Cold Burn of Magic

April 27, 2015
Estep (the Mythos Academy series) opens the Black Blade series with an indulgently fun romp full of "lochness" monsters, tree trolls, and housekeeping pixies. Seventeen-year-old Lila Merriweather is a "modern-day Robin Hood," stealing from the wealthy individuals who make their living on the tourist "rubes" eager to see monsters, "magicks," and more in Cloudburst Falls, W. Va. Lila is content to live in the shadows, far from the warring dynasty families who run the town and the memory of her mother's murder. Yet a chance encounter leaves her with no choice but to protect the heir of a prestigious family, the handsome and mysterious Devon Sinclair. Using her hidden talents and street smarts to stay ahead of Devon's attackers, Lila uncovers unpredictable betrayals and a sense of home she never thought possible. Though background details are repetitive, and the romantic scenes between Devon and Lila can be a bit clichéd, fierce Lila, talkative father figure Mo, and honeybeer-swilling pixie Oscar are well worth getting to know. Steeped in gripping action scenes, Estep's novel is a welcome twist on familiar fantasy themes. Ages 14âup. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

June 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Estep delivers an action-oriented urban fantasy that sticks close to genre conventions. Seventeen-year-old Lila is content to make a living stealing from the rich Families that control the magical town of Cloudburst Falls. She doesn't have much choice, since her mom was murdered four years earlier after defending the leaders of the powerful Sinclairs. Lila's life changes, when she witnesses an attack on sexy Devon Sinclair and risks her life to save him. The head of Devon's clan coerces Lila into becoming his bodyguard, even though he's the one her mom died defending. Estep's premise features a number of stock components (e.g., teenagers with talents, family feuds, an urban setting filled with real-life monsters), without adding any unique twists. Some minor characters, like the "redneck pixie with a heart of gold," add a touch of humor and whimsy. The villain, when finally revealed, speaks in stilted language, which diminishes the potential scare factor. Repetitive phrasing distracts from the story, and certain plot elements don't add up. VERDICT This first entry in this urban fantasy series may find an audience with die-hard genre fans.-Kimberly Ventrella, Southwest Oklahoma City Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2015
Grades 7-10 The town of Cloudburst, West Virginia, capitalizes on its pixies, magicks (citizens with magical abilities), and monsters to attract tourists, with all the profits going to members of moblike Families, chief among them are the Sinclairs and the Draconis. Lila Merriweather's mother died protecting Devon Sinclair, and 17-year-old street-smart Lila has managed to avoid entanglement with the Families until she saves the very same (but now older) Devon from an attack by an unknown assailant. She is blackmailed into becoming his bodyguard at a time when tensions between the Sinclairs and the Draconis are ready to ignite, but her gut feeling is that the threat may be coming from inside Devon's own family. This is a refreshing twist on the fighter-girl story, particularly due to the mobster framework, Estep's trademark subtle humor, and Lila's sassy first-person take on her world. Give this to established Estep fans, but also try it with fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Tattoo (2007) and Fate (2009).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)