Reviewed by: Sue Eaton

TITLE: A Ruse to Unchain Us

SERIES: The Magi Accounts #4

AUTHOR: Michele Notaro

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 391 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2023

BLURB:

It’s time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.

The Cloaked Freeway is finally in a position to effect real change, and I want so badly to be a part of it. Since I was a little kid, it’s been my dream to free my people from under the human’s rule. And now I have the chance to make that dream a reality.

But helping them means giving up so much. I have a family now—a pride—and I don’t want to put them at risk. Luckily for me, my mate wants to be a part of the revolution, too, but that still leaves everyone else.

The world is turning into chaos around us, and our family is being pulled in different directions, but I know one thing for sure. The Ono-Nais are fighters, and we’ll do everything in our power to keep each other safe and help those around us.

REVIEW:

I had hotly anticipated this next book in the series, and I wasn’t disappointed.  It was great to catch up with Cos and Mads and the rest of the Ono-Nai Pride.

After having their trackers removed Mads and Jude are determined to play a bigger part in the Cloaked Freeway.  The underground movement that has been helping Magi and Shifters escape from the United States oppressive and brutal regime.  The rest of the pride are steadfast in their support and determined to help.

I loved that throughout the book there are nuggets of normalcy, amongst all the chaos raining down on them, the movie nights, barbeques and family time are poignant and a reminder of what they are all fighting for.

The tension is ramped up throughout the book, especially during the attacks on the compounds when they attempt to free the Magi.  The weeks spent in the safe house and so many action scenes when my heart was in my mouth.  Would they prevail?  Was this the end for someone they care about?  Would family life ever return to normal?

We’ve always known that Mads is a powerful Magi but him facing off against the forces of the Government and the immense firepower they brought to bear was nerve wracking and then the unthinkable happens and Cos and Mads are separated.

The abuse the Magi suffer and the effects the collars have on them are finally uncovered and laid bare for all to see.  The horrible bigotry displayed that even in the face of overwhelming evidence people still refuse to see the truth and use it as an excuse to perpetuate the violence.

This book has it all, I cried buckets, so many times, the writing is raw and emotional and the characters that I’ve grown to love, endue so much all the while fighting for not only their family but for all the Magi and Shifters in the country.  There are moments of joy and the love between Mads and Cos shines out of the page despite the hardships they face, they love each other so deeply and that connection keeps them going, determination to end this once and for all and reunite their family and to enable them to finally go home.

I had thought that this was the final book in the series, and I really enjoyed it.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that there will be another book after this one and I’m intrigued to see what happens next.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

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