Subversive

Clandestine Magic, Book 1

By: Colleen Cowley

Narrated by: Leanne Woodward

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

A wizard. An unwilling assistant. An explosive secret.

In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women's rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance - the Women's League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.

Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.

Subversive is the first novel in the romantic fantasy Clandestine Magic trilogy, set in a warped 21st century that will appeal to fans of gaslamp fantasy, strong female characters, slow-burn romance with some steam, and intrigue.

©2020 Colleen Cowley (P)2021 Colleen Cowley

Excellent

It’s refreshing to see competent characters, intriguing magic system, and a plot that repeatedly subverted my expectations ;)

I think the pacing dragged in a few places but not enough to give it four stars.

Fantastic

I’m a huge fan of this series! Leanne Woodward’s narration made it come alive in a new and delightful way. Peter and Beatrix have a fabulous back and forth. The dialogue is excellent. I enjoyed every moment of this slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy. Issues such as gender roles, women’s rights, power and control, and consent are explored and handled beautifully by Cowley. The characters are three dimensional, the world is textured, and the message is a powerful one.

Intriguing engaging alternative universe.

Story has interesting twists. Well written tension between Beatrix and the local ominancer. Loved it!

Great storytelling!

I was so glad that Colleen Cowley decided to create audiobooks of her fabulous Clandestine Magic series! I've read Subversive numerous times already, yet the story still felt fresh and exciting as I listened to Leanne Woodward's narration. I particularly liked how she voiced the main characters, Beatrix and Peter. She captures Beatrix's conviction with subtlety and grace, and she gives Peter's voice the undercurrent of anxiety and strength that marks his character in this first novel of the series. I'm looking forward to listening to Radical next!

What a story!

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with audiobooks and full disclosure I was fortunate enough to get a code for this story. But wow it grabbed me 100%.

Meet Beatrix - trying to keep body and soul together. A roof over her head and put her younger sister through college.

The background to all this is one of personal tragedy but a deeply flawed misogynistic world where only Men wield magic and it is forbidden for Typics (those without magic and Women to).

Omnimancer Peter Blackwell returns to the town in which he grew up with only his grandmother in poverty before being plucked from it to study magic when his aptitude tests were off the charts. He went to school with Beatrix but their relative positions are completely reversed.

Its a wonderful tale being woven and I am eager to get into it even more in the following books. Peter and Beatrix story is more complicated than a facebook status as he is covering his own secrets……but has also fallen for Beatrix as he discovers how strong a person she really is. They are tied together in numerous ways (I wont spoil here!) and she makes some amazing discoveries of her own leading to even more confusion and complication.

Meanwhile Lydia her sister is rising to prominence and becoming a target of a government that doesn’t value Women or what she stands for and Beatrix will try everything to protect the only member of her family - even to the detriment of her own happiness.

My only flaw with the story overall is it takes too long to understand what Lydias master plan is. For a lot of the story it seems that Beatrix is “just” supporting her sister because theres no one else to - youre aware its not the whole story but its not made clear for quite awhile

I really enjoyed this book.

This book mixes magic and feminism in a really interesting way. The characters are all pretty nuanced and interesting in their own ways, and the growth and depth of the main characters Beatrix and Peter feels believable.

Leanne Woodward does a great job narrating this book, and I'll be sure to keep an ear out for more stories read by her, including the rest of this series.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

One of my Favorites Series!

I am so glad this finally got an audiobook version! It’s such a unique storyline—romantic, yet empowering, and magical. Colleen Cowley is an excellent wordsmith, and the audio version really does this book justice. Leanne Woodward does an outstanding job with the narration, managing to be both prim and steamy, and always adorably expressive. I can’t wait for the next book to be released by Audible. I have already told so many friends about this series, so I’m glad it’s getting a well-deserved audience in this format.

GREAT START TO THE SERIES

SUBVERSIVE BY COLLEEN CROWLEY AND NARRATED BY LEANNE WOODWARD is the first audiobook in the CLANDESTINE MAGIC series. Its the 21st century in an alternative United States. Magic rules,literally! And only MEN can be wizards. Well, Beatrice Harper is not amused by that arrangement and she is doing everything she can to change that. Beatrice gets her chance when she is forced to go from being a shop clerk to wizards assistance all against her will.
Its bad enough she hates the idea of losing her job but the wizard is not exactly her first choice. Peter Blackwell, once poor kid in Bea's town now wizard of her town!
As the sparks fly so does the spells and so does the romance!

The story starts out a bit slow but if the reader can hold on it does pick up pace. We get the hatred between the two,then the romance builds then back to the hatred . A really fun read and a great start to a series. lEANNE WOODWARD did a great job with narration !

I recieved this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.

It’s magic

Beatrix and Peter… you can just feel the tension… a great slow burn.

Colleen Crowley has created a world ruled by men and magic… one where women want to fight for equal rights. I love where she took this storyline, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Leanne Woodward delivered an entertaining performance. She did a great job with bringing the characters and story to life.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Dare I say I loved it more in audiobook— Brava!

Colleen Cowley shines with her debut novel Subversive, a 444-page political fantasy set in an America controlled by wizards, yet one hundred years behind women's rights. Beatrix Harper is an integral part of the resistance as her young sister leads the women’s fight for the prohibition of magic, but when wizard Peter Blackwell unexpectedly returns to their hometown and engages her as his assistant, she finds herself magically bound, locked in an uneasy detente.

When Beatrix discovers the secrets of both Blackwell and the government, she ponders the relative merits, and dangers, of what her own recently discovered magical powers mean for women, and the country. She must not only decide where her loyalties lie but navigate a personal and magical political minefield.

Cowley weaves a web of slow-burning forbidden romance and intrigue between wizard and his assistant in a fascinating and dangerous alternative 21st century America. If the rest of the books are as engaging and thought provoking as this page-turner, the “Clandestine Magic” series is sure to be a hit. Somebody call NetFlix!

Leanne Woodward is a talented narrator—perfect pacing and tone. Engaging! I’d listen to more of her narrations for sure.