Magic and Medicine Book Review
You are mine, little seer. You may not be afraid, but I am.
I lived for millennia, alone, in darkness, content and unafraid, but now…now I fear to live a single day without the light of your soul.
Synopsis
Danger doesn’t lurk in the shadows. It barges in and smacks you in the face. After years of working in the Emergency Department, Sara thought nothing could surprise her, but when the deceased victim of a stabbing opened his eyes and demanded his knife back, she knew her life had taken a bizarre turn. Leszek had guarded the magic of the Nether before the first human set foot in his lands. His power was absolute, his authority unchallenged. The world might change, but even ruling from the shadow, no one, not even hardened criminals, dared to question his judgment. When he was called to clean up the mess an unruly vampire caused in the hospital, Leszek barely contained his irritation when his power couldn’t make the stubborn doctor forget his existence. Instead, she looked him in the eye, challenging him to leave, and he listened. Sara’s courage and audacity were intriguing, but her magic captivated him with its beauty. The magic she was unaware of. She may be human, but even humans have their uses, and Sara will soon learn there are consequences to capturing the undivided attention of the Tricity Mafia’s boss. This fascinating woman might haunt his dreams, but Sara’s magic made her a target for a dangerous, emerging power, and Leszek has to decide if he will sacrifice her to save his domain.
REVIEW
Book 1 of Olena Nikitin’s Amber Legends series, Magic and Medicine will have you hooked right from the start. Set in Gdansk, Poland, the way this writing duo blends Slavic mythology and supernatural elements into a modern-day timeline is great, and I love that it was set in and involves a culture that isn’t as often written about as others. It’s like a fresh take on urban fantasy. The tension and chemistry between the main characters, Sara and Leszek, is palpable from the second they meet; their dynamic is intense, and let’s admit it, steamy to say the least. Leszek, the enigmatic mafia boss, is a complex character, and I couldn’t get enough of him. Similarly, Sara’s bravery, audacity, and, most of all, sailor mouth instantly made her a favorite – I would totally befriend this woman. The side characters were also well done, with Jarek especially endearing himself to me with his overprotective, little brother vibe.
The pacing was spot on – I didn’t want to put the book down! The authors’ writing style is great, with vivid descriptions and engaging dialogue that made me feel like I was right there. As mentioned in the trigger warning, there’s some mature and explicit content in the story, but it definitely adds to the intense connection between Sara and Leszek. Even more, the use of curse words was executed perfectly (it added some realism to the story and wasn’t overdone to the point that someone adverse to them wouldn’t enjoy the book); it made me connect more as someone who sometimes can’t help the use of them herself (I blame my time in military service, to be honest).
Magic and Medicine offers a unique mix of fantasy, mythology, and romance, with a dash of Slavic folklore. If you’re into these genres, it’s a must-read. Plus, if you prefer to really immerse yourself in a world like I do, this is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting series. I’m looking forward to the next book!
Content warnings include mature/explicit content, violence, and gore.
Expected publication date is 27 October 2023.
Author Profile
Olena Nikitin is the pen name of a writing power couple who share a love of fantasy; paranormal romance; rich, vivid worlds; and exciting storylines. In their books and out, they love down-to-earth humour, a visceral approach to life, striving to write realistic romances filled with the passion and steam people always dream of experiencing.
Meet the two halves of this Truro UK-based dynamic duo!
Olga, a Polish woman, has a wicked sense of humour with a dash of Slavic pessimism. She’s been writing since she was a small child, but life led her to work as an emergency physician. While this work means she always has stories to share, it often means she’s too busy to actually write. She’s proud to be a crazy cat lady, and together with Mark, they have five cats.
Mark, a typical English gentleman, radiates charm, sophistication, and an undeniable sex appeal. At least, he’s reasonably certain that’s what convinced Olga to fly across the sea into his arms. He’s an incredibly intelligent man with a knack for fixing things, including Polish syntax in English writing. If you give him good whiskey, he might even regale you with his Gulf War story of how he got shot.
Olena Nikitin loves hearing from their fans and critics alike and welcomes communication via any platform!
TL;DR
- Rating: 4 stars | Genre: Romantasy | Pages: 521
- Book 1 of Amber Legends series
- Set in present-day Gdansk, Poland and the Nether
- Slavic mythology/gods/shifters/vampires/monsters
- Strangers to lovers, unrequited feelings, he falls first
- Tension between main characters is steamy from the start
- Want female main character to be my new BFF
- Love their writing style!
- Pacing was perfect
- CWs: mature/explicit content, violence, gore
Want more?
See my review of Book 2, Fangs and Family, HERE!
