ARC Review--Magic for a Price by Devon Monk

Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic, but she’s never faced anything like this.

Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may have left the only cure in the hands of a madman. Hunted by the Authority–the secret council that enforces magic’s laws–wanted by the police, and unable to use magic, she’s got to find the cure before the sickness spreads beyond any power to stop it.

But when a Death magic user seeks to destroy the only antidote, Allie and her fellow renegades must stand and fight to defend the innocent and save all magic…



I received this ARC from the author via a contest for review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


It's the series finale and boy are things about to go out with a BANG! Magic for a Price concludes Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series, one I started years ago and fell in love with. Although quick comment on the cover, yet again I love it! Allie is totally fierce, yet her hair is still supposed to be super short and it's not. Oh well! 

So Portland is in major trouble. The BIG BAD--Leander and Isabelle possessing a new host aka hostage--is coming. To Portland. With help. Only because of who they are possessing, they have moved onto the big leagues. And they are killing Soul Complements. Since we have 2 in Allie's group--Allie and Zay, Shame and Terric--things are going to get pretty scary pretty damn quick!

But before we can have the battle to end all battles, Allie and her friends have to close the wells that host the magic in Portland. There are four of them, and it will be a race against the clock and Leander and Isabelle and their supporters to close them. By doing this they close off magic to Portland and have to take the bad guys out the old fashion way. Obviously along the way, Allie and her crew run into a few problems. One being which Allie is still made sick by magic, yet she needs her father to take control of her so that he can close the wells, with magic. 

There were some pretty close calls for a lot of the characters. There were moments when I was thinking how could Devon do this!? Devon wouldn't do this! You know the feelings. Needless to say there are a lot of shockers and twists to this story!

I really like how Devon wraps this series up nice and neat, yet with a few things to leave you wondering, since next year her Shamus series comes out! You heard right, the all mighty Shame is getting his own series! Which he narrates! We can expect visits from other characters too, like Terric, possible Allie, but Devon has not really confirmed that. But moving on. 

Devon ties up the loose ends nicely, even bringing Mama back into the mix. And Allie's father, Daniel. There is so much I can't remember about the beginning of the series, since it was like 1000s of books ago, but I could tell that the details that were brought up at the end were important. Everything seemed to flow nicely together, even if my memory was lacking. I really liked how things ended.

The action, as always was pretty fast paced, yet it had interludes of comedy relief and some attempted romance. Poor Allie and Zay will not be getting a break any time soon. They are constantly moving. Their feelings for one another are constantly being jerked back and forth with all the almost dyings and what not.

I truly loved the connection with Zay and Allie throughout the series. The love that they had for one another, how they were willing and did do anything and everything to protect one another. It was deeply moving.

Sadly the book had to come to an end. I don't even want to go with how I was feeling by then. Besides what I already said about enjoying the end. I feel like if I were to use more words then I would get to spoilers, but obviously you know what kind of ending you'll get since it's the series finale. And like I said, Devon ends it beautifully! And adds in a nice little twist at the end--not enough to totally wreck the series finale, but perhaps to spin off new plot details for Shame's book. Only time will tell...

Magic for a Price is a fabulous ending to a fabulous series! If you are curious to read this series, please note that it is best to read them in order as it is one of those series when that must be done. Sure you could skip, but would miss out on another great adventure and wouldn't have the full details told to you in the next book, so read the whole series in order, it's definitely been a thrilling ride!



Overall rating 5/5 stars


Magic for a Price releases November 6, 2012