Cold Burn of Magic (Black Blade Series #1)

by Jennifer Estep

Overview

“An indulgently fun romp full of ‘lochness’ monsters, tree trolls, and housekeeping pixies . . . a welcome twist on familiar fantasy themes.”—Publishers Weekly

It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call—get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her . . .

“An adventurous ride you will never want to get off.”—Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Jennifer Estep is a genius!”—Simply Nerdy

“Packed with action and a nice twist, this is just the book for fans of the Mythos Academy series who want more Jennifer Estep.”—Bristol Herald Courier

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617738241
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	04/28/2015
Series:	Black Blade Series , #1
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	417,591
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.50(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep is constantly prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Jennifer is the author of the Black Blade and Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. She writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books and is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and other writing groups. Jennifer's books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Southern Living, and a variety of other publications. To learn more about her, visit jenniferestep.com. You can also sign up for Jennifer's fan page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter and Goodreads.

Editorial Reviews

04/27/2015
Estep (the Mythos Academy series) opens the Black Blade series with an indulgently fun romp full of "lochness" monsters, tree trolls, and housekeeping pixies. Seventeen-year-old Lila Merriweather is a "modern-day Robin Hood," stealing from the wealthy individuals who make their living on the tourist "rubes" eager to see monsters, "magicks," and more in Cloudburst Falls, W. Va. Lila is content to live in the shadows, far from the warring dynasty families who run the town and the memory of her mother's murder. Yet a chance encounter leaves her with no choice but to protect the heir of a prestigious family, the handsome and mysterious Devon Sinclair. Using her hidden talents and street smarts to stay ahead of Devon's attackers, Lila uncovers unpredictable betrayals and a sense of home she never thought possible. Though background details are repetitive, and the romantic scenes between Devon and Lila can be a bit clichéd, fierce Lila, talkative father figure Mo, and honeybeer-swilling pixie Oscar are well worth getting to know. Steeped in gripping action scenes, Estep's novel is a welcome twist on familiar fantasy themes. Ages 14–up. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"An adventurous ride you will never want to get off." —Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Jennifer Estep is a genius!" —Simply Nerdy

From the Publisher

06/01/2015
Gr 7 Up—Estep delivers an action-oriented urban fantasy that sticks close to genre conventions. Seventeen-year-old Lila is content to make a living stealing from the rich Families that control the magical town of Cloudburst Falls. She doesn't have much choice, since her mom was murdered four years earlier after defending the leaders of the powerful Sinclairs. Lila's life changes, when she witnesses an attack on sexy Devon Sinclair and risks her life to save him. The head of Devon's clan coerces Lila into becoming his bodyguard, even though he's the one her mom died defending. Estep's premise features a number of stock components (e.g., teenagers with talents, family feuds, an urban setting filled with real-life monsters), without adding any unique twists. Some minor characters, like the "redneck pixie with a heart of gold," add a touch of humor and whimsy. The villain, when finally revealed, speaks in stilted language, which diminishes the potential scare factor. Repetitive phrasing distracts from the story, and certain plot elements don't add up. VERDICT This first entry in this urban fantasy series may find an audience with die-hard genre fans.—Kimberly Ventrella, Southwest Oklahoma City Library

School Library Journal