Overall Rating 4.5/5
This series is a refreshing look at magic that is tied to the contemporary world and its technologies. The characters are well fleshed-out in their motivations and controversial tastes through an open-minded main character, introducing marginal world-views without bastardizing them. Overall an exciting and thought-provoking read with fast-paced action and a no-nonsense anti-heroine leading the charge.

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An enjoyable and inventive plot powers this tale along. Unfortunately, the various settings around San Francisco feel more three dimensional and affectionately drawn than the rather flat characters. The lack of engagement I felt with Marla and her various cohorts and enemies means I won't be picking up the next one in this series. ( )

This is an urban fantasy with some really outrageous characters and snappy dialog. The plot is decent – our heroine is on a mission which ends up much more complicated and world altering than she anticipated. I like the strong female protagonist. Despite the fact that this is the first book in a series, I feel like the author has a solid back story for Marla of which you get hints throughout the story. ( )

This book has a main character, Marla the sorcerer, who is barely likable going on a book-length long quest in San Francisco for the cornerstone. If you have ever read any fiction written by a high school aged student, you will recognize it here. Take a main character and have her encounter one obstacle after another in an episodic way getting progressively more, and more difficult. I just never really cared. ( )

I like this series - it takes a different take on the current Urban Fantasy Fad with women protagonists that is currently out there. Marla is a hands on, do anything it takes sorcerer trying to keep her city safe. When a rival sorcerer plans to take her out, she needs to find the Cornerstone, a mythical magical item that makes magic stick - she gets drawn into a battle against a returning God, and a crazy sorcerer who is intent in bringing him back. What makes this series different is Marla's directness in how she deals with the world. She is a kick ass alpha who lets nothing get in her way. The world itself is also well written, theres a lot of reference to how sorcery works within the world, but its hinted at, rather than explained. You don't really know how much the non-magical people know. The magic follows rules, but it isn't really explained, you piece it together as the story goes along. No long world building paragraphs or chapters. My only complaint would be Marla's directness, it is quite refreshing in a character, but at the same time, you just want to slap her on the side of the head and say "Think!".

A great fast read. Not to deep, but still a great read. ( )