Magic Without Mercy
Praise for the Novels
of Devon Monk
Magic on the Hunt
“This is a really action-packed story with tons going on… Once you get involved with these characters, you don’t want to stop reading. They come alive and you begin to see Portland in a whole new way… This is an absolutely awesome series with a complex world set in familiar surroundings. With action and characters that can’t help but draw you into the drama and the dilemmas, you’ll find yourself ignoring everything as you travel along with Allie, Zay, and their friends.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“The most exciting of the series yet.”
—Dangerous Romance
“Get ready for another nonstop adventure in
Magic on the Hunt
.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Superb.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Congratulations to Ms. Monk for yet another great installment in the fantastic Allie Beckstrom series.”
—A Book Obsession
“Oh, how much I love Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series. I have never missed a beat with her amazing urban fantasy… This is one series that I can’t get enough of and I really love how kick-butt Allie is.”
—Seeing Night Book Reviews
Magic at the Gate
“The action-packed fifth Allie Beckstrom novel amps up the magical mayhem… Allie’s adventures are gripping and engrossing, with an even, clever mix of humor, love, and brutality.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Devon Monk takes her story to places I couldn’t have dreamed of. Each twist and turn was completely surprising for me.
Magic at the Gate
truly stands out.”
—Reading on the Dark Side
“A spellbinding story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Suspense is the name of the game… I’m really enjoying this series… Each book brings you a little bit further into it and leaves you wanting more.”
—Night Owl Reviews
Magic on the Storm
“The latest Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy is a terrific entry… This is a strong tale.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“First-rate urban fantasy entertainment.”
—Lurv a la Mode
Magic in the Shadows
“Snappy dialogue, a brisk pace, and plenty of magic keep the pages turning to the end. Allie’s relationship with Zayvion, her friend Nola, and the other Hounds adds credible depth to this gritty, original urban fantasy that packs a punch.”
—Monsters and Critics
“This is a wonderful read full of different types of magic, fascinating characters, an intriguing plot… Devon Monk is an excellent storyteller… This book will keep everyone turning the pages to see what happens next and salivating for more.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Monk sweeps readers up in the drama and dangers of the heroine’s life as it steadily changes and grows… an intriguing read with fascinating characters and new magical elements introduced to the mix.”
—Darque Reviews
“The writing moves at a fast pace with plenty of exciting action… This series just gets better and better with each new book.”
—Night Owl Reviews
Magic in the Blood
“Tight, fast, and vividly drawn, Monk’s second Allison Beckstrom novel features fresh interpretations of the paranormal, strong characters dealing with their share of faults and flaws, [and] ghoulish plot twists. Fans of Patricia Briggs or Jim Butcher will want to check out this inventive new voice.”
—Monsters and Critics
“[A] highly creative series about magic users in a world much like our own, filled with greed and avarice. I love the character of Allie, and she is just getting better and stronger as the series continues… If you love action, magic, intrigue, good versus evil battles, and pure entertainment, you will not want to miss this series.”
—Manic Readers
“One heck of a ride through a magical, dangerous Portland… imaginative, gritty, sometimes darkly humorous… An un-put-downable book,
Magic in the Blood
is one fantastic read.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“This series uses a system of rules for magic that is original and seems very realistic… The structure of the story pulled me in right away, and kept me reading. There’s action, adventure, fantasy, and even some romance.”
—CA Reviews
“Ms. Monk weaves a unique tale of dark magic that will keep readers at the edge of their seat.
Magic in the Blood
is so thoroughly described that the creepy bits will have you thinking of magic and ghosts long after you’ve finished the story. Fast-moving and gripping, it will leave you wanting more.”
—Darque Reviews
Magic to the Bone
“Brilliantly and tightly written… will surprise, amuse, amaze, and absorb readers.”
—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“Mystery, romance, and magic cobbled together in what amounts to a solid page-turner.”
—SFFWorld
“Loved it. Fiendishly original and a stay-up-all-night read. We’re going to be hearing a lot more of Devon Monk.”
—Patricia Briggs,
New York Times
bestselling author of
River Marked
“Highly original and compulsively readable. Don’t pick this one up before going to bed unless you want to be up all night!”
—Jenna Black, author of
Sirensong
“Gritty setting, compelling, fully realized characters, and a frightening system of magic-with-a-price that left me awed. Devon Monk’s writing is addictive, and the only cure is more, more, more!”
—Rachel Vincent,
New York Times
bestselling author of
My Soul to Steal
Books by Devon Monk
The Allie Beckstrom Series
Magic to the Bone
Magic in the Blood
Magic in the Shadows
Magic on the Storm
Magic at the Gate
Magic on the Hunt
Magic on the Line
Magic Without Mercy
The Age of Steam
Dead Iron
Without
Mercy
An Allie Beckstrom Novel
Devon Monk
A ROC BOOK
ROC
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
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Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
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New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
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Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, April 2012
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright © Devon Monk, 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
ISBN: 978-1-101-58000-4
REGISTERED TRADEMARK — MARCA REGISTRADA
Printed in the United States of America
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
ALWAYS LEARNING
PEARSON
For my family
Without the many people who have contributed time and energy along the way, this book would not have come to fruition. I’d like to give a much-deserved thank-you to my agent, Miriam Kriss, and my editor, Anne Sowards, two consummate professionals and all-around awesome people who make my job easy.
My love and endless gratitude go out to my fantastic first readers and brainstormers, Dean Woods and Dejsha Knight, whose loving support and brilliant insights not only make the story stronger, but also make me a better writer. Thank you also to my family, one and all, who have been there for me every step of the way, offering unfailing encouragement and sharing in the joy. To my husband, Russ, and sons, Kameron and Konner—if I haven’t said it lately, thank you for believing in me. You are the very best part of my life. I love you.
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, thank you, dear readers, for letting me share this story, these people, and this world with you.
Chapter One
I
had a headache. That headache’s name was Shamus Flynn.
“Allie, my love,” he said, “you’re wrong.” That got him a quick glare from Zayvion, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the fireplace. Zay dragged a whetstone along the edge of his katana and caught my gaze.
“Would you like me to make him shut up?” Zay asked with a little more excitement than I liked to hear.