Review: Venators: Magic Unleashed

ABL Review at a Glance

• Title: Venators
• My Rating: 4.25
• Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
• Format: ebook*
• Publication Date: April 10, 2018
• Author: Devri Walls

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Book Blurb

Six years ago, Grey Malteer was attacked by creatures he thought couldn’t possibly exist. They repeated a word, calling him a name he’d never heard before…Venator. Since then, his life has been a hellhole of secrecy—hiding old pain alongside strange new abilities.

Rune Jenkins has an itch, as she calls it, but it’s more than that. It’s an anger that builds up like the inside of a boiler whenever she’s around anything remotely supernatural. The pressure is growing steadily worse and she can’t understand why. All she knows is—her control is slipping.

By order of an unknown council Grey and Rune are pulled through a portal in the St. Louis arch, landing them in an alternate dimension where creatures of myth and legend exist. A realm that calls them, Venators.

Made up of centuries old fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi the council’s corrupt nature becomes obvious as they seek to wield the newly returned Venators as weapons. Wedged in an impossible position, Grey and Rune must decide their fate—do they go against the council’s wishes and help the innocents of this unforgiving land, or face the possibility of execution by the council.

My Thoughts

Venators is a new take on young adult fantasy books involving all kinds of supernatural creatures.

I really loved the pace of this novel. There was a lot of world building to do, which can usually slow down a book, but Devri Walls was able to keep the action moving while introducing her version of familiar character types.

Given the popularity of this genre, it’s obviously going to lead to a lot of comparisons with other books, but I don’t think this series will feel like any others because of the author’s writing style.

The best part of the book is character development. Our main heroine goes through a lot of progression, from reluctant rescuer to bada** Venator. Grey, the other main hero has led a complex life but is ready to learn and deal with anything. There are many other characters, including Beltran, that could have their own books, they are that interesting.

You will not be bored reading this novel, because there isn’t a page without some sort of action. Anyone who enjoys a fantasy novel should grab Devri Walls’ Venators series. You will not be disappointed and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.