5++ stars for The Reluctant Mage: Mage of Boston Series, Book One #uf #urbanfantasy #bookreview
top of page
  • N. N. Light
    • Apr 24, 2023
    • 3 min read

5++ stars for The Reluctant Mage: Mage of Boston Series, Book One #uf #urbanfantasy #bookreview



Title: The Reluctant Mage: Mage of Boston Series, Book One

Author: Journey Windrow

Genre: Urban Fantasy


Book Blurb:


FAERIES, TROLLS, AND VAMPIRES—IS IT THE END OF THE MUNDANE REALM? I lost The Great War of the Elflands and everyone I loved. Then the Guild of Light Mages appointed me, Miranda Hunter, as Mage-in-Charge of Boston. Harpies and hornpipes! MUNDANES BREACHED THE VEIL TO THE REALMS OF MAGIC. How? Got me. I'm no quantum mechanic. Predatory preternaturals are pouring in like some joker put up a sign that says THIS WAY TO MUNDANIA. THERE ARE TROLLS IN TUNNELS. Can’t mundanes identify troll stench? Nope. They don’t believe in myth and magic. BABIES ARE MISSING. Changeling fae kids turn up, leaving mundane parents looking for their missing children. The mystery is how to get them back. A VANISHED GIRL Add one transportation spell to faery and it’s a magical abduction. WITH PRETERNATURAL PREDATORS STALKING ME WITH INTENT TO KILL, HOW DO I SAVE EVERYONE ELSE? There's only me, my hellhound, and my sidekick, Nigel-the-Absent, to protect the mundane world. I need sleep and calories to fuel my magic. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? With my sort-of-dead husband winding through my mind like a ghost, I’m drowning in self-doubt. I SHOULD PACK SOME SNACKS!



My Review:


Miranda is the only one who can protect the mundane (human) world against the horde of paranormal creatures but who is behind the abduction of babies? Wow, this book is a thrilling urban fantasy I simply couldn’t put down. The world-building is original and brilliant. The characters are vibrant and leap off the page. The plot is written with precision and moves at a fast pace. The dialogue and action compete for top billing. What makes this an unputdownable read is the heroine, Miranda. She’s the magnet that holds everything in its place.


It all starts with the world-building. Never in my life have I read such a complex world as this one. The author has built a world, brick by brick, and it’s a feast for the reader’s imagination. Visually, it’s described down to the very last detail. What is familiar to urban fantasy readers suddenly gets twisted in a brand new way. I love urban fantasy and this one is the best I’ve ever read.


The heroine, Miranda, is the straw that stirs the drink in this tale. Everything revolves around her, including narration, POV, and dialogue. The reader instantly connects with Miranda and her humorous yet sarcastic personality. Some might call her a morally grey character. I like to think of her as a survivalist. She’s been through trauma I can’t even imagine. But even through it all, she maintains her snarky vibe.


What can I say? I adored this book and can’t wait for more! If you are a true urban fantasy reader, you need to read this book right now. If you love sarcastic heroes/heroines, this book is for you. The best urban fantasy I’ve ever read. Remember this author’s name for she is an up and comer in the publishing industry.


My Rating: 5++ stars


Buy it Now:

Get your e-copy on sale for 99 cents or free to read on Kindle Unlimited!







Author Biography:


Journey Windrow was born to wander and didn’t have to join the Navy to see the world. A jeans and t-shirt gal, she has curly magenta and purple hair, a twisted sense of humor, and is inseparable from her senior pup. You can sometimes find Journey in the wild at writers conferences. The Reluctant Mage, her first urban fantasy novel in a series, is set in Boston, where Mage Miranda, like Journey, runs on Dunkin’. Enjoy a wild ride of action, adventure, magic, love, loss, dark humor, and the meaning of family.


Social Media Links:


Counter Social @J_Windrow


Reviewed by: Nancy

Tags:

bottom of page