit quirky and fast paced and I never quite know where we are going but once you get there it is well worth the journey.

This is the series for you if you want strong main characters and a fantastic storyline

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story just gets more interesting as it goes along. Talk about going down the rabbit hole. definitely a story worth checking out.