Esther Diamond, Book 1
Synopsis: Esther Diamond, a struggling actress in New York, seems destined to attract supernatural mayhem.
When bizarre magical disappearances disrupt shows around the city, Esther receives a mysterious warning not to go on with her off-Broadway show. Desperate to stay on stage rather than resort to waiting tables, Esther turns to her new BFF, Dr. Maximillian Zadok, a 350-year-old mage whose day job is protecting New York from Evil. Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery without losing her job, Esther and Max team up with a conjuring cowboy, a banker with stage aspirations, and a flock of fearless drag queens. Also on the case is Detective Connor Lopez, a sexy cop who has a thing for Esther, but who fears that she and Max may be a bigger problem than the vanishing performers.
Since the show must go on—and the astronomical rent must be paid—Esther, Max, and their friends pursue Evil to its lair in their fearless determination to find the missing performers and restore harmony to the city that never sleeps.
Review: With the release of the latest volumes and the great covers that come with the series, I was really curious to discover the first novel. I must say that it was nice to have a different environment here, a heroine who is quite normal, an actress who is trying to earn a living. A magic show that will become very important throughout the story and many very different characters who will come together to solve a big mystery.
As I said, Esther is a young woman trying to do her little bit of life on stage, something that is not also very easy. But when in addition to this, the star of the show disappears during a magic trick, the key moment of the performance, the world of the young woman is messed up. Police did not find any tracks and when Esther begins to receive warnings when she is going to become the star of the show, she understands that there is much more than she thought. Oh yeah! Because evil exists in this city and accompanied by an old mage, she will try to understand the reason for the disappearance. It must be said that the whole is even more intriguing when many other magicians manage to lose their assistants in the same kind of shows. Allying all and propelled into a world they do not know about, our characters will try to understand what is happening and try to find the missing persons. But that seems far more complicated than expected.
I enjoyed getting to know Esther even if it’s true that something was missing for her character and I do not know exactly what. For once we have a perfectly ordinary heroine who finds herself thrust into an extraordinary world. She is determined to understand what’s going to keep working. But I must say that this is something new for her and she will put all her skills to the test. She is helping by Max, this man is a little lost in this century with the technology he does not like. He is a mage who does not hesitate to tell his story to everyone. Of course, there are also all the wacky magicians that we discover and who bring a wonderful touch to the story. And finally, my favorite character: Lopez! Ah this policeman is awesome! He has a weakness for Esther even though he knows that nothing can happen as she is suspect in his investigation. I loved his behavior with the young woman. Trying to understand her but he can not ignore his rationalism. Favorite moment? When he talks with his mother on the phone and when he explained to the girl the reason for the insistence of his mother for him to find a girlfriend. It was really funny and I did not expect that at all.
It was a good story even if something is missing for me in a whole. The end surprised me because I did not expect this culprit or that reason. I do not know if I’m really happy in the end but it was still interesting to understand the whole. I do not know yet what will happen in the series, but I think I have to try the second volume to see what happens afterwards. The novel poses anyway well the basics of the characters and I’m curious to see if we’ll see everyone later and what will happen to the young woman.
Kirsty-Marie
Get it, I get that a lot, when you like a character but there’s just something missing that stops you from connecting and loving the character, but that’s mainly with YA for me, so thought Adult would be different, shame. 🙁
Melliane
it depends on the book I think.
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
While it’s a shame this one didn’t wow you, I do love that you weren’t able to guess the culprit in the end. I always like being surprised by something like that. Hopefully the second book provides that indefinable something that was missing from this one!
Melliane
yes I was really surprised about that part.
Carole Rae
That is how I am feeling with a book I am currently reading…there is something missing from either the character or the story itself. IDK.
Melliane
it’s quite sad…
Emma @ Never Judge a Book
I really like the sound of this series. It sort of reminds me of the Charley Davidson series, just with Esther being normal. But I love the sound of her character relationships. Especially Lopez, he does sound awesome. Lovely review, Melliane! 🙂
Melliane
I prefer the Charley series but maybe I need to read more of this one.
kindlemom1
Kind of fun to have average characters for a change but a little sad this didn’t wow you. I think this series has promise though!
Wonderful review and Happy Friday Deliah!
Melliane
yes it’s nice to have a change like that. Thank you!!!
Brandi Breathes Books
Well, she sounds like a decent character, just sad that there was something missing
Ramona
It’s good to be surprised by the ending – honestly, how often does that happen? And, yay, another first book from a series that I can try 🙂
Melliane
true, it’s not always the case.
Melissa (Books and Things)
That something missing, I fear, would bother me more than it does you. However since you still enjoyed it in the end, I might wait to see what you think of the next one before starting the series.
Melliane
yes I think I’ll decide what yo do with the series with the second one.
blodeuedd
Hm…intriguing
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
Well that sounds curious. Even with the ending leaving you a little on the fence. Hope book 2 is a good one!
Melliane
me too!
Lola @ Hit or Miss Books
I love the name ”Lopez” 😀 I’m sure whomever has that name is indeed a very interesting character. oh my god, look at my superficiality, lol. Great review, Melly!!
Melliane
LOL I can understand, it happens
Paula M. @ Her Book Thoughts!
I’m glad you liked it even though it wasn’t that amazing. The covers are a biy intriguing. I don’t know why but the first time I glanced at it I thought it was a MG novel 😛
Melliane
the last covers are awesome not so much for the first ones.
ShootingStarsMag
Thanks for sharing! I do like books that deal with magic.
Jennifer Bielman @ Bad Bird Reads
I know it’s wrong but that cover is so bad I wouldn’t even give this book a chance. lol. Happy you liked it though.
Tanja
I have never heard of this one but it sounds really interesting. I love books that surprise me at the end as I tend to remember them longer. Great review, Melliane 🙂
Lily
I’m so happy you enedd up liking this one melliane (even if i hadn’t hear dof it before!) LOL, i hate when it feels like there’s just something missing from a book. Hopefully you don’t feel that way about your next read.
Great review 🙂
Melliane
yes we’ll see about that
Pam
Ah, I hate when all you need to really like a book is that special something. But sometimes I feel that the author gets better with each book; maybe you’ll like the next one even more.
Melliane
me too! I’m curious
Kate @ Ex Libris
I haven’t heard of ths series, but it sounds interesting, even if you didn’t totally connect with it….
Pandora
I’m not a fan of the cover and I don’t know if I like my leads to be anything famous mixed in with paranormal, it just for me doesn’t mesh. I’ve read a book with the elements of an actress mixed with paranormal and it wasn’t well done, it was distracting. Glad you enjoyed the book! 😉
Melliane
I’m not a fan os this cover in fact but it’s mainly the last ones that are awesome!
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Does sound like a nice relaxing read. And something a little different. 🙂 Always good to hear. And I do like the cover too.