Title: Magic Forsaken (The Shifter of Sheridan Avenue 1)
Publisher: Page Nine Press
Author: Kenley Davidson
Pages: 396pp

Raine Kendrick is an orphan, a fugitive, and a survivor. Kidnapped as a child, she was locked away in a fae prison for a decade, experimented on, forced to use stolen magic, forced to watch as those who failed the fae Queen’s tests were taken away … and never seen again. When the prison is liberated, she hits the road with three other survivors and eventually makes her way to Oklahoma City, where she gains employment at a magical restaurant. Fatefully, Callum-ro-Deverin, the draconic King of the Shifters, has called a conference of the paranormal community in Oklahoma City, and Raine unexpectedly finds herself at his side. As attacks threaten to derail the conference, Raine struggles with just how much of her past she can safely reveal to the dragon king … because there is more to this conference than she realizes, and those targeting it may not want to kill her, but rather recruit her ….

After reading the digital sample of Magic Forsaken, I decided that this was one of those books I wanted on my shelf; my physical book shelf.

Davidson has created an interesting paranormal universe in The Shifter of Sheridan Avenue series. Decades ago, the parallel world of Idria suffered an unidentified cataclysm, leaving it uninhabitable. The native Idrians — fae, shifters, elementals, and more — fled through portals to Earth. While they have, sort of, been able to mix in with human society, tensions remain high; there is a lot of suspicion on both sides, and it would only take one malicious incident or tragic misunderstanding to spark a war between humans and Idrians.

Which makes Raine’s position all the more precarious.

I really like Raine. She has been through a hellish experience. After a decade of abuse, she suffers from serious survivor’s guilt and has little trust in the kindness or altruism of others; which makes her that much more determined to protect the fragile innocence and hope of the three younger prisoners with whom she escaped. So she works whatever jobs she can find, keeps them clothed and fed, constantly watches for danger, and — ultimately — agrees to work alongside Callum-ro-Deverin in exchange for a hefty paycheck and the stability they all need.

Callum is an interesting character himself. As the King of the Shifters, he is responsible for maintaining law and order among the myriad shifter peoples: dragons, wolves, bears, foxes, and more. Traditionally that role was awarded by strength, which shifters admire above anything else. But Callum is smart and cunning and calculating, as well; and he has a soft spot for hard luck cases. He sees Raine’s strength, but also realizes how desperate she is — and he can help her while also helping himself.

Magic Forsaken contains plenty of action and angst, but it’s the characters I really like. Not just Raine and Callum, but the entire supporting cast. I hope more of them get stories of their own.**

Recommended to fans of Davidson’s other books, as well as fans of Helen Harper’s The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Magic, Her Majesty’s Unicorn by Layla Lawlor, Enchanted Inc by Shanna Swendson, the Gilded Blood series by Rachel Rener, the Elder Races series by Thea Harrison, and Gate Sinister by Tansy Rayner Roberts.

** The Shifter of Sheridan Avenue series is technically the sequel to The Dragon of 23rd Street series, which focuses on Callum’s younger sister; but I had no problem following along.