Spiral Hunt, by Margaret Ronald (REVIEW) — Magical Mayhem in Boston

They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but every now and then, something comes along that actually does feel new... or at least, puts a new spin on the familiar.

 

And Margaret Ronald’s Spiral Hunt definitely brings something new to the world of urban fantasy.

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Genevieve “Evie” Scelan works as a “finder” in Boston—someone who finds things.

 

But unlike others who might fall under that header—like private eyes or researchers—the secret to Evie’s success is... her sense of smell. In other words, she’s a “hound”.

 

It’s a rare form of Celtic magic, and most people remain blissfully unaware that it—real magic—actually exists.

 

But magic is, indeed, alive and well in Boston... and Evie’s slate is full. 

 

First, she gets a phone call from an old high-school boyfriend—also adept at magic—whom she’d long believed to be dead. While trying to track him down, she meets a mysterious, powerful stranger whom she finds oddly compelling... but the source of that attraction has her worried.

 

Throw in several official (paying) cases, enduring some very bad dreams (both nightmares and daymares), and being threatened and accosted... and it’s clear Evie more than has her hands full for the foreseeable future.

 

Unfortunately, what also becomes all-too-clear is that the magical mafia she’s managed to steer clear of for so long finally has its sights set on her.

 

 

One thing I love about Urban Fantasy is that it uses the world we’re already familiar with... then weaves fantasy elements throughout. 

 

That means there’s always a learning curve—understanding whatever lore the author is using—but it’s generally much less involved than in pure fantasy.

 

So, first off, I really enjoyed Spiral Hunt... particularly because it’s so very different from most everything else in the genre.

 

There aren’t any paranormal creatures, for one thing—no vampires, werewolves, or other shapeshifters. (Much as I enjoy such creatures, it’s refreshing to find an urban fantasy that doesn’t revolve around them.)

 

The magic here seems a little more realistic, as though it could happen anywhere, right now.

Despite that, this book still earns a caveat from me—the fact that it took a lot of effort, on my part, to get into the story, world, and characters... not because I didn’t understand what author Ronald was saying, but because she hadn’t really given me a reason to genuinely care—not for Evie, nor for any of the slow-to-build relationships.

 

After several chapters things did pick up considerably, though, and from that point on, I was all in.

 

Spiral Hunt also differs from many urban fantasy books in that it doesn’t lean heavily into romance. (Don’t expect a happily-ever-after or “smexy” experience.)

 

Instead, it delivers an exciting, scary, and unsettling ride—more of a paranormal mystery/thriller.

 

Since the author has two more books in the series planned, I suspect they’ll be much better from start to finish, since she won’t have to spend time setting up the world.

 

Until then, if you’re ready for a fresh spin in Urban Fantasy, I highly recommend Spiral Hunt. Just save it for a day when you’ve got a lot of patience built up, so you can stick with it until you get to the good stuff.

~GlamKitty