Rating: 4⭐️
Untethered Magic is the first book in The Realm of False Gods series by Steve Higgs and although I think it was well written, I don’t think I’m going forward with the rest of the series.
There’s not much to the world building. The reader is given to understand that the general human population doesn’t recognize that there’s a magical/other paranormal element existing, even when multiple kidnappings and murders start to occur.
The location is in Bremen, Germany so everything/everyone is , naturally, German, from their names to the various law enforcement agencies. The main character. wizard detective, Otto Schneider, is a strange man.
One, for some reason, he believes he’s the only magical person in existence. Just because he hasn’t met anyone else like him.
Ok that’s pretty funny actually in its mentality. And it’s indicative of the narrative issues here.
There’s actually more interesting characters here. One is a fantastic woman police officer who believes in Otto and his powers to the detriment of her career. She’s got a large, loving husband and family as support. The other main character is a werewolf of enigmatic history and identity. He’s got his own journey ahead. Really liked them both.
Paranormal beings start popping in to drain, and murder humans. Others are kidnapped. Otto is drawn into the scene and investigations for his own agenda.
It’s a paranormal action thriller with kidnappings, murders, disbelieving police departments, and demons with evil intentions. And only occasionally did I feel engaged with the characters. And that was towards the final chapters.
The ending of this book left me feeling unsatisfied. It was irritating to me how the main character was handled by the author as well as the lack of follow through on important side characters at the end.
As my books are bought and aren’t arcs, I feel that I didn’t enjoy this enough to justify going through with the series. And I usually exclude any storylines that involves slavery elements, which this has.
If Higgs is an author you enjoy, here’s a series for you.
The Realm of False Gods (11 book series)
Untethered Magic #1
Buy link
Untethered Magic: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Realm of False Gods Book 1)
Blurb
Today’s tasks:
1.Escape from secret organisation’s underground cell
2.Recruit a snarky d-bag werewolf to help
3.Invade the demon realm and rescue a little girl
For wizard detective, Otto Schneider, magic has always kept him out of trouble. Now it’s working in reverse …
… and if he doesn’t get himself killed, his partner probably will.
March 6, 2020
Language
English
Print length
194 pages
Book 1 of 11
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 