Jasmine Walt

Brooke Chandler thought she had a handle on her world. She was an insider and knew what everyone else didn't. Little did she realize how little she truly knew. A lot more went bump in the night then she had been told. All it took was the death of someone close to her to send her right into the jaws of a world she's been kept hidden from most of her life. What stands between her and the danger she now faced? A very sexy and mysterious club who may be the danger she's facing or something even show more worse.

This book is fantastic! It had me from the second I started, which was both good and bad. I couldn't put it down which meant that it didn't last as long as I hope it would. But on the bright side, I was so completely immersed in the world that I didn't really notice at the time. I'm not sure if I wanted to be Brooke or just move into her world and hang out with her. The world was rich and complex with just enough left for you to build on in your head. The characters were completely thought out and brought to life wonderfully on the page.

My honest recommendation is to pick up this book right now. You won't regret it one bit. After you finish you'll be waiting impatiently for the next book in the series just like the rest of us. show less

Okay, I have a confession. Gargoyles petrify me. Yes, I know this is an irrational fear but I can deal. This book (and series) had me shivering in a good way, which was weird because I usually run screaming in the opposite direction of gargoyles. No matter what. So yeah this was good and now when I look at gargoyles (for the fraction of a second I allow myself before I understand what I'm seeing) I'm going to hope they become sexy protectors at night. I wouldn't say no to a sexy protector show more even if they were a giant hunk of stone that could crush me to death. show less

I need some reality in my fantasy, especially modern urban fantasy. This author selectively ignores big chunks of reality that should be fertile ground for the setting and give strong relatability to the main character.

For example, the main character, Aika, is established as having taken on many burdens of responsibility. While her mother battles cancer, Akia is her caretaker and she is running her mother's restaurant while also being a pre-med student. She has a lot on her plate, right? show more Then her mother is kidnapped and Aika immediately takes off into fantasy-land for who-knows-how-long, forsaking all other responsibilities without even a single thought about missing work or class. She doesn't even make a phone call to her restaurant workers or drop an e-mail to professors! Sorry, that's just *not* realistic-- or believable. show less

I understand this is Jasmine Walt’s first book and I would applaud her for her efforts. Burned by Magic is set in the city of Solantha, inhabited by Humans and Shifters and governed by Mages. The Shape Shifters are at the bottom of the social order, with humans only slightly higher, then Mages who rule from the top. Sunaya Baine, Enforcer and shape-shifter, is down on her luck, working behind a bar in a multi-species nightclub, to make ends meet, when she gets an emergency call from her show more Mentor that changes her life forever. At his request, she takes his Enforcer case file and leaves his home. The case he’s been working on proves to have ramifications that run all the way from the offices of the Chief Mage, to affect every shifter clan in the city. Solantha's teetering on the edge of a Civil war, and only Sunaya has all the pieces needed to avert disaster. Provided, of course, she can get out of prison long enough to put them together.
What a fun read! I thought Burned by Magic was a great start to the series. It was well written and set in a fascinating culture of magic, intrigue, and action. I certainly was drawn into the story from Sunaya’s confrontations and deeply-buried secrets, to her shy hedge witch friend Comenius, to the enigmatic Chief Mage (with whom Sunaya has a growing attraction) . Their interactions and motivations are the framework upon which the story is built.The action in the book is fast-paced and convincing, and the world-building's detailed and exciting. I certainly recommend it for any Fantasy lovers reading list and look forward to the next book in the series.

Jack Murphy show less