Three Mages and a Margarita

I was positively surprised by this book. I absolutely loved the writing, the humor, the characters - I didn't want to stop reading and almost read the whole thing in one go.

I think this was my first 5 star read this year, it was absolutely perfect for me.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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This was a lighter Urban Fantasy, like the Ella Grey books. Tori's a waitress who can't keep a job—she has this annoying tendency to stick up for herself when a customer gets out of line. Desperate for work, she finds a Help Wanted ad in the street. They're looking for a bartender at a social club in a less-than-nice part of town. She shows up, gets a try out and does well.

But there's one little thing—the social club is actually a guild of magic users. Yeah, that's right, magic is a thing, and the guild is made up of a variety of specialists. Some of them have taken a liking to her and she's hired on as the regular bartender. Tori strikes up a friendship with three mages in particular—and the four of them stumble into something big and dangerous.

This was fun, the dialogue moved well, the interplay between Tori and the three was great, and I can see this lasting quite a while. Looking forward to coming back for more.

Tori has experienced plenty of rude customers, and they’ve all cost her a job. Of course, her temper doesn’t exactly help. Apparently, management doesn’t appreciate throwing food at them. Jobless Tori finds a job ad for a bartender. It’s not in the best part of town, but she’s running out of options. Little does she know it's a guild filled with supernatural customers. That is until she tosses the first drink in their face.

Tori’s attitude and quick temper are such a treat to read. Tori’s a genuinely nice person, she just doesn’t take grief from anyone. And with the new crowd, she finds herself in, her temper is an asset. It also means there are quite a few times when Tori finds herself in over her head. But her temper gives Tori a slight edge. None of the supernaturals expect her to run into danger fists flying. She does take some hard hits, but despite it all, she still rushes into danger when no one else is able to.

And the dynamics between characters are a delight. There’s flirting and good natured banter as Tori builds the foundations of friendship with three mages who become her allies in the guild. They introduce Tori to the magical side of the community, and the various types of magic. Being the only human in the guild means there’s plenty for Tori to learn. But the reader isn’t overwhelmed by the information. There’s just enough given for the reader to understand the basics of the magical world, much like Tori learning for the first time.

There’s also an air of mystery surrounding the first novel as a kidnapping attempt goes awry. And of course, Tori ends up dragged into it. As she sees the events unfold Tori attacks a mage with none other than an umbrella. But it establishes some of the dirtier politics surrounding the guilds, and the extent of danger Tori may find herself involved in if she chooses to keep her job. She is only human after all, and it puts her at a major disadvantage. Yet, it also provides plenty of room for Tori to develop as the series progresses.

Three Mages and a Margarita is a quick and easy read with plenty of action and comedy. Witnessing Tori hold her own amongst the magical community is a fun ride. And as she begins to form connections with the guild members, there is a definite theme of found family being established. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Tori in the next novel.

I don't think this was a great book, but I listened to the audio book over a weekend and greatly want to continue with the series.

I was a little put off at how often the author wanted us to know how hot the people were, and oh no, all 4 of them were in their underwear, how provocative.

I did very much enjoy the books being set in vancouver. And the group of misfits being in a guild worked really well as a story line.

This book was a fun start to my love affair with The Guild Codex series. A human bartender working at a magic guild - count me in! But when I started book one, I had no idea what I was in for. Three Mages and a Margarita introduced me to a world that is immersive and alluring and hopeful and dark, and so much more.

There's everything you could want in an urban fantasy novel - magic, love, power, corruption, friendship, loyalty, mystery, intrigue, betrayal...the list goes on. The characters are well written and feel authentic, with their own motivations that make sense. I've laughed, I've cried, and everything in between.

As soon as I finished this book, I binged the rest of the series and it was so worth it.

I'm re-reading the series and enjoying it more than any other urban fantasy series I've come across in the past year or so. I like the growth in the main characters, and the loyalty among comrades. The world-building is definitely complex enough to handle all the (equally entertaining) spin-off series.

After attempting and dropping half a dozen new urban fantasy series, here's one of many things that made me come back and re-read this one: when people get into fights in Annette Marie's books, you can tell that the author has done her time on a tae kwon do floor (or boxing or whatever) and knows what it feels like to take a punch, to strategize in a fight, to be exhausted after less than a minute. I'm tired of people writing fight scenes who don't know what it feels like to fight. It's getting to be a deal breaker when I try out a new author.

Just a boring book. Nothing exceptional happens, no interesting characters, magic or anything else. Some of my minor annoyances:

- this book feels like it was written by/for a millennial. The protagonist and people around her consider minor acts of rudeness to be the ultimate insult

- every character is described by levels of handsomeness

- feels like the story is an excuse for a romance

Read 2:57 / 7:14 41%

UPDATE: Exactly as awesome on the second read-thru!
I had no expectation going into this book. I used to be a Bartender and the Fantasy/Bar was enough for me to buy!

I was hooked from the first chapter. Annette does a great job of giving the world-building and backstory in pieces, just like you would receive in getting to know a friend. Most of the characters are well fleshed out and you start feeling connected very quickly. All of which makes this book an immediate favorite!

I will say it's a fun read versus overly in-depth. The mystery quality in this book feels like a side plot rather than the main one. But since it's the first in the series I like that she spent more time on the characters.

Overall, this author is becoming a go-to pick for when I want something Fun & Easy that I know I'll like. Kind of my Urban Fantasy version of Heather Graham. I can't wait to devour the rest of this series!

Re-read! The series is completed this time around ^_^ Enjoying this re-read and it is fun knowing more about what is going on.

Original:
Can't stop, won't stop this binge. I already finished book 3. This is fantastic and fun. I've laughed so much and I adore that she's human. This is an Urban Fantasy.

this was so much fun! a great way to pass a lazy afternoon~

This is a quick, fun read. I enjoyed it. Sometimes I feel like reading something humorous, and this worked for that.
If you like urban fantasy, you will enjoy this. I plan to continue the series.

~Full review here on The Bent Bookworm!~

I was expecting to like Three Mages and a Margarita. I was NOT expecting to love it. And well..let's just say as soon as I finished I jumped onto GoodReads to see when the next one was coming out!

I signed up for the book tour because I like sassy female characters and felt like I could use a lighthearted, amusing read in the middle of all my heavy science stuff that I've been working on for months. The description made me think Jim Butcher and Gail Carriger had a brain-child...and I was NOT disappointed!

Characters

Tori is the bomb. She takes no shit, from anyone, and yet she still has soft heart and she tries to care about people. It's only sort of hinted at what sort of trauma her past holds (she tries to reveal-but-not-reveal to one other character in the book and it just left some things up in the air), but she has difficulty trusting anyone. She takes care of herself, but she tries to take care of other people too. The dichotomy is something she admits to struggling with, but it doesn't weigh the book down.

The three mages are, as promised, sexy AF. Despite that, it is not (also as promised) a reverse harem. Just a good dose of sexual tension and admiration on all sides, hence the two flames. Nothing too sexual though, though I feel like the potential is there. I am extremely eager to see what happens in subsequent books, and I'm kind of hoping for a HEA on all counts for this series. Because it just seems like it needs it. All three guys – despite being often seen together and best friends – are quite different and I loved them all but I loved Ezra just a teeny bit more. :heart_eyes: Ahem.

Worldbuilding

Now, I don't read that much urban fantasy, so it's possible the magic system isn't all that original, but I thought it was fascinating. I loved how the explanation of magic users in the modern world was explained, how they stayed hidden from the normal/human set, as well as how they used their powers and weapons.

Storyline
The plot kept it moving, which I really liked. The only reason I didn't read this all in one sitting was because – well, homework and being a responsible student.