This is the first book in the Midwest Magic Chronicles series and yet another book in The Revelations of Oriceran universe. It is co-authored by Flint Maxwell and Martha R. Carr (The Leira Chronicles in the same universe). Well, Michael Anderle seems to have his fingers in it somewhere as well but I suspect this was more in a consulting role.

The book is a fairly simple but also fairly fun read. The setup is a more or less standard one. Young girl discovers that she has magical power. Of course this just happens to coincide with a nefarious vilain’s scheduled overtaking of the world…or something. Yes it is simple, yes it has been done before (a gazillion times) but I still happen to like this setup.

I would say that this book has much in common with the books in the previously mentioned The Leira Chronicles. This should not be very surprising since they are both part of the same universe but also co-authored by the same author. The places, the characters and the evil plot is different of course and, to my great joy, it is a bit less silly. At least this first installment is. There are no silly shopping or junk food sprees.

The main proponent seems fairly likable and she is surrounded by a set of likable friends. The dialogue will not give you any points at your local Mensa club but it is lighthearted and fun. On the whole this is how I would describe the book, light, simple and fun reading.

I am indeed looking forward to read the next book. Due to the way this one ended the next one could take one of, at least, two paths. Either the main adventure continues more or less straight away or, which is the path I would prefer, Martha could be spending some time in actual training (school?) of her abilities and then go on to kick some ass.

I really did not like this book, and I'm a big fan of YA Fantasy.

All of the characters felt very flat, and that every single interaction between characters was a battle of sarcasm and sass was wearing-bordering-aggravating instead of humorous. The insights into characters that we do get are really just there for shock value...

It was worse than any horror movie, worse than her worst nightmare, worse than everything bad she'd ever seen—and Claire had seen her grandmother's dried out organs, when the platform that her casket rested upon during viewing hours had collapsed and spilled her body.

I mean, what?

The main character, Maria, really doesn't seem to take the situations she finds herself in all too seriously and I had a hard time believing she was 19. She isn't even the edgy sort of irreverent; she comes across as wholly incompetent and even when the author(s) try to convince the reader that Maria really does care... it falls flat amidst all of the sarcasm and repeated sentiments of, "omg, my grandpa is so weird, my life is so weird, all of this is just TOO WEIRD and SCHIZO."

Maybe I'm too old for this or I'm missing something completely, but I'm honestly shocked that this book is so highly rated. Glad I borrowed it from Amazon instead of dropping money on it!