Subversive

Clandestine Magic, Book 1

By: Colleen Cowley

Narrated by: Leanne Woodward

A wizard. An unwilling assistant. An explosive secret.

In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women's rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance - the Women's League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.

Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.

Subversive is the first novel in the romantic fantasy Clandestine Magic trilogy, set in a warped 21st century that will appeal to fans of gaslamp fantasy, strong female characters, slow-burn romance with some steam, and intrigue.

©2020 Colleen Cowley (P)2021 Colleen Cowley

Excellent

It’s refreshing to see competent characters, intriguing magic system, and a plot that repeatedly subverted my expectations ;)

I think the pacing dragged in a few places but not enough to give it four stars.

Fantastic

I’m a huge fan of this series! Leanne Woodward’s narration made it come alive in a new and delightful way. Peter and Beatrix have a fabulous back and forth. The dialogue is excellent. I enjoyed every moment of this slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy. Issues such as gender roles, women’s rights, power and control, and consent are explored and handled beautifully by Cowley. The characters are three dimensional, the world is textured, and the message is a powerful one.

Great storytelling!

I was so glad that Colleen Cowley decided to create audiobooks of her fabulous Clandestine Magic series! I've read Subversive numerous times already, yet the story still felt fresh and exciting as I listened to Leanne Woodward's narration. I particularly liked how she voiced the main characters, Beatrix and Peter. She captures Beatrix's conviction with subtlety and grace, and she gives Peter's voice the undercurrent of anxiety and strength that marks his character in this first novel of the series. I'm looking forward to listening to Radical next!

What a story!

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with audiobooks and full disclosure I was fortunate enough to get a code for this story. But wow it grabbed me 100%.

Meet Beatrix - trying to keep body and soul together. A roof over her head and put her younger sister through college.

The background to all this is one of personal tragedy but a deeply flawed misogynistic world where only Men wield magic and it is forbidden for Typics (those without magic and Women to).

Omnimancer Peter Blackwell returns to the town in which he grew up with only his grandmother in poverty before being plucked from it to study magic when his aptitude tests were off the charts. He went to school with Beatrix but their relative positions are completely reversed.

Its a wonderful tale being woven and I am eager to get into it even more in the following books. Peter and Beatrix story is more complicated than a facebook status as he is covering his own secrets……but has also fallen for Beatrix as he discovers how strong a person she really is. They are tied together in numerous ways (I wont spoil here!) and she makes some amazing discoveries of her own leading to even more confusion and complication.

Meanwhile Lydia her sister is rising to prominence and becoming a target of a government that doesn’t value Women or what she stands for and Beatrix will try everything to protect the only member of her family - even to the detriment of her own happiness.

My only flaw with the story overall is it takes too long to understand what Lydias master plan is. For a lot of the story it seems that Beatrix is “just” supporting her sister because theres no one else to - youre aware its not the whole story but its not made clear for quite awhile

Intriguing engaging alternative universe.

Story has interesting twists. Well written tension between Beatrix and the local ominancer. Loved it!