⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Definitely. Our favourite trio of mages, with Tori in the lead, fall down a rabbit hole of dangerous alchemy and witchcraft.

As a guild bartender, I can handle pretty much anything—mages, sorcerers, witches, the occasional demon. But show me anything family-related and I’d rather run for the hills. It doesn’t even have to be my family. So I have no idea why I thought spending the holidays with Aaron’s mom and pop was a good idea. Meeting his famous parents is already terrifying enough, but I’ve got a bigger problem. Students of his family’s renowned mage academy are being attacked on the grounds–and somehow no one has seen a single assailant? Unexplained tracks litter the nearby woods, rumors of forbidden alchemy are circulating the campus… and Ezra has been acting strangely since we arrived. Something deadly is brewing in the shadow of Sinclair Academy, and the longer we take to uncover it, the more dangerous it becomes. But no matter the risk, we’ll protect the students. And Aaron’s parents too, I suppose. If we have to.

MY THOUGHTS

I just love Tori. She has a big personality and not a shy bone in her body. She often talks and acts before thinking it through. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, I suppose she’d say. She is fearless and very loyal and she loves with all her being. Aaron, Kai, and Ezra have also wormed their way deep into my heart and the story just wouldn’t be the same without these four getting into trouble.

In this book we learn more about Aaron, his family, and his past. It was clear that Kai and Ezra had been his friends for a long time and they knew him extremely well. I enjoyed their fun banter and take-charge attitudes. Ezra’s complicated situation was heart-breaking, but I have a lot of faith in Tori’s stubborn refusal to let her friends down.

The plot flowed fast with thrilling action and intrigue, familial disputes, and interesting twists. I can recommend this entire series if you like urban fantasy with humans immersed in the world of magic. It is definitely best to read the books in order.

I am reading this series as part of this read-along hosted by Anne at Books Of My Heart.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Fantasy
Published: October 11, 2019
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Book 5 of The Guild Codex: Spellbound