Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book

Hot Search

Otherworld #4

Industrial Magic

kelley armstrong

... Show More
Meet the smart, sexy—supernatural—Women of the Otherworld. This is not your mother's coven…

Kelley Armstrong returns with the eagerly awaited follow-up to Dime Store Magic. Paige Winterbourne, a headstrong young woman haunted by a dark legacy, is now put to the ultimate test as she fights to save innocents from the most insidious evil of all…

In the aftermath of her mother's murder, Paige broke with the elite, ultraconservative American Coven of Witches. Now her goal is to start a new Coven for a new generation. But while Paige pitches her vision to uptight thirty-something witches in business suits, a more urgent matter commands her attention.

Someone is murdering the teenage offspring of the underworld's most influential Cabals—a circle of families that makes the mob look like amateurs. And none is more powerful than the Cortez Cabal, a faction Paige is intimately acquainted with. Lucas Cortez, the rebel son and unwilling heir, is none other than her boyfriend. But love isn't blind, and Paige has her eyes wide open as she is drawn into a hunt for an unnatural-born killer. Pitted against shamans, demons, and goons, it's a battle chilling enough to make a wild young woman grow up in a hurry. If she gets the chance.

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 2,2004
Series
Otherworld
Places
portland oregon, florida, 

This edition

Format
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
October 26, 2004 by Bantam Spectra
ISBN
9780553587074
ASIN
0553587072
Language
English
Characters More characters
  • Jaime Vegas

    Jaime Vegas

    DOB: Feb 14, 1963Hair: long, redEyes: greenHeight: 5 7”Build: curvy but slenderA necromancer. Works as a TV spiritualist.Jaime is first mentioned in Dime Store Magic when Savannah is watching her hit TV show (where she supposedly contacts the dead.)...

  • Paige Winterbourne

    Paige Winterbourne

    YOB: 1977Hair: Curly, Dark BrownEyes: GreenHeight: 5 2"Build: Curvy, ChubbyA Coven witchPaige narrates:books 3more...

  • Lucas Cortez

    Lucas Cortez

    DOB: March 1, 1976Hair: dark, shortEyes: brown, glassesHeight: 6Build: slenderLucas Cortez is a sorcerer; the fourth (and illegitimate) son of Benicio Cortez, the CEO of the Cortez Cabal.more...

  • Benicio Cortez

    Benicio Cortez

    YOB: 1940Hair: dark, shortEyes: dark brownHeight: 5 8"Build: stockyA sorcerer. The CEO of The Cortez Corporation. Benicio Cortez is the head of the Cortez Cabal, considered the most powerful of all the Cabal.Father of Lucas Cortez &hell...

  • Cassandra DuCharme

    Cassandra Ducharme

    Hair: copper redEyes: greenShe is a 300 years old Vampire; delegate on the Interracial Council....

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for kelley armstrong

kelley armstrong

... Show More
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
31(31%)
4 stars
26(26%)
3 stars
43(43%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
lesbevil
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Not as awesomely awesome as the first three, but still worth the read, nevertheless.

It took a long time to reach the final page. Admittedly, it did progress quicker towards the end, as they almost always do.

At some points, the plot advanced at a snail's pace. With each new obstacle that came along, I couldn't help but scream, "When is this going to be over??"

It was still a really good blend of mystery, lighthearted humor, and horror. Kelley managed to draw me into the story as she always does.

However, it feels as though she's lost the drive that brought out Bitten, Stolen, and Dime Store Magic. (Although her writing has obviously improved from her debut. Oh Kelley, I still love you.)

GENERAL SERIES SPOILER: I really wanted Lucas to find out about Hector. I thought Hector's reappearance was seriously random in this novel. It led nowhere, except to provide some much-missed Clay time. NO ONE can refuse Clay time, especially when he's all big bad wolf. (Haha, no pun intended, I swear.)

But I'm hoping this little tidbit will lead to another novel from Paige's POV. (Not as the sole plot, clearly, but I do think this is a loose end that needs to be tied up, Clay's involvement or not. Lucas won't be happy knowing Paige has kept this from him.)

On that note, it's amazing how much I've warmed to Paige considering I initially refused to read her novels. Lucas may have something to do with that. I hated her in Stolen, but now... I'd really enjoy another novel from her perspective :D Kelley, if you're listening... :P
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
MadaraSarutobi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Another great addition to this series.

I have just finished Dime Store Magic. At the beginning, I wasn't truly convinced about Paige. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I ended up enjoying it a great deal. I was really eager to read the next book about her and Lucas. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed.

The story was captivating and full of action. Somebody is killing Cabal's children, and Lucas and Paige are tasked by Lucas' father to investigate this case. The whole case is as interesting as the complicated interaction between Lucas and his father.

Moreover, I loved that there are so many other supernatural characters in this story, such as necromancers, vampires, werewolves, and more. Many characters we already know from the previous books make an appearance, but there are also some great new ones. I was really glad that I could meet Elena and Clay again.

I will definitely read another book in this series. I'm eagerly waiting to read more about Paige and Lucas and see what adventures lie ahead for them. The world that Kelley Armstrong has created is truly fascinating, and I can't get enough of it.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Sinuquera
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Well, it has taken me nearly 12 months to read this particular book, and I was determined to finish it.

After all, I am not the kind of reader who leaves a book unfinished. I have the complete set of these books, but I think I'm done with them for now.

I will not be starting books 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. There are so many other wonderful books out there that I渴望 to read, and I don't want to waste my time on books that don't quite capture my interest.

Now, don't get me wrong. This book wasn't necessarily bad. It just felt long and drawn-out, with a plethora of characters that were sometimes difficult to keep track of.

It's time for me to move on to something else, something less supernatural perhaps. Maybe a thrilling mystery or a heartwarming romance. The possibilities are endless, and I can't wait to explore them.

Who knows what wonderful stories await me?
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
direday34
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

Industrial Magic is, without a doubt, the weakest installment in the series thus far. The writing, story-telling, and world-building aspects are truly excellent. However, what fails to shine is Paige Winterbourne. In Dime Store Magic, she wasn't the smartest (despite her own beliefs) or the most likable. But there were numerous elements to divert the reader's attention from her flaws. Additionally, Savannah provided a welcome respite, and getting to know Lucas Cortez was also interesting. Unfortunately, Savannah is largely absent from this novel. And as for Lucas, I feel I've learned all that I need to know about him.

Paige, despite her complaints about the Coven witches, is more similar to them than she realizes. Old-fashioned, judgmental, and convinced of her own superiority, Paige spends a significant portion of this novel on her soapbox. Her character might be marginally more likable if she ever faced failure or was perceived as an unlikable person through the eyes of another character. But, unfortunately, Paige encounters and overcomes every challenge. Despite being only twenty-three years old, she possesses the knowledge and wisdom to hunt down a serial killer. Ugh. If the entire series focused on Paige or Lucas, I would abandon it in an instant. Since it doesn't, I'm happily moving on to the next book and will simply have to endure their appearances in the future. But if there are any more books with either of them as the main character, I will likely skip them entirely.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
rexeno
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

3.5 stars. This story is truly packed with non-stop action that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. What I really love about it is how all the characters come together at a certain point. It creates a sense of unity and makes the story even more engaging. Jaime, in particular, is a lovely character. Her charm and personality add a special touch to the narrative. And then there's Lucas and Paige. Their relationship is just goals. They have this chemistry that is palpable and makes you root for them throughout the story. Overall, this is a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves action-packed stories with great characters.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Spindleglass
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I didn't have the same level of affection for Industrial Magic as I did for Dime Store Magic. If I were to rate it, I would probably give it two and a half stars.

One aspect that I found a bit lacking was the pacing. At certain points, it seemed to drag, which made it a bit of a struggle to stay engaged.

However, there were also some redeeming qualities. The humor in this book was more prominent, especially when it came to the character of Lucas. He had some truly funny moments that made me smile.

Paige, on the other hand, seemed a bit dull for some reason. Maybe it was the way she was written or the choices she made in the story.

Fortunately, the minor characters more than made up for Paige's shortcomings. They added depth and interest to the story, and their interactions were often quite entertaining.

Overall, Industrial Magic is a good, quick, and fun read. It may not be as good as Dime Store Magic, but it still has its own charm and appeal.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
PPLXI_
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Where to begin?

Let's start with what I don't like, so we can get this over with.

The bad:

- Paige is so unlikable. She's the perfect cliché heroine. A little helpless, but at the same time a superwoman. She's a code writer, a hacker, a detective, a leader, a politician, a medical examiner. Yes, at some point of the book she takes on each of those roles. She's not at all believable as a 23-year-old. 33 sure, but I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to be picturing her as someone fresh out of college.

- The Cabal thing is annoying. It's supposed to be some sort of super mafia, worse than the mafia, but I don't really believe it. It just feels like your average large corrupt company. Maybe this part is just me but I wasn't buying it. There's more that I can nitpick about the Cabal but I think it's just mostly me not buying the whole thing.

- The book took a whole other leap into eye roll territory with the whole other realm thing. Which sucks since I think the next book is all about that. Can guarantee I'll hate it. But I'll still read it I'm sure.

- I don't get the witches vs sorcerer thing. The book acts like they're different species. In fact, if I understood the previous book, witches and sorcerers have kids via some kind of cloning. But in this book Dana has a sorcerer dad and a witch mom? Maybe I'm understanding wrong. But the books act like they're so different, but they can use each other's magic? It just doesn't really make sense for me.

The good:

I like Kelley Armstrong as an author. Her writing flows well and is easy to get through. I actually listened to this on audiobook and thought the narrator did a good job.

In general I found the whole premise unbelievable. Since when are an IT nerd and a lawyer great big detectives that people seek out when their kids start dying? There were too many points where I felt like I had to force myself to "go with it". It distracted from the story. Additionally, this book is a giant bait and switch. Loved the first 2 books. I want to go back to Elena and the Pack. And their little cameos in this book aren't doing it for me. Someone please tell me this series goes back to them eventually.

I really hope that in the future installments of this series, the author will address some of these issues. Maybe make the characters more believable and the plot more coherent. I still have some hope for the series, but it's dwindling with each new book.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
kusaokanenai
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
The plot thickens indeed. This book once again centers around Paige and Lucas, and I'm not at all disappointed. I had liked them in "Dime Store Magic" and was eager to see more of their story.

This book delves deeper into their lives as they, along with Savannah, try to move forward. However, the paranormal world refuses to let them be. When Cabal teenagers start getting killed, Lucas and Paige can't resist the urge to help. After all, Savannah could be the next target due to Lucas' ties to the Cabals.

This is a fast-paced book that introduces new characters while also bringing back some old favorites. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the vampires in this series. Only time will tell if they'll grow on me.

Jeremy makes a brief appearance in this book, but I'm left longing for more of his story. I can't wait to find out what else awaits him.

The narration was just okay. It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't terrible either. Now, it's time to move on to the next book in the series and see where the story takes us.
0 0 Reply
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.