Jenna Yoon

If magic and adventure weren't enough, this read works in Japanese mythology, friendship, and family love, too.

Lia is off to the IMA (International Magic Academy) and, of course, Joon is with her. While excited, she's also a bit unsure. Not only does she do her best to hide her white streak of hair to avoid attention (doesn't want others knowing she's the famous girl who defeated Gaya), but everyone else there has known about their magic for years. When her magic refuses to function properly, she's the center of the school's gossip, and even Joon seems to be taking sides against her. But these personal problems are going to have to be shoved aside. The King of Darkness has appeared and is determined to destroy the world if someone doesn't stop him.

This is the second book in the Lia Park series and continues Lia's adventures after book one. While it isn't too difficult to sink into this read without reading the first book, I'd still recommend starting at the beginning since earlier events are mentioned several times.

The first chapters start off with rich imagination as Lia enters the IMA for the first time. The magical surroundings and details create a whimsical atmosphere for the academy. This does remind of similar settings, though: broken into four houses/sections of students, a type of choosing ceremony... It's magically familiar while still being original and does draw in.

Lia's frustration and uncertainty makes her easy to identify with, especially with Joon's behavior (which had me wondering but might work with a big twist at the end). Then, there are the new friends...or not. While the forming friendships appear golden, there's enough doubt and suspicion to even keep that aspect uncertain. Around every corner, a new secret appears and nobody seems to be telling Lia everything. Not even Joon. So, tension is definitely kept high on this end. The occasional family warmth adds lovely balance to all of this.

While monsters keep Lia and friends on their toes, it's the workings of the IMA (and more?) which dig the mystery and secrets in deep, and prepare the foundation for the books to come. These hints trickle in during the rest of the action, making sure there isn't a single boring moment, and promises tons of richness and intrigue to come. With all of this, the 350 or so pages go by quickly, and the last chapters felt rushed. But it ends well enough, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Lia Park and her friends will face next. I received an ARC and enjoyed the adventure quite a bit.… (meer)

Non-stop action mixes with spy-adventure, magic, myth and Korean flair to make for an easy, fun read.

Lia is training to join the mysterious organization her parents are already members of, but in order to pass the test, she needs to possess magic, which she doesn't seem to have. When she arrives home from a party to find her parents missing and an agent dead, she's thrust into the wild chase to find a hidden jewel to save them. Jetting of to South Korean, she discovers her magic has been hidden on purpose, and that the evil can track her, since she's actually extremely powerful. But magic won't be the only thing she needs to save everyone.

From the first page, it's a dive into an interesting mix between reality and a hidden, magical world. Lia does go to school and is trying to fit in with the usual humans. Her personality immediately catches edge as she rebels against her parents blatantly, and this trait does carry on through, making her kind but not perfect. And, honestly, a little hard to completely like. But she's got a lot on her plate as she comes into amazing powers and heads off to save her parents, despite everyone telling her not to.

Action fans are going to enjoy this one. It never slows and keeps tension high the entire time. It reminds of a spy story (think Spy School direction) but with a healthy mix of magic and myth. This gives it an interesting twist, although the plot does feel familiar. There are surprises along the way, and the Korean culture adds a lovely flair, too, even though there isn't much on the world building end. Descriptions remain very slight, keeping this one completely on the tension end.

It's an easy read and will invite even more reluctant readers in.… (meer)