DNF@28% because I'm picky like that
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Just when the story started to grab me, bam! Kiss in the middle of a big fight! With no kiss before that, just a mention of a date. Really?
Sorry, but I can't move past this...

3 stars

~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own ~

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for an e-arc of this book!

3.75*
Magic Dark, Magic Divine was the first installment in a fantastical romance series by A.J. Locke. I wish there was a bit more romance but I loved the build up between certain characters. I thought the magical elements were super cool and I really enjoyed how the events of the story progressed. I was on my toes, didn't know who I could trust and was intrigued by the cast of characters. I also loved the found family trop between Pennrae, Gideon, Toji and Callan. Friendship was a really strong theme here and that was something I loved seeing within the story. Pennrae had incredible character development and it was great seeing her let others help her in the journey she was facing. This was a really unique type of story and I'm excited to see what will happen next.

Pennrae was alive 300 years ago when there was still magic. But when she went against a diviner’s card reading, she was punished with a nearly 300 year sleep. When she wakes, the world is very different. Magic is gone, although she appears to have some. This is the ultimate fantasy with great characters, lots of magic and romance too!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found this book interesting, with an intriguing plot and characters. Our heroine Penn, is a warrior from a period in earth's history that had magic. Due to a decision that she made she slept for roughly 300 years, while magic was destroyed from the world. She woke up in present day, where she is trying to keep a low profile as a magic use, when that fails she is forced to team up with a boy she doesn't like but is slowly falling for, her best friend, and his husband. They all run the risk of losing parts of themselves and people who are important to them. But they chose to do it so that the world isn't destroyed again.

I had never read this author before, but the blurb intrigued me. Once it came, I dived right in, and I settled in for a read. At first, I felt the writing was a little awkward, but I knew that sometimes setting up a new universe takes some getting used to both in reading and in writing. After the story really got going, the pace picked up, the characters started coming to life, and the book was enthralling. By the end, I was so invested, I didn’t want it to end, and I really can’t wait for the next one. I also liked to see that the characters weren’t lily-white but very diverse POC. Yes, I’m lily-white, but there are all kinds of people, and I want to see them. Besides that, this is an excellently written book with an interesting universe I want to visit again. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I really enjoyed stepping into the world of Magic Dark, Magic Divine. I had been searching for a fantasy series with a Black cast that was set in the contemporary world vs an alternate African inspired one.

Shaper warrior Penn is still adapting to the modern world after having been asleep for 300 years. Even though people no longer have magic the magical era wasn't forgotten and people can even test and see if they had magical ancestors. She's been keeping her identity a secret even from her friends while working as a karate instructor. Magic is slow reemerging in this world and Penn is discovering secrets about herself and her close friends. This is a fast-paced and fun story with an interesting magic system that wasn't too hard to follow along with. I also enjoyed the romance. I could read a whole book about Penn and Callan bantering. I also loved that everyone in the story was Black and felt like Black characters without emphasis being placed on white people.

ARC provided by Entangled Publishing for an honest review.

There's this thing that I usually do, where no matter how much I'm enjoying a book, the closer I get to the end the more I just want to speed through the end to be done with it. I DID not have that problem with this book. I wanted to prolong it as much as possible but I could not help but speed through the ending as I was having such a great time with it.

What I loved about this one: the banter and chemistry between the love interests! If this book was nothing but the two of them teasing each other for 300 pages, I would still rave about it. But then, you add the high stakes of the possible end of the world, a found family and self-discovery, and I was sold.

The writing is very accessible and engaging, so you read it a lot quicker than you realize. It is easily a book that I could have read in one sitting if not for self-control and real-life commitments.

I will be desperately stalking the author's twitter and goodreads page waiting for news on book two!

This was an enjoyable urban fantasy with new twists on magic. It started off with a great hook, but did get a bit clunky with the world building. Penn is a self-described "warrior" but that is not really explained until later in the book. Once I got to settle in I really enjoyed the story. The characters were well developed, and the plot moved right along. It was not all action, which is good. Instead with memories inserted and interactions with various characters, you really get to immerse yourself in Penn's life and the world that was created The plot twisted just enough to not be too predictable (I did know who the bad guy was pretty early on but it did not ruin the story for me). All in all, I really liked Penn, and by the end I knew I would be continuing with this series.

I loved being plopped right into this story, without a whole lot of fluff or extraneous dumping of info right at the beginning. Instead the magical/non-magical world is built brick by brick by the plot, and by the unfolding of the story. It felt intriguing, and when I felt I was missing something it was soon explained. Pennrae is our bad-ass heroine, who has been asleep for 300 years and is hiding her magical powers. But there is danger afoot! Mysterious deaths are happening! Truly though, I loved the representation, I loved the diverse entire cast of characters that felt natural and not at all forced. I do think perhaps there was maybe a bit too much explanation and descriptions of our magical world, but this is the first in a series and this is to be expected. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, a plot-driven novel with lots of great, well-rounded characters, you will absolutely enjoy this. I look forward to reading more!

Penn grew up in a world of magic, broke a rule in her magical world only to wake up 290 years later in a much different world. There is no magic, suddenly she has to adjust to the 21st century, and she is afraid to become close to anyone. She had been a warrior and a bounty hunter, now she teaches karate with only two friends, and Callen, her nemesis. But soon she gets to know Callen better and finds he is much nicer than she had expected.

I really liked Penn and her circle of friends. I enjoyed Ashe, her magical creature who disguises herself as a dog. The world building was interesting, but at times the characters didn't seem to have a lot of depth to them. The magical abilities were fun to discover.

MAGIC DARK, MAGIC DIVINE is the first book in the Warrior of the Divine Sword series and, in it, we meet Pennrae who was first alive 300-years ago before she was put into a magical sleep because she broke a contract with a Diviner. She wakes up in a contemporary world, where things have definitely moved on. We meet her eight years down the line when she has managed to get a life put together for herself.

This is a fast-paced story that will keep you on tenterhooks as Pennrae goes from one explosion to another. She finds love and adventure, as well as allies she never expected. It is intricate and twisted which kept my attention from the very start.

Fair warning though - there is one part that had my f'ugly crying! I won't say more, but prepare yourself!

As it is the first book, you get the usual world-building but it is done in a way that is explanatory rather than just an info-dump. I found this to be an excellent start of a new series, with a new-to-me author. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to see where it goes next. Absolutely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

3.5 stars rounded up for urban fantasy Magic Dark, Magic Divine. Pennrae Linbry Possesses magic in a non-magical world. Three hundred years ago when magic flourished, Penn was punished to sleep for almost three hundred years. She has finally adapted to the modern world when magic once again rears its head. A major baddie is trying to bring magic back even if it ends the world. The cast of characters are diverse and interesting. The story is action packed but feels rushed. With a little romance, the story is compelling enough for me to come back for the next installment but I want more in the story line. This book is definitely unique in its world building and makes for an interesting concept in urban fantasy. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

This is a very unique piece of urban fantasy with such an array of magic running through it. Our heroine Penn is quietly going about her life when magical, shadowy creatures start appearing and tearing people apart. She isn't phased though because Penn knows exactly what they are because she comes from the past when magic flowed freely. Three hundred years might have passed but there's still evil in the world but there's also love and friendship. Penn will need to use her wits and her old skills although she's about to face tragedy that will truly test her strength !
This was unlike any book I've read and surely that's a good thing ? Having a gay best friend was perhaps the only thing here that didn't feel original but certainly Penn's friends were truly integral to the story. No spoilers here but I have to say that we are repeatedly told Penn is this kick axx warrior and bounty hunter but unfortunately there isn't really that much action running throughout the book. What action there is actually kind of gets thwarted pretty much by a rather odd, magical creature although I hasten to add that Penn bravely throws herself into any encounter. This definitely had me eagerly turning the pages and this author has got me very intrigued about this world she has created and I would love to read more about Penn and her friends.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MAGIC DARK, MAGIC DIVINE (Book 1 of the Warrior of the Divine Sword series), by A.J. Locke, in exchange for an honest review. Pennrae Linbry and her familiar are survivors of the magic era. Penn slept through the magical apocalypse and does her best to blend in with the modern-day non-magical people. When magic begins to make sudden and sporadic reappearances, Penn’s history becomes public. As a result, the public now has trusted Penn to deal with the magical disasters and to both identify and stop the culprit planning to use an upcoming celestial alignment to commit mass murder. Perhaps Penn can get by with a little help from her friends.

This is the first book in a new urban fantasy series.

#MagicDarkMagicDivine #NetGalley.

Pennrae just wants to be a normal person and live a normal life... but thats a bit hard when she woke up 8 years ago after being put into a magical sleep for 300 years..
In this world magic was a real thing, but hasn't been around for along time.. it was the magic era.. now they have street fairs and musems all dedicated to what the magic era must have been like. When Penn and her friends attend one of these fairs, she doesn't expect anyone to be weilding real magic.. after all she is the only one left who should even have any... but when a magical fire being is conjured up out of nowhere and starts attacking Penn knows its real.. she can feel it.
Turns out there are at least a few people out there who can also weild magic, which seems to be spiriling out of control.. Penn ends up getting tasked with figuring out what the heck is going on.

I really liked the magic system, it was very unique. I also liked that even though the current world isn't supposed to have any magic, knowledge of it wasn't forgotten.. People can even test their DNA to see if they have magic in their ancestry.
There are a whole lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and a whole lot of emotional stuff that goes down that really makes you feel for all of the characters

**I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are my own and not solicited in any way.**

Magic Dark, Magic Divine by A.J. Locke (Warrior of the Divine Sword # 1)
This is a very modern fantasy with a black heroine and hero who knows how to wield a swords (And Gladiators)then take down creatures, evil men who work at the bidding of the ultimate bad Necromancer who wants to open the portals during the one time of the year that could unleash magic that has been bottled up for 300 years. But Pennrose, Callan, Luce, Gideon and Toji aren't going to let that happen.

There will be surprises for all of them including Toji finding his magical relative, Callan will remember his previous years blocked by his mother, and there will be ultimate sacrifices to keep the portal from opening. Plus Pennrose and Callan will go from sparing partners to their HEA will a climatic ending that will blow you away. I'm anxious to see who gets the next story in the book of the series.

Magic Dark Magic Devine

This book is amazing! The world building the character building is just amazing! It has all the hallmarks of its genre but it is so much more! Reading this book is like having a dream. You know what I mean when you are in the dream you would swear it's a real life place that is what the world building is like! Then the twists and turns they are just great! This will have you laughing and at the same time sitting at the edge of your seat at the same time!

Finally a paranormal book with a kick-ass black heroine great story about magic. I loved the world building the dialogue an the great characters.

This book is a life, love, and death affirming masterpiece encompassed in a beautifully crafted urban fantasy whose main characters are POCs. This book grabbed me from the first page and keep me enthralled until the last page. Pennrae lived during the magic era but she and her familiar, a now extinct animal, were put in a sleep punishment after going against a diviner’s card reading. When she wakes up almost 300 years later, the world has moved on and magic is gone. Penn adjusts to modern life, limits any close relationships and keeps the magic part of herself hidden. Until events thrust her front and center into a fight to save the world. There are a lot of unexpected and exciting plot twists in the story but the world building is so phenomenal that every plot twist just adds to the delicious perfection of the tale. “There are always choices,” … “Just as there are consequences for every choice. You must decide which path you want, or need, to walk.” The story includes what you’d expect from this genre - fighting, dangerous situations, end of the world scenarios, paranormal creatures, evil masterminds, henchmen, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, plot twists, mystical coincidences, snark, and laughs. It also includes witty dialogue, characters with depth, and an engaging storyline. Expect to laugh, to cry, to grit your teeth, to cringe, to shout, and to root for Pennrae, Ashe, Luce, Callan, Toji, and Gideon to save the world and for Penn to get her HEA with Callan. Fingers crossed that there will be more adventures for Penn and her collection of amazing heroes.