Magic Unchained by Jessica Andersen – a Review
Magic Unchained is the 7th book and latest book in Jess Andersen’s Nightkeepers (Final Prophecy) series. Magic Unchained belongs to Cara and Sven, and we have been waiting for their story almost from the beginning. I had mixed feelings going into this book, since Cara, who so wanted to be a full Nightkeeper, and hated being a Winikin (a servant to the Nightkeepers), was hardly around throughout this series, until near the end of the last book. Sven, a coyote Nightkeeper, has been with us, but somewhat distant, but I loved when Mac, his coyote familiar became part of the story. Because of their history, her hidden love of Sven, and the fact that a Mage and Winikin pairing is forbidden, I wasn’t sure that this would ever work, and of course I was so wrong. As Andersen usually does, she makes it work, and boy does she.
I loved Cara from the start….loved her strength, determination to lead the winikins, her vulnerability; and her ability fight off her love of Sven. Cara knew it was a lost cause, as he did not feel the same for her, and he was never there for her. At first, I was not too crazy about Sven, and his insistence to ignore his feelings for Cara, and always running away. But when he opens himself up, that totally changes and I ended up loving him. Wow…their first mating was awesome. I have always said, Andersen has a wonderful personal touch to her steamy sex scenes, and that was hot. I also loved loved Mac, and his ability to mind talk to Sven, and even to Cara. A very nice touch.
Dez is back, as he is the King, and it is only a short time to equinox. The Nightkeepers need help to fight their battle against the demons. Dez enlists Sven’s help to bring in the Winikins into their battle as warriors instead of servants to the magi, as he wants Sven to work with Cara. Cara, who is the Winikins leader, must bring them together to help, but there is dissention within her group, as the bond between the Nightkeepers and Winikin has been split, with much anger. It is a betrayal within the Winikins that brings Cara and Sven together, and upsets the balance that needs mending, in order for all to survive. With the end of days near, they must all work together to have any chance to win this war, and save the world. The question is can Sven stop running away, face up to his love for Cara, and can Cara forgive Sven….all this besides fighting together to beats the demons they have to face.
Magic Unchained was an exciting story from start to finish. So much action, whether it was with the Winkins, the demons, the adventure to steal the artifact necessary for them to win the war, and the equinox battle. But the romance between Cara and Sven was wonderful, and frustrating at the same time. Everytime you think ..thank god..they are finally together, then something else happens. But their chemistry together, their sexual scenes were always steamy, and they so belonged together.
It was nice to see Dez and Reese, and Rabbit had a big story in this book, which is leading up to the finale….the end of days is almost here. I felt though that even if we saw some of the others, it wasn’t like the other books, where they did play a bigger part in the stories. Hopefully, in the finale, we will get to see them all more. Rabbit and Myrienne will be the main characters in Jess Andersen’s Spellfire coming in November, 2012. Anna will also get her closure in that book. I made a prediction in my first review of this series that I will not repeat…no spoilers. I did not want to see this…I feared this would happen, and now with that spoiler at the end…I am sure it’s going to happen.
Once again, Andersen does a fantastic job in keeping this series fresh, and heading to an exciting finish. Magic Unchained had a wild and climatic ending, with a big surprise twist. On to Spellfire, and the finale of Nightkeepers in November. I will miss them all. But having loved this series, and love love Jess Andersen’s writing..I will always follow whatever else she comes up with in the future.
Reviewed by Barb
