Guest Review of The Bitter Seed of Magic by Suzanne McLeod

Publisher: Ace
Series: Spellcrackers #3
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from back cover):

For Once, Genny’s life seems quiet. Finn, her sexy boss, isn’t pushing for a decision on their relationship, the seductive vampire Malik al-Kahn has vanished into the shadows and the witches have declared that Genny is no longer a threat. But she knows it’s probably just the calm before the magical storm.

Then a teenage faeling is fished out of the River Thames, dead and bound with magic, and Genny is called in to investigate. Her search exposes age-old secrets that might be better left buried. And when another faeling disappears, Genny is suddenly in a race against time to stop a deadly curse from claiming its next victim: Herself.

Teaser:

 

‘Chomping the sorcerer’s soul was more an instinctive kind of revenge thing,’ I said blandly, ‘payback for the evil bitch sacrificing me.’ See? I have teeth too, oh dogmother.

‘I have already told you, child. I am not here to kill you.’ The phouka’s ears twitched in disapproval, the air wavered around her and Grianne took her human form. She sat next to me, dressed in one of her usual silvery-gray Grecian numbers. Her long, sharp features aligned in a haughty frown. ‘My responsibility here is only to my charge.’

Reviewed By: J.A. Campbell, guest reviewer

Julie's Thoughts:

The Bitter Seed of Magic is the third book in the Spellcrackers series set in London England. Genny is London’s only full Sidhe resident, and though she can’t cast magic, she’s very good at Cracking it. She works for Spellcrackers.com pulling apart or Cracking spells and glamours and otherwise helping to keep the citizens safe from magical abuse. The first two books introduce us to Genny’s strong nature and intelligence as well as setting up a rich and entertaining world where vampires and other supernatural creatures are part of everyday life.

In The Bitter Seed of Magic we learn that London’s Fae population is dieing, or fading away, because of a curse laid upon them by a vengeful Fae queen. They are unable to have children, and the curse must be lifted, but even the queen who laid the curse can’t fix it. The Fae have turned to Genny, as London’s only Sidhe, to Crack the curse. They believe that the only way to fix it is for Genny to have a child of her own, and that this will restore their own fertility. Genny has no desire for her own child but the Fae have lined up suitors, regardless of her wishes, while other powerful creatures have done their best to prevent her from becoming pregnant. Genny is determined to Crack the curse another way and searches for some clue. Meanwhile London’s Fae are being murdered and Genny’s on the case to figure out why. She’s aided by sexy Finn her Satyr boss, dangerous Malik, the vampire who thinks he owns her, and Tavish the Kelpie who’s motivations are rarely clear. The list of people who try to stop her is too long to name.

I really enjoy the first two books in the Spellcracker.com series and this book was no exception. Each novel is a stand-alone murder mystery with a lot of sexy characters and some really interesting subplots, but I’d highly recommend reading them in order. I really like how Suzanne McLeod’s world incorporates the fae as well as vampires, witches and other supernaturals. Each race is richly described and the characters’ motivations or mysteriousness makes sense within the context of the story. Ms. McLeod does a good job of adding in hints to the mysteries, both the main plot of the book, and all the subplots as the book goes on at just the right pace to keep the pages turning.

Genny’s sarcasm is entertaining and her lack of angst is very refreshing. She takes care of those she feels responsible for and does her best to do her job and Crack the curse using whatever resources she has available. The mystery she has to solve takes more than just luck though and she comes across as a highly intelligent character.

I highly recommend this series to people who love a good fresh take on the Urban Fantasy genre. 

The reviewer owns this book. 

**Julie writes fantasy novels. When she’s not out riding her horse, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer with a cat on her lap and her dog at her side. Her first novel, Senior Year Bites, is available from Decadent Publishing and the sequel is currently under contract. You can find out more at www.writerjacampbell.com