"Industrial Magic" is yet another captivating installment of Kelley Armstrong's "Otherworld" series. It is truly an engrossing read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

In this book, Paige and Lucas, who have now become a couple, join forces for the very first time. However, they soon find themselves confronted with a terrifying child-murdering entity. Determined to solve the crimes and ensure that the killer is brought to justice, they enlist the help of some of their supernatural friends. These include werewolves, necromancers, and vampires.

The bond between Paige, the witch, and Lucas, the sorcerer, deepens significantly in this story. The reader witnesses their unwavering love for each other and their willingness to go to any lengths, quite literally, to protect and save one another.

Additionally, we see the dynamics between the other supernaturals intensify in this installment. This provides the reader with a more in-depth understanding of all the characters and how they interact with and cooperate with others.

Overall, "Industrial Magic" is a fascinating and at times horrific tale. But it also manages to infuse humor, love, and elements of everyday life into a supernatural world that is filled with magic and whimsy. It is a must-read for fans of the "Otherworld" series and anyone who enjoys a thrilling and engaging supernatural adventure.

Kelley Armstrong once again proves her prowess with this fourth installment in her captivating Otherworld series.

Paige, the witch, reprises her role as the narrator, and she is joined by the rest of the remarkable cast of characters we encountered in the previous books.

It has been approximately four months since the events of Dime Store Magic. Paige, Lucas, and Savannah are building a life for themselves in Portland when Lucas' father, Benicio, arrives. He requests that Lucas and Paige look into the attacks on two teenagers within the Cabal. The crimes hit close to home for Paige, as the latest victim is a young witch abandoned by her mother.

During their investigation, our dynamic duo discovers that there are more victims than Benicio was aware of. These children are from all four Cabals. The killer has a significant grudge and shows no signs of stopping his vengeful spree. Joining Paige and Lucas is a new character, Jamie the necromancer. I thoroughly enjoyed her presence. It's not often that I come across a smart, sexy 40-year-old woman who has so much to offer. (Not only did I develop an affinity for her, but I also quickly became a fan of her massive crush on Jeremy.)

Cassandra the vampire makes a return, albeit reluctantly joining the team. We finally get to meet Savannah's mother, Eve (in ghostly form). And fan favorites Clay and Elena are back as well, first to take care of Savannah and later to assist in apprehending the bad guy.

The action in this book is thrilling. I love the intricate murder plot and all its underlying layers. But equally, I enjoy witnessing Paige and Lucas deepen their relationship. He is such an endearing dork, and she is completely in love with him, just as he is with her. They truly make a wonderful couple. We also get a glimpse of the relationship between Lucas and his father. I understand that the Cabals have their flaws, but Benicio's love for his son is palpable and heartwarming.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a fantastic addition to a great series. Five stars!

The fourth book in this series is truly a gem.

I firmly believe it's the best one thus far. The author has clearly hit her stride, crafting a story that is both engaging and well-structured.

There are very few complaints I can levy against this installment. The world-building is top-notch, and the plot progression is not marred by senseless stupidity.

However, I must admit that the scene where Paige gives her boyfriend a BJ in the janitor's closet of the courthouse right before a murder trial, with four crime families lurking around the building, seems a bit out of place.

Paige and Lucas are summoned to investigate the murders of children of supernatural Cabal employees. Lucas's father attempts to rebuild his relationship with him, adding an interesting layer to the story.

We also gain a deeper understanding of Cassandra and vampires, as well as necromancers and Druids.

There are a couple of instances of deus ex machina, with a Celtic god and the actual Fates making appearances. While I felt these were unnecessary for the plot, they did add an interesting dimension to the series' universe.

Apparently, vampire saliva has the ability to stop bleeding and heal wounds, which is quite handy. My initial thought was that with blood-sucking creatures, their saliva usually inhibits clotting to enhance blood flow. But I suppose being able to stop the bleeding and close the wound with a quick lick after feeding is a useful adaptation.

My other thought is that in the real world, the only thing that stops arterial blood loss is physical pressure and a suture. But in this magical world, anything is possible!

The werewolves and Savannah also make an appearance, but this story primarily focuses on Paige and Lucas, their relationship, and Lucas's family. It might have been more appropriately titled "Corporate Magic," as there is a significant emphasis on corporations and incorporeal beings, despite the lack of actual industry involvement. It would have been a cool pun too!

Overall, this book is a great addition to the series and I'm eager to see what comes next.

This is book 4 in the ‘women of the otherworld’ series. It commences a few weeks after the conclusion of book 3. We once again reunite with Paige and Lucas. This time, they are almost, sort of... collaborating with Lucas’ father Benicio and the Cortez Cabal! It appears that several teenagers who are employees of the Cabal (like a mafia family) have been slain, and the Cabal is eager to discover who is responsible. Lucas is occupied with one case, but Paige isn’t. When she learns that one of the victims was a young runaway witch, she can’t resist offering to assist.

However, things aren’t straightforward as half the witnesses seem to be deceased, and every lead seems to reach a dead end. Nevertheless, there is plenty of intrigue with necromancers, werewolves, and vampires making appearances to enliven the situation. So, who is killing the Cabal kids and why?

I relished this book considerably more than ‘Dime Store Magic’. It had a better flow and held my attention more effectively. The story begins with Paige’s unsuccessful attempt to form her own coven. She has been enhancing her powers using the spell books for the tertiary spells she obtained in ‘Dime Store Magic’, but no one else seems interested in joining her, and thus she is currently without a coven and working independently.

The main narrative in the book centers around the murders of the cabal employees’ kids, but this evolves into something even more significant as the story progresses. I wasn’t overly certain about Paige and Lucas collaborating with his father’s Cabal. I was concerned that there might be a trick involved, but obviously, sometimes risks need to be taken.

The secondary characters in this book were a great deal of fun! We once again encounter Elena, Jeremy, and Clayton from ‘Bitten’, and also have some vampires and a necromancer added to the mix. Each character had their own ideas and intentions, yet blended well with the rest of the storyline. There isn’t much of Savanna in this installment, which seems to be a good thing, and we get to witness a bit more development in Paige and Lucas’ relationship.

Overall, it’s a great addition to the series. I would rate it 8 out of 10.

I really wanted to have an intense love for this one. And, to a certain extent, I actually did. I adored the fact that Elena and Clay were in this installment. Additionally, I gradually developed a liking for Jaime, and even Benicio. The plot was highly complex, thrilling, and fast-paced, and I absolutely loved it. It took unexpected turns in every direction. However, I was anticipating more in the love department for Lucas and Paige, considering they hadn't completely figured things out the last time. I also missed Savannah.

I won't provide you all with a complete summary because that usually ends up spoiling the book. But I'll give you a quick recap. Paige Winterbourne, the former Leader of the American Coven, and Lucas Cortez, her new beau, who incidentally is the son of the most crucial CEO in the Cabal industry (the supernatural world company), are simply attempting to lead an easy life. They are trying to get accustomed to living together and to raising a thirteen-year-old sorceress/witch. This shouldn't be overly difficult. Well, it is when the entire supernatural world is looking at them disapprovingly - witches and sorcerers are supposed to avoid each other's existence, filled with hatred.

Benicio Cortez then approaches the two with news. Knowing that they've resolved other matters the previous year and aware that his son, Lucas, is striving to be the knight in shining white armor, he presents them with a case. Somebody has been murdering Cabal children from all four parties. And this has to be stopped.

It was truly complex, yet it maintained Armstrong's natural writing style, and she didn't botch it by neglecting the relationships between people. She赋予the right people attitude, compassion, and worry, and she gave way to the thrilling elements she's renowned for.

*** 3.65 ***

I had a buddy read with my amazing friend, Vanessa *the Pixie Princess*! We both have a soft spot for Good Witches, which made this reading experience even more special.

This book exceeded my expectations, and that's always a great feeling. Just like in the previous book, Page is our narrator, and I've really grown to like her. I think it was a smart move to make her the main point of view character. Elena and Clay, the love-obsessed werewolf mates, are much better suited as secondary characters, bringing in the muscle as sidekicks. Page is a Good Witch who was asked to leave her coven because her adopted daughter has "baaaadddd blood" being the product of a Black witch and a Sorcerer. Currently, she's dating Lucas, the son of one of the most powerful Sorcerer's Cabal. He's the princeling and an impoverished lawyer, and there's more to his story, but I'd recommend reading the previous book to find out more. Page and Lucas are perfect for each other. They're both idealists, striving to make the world a better place and still believing in the better nature of men, despite all the contrary examples they encounter daily as part of the supernatural community.

\\n  \\"...“Isn't it possible that I'm not feigning interest? That I really do want to know more about you?\\"
\\"You've never been interested in me before.\\"
\\"You've never been interesting before.\\"...\\"\\n

Lucas and Page end up in Miami when children of Cabal employees are being killed, and Lucas's dad, Benicio, calls them for help. Benicio has a second, more selfish reason for this - he loves his son and wants him close, especially since he's named him as his heir. This angers Lucas, who has been working against the Cabals since adulthood, not only because it makes him the ultimate hated person by the rest of the family, especially his brothers, but also because it goes against his beliefs.

\\n  \\"...“While his three eldest sons spent their adult lives toiling to improve the family fortunes, who had Benicio named as his heir? The illegitimate youngest son who had devoted his adult life to destroying the family business, or at least buggering it up real good. Does this make sense to anyone besides Benicio? Of course not. Either the man is a mastermind of family manipulation or just plain fucked in the head. I don't use that word much, but in some cases, nothing else fits. \\"...\\"\\n

Page and Lucas start working on the case, but first, they call on some old friends to keep Savanna safe. She's happy to spend time with the ultra-violent Elena, Clay, and the more mature Jeremy Denvers. As the case progresses, they enlist the help of a television celebrity necromancer, Jaime Vegas, get some information from our friendly half-demon Adam, and even the less friendly vampires, Cassandra and Aaron, for the more bloody situations. The interpersonal relationships are very entertaining and lighten up the mood of what would otherwise be a grim case.

\\n  \\"...“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.\\" - Paige Winterbourne”...\\"\\n

This is another great addition to the Otherworld Series. Even though the author's style can be long-winded and wordy at times, it can be overlooked because the story has its own merits. It's engaging, entertaining, and gives us another peek into the lives of the traditionally supernatural creatures in this Urban Fantasy. I would highly recommend it to all fans of the genre and those who enjoy a good mystery. Yes, it could have been 150 pages shorter, but I'm still happy with what I got.

\\n  \\"...“Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas”...\\"\\n

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and hope you discover many more wonderful books in the future!!!

This book delves deeper into Paige's life, truly immersing us in the world of the Cabal.

We are able to thoroughly explore and understand the structure and inner workings of a sorcerer Cabal. It also reveals the reasons behind Lucas' hesitation to align with his father.

In Industrial Magic, Paige gets a reprieve, and the plot twists center around Lucas and his connection to the supernatural world. Lucas has been at odds with his father regarding his stance on the family business from the very beginning. He undergoes significant character growth and has a moment of enlightenment about his father.

The antagonists remain villainous, but the storyline now emphasizes character development and the relationship between Paige and Lucas rather than just the murder mystery. While the mystery still exists, it's refreshing to witness Paige and Lucas falling deeper in love, gain insights into their daily lives, and see them overcome obstacles and persevere through family turmoil.

We even observe changes in secondary characters like Lucas' father Benecio, Savannah's older brother Sean, and new additions such as Jamie and Eve. Just when you think you have the Otherworld figured out, Armstrong throws in another unexpected detail that makes you question what else could be possible.

I eagerly anticipated what Kelley Armstrong would bring next and was excited to discover the new and captivating characters she had in store for the remainder of the series. And I was not let down!

Industrial Magic is the second installment in the series that centers around Paige, a witch. She has now entered into a relationship with a sorcerer who is next in line to inherit a cabal. Moreover, she has successfully obtained clear guardianship of Savannah, the offspring of a witch and sorcerer union.

In this book, Paige and Lucas are faced with the task of assisting the cabal in uncovering the reason behind the murders of teenagers affiliated with the cabal. To accomplish this, they must not only learn to handle Lucas' father, Benecio, but also deal with his older and malevolent brothers. As the plot thickens, they are joined by a crazy necromancer, Jaime, and then by the ice-vampire Cassandra. These two characters add excitement and flavor to the story, making it significantly more enjoyable.

However, this particular book is not among my favorites in the series. For some reason, the story of a witch fails to pique my interest, or perhaps it is the characters themselves. Paige comes across as rather dull, and Lucas is no better. Neither of them are powerful magic users; their spellcasting abilities are limited. Despite their enthusiasm for new spells, they often encounter failure. Paige's ward, Savannah, actually possesses more magical ability than the two adults. Paige seems to be disliked by many, perhaps due to her over-enthusiasm and tendency to rush into situations without being fully prepared. Although Lucas is a sorcerer who works as a lawyer and often fights against the cabal, he lacks a well-developed personality, aside from showing that he has some backbone.

The books that focused on Clay and Elena were far more engaging, and I truly hope that the story of Eve will prove to be more interesting as well.

4.5 stars.

I had completely forgotten just how much I truly love this series. It has been quite a while since I last delved into the first three books. However, as soon as I picked up this latest installment, it was as if no time had passed at all. I easily slipped back into the captivating world and engaging storylines that this series has to offer.

The author's writing style is so immersive that it draws you in from the very first page and keeps you hooked until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their lives and adventures.

This is truly a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good series. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, you're sure to love it.

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars and can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

I absolutely adored this book.

It is the fourth installment in the series, and it offers us a deeper exploration of the supernatural world.

More characters and supernatural races are introduced, which significantly enhances our comprehension of this fascinating realm.

We continue to follow Paige and Lucas as they navigate through the mysterious world of cabals.

The story is so engaging that I found it extremely difficult to put the book down.

Every page turn brought new revelations and kept me on the edge of my seat.

The author's vivid descriptions and well-developed plot made it a truly immersive reading experience.

I can't wait to see what adventures await Paige and Lucas in the next book of the series.

Everybody seems to hate on Paige so much for being the narrator/main protagonist.

However, to be honest, I truly love her. I think she is extremely realistic.

She gives off almost a Hermione vibe, which I really appreciate.

Contrary to what others might think, I don't find these books that are centered around her boring at all.

In fact, I find her character and her storylines quite engaging.

I'm not sure if the next book is still going to be about her or if it will jump back to Elena or something else entirely.

But either way, I'm really looking forward to it.

I can't wait to see what adventures and challenges Paige will face next, or if there will be new and exciting developments with the other characters.

These books have really captured my imagination, and I'm eager to see what the future holds for this fictional world.

★★½

Industrial Magic is the fourth installment in Kelley Armstrong's urban fantasy series titled Women of the Underworld. The story once again focuses on the witches, which was a disappointment for me. However, there is a plus side. Elena, Clay, and Jeremy re-enter the storyline after a while, thank God! But still, it wasn't enough for me.

To be clear, it's not a bad story/book/series. But it's definitely not the engaging shifter world I thought I was entering when I started. I have to admit that I'm out. I love the urban fantasy genre, but for some reason, storylines that center on witches rarely spark my interest.

I really, really tried to find some kind of investment with these non-shifter characters, but it's just not working. Peace out -