Book Review: Right Hand Magic

By Sandy Amazeen Dec 27, 2010, 17:02 GMT

Like most Manhattanites, aspiring artist Tate can\'t resist a good rental deal-even if it\'s in the city\'s strangest neighborhood, Golgotham, where for centuries werewolves, centaurs, and countless other creatures have roamed the streets. Her new landlord is a sorcerer name Hexe, who is determined to build his reputation without using dark, left-hand magic. As Tate is drawn into Hexe\'s fascinating world, they both find that the right hand does ...more

When the noise of creating kinetic sculptures from auto parts invalidates her lease, Tate begins looking at cheaper alternative accommodations including a cheap apartment in Golgotham, New York’s supernatural ghetto. Much larger on the inside then the modest exterior hints at, Tate is delighted to take up residence in Hexe’s boarding house despite him being a Kymeran sorcerer. Hunky Hexe is one of the few Kymeran's practicing only right hand magics, a choice that does not sit well with his family. Humans may rely on the magics provided by the Kymeran’s but that doesn’t mean they like the witch race and as Tate discovers, that animosity runs both ways. After taking in a young male werecougar who escaped the underground fighting pits, Tate and Hexe begin working to bring the villain orchestrating the illegal fights to justice and discover an unlikely love along the way.

With its assortment of smart mouthed pixies, witches, warlocks and centaurs, the setting of Golgotham is the real star of this uneven paranormal romance. For the most part, the pace is brisk and the dialog riddled with humor but that does not hide those parts which feel forced. Tate appears as weak as Hexe is strong and leaves readers wondering if their similar family backgrounds will be enough to bind them together though she does manage to come up with some quick ideas to save the day. The editing could have been better as indicated by several basic spelling errors. Overall this first of a new series ranks high in world building while setting up the premise for additional adventures that one hopes will feature a stronger female character.