Magic in the Blood - Review

Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom)
by Devon Monk
Roc, 2009

[reviewed by Patricia]

Allie Beckstrom's wealthy father has been murdered. This much she knows for certain. She saw him only moments before his death, so how is it possible that on this particular morning she clearly sees him in her apartment, looking at her in anger. She backs away, but he follow and when close enough whispers in her ear, "Seek!". Then he disappears and Allie is left filled with fear. She has no understanding of what he wants from her. His ghostly visit leaves her paralyzed with terror.

This second installment of Devon Monk's Allison Beckstrom series is dark and frightening at times. Allie works in the city of Portland as a Hound. In a time when magical energy is easily accessible, Hounds are used to track down the source of those casting spells. She also uses magic as part of the job but in the short span of time since her last adventure something in the magical world has changed. Not all of it immediately obvious.

Unlike others Allie is able to hold magic within her body. For anyone else to even attempt such a feat would be suicidal. Neither she nor anyone else understands why she has this ability. Unfortunately her magic can be difficult to control. Walking down a familiar street she begins to hallucinate, seeing death glyphs appear and ghostly images of pastel colored people who suddenly notice her and begin their attack. They are fast and vicious, taking huge bites and swallowing great gobs of her magic. Allie barely escapes with her life. More complications arise: a Hounding job for the police goes badly wrong; a friend is hideously murdered, and a powerful practitioner of blood and death magics attempts to open a forbidden doorway

Monk has written a magic and mystery thriller even more enthralling than Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom). Don't miss this one!