Member Reviews

Simply A-MAZE-ING!

A TRINKET FOR THE TAKING is the first book in the “Trinket Mystery series” which is a new paranormal mystery series by Victoria Laurie, and I have to confess I am already hanging out for the next one.

The story starts with the MC celebrating her 200th birthday! Dovey Van Dalen lives in a scary, very brutal magical world that coexists unknown alongside “the unbound” (none magical) humans. Dovey was born human but on her 18th birthday in the 1840s, she was handed over to Elric to wipe her father’s gambling debts. Elric took her to his home that night, and took her to his bed, the next day he bound her to him magically, transferring into a mystic. Turns out that Elric was one of the most powerful Mystics in the world. Since then Dovey has been Elric’s “…constant companion, his concubine, his trusted advisor, his spy, and his loyal and faithful servant...”

What she can never be though, is his wife. He is married to Petra, who is a cruel and heartless piece of work. Petra and Elric loathe each other, but their marriage was bound by an unbreakable enchantment which means they can’t kill each other; and have to protect each from being killed by other powerful mystics. The two of them are the leaders of the North American Mystic Court.

Elric assigns Dovey the task of finding a powerful artifact that has been stolen from a representative of the Russian mystic court visiting the USA. It’s believed to be behind the death of the head of the non-magical Ariti family. His death is followed by two more family deaths, and an attempted killing. Whoever is exposed to the stolen trinket is magically forced to kill themselves in a way that they fear the most. When Dovey starts investigating she meets a human FBI agent, the drop dead gorgeous Grant. He is investigating the deaths, and is equally attracted to Dovey as she is to him. This can’t be, as an unbound Grant is not magical and can’t be allowed to find out there is a magical world. Also, Elric doesn’t share, he may not be faithful to Dovey but that doesn’t mean she can stray.

Dovey is on a mission to uncover the truth behind why a non-bound family is being targeted. She must find the killer, retrieve the powerful trinket, and prevent Grant from discovering the magical world. Along the way she starts to question her world and her role in it.

The mystery was really, really clever! I honestly had no idea who the murderer was until the reveal. I was surprised, but in hindsight the clues were there and it all made so much sense. I loved the magic used in the story - no waving of wands, just the clever use of magically enhanced trinkets. I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for that silver dollar! The magical world was well imagined, both scary and appealing. And the most appealing magical thing? Her pet hedgehog named Bits - chief wardrobe advisor and all-round cutie.

Well done Victoria Laurie - I love, love, LOVE your new world

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"Introducing the captivating Dovey Van Dalen, once the belle of 1840s Copenhagen, now charged with recovering magic property from mortals - whatever it takes. The first in a new magical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Victoria Laurie.

Dovey Van Dalen has a gorgeous day planned for her 200th birthday: driving her new Porsche, admiring the cherry blossoms abloom in her adopted city of Washington, D.C., and a little pampering. But her boss has other ideas. A powerful artifact has been stolen, and he fears it's causing chaos in the unmagical world...

The rich and connected Ariti family has suffered a string of suspicious deaths, with no signs of foul play. Yet each member has died in the way they feared most. As the enchanting agent most skilled at blending in with mere mortals, Dovey must find answers and retrieve the dangerous trinket.

There's just one unexpected wrinkle: By the time Dovey arrives at the art gallery where the Ariti patriarch died, FBI agent Grant "Gib" Barlow has taken control of the scene. Dovey needs his cooperation to investigate - but she'll have to hide her abilities, and her true objective, from a man who uncovers deceptions every day. And as they inch nearer a deadly truth, both will face danger even the spellbound would be lucky to survive..."

I mean, Victoria Laurie is a must read, but I want to know how one goes from 1840s Copenhagen to present day Washington, D.C.!

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What a unique and wonderful story. Not at all what I’m used to from this author but so good. A secret world within our world with magic and powerful mystics. I don’t know if this is the first book in a series but I certainly hope it is. Getting used to the workings of a new concept is always a little confusing at first but in the end I would love to read more about this complex mysterious race.

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Wow this book just gets straight to the point. There is no time to wait before you as the reader get dunked into this slightly complex world.

You have to suspend a good bit of disbelief with some of the dialogue. It teeters on the ledge of believability.

I got the sense of walking through an overstocked antique store. There was a good bit of interesting and intriguing aspects of the text but there was also a lot that I found useless to the narrative.

It's high stakes but the attitude of the protagonist doesn't quite match that. Tonally this book is inconsistent but I kept on reading anyway. There's something about the double-time quick pacing that I found highly engaging. It's like brain candy.

It's not perfect by any means, but with the right kind of reader this can be upcyclef into something fun for a collection. Especially since odd-concept mysteries like this are too few.

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I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A Trinket for the Taking by Victoria Laurie is a first person-POV romantic contemporary fantasy mystery. Mystic and immortal Dovey has been in a long-term, non-monogamous relationship with Elric, the man who gave her magic. She’s tasked with hunting down a powerful magical trinket for Elric and runs into Gib, an FBI agent, who is researching the case as well but is unaware of the magical world.

The romance arc is just as much about Dovey figuring out that Elric cannot completely satisfy her anymore as it is about her coming to terms with her feelings for Gib. Ever since she first met Elric back in Copenhagen, he has been Dovey’s one and only but she has never been his. We learn very early on that Elric is married, though unhappily, to Petra and that he will never marry Dovey. She’s fine with that and seems reasonably content with their current arrangement until Gib. What I really appreciated about this was that it does show how people can be perfectly fine in open relationships but can also change their mind if they find someone else, because Dovey was happy and content. Her relationship with Elric is not demonized, though it didn’t give her everything she truly needed.

The magic system is a bit more vibes-based rather than anything super hard as the fantasy elements are a lighter touch. The unbound are mortals who are both unaware of the immortal world and are not bound to an immortal. There are powerful trinkets, seven in total, that are very dangerous and are basically shuffled between the seven immortal courts or are destroyed. A lot of the magic we see is more about imbuing abilities into objects and then Dovey using them during her investigation, such as a silver dollar that makes it easier for her to get information from others.

What I liked the most was how, despite the murder mystery element, there are moments that do feel quite cozy. I have read several cozy fantasies coming out this year and a big thing they have in common with this book is the strong focus on food and sharing meals. Despite the set-up, I think I could find myself recommending this to someone who is looking for a cozy fantasy as long as I know they also like contemporary fantasy and murder mystery books as I feel it would be perfect for that niche reader who likes all three.

I would recommend this to fans of fantasy mysteries who prefer lighter fantasy elements and readers looking for a romance arc that is as much about falling out of an old love as it is falling into a new one

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I really enjoyed this first book in a new series that Laurie has created. I have loved her other series, so I couldn’t wait to jump into this new one. This new series is a combination of mystery and fantasy with a touch of romance. It is set in an imagined world where magic is used every day. Dovey is a skilled mystic whose job is to find missing items for her boss and lover Elric. He sent her to find a missing object that was stolen from a visiting leader. She ends up having to work with a mortal FBI agent, Grant Isaac Barlow (GIB). The chemistry between Dovey and Gib can found throughout the book and has Elric worried. It was a fun ride with plenty of action and I look forward to reading more about Dovey and Gib. Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Dovey Van Dalen will need more than mystic powers to save herself and others from a powerful artifact that has fallen into the hands of a dangerous group determined to use it's power for chaos. Problem is Dovey has to determine who is friend or foe and that's alot of people since Dovey is 200 years old!

The mystery was wonderful and kept me reading and supporting characters were well-written and interesting. The "mystics" are descendents from Merlin's court and are immortal. I enjoyed how the author wrote each supporting character, especially Ursula and Qin. The book has everything I like- a smart and kind heroine, supporting characters who are quirky and could have a book of their own and a mystery that ties up all the loose ends of the story.

I don't usually read paranormal mysteries, but I loved this one and can't wait for Dovey's next adventure!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Victoria Laurie is a favorite, And I love her New series introduces magical bindings And spelled objects, or trinkets. I can’t wait to read more.

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This novel by Victoria Laurie is a creative, though sometimes cumbersome, fantasy detective-style story. It centers on Dovey Van Dalen, a 200-year-old mystic with incredible (but not invincible) powers, all of which revolve around her ability to use magical trinkets. When she goes on a quest to find her boss’ stolen trinket and stop a string of unexpected deaths in a mortal family, she meets the attractive (and definitively mortal) FBI agent, Grant “Gib” Barlow. Dovey must find answers and retrieve the dangerous trinket before danger overtakes both her and Gib.

The writing style is not my type and was initially off-putting. However, the story is interesting and pretty easy to follow. Sometimes the methods Dovey used to escape felt a bit contrived. Nevertheless, the overall story is creative and I enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I fell right in to this mystery fantasy adventure and it's one you sure don't want to miss.

The world building is fun and unique and the murder mystery adds twists and turns throughout the book. It's overall fast-paced and a true page turner that the reader use all the clues to try to solve the mystery first!

The characters are fun and engaging, especially Dovey and Gib. They are really well-developed characters who bring the fun to a serious investigation.

This is not my normal type of read but I am so glad that I gave it a chance. It was so much fun to read.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC <3

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I was asked to review this fab book by NetGalley.

Whoever could say a murder mystery could be fun - well this one was.

This author has a great knack of blending the "magical" and what we would sau as the "real" world.

Dovey celebrates her 200th birthday! when a "deadly" trinket is missing!

This trinket must be returned by Dovey before things go awray.

Fun with twists and turns along the way. Magical whodunnit.

Hope we see more of this author.

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As a resident of the DC Metropolitan region I was looking forward to a mystery and a book set in this area. I found the first couple of chapters engaging, but after diving in to more of the investigation I was struck by how incomplete the setting manifested in the story. Many places in areas local to DC our names they are described does not remind me of the DC region.

In the end, this plus the behaviors of the individuals in the story took me out of the story.

Second, I did not find the actions of the main characters to be entirely realistic or reasonable. The main character is one of those women’s whose entire purpose and motivation is in service to a man. That’s not bad if the writing And setting makes sense for that relationship. I don’t feel that the author did a good enough job establishing the why and how of the magic to make that reasonable.

I don’t think this book was for me. I love a cozy mystery, but I doubt I will continue with this series as I found the main character exhausting after the 7/8th chapter. I If someone is looking for a cozy fantastic mystery, there are others I would recommend before this one.

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What a great read! Part cozy mystery, part magic race, all fun.

I remember loving the Librarians show - with the characters tracking down mysterious magic items that are wreaking havoc in the real world.

This book feels like a fresh twist on that idea! The trinkets are called 'Pandoras', and their magical effects are legendary. And Dovey is absolutely the greatest. (Did I mention her pet hedgehog??) Can't wait for more!

"If the intuitive ones knew that they could harness a powerful trinket without having to be bound, we'd have a lot more stolen trinkets, Dovey."

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I loved it! This author has STYLE! It shows while looking through Dovey's eyes when she's picking out a fashionable outfit, admiring the decor in her friend's house or observing a person of interest and the vehicle they drive or recognizing the brand of watch they're wearing. She wanders about encountering horrific murders but still finds beautiful things. This is a great mystery.

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A Trinket for the Taking is a fun murder mystery set in a world where immortal mystics exist unknown alongside their unbound human cousins. Dovey just celebrated her two hundredth birthday and has plans for a day of pampering and self care when a deadly trinket, a kind of currency among the mystics, turns up missing. It’s Dovey’s responsibility to find and return the stolen artifact before it wreaks havoc for both mystics and unbound alike in this thrilling magical whodunnit.

While it took me some time to feel settled in the world this book creates, I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery alongside Dovey. I did not see the twist at the end coming - Dovey solved the crime well before myself or Special Agent Gib did. I personally thought the story wrapped up a little too soon. When the thief was revealed, it would have been satisfying to see how the diplomat received the resolution. All in all, it was a fun ride and as it’s the first in a series, I will be looking forward to returning for another mystery where Dovey and Gib are on the case.

I’d like to thank Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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"A Trinket For the Taking" by Victoria Laurie is an engaging entry into the fantasy mystery genre, offering a story filled with magical intrigue, a touch of romance, and a mystery that keeps you turning pages.

The novel is set in a richly imagined world where magic is woven into the fabric of society, and ancient secrets lie buried beneath the surface. The protagonist, Dovey, is a skilled mystic who finds herself drawn into a dangerous assignment by her boss and lover, Elric, to recover a mysterious and powerful trinket. To do this she must work alongside an unbound (mortal) FBI agent, Grant Isaac Barlow (Gib)

Dovey is drawn into a labyrinth of puzzles, hidden and obvious dangers (perhaps the most obvious in the form of FBI agent Gib), and must uncover the truth before a looming catastrophe can be unleashed.

The mystery and the magic at the heart of the story are well-crafted, with a series of clues and twists that unfold at a steady pace. Victoria Laurie does a commendable job of building tension and keeping the reader engaged. The world-building is detailed, with a clear sense of history and mythology that adds depth to the narrative. I thought Laurie's integration of the "bound" and "unbound" would, aka magic and non-magic world was well done, and liked the integration of the two worlds, it felt believable, and I felt like I was learning the world like an unbound in the book might!

Dovey is a likable protagonist—intelligent, resourceful, has a conscience but also extremely materialistic. She is defintely a character born to the 1840s upper class, and who has lived with money for the duration of her life, however this privledge does not make her unlikeable. I think she is a product of her upbringing, and also her relationship with her lover and boss, Elric. I think that she was also beginning to question things by the end of the book as her relationship with Gib develops.

The romantic subplot created tension, adding a nice layer to the story without overshadowing the main mystery. I hope to see this further develop in subsequent novels.

"A Trinket For the Taking" is a good read, particularly for those who enjoy a blend of mystery and magic with a dash of romance. The book delivers a satisfying and entertaining story that will keep you engaged from start to finish. I hope there are more in the future to read for this series!

Thanks NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I always have a soft spot for paranormal books, so I was thrilled that I was allowed to read this book. Took a while to get into the characters but soon I was swept up into Dovey's life. Overall a solid read with mystery, romance, and paranormal all blending in to make a really good start to what I am hoping will be a long series with Dovey and her friends. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

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I wanted to like this book, the description made it sound so interesting and the magic system definitely is something I hadn't seen before. I just really was not enjoying Dovey as a character. She just seemed a bit too superficial to me.

Thank you Net Galley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for letting me read this!

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Victoria Laurie has a way of writing that draws me in within the first few pages and doesn’t let go until the very last page. I greatly enjoyed reading her new book, which I hope is the start of a new series. The way Ms. Laurie blends the magical world with the “real” is so much fun and this series, in particular, has me wishing I could find my own “trinket”! The mystery was a challenge to solve and I was very surprised to find out who the main criminal was. It all made sense in the end, but it was a fun, twisty, turning ride to get there. I would love to read more about these characters, their magic and I would love some more back story about how they came to be so powerful.

I did wish that there had been a little less focus on what the characters were wearing and a little more explanation of their backstory and thinking processes. Hopefully the backstory will be coming in future books because I would really like to know more about Gib and Dovey.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

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What a delightful new (fingers crossed) series. The characters were fun and the plot fast and suspenseful. The beginning felt very sudden like you were dropped in, but it didn't take too long to get the back story and make sense of it. Looking forward to more from this author.

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