Magic Without Mercy: An Allie Beckstrom Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Devon Monk (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 3, 2012 | Series: Allie Beckstrom (Book 8)

Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic. But she’s never faced anything like this.

 

Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may have left the only cure in the hands of a madman. Hunted by the Authority—the secret council who enforces the laws–wanted by the police, and unable to use magic, she’s got to find the cure before the sickness spreads beyond any power to stop it.

 

But when a death magic user seeks to destroy the only thing that can heal magic, Allie and her fellow renegades must stand and fight to defend the innocent and save all magic…

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Fiendishly original and a stay-up-all-night read.”

“Allie’s adventures are gripping and engrossing, with an even, clever mix of humor, love, and brutality.”

“This is an absolutely awesome series.”

About the Author

Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She has sold over fifty short stories to fantasy, science fiction, horror, humor, and young adult magazines and anthologies. Her stories have been published in five countries and included in a Year's Best Fantasy collection. When not writing, Devon is either knitting, remodeling the house-that-was-once-a-barn, or hosting a family celebration.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Roc; Original edition (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780451464484
• ISBN-13: 978-0451464484
• ASIN: 0451464486
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 1 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Action Packed Installment April 13, 2012

By Zeenakwon

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Synopsis: Magic is still poisoned, the veiled are infect people left and right, and Allie still can't use her magic. Oh let's not forget both the Authority and the Cops are out to get her. Allie and her friends (who are fugitives from the corrupted authority) are out to save the day and save magic.

Review: Another solid installment. Devon Monk has created a truly action and magic filled world where you are always at the edge of your pants. This book probably has the least relationship development among Allie and her dad or other people, but we see a lot of relationship development between other characters. Shame and Terric is probably the most important relationship we see developing and progressing. And it was beautiful. Then again, everything with Shame is beautiful :-P

We learn more about the creepy Collins and Cody. And all of our favorites characters are there. The final battle scene is so epic and written so well, you can see it unfolding.

The book really set you up for what is the come in the final Allie Beckstrom book. The cliffhanger left my jaws dropped and wanting the next book in my hands.

I still have a problem with some of the plot points coming across as confusing. The pace in the novel is so fast, it is easy to miss important details.

I love this series and I really encourage people to read it. It's an action packed, heart felt addition to the series.

Sex: No sex, some kissing.
Violence: Pretty violent book, but nondescript violence. You don't have to have a strong stomach, but you do need to be okay with fighting scenes.

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

Quote:
"Do we get weapons?" Shame asked.
I nodded. "Bowling balls."
(. . .)
"Is there a weight limit?" Terric finally asked, wiping at his face.
"Oh, hell, no," Shame said. "If I'm going to bludgeon you to death with a bowling ball, I'm taking a sixteen-pounder into the ring. Get it over with fast."
"Humane of you," Terric noted.
"Straight from my heart." Shame tapped his chest.

Next Book: Magic for a Price comes out November 6th, 2012 according Amazon.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet Another Stellar Installment April 3, 2012

By A Book Obsession.. TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

With Magic unusable to Allie, and everyone under the sun out hunting for her, including the magic council called the Authority, Allie's own freedom is a ticking time bomb. Of course more than just her freedom is at stake because capture would mean losing her mind, literally. Stripping minds is the Authority's standard procedure for renegades. Unfortunately, she cannot lay low until the tide changes as Magic has been poisoned. Allie and her friends are the only ones who are willing and hopefully able to fix things before more lives are lost. But more stands in her way than just the police and the Authority as a nasty death magic user has set his sights on consuming the only thing that can heal magic, and she'll have to stop him before it's too late.

It will never cease to amaze me just how much of a whirlwind Allie is. She draws people to her like a moth to a flame, but cannot be corrupted. In fact, she seems to be the only person the corrupted sections of the Authority cannot seem to put down. Of course she wouldn't have made it this far without her friends, but their utter loyalty to her only further shows her strength and fortitude. Yet despite all this, Allie still cannot quite grasp her true worth. Yes she has her own inner confidence in her skill as a magic user, but as a leader, not so much. However, I think a lot of the events in Magic Without Mercy may have started to open up her eyes, and once she fully believes in herself, she will only be that much stronger.

It completely baffles me that with such a far reaching organization as the Authority, there wouldn't be more checks and balances in place to help stem some of the corruption. Of course the saying goes that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that is what these people hold. To make matters worse, it doesn't seem like they are corrupted as a whole, but in many different factions with their own agendas are in the mix. Perhaps that could be explained arrogance, in that these people are so full of themselves that they couldn't possibly believe that they could be fooled or ruined by another. Ironically, their downfall will probably be the very thing that got them into power in the first place.

One of the most impressive things about Magic Without Mercy was Devon Monk's ability to keep a perfect balance between action and character development. In a lot of series after the first few books the focus on the characters seems to drastically drop in favor of plot or series momentum, which can be a shame as it is easy to become detached from characters when you don't see them grow. The fact that this series doesn't, pretty much guarantees me a fantastic read with each new installment. In Magic without Mercy we see lots of character development; From Allie's overwhelming need to be the protector despite a certain lack of confidence in her leadership skills as well as her acceptance of her father's haunting, to Shame and Terric's strange love hate relationship, and even to some of the older members of the group learning to hand over the reins. Each character goes through changes, be they forward or backwards in progress, keeping me fully attached to each of them, and this series overall. As for this installment, from start to finish, Magic Without Mercy was a roller coaster ride. I simply could not put it down!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars IRRITATING May 17, 2012

By Bobbee

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Eight books in on this series and never a single answer, not a single thing resolved. The last 3 books have been the same book with different locations inserted. Lots of little details that I guess we are to assume must mean something but then never mentioned again.

Even in a series you need a beginning, a middle and a SATISFYING end. This series does not deliver on that. Yes, you are supposed to hold some stuff back, but this author holds everything back. They are rebels, they wander around drinking, cracking jokes, constantly talking about sex, fight a few small fights and then fight a BIG battle. A few people die, main characters die woo-hoo, that is not the same as actually completing a PLOT LINE.

I beg of the author to actually tie up some of the plot twists at some point. I don't need a 50 page battle scene, I want ANSWERS and we have gotten none of those, only more questions. Not even sure I will buy the next book.