The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she's some kind of 'Chosen' who'll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn't care who chose her, she's not into destiny. But the mages aren't Sabina's only problem. In New York's Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she'd take a bite out of the Big Apple - but it looks like it wants to bite back.

After turning her back on everything she’s ever known, Sabina Kane, half-vampire/half-mage, must now build herself a new life. Meeting with her long lost twin sister seemed promising at first, but good times won’t last. On her very first night in New York, two attempts on her life were already made. Apparently, somebody isn’t happy to have her around and she is determined to find the culprit and make them pay the prize.

I really like the world Jaye Wells created in the Sabina Kane series. Mages and Vampires, old enemies, are on the verge of war and Sabina and her twin sister Maisie are smack in the middle. Maisie, oracle and leader of the mages, had a very important vision concerning Sabina and not everyone is happy about it, including Sabina herself. Destiny? Yeah, whatever.
In this magical world, humans are completely oblivious to the Dark Races surrounding them and the latter (including faeries and werewolves) would like to keep it that way.

The entire novel is a big political mind game. Who will get the upper hand? And they all seem to think Sabina is the key. I really liked the mystery surrounding every attack made on Sabina, and I never figured out who was “the bad guy” until it was right in my face, so kudos Jaye.

The characters were great. I loved their gritty sense of humor and strong personalities. Really appreciated the fact that Sabina didn’t become a kick-ass magic user overnight but still learned a trick or two. Can’t wait to see her progress in the next book. Our heroine also had two male interests (do not mix up with love interest) which added some spice but not in a typical love-triangle way, which I found refreshing. Also Giguhl, Sabina’s demon, has a very endearing personality.

The end was promising as Sabina and her sidekicks enroll for a new mission, so I can't wait to read the next book, Green-Eyed Demon.

Set in a world where apple juice is lethal (you got curious here hen?), the Sabine Kane series is a great Urban Fantasy set up, sitting just out of the box. Looking for a dark yet funny original story? Search no longer!

Read an excerpt

Purchase:

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Sabina Kane series:

Red-Headed Stepchild
The Mage in Black
Green-Eyed Demon
Silver-Tongued Devil (2012)

Book stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031603780X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316037808

Book Source: Personal Shelf

Posted by Tynga at 14:31

 Hachette, jaye wells, mage, Review, Vampire  7 People left their mark

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

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