Review - Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom, Book 3) by Devon Monk (4/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Size: 368 pages
Publisher: Roc
Release Date: November 3, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0451462879

Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in Allie Beckstrom series
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5 stars

This is the third book in the Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk.  The sixth book, Magic on the Hunt, is due out in April of 2011.  This book was an excellent addition to the series and really broadened and complicated Allie's world.  So far this book has been my favorite of the set.
In the last book Allie's father forced himself into her mind.  In this book Allie is trying to figure out how to cope with that.  Her father is there giving her advice she doesn't want and constantly pleading with her to find the disks.  Then on her first date with Zayvion Allie senses something in the alleyway; it is a creature unlike anything she has ever encountered and it is hunting the streets of the city.  Allie is also taking on new responsibilities; she is leading the support group for the Hounds and is thinking about signing on with the police department as a permanent consultant for Hounding.

This was the best book in the series so far.  Allie is put in contact with the Authorities through Zayvion and actually decides to go through some training to learn how to use her magic better.  It was great to see a heroine actually taking the time to get training to learn how to use her powers in the best way possible.  As a reader we also get to spend a lot more time with the other Hounds and all of them are interesting characters.  We meet more members of the Authorities (another really interesting group of people).

There was a lot of action in this book, which was great.  Allie and Zayvion actually progress in their relationship some and get more information on how their two magic types Compliment each other.  We learn a ton more about the Authority and the struggle for magic that is happening behind the scenes.  In general this was a fun read.

Allie is still not my favorite heroine ever, but I am getting more attached to her.  Zayvion is awesome and we learn so many neat things about him in this book.  This book also packed in more story than the previous two and I really felt like Monk had found a better writing groove.

Overall an excellent addition to this series.  It was a fun book to read and I am enjoying all the complexity added to the magic world.  I will definitely continue to read this series.  I would also recommend Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews, Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter, and Elemental Assassin by Jennifer Estep which are all wonderful urban fantasies featuring strong women.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 100+ Reading Challenge