The Prospero’s War, Book 2
Synopsis: When a rare Blue Moon upsets the magical balance in the city, Detective Kate Prospero and her Magical Enforcement colleagues pitch in to help Babylon PD keep the peace. Between potions going haywire and everyone’s emotions running high, every cop in the city is on edge. But the moon’s impact is especially strong for Kate who’s wrestling with guilt over falling off the magic wagon.
After a rogue wizard steals dangerous potions from the local covens, Kate worries their suspect is building a dirty magic bomb. Her team must find the anarchist rogue before the covens catch him, and make sure they defuse the bomb before the Blue Moon deadline. Failure is never an option, but success will require Kate to come clean about her secrets.
Review: I admit that I loved the first book and I was really looking forward to immersing myself in this second volume. It must be said that the end of the previous volume made me very curious about the continuation of Kate in the story.
Our heroine is plagued by guilt, by the heady feeling she felt while cooking these potions she thought she had long abandoned. But as she is trying to forget that fact by drinking, she plunges lost heart in her work as the Blue Moon day arrives, upsetting the lives of everyone. Oh yes because it seems that the emotions of each character are exacerbated and magic users are much more active. But when a rogue wizard steal potions in different covens, as some causing great sexual aggressiveness including rape (yes I really wondered about the purpose of these potions, really, because it is really twisted), Kate knows she will have to soon discover the culprit. But something simple at first could be more dangerous than expected, threatening the entire city.
Kate has to overcome many obstacles here and it is true that some information obtained in the course of history poses many more questions than we started with. When I remembered that the series was supposed to be a trilogy, I wondered how things were going to be unfolded thereafter. I really wish it was possible to have more books to really explore all the possibilities but still, we shall see in the next volume how it will exactly be.
I was immediately grabbed by the story and it’s true that I was really excited to see how everything would unfold. The plot was really well done and all the characters that we have discovered before are again present for our great pleasure.
As I said, we are going to learn a little more about Kate and her past, especially about her mother and her uncle. Yess! After hearing so much about her dear uncle, we truly encounter him here and I confess that I could not wait to see this meeting. But it is true that many issues are added too.
Of course, we also have a chance to see Volos again. I admit that between him and Moralez, Volos is always the one remaining in my heart. However, I think we see him too little for my taste and I love every interaction with Kate. Ah Volos is the typical example of the bad boy. I really do not understand why our heroine resists him that much elsewhere. But back to Kate, I have a few words to say about her … Oh yes because I did not expect that the reactions of the young woman would annoy me so much. She judges everyone without restriction while she should judge herself in the matter. She doesn’t take the time to take care of her little brother and retreats into a world of self-pity, which is not necessarily pleasant. I understand that she has a lot of problems, but it’s the same for everyone and sometimes you only have to understand others and help them through the process. I think she finally understands at the end of the story that sometimes she needs to share her burdden to survive and she has to avoid making decisions for others.
I have in any case spent a good time and I can not wait to read the next book.
Jessica @ Rabid Reads
Hey, Melliane! Great review! I’m glad you liked this one despite it’s twistedness. That’s a really good word for it–well done. I struggled with Kate’s self-involvement a bit too, but I liked the first book enough, and my issues in book 2 were situational (at least I hope there won’t be another rape bomb in the future, LOL) that I’m also looking forward to the next book 3.
BUT . . . I am Team Moralex all the way 😉
Melliane
yes she was really annoying there! I hope so as well, the idea was weird. Curious to see book 3! Ah noooo I think Morales is a little too good for me.
blodeuedd
After what happened with me and the last series I just do not know
Melliane
maybe you should try, it’s different.
Jennifer Bielman @ Bad Bird Reads
I love books where you can tell they are urban fantasy right away from the cover. This sounds so fun. You always find the best UFs.
Melliane
yes and the covers are so great too!
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger
Even though it’s on the TBR, I have yet to read the first book… you’re making it difficult to be patient and wait until my TBR is smaller. Darn you! lol
Melliane
I hope you’ll enjoy the first book.
kindlemom1
Yay for great sequels! I need to try this series.
Melliane
I hope you’ll like it! it’s fun!
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Not all of the reviews that I’ve read for this book have been good, and although I like dark, there are certain elements in this story that just aren’t for me. Seems like you made out ok though, so perhaps I’ll give it a go.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Melliane
I know, it’s complicated because I loved the story but it doesn’t change the fact that Kate is really annoying there.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
Gah. So so good when they grab you like that. She’s on my author tbr list so one day I will make it to these 😀
Melliane
I hope you’ll like her if you try her one day.
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
Kate sounds a little frustrating in this one with the way she judges people and resorts to self-pity, but I’m glad by the end you felt she’d come to a few realizations. Hopefully she’ll be better in the next book!
Melliane
oh yes she is! I hope so as well!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
I just finished reading this too, so I could catch up in time to read the third book. I agree completely with you about Kate. She’s in a word, ANNOYING. I wanted to yell at her to get over the fact she cooked to save the life of her little brother…heck, I know many people would have done much worse to save a loved one. And Kate gets so high and mighty about others taking potions, but then at the same time she goes and drinks herself to oblivion? What a hypocrite, and a self-righteous judgmental bully!
I really hope her character improves in the next book now that she’s accepted magic in her life. I like these books, but they would be even better if the character more tolerable.
Melliane
right? right? She is sooooooooo annoying, it’s terrible because I really didn’t like her there. I hope so too, we’ll soon know more about that. I agree.
Molly Mortensen
I hate it when the make the protagonist guilt ridden and drinking. Okay and now the potions purpose has me scared. The plot sounds interesting, but I’m not sure if it’s for me. I’m glad you enjoyed it though. 🙂
Melliane
yeah me too, it’s two thing not that good in the book byt the ideas and the story is so well done.
Tanja
Well, this seems like yet another UF book I need to add to my list. I think I have seen the first book around and even read your review for it. It seems like a great series and we all need a dose of UF badassness from time to time 😉 Great review 🙂
Melliane
we have some great new ideas in this series, it’s fun!
Jessica @ a GREAT read
OOoh nice review! I still need to read this one as well! Looking forward to it because I looooved Jaye’s Sabina Kane series. Feels like ages ago since I read Dirty Magic! Hoping my memory lapse won’t be an issue to enjoying this one! LOL!
Melliane
I hope you’ll lik it! I’m curious to see what you’ll think of it.
Heidi
I have been curious about this author and series, It sounds like the MC needs to do some growing, hopefully she will be better the next time out.
Melliane
yes a lot in this one, we’ll see.
Braine Talk Supe
Sigh, so many good books so little time! I’m in between reads now and you’re tempting me to drop my plans and read book 1 instead. But I must persevere! I’m binge reading The Madman’s Daughter Trilogy, I hope it’s as good as this.
Melliane
I hope it will be really good!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I still haven’t read her! I have the first couple of red head books on my tbr and I have yet to get to them. So need to get started on that one and then I will try this one. Sounds like another good UF!
Melliane
oh you need to! She is a great UF author.
LilyElement
I still dunno who to vote for Volos vs Moralez haha I do know we need to see more of Volos 😉
Melliane
yes I want more of him!
Joy // Joyousreads
Kate is probably not my type of girl. I think it takes a special type of reader to appreciate her. Also, ‘rape potion’? WTF.
Melliane
yes that was the big problem of the book.
Tabitha (Not Yet Read)
Now this is one I’ve heard mixed things on. I still do rant to read the series tho. Glad you enjoyed it more then my friend Maggie.
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
Well, this UF series seems fantastic! I’m so glad that the plot kept you hooked the entire way, hun <33
Melliane
thank you!
Carole Rae
Blue Moon day…I think that was put in one of the Anita Blake books….mmmm…but this certainly does sound good!
Melliane
Yeah it was Blue Moon
Lola @ Hit or Miss Books
I don’t think I’ll be reading this because of KATE. Her personality doesn’t look appealing. And, by the way, I love this: ”I understand that she has a lot of problems, but it’s the same for everyone and sometimes you only have to understand others and help them through the process.”
Great review! 😀
Melliane
Kate was really difficult to like there but we’ll see.
kimbacaffeinate
Sounds twisted. :snort: I couldn’t help myself. It always seems we get answers only to have more questions. I of course have book one.
Melliane
I’m curious to see the sequel.
Faye M.
Seeing as Jessica liked this one as well and even loved Book 2, and seeing you rave about it like that (I am very interested in the history and world-building… it seems so grand that you wish it expands more than three volumes!) I am going to keep an eye on this one. I hope I get to read it soon >.<
Faye at The Social Potato
kara-karina
That’s another series I really need to get into! Glad you enjoyed it, sweetheart!