Title: The Black Veins
Author: Ashia Monet
Genres: YA Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction
Series: Dead Magic #1
Pages: 428
ISBN: 978-1733245814
Links: IndieBound Books, Goodreads, Amazon
Content Warnings*: *Content Warnings provided by the author in the book
Other Books by this Author: Momentum *Momentum is an anthology that features many authors
My last review for Self-Published Fantasy Month! I’m happy to say The Black Veins by Ashia Monet been my favorite read for September, so if you’re looking for a great self-published fantasy, here’s my recommendation!
Blurb
Sixteen-year-old Blythe is one of seven Guardians: magicians powerful enough to cause worldwide panic with a snap of their fingers. But Blythe spends her days pouring latte art at her family’s coffee shop, so why should she care about having apocalyptic abilities?
She’s given a reason when magician anarchists crash into said coffee shop and kidnap her family.
Heartbroken but determined, Blythe knows she can’t save them alone. A war is brewing between two magician governments and tensions are too high. So, she packs up her family’s bright yellow Volkswagen, puts on a playlist, and embarks on a road trip across the United States to enlist the help of six strangers whose abilities are unparalleled—the other Guardians.
Review
The Black Veins follows Blythe, a *seemingly* ordinary 16-year-old girl. Until now, Blythe has lived her life in peace, but with her family missing and two magical governments on the brink of war, she can no longer ignore her place as one of the seven Guardians. Blythe’s quest to find her family is filled with loveable characters, a magic hockey stick, and just a pinch of teenage drama.
The Good
Ashia Monet has an amazing ability to bring characters to life on-page. I usually find at least one character I can relate to, but this was one of those rare stories where each character spoke to me. I loved how the characters perfectly embody adolescence. All the awkwardness, the banter, and the emerging adulthood mixed with the remnants of childhood (look at me talking about this as if I’m 40 and looking back at “the good old days”). I love that even though Blythe and the Guardians are dealing with supernatural forces, their worries are relevant in any context. Blythe lost her family, but she never uses that as an excuse to mistreat people. Even when she made mistakes she was honest and made an effort to become better.
One of the most notable aspects of The Black Veins is that there is no romance. While I love a good romance, I was so happy to find a YA book that chose to focus on friendship. I loved getting to see topics of love, family, trust, and betrayal addressed in the context of friendship. Plus, it was exciting to see complex character development in side-characters that might have been forgotten in a romance plot.
Another plus side to this friendship-focused story was the banter. I am always a fan of wit, and there is no shortage in The Black Veins. Overall the dialogue was fantastic! I loved how natural the dialogue felt, and how I could easily associate characters with their voice.
Although world building wasn’t a major focus of the story, I did find the alternate world intriguing. The Black Veins has a unique atmosphere that mixes modern amenities with magic. I loved how creative the world building was, and hope to learn more about it in the next book! (crosses fingers)
The Bad
The only problem I had with this book was the fight scenes, which are usually not my favorite part of books. There was a lot of banter/dialogue going on in the fight scenes, which made it hard for me to get into them. I think if I read the book again I could more vividly imagine what the author was going for: comic-book style action that mixes epic battles with snarky one-liners. Most of the time I love this style of fight scenes, but I found it hard to follow in writing.
Rating and Recommendation
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. The Black Veins has outstanding character development with all the witty humor and snark you could ask for. I had trouble getting into the fight scenes, but I think the comic-book style action will appeal to many readers. I would recommend this book to any young reader or fantasy lover. (It’s so good. You should read it.)
May your days be full of magic and dragons,
Peyton
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Peyton