At a Glance
My initial thought was, "This was far superior to Dime Store Magic." I relished the appearance of familiar characters and the introduction of new ones. The action was engaging, and the plot was interesting and fast-paced.

The Good
I was astonished by the wealth of information revealed in this book. We gain a deeper understanding of the Cortez family and the reasons for the strain between Lucas and Benicio (his father). Then, we get a glimpse into vampire society and why so many supernaturals despise them. Cassandra, a cold and creepy vampire, was truly captivating. She was pure awesomeness, and I never knew what to anticipate from her or whether to trust her.

Jaime Vegas was equally fascinating. A necromancer with attitude, she was upbeat and entertaining to observe. She refused to be pushed around but wasn't overly badass either. She was a great blend of witty, strong, and feminine. I was completely engrossed in every word she said, especially when she was bickering with Cassandra.

Clay and Elena also made an appearance, which I know fans of the couple will appreciate.

This book was truly exciting and suspenseful. It was definitely a character-driven story, with both Paige and Lucas growing in their relationship and the other characters' appearances and their connection to the world Armstrong has created. I found myself laughing and gasping in horror frequently. This was a highly emotional story that captured my attention and held it, especially in the second half of the book.

The Bad
Although I liked Paige better this time around, and her poor decision-making in Dime Store Magic had lessened, she still isn't my favorite character. She just annoys me at times.

The Snuggly
There is a sexual scene not suitable for the young, but no full-on sex scenes, so it's relatively mild by adult standards.

I preferred Paige and Lucas as a couple in this book. They realize that this isn't just a fling; they have true, deep feelings for each other. Of course, it takes them a long time to figure this out, but it's still a good progression.

Overall
I enjoyed this book overall. It maintained my attention for most of the time, and the numerous characters were entertaining. I don't think I will ever love Paige as a character, but Armstrong writes such great stories that I will continue to read. A recommended read.

Quotes
“I thought you were all-seeing.”

"All-knowing, not all-seeing!” he snapped. “I’m a God, not Santa Claus!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I can just imagine what the humidity has done to my hair. I'm going to meet your family looking like a poodle with a live wire shoved up its butt."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Last time I was sick, the guy I was seeing brought me a bottle of ginger ale… and expected me to pay him back for it."

While I am typically extremely strict about reading series in sequential order, for some inexplicable reason, I have deviated from this norm with this particular series. Perhaps it is due to the fact that different books are presented from diverse perspectives? In any case, I picked up this volume after a hiatus from the series, and it took me a while to precisely determine where I stood in each character's storyline. Having already delved into the sequels, I must confess that it was an absolute delight to encounter Jaime the necromancer for the very first time. Her initial impression was as absurd and wonderful as I had hoped.

This book is an engaging mystery/thriller with supernatural elements intertwined. Of course, it features all of our beloved characters from the Otherworld series. I'm particularly fond of the fact that the werewolves make an appearance in this novel. (Since the series commenced with Elena, I have a hunch that she and Clay will forever remain my absolute favorites.) However, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to thriller enthusiasts. I continuously referred to it as the "supernatural serial killer" novel I was perusing, and it couldn't be more fitting. Essentially, Paige and Lucas agree to assist the Cabals (supernatural mafia-like groups) in locating the individual responsible for murdering the teenagers of Cabal employees. It adheres to the typical thriller-style narrative where they believe they have the entire matter resolved, only to discover that they were lacking a few crucial pieces of the puzzle, resulting in an intriguing and surprising read.

The serial killer aspect was excellent, but my favorite progression for the series as a whole was witnessing the development of Paige and Lucas's relationship. They are finally broaching the important topics and beginning to admit that their connection is serious, which gives rise to some entertaining situations and some uproariously funny conversations/jokes about how they would manage their own Cabal if they were truly in charge.

Overall, it is a substantial addition to the series, and I firmly believe it is a must-read for supernatural aficionados (of the genre, not necessarily the television show). I appreciate that while we were introduced to one or two new characters, for the most part, this novel focused on enhancing the relationships between the characters we already know. I truly relished every moment of reading this.

Also posted on Purple People Readers.

I truly adored this book. The introduction to Jaime was simply outstanding. She is such a remarkable character. Hahaha!

Jaime's presence in the story immediately grabs the reader's attention. Her personality shines through, making her both endearing and captivating. The way she is described makes it easy to form a vivid image in one's mind.

As I delved deeper into the book, I found myself becoming more and more invested in Jaime's journey. I couldn't wait to see what would happen to her next. The author did an excellent job of creating a character that the reader can easily root for.

Overall, this book has been a great read so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Jaime's story unfolds.

I have to admit that I had a clear preference when it came to Kelley Armstrong's series. I found the werewolf part to be far more captivating than the witch/sorcerer aspect. So much so that I simply skipped over anything related to the witches and focused solely on the storylines involving Clay and Elena. I had really enjoyed Dime Store Magic, which led me to believe that I would like Industrial Magic as well. However, it turned out to be even better than I had anticipated.

Industrial Magic is centered around Paige and Lucas, who make a truly wonderful couple. What I really liked about them is that they are both so normal. They don't have these over-the-top, unrealistic features like violet eyes and drop-dead gorgeous looks. Instead, they are just like regular people. They are raising a friend's daughter and are constantly trying to find time for each other amidst their busy work schedules and home lives. This added a layer of authenticity and relatability to the story that I really appreciated. The overall story was engaging and well-written, and now I'm even more excited about delving into the entire series. I can't wait to see what other adventures and stories Kelley Armstrong has in store for her readers.

I'm looking forward to exploring more of the world she has created and getting to know the other characters better. I have a feeling that there are many more great stories and surprises waiting for me as I continue on this reading journey.

Positives:

I can envision this book becoming highly popular among RPG / LARP World of Darkness players. As mentioned in the foreword, the idea of a fan creating an Otherworld RPG system is quite conceivable.

Paige and Lucas have grown more at ease in their relationship, which is a nice development.

Negatives:

Overall, my experience with this book was rather disappointing. At the beginning, I had high hopes. It seemed as if Paige and Lucas might evolve into a crime-solving and mystery-investigating duo. However, the book became overly burdened by attempting to handle too many elements simultaneously. It felt more like a training ground, laying the foundation for the emergence of Cainsville and Rockton in the future.

The book was excessively long and could have greatly benefited from a thorough and precise edit to reduce its length by approximately 30%. One of the issues was that the plot once again had to awkwardly accommodate the introduction of new characters, such as Jaime Vegas, the necromancer, and more world-building details, like the afterlife, the Fates, and necromancy/talking to a Grecian-style active afterlife. This setup is clearly designed for Eve to have her own ghostly book in the next installment, and presumably, Jaime will either play a significant role or get her own book.

Simultaneously, while setting up these new world details, existing characters like Cassandra, Adam, Elena, and Clay were abruptly shoehorned into this book. In my opinion, it would have made much more sense to have Elena featured in Dime Store Magic rather than Industrial Magic.

After the initial third of the book, I found myself spending long stretches of time feeling bored. Additionally, the increased focus on the spirit world, seances, exorcisms, and necromancy made me uncomfortable as it doesn't align with my personal interests. I likely won't be reading the next book in this series.

I'm writing this review straight after finishing Industrial Magic, so I might start rambling a bit!

If I had any previous misconceptions about Paige's character in Dime Store Magic, I'm completely over them now! In Dime Store Magic, I thought Paige was a weak character compared to Elena. However, in Industrial Magic, she completely came into her own. Paige was strong as a protagonist, loyal to her friends, selfless in her actions, and just generally awesome.

I loved all of the characters in this book - both new and old - and how they interacted with each other. Lucas is just as smart as ever, Lucas's father is actually starting to grow on me, Savannah was as sassy as ever, Clay has started to ease off his obsessive side (just a little), and some of the new characters introduced were absolutely hilarious.

The plot of Industrial Magic was absolutely flawless in its perfection. It was so action-packed and exciting that I found myself finishing the book in no time at all. The last third of the book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was so well written and thought out that at times I was nearly gasping in shock.

I seriously can't get enough of this series and strongly recommend it to anyone! A thoroughly enjoyable read!

In August 2014, I had the pleasure of reading a captivating book. I was truly impressed by the strength of Paige, one of the main characters. Her relationship with Luke added an extra layer of depth and interest to the story. The bond they shared was both touching and engaging. After finishing the book, I knew I wanted to re-read it as a challenge and also to continue the series. I can't wait to see what exciting events unfold in the next book and throughout the rest of the series. The anticipation of the return of the wolves has me on the edge of my seat. I'm eager to discover how their presence will impact the story and the characters. I'm confident that the next installment will be just as thrilling and enjoyable as the first one.

In "Stolen", I initially made up my mind that I wasn't a huge fan of Paige. However, she has really matured since then. I suspect we can attribute this growth to Savannah.

Still, I have to admit that I much prefer Elena as a narrator. So, I was truly delighted when she and Clay made appearances in the story, not just once but twice! It was really enjoyable to listen to their bickering from an outsider's perspective.

Even though my perception of Paige has changed, I have to say that the story itself had its moments when it seemed to drag on a little. Thankfully, she won't be the narrator for the next installment. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story progresses with a different narrator at the helm.

Overall, while there were some aspects of the story that I didn't love, I still found it to be an engaging read and I'm excited to see what comes next in this series.

I’m always excited when I discover a new writer who meets several criteria. First, I think their work is amazing. Second, they are writing a series, which I adore. Third, there are already several books in the series before I come across them. And fourth, their writing improves with each book. Kelley Armstrong fits this description perfectly.

The Women of the Otherworld series has a unique aspect in that the narrator of each book changes. Some narrators have more than one book dedicated to them, but there are several different narrators in total. Armstrong does a great job of introducing the narrator at least one book in advance, and also characters from other books make appearances. For example, Elena is the narrator in the first two books, and Paige shows up in book 2. Paige then becomes the narrator of books 3 and 4, with Elena still present in those books, although not as the main focus of the story.

Industrial Magic is the second book narrated by Paige Winterborne, a witch. In this book, she and her boyfriend, sorcerer Lucas, are asked by Lucas’ father, a powerful Sorcerer leader, to look into why supernatural teens are being killed. That’s all I can say without spoiling the story for you.

What I can tell you is that the story is both suspenseful and character-driven. There are a couple of new characters that you’ll enjoy, and there is one thing that is highly implausible – but then again, isn’t the entire concept of the series?

Overall, I would say that this is the best book in The Women of the Otherworld series, and I can’t wait to read the next one!

This book belongs more to the mystery genre, intertwined with the supernatural and the rather awkward encounter with the boyfriend's family. There is a series of killings targeting Cabal kids. The Cabal is Cortez's father's empire of extremely wealthy sorcerers. At first, it begins with the deaths of half-demon employees and other supernaturals who aren't sorcerers, so they aren't overly concerned. However, when a sorcerer son dies, it becomes clear that someone really has it out for the Cabal empire.

Paige and Luke are once again involved, with special appearances by some werewolves, vampires, necromancers, clairvoyants, and shamans. Just as they are settling in at an apartment with Luke and Savannah, Benicio, Luke's father, surprises Paige and piques her interest in the above-explained case.

This book contains a bit of everything. They meet some vampires who embrace "their true nature," meaning they sleep in coffins and don't come out during the day. There is also a clairvoyant who only uses her powers against her employer, and the rather messed-up extension of Luke's family.

Gore, weirdness, and ghosts are all part of the mix. Oh, and you also get to meet the narrator for the next book!

Kelley Armstrong's writing is truly remarkable. She makes you view the story through one pair of eyes, skillfully manipulates your emotions about a certain scene while also making you laugh on every page. I would love to learn from her how to bring things to life on the pages as she does so masterfully.

This series remains my favorite to date, and I can't wait to dive into the next installment!

This is the second "Women of the Otherworld" book narrated by Paige Winterbourne.

To be honest, I'm still not overly enthusiastic about Paige. As a narrator, she comes across as rather dull - a know-it-all and self-righteous. The romance between her and Lucas Cortez is just so-so. Lucas is an honest, loyal, and dedicated person, always fighting for a good cause. He's basically your average nice guy, which would make him a great partner in real life. But in my opinion, as a fictional paranormal lover, he just doesn't quite measure up.

However, this book is still great, mainly due to the plot and the wonderful cast of secondary characters.

The story goes like this: the teenage kids of the Cabal are being murdered by a mysterious killer, and Paige and Lucas are called in by Lucas's father to assist with the investigation. What follows is an exciting hunt for the perpetrator. During the chase, we get to revisit our old favorites from previous books, such as Adam, Cassandra, Aaron, Jeremy, Elena, and (thank goodness!) Clayton. We're also introduced to some very colorful new characters, like Jaime Vegas - a necromancer, a clairvoyant, Eve's ghost, and even an obnoxious Celtic deity.

It sounds crazy, doesn't it? Well, it kind of is, but somehow it works in this book. The new mythology that Armstrong introduces is both exciting and entertaining.

On the negative side, keeping track of so many characters requires a lot of logistical explanations from the author, and at times it can be a bit of a struggle to follow who went where, when, and how. But pretty soon, you learn to completely tune these things out. If I'm being objective, some of the cameo appearances are just that - appearances - without significantly advancing the plot. But because you like these characters, you overlook that as well.

Overall, "Industrial Magic" is a great fast-paced story that has re-awakened my interest in the series.

Reading challenge: #1 - I

Paige and Lucas are my absolute favourite characters in this remarkable series.

From the very beginning, they have captured my heart with their unique personalities and engaging storylines.

In this latest instalment, they did not disappoint in the slightest.

The plot was twisted and filled with devious characters that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next.

The author's writing style is captivating, and the vivid descriptions brought the characters and settings to life in my mind.

I cannot wait to see what adventures Paige and Lucas will embark on in the future installments of this series.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller.

It is a must-read for fans of the series and will surely leave you wanting more.