Published: May 13, 2011
Words: 88830 (approximate)
Language: English

Ebook short description

More than three hundred years after the most terrifying witch hunts the world has ever known, it's happening again. Stella Mayweather has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from.

Extended description

More than three hundred years after the most terrifying witch hunts the world has ever known, it's happening again.

Racing from attack by the ruthless Brotherhood in London to the powerful witch council in New York, twenty-four-year-old witch Stella has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from.

Sent to an extraordinary safe house by the sea to learn her craft, Stella discovers there is more than one dark secret in her new family: Étoile’s sister is spoken of in fear and sadness; Marc is supposed to be a powerful witch but is missing his magic; where does the owner of their safe house vanish to every day and why does Evan have the eyes of someone not quite human?

There is only one secret that someone will do anything to keep quiet, but whose secret is it and will Stella have to pay the price for her silence?

Adult-content rating:

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Tags

urban fantasy, paranormal romance, fantasy, paranormal, magic, witches, witchcraft, paranormal mystery

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Reviews

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Review by: David Hoyt on Jan. 19, 2012 :
I loved this whole series. I read the series in a few days. I couldn't put it down. I'm giving the series an overall 5. Book 3 is the weakest, but still good. I'll be watching the author for more fun in the future.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Donna Newman on Aug. 16, 2011 :
Stella is pretty much a loner, not by choice but because it seems like accidents seem to happen around her and she doesn't know why. I really loved how Stella progressed in this book from a quiet, hide yourself in the corner kind of girl to finding confidence in herself at the end.

What I loved about this story-line it kept me guessing, here I thought it was going one way and it ended up in a direction I didn't expect at all. Usually the bad guy is brought in and pretty much you know when and what is going to happen but this one really through me for a loop. My eyes bugged and I literally said out loud well I didn't see that one coming.

I ought to learn nothing is cut in dry with stories because I did want her to be with one of the male characters but I quickly changed my mind as soon as the other one was introduced. I loved Marc. but at times I thought boy where was his anger coming from , we find out later but I won't say because it would give it away. And Evan, well I can't say too much there other than I love him, and that he gave Stella the confidence she needed to learn her craft.

There was a couple questions left unanswered but I think mainly in my own mind, because the story wrapped up rather neatly but left me wanting to read the next book which was just released, Unruly Magic.

So if you love witches with a bit of romance and a lot of action this book is for you.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Lori (Romancing the Darkside) on Aug. 12, 2011 :
A wonderful debut filled with magic, mystery and romance!

In Illicit Magic we're introduced to Stella Mayweather, a twenty four year old who lives a solitary life in England due to her special abilities that she brushes off as her simply being accident prone. Her boring life soon becomes quite the opposite on a night when she's followed and nearly kidnapped by a group of men called the Brotherhood, who believe she is a witch. Barely escaping, Stella rushes home where she encounters a young woman by the name of Étoile, who has come to take her to American in order to protect her from the evil hunters that wish her dead. In her journey to America, Stella will uncover the truth about herself, her family and be introduced to a world far beyond her wildest dreams.

This book starts off a little slow for me and I have to admit I didn't feel a connection to the heroine in the beginning. While in England, Stella comes off as bitter, lonely and quite boring. Everything changes when the story shifts to America. We finally begin to see her true personality and the story takes off. Her growth throughout the book is notable and what won me over when I was on the fence about liking her. Étoile is a fascinating character with plenty of charisma that plays a key role in Stella's "personality makeover" and helps her adapt to her new life and surroundings. Stella's love interests Marc and Evan are total opposites but each has their own mysterious charm and sex appeal that can make it hard to choose between the two; my favorite of the two is the suave and sexy Evan!

Ms. Chafer gives plenty of depth to her characters and slowly divulges tidbits of their lives that flawlessly tie everything together. Throwing a semi-love triangle into the mix adds uncertainty and a bit of drama to the romance of the story which I love! The action and constant suspense are thrilling and keep you guessing until the very end. The magical element in the story is described thoroughly, giving the reader a bit more insight into this paranormal world of witches, vampires and daemons the author has created. Plenty of loose ends will leave you wanting to start the next installment right away. Illicit Magic is a perfect read for those who love their magic with a little danger!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Aislynn Thompson on Aug. 09, 2011 : (no rating)
Stella has accidents, some could consider it clumsy but these just strike most people as odd occurrences. People are wary of Stella, keep their distance - why befriend someone who has strange and weird things always happening to them or around them? This always leaves Stella on the outside of everything and with no one to trust. When suddenly her life is in danger and the witch hunters are closing in - she has to trust Etoile and Marc to help keep her safe.

Etoile and Marc bring Stella to a remote location to help her train and learn her gift. She meets other like her - and have various gifts. While there she is caught in a love-triangle with Evan and Marc. The connection between Evan and Stella is evident right from the beginning!

This was a great start to a new series - a young woman who doesn't know what she is capable of is thrown into a life she knows nothing about. What would you do if someone was out to kill you and everyone you know!?

Stella was a great character. She's strong and funny - she's had to learn to take care of herself and not rely on anyone. This makes her a very relate-able character! I loved Stella, she had spunk and guts! She has great interaction with the other characters and the dialogue was engaging through the entire story!

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance! I'm looking forward to reading Unruly Magic - book two in the series.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Naj Qamber on Aug. 08, 2011 :
Illicit Magic began with a narration that continues on throughout the book. It isn't one of those annoying kind of narration but the kind thats actually very captivating and really makes you listen to what the protagonist has to say as she tells you her story.

Our protagonist here is called Stella, she's the type who keeps to herself and has a well collected character. She is English and alone. All her life everyone seems to be scared of her because something always manages to happen when she's around. As she gets old enough to be taken out of foster care. She continues her life working temp jobs here and there while she lives in a very small cheap apartment. Then suddenly, people are after her and want to burn her at the stake. As things begin to unfold, Stella is saved and sent to America for protection and to learn about her true roots.

This is by far the best witch book I've read besides Harry Potter of course and trust me I never liked how some authors portray witches in books and because of this book I began to warm up to witches. YAY ME?

Aside from our protagonist, we meet the supporting secondary characters who help Stella cope with her new found abilities. One in particular I'm very fond of and appreciate completely! I won't his name because I wouldn't want to ruin it for you. All I'm saying is hes Macho and totally HAWT!

Enough of my bickering, I give this book a full on 5/5 stars as I state that this book was unputdownable and simply awesome! I have the second book waiting for me to tackle it and I can't wait to start on it! YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! *NOT suitable for young readers*

http://unputdownablebookies.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-illicit-magic-stella-mayweather.html
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Shari on Aug. 01, 2011 :
I had a little trouble getting into Illicit Magic at first. The first 80 pages or so are a lot of new information that wasn't quickly digestible for me. However, once Stella gets to America the pace really picked up, and I was glued to the pages.

The characters in Illicit Magic are very well written, and I enjoyed learning about each of them. Stella's life since foster care has been terribly mundane. She didn't have any friends because people noticed that she was different, and they were scared of her. She was horribly alone, and she came across as drab, dejected, and well.. boring. Once she arrives in America and is surrounded by people like her she really becomes a different person. Watching her bloom truly was magical. The rest of the characters are so much fun to get to know. They each have their own mystery and instead of knowing everything there is to know about each of them right off the bat, the author slowly reveals their pasts and secrets in this very slow but satisfying way. I really enjoyed that about Camilla's writing style. I had just settled into this lovely story line and all of the sudden a new and unexpected twist was thrown at me. All kinds of hell broke loose, and it was thrilling to read. I was instantly in love with a few of characters and really hope to see them again in the next book. Yep, Illicit Magic is book 1 in the Stella Mayweather series. I was so glad to find out that the ending of this book wasn't really the ending of the story.

Side note: Just a little pet peeve I had with the book was that the editing wasn't great, and sometimes I got distracted by Camilla's English dialect. This may be why it took me a little while to really fall into the story as well.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Book Savvy Babe on July 26, 2011 :
Stella’s life is suddenly turned upside-down when after being attacked; a strange girl takes Stella to an entirely new life. Stella finds out that she is a witch, and there are other people like her, people with special abilities, magical abilities. This group of witches wants to train Stella in her magic, and keep her safe from witch hunters. However, danger continues to plague Stella wherever she goes.

It took me a little while to get into Illicit Magic. When starting a new series, I know that it can take some time to understand the characters and the world, but I had a difficult time with the flow at first. However, the more I read, the more I was able to get into the feel of the story. When Stella begins her training at the house with her fellow witches, I really began to love the book, and Stella. For a girl who was clumsy and a bit socially awkward, Stella adapted really well to her circumstances, and even experiences some steamy romance. I also enjoyed the other characters in the book, especially Evan and Etoile. The magic is very cool, with spells and teleporting, and everyone having their own unique gifts and strengths. This book has a younger generation feel, kind of like a college dormitory group. It was not too young at all, definitely adult and definitely entertaining.

I grew to really like Stella. By the end of the book, Stella is a new person. She has new knowledge and new determination. She holds herself responsible for more than she should, and I am hoping that she continues to learn and grow. I also enjoyed the other characters in the book, especially Evan and Etoile. I am looking forward to seeing what’s next for Stella and reading more by Camilla Chafer in the future.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Nel on July 24, 2011 :
I really want to know what happens next and hope that the next book will be available soon! I enjoyed Illicit Magic and found it easy to read. Stella, the main character, feels that she doesn't fit in but isn't quite sure why. When her walk home from work takes an eventful turn she discovers why and finds somewhere she can fit in and people who soon become friends, and more. However, not all is as it seems and Stella must learn who to trust and how to survive. I would recommend this book highly!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Laurie Hunsaker on July 16, 2011 :
Reviewed for gotfiction.wordpress.com

Wow, so as many of you can see, this is not my usual fare.

This was recommended to me by a friend (that's you Jackie) and I was told that this book would appeal to the YA group who wanted an older cast of characters. Since the main reason I don't read YA is that I actually get irritated with the teens, I thought this might be a nice change. Stella, our protagonist, is 24. She's spent her life in London's foster care system, constantly being carted from one home to another since strange things seemed to happen around her.

We enter the story as she's walking home from yet another temp job (she never stays too long, just in case someone notices she's different). The ladies at work warned each other to walk in pairs, and to be safe, since there have been many recent burnings of women. On her normally uneventful walk to her flat, her instincts kick in and tell her DANGER! DANGER! As she never ignores her instincts, she is very alert. Adn then it happens. She is being followed. Stalked. And she runs! Hiding, she is in full-panic mode, just as someone grabs her by the throat and grits "Witch" in her ear, she poofs herself across the street! Holy moly how did that happen? Stella is grateful her power kicked in when she needed it, as hers are super unpredictable, but at the same time, she even surprised herself.

She runs to her flat, and while there, a woman knocks on her door telling her to come with her NOW. Stella figures the woman is nuts and then the nice lady poofs herself into Stella's room. Just like Stella can do, only much more controlled. What happens from there is that they are attacked by the Brotherhood-an anti-witch organization. More, the Brotherhood then sends a video to the media detailing the witches they've burnt at the stake, and telling the world that they are coming for more.

As soon as Stella is rescued, she and her new friend Etoile hop the first flight to New York, where she meets many others like herself, then is attacked once more (and this time it looks like an inside job, even thought it's blamed on the Brotherhood), and Stella is once more shuttled somewhere new. This is where the majority of the story takes place-a safe house where witches can learn the craft and come into their powers.

She meets both Marc and Evan and while she has feelings for both, only one will win her heart. In the meantime, very little happens. Once you can get used to the writing, it's a good book. The tone of the book is VERY British, and I'm super lucky to have some twitter friends in the UK who helped me out with some of the words. It's not necessary to have a British bud for your English-to- English translations, as most words were obvious within their context, but a few did confuse me. Another thing, is that even the Americans sound English. I am not listing this as a fault AT ALL, it was interesting. As an American writer, I write about Scotland, I wonder if all my Scots sound American? So, my non-American friends, do you find that many of our books sound American?

But my feelings on this book are that while the book itself is more of what happens with Stella, and Stella learning to control her powers, when the action does happen, it's crazy intense. The writing is addictive and will make you want to keep reading. The ending was so hard! Why? Why would you do that to us? I can see our author rubbing her hands in evil glee laughing an evil laugh thinking "Yes, my pretties, you will have to read to find out...muahahahaha!!!"

After the big, huge plot twist (that I did not figure out until right at that moment!), everyone leaves Stella for safety and medical care. This bothered me since they all had a lot invested in her, and while Etoile, and her sister Seren had a lot on their plates at the moment, I don't see them having left Stella to fend for herself in that house. I also don't see David not having called someone since he was there supervising clean-up. Evan, oh Evan, I hope you are okay, and that yoou go after her! And Stella, you did all that covering your tracks to go to the one place that can be traced to you. Evan is gonna find you! (I hope, I hope!) And Marc, I really want to sit down and have a talk with Marc. Sigh, I'll have to wait til the end of July so I can get the second book Unruly Magic.

Final thoughts? It's not a romance, but there is a romance in there that I like, and it's not quite an urban fantasy-maybe more in the lines of a light UF meets cozy mystery. Enjoy readers.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Alaiel Kreuz on June 28, 2011 :
Right now, if I could, I'd love to read the second part of this series just because I really want to know what happens next to Stella.

But first thing first, you need to know what I'm taking about, right? Illicit Magic is the first book of this series and introduce us to Stella, a simple girl with a simple boring life, and not because she wants a boring life but because everybody is scared of her so they keep their distance.
Why? Well, as you can guess from the title of the book there's something special about Stella: she can use magic. But since she doesn't know what's "wrong" with her all type of weird things and calamities happen around her. So she is always alone and kind of used to it. That is of course until a series of horrible murders happened in England and her live turns upside down as she turns out to be the next target...

Stella is a strong girl, she has learnt to take care of herself and, despite the fact that she never had a friend is a very nice and easygoing person.
In this book we can see a "love triangle" between Marc - a warlock that for some reason can't use magic-, Stella and Evan -Stella's teacher- that is a very handsome man that hides a secret and that seems to dislike her a lot. At least in the beginning, that's it.

Camilla's writing was very good, I could always picture the people, the scenes and the fights and for that I'm really happy. The variety of characters and their personalities was really... how can I describe it? Entertaining I think is the right word. I personally enjoyed this book a lot, I can't wait to read the next one!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Jackie B on June 22, 2011 :
Stella Mayweather has been sent from pillar to post most of her life after losing her parents at the tender age of five... Never staying in one place for long due to strange occurrences which cause her foster families to quickly pack her up and ship her back to social service workers. After finally turning eighteen Stella moves out on her own and makes her way as best she can... Now at twenty-four Stella has settled into a routine of living in one place, going to work each day and coming home each night without much variance from day to day... Suddenly attacked one night she is thrust into a nightmare from which she barely escapes when a strange young woman appears at her flat and whisks her away before she loses her life in a fire set by her previous attackers when they find her at home...

Throughout Stella's story as we work our way through all the mysteries that surround her past and all the day to day drama that encompass her present circumstances one thing becomes clear, she is a special young woman who despite her harsh beginnings has strength and admirable amounts of courage.

The unraveling of the answers as to who, what, why, when and where take place at a good pace and by the end of the book when the final showdown occurs the reader has learned quite a bit about each of the young witches and the instructors that Stella is placed among to learn how to utilize her craft...

The eye opening reveal of the person responsible for the attacks against Stella and her new friends was one that I had figured out a bit before the final showdown but I still had a few surprises to come when other secrets were revealed as well, all in all this was a well thought out original story that had just enough romance thrown in to appeal to a wider audience than just those looking for a good paranormal read!

The burning questions in my mind is what will Stella do next? What happened to Evan? What happened to Marc and Kitty? To find out one must continue the series with book 2 Unruly Magic which I intend to do as the story was just getting to the good part when it ended!

I strongly recommend this book to those YA readers looking for characters who are young adults in their 20's that can be sympathized with by older people like myself as they have more relatable circumstances going on in their life than someone who is only in their teens. The book is geared more towards adults over the age of 17 as there are sexual scenes that while not explicit are not meant for young readers...

Reading Order for series


Book 1 Illicit Magic out now and book 2Unruly Magic in July and in December book 3 Devious Magic as per author's information in an interview with The Dark Phantom .

I have to disclose that this book was an e-arc copy submitted to me by the author via The Bookish Snob Promotions for an honest review and that there is no other compensation from her, the tour host or the publisher except my reading pleasure and enjoyment of the characters depicted in the story.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Yllektra V. on May 22, 2011 :
This was a great start to a new series.
Stella Mayweather is a 24-year-old woman who has grown up in foster care and is searching for her place in the world.
Life has been even more difficult for her, because accidents keep happening around her, to people that threaten her or make her afraid, which of course caused her to change several foster families.
Not that she can really control it, but her reputation as a "witch" on account of that, is more literal than she would think.
Stella is reluctant to believe that she is really a witch, a person that can make bookcases drop on you if you touch her (:P), but the mere thought of that has her retreat into herself, her world.
She is a loner and no one pays her any attention.
She moves from temp job to temp job, maintaining a less than mediocre apartment and her life is a bore.
Everything changes, however, when one afternoon as she gets off work, she realizes that she is being chased by a group of men who have murder on their mind. Even more than that, Stella understands that the long string of murders all over England isn't a coincidence.
There's a reason they are burning women alive. The Brotherhood - a group of people hating Witches and everything supernatural - is set on killing every last one of them all around the world and now they are after her.

Seeking refuge in her apartment, after a shocking manifestation of her Shimmering power, Stella is whisked away to USA by Etoile, a fellow witch sent by the Witch Council to save her.
Stella is brought in front of the Council,introduced to a society of witches, men and women with magic, acquired or inherited, she never knew existed.
After an attack at their very shelter, she is once more taken away to a secluded house by the sea, which is used as a "School", where young witches are trained.
It is there that she makes her first friends, among them- apart from Etoile- Mark, Meg, Kittie, Seren, Christy, Clara, Jared, David etc and most importantly Evan.

But are they enough to guide and protect her when there's a killer after her who isn't afraid to use magic? Could it be the Brotherhood - though they loathe magic?- or is there something more sinister after her?

I adored the story. It was both original, in its execution, and compelling. The pace of the story was good, although, I have to admit that it felt a little slow in the beginning.
The situations were believable and you could really connect with Stella and the other characters. They all took a life of their own and as soon as I read on, I was hooked on finding out what was going to happen next.
The story is written as a first person narrative, with Stella being our guide and after the first couple of chapters, it really grew on me. At first, I felt a little detached because Stella felt a little stiff to me even in her fear, but later on I got a feel of her character and I appreciated her need for both independence and belonging.

The romance in the book was superb. Both Marc and Evan were yummie, although I have to admit that I liked Evan from the start. Marc seemed too aloof in a "running hot and cold" kind of way, that I didn't find appealing. His character was very nice though and he had a lot of drama in his life.

The ending - though unfair (I know she needed to feel connecter but snif) - really made me wish I had the second book in my hands right NOW! :P

In a nutshell: Read it now!!!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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