A Distant Magic

by: Mary Jo Putney

Published by: Del Rey

Reviewed by Liz Bright

Fans of Mary Jo Putney’s novels will be thrilled with her newest release in the Guardian series, A Distant Magic. It follows A Kiss of Fate and Stolen Magic.

One of the most important of the Guardians clan is Jean Macrae’s family. They are humans who have had magical power bestowed on them through nature. But Jean is modest and doesn’t think that her skills are anything special as she hasn’t been able to do the things the more talented Guardians can do.

But the day she meets the handsome Captain Nikolai Gregorio changes everything in her life. Jean is imprisoned on Nikolai’s ship. He’s sure that Jean’s father left him to slavers when he was a child. And he is determined to wreck havoc and his vengeance against Jean and her family, whatever the cost.

The handsome captain’s magical gifts, untrained and limited though they are, are far more dangerous than the harm he wishes to bring upon the Macrae’s. The two, Nikolai and Jean, seem to have a special connection, and together they summon a West African slave woman, Adia, from the future (1787). They must work to protect those who are against the evilness of slavery. (Nikolai has an island that is a refuge for freed slaves.) To do so will change the future of two nations. It is their love for each other that means everything to future generations. To fail, could mean the loss of what is important to them.

A Distant Magic has it all: romance, history, time travel, adventure and magic. It’s a lot for one book, but Putney pulls it off. Her romance is breathtaking, the conflict exciting, the time-travel element is exhilarating and the subject matter important.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended.

Author’s Web site: http://www.maryjoputney.com