Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Nov 24, 2010 Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson rated it liked it

Shelves: 2013, reviewed, paranormal, not-manga, witch-or-wizard, title-m

This was a blahzeh type of writing style, and the plot is choppy. There were a mass amount of flaws with the main character; this could have really been a good angle to work off of, I'm sad to report that this was to much of a mess for even my OCD to tolerate.

I did like the magic system that was used, and the settings of the story.
What redeemed this book was the mystery and the secondary characters. I'll continue with the series for now.

Cheers Pretties! ...more

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Jun 29, 2010 Steph rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series-completed, author-웃, series-ended, series-i-love, series-book1, recommended-2-me, year-read-2015

I'm impatiently awaiting the release of Crucible Zero, the third book Devon Monk's House Immortal series. So, decided to finally go back and start this series while I wait. I am glad I did.

I enjoyed learning about Allie's magic-filled world and look forward to returning again soon. ...more

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May 06, 2011 Marsha rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I would have given this book 3.5 stars, but I didn't round up as I usually do because I just can't give it 4 stars. I do have high hopes for this series, but there were some things that were a slight let down with this first one (maybe I'm just comparing it to the series I just finished - Unholy Ghosts series- which I totally loved).

Allie Beckstrom is Hound. She hunts down those who illegally use magic - usually by downloading the pain/illness of using magic onto an innocent person. The story s I would have given this book 3.5 stars, but I didn't round up as I usually do because I just can't give it 4 stars. I do have high hopes for this series, but there were some things that were a slight let down with this first one (maybe I'm just comparing it to the series I just finished - Unholy Ghosts series- which I totally loved).

Allie Beckstrom is Hound. She hunts down those who illegally use magic - usually by downloading the pain/illness of using magic onto an innocent person. The story starts with Allie being called to Hound a hit on a little boy in a dirty, dark, and dangerous part of town. The Hound led her back to her father - with whom she has not had contact for 7 years. Long story short - she is pulled into a mystery that might take her life and along the way she is introduced to a mysterious man who 'completes her.' There is danger, sex, mystery, and magic all wound up in the story.

Allie is likeable on many levels - she wants to do the right thing and often takes a case pro-bono because she just can't stand seeing someone get screwed over by another without some kind of recourse whether they can pay for it or not. She cares about those less fortunate than she is, even though she has very little money to pay her own rent or buy herself food. I didn't like that the author tried to make her sarcastic ALL the time. It felt like she was trying way too hard to make Allie cool and aloof. She needed a little more depth to her character.

Zayvian Jones - her love interest. He's mysterious, protective, and dangerous. What more could a girl want? I liked him - he was obviously conflicted, but quite drawn to Allie. I think I liked him better than Allie.

The other characters were either all good or all bad, okay maybe not Mama. She was caught in a life she hadn't planned and was doing the best she could - while making some very poor choices.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book. I even stayed up late to finish it - and that's why it only received 3 stars. I stayed up late expecting some kind of big 'aha', big surprise, big explanation of everything - but I didn't get that. It just sort of wound up and ended nice and tidy without actually finalizing anything and giving me answers to anything. (view spoiler)

I have already started the next book in the series - I have so many high hopes for this series, I hope it doesn't disappoint. ...more

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