Dirty Magic

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com.

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells kept me up all night long. This is the story of Katie Prospero (more commonly referred by her last name) and her attempt to prove her worth. The story opens up with her walking a night beat in Babylon City when she comes into contact with a murder involving the latest designer “drug”. In Babylon, potions and magic are the drug of choice and it seems that everyone wants some.

I loved the magical system Wells created. Technically this book can be classified as an alternative history where magic comes out in the world and asserts it's worth as a technology. There are two classifications of magic, clean and dirty and the dirty magic is the stuff junkies are hooked on. Magic has a physical bond in this story, where the more you use it or imbibe, the more it changes you.

The world feels alive because of this history, sprinkled in amongst the main story line. Wells brings Prospero's world alive with real-life dialog and action and police knowledge.

Bottom line: If you like your urban fantasy a little bit dark and dirty with an edge of realism then you'd love this book. I'm already looking forward to where this series goes.