Once again featuring Paige and Lucas but also featuring Eve, Jamie, Cassandra and Savannah with smaller roles for Clay, Jeremy and Elena. But the Cabal also has a leading role and we discover more about its workings, especially the group led by Benicio Cortez. We also get a first look at the organization of the Afterworld which will lead us right into Haunted. Someone is targeting the adolescent offspring of various employees of the Cabals and Benicio asks Paige and Lucas to investigate. An Otherworld take on the serial killer type of suspense story and one I enjoyed reading.

Another great installment in the Women of the Otherworld series! Industrial Magic, the 4th book in the series is again told by Paige, but rather than focusing on her life and mission to rebuild the coven, Paige is thrown headlong into a Cabal murder case. Although she is wary of working with the Cabals, it gives her an opportunity to work with Lucas and get to know his family while helping out supernatural teens. One small area aside, I found it to be a thrilling adventure, and was stumped by the murder case right up until the killer was revealed.

One of my favourite aspects of Kelley Armstrong’s novels is her amazing ability to create a supernatural world that is completely believable within the realm of our everyday lives. And this is the one area where I felt Industrial Magic did not quite live up to Armstrong’s usual standards. Without getting too spoilery, there is a portion of the story that involves a portal and I found that it ripped me out of the narrative and interfered with the ‘believable world within our own’ effect that I have enjoyed so much in the previous novels. But that was only a very small portion of the story, and the rest of it was as great as always.

Something I really loved about Industrial Magic is that we got to spend time with the Stonehaven werewolves as well as Paige and Lucas. I realized while reading these sections of the book that while I’ve enjoyed Paige’s stories, for me the heart of this series are the werewolves. That aside, I really loved the ending to this story and can’t wait to find out more about Paige’s decision to become a teacher and to discover how she and Lucas will work together. ( )

"Industrial Magic" is the 4th book in Kelley Armstrong's "Women of the Otherworld" series and the second of which to prominently feature witch and ex-Coven leader Paige and her boyfriend Lucas Cortez. The story here focuses on the Cortez Cabal run by CEO Benito Cortez, Lucas's father. Lucas is Benito's illegitimate but much loved son. Lucas tries to fight what the Cortez Cabal stands for. They are a `business' of supernatural species and they mainly concern themselves with not so legitimate acts in the name of supernatural self preservation. When Cabal teenager's start missing and soon turn up dead, neither Lucas nor his witch love can turn away the Cabal's plead for help. The mystery heats up as Paige and Lucas start their own brand of investigation. The plot is weaker here than in Dime Store Magic and I think the book took longer than it should have for me to get through it. Paige is tenderhearted, yet strong. Her capacity to love and her eye for injustice are admirable. Of course, we knew that a couple of books ago when she took in recently orphaned 15 year old witch, Savannah. Lucas is also high on my hero list, but I found him to be more bland here than usual. The introduction of a new female character was interesting and I look forward to reading a "Women of the Otherworld" title down the road, where it appears she is to be featured in a main role. We also get a closer look at several characters introduced previously. A visit or two from Elena, Clay, and Jeremy round off a huge assemble cast of characters. I do have to mention that while I enjoyed `their' books, "Bitten" and "Stolen", I like Paige and Lucas better as main characters. Another side note, in such a fantasy tale, readers have to be happy to suspend disbelief, but a negative I must mention is in regards to a scene that is far over the top, even for this series. I'm sure it is a set up for the next book, so I hope the idea gels better with me as the series progresses. Kelley Armstrong does a great job of pulling together a paranormal mystery with top-notch characterization. The fact that she changes points of view only keeps her from getting stale. Any of my complaints stand, but shouldn't lead you to believe this is anything but a great read. ( )

I liked this one even more than Dime Store Magic. I do think it could have been a bit shorter, it lagged in a couple of places. I was really happy that the wolves were back, even if it was just for a bit. I talked about missing Elena as the narrator in the last book, but now I think I love Paige just as much. Kelley Armstrong has a way of making you fall in love with her main characters. ( )

The first Armstrong I've read, and I thought it was really good, so I'm disappointed to read all the reviews that say this is one of her best. This book is something of a Harry Potter for adults; there's a lot of groovy fantasy stuff, interesting non-human characters, and a hidden world inside this one, but the characters get to do things like have sex and swear. I guess we get to think of that as "character development".

I didn't buy into the plot at first, as it got too much into the Grishamesque running-from-mysterious-and-powerful-enemies, but it seemed to come together more as I got further in the book, and I suspect if I'd read the first in the series it would have come together better. I'll be keeping an eye out for that first one; bet it's worth reading too. ( )