Magic for a Price: An Allie Beckstrom Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Devon Monk (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 6, 2012 | Series: Allie Beckstrom (Book 9)

For most of her life, Allison Beckstrom has used magic and accepted the heavy price it exacts. But now that all magic is poisoned, it’s no longer just using people—it’s killing them.

With Portland about to descend into chaos, Allie needs to find a way to purify the wells of tainted magic beneath the city. But the only options left to her are grim: attempt to close down magic forever, or follow her father’s plan to set magic into the right hands—even though she’s learned to never trust his word.

Now, Allie will have to make a choice and face the darkness of her own deepest fears, before time runs out for them all…

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the Allie Beckstrom Novels:

“Fiendishly original and a stay-up-all-night read.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs

“This series just gets better and better with each new book.”—Night Owl Reviews

“Devon Monk’s writing is addictive, and the only cure is more, more, more.”—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent

About the Author

Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and the Age of Steam steampunk series, knits silly things, and lives in Oregon.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Roc (November 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780451464866
• ISBN-13: 978-0451464866
• ASIN: 0451464869
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredibly satisfying end to the Allie Beckstrom series November 6, 2012

By A Book Obsession.. TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Allie Beckstrom has faced down some pretty steep odds and came out on top in the past, but this time things may just be insurmountable. Magic itself is poisoned and killing people at an alarming rate. Even worse, while Allie has always been able to rely on her magic in the past, she now suffers in agony after using only the smallest spell. But, she's the only one who even stands a chance at healing magic, and no matter the price, she'll pay it to keep both her city and the people she loves safe.

After finishing Magic For a Price I knew I would have to wait a few days before writing this review to let the epicness really sink in so I wouldn't sound like an incoherent fan girl squealing. However, even after taking those extra days, I'm still having a hard time putting my thoughts to words. It's just hard to express all of the emotions that were running through my head, from outright anger to devastation, and even the other end of the spectrum with sheer and utter joy. It really is amazing when you take a step back to look at the range and depths of emotions that were in Magic For a Price.

When it comes to series ending books I'm always a bit a wary to start reading them because I know that no matter how good they are, there still will be the bittersweet goodbye. There also is the worry that not only will I have to say goodbye to characters that I have grown to love, but there also might be plot threads left open that will never be solved. Granted when things are wrapped up too neatly in a perfect bow, it does seem to lessen the realism of the story, but it still drives me insane when I'm left with unanswered questions. So, when Magic For a Price didn't let me down in either of those areas, you cannot possibly imagine my sigh of relief and contentment.... There wasn't the bittersweet goodbye, because while Allie's narration is ending, Shame (LOVE that guy) will be getting his own turn in the limelight in a spin off and that means that there will be more from these awesome characters. On the second front, there weren't any major plot threads left open, but it also didn't turn into a sappy picture perfect ending. It ended perfectly and stayed true to the characters and the world, and I couldn't be happier. Seriously, I cannot remember the last time I was this content with a series ending book, and considering how many I have read, that is no small feat.

I realize I've been rather vague in this review, but the last thing I would want to do would be inadvertently spoil something as Magic For a Price truly deserves to be savored without any outside influence. In fact, this book easily earned itself a place on my top ten reads for the year. Fans of the series cannot possibly be disappointed with Magic For a Price as it is truly an amazing and incredibly satisfying end to the Allie Beckstrom series that will stay with you long after you finish. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying ending, though maybe too long of a build up? December 2, 2012

By J. Markovic

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

I've had a fraught relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series, and MAGIC FOR A PRICE addressed many of my issues. But a nine book build up to get answers means high expectations, and my own reaction was mixed to say the least. I enjoyed MAGIC FOR A PRICE very much as an individual book, but it's ending suffered significantly from my issues with the series as a whole.

In past books I felt like the action moved too slow, with Allie facing the same magical problems over and over. This contributed to my difficulty in keeping track of which books I had read before as the events and descriptions from Allie's perspective changed so little I always struggled to find my place in the series. This isn't a problem at all in MAGIC FOR A PRICE. Monk interweaves new action with unobtrusive references to past events, making it very easy to refresh my memory on the series while moving forward with the plot.

And Monk does make sweeping changes to her world in MAGIC FOR A PRICE, something I wish had happened earlier in the series. I would have liked this book so much more if I could see Allie and company dealing with the consequences of their battle in future books. As a series finale, however, I didn't care enough about these conflicts, stretched long and thin over nine books, to make the resolution pack significant punch. The magical architecture Monk has created is unparalleled, the relationships (between both living and dead) are unique and nuanced, but there is some elemental aspect of pacing and character that is missing for me. It's telling that my affection for Stone is so much stronger than my interest in Allie's love life, or that my curiosity is so much stronger for the Hounds than the Assembly.... This series and I have been just half a step out of sync the whole way through.

For readers who have enjoyed the incremental plotlines while staying invested in the mystery of Allie's past and relationship with her father, MAGIC FOR A PRICE will be a bittersweet treat that answers longstanding questions while bringing the series to a close. I enjoyed this individual book very much, though my relationship with the Allie Beckstrom series as a whole stays where it started, conflicted.

Sexual Content: Brief scene of sensuality. Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars So what was Daniel Beckstrom's plan? November 8, 2012

By Zeenakwon

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Summary: Isabelle and Leander, the first known soul complements and apocalypse bringers are still out there, And Allie Beckstrom still can't use magic. Oh and her dead dad is still in her head. With her boyfriend and soul complement Zayvion, and her friends Shame and Terric, can she save the world? And what is her dad STILL hiding from her?

Review: This is the conclusion of the Allie Beckstrom saga and it was awesome! The world created by Devon Monk had a satisfying conclusion, even though there were a few details I didn't like.

The world created in this series is not based on any supernatural creature, but rather humans who can do magic which is organic. It's a beautifully crafted world, where Monk blended technology with magic. The different types of magic, glyphs, ghosts, It's original and built seamlessly. The plot points are pretty original, too. Hounds, Authority, and the complexity of father/daughter relationships. Being the last book, you want all the crucial questions answered, and they were. Some stuff was left unanswered, but I like that--can't get the answers to everything.

I love the characters in these books. Each person is such an individual! You got Allie, who is a blunt, nurturing, claustrophobic, and has holes in her memory. Zayvion is the strong, silent, man who believes in his job. Then we got Shame. OH SHAME! I don't think I would like the books half as much if it weren't for this kid. And finally the late Daniel Beckstrom. Talk about complex.

The relationships are focused differently as compared to other Urban Fantasy books: A tragic love story with no triangle or (permanent) death.... I usually get annoyed with the concept of fated mates--but Monk puts an entirely different spin to it, and soul complements are not always a good thing. And the romance is hardly the most significant relationship in this book. This series is based on the evolution and history of Allie's relationship with her father. If the heart of the story is Zayvion and Allie's relationship, than the spirit of the story is her and her father's relationship.

And that brings about my first issue: I was hoping for a better resolution to the Daniel Beckstrom mystery. I liked the final battle scene with Stone and Cody. But how Daniel told Allie about what happened and how it happened fell flat. Instead of a letter, how about a flashback? A conversation would have worked, also. I thought Allie's response was flat, too. I was hoping for a moment where she felt connected to him, and it wasn't there.

The story altogether could have been MORE. It feels like Monk held back when she could have gone for the jugular, more emotion, more tears. More. I wanted more. And I always have an issue with "wrapped up in a pretty bow" endings. Having important people die in battle makes the story even richer, IMO. When all the injured miraculously don't die, it's like . . . oh well it must not have been that bad.

Still, This book was a great wrap up to an excellent series. I am going to miss Allie, Zayvion, Cody, Davy . . . but this isn't the last we will see of Shame and Terric!

Sex: Kissing, no sex in this one
Violence: There is war! Of course there is violence!

Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Quote: "Do you know the Guardians?" I asked Zay. "Is there some kind of club or yearly get-together where Guardians get drunk, wear funny hats, and compare war stories?"

Next Book: This is the end of the series, but there is supposed to be a spin off with Shame and Terric! I can't wait to get my hands on it! Read more ›