Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Book Review: Influential Magic by Deanna Chase

Influential Magic
Author: Deanna Chase
Publication: Bayou Moon Publishing (March 8, 2013)

Description: It's tough being a faery in New Orleans, a city fraught with vampires... especially when their very existence drains your life force. 

Willow Rhoswen, owner of The Fated Cupcake and part-time vampire hunter for the Void is having a rough week. Four years after her twin brother's mysterious death, Willow's life is threatened and the director saddles her with a new partner-her ex-boyfriend, David. To her horror, he's turned vamp, which causes her physical pain whenever she touches him... and any other specimen of the undead. 

In order to save Willow's life, David agrees to turn double agent against the most powerful vampire organization in New Orleans. Or so he says. And she's convinced they know something about her brother's death. Unsure where David's loyalties lie, she turns to Talisen, her childhood crush, to help her solve the mystery. Caught between two gorgeous men and a director who'll stop at nothing to control Willow's gifts, she'll have to follow her instincts and learn who to trust. Otherwise, she risks losing more than just her life.


My Thoughts: INFLUENTIAL MAGIC was an entertaining new urban fantasy novel that provides a new take on faeries and vampires. Willow Roswen is a faery complete with wings. Her magic is life magic. She uses her magic on herbs and other living things to infuse them with magic. She runs a cupcake shop and sell her projects. However, in her research, she has found some other products that could be put to questionable use. One of the most liable to misuse is a product that lets someone influence the person it is given to. It is especially being misused by her aunt who runs an organization called the Void.

Willow is still haunted by the death of her twin brother. When her life is threatened, she is partnered with her ex-boyfriend who has become a vampire. Vampires and faeries don't mix. Vampires have death magic; faeries have life magic. Willow has a secret ability to sense vampires which makes her especially vulnerable to a vampire's touch. Willow is having a hard time getting over the change in her ex-boyfriend who had dumped her seemingly without reason. While she still loves him, she can no longer trust him or agree with the way he lives his life.

As is usual in many urban fantasy novels, this one has a love triangle. In this case her other love interest in a faery named Talisen who was her brother's best friend and who has been her friend since they were children. Willow has had a crush on him forever but is afraid, that if their love doesn't work out, she will lose his friendship too. She has watched Talisen after relationship after relationship and doesn't want to be yet another failed relationship.

This story has lots of plot lines  One of them is the investigation into her brother's death. Still another has to do with the buying and selling, using and misusing of influence. Another yet has to do with her aunt's desire to send Willow to testing to find out why she can sense vampires and learn about another new power she has recently discovered.

The story is well-written; the world building works; the characters are well-rounded and interesting people. Fans of urban fantasy will enjoy this one. 

Favorite Quote:
Our whole lives we'd been taught that our magic was a privilege. Something to be used to help people. it was not to be used as a weapon.
I bought this one for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

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