Hello!

Today is my stop on the blog tour for ‘Black Magic’s Prey’ by Kristin McTiernan, organised by Damppebbles Blog Tours. I was delighted to participate and help kick off this tour in this tour, and I hope that you will check out both the author and the book.

*Disclaimer: ‘I was given a copy this book in exchange for an honest review.’*

Book Summary:

Hiding is no longer an option.

Tess has been stalker-free for fifteen years. She’s been living in trailer parks and preparing to run at any minute—all because in ninth grade she turned down the wrong Brujo. He comes from a long line of male witches and even back in high school, his powers were terrifying.

He used those powers to punish Tess. To make her do things. Awful things.

Now she has a new life. She’s got a good job, a decent Airstream trailer, and a best-friend-maybe-girlfriend. She’s careful not to reveal too much about her dark past.

But none of that matters. No matter where Tess goes, he will always find her. Unless she’s willing to trust a man who may be even more twisted than her stalker’s curse.

The Review:

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, both in terms of the ‘brujos’ but also in that to rid herself of the reappearing threat of this blight on her life, Tess has to seek help that might be worse than what is already being done to her. The idea of being caught between a rock and a hard place, and still making that choice, and trying for the prospect of freedom makes for a compelling story that was hard to put down, especially when paired with a brisk, engaging writing style.

I do feel that I should mention that there are some darker themes in this book especially with the ‘relationship’ between Tess and the Brujo, and the control he is able to exert over her and that it does include some sex, although most of it is ‘behind closed doors’ as it were. However, I would say that it is always proportional to the rest of the narrative and propels the story forwards. It was gritty and dark, and had a sinister air behind it, especially with the plots twists that caught me off guard (in a good way) more than once.

While I felt for Tess and her situation, as a character, I didn’t particularly connect with her. Of the characters we have met so far, Caroline was my favourite, and I felt that she humanised the entire situation in a way that was sorely needed in her support and care for her girlfriend. However, as the first book in a series, there is room for the characters to develop further, and the characters matched the story, so while I might have liked more of a connection, it certainly didn’t detract from the story.

This is a short book, but it packs a punch and sets up the rest of the series, and with the twists and turns and the fascinating nature of the Brujo magic, it leaves you wanting more. Certainly, a recommended read for someone looking for an urban/paranormal fantasy with a dark twist.

About the Author:

After waffling between joining a convent and enlisting in the Marines, I settled on the latter at the age of seventeen. After finishing my enlistment, I studied English literature with the intent of becoming a teacher. But after realizing I loved words more than teaching others, I used my degree to become a professional writer and editor, first with the federal civil service and then with the private sector. A lover of all things spec-fic, I wrote about women in weird situations, whether it’s magic or time travel, and enjoy the journey I take my characters on.

Social Media:

Facebook | Website |Instagram | Youtube

Purchase Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

The Rating:

Black Magic’s Prey (Siren Song #1) – Kristin McTiernan (Published in paperback, audio and digital formats on October 15^th 2018) – *** (3/5 Stars)

**

If you’ve read it or read in the future, please feel free to shout at me about this fantastic book. Or if you have any recommendations for similar books, please shoot them my way.

Rowena