Review—THE SEAT OF MAGIC—by J. Kathleen Cheney

I was thrilled to receive a copy of THE SEAT OF MAGIC (Novel of the Golden City, book 2) in exchange for a honest review, especially since THE SHORES OF SPAIN (book 3) comes out July 7^th!  If you’re a fan of historical fantasy and especially if you love police procedurals as well, then this is a must read.

Here is THE SEAT OF MAGIC’s official blurb:

Magical beings have been banned from the Golden City for decades, though many live there in secret. Now humans and nonhumans alike are in danger as evil stalks the streets, growing more powerful with every kill….

It’s been two weeks since Oriana Paredes was banished from the Golden City. Police consultant Duilio Ferreira, who himself has a talent he must keep secret, can’t escape the feeling that, though she’s supposedly returned home to her people, Oriana is in danger.

Adding to Duilio’s concerns is a string of recent murders in the city. Three victims have already been found, each without a mark upon her body. When a selkie under his brother’s protection goes missing, Duilio fears the killer is also targeting nonhuman prey.

To protect Oriana and uncover the truth, Duilio will have to risk revealing his own identity, put his trust in some unlikely allies, and consult a rare and malevolent text known as The Seat of Magic….

My thoughts:

THE SEAT OF MAGIC is a fabulous historical fantasy. Set in the early 1900’s in an alternate Portugal, the historic details are perfectly balanced with the action and plot. There are just enough touches of setting to draw the reader into the world without overwhelming the story with unfamiliar references, words, and setting.  The same applies to the fantasy elements.  The romance between the main characters builds in a satisfying way.  Actually, the interactions between all the characters are wonderful.

Okay, it’s confession time. I’ve had THE GOLDEN CITY (book 1) in my TBA pile for some time and haven’t gotten to it. However, I had no problem picking up this book and reading it without knowing what happened in the first—and that’s pretty amazing.

I highly recommend THE GOLDEN CITY with one suggestion. Buy the whole series at once. It’s that good.

You can learn more about Kathleen Cheney and the series HERE.