Stray Magic (Guardians of Boston Book 2) by Zile Elliven

I've been so eager for another book in this series after reading Runaway Magic, and the wait was well worth it! A monster that finds a special kind of treat that he decides to keep instead of eat.


From the blurb:

From the author who eats plot bunnies for breakfast, comes another book that jumped the line and ruined hours of painstaking planning.

Clayton:

The utterly unremarkable and forgettable assistant for the Boston chapter house is having the best/worst day ever, and it just keeps going! He's either getting a monster boyfriend or getting eaten by one, and neither of them is sure which one they want more.

Throw in some missing kids, a mysterious, sentient tree, and a boat that refuses to sink, and Clayton has what he’d call a regular Tuesday.

***

Mal:

The monster inside him just wants to eat people in peace and not get sucked into some bullshit wannabe guardian drama getting between him and a proper meal. Unfortunately for him, not only is Clayton’s misfiring magic constantly dragging Mal into his world, but the little asshole has the audacity to be attractive while doing it.

Also, why do kids keep following him around like ducklings? A monster has his dignity, okay?


This book can be read independently from any other book in the series because the author is a psychopath with no ability to follow traditional series rules. Perhaps one day they will, but so far, not so much.


Angel's review:

I can't believe that this book almost didn't happen, it's hard to think that this book, and these characters, almost got scrapped. Clayton, Mal, and their found family are honestly so amazing and incredible! They are all so different and VERY chaotic, but they all make such a beautiful family together.

I loved how over time we not only got to learn more about the various realms and magic, but we also got to see these characters grow and learn more about themselves and how to be a family. I really enjoyed reading this chaotic book, Clayton and Mal have my heart, and their kiddos are just absolutely precious!

All the twists and turns along with the unexpected surprises made this book so enjoyable and fun to read. I enjoyed reading this book from start to finish, and I also really adored the unicorn.. even if he is destructive...

This was a really fantastic magic filled, found family romance book! I'm so excited to see this series continue in the future!

SNik's review:

Second in series (Guardians of Boston), best if read in order. Paranormal. Found family. Mostly dual POV. Heed content warnings. 

Clayton excels at assisting the Guard at the local chapter house, and is mostly happy, but when he’s asked for help he doesn’t hesitate, even if it leads to a monster he’s slightly attracted to and Clayton adopting his own assorted chaotic family. At first Mal wants to eat Clayton, and not in a nice way, but he soon realizes their connection runs deeper and he suddenly can’t bear to let Clayton or his found family go. 

This story is filled with adventure and intriguing characters, lots of loyalty, acceptance, and love. On a mission to retrieve missing children, Clayton and Mal discover whole new realms, powers, and family. I really enjoyed how Clayton held his own against a powerful being like Mal, and his sassiness never wavered even as he had to quell his personal insecurities. I was expecting the second book in the series to be a continuation of Cym and Fourteen’s story, but this certainly did not disappoint as it was truly a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed every moment Clayton and Mal were on page together, their special found family, and their ability to make each other stronger and feel wanted.


Stray Magic is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription