Trace of Magic (Diamond City Magic, #1) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Title: Trace of Magic
Series: Diamond City Magic
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback; 252 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (August 29, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1611945143
ISBN-13: 978-1611945140
Author's Website: http://www.dianapfrancis.com/
Notes: I borrowed a copy from my library.

'Everybody leaves a magical trail of sorts, like an indelible ribbon unrolling behind them. It isn’t actually on this plane, but in a sort of other dimension that only tracers like me can see. It fades pretty quick for most tracers, disappearing in a matter of hours or maybe a week or two if they are really strong. It never fades for me. I can even see dead trace. It can be tricky to follow, and doing it can leave you vulnerable to the spirit world. I try not to follow dead trace if I can help it. Altogether, those talents make me a unicorn, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Loch Ness Monster all rolled into one. In a word, I am unique. A very special snowflake.'

'Here’s my one rule: I try very hard not to be stupid. I don’t take the same path home every night, I sleep with a gun under my pillow, I reinforce my nulls every day, I stay out of the spotlight, and I avoid the cops and the Tyet whenever humanly possible. '

'I wasn’t interested in becoming anybody’s puppet, and as long as I was a relative nobody on the Tyet food chain, I had free rein to find out who’d killed my mother and what had happened to my father. Not that I was making any headway. I had zero clues.'

'In the last decade or so, Diamond City had reverted to something of an Old West/mafia war zone. Way back when diamonds were first discovered here, there’d been a huge rush followed by massive territory wars. Eventually the Tyet had emerged—basically a united consortium of very bad people who ran the diamond trade and the town. Our most lauded town hero, Zachary Kensington, had brokered that pact somehow, bringing order from chaos. But then something happened about ten years ago and all hell broke loose. A lot of it had to do with a changing idea of what the Tyet could or should do and various factions wanting more money, more power, more, more, more. A drug trade had entered the scene as well—Sparkle Dust, or SD.'

This is Riley Hollis' story and her life is about to change irrevocably...

This was a fast paced thrill ride of a read with a lot going on. Riley Hollis is a smart, kind hearted, and loyal person. She also has a magical talent that if word got out about would be highly sought after and her life would no longer be her own. No one can do what she can do. With very few exceptions, she could potentially follow a person's trace from the day they died back to the day they were born and vice versa. The only person's trace she hasn't been able to follow is her father's who went missing several years back.

They say no good deed goes unpunished and Riley's latest case of finding a missing teen puts her on the radar of Clay Price, a cop with known ties to Gregg Touray who is one of the leading crime bosses of the Tyet. What first seems like a problem quickly turns into a blessing when she needs his help finding her sister's ex-fiance, Josh. Josh's apartment shows signs of a struggle and blood. Lots of it. When the FBI starts nosing around and implicating him in all sorts of crimes, Riley knows she's in over her head. She'll need someone with more influence and connections than she has to solve this one and get him out alive.

Riley doesn't know what to make of Clay. He actually seems like a fairly decent cop despite his involvement with Touray, but she doesn't trust him one little bit. To complicate matters, Riley finds herself seriously attracted to the man and the feeling is mutual. The more she's with him the more the attraction seems to grow.

I absolutely loved this one and couldn't help but give it 5 out of 5 roses. It's a wonderful story that grabbed my attention from the get-go and kept it straight through till the end. Riley's talent is reminiscent of that found in the Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder series. The world Ms. Francis created reminded me a little of Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series where crime bosses tend to have their hands in everything and magic is common place. The drama in this one runs high as does the action. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. This was a well written and highly entertaining read. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Order of the Diamond City Magic series:

Release Day Review of Shades of Memory (Diamond City Magic, #4) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Title: Shades of Memory (The Diamond City Magic Novels)
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Diamond City Magic, #4
Format: Paperback; 272 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (November 3, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1611948371
ISBN-13: 978-1611948370
Author's Website: http://www.dianapfrancis.com/
Notes: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Most of Riley Hollis' life has been spent in the shadows--staying out of trouble, avoiding both the cops and the Tyet (magical mob) whenever humanly possible, and keeping under the radar. There are five major kinds of magic in the world: tracer, maker, binder, dreamer, traveller. Riley is a tracer. Everybody leaves a magical trail of sorts, like an indelible ribbon unrolling behind them. It isn’t actually on this plane, but in a sort of other dimension that only tracers like Riley can see. It fades pretty quick for most tracers, disappearing in a matter of hours or maybe a week or two if they are really strong. For Riley it never fades. She can even track those who have died. This makes her a highly sought after commodity by the Tyet who would love to use and control her skills.

Riley uses her talent to find missing children. Just months ago while working a case she caught the attention of Clay Price. Price was a cop with connections to Gregg Touray. Touray is one of the top Tyet bosses in the city. What Riley didn't realize at the time was that Price is Gregg Touray's brother. To complicate matters even more, she found herself undeniably attracted to Price and the feeling was mutual. Their relationship took off, but eventually her secrets were revealed in front of the biggest Tyet kingpins in Diamond City. Price then struck a bargain with his brother to put Riley under Gregg's protection. 

A lot can and has happened in a short period of time. As Riley realizes a major power struggle is about to go down in Diamond City, she has to figure out a way to keep herself and her family safe. Aligning herself with Touray is looking less and less like the right choice. Her decision on how to handle things will change everything...

This is the fourth book in the Diamond City Magic series. If you haven't read any of the previous books in the series, I strongly encourage you to do so. The books build on one another and if you skip one, you'll miss out on some of the finer nuances of the relationships between the characters, the intricacies of the world, and the complexities of Riley's current situation. Just be aware this series is highly addictive and it's hard to stop with just one. So you may want to set aside some time for yourself to read these. I devoured the series pretty quickly and can't wait for the next book to come out.

One of the things I like about this series is the relationship between Riley and Price. Being a cop and Touray's brother made Riley want absolutely nothing to do with him in the beginning. The attraction between them, however, once they actually got to know one another was intense. All of Price's instincts scream for him to protect Riley and put her somewhere safe where nothing can harm her, but over time he's come to the realization he has to let her spread her wings and fly. If he doesn't, he'll lose her--and that is something he never wants to have happen. In the time the two have known one another, Price has helped Riley grow as an individual and come into her own. This time Riley gets to return the favor.

This book is a real game changer. Riley must make some hard decisions and will need a little help from both her family and friends. Things in Diamond City are about to change in a big way and Riley will be in the middle of it all. Relationships will be tested, lives will be put on the line, and a new threat will enter into the fray making for a highly intense, compelling, and gripping read.   

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. I love this dynamic duo and the world Ms. Francis has created. The chemistry between Price and Riley is off the charts, and I love the way they banter back and forth. Price gives as good as he gets from Riley which keeps her on her toes. Be forewarned, however, that this one ends abruptly in a huge cliffhanger. Gah! (If you heard someone screaming loudly last night that was probably me shouting, "NOOOOOOoooooooo!" **smirk**) On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale this one earned a FAN rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. I highly recommend this series. This series is destined for my keeper shelf.

Order of the Diamond City Magic series:

Early Review of Blood Winter (Horngate Witches, #4) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

• Title: Blood Winter (Horngate Witches)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Format: Paperback; 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (December 26, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 1451613865
• ISBN-13: 978-1451613865

Author's website: http://www.dianapfrancis.com/
Notes: I read the eARC of the book and quotes will need to be checked against the finished version.
"The Lord of Heaven and Earth bids us not suffer a witch to live," the man declared in a singsong cadence. "We must not suffer evil in our midst, or we will become evil; we will defile our Lord's name by our very existence. We must do His work, no matter the cost. He sacrificed His only son for us; we must be willing to sacrifice no less for Him!"

Someone claiming to be the right hand of God is threatening Horngate and the surrounding communities. They've managed to bypass Horngate's wards and have made their intentions clear. What the "preacher" doesn't say is the bible also warns to beware of false prophets, which the man wearing sandals and a long beige cotton robe belted with a rope clearly is. In fact, the "prophet" himself is a witch for otherwise he and his followers would never have been able to breach the wards which protect Horngate from outsiders.

Additionally, Divine creatures, some of which were thought to be extinct, are popping up all over the surrounding areas. If all that is going on can be attributed to the witch claiming to be a prophet of God, then he is a powerful witch indeed. It may take all or more power than Giselle and her coven possess to overcome this enemy. With the previous attack still fresh in her memory, Max vows, "No one--no one--was going to get away with attacking her home again. She didn't care what she had to do to protect it and the people within. This was her home, her family. She'd kill anyone who threatened them." 

__________________________

This is the fourth book in the Horngate Witches series. Because there is so much to the Horngate series' world, I highly recommend you read the previous books to the series. While some may be able to pick up enough without reading the previous stories, I feel you'd cheat yourself out of the whole experience the series has to offer by doing so. I was first introduced to this series a year ago by the publisher, and when they told me they had copies of Blood Winter available for review, I immediately put in a request for one. Ms. Francis never fails to entertain me with this series.

While the name implies the books focus on witches, Max, a Prime Shadowblade, is the primary focus of the series. Shadowblades are individuals who were once human but have been magically altered by a witch to never age, be physically stronger and faster, and to have the ability to heal from just about any injury. In trade, they are unable to disobey the witch who created them, are no longer able to have children, and cannot venture out into sunlight. Additionally, they originally needed to leave their friends and loved ones along with their old lives behind. A witch is supposed to get permission from the individual they turn and, while technically Giselle did ask, she'd gotten Max drunk and the question was posed more as a hypothetical one than a true question. For thirty years after her transition, Max had hated Giselle, her one time best friend, for what she'd done and what she'd taken from her. When the Guardians, however, unleashed the flood of magic back into the world,  Giselle allowed Max to save her family and bring them back to Horngate to keep them safe. Since then, she no longer hates, but neither does she like Giselle, and she's come to terms with what she is, a Shadowblade.

In Blood Winter, a so called religious sect called Earth's Last Stand is displaying cult like behavior and being lead by a witch claiming to be a "prophet" of the Lord. The group is bringing murder, mayhem and corruption to Missoula and threatening Horngate. The man in charge, Benjamin Sterling, seems to have no problem killing and torturing witches and humans alike under the guise of the Lord's will. While sometimes bringing a religious angle into a series can be a  poor move on the part of an author, I felt it fit in nicely with what is going on in the world Ms. Francis has created. With a magical apocalypse taking place, it seems almost natural for a magical entity to attempt to gain power using religion to mask their evil doings. Desperate times tend to blur the lines between what some people will consider acceptable behavior, especially when survival becomes their utmost goal. People will follow whoever can offer them the best chance at survival, which can force them to follow the wrong person or people. To defeat this enemy, Max will have to use both her might and brains to rescue herself and others and not everyone will come out of this one alive.

Besides trying to save Horngate and the surrounding areas, Max's personal life is in disarray. Alexander senses Max is holding back emotionally from their relationship and wants her to break down the barriers between them. Considering her last relationship, which incidentally was thirty years ago, left a lot to be desired, she's not sure how. She's guarded her emotions for so long, she seems to know no other way.

Why is the book called Blood Winter? Well, I believe it's because the book takes place in winter and there are so many lives lost that the author chose to name it Blood Winter. A winter so bloody with death, no other name would do.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Plenty of monsters, drama, action, close calls, and seemingly impossible situations. There is a major twist in this one which I didn't see coming and enjoyed watching unfold. I highly recommend the book and the series. I love Ms. Francis' imagination and always look forward to seeing what she'll have up her sleeve for her next book. If your looking for a roller coaster read with characters you can relate and bond with, you may wish to give this series a try. This series definitely ranks among my favorites. I'm forgoing the romance rating because while there is a touch romance going on, I don't feel justified in calling it or rating it as a romance. Romance is not the central focus of the series and, for the majority of the story, the two seemed to be trying to define and solidify their relationship. So while there was a little bookie nookie at the beginning, I felt it was just used as a means of providing us a view into the dynamics of Max's and Alexander's relationship.

Order of Series:

Early Review of Shadow City (Horngate Witches, #3) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

• Title: Shadow City (Horngate Witches, #3)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
  
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
  
• Format: Paperback, 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (December 27, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1451613857
• ISBN-13: 978-1451613858
• Author's Website:  http://www.dianapfrancis.com/short-fiction/
• Notes: Contains some 'colorful' language and violence.

     
      "What do you want from me?" she asked carefully. She didn't want to anger it. She didn't know if she could survive another bout with its webs.
     "You."
    "Me?"
    "Yes. You will come to me. You will walk the web roads with me. You will speak to me truth and you will share your fire with me."
     Max swallowed. She didn't know what any of that meant. What had Giselle promised this creature? Not that it mattered. At the moment she needed to fetch the others and get into Horngate.
     "Sure, Scooter. Whatever blows your dress up." she said, not knowing if she'd just agreed to bear its children.  (Bitter Night - Horngate Witches #1; Page 304)

In 'Bitter Night', we learned Giselle made a deal with the devil, or god as the case may be, to keep the hidden back door entrance to Horngate protected. In exchange, she agreed to give him Max--once again proving how much Max's former best friend, Giselle, has no problem giving her a raw deal. In 'Crimson Wind', Max was able to hold off on her commitment to the nameless being until she rescued her family. Upon her return to the Horngate, she was whisked away by Scooter, as Max refers to the otherworldly creature. In this book, we finally find out what the godlike being has in store for Max, and it is definitely not a walk in the park.

While Max is away, Horngate is threatened by the birthing of a Fury outside its gates. It is said Fury's, aka Erinyes, "are born from the souls of women who have been brutally betrayed on a level that prevents their spirits from moving on."..."Their pain and betrayal are so deep and so massive because they embody the suffering of all women. Literally. It's an eternal reminder of what created them, as well as the source of their power. Their whole being is devoted to delivering justice and vengeance for the women who can't get it for themselves." According to Tutresiel, "When they rise, they are--" He grimaced and shook his head. "It is going to be ugly."  

There is so much going on in 'Shadow City'. The story toggles between what is going on with Max and what is going on at Horngate. Every time one of the stories gets really interesting the next chapter switches to the other story line. I was so tempted to skip chapters. The suspense was killing me.

We're introduced to new creatures and a new "world" in Max's portion of the story. Chandaré is the magical city Max travels to in order to help Scooter. He's the victim of betrayal, and he needs Max with her unique abilities to open locks and travel through the abyss, to get parts of him back. Years ago he was betrayed by friends who were envious of his power. They stole parts of him--his heart, silk, and horn. He waited for years for Max to come to his aid and time is running out. He is dying and only has a short time left in which to avoid death. Max knowing exactly what it's like to have a friend betray you, vows to make Scooter whole again or die trying.           

On the home front, there is the mystery of who the woman is that is becoming a Fury and what happened to her. There is also the drama of how to stop her from destroying the covenstead. Plus, not everyone will survive this one.

Why is the book called Shadow City? Well, here is the dialogue that I believe gave the book it's name:
"What's Chandaré? Where is it?"
"It's inside the abyss. It is the city of shadows."

Lastly, Max and Alexander finally get together. Yay! It only took till the third book, but it was worth it. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a rating of STEAM - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. Overall, I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses and am loving the series.

Order of series:

Crimson Wind (Horngate Witches, #2) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

• Title: Crimson Wind (Horngate Witches, #2)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre:  Urban Fantasy
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (December 28, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 1416598154
• ISBN-13: 978-1416598152  
• Author's website: http://www.dianapfrancis.com/
  

     "A war for what? About what?"
     "Magic--the very existence of it. Once it was everywhere--like the wind and rain. But then humans came along and started finding ways to kill it. Bit by bit it has disappeared. Many Uncanny and Divine creatures have died off or hidden themselves deep underground or inside magical pocket realms. The way things are going all magic is going to disappear forever. The Guardians have decided that they will not allow this."
     "The Guardians? As in mythical gods?" Max asked in disbelief. They were the bogeyman stories of Loch Ness monsters--constantly seen but never existed. 
     "They are not mythical, and no one is all that sure that they are gods, either."...
     "To prevent the destruction of all magic," Giselle continued, ignoring Max's barb, "the Guardians will raise armies. They will unleash a maelstrom of magic so that the earth itself strikes against humanity. They mean to slaughter most of the people and let magic return to the world. (From 'Bitter Night' - Horngate Witches #1; pages 75 - 76)

In 'Bitter Night', Max was warned by a Hag that war was coming, and Giselle confirmed and clarified the vague warning. In 'Crimson Wind', the war comes into full force and the race is on to save Max's real family (with Giselle's blessing). She's going home for the first time in over thirty years. She's both excited to see her family again and nervous as to how they'll handle her return. For years she stayed away from them to protect them from the world she lives in. For she'd never wish this life on anyone, not even herself.  But right before setting out on rescue mission, Magpie gives the following ominous prediction to Alexander, "The amulet is coming to you. It will give you your heart's desire. You will be Prime." While Alexander knows what amulet Magpie is referring to, he fears that it means Max won't survive the rescue because he vows to never take the position of Prime from her.

In 'Crimson Wind', the second of the Horngate series, Max and Alexander get closer. Alexander reveals his feelings for Max, and with all that is going on, Max really doesn't have time to analyze her feelings. She knows she's attracted to him, but she has no idea what her future with Scooter, the godlike creature Giselle had "gifted" her to, will hold.

We finally get to meet Max's family. When she disappeared from college over thirty years ago it was thought she'd been the victim of a serial killer. Once she'd been made into a Shadowblade, Giselle threatened to kill her family if she made contact with them. Now that magic is out of the bag, so to speak, Giselle has agreed to allow Max's family sanctuary at Horngate. 

With the Magic war going into full force, it appears to be the end of the world as we know it. Lives will be lost as well as saved, just as the Hag predicted. Max will learn things about her family she didn't know and, while attempting to save her family, pick up some additional strays. This seems to be a habit with Max.

Why is the book entitled Crimson Wind? I believe it has to do with this verse, "They'd have to run for the coast and hope they got there before the crimson wind trapped them in the valley." The crimson wind was basically wild magic unleashed by guardians upon the world.

I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I am enjoying the sexual tension between Alexander and Max.

Order of series:

Bitter Night (Horngate Witches, #1) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

• Title: Bitter Night (Horngate Witches, #1)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
  
• Format: Paperback, 387 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (October 27, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1416598146
• ISBN-13: 978-1416598145
• Author's website:  http://www.dianapfrancis.com/

What would you do to live forever? What would you give to stay eternally young? What would you do to have your senses heightened and your body strengthened to the point of being supernatural? What would you give up for all of those things combined? Think about it. Would you give up your free will and, in effect, become a slave to someone else's wishes? To be unable to say, "No"? Would you be willing to give up all your hopes and dreams? How about your family? Would you be willing to kill others?

Well, Max was asked if she'd like to live forever, never get old, and have supernaturally enhanced strength and senses only she never got the chance to really think about it or what she'd have to give up if she said yes. After a few too many drinks with her best friend, Giselle asked those questions. Not really taking them seriously and thinking her BF was just having some fun, she said, "Sure." Months later she woke up to find her life would never be the same.

Welcome to Max's world.

"In forging a coven, a witch created warriors to serve and protect her. Some took their power from the sun, the dark poisoning them. Some took their power from the shadows, the sun--even reflected from the moon--burning their flesh. Sunspears and Shadowblades." The day Giselle took away Max's free will she made her into a Shadowblade, but not just any Shadowblade, she made her Prime. A Prime Shadowblade or Prime Sunspear is in charge of the other individuals of her or his kind in the coven. The Shadowspears protect during the night while the Sunspears protect during the light. Max's world consists of  both Uncanny (the magic of those who could not cast spells or share their magic--like Max) and Divine (the magic of those who could cast spells and share their magic--like Giselle) magic.

In this book, Max is given an ominous prophecy by a Hag. "There will be war. It stands already on the threshold. Many, many will die. The world will be remade. Soon you will stand at a crossroads. You can choose fire or you can choose blood. Be warned either power will have a cost. Lives will be saved and lives will be lost." Now she'll have to protect her coven from magical outsiders because not only is war coming, but someone has decided Horngate will play a large part in the war and whoever controls it, might determine the outcome of the war. Be prepared for twists, turns, and a magical ride.

When I first started reading this book I assumed the main character was going to be a witch or a group of witches. I was pleasantly surprised to find the main character was Max, a Witch's servant. She's been wronged and feels it's her duty to protect others from meeting the same fate as her. She's honest to a fault, but in the magical world it's refreshing, and I think that is what lures so many into befriending her to the point of laying down their lives for her. That is the ironic thing about Max, she instills a sense of loyalty which Giselle, the head witch of the coven, seems to only gain through the use of compulsion spells. Besides her honesty she is also smart, strong, but the ultimate bad @ss when she needs to be.

Alexander, a Prime from another coven is another interesting character. While Max was illegally trespassing on another coven's land, Max's and Alexander's paths cross. While Max had the opportunity to kill him, she opted not to, and later the two form an unlikely friendship. During the book we get to hear Alexander's tale as to how he became a Shadowblade. It's much different from Max's tale.

The world Ms. Francis has created is fun and intriguing. The relationship formed between witches and their warriors is interesting and original. I also liked the dynamics of all the warriors to their Primes. While still tied to their witches whose bidding they must do, they still manage to form a camaraderie and loyalty amongst themselves. 

I gave this one 5 out 5 roses. I thought it was a nice mix of action and drama. I could empathize with the main character and enjoyed all the secondary characters as well.

Mountains around Missoula, Montana where Horngate supposedly resides:

Order of Series: