Magic is nothing like it seems in children’s books. It’s
dark and bloody and sexual – and requires its own semi-mythical branch
of the US Federal Government to safeguard citizens against everpresent
supernatural threats.
Join Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo – a pair of wet-behind-the-ears recruits of
The Department of Magic –
on a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, and
demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on
destroying all humanity in the year 2012.
Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of
urhobos –
homeless guardians of the District of Columbia – can prevent it by
resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of
July.
It’s all just a normal day on the job at
The Department of Magic –
where new employees entering its offices are never seen again, while
mysteriously continuing to draw full salaries and benefits, sometimes
for decades or even a century after.
With a magical cast of characters and a wry insider’s view of the US
Federal Government, here at last is a Harry Potter for grownups.
* * * * *
Despite
the deaths, murders, and various paranormal nasties that abound in THE
DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC, I found it to be a fun, lighthearted read.
Perhaps it is because is difficult to take the book seriously which is a
good thing especially if you have trouble sleeping. This book also
explains the rather strange layout of Washington DC’s streets and the
fact that it has some of the better weather to be found in that part of
the country.
The author, Rod Kierkegaard, Jr. does a great job of hooking the
reader right in the beginning with the murder of Farah and Rocky’s
employer. One just has to keep reading to find out just what they got
themselves into. And what that was is a life filled with magic and far
too many paranormal creepies. In fact so many that I had trouble
keeping up with them all. I was pulled out of the story a few times
trying to remember just what they had discovered about this or that
creature.
I did enjoy the character development shown by Farah. She grows
from a spoiled fashion chit that was part of the beauty queen pageant to
a caring woman that can be counted on in any situation. Not that she
ever grows out of using her beauty to get her own way at times. Rocky
however seems to be stagnant. Possibly because he just tends to go so
much with the flow that he really doesn’t have obstacles to overcome
that would force him to change.
I will admit that I did have problems finishing THE DEPARTMENT OF
MAGIC which is disappointing when you consider that it started out with
such a bang. Instead towards the middle it really started to drag as
Farah and Rocky move from one theft to another, from one disaster to
another. And the ending was more of the same.
This book might appeal to readers looking for a lighthearted fast
paced paranormal but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I rate it a 2.
***I did receive this book from NetGallery for a limited time in exchange for the review. No money exchanged hands and all opinions are my own.