Series: Biomystic Security
Release Date: August 7, 2018
After a small incident involving one of her prototypes, Laila is offered a job she can’t turn down: boost the company’s defenses in preparation for a visit by an important client everyone wants dead. Eager to put her skills to the test, she accepts. But once she begins, she realizes she needs to brush up her skills in one critical area: teamwork.
Teamwork has always been a foreign word to Laila. As a magical genius with a rocky childhood, she’s learned the only person she can rely on is herself. But that isn’t how Biomystic Security operates. In order for her to be successful, she needs to learn to trust those around her.
Their client, Cyril Shanton, is relying on that teamwork. If everyone in the company isn’t able to work together flawlessly, Biomystic Security will be remembered as the company that got one of the last remaining dragons killed.
**This is a slow burn Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem**
• Violence
• No OTT sad parts (but, there are discussions of murdered family members)
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Heroine and some of her love interests
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
I was a bit hesitant about buying this book because I honestly had no clue what to expect. Magical Intentions was an odd book, as its synopsis didn’t really allude to the plot. The book summary suggests that the heroine, Laila, must undergo training to work in an elite magic team to go out on a mission that the Boss wants her on. However, in reality, Laila is a 19-year-old magical prodigy employed as a “labbie” (researcher/creator of magical weapons and tools) for the security firm Biomystic. Her skills are then put to the test when the Boss wants her to improve the security measures of the firm’s facility. She ends up utilizing a host of what Laila terms “meatheads” to test out her traps and wards (etc.) and to determine how strong her security measures are.
The most exciting part of the plot was the security measures and magical tricks Laila was developing. It helped that she was ranked as the highest level of magic practitioners. Laila was also quite sassy and confident in her abilities (plus somewhat aware of her limitations). However, her character development wasn’t a smooth process. The reader is slowly exposed to the backstory and beliefs of the heroine. Still, some of her characteristics weren’t really consistent (ex. being jealous/possessive of a guy when she frequently states her belief in open and casual relationships). Laila was also contradictory when comparing the things shown versus told. Examples being:
- Someone breaks into Laila’s lab, and she gets ripping furious (which, given her past and OCD, makes sense) and vows to hunt down the person right at that moment. But the Boss finds out, and he promises to find and eviscerate that person only for Laila to be like no, that person is mine, they violated my space, which is where the Boss concedes as long as the perp is found ASAP. However, the intruder isn’t caught until the end of Magical Intentions! While I can understand the need for a sub-plot, it creates this odd schism in Laila’s personality.
- When Laila is interrupted during the intense magical wielding in her lab (which is a huge no-no, as the magic practitioner could actually die if they’re interrupted), she doesn’t report the Labbie because she understands why they did it. Except, earlier in the book, Laila wanted to barge into that Labbie’s lab… but didn’t because it would endanger their life.
When her best friend finds out Laila didn’t report the Labbie, she says Laila is too nice/compassionate. However, I would describe Laila as fair and direct but definitely not too nice (the BFF also says it as if Laila is a doormat). In the whole book, Laila is candid and gets straight down to business: she cajoles meatheads into testing her prototypes, which could severely injure them or even kill them if she got the spells wrong. Now, it is her job to produce and test these tools/weapons, but her ability to compartmentalize her work and personal life (i.e. getting her friends to test out dangerous products) is something she excels at.
So, it really makes no sense that Laila would decide to not report the Labbie … or that her best friend would call her too compassionate.
I know it sounds like I’m splitting hairs, but these kinds of details matter as they jolt you out of the story you’re reading. The best books are the ones that suck you in.
The writing style didn’t really draw me into Magical Intentions. The writing created a dissociation between the reader and characters; I didn’t connect to the characters. I was interested in the book because of the intriguing plot/storyline, but the writing generated two-dimensional characters and very flat relationships. While the reader was introduced to many supporting characters, the heroine’s best friend (who is obviously an essential character to Laila) was only really applicable/useful because she was the extrovert to Laila’s introvert. There’s no actual development or connection between these best friends; even when Laila states her BFF’s reverting to her meathead attitude to get ready for a job (telling), there’s no actual change in attitude (showing).
The number of guys introduced as a possible love interest further into Magical Intentions was wild (I think around six). But they were a weird mix of maybe they are or perhaps they’re not. Once again, there was no deep connection between the heroine and these characters. Laila uses them professionally to make sure her security enforcement is up to par. Still, besides some teasing (and admitting they’re good eye candy), there’s nothing to suggest who is a love interest. (Although one love interest is apparent–not in a romantic way–but the heroine is adamant it’s a bad idea).
At the end of the day, it’s the plot that saved Magical Intentions, as even the pacing of the novel created frustrations with certain subplots (ahem, apprehending the lab intruder). I might read the next book, as most of my issues with Magical Intentions should improve as the series continues, but I am wary of how the RH will develop.
Buy Magical Intentions
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