A Criminal Magic

**This book was reviewed via Netgalley**

Kelly's A Criminal Magic is the story of an alter-Earth in which magic exists, and to which sorcerers were subject to a magical prohibition during the time of (our) America's Prohibition on alcohol. It is a bewitching tale spun around two individuals whose families have been ripped asunder by the delicate balance between necessity and addiction, between greed and common sense.

We open with Joan, and her family, who own a 'magic’ still/ speakeasy, for lack of better words. They run a bar in a teeny cabin in the woods, making magic-infused sorcerer’s shine and performing magic for paying customers. For customer and sorcerer alike, magic can be an intoxicating drug all its own. Joan’s ma, a show more sorceress, passed recently, and now the cabin is in danger of repossession. Just when things are looking down, along comes a Mr Gunn, looking for high-caliber sorcerers. Joan leaves with him, hoping his offer of potential work can help her support her brother and cousin, removing them from the danger of their unstable sorcerer uncle

Half across the country is Alex, another sorcerer training to be a Prohibition agent. We first meet him going to a 'shine’ party with his friend Warren. After getting into a brawl with Warren, and subsequently dispelling the magic protecting shine party, Alex is given a choice- go to prison for real, or go as an undercover agent to infiltrate the notorious Shaws gang through a prisoner named Howie. Alex is successful, and when he is released he has earned a place as one of the Shaws gang.

Joan and Alex cross paths, and fall hard for one another. Unfortunately for them, the ever-shifting sands of gang alliances puts them on opposite sides. Will they break promises made to themselves and others, or change the rules altogether.

I happen to love reading about the time of Prohibition, and of the rise of the Mafia during this time, and the interplay between different gangs. Using magic in place of alcohol was intriguing, and illustrated yet again how xenophobic man can be, when 'xeno-’ is taken properly as 'the unknown’. Xenophobia and jealousy define so many of the strictures some men force on the others, on society as a whole. That, and a sense of self-righteousness, that their way is the only way. Yea, we see how well that worked with our own Prohibition on alcohol.

This is a story of how the seductive siren song of power (of any flavour) plays havoc with the weak-willed, and weak-minded. Many of the sorcerers seemed to succumb to it, while others wielded it to terrifying effect to subjugate others. Magic really is a drug there, where sorcerers are dealers who can control and manipulate 'shine’ junkies, or who fall to the sweet addiction themselves. Banning something, though, only makes man seek it all the harder. We are curious, quite nearly as cats, and forbidden things have a certain 'ooh, shiny’ flair, drawing us in like magpies. But for all those who abuse power, there are those who put it to good use.

This cover. Elegant in its simplicity, it captures the essence of the book quite well. Beautiful description threads through this masterpiece, painting dazzling pictures upon the canvas of the mind's eye. But that's a book’s, especially a great book’s, job, is it not? To help visit places just beyond the veil?. 'Twilight paints the grass… in broad strokes of emerald and shadow, and streetlamps act like glowing alchemists, turning the… cobblestone walkway into gold.’ I just love this.

A Criminal Magic surely worked its magic on me. My 'shine’ high is wearing off and I want my next dose!

🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻 Highly recommended show less

A Criminal Magic tells of a world where prohibition outlawed magic rather than alcohol. Sorcerers can bottle magic into a powerful and addictive drug. Its distribution is controlled by organized crime. Joan, a poor girl from the country gets the opportunity to make a better life for herself and her family when she is invited to try out for a spot as an entertainment sorceress in a secret magic salon operated by a gang. Alex's life was shattered when his father, a member of a different gang, is arrested for distributing the magic solution, called shine. He joins the federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing prohibition in hopes to destroy the lifestyle that destroyed his family by going undercover. Alex and Joan and drawn show more into a dangerous situation where they both have to tread carefully if they want to get out alive.

The idea of this book was very interesting. I really liked Joan and Alex and found myself routing for them both. However, I don't think it lived up to its potential. After a good start, I felt like the supporting characters were short changed. I wanted the other sorcerers' characters to be developed more fully, but they were sort of left behind. Also, the performance magic aspects were nice, but I couldn't help but compare it to the descriptions in The Night Circus and they did not compare to the wonder I felt reading about the magical illusions in that book. I did like the chemistry between Alex and Joan and found the ending satisfying. I was afraid the ending would be like every other undercover cop infiltrates the mob story and I was pleasantly surprised that the author went in a more interesting direction. Overall, I liked this book and was glad I read it but I am not sure it will stick with me. show less

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Intriguing story that is captivating and unique. I would highly recommend it to both NA and YA paranormal fans!

Opening Sentence: Magic can achieve a lot of thing, but it can’t undo the past.

The Review:

It is the year 1926 and instead of alcohol being illegal, magic is illegal. Sorcerers have the ability to brew a very special drink that will leave you with a high that no other substance can even compare to. This liquid drug is called sorcerer’s shine and not only is it extremely addictive it is also very dangerous. But brewing shine isn’t the only power that sorcerer’s possess; they also have the ability to cast amazing illusions. The only downfall to magic is that no matter how show more amazing or powerful it is, it can only last for 24 hours. Once the time is up whatever was enchanted will go back to normal, including shine. Even though magic has been outlawed this hasn’t stopped criminals from using it. Gangs have created secret venues where you go to see the sorcerer’s create unbelievable illusions and at the end of the show you can get a shot of shine. The business is quite profitable and very dangerous!

Joan Kendrick is an eighteen-year-old girl and she recently lost her mother. Joan has the rare magic touch as did her mother, but Joan has sworn to never use magic again because of the tragedy that seems to follow in its wake. Magic killed her mother, it made her little sister sick, it turned her uncle into a monster and to Joan it seems to be a curse instead of being a gift. She hated her magic but when she is offered the chance to work for a very wealthy gang she just can’t refuse. Her family needs the money and she made a promise to watch out for her family after her mother’s death. She never realized how addictive magic could be or what she was truly signing up for when she agreed to work for a criminal!

Alex Danfrey’s life was torn apart a year ago when his father was indicted for magical crimes. His father was in pretty deep with the criminal underworld and what no one ever knew was that the magic all came from Alex. The courts never charged Alex for anything and to try to make amends he joins the federal prohibition unit. For his first mission he is sent undercover to infiltrate the same gang that Joan has joined. As their paths cross they develop a friendship that could potentially turn into something more.

Joan is such an interesting character. In many ways it felt like she was an anti-hero because she definitely has some very dark characteristics to her personality that felt a little villainous! She is a character that has a lot of layers a depth. She is very smart, sweet, cunning, and resourceful. She’s not afraid to do what she has to so she can survive and take care of the people she loves. She also has an air of innocence to her that made all the bad stuff she did not seem so horrible. She is a very complicated girl and I found her fascinating. I really hope that there will be another book so I can get to know her even better.

Alex is one of those guys that no one can resist. He is extremely good looking, very intelligent, and can charm pretty much anyone. As you get to know him you realize he tries to keep everyone at a distance. His life has been hard and he has been hurt deeply by his father. At first, going to work for the government was just a ploy to try to help his image but he eventually grows to love and appreciate his job. He genuinely wants to be a good person, even though he feels inadequate at times because of his past. You see all the different sides of him and you can’t help but completely fall for him.

A Criminal Magic is a dark and delicious story that you will not soon forget. From the very first page, I was instantly hooked and ended up reading the entire book in just a couple of days. The pacing was spot on and there was never a single moment that ever felt like it dragged or moved too slow. The romance was full of great tension and I loved how it developed! The idea was so unique and different from anything else I have ever read. This is definitely a book that will make you think and question what is right and wrong. There’s a lot of gray matter covered in the story and I just found that so interesting and intriguing. The book is technically a new adult novel, but I think that many YA fans will enjoy it as well. The ending was an absolutely perfect fit for the characters and just the story in general, but I really hope there will be a sequel. Things were left open enough that it is a possibility, so there is hope for another book. If you like dark stories or complicated characters or books that make you think, this is definitely a story you should pick up.

Notable Scene:

“Get off me!”

He rushes after me. “You tell Gunn, I sear–”

But he never finishes his sentence.

Because a blinding shot of Tommy and Rose’s lightning cuts right through him.

FTC Advisory: Saga Press/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of A Criminal Magic. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

This book builds a fascinating world of truly magical magic mixed with casual brutality. The protagonists are compelling and deeply sympathetic. I wish we'd gotten a bit more development of some of the supporting characters in Joan's sorcery troupe. The ending was satisfying.

A short snack of a book. Solid premise and writing, but I just couldn't find any feeling for the main character, or her love interest. In addition, the attempt at a film noir ending fell flat for me.

Not a terrible book, but not a great one either. It entertains.

Good Lord, that was a slow-moving book. Loved the concept of the story, but between the slow-as-molasses pacing and the lame ending, I just feel let-down and bored.

It's been almost 24 hours since I read the book and there's still a bad aftertaste torturing my read-sensible receptors. What a disappointment, ladies and gentlemen!

I never really wanted anything grand from this book - just mix some high-quality criminal with a generous amount of magic and I'll be fine. And I've got to tell you, the first sip was rather intriguing - freshly made sorceress, discovering her true powers in a magic competition combined with the handsome young man, also touched with magic, working for both Prohibition Unit and vicious gang boss.

But unfortunately that was nothing more than a promise - a well-written and potentially so rich with possibilities, but still a promise.

Too vague? Let me show you.

This is what I show more wanted to see in A Criminal Magic:

Razzle-dazzle of Prohibition era

Real badass gangsters

Chemistry between two charismatic main characters

And...


And this is what I got:

Smoking

More smoking

Main characters, insta-loving each other and acting all weird and unexplainable

Some more smoking

Stoned gangsters

Confused gangsters

Dead gangsters

And a bottle of magic, literally


So...sorry, but this was not my shot of shine.

For a less graphical and more detailed review please check my buddy read gangster girls, who wanted to "kill 'em all" - Nastassja and Katerina. show less