Cursed Moon

August 25, 2014
The second Prospero's War magical investigation (after Dirty Magic) showcases Wells's skill with character development. When high-profile covens in Babylon are robbed of dangerous illegal potions, Det. Kate Prospero and the Magic Enforcement Agency taskforce are pulled in to investigate. Kate has her personal battles to fight, hiding her recent slip into illegal magic use as well as surviving the chaos that comes from the magic-enhancing blue moon. The search for the thief forces Kate to come to terms with her own troublesome past before her secrets emergeâand possibly destroy her relationships with her partner, her best friend, and her brother. The tension remains high as the story shifts easily among the magical and mundane politics of the investigation, the ongoing work to control the city during the blue moon, and Kate's miserable guilt. (Aug.)

H Lick
Kylie Scott
St. Martin's, $14.99 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-05236-0
Scott's first Stage Dive contemporary is a delightful romantic romp. Evelyn Thomas is anticipating a carefully constructed career and life. A weekend birthday bash in Vegas is intended to be a passing indulgence, not a world-shattering event. But then there is David Farris, an uncompromising musician with the good looks and raw charisma his job demands. Can a night that begins with too much tequila and ends with a diamond ring and an Elvis impersonator as officiant really lead to a lasting relationship? This funny rock-and-roll fantasy delivers both sweet romance and steamy passion. Scott wholeheartedly develops hilarious and endearing characters in a love letter to guitar gods and the women who adore them. This whirlwind of excitement is expertly punctuated with moments of tenderness and heartache. The contrasts and conflicts of the glamorous Los Angeles fame culture and the private difficulties of the real world blend effortlessly into a satisfying resolution.

July 1, 2014

Having received a promotion to detective and earned a permanent place on the Magic Enforcement Agency (MEA) of the city of Babylon, Kate Prospero should be sitting on top of the world. But a renegade wizard has been stealing from some powerful magicians as part of a plan to brew chaos during the upcoming blue moon, and Kate and her partner Morales must stop him. Characters remain a strength for Wells, starting with Kate and her fellow agents but including supporting characters such as best friend Pen and elderly Wiccan neighbor Baba as well. VERDICT While not quite the breakout urban fantasy that marked Wells's first title (Dirty Magic), this series is growing in strong ways. We are starting to see more of the covens, specifically the O's sex magic cult, in this outing and witness Kate dealing with her conflicted feeling about magic.

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