Visions of Magic by Regan Hastings (Awakening #1)
Paranormal Romance
February 1, 2011
Paperback, 368 Pages
Signet

Reviewed by Mandi

Shea Jameson has been on the run. Her aunt was literally burned at the stake, accused of being a witch, and now the Magic Police (or MP) have been keeping a close eye on Shea. If any shred of doubt is placed upon you for being a witch, you are arrested and taken away – and usually burned to death. Shea’s time is up though. After an attempted mugging, she tries to  escape and she somehow shoots flames out of her fingers and burns the criminal, while a crowd watches. They immediately start chanting witch, but before she can be arrested by the MP, a man swoops in and saves her.

Torin is her Eternal. Eternals were created from the sun god, and Torin has flames that surround him.  He is immortal and has been with Shea for centuries although Shea has no idea who he is. (Although her soul recognizes him). He has found her in each lifetime, and although has had sex with her in the past, has never completed the mating ritual – but this is the lifetime for that.

In a prophecy foretold long ago, a coven of witches cast a spell of atonement, in which each witch would have to live centuries without magic until this year. Each witch will have a task to complete, within the 30 days they are awakened. The Awakening has come upon Shea and she is the first one. Torin tells her one witch will awake every 30 days until the atonement is complete. As she awakens, her memories of Torin will come back to her along with her ever increasing power. Shea first refuses to believe this – but soon, she can’t deny the power building up within her, nor the lust she feels for this man. They now have 30 days to complete the mating ritual, all while Shea is being hunted.

Visions of Magic is the first in a new paranormal series about witches. A modern day twist on the Salem Witch Trials with the mass hysteria – except in this case, witches are real. The process of the hero and heroine coming together in this one does not provide a lot of conflict. From page one their souls are set for mating, and it doesn’t take long for Shea to understand that. So if you like the pre-destined mate idea, than this romance will probably work for you.

The first half of the book is good and really caught my attention. I like the witch premise and the fear of being hunted and burned. I also enjoyed the history of the witches and why they all must come together to atone for a past sin. The idea of Torin, covered in flames coming to Shea’s rescue is exciting and I found his readiness to mate amusing.

Let’s face it – Torin is horny. I mean – he has been waiting a long damn time to be with Shea and he knows sex must happen not only to start their mating process but to kick her memories and powers to the surface. He basically meets her, tells her to rest for a few hours and then he is ready for the sexy time. I found the “we must have sex to awaken your powers” more funny than romantic unfortunately. The actual sex scenes are so dramatic, and over the top. With lines like “We become one with the other halves of our souls. We stop merely existing and begin to live.” And then he licks her nipple. I felt like the scenes were trying to be too grandiose.

Shea got on my nerves a few times with running straight into danger – yes, a TSTL (too stupid to live) moment. She gets this sudden urge to leave her secure hotel room while Torin is gone for a few minutes to get food and says “She had no doubt what Torin’s opinion would have been. But this was her choice. Her decision. She wasn’t being reckless. She was being proactive.” Two pages later, after being caught by a bad guy she says “…she risked her own safety by coming into the night alone. She should have waited for Torin, she told herself. But it was too late now for regrets.” Come on, she could have waited for ten minutes for him to return, she knows how much danger she is in. It was a very predictable scene that didn’t cast the heroine in the best light.

We also meet Rune, another Eternal who fell a little flat for me. I assume he is being set up for the next book, maybe? Rune just kind of is there, with no personality.

Like I said, the beginning of the book was fun and I do like the idea of witches in this world. However, the second half of the book was lacking and the romance didn’t do a lot for me.

Rating: C

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Awakening Series:
Visions of Magic
Visions of Skyfire – October 2011

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