Product Description
From Canada’s new queen of suspense, another hugely entertaining supernatural thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Prepare to be enchanted . . .
Forget the cackling green hag in The Wizard of Oz, forget Samantha from Bewitched. Real witches are nothing, NOTHING like this. For years real witches have hidden their powers, afraid of being persecuted. They have integrated so well into the community, you could have a witch living right next door and never know about it. Take Paige, for instance, whom we first met in Kelley Armstrong’s novel
Stolen. Just an ordinary twenty-something who runs her own website design company, worries about her weight and wonders if she’ll ever find a boyfriend. Okay, so she’s leader of the American Coven and guardian of Savannah, the teenage daughter of a black witch. Really, life is ordinary. But then a telekinetic half-demon, Leah O’Donnell, shows up to fight for custody of Savannah. And although Paige is ready for her, she’s not quite so prepared for the team of supernaturals that Leah brings with her, including a powerful sorcerer who claims to be Savannah’s father.
When all hell breaks loose — literally — and Paige is accused of witchcraft, Satanism and murder, the Coven, fearing exposure, abandons her. Cut off from her friends, Paige is forced against her better judgment to accept the help of a young sorcerer lawyer. And she quickly comes to realize that keeping Savannah could mean losing everything else.
Breathtakingly thrilling, hip and funny, this new novel is another page-turning triumph from an author who is going from strength to strength.
“I had a feeding frenzy on my front lawn, an unconscious paranormal investigator on my stairs, and, somewhere out there, an entire Cabal special projects team devoted to ruining my life.” — from
Dime Store Magic
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Jana L. Perskie @ 2:34 pm
Kelley Armstrong’s “Dime Store Magic” is the third novel in the “Women of the Otherworld” series. Like the preceding books, this one stands on its own and it is not necessary to read the other two to understand or to become involved in this one. I am/was so enamored of the original werewolf novels, and their heroine Elena Michaels, that I had my doubts about whether or not I would enjoy this new book starring, not lycanthropes, but witches. However, I quickly became absorbed in the story, and Ms. Armstrong’s narrative is, as always, excellent and filled with her dark humor. Therefore I am able to recommend “Dime Store Magic” without hesitation.
Twenty-three year-old Paige Winterbourne, recently orphaned, has inherited her mother’s role as Leader of the elite American Coven of Witches. Paige, is not anywhere near as experienced in witchcraft and lore as her deceased mother, or as some of the elderly and very conservative witches in her Coven. She does, however, have a vision for the future – something sorely lacking now and very necessary. Paige has long been known for her rebellious antics and doesn’t have much credibility with her fellow witches. In fact, many of them feel that the younger woman is not fit to lead. However, Paige’s goal is an important one – to better her people and bring them into the 21st century – not to hide from the world, as the paranoid Coven Elders, little old ladies with blue rinses on their hair and polyester pants, wish to do. She strives to find hidden grimoires filled with ancient, stronger spells to help witches worldwide regain their rightful power in the supernatural world. Over the years, witches practicing “white magic,” for the betterment of the human and supernatural races, have lost power and status to Sorcerer Cabals – kind of like the Mafia, peopled by males, (sorcerers), who make black magic for profit. Paige wants to regain that power for the purpose of doing good.
Nine months earlier, Paige’s mother was murdered along with another witch who had an adolescent daughter, Savannah Levine. This precocious young women was left in Paige’s care to train and to raise to adulthood. Savannah has supernatural powers far exceeding her age, and her potential for making magic is beyond what most witches can ever expect to achieve. Part of Paige’s responsibility is to make sure Savannah’s power is used appropriately. The powerful sorcerer Kristof Nash, heir to the Nash Cabal, is Savannah’s father and wants custody of his daughter whom he has totally ignored heretofore. Obviously Nash recognizes the potential for evil in his daughter’s powers and wants to use her for his own dark purposes. Paige is well aware that Kristoff dabbles in the black arts and would do anything in order to capture Savannah and control her, including murder. Lucas Cortez, a young and handsome sorcerer, heir to the most powerful Cortex Cabal and an attorney also, comes to Paige’s rescue. This is completely unheard of, as witches and sorcerers have always been enemies. Yet, the two, witch and sorcerer, make miraculous magic together.
Once again Kelley Armstrong succeeds in dazzling her readers with her outstanding, well-crafted plot and numerous new characters – as well as bringing back some old friends, (and foes), from former novels. Her portrayal of the sometimes troubled relationship between Paige, herself a young woman without too much life experience, and adolescent Suzannah, is extremely realistic and often moving. Paige’s frustration with the narrow-minded Coven Elders, and their refusal to leave their old and ineffectual ways behind and move forward for the betterment of all, is described with maturity and sensitivity. The novel is chock full of excitement, adventure and romance. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
JANA
Alisa McCune @ 3:42 pm
Dime Store Magic is the third book in the Women of the Otherworld series. At the conclusion of Stolen, Elena, Paige, and the rest of the supernatural interracial council rescued Savannah and destroyed the facility that was kidnapping supernaturals. Savannah had been kidnapped with her mother, Eve. She was murdered shortly after the kidnapping, leaving Savannah alone and at the mercy of Isaac, an evil sorcerer and Leah, a half-demon Volo.
Dime Store Magic begins a year after Stolen. Paige, a coven witch, has custody of Savannah, a 13-year-old angry witch. Paige has her hands full trying to guide and protect Savannah, who is experiencing teen-angst with an unhealthy dose of rage.
Leah, the half-demon Volo has decided to join forces with a Cabal, a high ranking sorcerer who is also CEO of a large corporation. This particular Cabal, Nast, is very powerful and also Savannah’s father. The fight for custody is more then a legal matter. Nast wants Savannah for her power and will do anything to acquire her.
Paige finds herself fighting not only Nast, but also everyone else in her life to protect Savannah. Paige’s once uncomplicated life becomes a living hell that seems to have no end in sight. To make matters worse, Savannah, at 13, is very immature and full of rage. She is angry about everything and is prone to using her powers in a reckless manner. Consequences are something Savannah does not understand.
Dime Store Magic is a wonderful, fun book to read. The Paige who was introduced in Stolen gains a great deal more depth and is a great heroine. She deals with these betrayals and attacks with a strong moral outrage and strength of character. She is not about to back down and shows her true feisty nature. What makes this book work is Paige’s voice. It is unique and interesting. Kelley Armstrong did a wonderful job creating the Women of the Otherworld.
Kelley Armstrong is the author of Bitten and Stolen, the first two books in the Women of the Otherworld series. Industrial Magic, the fourth in the series will be released late in 2004. Be sure to visit Kelley Armstrong’s website at http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com
Alisa McCune @ 5:55 pm
Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong is the third book in the Women of the Otherworld series. At the conclusion of Stolen, Elena, Paige, and the rest of the supernatural interracial council rescued Savannah and destroyed the facility that was kidnapping supernaturals. Savannah had been kidnapped with her mother, Eve. Eve was murdered shortly after the kidnapping, leaving Savannah alone and at the mercy of Isaac, an evil sorcerer and Leah, a half-demon Volo.
Dime Store Magic begins a year after Stolen. Paige, a coven witch, has custody of Savannah, a 13-year-old angry witch. Paige has her hands full trying to guide and protect Savannah, who is experiencing teen-angst with an unhealthy dose of rage.
Leah, the half-demon Volo has decided to join forces with a Cabal, a high ranking sorcerer who is also CEO of a large corporation. This particular Cabal, Nast is very powerful and also Savannah’s father. The fight for custody is more then a legal matter. Nast wants Savannah for her power – and will do anything to acquire her.
Paige finds herself fighting not only Nast, but also everyone else in her life to protect Savannah. Paige’s once uncomplicated life becomes a living hell that seems to have no end in sight. To make matters worse, Savannah at 13 is very immature and full of rage. She is angry about everything and is prone to using her powers in a reckless manner. Consequences are something Savannah does not understand.
Dime Store Magic is a wonderful, fun book to read. The Paige introduced in Stolen gains a great deal more depth and is a great heroine. She deals with these betrayals and attacks with a strong moral outrage and strength of character. She is not about to back down and shows her true feisty nature. What makes this book work is Paige’s voice. It is unique and interesting. Kelley Armstrong did a wonderful job creating the Women of the Otherworld.
Kelley Armstrong is the author of Bitten and Stolen, the first two books in the Women of the Otherworld series. Dime Store Magic will be available in the US April 27, 2004. Industrial Magic, the fourth in the series will be released on November 2, 2004. Be sure to visit Kelley Armstrong’s website, http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/ for more information on the series.
Taylor Matthews @ 7:41 pm
Not being a lover of witches (or of Paige, from what I’d seen in Stolen), I was not excited about this book. I thought it would be weak, a swift departure from the beauty of Bitten.
I was wrong.
Kelley writes Paige from first person, and if I hadn’t read Bitten and Stolen under the first-person perspective of Elena, I wouldn’t realize how remarkable the difference was between them. Even her writing style is different when writing Paige, little phrases she uses. I’ve never seen an author do this as flawlessly as Kelley does.
The story itself is good enough to make me want to continue reading, despite my aforementioned aversion to witches. She fluidly opens us up to a world we were barely introduced to in Stolen, and makes it interesting enough that when DSM was over, I was eager to read the sequel, Industrial Magic (due out in late October).
As earlier reviews have mentioned, I wasn’t as impressed with Kelley’s later works as I was with Bitten, but DSM is a definate second! My only real complaint was the lack of perceived chemistry between Paige and Lucas (in my opinion). I didn’t feel it there with them like I do with Clay and Elena.
A definate must-read for magic lovers, or anyone interested in Kelley’s works. She’s a definate keeper.
Anonymous @ 8:18 pm
First off, let me say that the cover to this book is quite ridiculous. It has absolutely zero to do with the inside and the cover blurb of ’sexy’ is way misleading. You would think this is a cheesy sex romp book but it really only has 3-4 pages, out of 400+, of that material, and it goes along with the story. And whatever witch is on the cover is definitely NOT in this book.
On to the book…
I thought this novel was extremely well paced, exciting, and was a gripping read. I finished it in two sittings quite easily. And what is with people saying Paige has no backbone? Sure she doesnt have the killer instinct and she doesnt like killing, and never has. Whats wrong with that? Sounds believable to me because not everyone has zero conscience and can kill bad guys at will.
I loved Paige and Savanna and all of their little troubles in the book. However, i did not care much for Lucas. He seemed like the perfect guy and everything out of his mouth was flawless and the right thing to say. He sounded like a robot. I also wanted to see Adam show up, and take names, but that was not to be.
The main villainess, Leah, was also pretty scary and had a high intimidation factor, which starts 5 pages into the book. She seemed to be scarier the more she wasnt around because you keep thinking what she is up to next. I also dont think we have seen the last of her…
Over all, i greatly enjoyed this book and plan on picking up every book by Armstrong in the future. Armstrong is way above present Hamilton and the other up and comers like Harrison. Pick up the book. You wont be sorry.