Agent of Enchantment by C.N. Crawford and Alex Rivers – Book review

Published: 9 April 2017
Series: The Dark Fae FBI Series #1
Pages: 324
Warnings: Language, violence
Source: Kindle Unlimited

The fae live among us. And one of them is a serial killer.

I thought this would be a simple profiling case. Just another Jack-the-Ripper wannabe, prowling London’s streets, searching for easy kills. I was wrong. This killer is fae, and he’s as elusive as smoke on the wind. But I’m an FBI profiler, and it’s my job to track him down.

It doesn’t matter that one of the main suspects–a lethally alluring fae–is trying to seduce me… or kill me, I’m not sure which. I won’t be stopped, not even when panic roils through the streets of London, or when the police start to suspect me.

As I close in on the killer, I follow him to a magical shadow realm that’s like nothing I ever expected, where I’m hunted like prey. Fine. Bring it on. I’m an FBI Agent. And it turns out I have magical powers of my own.

Book links: Amazon | Goodreads

I have been a fan of C.N. Crawford’s books paranormal and fantasy romance books for a few years now, but it only just occurred to me over the weekend that I have never written a review for one! So, there was nothing left for me to do but grab a book and get reading. I decided to go back to one that I hadn’t read for a long time, so that I could get that ‘new story’ experience all over again. And I’m so glad I did! I’m remembering afresh why C.N. Crawford’s books go straight to the top of my ‘auto purchase’ list. In this case, we have the added bonus of C.N. Crawford teaming up with Alex Rivers to write this book.

The story starts off with high intensity right from the beginning, with a fight scene that sets the standard for what is to come. Agent of Enchantment is a gripping story, with intrigue, deception, mystery and plenty of paranormal horns and glowing eyes to tie it all together into a highly engaging story.

Special Agent Cassandra Liddell is an American FBI agent that has been called to work on a case in the UK. She is a profiler and her skills are needed to help track down a serial killer that is terrorising London.

I love Cassandra. She is strong but a little flawed, with traumas from her past that pop up here and there to remind her that they are still lurking in the back of her mind. But she doesn’t let this hold her back or dent her confidence (she has plenty of confidence).

Throughout the story Cassandra gains courage, and I love the way that her character builds. She is serious, but as we are seeing everything through her eyes, some of her inner thoughts are highly amusing. Several times I found myself laughing at loud at some odd thoughts she shared.

I also love her motto, as I think it sets the tone for her irreverent way of seeing things: “be courteous, and be prepared to kill everyone you meet.” A perfect summary for her mindset!

Gabriel is the first of the main men in the story. He is polite, caring, considerate, easy on the eye, keeps a clean home – and he cooks! He sounds just about perfect. He is working with Cassandra to investigate the case. Cassandra certainly appreciates his good looks, with her first impression of him being that he looks like a movie star.

Our other main man is Roan. Cassandra and Roan meet in less than ideal circumstances, when he comes to her rescue. Her first impressions of the huge man are that he seems inhuman, but she is drawn to him right from the start like she is mesmerized. However, he is showing a less than stellar side to his personality for large parts of the books, so she wavers between being drawn to him like a magnet and being repelled by him at the same time.

Both men are looking out for Cassandra in their own individual ways. But as for whether anything will come of the attractions, you’ll just have to read the book for yourselves to find that one out. While I will call this a romance, it is definitely more on the side of a slow burn.

The descriptions in this book have a way of weaving locations and people in with Cassandra’s own perceptions of she she’s looking at, so that it makes everything seem more real and relatable, even when describing some as unreal as fae characters and other worlds. I had no trouble at all envisioning the people and places that Cassandra leads us to.

In case you haven’t guessed it yet, I am totally crazy about this book. And the best bit is, it’s only the first in the series, so there is plenty more where this came from! I’m heading straight off now to return Agent of Enchantment, so that I can put my Kindle Unlimited account to good use and get myself book two in the Dark Fae series, which is Agent of Chaos. Watch this space…

C. N. Crawford is not one person but two. We write our novels collaboratively, passing our laptops back and forth to edit each other’s words.

Christine (C) has a lifelong interest in New England folklore – with a particular fondness for creepy old cemeteries. Nick (N) spent his childhood reading fantasy and science fiction which may partly explain why he is also a scientist.

Alex Rivers is the co-author of the Dark Fae FBI Series. In the past, he’s been a journalist, a game developer, and the CEO of the company Loadingames. He is married to a woman who diligently forces him to live his dream, and is the father of an angel, a pixie, and a gremlin. He has two voracious hounds that wag their tail quite menacingly at anyone who comes near his home.

Alex has been imagining himself fighting demons and vampires since forever. Writing about it is even better, because he doesn’t get bitten, or tormented in hell, or even just muddy. In fact, he does it in his slippers.

Alex also writes crime thrillers under the pen name Mike Omer.

Follow the author: Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Email: alex@strangerealm.com