Illicit Magick: Interstellar Sorcery

It was very embarrassing for Elise to have spontaneously levitated at her engagement party. Since Elise lived on the planet Emeritus, it was natural that she would seek help from the Eruditus University, headed by His Eminence, the Scion. Her problem was simple, according to the Scion. So he took her to Luke, a Peregrine Knight from the pilot’s guild, who, according to the Scion, would be able to teach her to control her talent. But Elise’s talent for levitation is only the tip of a much larger power and Luke does not have time to teach her to control her entire repertoire of magick – he was trapped at the university by the Scion, and had to find a way to escape. But then, Elise and Luke kissed, and the spark from their single kiss changed both of their lives.

Morgan Hawke’s books are must-buys for me, and this one is no exception. I was into this novella and through it so fast, that I was amazed when I finished. This is a really great story! Illicit Magick is tightly plotted and flows along fast and evenly – there are no “slow” spots in this story! The characters are vividly drawn to center the story around the protagonists, Luke and Elise.

At the beginning of this book, there is a statement warning the reader that this book is “Pure Vanilla!” I have to tell you – Hawke’s definition of pure vanilla is sure different from my definition of pure vanilla! Admittedly, this story doesn’t have the BDSM and psychological conflicts of much of her other work, but – this book is not vanilla! And I mean that in the very best way. Hawke manages to make the “un-kinky” sex scenes incredibly erotic, solely with her skilled use of language. I find it stimulating to read prose in which each word is carefully chosen to take advantage of the precise nuances of the English vocabulary. Definitely read this one with your significant other at hand ...

Reviewed by: Jean