Magic in the Shadows

Ever since I read Devon Monk's debut book (Magic to the Bone) I've felt obsessed (in a non-creepy way, okay?) with her books. When I finished reading the second book, (Magic in the Blood) I wanted to read it again. With this book I felt the same.

In this installment Allie Beckstrom deals with having her brain inhabited by her father. She also acquires a sidekick (one of my favorite characters in the book). She is tested by the Authorities, has other-worldly beasties after her, and is trying to keep the Hounds safe, together and organized- something she had promised Pike she would do. Not all of the members of the Authority are happy to have Allie around. Some of them want to have her "closed", her magic use taken away, along with show more memories of magic. New human (as opposed to her new sidekick) characters are introduced. All of the characters in Devon Monks books are interesting-like real flawed people (except they use magic).

The conversations between Zayvion Jones and Allie are fun to read. I enjoyed Allie's adventures, even when she does something incredibly stubborn and stupid. There's a moment during a dangerous situation that Allie does something she's been warned - very strongly- not to do. The moment she does it, she's thinking she should have listened. There are moments with the Daddy presence in her head when they are both being incredibly stubborn - foolishly so- fighting over control of her body.

I enjoyed very much revisiting the world that Devon Monk has created with this series and I am already looking forward to the next book, Magic on the Storm. In the back of my head, I'm also already planning when I might re-read all three books (maybe this coming summer). show less

Not only does Allie have to deal with losing her memories, but now her father's soul is invading her mind as well. She turns to Zayvion, the lover she has no memory of, and the Authority, a secret group of magical enforcers for help getting her father out of her mind. She must tread carefully for not everyone in the order wishes to help her. Meanwhile, one of her hounds gets into trouble, and Allie finds herself in the center of yet another plot for power. In the end it becomes a fight of wills, and if she isn't careful the fight could cost her much more; all her memories, her magical powers, even her life.Allie's father is like the ghost that just will not quit. I found myself saying "You died in the first book, now just go away show more already!" Poor Allie has had so much thrown at her in such a short amount of time. She really has had to learn to pick up the pieces. While she is not physically strong, she has the tenacity and willpower of a tiger. It has become clear that she is incredibly powerful even though she does not realize this herself. She doubts herself and her powers, and I think that isn't always a bad thing. Overconfidence is a very dangerous thing for someone in a world like hers. There was a good amount of progression in the relationship between Allie and Zayvion, and my earlier frustration at their starting over because of her memory loss is gone. I think this time around will work much better for them, and helps build the interest in the series. I look forward to Allie building her confidence and powers so she can protect the ones she loves, as that is her greatest wish. show less

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Magic in the Shadows

Magic has not only physically marked Allie’s skin, but it’s also implanted the remnants of her father’s soul inside her mind. The two never had a good relationship while he was alive and now he’s living inside her head. Allie’s only hope of exercising her father is the secret magical organization called The Authority. But they may wipe her ability to do magic quicker than they will help her. Allie must prove to The Authority she isn’t a danger to herself or society. All the while waging a mental war with her father.

Knowing Allie’s father is living inside her mind, and most likely able to see and hear everything she does, brings an extra level of show more unsettledness to the story. Allie herself begins to feel awkward and insecure as she begins to question everything she does in her personal and professional life. Of course, it doesn’t help that Allie has no way to escape her father whispering condescension in her ear. Not to mention the memories Devon Monk introduces to the storyline of his treatment of her and his misuse of Influence, making Allie do things in life (and now in his death) she hated.

Though some of the comments he makes about her choices aren’t entirely unfounded. Emphasis on some as his character is entirely controlling and slimy. Allie throws herself at danger. Thankfully she has characters who support her and look out for her well being. But it would help if she listened to their advice. Magic in the Shadows is an action-packed ride, but the incentive for the action needed to deviate away from Allie’s bad choices. It seems to be a common theme throughout these reviews, but the plot is littered with repetitiveness. Between Allie doing everything people told her not to, and the disturbing imagery from her father and the Veiled, the writing needs a refresh.

But there is a plethora of new information given to the reader on the nature of magic and its uses. Not to mention some underlying tension and mystery from secondary characters who make their first appearance in this novel. With an abundance of potential, it’s hard not to demand the next book just to see what direction the story will take. Here’s to hoping with all the exciting new threads introduced, the story will grow less repetitive. show less

Is it strange that I'm knee-deep in this series and one of my most prominent, recurring thoughts is, "Argh, Allie, buy a car already!" I mean, the girl is a billionaire or near enough to it - even if her father's will is processing slowly, you'd think she'd have the spare cash to get herself a set of wheels? Instead she's always taking cabs or cadging rides off of people and it's really starting to get on my nerves.

So far I have a love/hate relationship with this series. There are a lot of things in it that I love, a lot of others - some nitpicky like Allie needing a car, others more substantial - that get on my nerves. Some of them are essential to the series and probably make it better. For example: Allie's relationship with her show more father. She spends all this time trying to get him out of her head...but a couple of times she gets a real opportunity to kick him out and doesn't take it. That drives me crazy, but it's realistic. It's hard to hate a parent, or condemn a parent's soul to the endless torments of hell.

I did NOT like the storyline centered on Allie joining the Authority. Allie seems really casual about it, like, "Guess I have to join, oh well," a little mocking and suspicious but that's all. I found the Authority increasingly awful as the book went on and I didn't understand why Allie was even going through the motions to join. Especially when Allie tells Maeve one day that Cody changed her, bringing out the tattoos on her arms, and the next day she finds out that Zavion Closed him. That made me so mad. Am I the only person who remembers that Cody knew glyphs for healing? And since Allie's memory was wiped, those glyphs are gone. Just generally though, all the Authority people seem high-handed and mean, more like villains than allies.

Allie seem to have a highly variable level of intelligence. One second she's smart and strategic. The next she's dumb as a box of rocks. There's one scene where she tries a spell on a bad guy and the spell doesn't work at all. So Zavion warns her: don't use that spell, it will only make the bad guy stronger. Then, a few chapters later, she ends up in a situation with the same bad guy. She promises to stay back and observe, and then she gets another warning: remember, that kind of magic won't do any good, don't use it! So Allie's like, sure, of course not! What does she do? Yep, she tries the same stupid useless spell and gets herself into trouble.

Stuff like that drives me bonkers. And when you compare scenes like that one, where she only seems to know a grand total of three spells and doesn't apply them very well, verses other scenes where she does incredibly complex magic and achieves seemingly impossible things, I start to wonder if the world building and characters are properly constructed and consistent.

Lastly...much as I like Zayvion Jones as a character and a love interest - three and four books down the line he remains really fascinating and mysterious and charismatic - the opening scene where they go on a fancy date was really boring. Usually Allie and Zayvion have pretty snappy, funny dialogue but that whole sequence dragged like nobody's business. So boo to that. show less

Good enough. Moving onto the next one. I still like Zayvion better than the main character--he seems to know that brains are for using, but I have a gripe about him as well--what's with all the freaking secrecy?

This my favourite book in this series. The world building is fantastic and I’m loving all the history of Magic. The secondary characters are more prominent and fleshed out a little more than in books 1 and 2, although there are lots of them, and they all have different roles, it doesn’t make it too confusing. I loves Shamus. He is definitely my favourite and I really do hope to see more of him in future books. However, Allie is still grating on my nerves. Her attitude sometimes is damn right annoying, acting like a stroppy 13 year old instead of a young woman in her early twenties. She still listens to no one, putting people in danger because “how dare they tell/advise/suggest her to do anything that might keep her alive”. show more Don’t get me wrong, I’m still enjoying this series I just hope (again) that she grows/learns in the future… and soon show less

Wow I mean wow. Let just suffice to say that I LOVE THIS BOOK. This is the third book in the Allie Beckstrom series, and chosen to be my absolute favorite of this series. Magic in the Shadows turned a corner in the series with this book. Allie is no longer following a endless tunnel of uncertainty. She has found friends and build relationship that have not failed with her memory loss. Devon Monk appeared to have become comfortable with her writing in this book, and soared through this amazing novel with grace. Allie and Zayvion maintain a relationship that can leave you breathless, and continue to raise the bar with every book. I was very impressed by the change of character for Zayvion in this book. I think Monk as maintained the great show more guy persona for Zayvion through the beginning of this series, but with the turn of magic in this book he has turned to the kick ass and take names bad boy; that we all know and love. Although, the overall feel of this book shifted moderately for me series has continued a sorrowful feel for Allie and her situations, but I have to say I did not feel this at all with this novel. I felt uplifted upon concluding Magic in the Shadow, and I can not wait for the next book. show less