Book Review: Magic Unleashed by Devri Walls

Author: Devri Walls

Title: Magic Unleashed (Venators #1)

Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group

Date: 2016

Plot: Six years ago, Grey Malteer was attacked by creatures he thought couldn’t possibly exist. They repeated a word, calling him a name he’d never heard before…Venator. Since then, his life has been a hellhole of secrecy—hiding old pain alongside strange new abilities.

Rune Jenkins has an itch, as she calls it, but it’s more than that. It’s an anger that builds up like the inside of a boiler whenever she’s around anything remotely supernatural. The pressure is growing steadily worse and she can’t understand why. All she knows is—her control is slipping.

By order of an unknown council Grey and Rune are pulled through a portal in the St. Louis arch, landing them in an alternate dimension where creatures of myth and legend exist. A realm that calls them, Venators.

Made up of centuries old fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi the council’s corrupt nature becomes obvious as they seek to wield the newly returned Venators as weapons. Wedged in an impossible position, Grey and Rune must decide their fate—do they go against the council’s wishes and help the innocents of this unforgiving land, or face the possibility of execution by the council. 

I received Magic Unleashed as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Troubled teens finding they are destined for more than just life on this Earth and that they are, in fact, legendary heroes? How could I have turned down the blog tour for the first in the Venators series, Magic Unleashed? This book sounded right up my street – and I was right.

Sometimes, you need a book that will blow your mind. Other times, you need a really solid, entertaining read with danger and tension weaved in with deep characters, destinies and just a touch of magic. This book offers the latter.

There are elements that are cliché and, dare I say it, stereotypical. But the world-building takes you from this world to another, landing you in disturbing forests, treacherous rivers and hostile populations that aren’t entirely human. The various creatures – werewolves, vampires, faeries etc – are familiar but are giving their own traits that gives the book its own way of telling the story.

The main characters themselves skirt on stereotypical but that doesn’t stop them being likeable.

Bullied for being different, Grey knows there is more to this world than most can see after a deadly encounter as a child. I loved Grey’s character; he’s pure of heart and relishes the idea that he can be so much more than what this world has made him. There are hints (pretty strong at times) towards a dark backstory deeper than just school bullies and you watch Grey grow and come into his powers as he finds where he belongs.

I liked Rune as a character but felt she came dangerously close to being a cliché at times. Sick of watching out for her twin brother, Rune is more reluctant to embrace her destiny until she is given the right motivation. She’s strong in her own right and has an interesting relationship with all the characters around her. What annoyed me is the trait that makes the Venators weaker – their anger – was given to Rune. As this becomes a potential threat, it undermined her character development because there was always the risk of her temper exploding.

“You’ll have to determine that for yourself – also an important lesson you’ll need to learn. And quickly. You decide who you are. You decide what’s right. And you decide where you stand. Stop trying to pick a side, because – speaking from one highly values species to another – everyone you meet will try to get you on theirs.”

There were a few secondary characters floating around: the obvious villain in the form of a sorceress and the less-obvious villains in the form of the council who wish to control Grey and Rune. Tate – their mysterious guide in this new world – is quiet and broody but also really likeable. The sub-plot with Rune’s brother being taken was kind of predictable but I still want to know where that story goes.

Despite a slow beginning (being introduced to the characters while they deal with college problems doesn’t give a powerful first impression), the plot moves at a steady pace once things get going. I enjoyed the rise of tension, the shifting alliances between the characters and how backstories are only hinted at rather than explored in the first book, leaving the chance for more development in subsequent novels.

There was something comforting and solid about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed going along for the ride.

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