Magic at the Gate
Table of Contents
Praise for the Allie Beckstrom Novels
Magic in the Shadows
“Ms. Monk sweeps readers up in the drama and dangers of the heroine’s life as it steadily changes and grows.
Magic in the Shadows
is an intriguing read with fascinating characters and new magical elements introduced to the mix.”
—Darque Reviews
“Delicious . . . action-packed, and full of magic, this series is really starting to hit the Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong level. Deep, dark, and addictive with a great leading lady. . . . Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop. Give Devon Monk a chance and try the Allie Beckstrom series. You will not be disappointed.” —Amberkatze’s Book Blog
“Mystery, romance, and magic cobbled together in what amounts to a solid page-turner.”
—SFFWorld
“[This] series is one of my favorites . . . a well-written story with likable and realistic characters.
Magic in the Shadows
is a fun urban fantasy with strong world building and characters readers can enjoy following.”
—BSCreview
Magic in the Blood
“Tight, fast, and vividly drawn . . . features fresh interpretations of the paranormal, strong characters dealing with their share of faults and flaws, and ghoulish plot twists. Fans of Patricia Briggs or Jim Butcher will want to check out this inventive new voice.”
—Monsters and Critics
“Ms. Monk weaves a unique tale of dark magic that will keep readers at the edge of their seat[s].
Magic in the Blood
is so thoroughly described that the creepy bits will have you thinking of magic and ghosts long after you’ve finished the story. Fast moving and gripping, it will leave you wanting more.”
—Darque Reviews
“One heck of a ride through a magical, dangerous Portland . . . imaginative, gritty, sometimes darkly humorous. . . .An unputdownable book,
Magic in the Blood
is one fantastic read.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“[A] highly creative series about magic users in a world much like our own, filled with greed and avarice. I love the character of Allie and she is just getting better and stronger as the series continues. . . . If you love action, magic, intrigue, good-versus-evil battles, and pure entertainment, you will not want to miss this series.”
—Manic Readers
Magic to the Bone
“Loved it. Fiendishly original and a stay-up-all-night read. We’re going to be hearing a lot more of Devon Monk.”
—Patricia Briggs,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Bone Crossed
“Gritty setting, compelling, fully realized characters, and a frightening system of magic-with-a-price that left me awed.”
—Rachel Vincent,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Shift
“Highly original and compulsively readable. Don’t pick this one up before going to bed unless you want to be up all night!”
—Jenna Black, author of
The Devil’s Playground
“An exciting new addition to the urban fantasy genre. It’s got a truly fresh take on magic and Allie Beckstrom is one kick-ass protagonist!”
—Jeanne C. Stein, national bestselling author of
Retribution
“The prose is gritty and urban, the characters mysterious and marvelous, and Monk creates a fantastic and original magic system that intrigues and excites. A promising beginning to a new series. I’m looking forward to more.”
—Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of
Thresholds
“Monk’s reimagined Portland is at once recognizable and exotic, suffused with her special take on magic, and her characters are vividly rendered. The plot pulled me in for a very enjoyable ride!”
—Lynn Flewelling, author of
The White Road
“Clever and compulsively readable. . . . Allie’s internal and external struggles are brilliantly and tightly written, creating a multifaceted character who will surprise, amuse, amaze, and absorb readers.”
—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“Devon Monk has created a cool new heroine in Allie Beckstrom. . . . She has developed a system of magic that is intriguing and distinct from those filling urban fantasies by the score. . . . With a strong heroine, a great setting, and an interesting new system of magic,
Magic to the Bone
is likely to give urban fantasy readers more of what they want: a worthy read. Recommended.”
—SFRevu
“Devon Monk is casting a spell on the fantasy world. . . . Allie is a convincing, street-smart heroine. . . . Monk has done an outstanding job creating a gritty, authentic-feeling urban fantasy on par with Rob Thurman or John Levitt. It should be interesting to watch how this series develops.”
—Monsters and Critics
“With style and a magical world that is quite fresh, Monk explodes on the scene and makes a few waves. . . . For sheer guts, stubbornness, and determination, they don’t come much feistier than Allie.”
—
Romantic Times
“Monk makes a grand entrance with her debut novel, captivating readers with a well-imagined tale of magic and suspense.
Magic to the Bone
delves into a dark-edged magic and adds a touch of romance that keeps the heroine more human than those around her. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next portion of Allie’s journey takes her.”
—Darque Reviews
“An intelligent, entertaining mystery. The kick-butt heroine is strong and independent. . . . Exciting fun, readers will look forward to more adventures of Allie.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“The characters are anything but stereotypical. They defy expectations and truly come alive on the page. The use of magic in here is new and fantastically riveting. The plot is complex and wonderful, with excellent twists and turns. The not-particularly-explicit sex scenes are searingly hot in an unusually ‘real’ kind of way, and the emotions are incredibly poignant. Simply put, I can’t do this book justice. You’ll have to read it for yourself.”
—Errant Dreams Reviews
“
Magic to the Bone
is a breath of fresh air in the urban fantasy genre, in much the same way that Ilona Andrews’s Kate Daniels series is a breath of fresh air. Instead of the same tired werewolf/ vampire soap opera that so many novels perpetuate,
Magic to the Bone
is more concerned with the ramifications of adding magic to modern society and exploring the realistic consequences . . . an exciting and often poignant story. . . . Devon Monk shows the potential to be a standout writer in the subgenre. Most importantly, I could not put this book down; I read it in two nights, with only work and sleep coming between me and the pages. Well done.”
—Fantasy Literature
“A unique character, her interior quips are humorous. . . . The humor blends with the drama to make it stronger. Devon Monk has created some fantastic characters to inhabit her suspenseful story. The ending indicates this might be the beginning of a series, which is wonderful, because the story is as addictive as the use of magic, earning
Magic to the Bone
a perfect ten.”
—Romance Reviews Today
Also by Devon Monk
Magic to the Bone
Magic in the Blood
Magic in the Shadows
Magic on the Storm
ROC
Published by New American Library, a division of
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First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, November 2010
Copyright © Devon Monk, 2010
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eISBN : 978-1-101-44507-5