Deadly Spells by Jaye Wells (2015, 350 pages) – I don’t think of myself as a big urban fantasy fan, but I attended Jaye Wells’ writing workshop recently and decided to try one of her books. The series (each book stands alone in Prospero’s War) is a clever concept – magic is real and dangerous. A special police force keeps criminals from using (and selling) “dirty” magic that’s addictive and deadly.
Our heroine, Kate Propero, is a young police woman trying to overcome her past. She left one of the city’s criminal covens after her mother died even though the coven was run by her uncle. Leaving behind the world of dirty magic for profit, she ran off with her little brother, put herself through college, and joined the police force.
The major mystery here is who is trying to pit the covens against one another by framing first one faction and then another. As Kate, her partner, and her special team become involved with the growing number of murders, they discover the real reason for the unrest and place themselves and their loved ones in danger as a result of their investigations.
There is a surfeit of bad guys; sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of them all. The real police force doesn’t like the Magic Enforcement Agency. The new magic-using major (Kate’s old boyfriend, also a former coven member) tries to exert his power over the team and Kate. A local newswoman accuses Kate of using dirty magic. Kate’s macho partner is overprotective and intent on owning her. Even Kate’s brother’s teacher takes her on a “slumming it” date.
Poor Kate.
Through all her personal and professional tribulations, Kates does her best. She knows what dirty magic can do and what the underbelly of the city looks like. Her brains and her tenaciousness help her unearth the truth and keep the city from imploding. But she may have to trade her hard won scruples for some more realistic ones when her boss is kidnapped and the charismatic and devious mayor is the ransom.
I personally like this style of fast-paced, action-packed writing. I found the story exciting, the heroine relatable, and the ending with enough potential to keep me reading.
Good job, Jaye.
