Four years ago, my world—the world—exploded with wild magic. The cherry on top of that crap cake? The supernatural world declared war on humans, and my life went straight to hell.I used to be a detective, and a damned good one. Then Magicfall happened, and I changed along with the world. I’m witchkin now—something more than human or not quite human, depending on your perspective. To survive, I’ve … survive, I’ve become a scavenger, searching abandoned houses and stores for the everyday luxuries in short supply—tampons and peanut butter. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, but anything’s better than risking my secret.
Except, old habits die hard. When I discover a murder scene screaming with signs of black magic ritual, I know my days of hiding are over. Any chance I had of escaping my past with my secret intact is gone. Solving the witchkin murders is going to be the hardest case of my life, and not just because every second will torture me with reminders of how much I miss my old life and my partner, who hates my guts for abandoning the department.
But it’s time to suck it up, because if I screw this up, Portland will be wiped out, and I’m not going to let that happen. Hold on to your butts, Portland. Justice is coming, and I don’t take prisoners.
About the Author: Diana Pharaoh Francis is the acclaimed author of a dozen novels of fantasy and urban fantasy. Her books have been nominated for the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award and RT’s Best Urban Fantasy. The Witchkin Murders is the first book in her exciting new urban fantasy series—Magicfall.
Visit her at dianapfrancis.com, and find her on Facebook.
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The world exploded with wild magic and the supernatural world declared war on humans and Kayla life went straight to hell. She used to be a detective and now she’s witchkin and a scavenger trying to hide her secret. But any chance she had of escaping her past and keeping her secret disappears when she discovers a murder scene that screams whit signs of black magic ritual. She has to work with her old partner who hates her for abandoning the department and if she screws this up, Portland will be wiped out.
This new urban fantasy screams suspense and magic and while most of the story doesn’t have a lot of romance per say, it does hint at the possibility of a romantic feelings between Kayla and old partner Ray. The chemistry burns hot and heavy throughout the story as they clash, sending sparks flying in every direction. The relationship is chock full of emotional upheaval due to secrets that stem from what happened when magic fell. These two strong, bold characters along with strong supportive characters easily draw readers into their story as they struggle to come to terms with working together again and with how they really feel.
Readers can’t stop reading very fast paced and suspenseful story that is full of stunning twists that change everything in this post-apocalyptic world full of wild magic and monsters where the divide between humans and supernaturals is boiling over the top. Unique elements and a wonderfully descriptive futuristic setting makes it easy for readers to imagine so they really can’t help but this energetic and stunning read.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Magic has entered the world and pretty much completely changed it. Those who developed some type of power are known as witchkin and left to police themselves. The humans separate themselves which could be their downfall. There is some great world building going on, lots of action, some mystery, a touch of romance, and lots of surprises that will keep you turning the page until there are no more. Perfect for fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
I’ve been a fan of this author for a few years. I haven’t read everything she’s written as not everything appeals to me. When I saw this new series, I jumped at the chance to read it as it is just what I love. I was not disappointed. Great writing, intriguing characters, and an interesting plot make up this series starter. I love the way thing progressed in the story, and I am really looking forward to seeing more with the formation of something that happened at the end. And, speaking of the end, it threw me a little with a lot of romance (I don’t want to spoil the ending so I can’t say much) when I felt the book was more about the murders and the world. That’s not a bad thing, just a little confusing as the rest of the book didn’t focus so much on it. I do want to learn more about Kayla’s family and what happens now with everything that happens. I am really looking forward to more. Check it out if you like urban fantasy. Highly recommend, and I received a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
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I’ve had bad luck lately with paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but all in all, this one wasn’t terrible. (That’s where the bar has been set lately, it would seem.)
Plot overview: Four years before the story starts, magic exploded all over the world. There was a war between supernatural beings and humans. Chaos ensued. After it was all over and this story picks up, someone is murdering supernatural beings, and it’s up to 2 cops (both with a few supernatural secrets of their own) to solve the case.
If the plot sounds similar, it kind of is. There’s a very Kate Daniels feel to the way magic ended up ruining the world as humans knew it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, I love Ilona Andrews/Kate Daniels. But the been-there-done-that feel of it did leave me a tiny bit underwhelmed overall.
Kayla is the heroine. When she…transformed, shall we say, when magic hit, she had trouble adjusting and left her job as a detective, and her partner, Ray. Ray was pretty bitter about the whole thing. He was fairly mean to her in the beginning of the book, which got old quick for me. The whole I-care-about-you-but-I’m-too-alpha-to-tell-you-so-and-now-I’m-going-to-be-a-dick-to-you-because-of-it thing has never been my cuppa. I wanted Kayla to nut-punch Ray at a few points in the story and tell him to get the hell over himself.
Kayla’s self-loathing about her magical abilities bugged me a little, too. Why, in paranormal romance, can’t more heroines embrace their otherness and be happy about it? Why all the negativity?
The only other female character with a decent amount of page time is pretty awful. I’m not a fan of that, either. I prefer reads where women support each other instead of trying to tear each other down.
All the world-building info-dump material is right up front, too, which makes it hard to really get into this story.
BUT…
Once you’ve overlooked all that, this really isn’t a bad read. The pacing (after the slow beginning) is good, the characters are flawed and fairly interesting, and the action scenes are sufficiently…action-y. Kayla’s a good heroine. Once Ray stops being a dick to Kayla, he’s a pretty decent hero, too.
All-in-all, it’s decent, which is more than I can say for most of the paranormal romance and urban fantasy I’ve read from new-to-me authors lately. If you’re a fan of the genre, this one is probably worth your time.
Full disclosure: I received an ARC from Netgalley, free of charge.
4.5 CRANKY STARS
This turned out to be a story idea I hadn’t seen before now. The world we live in is suddenly changed and magic becomes a known entity. There have always been magical users living among us, but no one knew about it. Witches were a folklore and monsters just scary stories. Magic itself was thought to just be tricks easily explained. Suddenly several volcanoes in the area around Portland OR exploded and what rained down came to be known as MagicFall. All kinds of new terrain appeared; trees died,and rivers changed into dangerous waterways with suddenly developing whirlpools. But, the change to humans was at times subtle, and at times dramatic. For instance, the witchkin developed as a strange new species. They could shape shift into animals or monsters and witches came out in the open. Untouched humans wanted nothing to do with these mutants.
Kayla is a 27-year-old detective on the police force. The effect magicfall had on her was devastating. She became a monster in her eyes. When the Witch Wars started, she quit the police department and went into hiding. Her partner, Ray was devastated. They had a nasty argument and it has been four years since he has seen her. Magicfall changed him too but he has been able to hide it from everyone. One night on her way back to her house after scavenging all day, she hears cries from a local park. The detective in her kicks in and she must check it out. When a magic force pushes her violently to the ground, she must investigate more fully. What she finds horrifies her, she must call in the police, but will they investigate? Three witchkin have been ritualistically murdered. Ray is sent to check it out. It’s the first they’ve seen each other in the four years.
Now for the good part. Ray gets pulled off the case to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy grandmother and her daughter. One thing leads to another and it turns out that it’s related to the park murders. Ray needs Kayla to help and the whole situation spins out of control. This well written story keeps one glued to the pages. There is a surprise on every page.
The Witchkin Murders is a supernatural police procedural with interesting characters who are full of secrets and a plot that is full of twists and turns. A fun read.
–Anne Bishop, author of Wild Country
Wow! This was so good. This was a fascinating world with amazing characters.
Magicfell was an explosion of magic that revitalized and unleashed magic upon the world. Old creatures came back to life and some humans found they were no longer human. Kayla, a ex-cop, left the force right after magicfall when she realized she was a shifter. Four years later she comes across a magical murder and calls in her old partner, Ray, to investigate.
I really loved all the characters in this book. Kayla was strong, powerful, and was born to be a cop. I really loved her shifted side. It was very unique and mysterious. Ray a good cop who is really stubborn. He knows he messed up with Kayla and is trying to fix their relationship, and take it further. I really enjoyed their struggle to overcome their past and have a future relationship.
I can’t wait to read the next book.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
I liked this book. It takes a different approach to magic and supernatural folk. The story telling was not over the top. It is the story of what happens when Magic takes back from the humans, what it deems to have lost. Magical beings now roam the earth, and the human populations are learning to deal with Magic in its different forms. This first of a series sets up the premise of future volumes.
THE WITCHKIN MURDERS by Diana Pharaoh Francis is the first book in her Magicfall series. To me, this was a combination of urban fantasy, murder mystery and supernatural police procedural, with a little paranormal romance.
Four years ago, Magicfall, an explosion of wild magic, occurred and the world was forever changed. While this story takes place in Portland, Oregon, the rest of the world is in similar or worse shape. There was a war between some supernaturals and those that were human and many died on both sides. Lives changed overnight. Some humans became something else and are known as Witchkin.
The main protagonist, Kayla Reese, was changed into something else and left her job as a police detective to become a scavenger. One day on her way home, she senses something is wrong and finds three individuals murdered as part of a black magic ceremony. She calls her old detective partner, Ray Garza. With this scenario, the story is off and running.
The book hooked me immediately. It combines some of my favorite genres into one enjoyable, entertaining read. The characters are three-dimensional, compelling and have their own flaws and virtues. Their motivations are believable and well-drawn. The relationships between Kayla and Ray as well as with the other characters are a little predictable, but I did not mind that in this case. The tension throughout the book made it a page turner. The author did a great job of world building with vivid descriptions that gave a clear sense of time and place.
This is the only book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I believe those readers that enjoy combining police procedurals with supernatural suspense in an urban fantasy environment will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to BelleBooks – Bell Bridge Books and Diana Pharaoh Francis for a digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Witchkin is a fast paced urban fantasy paranormal story with an intriguing storyline, interesting characters, and entertaining scenes. I really liked the characters. They have depth, history, and ordinary hang ups. I was drawn into the world. I’m really hoping the author will release more books in this world!
Great world building, looking forward to more.