Published by: Kensington Books, April 28th 2015
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Monsters, Magic
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook
Source: Kensington, via Netgalley
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. . .
In the Black Blade series monsters and humans live side by side in a contemporary tourist trap town, ruled over by Families - mob-like families of humans with magic called Talents. Lila, hiding from her mother's murder and harbouring a rare and valuable Talent, stays as far from the Families as possible, until she saves the life of Devon, the son of a Family head, and is dragged into the drama and danger of the Families.
This series is imaginative. I loved all the elements of magic, and how the monsters had a traditional vibe about them. I especially liked how they weren't shifters, since we only usually see monsters in YA if they have a super-mega-hot human form too. This book harks back to the monsters of old stories, with bridge tolls and lochness monsters, and it's really cool. I enjoyed the Talents, too, and while they weren't exactly unique I liked Lila's Talent - being able to absorb others' Talents. The mob angle was pretty awesome too and made this feel really original.
The characters were pretty average, not amazing but not bad. I think Devon was my favourite, with how vulnerable yet capable he was, despite being the male love interest in an UF. He swerved the whole alpha male thing and I liked him better for it. Lila, the MC, was likable and tough, hiding her fears behind attitude and fights. I didn't have any problem with her, and I did connect with her, but I wouldn't say much else for her character.
I enjoyed the setting and monsters of Cold Burn of Magic and I'm excited to see where the story goes next. An original, entertaining book!
Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world building ★★★★☆
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