Customer Reviews

Magic on the Storm (Allie Beckstrom, Book 4)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Number four in the Allie Beckstrom Chronicles - what's not to love? We have a continuation of Zavion and Allie's relationship (thankfully not too mushy), continued friendships with one of my favorite new characters Shamus.\, and the gargoyle Stone remains in the story. I love the gargoyle - I enjoy his quirks and all the little things that Devon Monk describes him doing. He (She?) is a great addition to the series. Almost makes me wish I had my own magical gargoyle. And Stone is very protective of Allie.

Big things happen in the fourth book - Not only does Allie and the Authority have to prepare for and deal with a magical storm (full of wild magic), there is a huge faction rift (between the magic users) that Allie is learning about while she's dealing with still hosting her father's spirit in her brain. Devon inserts just the right amount of squickiness into that story line - it would be so weird feeling your dad's emotions and lust in your own head. Very disconcerting. The continued subplots (the Hounds, dad in the head, pregnant stepmommy, Zayvion, the Authority's division in the ranks) as well as some hints of Allie's past, and the dialogue between the characters (especially Shamus and Zayvion, and Shamus and Allie) are all wonderful parts of great book. Once in a while I read something in the book, that makes me wonder if we're going to find out the Zayvion has really know Allie for a lot longer than she thinks. Sometimes there's a look described between other characters when they're discussing the memory loss, or something in the narrative that just makes me wonder.

The cliffhanger ending - Devon Monk is excellent at using this. Definitely have a lot to look forward to in the next book - which, thank goodness, is coming out in November of 2010. That's one of the books that I'm not having any doubts about buying.

I loved the first two books in this series, but felt like the last one just sort of treaded water and might have been better as a novella (seriously, book three took place in the space of about two days!?). Book 4 is great, though, and is firing on all cylinders.

The pacing was noticably better than in the other Monk books in the past (though the author really doesn't ever give poor Allie a second of privacy - we're in her POV all day long from start to finish). The heroine's personality shone through a little better, and she seemed to use her brain a little more. I'm loving how the relationship between Allie and her Dad is playing out. If you're new to the series, I'd say read in order: 1, 2, 4, and then go back to 3 if you want something to tide you over to the next book.

This is another excellent installment in the Allie Beckstrom saga. I was worried from the editorial description of the book that it would be one of those treading-water transition books that many of the UF series seem to have, but I had no need to worry. The epic story that Devon Monk began in book 1 continues to build very satisfactorily in this book and along the way we learn a lot more about the Authority, the secret group of magical users Allie joined in the previous book, and we learn a bit more about Allie's father and his plans for Allie, the Authority and himself. Although the plot is a bit slow in the first few sections of the book, it really picks up towards the end. The climax is totally absorbing. Devon Monk really knows how to do endings! The end of Magic in the Shadows was really good too. I didn't think she could repeat that level of intensity in another book but I was wrong. She does it again here.
For anyone who read and enjoyed the earlier books, you really should read this installment too. I would also recommend this series highly to anyone looking for a new urban fantasy world (although you should go back and read the Allie Beckstrom books from the beginning before reading this one; the plot is complex and Monk doesn't always fully clue the reader in to what came before). The way that Devon Monk plays with the relationship between magic and technology --and the way in which she uses magic as a metaphor for technology -- is really, really interesting. Monk is also good at writing believable and emotionally complex characters. I found the development of Allie's relationship with her father in this book to be quite moving. Monk shows Allie's love for her father as well as her distrust of him, and she gives the reader a lot of clues about the complexity of Allie's father's feelings towards Allie as well.
The one quibble I have with Magic on the Storm --and with the series in general-- is the Allie-Zayvion relationship. Or maybe its just Zayvion himself, who for some reason doesn't come across as believably as do all the other characters in the book. Maybe Monk is trying to show us Zayvion from Allie's lovestruck perspective, but I continued to find him here, as in the earlier books, a bit too good to be true. I never really understood why Zayvion loves Allie SO much. I also find Allie curiously unreflective about her relationship to him. Given how interesting Allie's relationship with the other people in her life are --particularly with her dad, but also with Violet, her stepmom, with Shame, Zayvion's friend, even with Chase, Zayvion's ex-girlfriend--the flatness of her relationship with Zayvion is noticeable and a shame. Nonetheless I love this series and can't wait for the next installment in the fall.

Magic on the Storm is much better than the previous book in the series, but is no where near as good as the original book. Many series change from exciting action packed mysteries to long complaint fests, and this one is no different. If I love the characters then I don't mind, but I don't love the characters in the Allie Beckstrom world. The constant banter and the same old topics of conversation get tiresome quickly. There is a magical storm on the horizon and there are hound issues to deal with. The bulk of the plot is contained in 50 pages or less. There isn't much buildup, just a hound incident here, a possibly related event there, the big storm, then the cliffhanger. If presented differently this novel could have been good, but I think there was too much discussion and unrelated uninteresting events and not enough plot and exploration of the power struggle within the authority. All of the sudden everyone is fighting and Allie knows nothing about it. She may be a low ranking person, but I honestly would be more interested if she knew more. The idea of magic taking a toll, the hounds, and the authority are interesting and are why I liked this series originally. Allie's attitude, her complaining, and the love story are getting a bit old. I become less and less interested in Zayvion every book, even though the author is clearly hiding most of his past, the more it is pointed out the less I care about it.

Overall, this series still appeals to me, and I am interested in sticking with it a bit longer. There are flaws and things about it I don't like, but there is still potential for another great book like the first one.

I strongly recommend you read the previous books in the series (Magic to the Bone, Magic in the Blood and Magic in the Shadows) prior to reading this installment.

This book started out really slow. This installment didn't seem like the ones before it. There wasn't a lot of deep mystery to it to entice the reader along and Allie seemed to be a bit impotent with her magic. There seem to be a bit of a lackluster about the story. This installment felt more like a building block for the next installment.

I love Allie and Zay together but in this installment they were together but they were very boring and the connection between them didn't seem rock solid. Meaning, I had no doubts that they were an item but they just seem to be so spark-less and mundane together.

Regardless of my disappointed with this particular installment, I still recommend this book, it wasn't entirely bad; just not up to the series usual standards. And like I noted it felt like a building block for the next book, so if you are into the series it would behoove you to pick up this quick read so you can be informed for the next book. I do look forward to Magic At the Gate due out 11/2/10.

I also recommend:
Frost Moon
Cheat the Grave (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 5)
The Better Part of Darkness
Song of Scarabaeus
Master of None

I have read all the Devon Monk books and was looking forward to reading this one. Well, I've read it, and it was a disappointment. Two-thirds of the book was fine as it was setting up the climax, and then...well, I'm not sure what happened. There was a climax, but it was very confusing.

From hints, the reader realized that there were people in the Alliance that were working against her; Allie knew that they had seriously injured someone she loved. She knew for sure that Greyson and Chase were trying to kill her and the people she loved. She knew that she wanted to save and protect her friends, but at the great battle when we and she found out who were the traitors in the Alliance and Greyson and Chase were there, what did Allie do? She became like a sports announcer.

We found out who was fighting who, but did Allie react. No, she just commented on what was going on, page after page after page. Audra being crushed to death? Allie describe it in detail, but did she go help? No. Someone trying to kill her friend? We got all the details, but no action from Allie.

I finally started speed reading trying to get to the part that Allie actually joins in the fight--expecting her to take on Greyson and Claire. Only at the end when the hungers start escaping a gate, did Allie spring to life. But only to go through the gate into Death, and the book ended. To be continued.

There is nothing wrong with ending a book on a cliffhanger, but it needs to be done correctly. The current book needs to have some resolution. If it doesn't, then what was the purpose of the book--do give us a few scenes to carry us through to the next book? In George RR Martin's Game of Thrones--an well written fantasy book--the author ties up the story lines that were in that book although obviously there are other ongoing ones that you had to read in the next books. But the story telling left you satisfied. Magic on the Storm just left me irritated.

This is the fourth book in the Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk. The sixth book, Magic on the Hunt is due out April 2011. This was an excellent addition to the series and brings the reader deeper into issues with in the Authority, as well as delving deeper into what Allie's father's company was working on.

The book starts with Allie doing her martial arts training; not only is she getting magical training but defensive training as well. This comes to a halt when evidence that a Wild Magic storm is going to hit the city comes to bear. Now Allie and Zayvion must join forces with the rest if the Authority if they are going to save the city. Additional story threads are woven throughout; Allie has to deal with Grayson (the evil guy in the last book), certain things about her father's company come to light, and Allie is still struggling with toting around part of her dad's soul in her head.

This book has a lot of different story threads going on that come together in the end. Some of the threads left hanging in the last book are resolved while others continue on. This book really dives into the Authority and starts dealing with some of the factions and rivalries within that organization.

We meet more of the members of the Authority in this book and get to know Shame even better (and he is a very interesting character). Other interesting characters introduced are Terric (Shame's possibly Soul Compliment) and finally Jingo Jingo (who we hear so much about off and on). Allie and Zayvion continue to have a heated relationship that is maturing into something stable and caring; they also struggle with the fact that they are Soul Compliments and as such struggle to keep their souls separate.

The plot moves at a good clip and is always engaging, the characters are interesting and the action scenes well-done. This book ends with a total cliffhanger that will have readers dying to read the next book.

For some reason, so far, these books have never made it to the outstanding category for me. I like the characters, but I don't find them absolutely enrapturing. The storyline is good, but always feels like it could be a bit tighter and maybe not wander quite as much. Allie is a good heroine, but sometimes I wish she had a bit more humor, spunk and personality. That being said these have still been very solid urban fantasies, and each book is a little bit better than the last...this one is no exception to that.

Overall a very solid urban fantasy. I enjoyed reading it. The books are getting more interesting with each installment and I enjoy watching Allie build her power and knowledge. I have also enjoyed the added complexity with the gates and the Authority. Given the cliffhanger ending of this book I will definitely be reading the next book, Magic at the Gate. Fans of urban fantasy with a strong female heroine in a magic heavy setting should like this story. I would also recommend Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews, Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter, and Elemental Assassins by Jennifer Estep as alternate urban fantasies that are a bit better and more engaging.

After reading the previous Allie Beckstrom book by Devon Monk, Magic in the Shadows, I knew I had to keep up with the series, so picking up Magic on the Storm was a no-brainer. Unlike the earlier book, this one actually ends on a cliffhanger, but I didn't mind at all. Monk's writing is great and her story quite gripping.

After two months of relative peace, things are about to get a lot harder for Allison Beckstrom, She's now part of the Authority, the organization of magic-users who rule how magic is used throughout the world so as to keep the extent of it hidden from the populace (though magic itself is quite common). Allie's been training for two months even as she keeps at her job as the leader of a group of Hounds, who hunt down illegal magic-users. Now a magical storm is brewing, one of such intensity that it could destroy Portland if the Authority doesn't band together and stop it. Too bad that the Authority is starting to splinter into rival factions. Sounds like this would be the perfect time for somebody to strike. Having Allie's dead father reside in her head doesn't make things any easier.

I felt a lot more grounded reading Magic on the Storm than I did the previous book, probably because this wasn't my first. It helps to have a bit of historical knowledge in any series; I didn't feel like a newbie this time around. While Monk makes these books accessible to new readers, parceling out just enough information about prior events that the reader doesn't feel lost, it feels a lot better to know exactly what she's talking about at any given time. The lack of emotional investment in prior events for new readers is probably still there, but there's no getting around that in a series this tight. At least you know what happened, even if you don't feel the importance.

Monk's character work remains strong. Allie is sarcastic, always trying to do the best she can with what she's given and extremely frustrated when both her lover Zayvion and the rest of the Authority try to keep her out of things to keep her "safe." She also has a tendency to attract really bad things (though Monk does overuse classic "what else could go wrong?" writing, where the character says something like to that effect - and, of course, things do get worse). She's driven to move beyond her limitations if she can, no matter how much others want to protect her.

The other characters are also extremely well done. Zayvion Jones more interesting here than in the last book, Shame is still his sarcastic yet caring self, cynical beyond belief but with a heart of gold, especially where Allie is concerned. He becomes even more interesting when Terric shows up, a man with whom Shame has some bad history. The members of the Authority also spring to life, at least to an extent. This is a good thing, since it helps create the tension that simmers beneath the Authority, waiting to explode.

Yes, the first part of the book is a bit slow as Zayvion and Allie explore their relationship and the book gets ready for the big events to come. The constant "I will do anything to get you out of my head" banter with her father gets old, too, but overall, Magic on the Storm is a strong entry in the series. It doesn't feel like a transition novel, unlike the previous book. Things happen, earth-shattering events (or at least Authority-shattering) that will have a great effect on subsequent novels, all told in that wonderful Monk style.

While I would still say you should start at the beginning of the series, Magic on the Storm rewards even new readers with a great story and characters to keep you turning the page without stopping from beginning to end.

Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book © Dave Roy, 2011

This is the fourth in the Allie Beckstom Novels. If you like the outline of the world the character lives in start with the "Magic to the Bone"

I got hooked into reading the series by a turned book in Borders. Read the front cover, then the back cover, and bought the first book in the series for my Kindle. The key plot elements start with in this contemporary setting magic has a physical cost, and leaves a trail behind. Allie is a hound, a magical private investigator that tracks people using magic against her clients, breaking the law, or just causing mischief. Magicians must determine the cost to be paid before casting a spell or magic will pick it for them. The cost is physical such as a headache, a cold, or muscle aches. Either the magician pays the cost or pays someone to take it for the. More powerful the magic the greater the cost. Magic has also been commercialized, buildings are wrapped in conduits to channel the magic the comes from magical storms into reservoirs under the city where it can be tapped by magicians.

This book advances the story from good guys versus bad guys to who can you trust and who are the good guys. This is not the heroes journey or great moralistic self searching kind of book. It is light reading at its best with character you are interested in, evolve and change through the books, have multiple dimensions, and talk in realistic but well crafted dialogue.

BTW this is my first review. I probably didn't give enough detail of the story but I don't want to give any spoilers either.

In Magic on the Storm, we learn early on that a wild magical storm is brewing and the wells of magic are being drained. One may be feeding the other or something even more sinister. And it is all connected.

The members of the Authority are full of unease. Cracks are showing in the Authority's structure and the long hinted at split looms. Other magic users from the west coast are called in to prepare for the fight against the storm, among them Terric whom everyone believes is Shamus' soul complement. Terric and Shame are fire to each other's ice, and north to each other's south. At one time in the past, Zayvion, Terric, and Shamus were inseparable friends and Terric even trained to compete for guardian of the gate with Zayvion. The entire heartbreaking story is given a piece at a time.

Zayvion and Allie's relationship is strengthening. As soul complements, they experience the danger of becoming too emotionally and mentally close. They also begin to experience the joy of working magic together and how easy it comes to them. Zayvion's role in the Authority comes as a pleasant surprise. He is the guardian of the gate and wields multiple forms of magic together. He is the only known magic user who can wield death magic without going insane. As guardian of the gate, he is the ultimate warrior for the Authority and his character is beyond reproach. Allie learns how very important Zayvion is to the Authority and the world.

The little magical disks that Allie's father has invented are central to the story. The disks can hold magic so that it can be used without paying the price of pain. They can be recharged and used time and time again. The portable use of magic in this manner is a priceless discovery. In the wrong hands, though, there is potential for great wrongdoing. The user can use magic time and time again without having to pay the price. The disks are stolen from their hiding place and Allie's pregnant stepmother is injured in the burglary. No one knows who has the disks or what they will be used for.

Chase and Greyson, the necromorph, have gone over to the dark side. They are soul complements and together, their magic is fearsome. They escape the Authority; and Allie, Zayvion, and Shamus are sent out to recapture them. Stunning events unfold, culminating in Zayvion's soul separated from his body and trapped another realm, leaving his body in a coma. With the wild magic on the coming storm, the Authority is left without its most powerful magic wielder and gatekeeper; and Allie's heart is broken.

Allie finds herself living three different lives. The mainstream world has been kept in the dark about the more disturbing uses of magic. She has to be careful what she says to her hound group; she really has to be careful what she reveals to Detective Stotts, for whom she hounds. She is hiding the magic she holds within her from everyone except Zayvion. Trying to keep it successfully partitioned is quite a feat.

Allie's father's presence in her head, weakened and divided from having been partially sucked out of Allie's head by the necromorph, is getting stronger. The necromorph is hunting Allie in order to suck the rest of her dad out of her and into itself. Allie's father, in the meantime, wants to get the missing parts of himself back from the necromorph; and the two entities are battling over Allie.

In the midst of all of this, wild magical storm arrives. The stolen disks show up. The factions in the war suddenly take shape and not only is the fight to contain the magic in the storm, but it is against each other, and the gate that has opened up for the creatures from the other side to come through. And the book ends on a cliffhanger.

Whew! Devon Monk is a talent. The story is well written and fast paced with dizzying twists and turns. Its main plot is brilliantly tied into its subplots. The characters are fleshed out and more fascinating insights are given to each one. I love these books and can't get enough!