In the Midst of Magic by Christian Cura is a specfic action novel of a contemporary world full of magic and demons.
Kara is a photojournalist by day and a painter when she’s not at work. Some day she hopes to leave her camera behind and focus solely on her brushwork for a living. Her biggest fear is being outed as a magic user but not because society frowns on it. She has been traumatized by evil done by another magic user she had thought a friend. The ex-friend has sworn revenge on Kara, who has to balance avoiding her magic and being able to defend herself.
Selene is a famous demon hunter for hire who has no use for the pernicious and pesky photojournalist who keeps turning up as she fights a bevy of hell hounds and gargoyles. She finally stops trying to drive Kara away, and they discover a mutual attraction.
The two women, and others like them, battle a rising evil that threatens to overturn society and throw the world into chaos.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Cura writes in a terse third person. This may seem abrupt, but things are pretty binary. You’re evil or you’re fighting evil. This world is constantly besieged by rogues and demon spawn sent to wreak havoc on polite society and exact revenge on Kara. This leads to lots and lots of graphically depicted fight scenes between the protagonists and demons summoned by the evildoers.
The many battle scenes are highly magical, technical and violent. Each is carefully choreographed and meticulously described. While reading I often pictured colorful panes and could almost feel the heavy graphic novel pages. The author is also an artist, and I would really like to see him turn this into a graphic novel.
Romance does occur but it’s not the most important aspect of the book. There is also a nice international feel, with a lot of different cultures included in this magical and warlike world.
Cons And Heads Up
Trigger warning for fairly constant extreme violence mostly between a katana wielding demon hunter and a slew of demons. There are occasional allusions to magical pop culture characters, and one very brief description of f/m sex. My biggest problem with this book was it not being a graphic novel.
The Conclusion
I would get this book if it was a graphic novel, absolutely. It’s chock full of magical battle scenes in an alternate world that resembles ours. The romance aspect of the book takes a back seat to the fight against evil, though not disappearing entirely.
Excerpt from In the Midst of Magic by Christian Cura
A faint hiss caught their attention.
Dani gasped and swung her flashlight around as a reptile lunged at them from around the corner.
Both of them shrieked and dove out of the way, the reptile landing between them with feline grace. The creature spun on all fours, its claws scratching against the asphalt. A sinewy tail knocked Kara’s legs out from beneath her, and she collapsed with a grunt. Her blood froze as the reptile leaped again, its fangs glistening with saliva.
Three gunshots rang out.
Warm blood sprayed Kara’s face, and the reptile landed on top of her. She lay on the ground for a moment, her heart punching its way out of her chest. Dani stood behind the demon, a gun clutched in her hands.
Kara shoved the dead creature aside, and a crimson puddle expanded from its head.
Kneeling beside her, Dani slipped the gun back into her purse. “Kara, are you okay?”
She hugged her. “Yes. Thank you.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9798831443325
Publisher: Indie Author
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