Review: Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie (Guild Codex #2)

When I found myself facing down the scariest black-magic felon in the city, practically daring him to abduct me, I had to wonder exactly how I ended up here.

It all started when I accidentally landed a job as a bartender—but not at a bar. At a guild, populated by mages, sorcerers, alchemists, witches, and psychics. Good thing this lame-o human is adaptable, right?

Then my favorite guild members—three sexy, powerful, and intermittently charming mages—asked for my help. Did they want access to my encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails? Oh no. They wanted to wrap me up in a pretty ribbon and plunk me in the crosshairs of a murderous rogue to lure him out of hiding.

So that's what we did. And that's why I'm here. About to be kidnapped. Oh, and our grand plan for safely capturing said murderous rogue? Yeah, that completely fell apart about two minutes ago.

Why did I agree to this again?

*Read via Kindle Unlimited*

ebook

~ 265 pages.

First person, single pov.

I guess you could read this without book one but you'll have a lot of gaps to fill in so I would not.

Nope, series elements are left open but the book has a self-contained story which is wrapped up.

Once again, Tori ends the book in a good place and is happy for now.

Nope but I'm seriously torn between who I now think Tori should end up with... If the series is going to have her end up in a relationship with anyone! And neither of my preferences are the guy she's kinda, sorta, maybe, dating!

Magical violence mostly. Not too much of it either really.

Dark Arts and a Daiquiri kicks off about a month or so after the events of Three Mages and A Margarita. Tori is still working under MagiPol's (the magical governance body) radar and still getting into mischief with her new mage besties.

It's as fast paced as the first book, just as easy to lose yourself in as the first book and even more awesome than the first book.

The world is expanded a lot more, you get to meet some fae, there's a new dark and mysterious character to swoon over in the shape of the mysterious Ghost and so many twists and turns you'll be guessing at what's to come long after you finish the final page!
Also, there are dragons and you've got to love dragons... Even weird fae ones.
You've also got to laugh at Tori's new fae roommate who has a penchant for replicating horror movie characters and scaring the crap out of people in a bid to keep them from 'his' house.
(I hope we see a lot more of him in later books! He reminded me of Dobby but less helpful, lol.)

This book gives you a lot more information on Tori's background which was very welcome and, as mentioned above, you get to meet a new character called the Ghost and at least half the book is centred around the Ghost - who he is, what he does and why... He's incredibly easy to become intrigued with and fall in love with so I'm not complaining. However, this meant that there was far less page time for our three beloved mages, Erza, Kai and Aaron and that kinda sucked for I missed them. I want to know more about them than the surface information we were given in the previous book and the teasing little hooks planted in this one.
Ah well... Maybe in the next?

Romance is still on the down low in this series but despite Tori having no such internal struggles (she just enjoys the eye-candy and isn't infatuated with anyone, yet) my heart is crazy torn between the Ghost (aka Zak) and Ezra.
I'm super super curious as to what direction Tori will go when (if? *sobs*) the romantic element of the plot kicks off... I was right that the flirtation from the previous book isn't going to go anywhere.

I must say, I have quickly developed a rather insane attachment to this world and these characters and can't wait to read more!

All the love for the pretty covers!
I love the colours and how they capture Tori and little elements from the book.
They're fun and capture the essence of the series too.
Love them!

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“Independence is an admirable trait, but it can be rooted in pride, insecurity, and fear as easily as it can stem from strength, confidence, and self-reliance. Be sure you know what drives yours.”

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