GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Book Review: Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #2) by Deborah Blake | I Smell Sheep

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Book Review: Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #2) by Deborah Blake

Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #2)
by Deborah Blake
April 18th 2017
by InterMix
285 pages

From the author of Veiled Magic and the Baba Yaga novels, comes an exciting new paranormal romance...



Since Witches came out of the broom-closet in the early 21st century, they have worked alongside humans as police officers, healers, stock traders, and more. But they aren’t the only paranormal entities in our world...

Witch and police officer Donata Santori is no stranger to magical mayhem, but lately her life has been unexpectedly charmed. Her job as a Ghost Yanker now includes the occasional paranormal investigation, and she’s advancing her magical abilities with the help of an ancestor’s treasured spell book. And while both of her former love interests—reclusive half-Dragon art forger Peter Casaventi and disgraced Shapechanger Magnus Torvald—are nowhere to be found, she’s not averse to being wined and dined by wealthy businessman Anton Eastman.

But Eastman isn’t what he seems, and what he wants from Donata is far more than she’s willing to give. When a mysterious relic, the Pentacle Pentimento, resurfaces, along with Peter’s Dragon father and a shocking Santori family secret, Donata must fight to save herself, her friends, and just maybe the fate of the world from a magic as old as it is dangerous.

I adored Veiled Magic, the first in this series and was quite excited to get my hands on Veiled Menace. While book two didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the first in the series, it ultimately delivered a solid urban fantasy with great momentum.

Donata Santori is a witch on police payroll. Dead men tell no tales, except to Donata who has the ability to talk to the departed. Through these spiritual visits, Donata is able to gather evidence for the good guys. She likes her work and is slowly gaining the respect and notice of her colleagues. And while witches are ‘out of the broom closet’ other paranormal races prefer to be hidden. As such, Donata must do double duty protecting the public, but also the best interests of the paranormal community. Recently, Donata finds, her dual role is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Crimes are being uncharacteristically committed by paranormals, raising suspicion of law enforcement. Donata must race against the clock to uncover the uprising all the while navigating her particularly complicated personal life.

I like a strong female mains and Dontata is no exception. She’s a talented, self-assured, witch who enjoys the occasional stiff drink. As a bit of a family black sheep, Donata is use to standing alone and is quite comfortable in her role as an independent woman. Ricky the Kobold and Cassandra Havens, the buxom coroner, are back for book two and serve as a nice compliment to Donata’s character.

In the end, while I enjoyed this read, I wasn’t quite as hooked on this second installment. The plot was fairly predictable and I wasn’t really shocked by the story’s revelations. But I like the cast of characters and the direction of Donata’s story, particularly her romantic entanglements. Nothing is too neatly woven together at the end of book two and I’m definitely anticipating the third in the series.


Four Sheep





Bianca Greenwood

About this Author:
website-FB-twitter-blog
Author of seven non-fiction books from Llewellyn. Circle, Coven & Grove: A Year of Magickal Practice (2007), Everyday Witch A to Z (2008), The Goddess is in the Details (2009), Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook (2010) Witchcraft on a Shoestring (2010), Everyday Witch Book of Rituals, and The Witch's Broom. I am also the author of the Baba Yaga series from Berkley Romance, including Wickedly Magical (novella), Wickedly Dangerous, and Wickedly Wonderful.
When not writing, Deborah runs The Artisans’ Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend in 1999, and also works as a jewelry maker, tarot reader, and energy healer. She lives in a 100 year old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.

No comments:

Post a Comment