Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom, Book 2)

Magic takes a toll in pain in these novels... dear lovers of magical fantasy, ... and in Allie Beckstrom's case also takes huge chunks of her memory, then the ghost of her dead father appears, the guy she thinks is her boyfriend, if she could only remember, is shadowing her, and dark magics are brewing. We like this second in the series even better than the first. It reads and flows a little smoother. If you like the first Allie Beckstrom novel Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom), you'll surely like this one. kyela, the silver elves

This was another fantastic installment. The book picks up a few weeks where Magic to the Bone leaves off. Allie is still recovering from the physical and psychological trauma she experienced. Thanks to Allie's father being an overprotective tyrant, Allie is extremely unprepared for the new life his death has thrust her into. It seems that the secrets he fought so hard to conceal from her are violently coming to light. Allie hasn't taken a hounding job in a while and decides to accept an offer to work with the police. The job seemed pretty basic, trace magic that was used to abduct girls back to its caster. Too bad the cop she's working with is cursed and anyone who works with him seems to bear the brunt of the misfortune. Allie involuntarily gets thrown into the underbelly of blood magic, violence and magically gluttonous ghost. I don't think Allie could be more unfortunate. She's in love w/ her ex-stalker Zayvion but doesn't remember loving him, but knows this by secondhand accounts and the chemistry between them. Every time she uses her magic she gets attacked in one of the most spookiest of ways (sorry no spoilers). Zay is no longer stalking her but lots of other people are....including her dead father. Good news, Allie's life is no longer as heartbreakingly empty and lonely as it was. Even though hounders are notorious loners by nature, most hounders (including Allie) are now coming out of the woodwork and networking with one another. Zay has taken his rightful place in her heart and she now has her stepmom as family. I love Zay and Allie together. They seem to make the perfect couple. They are both too willfully stubborn and mysterious for their relationship to ever fizzle. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. I also look forward to Magic in the Shadows due out 11/3/09. I also recommend: Spiral Hunt (Evie Scelan) Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten Sins & Shadows Spell Games The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss, Book 1)

Magic in the Blood is fast-paced and original (for an urban fantasy novel). The idea of magic and lost memories makes for a very interesting book. These books become more and more intriguing as Monk adds depth and detail to this fictional world. I liked the main character a lot more in this book than in the first one. She seemed stronger, more impressive, and less selfish.

Magic with a twist. Devon Monk's second 'Allie Beckstrom' book, "Magic In the Blood" is just as good as the first. This world is filled with magic available for those who can use it...provided they're willing to pay the price. That price is pain. Small magics? Maybe a headache, fever, or a light rash and a few old memories. Big magic? Bad flu and broken bones and gaps in the memory. Blood magic? Death. Allie's mostly recovered from the coma caused by her use of alot of magic to save a guy she supposedly fell in love with that she can't remember now. Sound confusing? Well, that's Allie's life all right. With bills to pay (sure she COULD use her Dad's money, NOT) she's out looking for a few 'hounding' jobs--tracing the source of illegal spells or magic use. So a job for the police department could be just the thing...if it didn't involve a cop with a 'curse', an old enemy out for Allie's blood (literally), and the ghost of her dead father. How can I tell you how good this series is? Devin Monk's imagination has come up with a realm that's distinct and unusual. I only needed a few pages to find myself right back in Allie's world, with all its logic and mystery. The plot jumps into action and then accelerates through to the ending without a pitstop. My heart was racing (along with Allie's, I'm sure) as she tracks from spell to ward, trying to locate some missing children before they turn up dead. This isn't romance per se. Instead it's Allie's life with all its mysterious twists and memory holes. There IS romance, but the series isn't built on the romance, it's built on the mystery of a woman's life as it spirals out of control and her efforts to snatch pieces of reality. As far as I'm concerned, Devon Monk can't write fast enough and I'm already anxious for the November 2009 release of "Magic in the Shadows" to see where Allie's headed next.

Allie Beckstrom, bad-a** Hound in Portland, Oregon, is back! She might not remember her last adventure but she's definitely living with the consequences. Something in her remembers Zayvion Jones but can she trust the thought that they were more than just friends? He's a hard man to read but Allie might have to trust him and his advice about some powerful people who police the use of magic. People her father was involved with. But there isn't time to dwell on her missing memories because the police's magic enforcement division needs her expertise on a mysterious kidnapping case. As the case leads her into the dangerous realm of blood magic, Allie may have to question the motivations of one of the only Hounds she might call a friend. I know, I know! My synopsis is a little lacking. I really didn't want to give too much away. This second installment in the exciting new Allie Beckstrom series is just as carefully woven as the first. You'll just really have to read the plot description provided on the back of the book (or if you're shopping online in the product info) and maybe look at some other reviews who have shared other points. I was scared I might spoil something if I said anymore. So how was the book? A bit slower paced and not as action driven as Magic to the Bone. Because Allie is just getting back on her feet after the body breaking and memory wiping adventure of the first book it's understandable she might just be trying to get her life back in order. With her father dead she has a lot to deal with on that front. The wife he left behind, legal matters and maybe even his ghost! The ghost angle is definitely what drives this story this time around and adds a really interesting element to the magic system Monk has built for this series. Throughout Magic in the Blood, Monk introduces us to more of the magic using community. From the corruption of blood magic users to a group of Hounds working together to protect their own, the lines between good guys and bad continues to be blurred, twisted and remolded. I especially wanted to read more about the other Hounds and how they dealt with the negative side affects of being magic users. Alcoholics, pill poppers, coke heads and cutters being presented in this different world and situation may bother some readers who might take it as glamorizing addiction but I felt it made a really good point about paying the price and suffering the consequences for having magical power. Frustrating but adding to the romantic tension of the relationship is the interaction between Zayvion and Allie now that she can't remember them being together. This relationship has thus far been a mysterious one and fans of interracial romance who also like urban fantasy should really be reading this series! I have to say that thus far Zay has become a personal favorite 'hero'. All in all Magic in the Blood was a great, if a little slower paced, follow-up to Magic to the Bone. I think if you enjoyed the first you'll really lik