Sinister Magic by Lindsay Buroker – A Book Review

Posted May 27, 2020 by Booksandblurbs in Reviews, Urban Fantasy / 2 Comments

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Sinister Magic

(Death Before Dragons – Book 1)

by Lindsay Buroker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Urban Fantasy
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down & Dirty

The Modern World and the Magical World blend seamlessly in this Urban Fantasy, featuring a unique Heroine and an Egotistical anti-hero just doing his reluctant job. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

I’m Val Thorvald, and I’m an assassin.

When magical bad guys hurt people, I take care of them. Permanently.

This doesn’t make me popular with the rest of the magical community—as you can tell from the numerous break-ins and assassination attempts I’ve endured over the years. But thanks to my half-elven blood, a powerful sword named Chopper, and a telepathic tiger with an attitude, I’ve always been able to handle my problems with aplomb. Maybe some cursing and swearing, too, but definitely aplomb.

That changes when my boss is afflicted with a mysterious disease, a government agent starts investigating me, and a godforsaken dragon shows up in the middle of my latest job.

I’ve taken down vampires, zombies, and ogres, but dragons are way, way more powerful. And it doesn’t look like this one is going to like me.

Worse than that, he wants to use his magic to compel me to do his bidding, as if I’m some weak-minded minion.

That’s not going to happen. I’d die before being some dragon’s slave.

But if I can’t figure out a way to avoid him, save my boss, and get rid of the government spook, I’m screwed. Or dead. Or screwed and dead. And that’s never comfortable.

Thoughts on Sinister Magic

I Loved just about everything about this novel! She’s a bit older than the usual heroine in these kinds of tales, and she has a history that creates the humanity behind her that we can relate to. But that history, and the overwhelming responsibility to ‘do something good’ has crafted an assassin of determination and wit, one who runs on the edges of modern society to offer sanctioned safety to the unaware.

It’s brutal, fascinating and down right hilarious. I love Val, from her snark to her inner monologues, along with her sidekick and her unwavering loyalty to her boss. When she meets the Dragon, well… things just get more dicey!

Perspective

First Person, Single POV

Ending Type

Episodic

Rating

Mature for violence only

Romantic Dynamic

M/F… but this is a UF, so romance is NOT the key element, just a subplot that MIGHT come into play.

Character Age Range

40’s +

My Final Verdict on Sinister Magic

This is the kind of Urban Fantasy that sucks you in, spits you out and leaves you begging for more. Well written and well edited, this gem is available on Kindle Unlimited.

Published February 28th, 2020
250 Pages