Review: A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly
- Duchess D
- Feb 10, 2016
- 3 min read
Title: A Criminal Magic
Author: Lee Kelly
Publication: February 2nd 2016
Genres: Paranormal, Historical
Summary: THE NIGHT CIRCUS meets THE PEAKY BLINDERS in Lee Kelly's new magical realism, crossover novel.
Magic is powerful, dangerous and addictive - and after passage of the 18th Amendment, it is finally illegal.
It's 1926 in Washington, DC, and while Anti-Sorcery activists have achieved the Prohibition of sorcery, the city's magic underworld is booming. Sorcerers cast illusions to aid mobsters' crime sprees. Smugglers funnel magic contraband in from overseas. Gangs have established secret performance venues where patrons can lose themselves in magic, and take a mind-bending, intoxicating elixir known as the sorcerer's shine.
Joan Kendrick, a young sorcerer from Norfolk County, Virginia accepts an offer to work for DC's most notorious crime syndicate, the Shaw Gang, when her family's home is repossessed. Alex Danfrey, a first-year Federal Prohibition Unit trainee with a complicated past and talents of his own, becomes tapped to go undercover and infiltrate the Shaws.
Through different paths, Joan and Alex tread deep into the violent, dangerous world of criminal magic - and when their paths cross at the Shaws' performance venue, despite their orders, and despite themselves, Joan and Alex become enchanted with one another. But when gang alliances begin to shift, the two sorcerers are forced to question their ultimate allegiances and motivations. And soon, Joan and Alex find themselves pitted against each other in a treacherous, heady game of cat-and-mouse.
A CRIMINAL MAGIC casts a spell of magic, high stakes and intrigue against the backdrop of a very different Roaring Twenties
Don't you just love it when you're so invested in a book that you don't realize how much time has been spent or how many pages you've read? That's what happened to me reading this book. It blew my expectations and I am so happy I read it.
This story has everything I love and want in one book- mobsters, the roaring 20's setting, real and complex characters, and a strong set of secondary characters. Even the story is unique and special!
The story takes place in the roaring 20's in a world where magic exists and everyone knows it. Instead of Speakeasy's that distribute illegal alcohol, bars ands lounges create and distribute Shine- pure magic mixed with water that causes drug-like reactions-which is illegal in the US.
Joan is a young girl trying to do what is best for her family. Her morals conflict with her need to protect and take care of her sister and cousin. The question is how much is she willing to pay for them? I liked the character development of Joan. In the beginning, she is a desperate poor girl trying to keep her family together, but she finds an opportunity she cannot refuse.
Alex is trying to make amends for his past. He tries to find ways to clear his family name and avoid his fathers mistakes, but soon finds himself in a situation more complicated than he anticipated.
Alex and Joan have a cute romance that I completely fell for. They are both trying to help their families, but they get caught up in the mob world. They find relief and peace with each other though and I loved reading their scenes.
The secondary characters were highly developed also. I even enjoyed reading scenes with Gunn and he was a dangerous and scary villain-type.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially historical romance lovers. This book is more than it's genre and you need to give it a try. I hope there is a second book, because I am not done with this world yet. Two thumbs up for Lee Kelly!
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