Captive Magic by Angela Benedetti

Title: Captive Magic     

Series: Sentinels 03

Author: Angela Benedetti     

Genre: Paranormal     

Length: Novel (307pgs)     

Publisher: Torquere Press (4^th September 2013)    

Heat Level: Moderate     

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts    

Reviewer: Pixie     

Blurb: Teleporter Breck Bayes made a deal with a demon to save the life of his little sister Amanda, who was dying of cancer. The demon expects Breck to work off the debt — as a thief who can get past any walls or locks. If Breck balks, Amanda’s cancer will come back, and she’ll die. Breck’s a good guy, but a few trinkets versus Amanda’s life? It’s no contest.

Manny hears about Breck’s popping around town and uses his own talents to find and confront him. Sentinels are supposed to prevent the mage gifted from using their talents to steal, by force if necessary, but then he gets the whole story. Manny understands family, and he decides that his Sentinel persona is going to have to suck it up and deal while he helps Breck get out from under the demon — even if it means becoming an accomplice to the thieving while, they plot Breck’s escape. But then the demon notices Manny, whose true sight and seeking would be very useful in its quest to own things that don’t properly belong to it, and suddenly it’s not only Breck who’s in trouble.   

Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3978    

Review: This story is part of a series and is best read in order. Breck has landed himself in trouble, he made a deal with a demon to save his sister’s life, and all he has to do is use his teleporting abilities to get objects for the demon in return… objects that belong to others. Manny hears that there is a teleporter popping up around town and decides to check him out and see if he understands what he is, but things take a strange turn when Manny discovers the trouble Breck has landed himself in and the reason. As Breck and Manny try to discover a way out from under the demon, the demon sets his sights on Manny, and Manny and Breck decide to fight fire with fire. 

This is a great story that explores just what a teleporter could be capable of, while twining it with a touch of danger and a manipulating demon. When Breck made a deal with a demon he never thought he would be stuck chasing down trinkets, or being chased down by someone who has an ability or their own. Manny just wants to make sure that the new guy isn’t up to anything illegal, but when a life is on the line, he can’t say he wouldn’t have done the same thing. Working together, they discover that there are no limits when it comes to teleporting but they have to do some dodgy dealing if they are going to save Manda (Breck’s sister). 

I really enjoyed this story with its dimension jumping and puzzle solving, watching as Manny and Breck begin to enjoy a relationship and how they save the day. I liked how they worked together to figure a way out for Breck and how they managed to fix things when everything went wrong. Their relationship was forged during a really difficult time for Breck, and you can see him being pulled in two when the demon gets impatient and begins pulling his strings…. do what the demon wants or be there for his mother and sister? Manny being with him and helping him really saves Breck in more ways than one. While Manny is a large part of this story, I couldn’t help but feel that it was really Breck’s story and although their relationship is special, it is really Breck’s trials that make this story great.

I recommend this to those who love paranormal abilities, dimension jumping, interesting beings, a relationship forged in hard times and a great ending.