Jaye Wells, the author of the Sabina Kane series, is back with a new series featuring Babylon Police Officer Kate Prospero. Kate is a character who has been trying for TEN years to remain on the straight and narrow after turning her back on her families heritage and the use of dirty magic after a tragic event set her on a course to try to regain the ability to hold her held up high while also raising her younger brother Danny away from magic itself.
As a beat cop who patrols the area of Babylon known as the Cauldron which features several covens who may or may not get along with the others, Kate has to put up with both forms of magic; clean and dirty even though clean is supposed to be regulated by the government. She has also had to deal with prejudices in her own police department thanks to her being an ADEPT and having the ability to break down potions and tell what's in them.
After Kate kills a suspect wanted for murder, it leads to her being assigned to the Magic Enforcement Agency (MEA) under Special Agent Miranda Gardner and a reunion, of sorts, with her EX who becomes a prime suspect in the distribution of a highly potent and lethal potion. As someone who knows the ins and outs of the Cauldron and the covens attached to it, Kate brings a totally different prospective to the groups desire to reign in and stop dirty magic in its tracks.
But, there is a cost for everything which Kate quickly finds out. Will she end up breaking her TEN year hiatus in the use of dirty magic? Can she save her brother and keep him from joining the family business? Can she avoid once again falling into bad habits when her ex tries to lure Kate into doing something that she's promised never to do again; cook dirty magic?
Dirty Magic is an interesting story that should keep fans of Wells Sabina Kane series happy and coming back for more. After reading the Q&A portions of the novel, I actually look forward to the sequel and seeing what happens with Uncle Abe, as well as John Volos who has made things especially personal for Kate. I also want to know if Wells intends to give Kate a love interest, or focus on her determination, and courage in keeping magic from getting out hand.
Dirty Magic is fairly fast paced novel that doesn't leave readers hanging off the side of the cliff waiting for the sequel to be released. From the Q&A, Babylon is based on a Rust Belt city of Cleveland, and you can tell that she's done her research when it comes to police procedures while making life in Babylon dark, and challenging. I think readers will be fully engaged in Kate's determination and desire to do the right thing even though it may cost her personally.
Next up: Cursed Moon (The Prospero's War #2) releases August 12, 2014 by Orbit
*Recvd 12/13/2013 via Netgalley! *Expected publication: January 21st 2014 by Orbit
Author - Jaye Wells
Title - Dirty Magic (The Prospero's War # 1)
Published by Orbit
Released January 21, 2014
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Received from publisher via Netgalley
Thanks for the review. This is an interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this one before, but it sounds great.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I'm glad you liked it!
Kristen @OCA