I received a free copy of A DROP OF MAGIC (Book 1 of The Magicsmith) by L.R. Braden in exchange for an honest review. A war between fae and humanity ended with the fae being restricted to territorial reservations. Those with fae genetics are required to register and to obtain visas before traveling through human-ruled lands. Alex Blackwood was a child during the war, and her father perished while fighting on the side of humanity. Because Alex’s mother died shortly thereafter, Alex grew up in foster care. Accustomed to being abandoned and discarded, Alex struggled to remain independent and to reject emotional ties. However, starting with two friends in college, she slowly let her guard slip and formed emotional ties to a small community. Alex’s heart breaks when one of her friends becomes the latest victim of a serial killer tormenting her area. Suddenly, Alex is under siege by the supernatural world; both paranormals and law enforcement repeatedly demand she turn over an artifact they think her friend had in his possession. Before the end of the story, uncomfortable truths will be revealed both about Alex and her friends, Alex’s community will be broadened, alliances and enemies will be made, an artifact will be recovered, and a serial killer will be discovered.

I liked this book. I thought it did a good job of establishing the basic world building and framework for a new series without distracting from the story presented. At the conclusion of the tale, the book makes it clear that more world building will be provided as Alex’s familiarity with the supernatural community grows. I recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy. I look forward to the next novel in this series.

#AdropOfMagic #NetGalley

This novel was an enjoyable read to the start of a new series. It brings humans in contact with magical creatures like the far and shifters and magic. Alex Blackwood has kept to herself and a few close friends. When her best friend is murdered, Alex wants to get justice. After a cryptic message, Alex begins getting visitors and threats. Alex learns she is a half fae, with a particular skill set that is needed to solve the murders that have been happening as well as magical artifacts that have gone missing. Alex learns more about the supernatural world, including her own heritage. However, she is afraid of discovery. Partnered with a full blooded fae named Kai, they work together to track down the killers, which leads Alex into dangerous situations. There are many secrets and lies of omission, and this is only the beginning for Alex.

**I was provided an electronic ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

LR Braden's debut novel, A Drop of Magic, is part murder mystery, part preternatural fantasy, and one solid good time.

The reader follows the perspective of metalsmith Alex Blackwood as she learns about the recent murder of her friend, Aiden. Alex is quickly drawn into a tangled web of secrets about Aiden himself and how the fae may or may not be involved in how he died. In the process, she learns some shocking truths about herself and has to adapt quickly to avoid death herself as she seeks justice for Aiden.

While the pacing of the story seemed a little disjointed to start, the approach that Braden took to magical artifacts, magical beings, and the overall world was one that I really enjoyed. Alex was an accessible main character whose naivete and ignorance about the fae realm gave Braden opportunities to educate the reader on the world as well. That being said, I found myself more invested in the "side" characters (Malakai, Marcus, James) than I was in Alex herself. Shout out for a glimmer of LGBTQ rep in David as well! I think Cat might be my favorite :)

I liked that Braden had a couple twists thrown into the story, and that not everything flowed perfectly for Alex and Malakai as they completed their investigation. Braden's writing style lends itself toward an authentic vibe that made it easy to lose yourself in the story. Was this a unique take on the concepts or creatures in this novel? Maybe not, but certainly Braden's version of preternatural mystery was done well and was an absolutely respectable debut.

Overall, I found A Drop of Magic to be an entertaining read that left me smiling. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from Braden, and would absolutely recommend this book to Laurell K Hamilton fans or anyone else looking for a fast paced fun read.

This is a fun read and a good start to a new series. After a human-fae war, there are and new laws governing interaction between fae and humans. There is plenty of tension and hate between the two races. Alex Blackwood is an artistic metalworker/bookstore clerk. She is crafting a new piece when some fae looking for an artifact they think she has, attack her. She drives them off with some iron and soon after learns that one of her best friends has become the latest victim in a string of serial murders. Malakai, a fae Knight, asks for Alex’s help to solve the murders. The more she works with him, the more involved she becomes in the fae world. There is danger all around but she has a good network of friends for support. This was a fun story to read as Alex learns more and more about the fae world and discovers some inconvenient truths about her own family. I liked the world building and think the characters are well developed. Overall an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hmmmmm, I had a slow time getting into this book, but I am actually glad I finished it. It turned out to be an enjoyable read. Alex is a artist who questions her abilities after finding out that she is half fae. When a friend is murdered she is forced on an adventure that involves all kinds of supernaturals that cross her path including a fae knight called Kai. Can Alex and Kai solve the murder of her friend? Only reading the book will tell.

I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I gave it 4.5 stars

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is set in a timeline where the Fae are out, monitored, and require identification. Alyssandra is a blacksmith, artist, and works in a bookstore for her friend. The story opens in her smithy, where she is interrupted by two men, and she realizes one isn’t human. Later, she finds her friend has been murdered for the same reason she was visited- she’s part fae. The rest of the story is about her search for her friend’s killer, and learning about who she really is. She is truly special in her skills, and those make a big impact in her search. There’s a lot of fun twists, as well as set up for a really good series from here. The characters are well written and the plot is as well- I wasn’t bored at any point, and am already looking forward to the next book.
If you like Diana Pharaoh Francis, Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews, I think you’d like this too.

Great mystery. Fae, a killer on the loose, fae artifacts missing. I liked this book a lot. Good worldbuilding, lots of twisty's, great protagonist. I would recommend this book to lovers of the genre. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

The war between the Fae and humans is over. The Fae are now located on reservations and need a special pass to visit the human areas. Half-fae may live in the human areas but must be registered with the PTF (Paranatural Task Force). Artist Alex Blackwood is notified of the murder of her best friend, Aiden Daye. Her life is turned upside down following this news. Alex discovers she is half-fae and this has influenced her art. The murder of her best friend devastes Alex and she is determined to help find his murderer. This leads to much danger for Alex as well as many new revelations.

A Drop of Magic is the first book in author L.R. Braden's Magicsmith series. This is a great story of murder, mystery and life choices. I really enjoyed the entertaining storyline and well-developed characters. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Alex is an independent woman who has a small group of friends. When one is murdered, she is devastated and tries to find out who would do this to her friend. The fae war has left the world with prejudice and fear. There’s a lot about this world that Alex doesn’t know and will need to learn. Fortunately, she has a support system that goes further than she initially thought. I enjoyed meeting Alex and her friends. I’m intrigued to read the next book and hope it is soon. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book reminded me a bit of the Mercy Thompson series. The similarities being the human girl without any major powers trying to solve a mystery involving the supernatural community, of which humans know a bit about, but nowhere near the entire truth. This book focuses more on fae than on werewolves tho, and I don't think there's gong to be a werewolf boyfriend.

The mystery of the supernatural world and the characters hiding their race was a bit of a lure. Each secret was slowly revealed, like peeling off layers of an onion. And not all secrets are uncovered. There are still plenty left for the next book.

It was a good read. Like Mercy Thompson, a lot of the appeal was in the characters' relationships and the politics and nuances of the supernatural beings. I'd want to read the next book, if only to get answers to many questions that weren't fully resolved in this first book.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alex loses a dear friend unveiling one secret after another. What an evocative, and at times chilling, tale featuring Fae, shifters and fanatics. I could not put it down until I was finished. I have to say the cat was a surprise at the end. Truly an unique story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I received an advanced reader's copy of A Drop of Magic (The Magicsmith, Book 1) by L.R. Braden from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first novel that I had read by L.R. Braden so I really had no expectations, but after reading, she is an author I would look for in the future for other novels.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I found it to be well written. The world building of an earth with Fae and humans was intricate, but understandable. After the not-always-smooth pacing of the first maybe fifth or quarter of the book, the murder mystery plot (with a splash of romance) moved along steadily and the intrigue kept me engrossed from start to finish.

Our female protagonist, artist Alex Blackwood, has her life shattered with the murder of a friend and finding out that she is not what she thought. I liked how Alex was written because even though her life and individual worldview take a HUGE hit and her crazy ball of emotions is evident (pain, confusion, hurt, anger, etc.), she still does her best to find the murderer of her friend and regain her feet. She's a flawed character who makes mistakes that the reader wants to groan at, but is very appealing and realistic. You just root for her to succeed and be happy!

I'll definitely look for book 2 when it is released to see Alex's further adventures.

A Drop of Magic is a new urban fantasy series by L.R. Braden. And, I will be delighted to add it to my must-read series list.

Alex discovers that one of her friends is murdered and their last act was calling Alex, leaving her racked with guilt for not answering his call. The mystery behind the murder sends Alex into detective mode, uncovering secrets about herself and her friends.

A Drop of Magic has lots of unexpected twist turns, a bunch of side of really fascinating secondary characters and side plots and great, original world building. Thumbs up for another debut suspense-filled fantasy. This is my first read from L.R. Braden but it won't be my last.

I received this ARC copy of A Drop of Magic BelleBooks, Inc. - Bell Bridge Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. A Drop of Magic is set for publication July 31, 2019.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: L.R. Braden
Paperback: 234 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Publication Date: July 31, 2019
ISBN-10: 1611949416
ISBN-13: 978-1611949414
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Drop-Magic-Mag...
Barnes & Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-dr...
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An entertaining and engrossing book, with an interesting world building and a cast of fleshed out characteres.
I look forward to reading the next in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A Drop of Magic, by debut author L.R. Braden, is the first installment in the authors The Magicsmith series. A Drop of Magic is the story about 28-year old protagonist Alyssandra (Alex) Blackwood who works as an artist specializing in metal sculptures. She lives in the mountains outside of Nederland, Colorado and shows her work at Souled Art Gallery in Boulder, Colorado where her friend James Abernathy is owner. As the story opens, Alex receives some unwelcome visitors looking for an engraved box which is supposed to be in her possession.

After chasing the two unwanted Fae out of her work place, she hopes to get some help from The Paranatural Task Force. PTF is an international agency charged with enforcing the treaty that ended the Faerie Wars, and maintaining the peace between humans and all things paranatural. Her world slowly unravels with the arrival of a Lakewood Police Detective Garcia who claims that her friend, Aiden Daye, was murdered in his home. What's worse is that Alex missed a call from Aiden the day he was murdered with a cryptic message about a gift from her grandfather.

Since Alex's father disappeared during the Faerie War, and her mother died when she was 17, Alex has no known family. To make matters worse, PTF claims that they have evidence that Aiden was involved in the trafficking of Fae artifacts. Things take an even more dangerous turn when Fae Knight Malakai (Kai) Kairn claims he's been tasked to investigate Aiden's death, as well as tossing a spotlight on the fact that Aiden was a halfer (Half-Fae/Half-Human) who wasn't registered. A huge no-no in this world.

Halfers are supposed to be registered and are sent to the nearest Fae reservation for up to a year before they are allowed to return. The deeper she digs into her friend's death, the more uncomfortable and dangerous her life becomes. Then the truth bomb explodes: Alex learns from Kai that she is descended from an important and powerful Fae line which allows her to work with metals every day without any reaction. An ability that is dangerous if anyone found out what she could do, and who she actually is. That also makes her a Halfer which if exposed, could be detrimental to the life she has.

There is a fair amount of secondary characters who show up and are counted as either Alex's friends, or people who she finds out things about the world she has been blinded to until now. Her relationships are almost as important as solving Aiden's murder and helping Kai discover who has been taking the Fae artifacts and why. From David Nolan, to James Abernathy who is destined to be Alex's romantic interest, to Marc who opens her eyes to another para group living close by, to the PTF who are really not who you think they are.

Overall, a really good start to the series. There is plenty of mystery, surprises, twists, and originality to the story that will have me coming back for more.

Three and a half stars.

Alex Blackwood works in a bookstore and is also a metalsmith in her spare time, having some success selling her art in a local art gallery.

Following the Faerie Wars all fae have to be registered and live on a reservation unless they have a special licence to live outside but tensions remain high between the fae and the humans. A serial killer is on the loose, apparently randomly targeting unrelated people, and one of Alex's best friends has been murdered. It turns out her friend may have been half-fae and in possession of some mysterious fae artefact. Indeed, it turns out that all the victims were half-fae, entrusted with fae artifacts - is someone trying to amass power or start another war?

Soon Alex is embroiled in trying to track down the killer and avenge her friend's death, but not everyone is as they seem - who can she trust?

I thought this had some potential as the start of a new series, the world building of a contemporary world in which the fae are out in the open (although hidden by glamours) but other paranormal creatures are still considered myths was good. I liked the various factions and not knowing who to trust.

However, I can already foresee at least a love-triangle if not a love-square with some of the characters - apparently everyone finds Alex irresistible and she already possesses special talents (sigh). Also, there was so much world-building that at times concepts were just thrown into the mix and not really explored further - maybe they will be the main thrust of the second book?

I will definitely look out for the second book to see how this series develops.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A metalsmithing artist who works at a bookshop, pulled into the net of a serial killer with links to the Fae... who comes to be called The Magicsmith. Ah, I really loved Alex Blackwood, the heroine of <i>A Drop of Magic</i> by debut author L.R. Braden. And in fact, I really liked the book entire, its universe a fun and fresh mixture of old and new.

In <i>A Drop of Magic</i>, Braden sets the magical Fae and humans together in the modern world where tourist visas, glamours, full moons, and police politics intersect when a string of murders goes unsolved — including one of Alex's best friends. What's uncovered rocks Alex's world. After all, she'd always thought she was human. She even works with iron, which is intolerable and painful to all Fae. She thought everyone she loved was human, but the deeper she digs into her friend's death, the more uncomfortable and dangerous her life becomes. Populated with a ton of fun characters, <i>A Drop of Magic</i> is a thrilling and original fantasy ride.

Again, my favorite part was Alex. Definitely badass — she backs down from no one — she's also kind and creative, and loves her art and her friends. I can't wait to see how Alex handles her evolving path in books No. 2-3.

Note: I was provided an e-book for review purposes. All opinions mine.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This title combines many elements of genres that I enjoy reading; urban fantasy, Fae characters, mystery and murder.

When Alex, a metal smith, discovers that one of her best friends has been murdered it is only the beginning of a series of revelations that alter her life.

What follows is an enjoyable read, with detailed world building, an interesting story and a slew of characters that I look forward to getting to know better in future titles in the series. I also enjoyed the irony of the Fae characters being easily accepted as existing by the human population but werewolves and other creatures being viewed as belonging to myth and legend.

Review:
Have you ever just been super pleasantly surprised by a book before? A Drop of Magic was not a book on my radar at all. I was scrolling through NetGalley looking for books I might like and came across this gem. I read the synopsis and thought it sounded interesting. I love books about fae, so that was already one thing I knew I'd like. And the trope of a girl who doesn't know who she really is but has this destiny waiting for her to just figure it out. I really enjoyed the work building and all the different characters. Alex is a tough chick and I am such a sucker for a touch female lead. I also loved all of the secondary characters. They feel like they are developing well and I can't wait to see more of them in the next book. This was literally one of those books where you get to discover a fantastic series at the very beginning of it, because I just know this series is going to be amazing. I've been looking for something fae I loved as much as the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning and this has serious potential to be just that. I cannot wait for the next book!

A Drop of Magic is the first book in The Magicsmith series by L.R. Braden. It is currently scheduled for release on July 31 2019. With the world clinging to a fragile peace forced on the Fae by humanity after the Faerie Wars, metalsmith Alex Blackwood is plunged into the world of the half-fae who traffick in illegal magical artifacts. Her best friend’s murder and his cryptic last message place her in the crosshairs of a scheme to reignite the decade-old war between humans and fae. Worse, violent attacks against her and the arrival of a fae knight on a mission force Alex to face a devastating revelation of who and what she is. To catch a killer, retrieve a dangerous artifact, and stop a war, Alex will have to accept that she’s an unregistered fae “halfer” with a unique magical talent—a talent that would change everything she believes about her past, her art, and her future. Her world is crumbling around her, and Alex will have to decide who to trust if she and the world are going to survive.

A Drop of Magic starts with the basics needed for a complex urban fantasy world and a strong main character. Alex has been through a lot, and tries to do her bet in her art and day job while still trying to keep a safe emotional distance from her friends and acquaintances. Everything is turned upside down when her good friend is killed and her own identity is brought into question. I like that she struggles a little with the chaos that begins to surround her- but still manages to keep moving forward and trying to solve the mystery. The murders and missing items of the story were very well written, and I thought the danger and sleuthing for the characters and readers alike hit a good balance, and I am glad to say that the conclusion was not on my radar, and I was a little surprised. I enjoyed learning about the characters closest to Alex, and really like that there were multiple possibilities for romantic interest the story never made that leap. I hate when all the world and character building gets pushed aside for a romance- even though I love a good love story. I have a feeling that romance is coming, but I was gla to get a solid understanding of Alex and her world beforehand. Some of the twists I saw coming, while others managed to sneak up on me and take me by surprise. I liked that the story did have a solid, satisfying conclusion but left plenty of room for more revelations and twists in future complications. I also enjoyed the collection of fae and shifters that made their appearance, and cannot wait to see what else pops up in the future.

A Drop of Magic is a good start to an urban fantasy series. I think I will be continuing this one to see where it goes.

Alex’s job is a metalsmith but she soon finds its a gift likely a side effect of her fae nature. Alex’s life gets turned upside down when one of her friends goes missing and fae start coming out of the woodwork. Alex is drawn into a new world- one she never suspected. Alex will have to team up with some unlikely partners to solve the mystery of her missing friend and the keys to her past.

I enjoyed this book and the work the author did in setting up the platform for an exciting series. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. I especially like this genre and feel like this story stood out for many different reasons. The character was unique and strong as well as not willing to think outside the box while weighing the pros and cons of her decisions. I’m intrigued about her new and old friends and wonder if there will be a romantic connection. The author did a great job leaving the reader wanting to know more. Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5.

I received a free copy of A DROP OF MAGIC (Book 1 of The Magicsmith) by L.R. Braden in exchange for a honest review. #AdropOfMagic #NetGalley

I was intrigued by this book, and I was excited to read it. This is the author’s debut title, but really I couldn’t tell. The characters were fascinating, the plot was rapid-paced, and I felt like I could see every scene like I was watching a movie. And, TBH, when I first started this book, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it because it dragged a little. Once, though, we got to heart of the action, the book just flew by. The book was very original, and I can’t wait to read more in this universe, find out what happens to everyone including Alex’s cat, and what happens when Alex meets her family. Loved this book, and recommend to anyone who loves urban fantasy. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This was a really great series starter. Alex and Kai were very engaging characters, I enjoyed following along with Alex as she dealt with the murder of her friend and the revelation of what she really was. The storyline drew me in, I am so looking forward to reading more of Alex's adventures.

Good world building but leaves a few things hanging for the next book.. Curious to see where the series goes... Nice debut entry.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this , and I recommend it to everyone.

Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

After the Human-Fey war ended, the world seems to be divided against how they felt about the fey and the know fey were registered and sent to live at a reservation, but tensions were high. Alex is content with her quiet life of metalworking and working at a bookstore, but when strange men show up in her work studio demanding something she knows nothing about, her world goes quickly out of her control. With new unwanted guests showing up at her house, a mysterious guy showing up, multiple attacks and the death of one of her close friends, Alex needs to determine who she really is and what she is willing to do.

Ok first off, A Drop Of Magic is listed as a paranormal romance but I totally disagree with that. This is very much an Urban Fantasy, which I am not even a little complaining about because I am happy finding new urban fantasy series to jump into. When I first read the synopsis I 100% thought urban fantasy but then every listing I see says romance I was kind of anticipating a different kind of book. A Drop of Magic had almost no romance (there was not even a love interest mentioned for at least half the book), basically a chaste kiss and potential thoughts about entering into a romance, but what it did have was tons of action, danger, mystery, bad guys and some pretty awesome Fey antics- and when the fey are involved you know it is going to get messy.


A Drop of Magic is the first in what appears to be a pretty awesome new series, so this book had some issues resolved and others are just hinted at to come. This is the first book by L.R. and I am super impressed by her world building and characterizations, her ability to take something we all know and love (cough cough the evil/lovely fey) and make her own kind of story. There were for sure elements of Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series here when it come to the Fey and having a reservation and classification system, but I feel like everything else was all it's own and I loved it. I highly recommend this series starter to anyone looking for a new urban fantasy adventure with a great new heroine. I know I will be keeping an eye out for the next book.

After the Faerie Wars, the world clings to a fragile peace forced on the Fae by humanity. Someone is trafficking in illegal magical artifacts and metalsmith, Alex Blackwood is plunged into the world of the half-fae after her best friend is murdered. To catch a killer, retrieve a dangerous artifact and stop a war, Alex will have to accept that she’s an unregistered fae “halfer” with a unique magical talent.

The first book in a new urban fantasy series is an original, riveting read that takes readers on an adventurous and thrilling ride. The characters are strong and full of vibrant life with some unique characteristics and personalities that readers draw readers into their story. The plot is fast paced and full of thrilling suspense, adrenaline pumping excitement with unexpected twists, all of which combine to keep readers on their toes and holding on to the edge of their seats with mysteries to clear up, surprising revelations, secrets being revealed and a bit of romance blossoming between Alex and James who has secrets of his own.

The author has created an original alter earth world with her own unique flair and elements that makes the read engaging, fun and exhilarating with all entertaining and cool characters that ensure that readers enjoy the experience and want more.

Alex Blackwood, a metalsmith artist, is pulled into the fae world when her best friend is killed. Her whole life quickly changes and gets dangerous. She fights fae, creates amazing art, and makes new friends and new enemies. I really liked Alex. She was strong and held up well with all the craziness that was being thrown at her. Her ability was interesting and unique as well. I can’t wait to see how she will wield in the future.

This world and characters are fascinating and intriguing. I was captivated quickly and couldn’t put the book down. There are also a lot of side characters that I want to know more about, especially James. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.*

I enjoyed the book immensely, and will be starting book two shortly. The plot moved quickly, at some points leaving me confused but not enough to frustrate. The setting was secondary to the characters. They were well written and carried the story. I loved the fact that there were more than one race/species of far. I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers!

Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book! Characters were strong, story interesting and moved at a great pace. Have already ordered to sell in my store - looking forward to handselling it! Looking for more in this series.

A drop of Magic by L. R. Braden, a great Fantasy Read that's reminiscent of Patricia Briggs. Alex's best friend has died and his death opens up so many questions for her, and her life changes in a lot of radical ways. Really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to future books.

The war between the Fae and humans is over. The Fae are now located on reservations and need a special pass to visit the human areas. Half-fae may live in the human areas but must be registered with the PTF (Paranatural Task Force). Artist Alex Blackwood is notified of the murder of her best friend, Aiden Daye. Her life is turned upside down following this news. Alex discovers she is half-fae and this has influenced her art. The murder of her best friend devastates Alex and she is determined to help find his murderer. This leads to much danger for Alex as well as many new revelations.

A Drop of Magic is the first book in author L.R. Braden's Magicsmith series. This is a great story of murder, mystery and life choices. I really enjoyed the entertaining storyline and well-developed characters.

I look forward to the next installment of L.R Braden's book.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the first offering in the Magicsmith series and it's a great introduction. Set in an unstable truce between the Fae and the humans, Alex Blackwood lives in the Colorado mountain s and works as a metalsmith. She sells her works in a gallery run by James and is best friends with Aiden and David. She is pulled into the world of Fae when Aiden is murdered. Now several police agencies, some rogue fae, werewolves and shifters are in her life. This series reminds me of Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series. The writing is strong and fun to read. Anyone who likes the paranormal from teens to older adults will enjoy this new series and I already have book 2, Courting Darkness in my que to read. I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I honestly loved this book. So many times I find myself leery about starting yet another PNR series, but this one was easy to fall in love with. Great Plot. Lovable characters. Heart-pounding action. Just great.

A Drop of Magic starts out with a female, Alex (our main character) as she is working at her forge and has unexpected visitors, which is the start just before learning her best friend has died and she doesn't even know her own family history.

From the first page, this book was so enjoyable to read. Well written, with characters that jump off the page (though, I will admit, I maybe could have done with a touch more romance), this novel just flowed.

The author, L.R. Braden, knows how to write a story that I wanted to read, and I think a lot of others would too. This book felt similar to the Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson novels, but the story is very different and the characters are different. But I think Alex and Mercy would get along.

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.

In a world of magic and prejudice, a blacksmith is drawn into the chaos of the supernatural community. The first volume of this series is a great start that makes me thrilled for the sequel.

Alex is a metal Artis. She can imbue her feelings and passion into her art. To some she's an amazing artisan for others she's a halfling. Her friend Aiden is murdered and she's called upon to help avenge his death. Along the way she is introduced to dangerous far and human alike. Will she survive? You can read this in one sitting.

it´s a wunderful start to a Serie about an Fae Halfblood, who doesn´t know she is one.
The Book has everything a Reader could wish for: murder, mystery and magic. I enjoyed the Story and like to hear more about the backround of the war.

Thw World L.R. Braden created reminds me of the Books by Patricia Briggs and Thea Harrison. The Idea auf hidden Realms, Magic , Shapeshifter and Fae, who are Part of the Society - but not a loved one.

Hopefully there a many more Books to come.

Action packed from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This was a fun and fast paced paranormal mystery. In a post Human/Fae war world Alex is a metal smith who forms an unlikely partnership with a Fae Knight to solve the murder of a close friend. Alex is constantly discovering that everything is not as it seems…Fae, werewolves and I have a feeling more to come in the next books (and hopefully some romance)!

Braden did a great job of building the world without leaving you lost with the complexities. I can’t believe this is her first book and I cannot wait to dive into the sequel.

This book was action packed from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! This book has a steady fast pace and an engaging paranormal mystery.

After a Human/Fae war the MC Alex a metal smith begins working with a Fae Knight to solve the murder of a close friend. Alex soon discovers things are not what they seem and this is a much more complicated mystery then with hidden agenda's.

the world building is fantastic and the characters were engaging. I love that the relationships and trust isn't forced and it is moving in a natural pace. I am excited to see what else is in store. This is truly a great first book in what I hope is a long running series.

After a Human/Fae war the MC Alex a metal smith begins working with a Fae Knight to solve the murder of a close friend. Alex soon discovers things are not what they seem and this is a much more complicated mystery then with hidden agenda's.

the world building is fantastic and the characters were engaging. I love that the relationships and trust isn't forced and it is moving in a natural pace. I am excited to see what else is in store. This is truly a great first book in what I hope is a long running series.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
#AdropOfMagic
#NetGalley

I liked the Story and the Charakters. Her Gift was very interesting and unlike other Readers, I donˋt think there a too many possible Loveinterests. For me, they only where friends and allies. I donˋt no what, but something in this Story is missing for me to fall in Love with it.

This author is new to me, and since this is a brand new series, I was prepared to be open minded.

I enjoyed the story. I’m getting a little burned out in all the “fae” books, Kind of like years ago when everything was vampires and werewolves, but this brought some new perspectives. There is a lot going on with all the mystical stuff And a murder to solve, but fans of Urban Fantasy should enjoy.

A DROP OF MAGIC by L.R. Braden is the first book in The Magicsmith supernatural suspense series. This is the debut novel by an author that is new to me. The female protagonist, Alex Blackwood is a metalsmith creating works of art in Colorado after a fragile peace between the Fae and humans. When her best friend is murdered and she is violently attacked, her life suddenly becomes fraught with danger, lies, stress and changes. Along the way, she learns a lot about herself, her family, her friends and the Fae.

Alex is a likeable main character and is definitely someone you want to succeed. Here goals were clear and her motivations were believable. However, after being attacked, she didn’t take the precautions that I would have expected. I wanted Alex to be a stronger protagonist. The secondary characters are not as well-developed, but the novel was relatively short. Hopefully, that growth and depth will occur as the series develops. They did enhance the story and they added to the story rather than detracting from it except. The prose was well-written, engaging, and entertaining. The plot was engrossing, fascinating and action-filled. The world-building was excellent.

Overall, the book was suspenseful, entertaining and fast-paced. I am looking forward to reading more in this fantasy series. If you enjoy supernatural suspense with a lot of action, then this book is one you may enjoy as much as I did.

Many thanks to BelleBooks, Inc. and L.R. Braden for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

This is the first book in the Author's Magesmith series - featuring Alex Blackwood

Brought up in foster care , metalsmith ,Alex has few friends - the murder of one such friend Aiden turns her world upside down .
Aiden had secrets , just what had the Fae to do with him ? In investigating these secrets Alex discovers she also has secrets in her past , secrets that are dangerous . Desperate to find the truth Alex dives into this new world - she must tread cautiously for even her own life is now at risk .

This is a great start to this new series and I will definitely be reading more by the Author in the future

I was given an arc of this book by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review

I love Alex! Every thing about this story makes me excited that it is just the beginning of a series. After her best friend is murdered, Alex is attacked and her whole world is upended. First, I just love that she is an artist and later what she finds out about her art and how it moves people is a very cool touch, one of many little details that add to how much there is love and connect things in this world.

What she finds out about her friend is mild in comparison to what she finds out about herself as she works with Kai, who I am intrigued by, but still on the fence about. (And that's a good thing, I want to see more of him). I loved the cat as well ... more please. There are a lot of characters with room for exploration that I'm looking forward to.

I appreciate immensely that the plot of this story wraps up and yet still sets up for more, that's a rare treat not to be left hanging, only craving. I also love that a romance thread didn't dominate the story, I enjoy the subtle natural feel of the relationships. I'm also eager to see if more about the wolves will come into other parts. I loved their wild brutal nature. There is so much to explore with artifacts magic and the Fae. I can't wait to dive into part two.

A great start to a series that I throughly enjoyed from start to finish.

A Drop of Magic by L.R. Braden was vividly descriptive and highly entertaining. Once I stepped into the world of Alex Blackwood and the Fae I simply could not put this novel down. The characters were bold and endearing with just the right amount of raw emotion and sass to keep me engaged.

After a sudden tragedy rocks Alex's life, a Pandora's box explodes and she is thrust into a new and dangerous world. Alex is bombarded by startling revelations of her past and those nearest and dearest to her. All her life she has survived by following one simple rule- Do not care! Alex swiftly learns life really doesn't care much about "rules" and kinda does its own thing.

As her quiet life is turned upside down by people who wanted to hurt, help, love, and kill her, she learns that maybe the good guys aren't always that good, and the bad guys aren't always that bad.

I was impressed by the layers of intricacy developed by L.R. Braden and her ability to present a cadre of unique and entertaining characters without overwhelming the reader. Her characters were larger than life and lept off the pages straight into my heart. A drop of magic is a truly amazing novel that had me emotionally invested from the first chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley, BelleBooks Inc., and Bell ridge Books for providing me with an arc.

Set in a our world but with magic, fae and shifters. The leading lady Alex is a metalsmith who gets roped into helping a Fae solve a series of seemingly unconnected murders, which include the murder of her good friend. As a character, Alex feels so normal, but steps up to help solve the murders even in when confronted by the extraordinary, and along the way she learns many secrets about her friends and herself. I enjoyed this series starter and was happy to discover that books 2, 3 and 4 are already out.



ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley

Entertaining read and engaging strong protagonist. I would recommend for a quick unputdownable read.

I found this to be a great start to an urban fantasy series. Alwx Blackwood is a likeable character who is a metalsmith. I enjoyed the setting, the world the author created and the plot. I definitely will be reading this series! Thanks #netgalley and #BelleBooksInc for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I will start by stating that this book had me emersed so much that I finished it in a day. This is a story with so many different aspects that you become drenched in this whole other magical world. The way it was written was nearly flawless. The character development was thorough and allowed for me to truly fall in love with the entire story line. This magical world that Alex discovers is right up my alley but this book is by far one of my favorite I've ever read! I cannot wait to continue this series. The author is so talented and I couldn't be more happy to have discovered her work.

I love anything that has to do with supernatural, fantasy, and magic. This book, what can I say about it. I LOVED IT. When I first saw it, I didn't read the synapses, I looked at the title and was like oooohhhh magic, I want to read this. I loved the characters, Alex, Kai and Cat. What is there not to love about the fae, I enjoyed reading a different take on Braden's fae. They seem to be so different then Hamilton's fae. I can't wait to grab the rest of the series, and binge read them.
I have received this Advance Readers Copy From Netgalley for a fair and just review.

A Great book about Faeries and other creatures. The plot was interesting and I want to read the other books in the series.

I really like this book. It kept me entertained all the way to the last page. Good start to new series. A supernatural who done it. Best kind of combination.

Urban fantasy that is an interesting murder mystery. Felt incomplete world-building wise but that could have been purposefully constructed as this is the first in the series. I know many stories where you do not find out everything about the fantasy world, situation or people until you're further into the series... so there is still interest in the world building as you move along with the series.

This story takes place after a human-fae war. The fae have to register and get visas to visit and stay in the human world.

Alex Blackwood who is a metalworker has a friend that turned out to be half-fae who has fae artifacts that causes his murder. While Alex is trying to understand why she didn't know about Aiden she has to confront the fact that someone is trying to kill her because they think she has info on a particular fae artifact.

I really enjoyed this world which is different from others that include Fae or Fairy people. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I was given an eARC book of this series by Bell Bridge Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review

This book is about Aly Blackwood who is an aspiring metal worker who's work was recently commissioned. She is mostly a loner who has only 2 friends. David and Aiden. Aiden is murdered and Alex becomes an amateur detective in order to discover who is responsible and bring them to justice.

This book has numerous twists and turns that keeps you guessing the entire time you are reading. The author has done a great job with world building and all the magical beings that she included in the story. I loved Alex! She has had a tough life but holds her friends near to her heart. She is afraid to trust and i loved how she began to do that within the story. There are numerous characters in the plot that are introduced and I look forward to seeing where their stories go.

This is book one in the Magicsmith Series and there are 3 additional books that have been published.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review*
It was a great first installment (so much that I can't believe it was the debut novel of the author). I'm excited to read the next one.

Very well written and engaging. I had a great time reading this and look forward to more in the series. I would recommend this to patrons.

Very well written. The storyline was perfect. I could not out it down. Read the book in one day. The author sucks you in to the plot.

Alyssandra Blackwood, better known as "Alex" to her friends, is an artist. Working with metal is her passion. She currently has several sculptures in a friend's gallery. She mostly keeps to herself, but she's forced to come out of her shell when two strangers show up at her door and threaten her.

They believe Alex has a magical item in her possession. When Alex learns that they are more than likely responsible for the death of a close friend, who was in possession of said item, things really take a turn. Suddenly, Alex finds herself mixed up in some really bad business. What will happen when she gets too close to the truth?

A DROP OF MAGIC is the first book I have read by author L.R. Braden and it will not be my last. It is the start of what promises to be a great series titled THE MAGICSMITH. It centers around Alex, who is just discovering some really interesting things about herself and the people in her life. A DROP OF MAGIC had me up burning the midnight oil. There were surprises around every turn. And what a great note to end on! I cannot wait to read about what Alex gets up to next.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed reading this first book in a new Urban Fantasy series following Alex, an artist / metalsmith who is going to go after her best friend's murderer with the help of a fae named Kai. We meet a few secondary characters and the world created is interesting.

I thought the romance would be more developed in this book but I'm guessing the author wants to build it slowly over the three books planned for this series. It's a bit disappointing because I usually love having a romance in Urban Fantasy. Also, is it just me that felt like there might be more than one love interest? Mmh.

Overall, I liked A drop of magic and I thought it was a quick read. However, I'm not sure yet if I'll read the sequel Courting Darkness coming out in August. It wasn't a new favorite so I might stop here but we'll see.

<i>(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

I thought this was a interesting book. Alex got slammed with a lot of issues in a short amount of time but she seemed to handle them well, although the amount of her injuries she seemed to heal faster than I would have expected. It'll be interesting to see where the next book goes. #AdropOfMagic #NetGalley

This is the first in a series. The book follows a sculptor named Alex whose friend is murdered. The death and following investigation reveal hidden truths about Alex and her friends the book has good pacing and entertaining world building. As Alex learns about her past and her hidden skills she learns the value of friendship.

A Drop of Magic by LR Braden is book 1 in The Magicsmith Series. This is a paranormal series about the fae. This book was definitely a very original and well written book. The plot was unique and well thought out. The world building was great and let your imagination wander as you read the book. I always enjoy when an author takes their time letting you get to know the character, letting you see them in different aspects of their lives. For example Alex, the FMC, is half Fey so as readers we get to experience the human and fey side of this character.
Alex is a metalsmith who keeps to who herself. When her best friend, who is somehow involved in the illegal artifact trade, is murdered by a serial killer she finds herself very involved in life. Now she needs to figure out who and what to trust.
I thought this was a well developed story and great start to a series. I look forward to reading the rest and more from this author.

Thanks to Bell Bridge Books and NetGalley for the A Drop of Magic ARC.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book - it was a well-written page-turner and kept me engaged throughout.

This book is more focused on telling the story; and perhaps could benefit from “showing” us a little more. Also, there’s little in the way of character development and unfortunately, the heroine, Alex, is largely TSTL, so I’m really hoping that the series focuses on building her into a competent heroine that you want to root for.

It’s worth noting that while the ending isn’t a cliffhanger, there are several unresolved threads to be followed in future books, so don’t expect answers to all the questions raised.

This was a solid foundation and I’m keen to move onto book 2.