Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Black Blade, Book 1

Synopsis: There Be Monsters Here. . .

It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call–get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her. . .

Review: I’m a little late compared to most people, but now, I made it, I finally did read this new novel by Jennifer Estep. I was impatient to get into this new story because besides the beautiful reviews that I had discovered everywhere, Jennifer Estep never disappoints for now. Her Mythos Academy series was very nice and even though I have not finished (yes I only did read the first volume) her urban fantasy series, I enjoyed everything. So it is with great hope that I started this new series and I can tell you that I was also very charmed by the novel and I am now very curious to read more.

I enjoyed the world that the author has created here, families that evolve while hating each other, sharing gifts and privileges that others do not have. In itself this kind of universe is not really original because it is a theme that can be easily found in some books, but Jennifer Estep manages to draw us and interest us about the events and all the details that her world contains. So yes, even if at the first glance we could already find something like that, the author manages to perfectly bring a touch of originality. But of course this is not all because we also have the characters, and they are a delight to explore and see evolve.

Lila didn’t have an easy life, she doesn’t know her father and mother died trying to save the child of one of the families. Since then, our heroine tries to live without attracting any attention, away from families and anyone but the old friend of her mother. But this anonymity is about to end when Lila is faced with a terrible choice: to save the trio who is interesting her friend’s store or to stay back and wait for everything to be over. Alas, even if it is not the best for her, our beloved thief finds herself embarked on a whole new life. Indeed, this act will force her to become the new Devon’s bodyguard, heir to one of the most powerful families, but also the boy that her mother died for a few years earlier. More than that, it would appear that someone is desperate to kill the boy and Lila remains the last bulwark to keep him alive.

I loved to follow our two heroes. They hide both some big secrets and it’s true that it’s very easy to attach to them and to understand them. Even if she doesn’t think she has a place there, Lila will focus on her new clients, or rather on her new client more than what she should. It was quite nice to see a link forge them even if we understand the mistrust of our heroine. It’s funny because for once it is rather the boy’s side that is innocent and naive but also why it is interesting to see him evolving and realizing that he can not always be kind to everyone.

It was a very good story that I loved to follow with many surprises throughout the chapters. As I said I can not wait to read more now.