Review: Magic For Liars by Sarah Gailey

Author: Sarah Gailey

Genre: Crime/Fantasy

Published by: TOR

Publication date: 08/07/19

Pages: 336

My rating: ★★★★

I received a free review copy the publisher in exchange for an honest review..

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Ivy Gamble has never wanted to be magic. She is perfectly happy with her life—she has an almost-sustainable career as a private investigator, and an empty apartment, and a slight drinking problem. It’s a great life and she doesn’t wish she was like her estranged sister, the magically gifted professor Tabitha.

But when Ivy is hired to investigate the gruesome murder of a faculty member at Tabitha’s private academy, the stalwart detective starts to lose herself in the case, the life she could have had, and the answer to the mystery that seems just out of her reach.

Trigger warning:

• Death
• Abortion
• Terminal illness

 

Magic For Liars is the book I didn’t know I needed. Why did no one make me read it sooner?! A private investigator hired to solve a murder in a magic school, what’s not to love? I was hooked from the start, unable to turn my eyes away from the pages in my eagerness to find out what happened next. Please tell me there’s going to be more?

The story is narrated by Ivy, this took some getting used to as I haven’t read many books written in first person. It in no way hindered my enjoyment though, I actually really liked it. It was fascinating seeing magic from the perspective of someone with no magical ability, while working to solve a murder committed using magic and being reunited with her estranged sister. Being privy to Ivy’s thoughts and the lies she tells both herself, and others was fascinating.

There’s some great character development, it’s one of my favourite things about this book. You never quite know who to trust, or if you can even trust anyone. I love it! The one character I thought could have done it turned out to be one of the few trustworthy people. Those twists at the end, did not see some of them coming!

Overall, I absolutely loved it! I’m hoping more books will be written with some characters returning, what happened after? I need to know! Magic For Liars is both gripping, clever and will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. I highly recommend it. Seriously, read it and see for yourself.

Buy from: Book Depository Waterstones