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Top reviews from the United States

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Larissa
4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely!
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2013
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4.5 stars!

*This review contains spoilers if you haven't read the first 3 books in this series, but NO SPOILERS of this new novel.

Allie Besckstrom is back and I missed her dearly. This is one of my favorite series and was actually my first review ever, so I'm very happy to finally have gotten my hands on this 4th installment of this awesome series by Devon Monk.
After all that Allie has been through with almost dying because of the last wild-magic storm, forgetting the man she fell in love with, being possessed by her dad's spirit and finding out that there is much more to magic than she ever thought, Allie is finally an official member of the Authority and has been training for the past two months with her now official boyfriend, Zayvion Jones.
This have been great with their relationship and the training, but very early in the book we find out it is just the calm before the storm, literally. A wild-magic storm is on the way and its the Authority's job to make sure the magic surge don't hurt or kill the rest of the population of Portland.
There is a lot going on in this book and the action is non-stop. I read it in one sitting, i could not put it down for anything, but a bit of sleep last night hehe. I loved this book, all the great side characters of the previous ones are back and the stakes are even higher.
" `I'm staying right here with you,' Sayvion said. `Because I don't want to be anywhere in the world.' I inhaled in his words, felt the assurance of that promise reverberate through me. `Me too' I said"
I loved getting more of Zay and Allie's relationship, they are amazing together. It was awesome to get more of Zay's best friend Shamus and meet more members of the Authority.
There are a lot of questions asked with this books, it is definitely not the last book in the series, there is too much to find out. A war is brewing in the Authority and there is a lot of doubt about who are the good or bad guys, and it is never made clear.
There is also a heart breaking cliffhanger that just makes me want to read the next book more. There is a sneak peak at Magic at The Gate at the end of Magic on The Storm, which comes out in November, 2010.
The Allie Beckstrom Series is straight up Urban Fantasy and if you haven't read it yet, I seriously doubt your sanity =P

Originally Posted at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life {[...]}
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Kathy E.
3.0 out of 5 stars Magic on the Storm
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2010
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I strongly recommend you read the previous books in the series (Magic to the Bone, Magic in the Blood and Magic in the Shadows) prior to reading this installment.

This book started out really slow. This installment didn't seem like the ones before it. There wasn't a lot of deep mystery to it to entice the reader along and Allie seemed to be a bit impotent with her magic. There seem to be a bit of a lackluster about the story. This installment felt more like a building block for the next installment.

I love Allie and Zay together but in this installment they were together but they were very boring and the connection between them didn't seem rock solid. Meaning, I had no doubts that they were an item but they just seem to be so spark-less and mundane together.

Regardless of my disappointed with this particular installment, I still recommend this book, it wasn't entirely bad; just not up to the series usual standards. And like I noted it felt like a building block for the next book, so if you are into the series it would behoove you to pick up this quick read so you can be informed for the next book. I do look forward to Magic At the Gate due out 11/2/10.

I also recommend:
 Frost Moon
Cheat the Grave (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 5)
The Better Part of Darkness
Song of Scarabaeus
Master of None
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Embee Crichton
5.0 out of 5 stars Took My Breath Away
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2010
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In Magic on the Storm, we learn early on that a wild magical storm is brewing and the wells of magic are being drained. One may be feeding the other or something even more sinister. And it is all connected.

The members of the Authority are full of unease. Cracks are showing in the Authority's structure and the long hinted at split looms. Other magic users from the west coast are called in to prepare for the fight against the storm, among them Terric whom everyone believes is Shamus' soul complement. Terric and Shame are fire to each other's ice, and north to each other's south. At one time in the past, Zayvion, Terric, and Shamus were inseparable friends and Terric even trained to compete for guardian of the gate with Zayvion. The entire heartbreaking story is given a piece at a time.

Zayvion and Allie's relationship is strengthening. As soul complements, they experience the danger of becoming too emotionally and mentally close. They also begin to experience the joy of working magic together and how easy it comes to them. Zayvion's role in the Authority comes as a pleasant surprise. He is the guardian of the gate and wields multiple forms of magic together. He is the only known magic user who can wield death magic without going insane. As guardian of the gate, he is the ultimate warrior for the Authority and his character is beyond reproach. Allie learns how very important Zayvion is to the Authority and the world.

The little magical disks that Allie's father has invented are central to the story. The disks can hold magic so that it can be used without paying the price of pain. They can be recharged and used time and time again. The portable use of magic in this manner is a priceless discovery. In the wrong hands, though, there is potential for great wrongdoing. The user can use magic time and time again without having to pay the price. The disks are stolen from their hiding place and Allie's pregnant stepmother is injured in the burglary. No one knows who has the disks or what they will be used for.

Chase and Greyson, the necromorph, have gone over to the dark side. They are soul complements and together, their magic is fearsome. They escape the Authority; and Allie, Zayvion, and Shamus are sent out to recapture them. Stunning events unfold, culminating in Zayvion's soul separated from his body and trapped another realm, leaving his body in a coma. With the wild magic on the coming storm, the Authority is left without its most powerful magic wielder and gatekeeper; and Allie's heart is broken.

Allie finds herself living three different lives. The mainstream world has been kept in the dark about the more disturbing uses of magic. She has to be careful what she says to her hound group; she really has to be careful what she reveals to Detective Stotts, for whom she hounds. She is hiding the magic she holds within her from everyone except Zayvion. Trying to keep it successfully partitioned is quite a feat.

Allie's father's presence in her head, weakened and divided from having been partially sucked out of Allie's head by the necromorph, is getting stronger. The necromorph is hunting Allie in order to suck the rest of her dad out of her and into itself. Allie's father, in the meantime, wants to get the missing parts of himself back from the necromorph; and the two entities are battling over Allie.

In the midst of all of this, wild magical storm arrives. The stolen disks show up. The factions in the war suddenly take shape and not only is the fight to contain the magic in the storm, but it is against each other, and the gate that has opened up for the creatures from the other side to come through. And the book ends on a cliffhanger.

Whew! Devon Monk is a talent. The story is well written and fast paced with dizzying twists and turns. Its main plot is brilliantly tied into its subplots. The characters are fleshed out and more fascinating insights are given to each one. I love these books and can't get enough!
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2010
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Urban fantasy is fun. Instead of medieval knights running around with their magic swords (don't get me wrong, I really like that stuff too) we find ourselves in an alternate modern universe.

Allie Beckstrom is born with magic, unlike most of the other residents of Portland. In this book a magic storm is getting close to Portland and the magic community has to figure out what to do. Her father is still residing in her head giving her advice that she is sceptical to, to say the least. Zavion Jones is still her "great love".

Allie will have to face all three of these parts of her life as they challenge her magic abilities and desire for integrity. The action is great and I like Devon's sense of humor. Shame is the court jester in this series and he does a good job.

We get to meet the old cast along with some new members.

This is litterature that fulfills its goal, it entertains. Enjoy yourselves.
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Elsie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great instalment in the series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2010
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I enjoy these books; they're fast paced and the characters are written with real depth, which keeps me turning the pages. However this really was an instalment in the series rather than a story in it's own right. It was a continuation of what happened previously, with no resolution and a cliff-hangar at the end. I don't mind that (if you read fantasy epics you get used to that!), but it does mean that the story hasn't moved on that far, more that it's gone off in a slightly different direction (difficult to explain further without giving the plot away).

In this instalment we meet the previous characters (including Stone) and some new ones. If you've enjoyed the previous books in this series, it's definitely one for you, but if you're new to this series, don't start here.
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Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars Stayed up late - Again!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2013
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I would disagree with another reviewer that Allie isn't growing up. I think she's learning and growing well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have the previous books. Stayed up late to finish it - Again! The magic concept is intriguing as are the twists on that concept. And Allie is a flawed yet honest character who tries to learn from her mistakes - Even when she's relying on second hand accounts of them because she can't remember what they were! I'm off to download the next one now...
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Nicola Taunt
3.0 out of 5 stars Grow up, Allie
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2012
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Not as gripping as the previous instalments. And Allie is still not growing as a character. She's too stubborn for her own good sometimes. She will refuse to do something just because someone else told her to do it, even if it's the right thing to do. She needs to grow up a bit.
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A. Entwistle
5.0 out of 5 stars I love these books
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2013
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This book was fast paced, full of action, adventure and romance. All set in the supernatural world of magic. I couldn't put the book down and can't wait for the next. I think there's just enough of everything to make it a great read.
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