The Magic Users of Greenford Series
Author: Lisa Oliver
Publisher: Lisa Oliver Books
Cover Artist: Lisa Oliver
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Keywords/Categories: fated mates, magic users, fantasy, paranormal, paranormal romance, new release, announcement, trilogy, series, giveaway, gay, gay romance, mm romance, MM
Tropes: Fated mates
Series Blurb
Lucifer Fireborn is a high magic user with a taste for the high life. He spends his days, along with his anchor brother Darwin, chasing the rogue magic users who don't follow the rules all magic users live by. When his brother claims his own fated mate, and can't anchor for Lucifer anymore, Lucifer has to find someone else to anchor for him, or risk setting everything and everyone around him on fire. But there's a problem... Lucifer really doesn't want anyone drooling over him, because that's what people do.
Stefan de Marco is homeless again. Ranking as one of the highest scoring anchors in the country doesn't count for anything when a man leaves his employ just so he can keep his pants on. It's not the first time he's been in that situation, and with his familiar Garrick, Stefan gets by. He was raised in the Trades Sector and he knows the value of hard work. When his path crosses with a desperate Lucifer, sparks fly, but not the ones Lucifer was hoping for.
Underneath it all is the insidious Brethren who believe high magic users should be able to use their magic without the grounding effects of an anchor. They seek to enslave or kill anchors in their bid to gain attention. Lucifer and Stefan have to find a way to work together to bring down the organization, but it's not an easy thing to do when the two men come from different sides of the track.
The Magic Users of Greenford Trilogy should be read in order. It follows the one couple, Lucifer and Stefan, as they learn to manage their magic, and their love for each other in the face of adversity.
Warnings: Some violence.
Universal Buy Link:
Excerpt (from ‘Validate’)
“Why would I be angry with you?” Stefan was looking steadfastly out of the passenger window. They were on their way to the airport, as planned. It was just their destination that had changed.
“You have to admit the situation with Foster was unusual. His anchor, Ethan was never found.”
“I doubt anyone ever looked for him. Ethan was just an anchor after all.” Stefan sniffed. “As for Foster, we got told, once we dropped him off at the facility Monty recommended, that the hexing case was under New York’s jurisdiction and therefore not our concern.”
“You weren’t curious about where his new anchor Helen got the hex?” Lucifer checked the traffic, and then risked a quick look at Stefan. Who still wasn’t looking at him. Catching Creed’s glance in the rear-view mirror, Lucifer got the impression the dog was judging him, too.
“I might have been, under different circumstances.”
Yep, Stefan was still angry.
“I mean, if my mate was still working as a Wielder of the Magic Sword, which was his occupation when I met him, and Foster’s case came across our desk as an authorized case, I would’ve jumped right on it with you. But, no, my mate told his boss, Ben, in no uncertain terms that he wouldn’t be doing that job anymore. I believe you told him that after our holiday, we were going to work at the Anchor Division.”
Stefan had an amazing memory. “Yes, I did say that.” Lucifer flicked on his indicator and took the turning for the airport. “But this case isn’t being investigated by the Council.”
“No. No, it’s not.” Stefan turned to face him then, and even out of the corner of his eye, Lucifer could see the hurt and anger on his face. “You’ve taken a case, on our behalf, from the one group of people who want to see people like me either subjugated, or completely wiped off the face of the earth.”
“If this is about the holiday…”
“What holiday?” Stefan didn’t have to raise his voice. He could snap out a sentence and make Lucifer feel as though he’d been whipped. “Are you talking about the holiday that you promised me nothing would get in the way of? That holiday?”
“I’m sure this won’t take long…”
“What the hell difference does it make how long this case takes? I’m not some spoiled society brat you have to appease with holidays and gifts. I’m from the Trades sector. I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“Then what…?”
“You really don’t get it. I can’t believe it, but you honestly don’t get it. Fine. Seeing as you clearly left your brain in your suitcase, I can tell you there are two things I’m upset about.” Stefan never used strong language, or interrupted Lucifer for any reason. But he was on a roll. “One. There’s the fact you didn’t consult me at all before you took the case. You reverted to Lucifer the arrogant ass, and made decisions for both of us, never once considering my feelings on the matter.
“And secondly, and by far the most important to my mind, did you miss the part when I said you’ve been employed by people who want to see me dead? Did you hear what they said about Technic? Council propaganda? Bad press? Excuse me? And that’s without the derogatory tones they used when they referred to me. How could you?”
Carra's Series Review
Illuminate
I liked the premise of this book and series, with high magic users and those who anchor them. That anchors, particularly those who are not from wealth, are treated mostly as second class citizens with minimal rights is a stress point for me and I would guess for anyone who believes in equality. The structure of this society and the indignities—and outright cruelty—that Stefan has endured had me solidly on his side.
Lucifer came across as entitled, arrogant, and a bit annoying. Along the way his attitude starts to change, but too often he reverts to being kind of a jerk. Discovering he and Stefan are fated does help temper his attitude, but it was aggravating how easily he would slip back into his old ways.
The story does provide some good drama and action, though it did feel like when it came to an intense showdown that things were resolved a little too quickly. I was hooked enough though that I wanted to see where things would go through the subsequent stories. Confession though? I wasn’t feeling any real emotional connection between Stefan and Lucifer. The physical one was there, just not an emotional one that I would expect with fated mates.
Eradicate
Things start to ramp up here in the second book of this series, but there are several different things going on so it did feel a bit unfocused. It also seems—again—that the bad guys are after Lucifer more because they want his body…kind of a “I need to make him mine” focus.
There’s also the issue that we’ve seen previously with how anchors are treated, and poor Stefan in particular. I was disappointed at Lucifer’s reactions in this area, or should I say lack thereof. Lucifer keeps falling back into his pre-Stefan, arrogant self without bothering to consider things from Stefan’s point of view.
I still feel like that emotional connection between them is not really there, that it’s more of a “were fated so we’re together” relationship without a true feeling of real love. I’m hoping that book three will bring things around for them. I did like that Stefan gained a new familiar, he does deserve so much more after everything he’s been through.
Validate
Lucifer is finally making progress with his self-important attitude (though yes, some of his old self can be spotted here and there). I’m still not really a fan of him, especially at the start of this final book of the series with how easily he jumps into another case, and one for people you wouldn’t expect as well. It’s like he never seems to take Stefan’s feelings into account, which results—again—with stress in their relationship.
This time we do get more into the meat of things with the Brethren directly as things start to build towards a final climax for the series. I’ve got to wonder though how that organization has gotten as far as it has considering how inept they seemed when dealing directly with Lucifer and Stefan.
We can start to see now how Lucifer and Stefan are building more of that emotional connection I felt was quite lacking in the first two books. By the end I still didn’t fully feel it; it seemed more surface-level than a deep connection. Something though that I thought was less like their true characters was how easily now they were just using magic for simple things, off-the-cuff like it was no big deal…including in how they used it in tight situations. Previously, them using magic was more serious and saved for important, difficult situations and more defensively. Now they’re treating it as something to just help with everyday things, with magic just solving everything.
I did like the outcome at the end with the Council, even if it felt like it all was just being wrapped up with a big bow. I also liked seeing some new faces with Rocky and Neo, about whom I’m intrigued enough to want their story so I’ll be diving into the Fated Mates Anthology to check them out.
Overall the series is a good read, I just really wish a better connection could have been shown for Lucifer and Stefan.
Giveaway!
Lisa is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:
About the Author
Lisa Oliver lives in the wilds of New Zealand, although her beautiful dogs Hades and Zeus are now living somewhere else far more remote than she is. Reports indicate they truly enjoy chasing possums although they still can’t catch them. In the meantime, Lisa is living a lot closer to all her adult kids and grandchildren which means she gets a lot more visitors. However, it doesn’t look like she’s ever going to stop writing - with over one hundred paranormal MM (and MMM) titles to her name so far, she shows no signs of slowing down.
When Lisa is not writing, she is usually reading with a cup of tea always at hand. Her grown children and grandchildren sometimes try and pry her away from the computer and have found that the best way to do it is to promise her chocolate. Lisa will do anything for chocolate… and occasionally crackers. She has also started working out, because of the chocolate and the crackers.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers and other writers (I really do, lol). You can catch up with her on any of the social media links below.
Website - Facebook - Facebook Author Page - Instagram - Amazon
Thank you so much for hosting me today and for your truly thoughtful review. Lucifer was always a difficult character to write, in that he wasn't easy to love at the best of times. Have a wonderful day and thank you again.
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