Demon Magic and a Martini by Annette Marie – That’s What I’m Talking About…

Audiobook review: Demon Magic and a Martini by Annette Marie

Demon Magic and a Martini is the fifth book in the Guild Codex universe. For the read-along, we are following the author’s recommended reading order, found HERE. 

It’s Halloween and Tori is in charge of the Crow and Hammer’s first Halloween party. She’s taking on more responsibilities at the Guild and even contemplating lessening her school schedule. Things get ugly for the Guild and its members when a rogue demon comes to town, bringing the sketchy Eyes of Solomon Guild to hunt it.

Demon Magic and a Martini is my favorite Guild Codex story to date. The plot is well-developed and the storytelling is tight. I love how we learn more about the mysterious Demonica class and the dangers it poses to Hammer and Crow. The story moves forward at a good clip and does not meander for side trips.

The best part is that Tori is maturing. She is coming to terms with the fact that denial is her coping mechanism. I love that when the crisis hits, the Guild puts her to work in a safe job rather than leaving her out of the action. She doesn’t complain about it and works hard to support the warriors. I like that she gets permission to leave the Guild rather than wander off on her own. She’s being smart, making her a much stronger character for the effort. While she doesn’t make stupid decisions, she sometimes makes dangerous ones based on the need, which is okay. She weights the consequences, especially when making a very difficult decision that may have repercussions down the line. 

The action is intense, but not reckless. I feel like the series has got direction now and is becoming more interesting. I like that Tori is going to be training and honing her skills. She seems to make better decisions all around, and I like her thought process when it comes to her actions.

Narration: the story is shared via the first person POV of Tori Dawson. Dukehart uses a perky, upbeat feminine voice for Tori. She captures the whip smart, takes-no-crap attitude of the twenty-one year old. Dukehart alters character dialogue based on gender and age with moderate success, making each character fairly distinguishable. Dukehart keeps the story moving forward in a lively manner. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Demon Magic and a Martini. The story is fast, full of action, and I loved the teamwork.

My Ratings
Story: B+
Narration: B+

Jen

About the Book:

When I first landed a bartending job at the local guild, I didn’t know a thing about magic. These days, I’m practically an expert on the different magical classes, but there’s one nobody ever talks about: Demonica. 

Turns out they have a good reason for that. My guild is strictly hellion-free, because who wants to risk life and limb to control the biggest bullies on the mythic playground? 

Well, some people do, and now a demon has been loosed in the city. My three best friends are determined to slay it, but even badass combat mages are critically out-magicked. And that’s not all. The monster they’re tracking—it’s not hiding. It’s not fleeing. It’s not leaving a trail of corpses everywhere it goes. 

The demon is hunting too. And in a city full of mythics, it’s searching for deadlier prey. 

If we can’t unravel the demon’s sinister motivations, more innocent people will die, but finding the answers means digging into dark secrets … and learning truths I never wanted to know.

Author: Annette Marie
Narrator: Cris Dukehart
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound #4; Guild Codex Universe #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Audiobook Release Date: April 23, 2019
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 7 hours and 15 minutes
Source: Library
Audio Speed: 1.25x