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Power of Five #2
Mistake of Magic
Three trials stand between Lera and exile. Unless the training kills her first.
Quint magic has never chosen a human before, and the Elders Council is convinced Lera is a mistake.
When the quint refuses to be cleaved apart, the enraged elders give them a choice: exile from Lunos or demotion to the lowest of trainees. Subject again to the humiliations and deadly trials they endured centuries ago, the males now face a new challenge—training Lera to survive.
River, Shade, Coal, and Tye will do whatever it takes to keep Lera safe. But Lera will do whatever she must to keep them together—even if it means putting herself in mortal danger.
Quint magic has never chosen a human before, and the Elders Council is convinced Lera is a mistake.
When the quint refuses to be cleaved apart, the enraged elders give them a choice: exile from Lunos or demotion to the lowest of trainees. Subject again to the humiliations and deadly trials they endured centuries ago, the males now face a new challenge—training Lera to survive.
River, Shade, Coal, and Tye will do whatever it takes to keep Lera safe. But Lera will do whatever she must to keep them together—even if it means putting herself in mortal danger.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2018
4,621 people are currently reading
2,279 people want to read
About the author
Alex Lidell
66 books1,739 followersAlex Lidell is the Amazon Breakout Novel Awards finalist author of THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin) and several Amazon Top 100 Kindle Bestsellers, including the POWER OF FIVE romance series. She is an avid horseback rider who believes in eating dessert first. She writes as both Alex Lidell and A.L. Lidell.
Join Alex's newsletter for news, bonus content and sneak peeks: https://links.alexlidell.com/News
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 542 reviews
September 12, 2018
Have you ever read a book and thought the author must have looked inside your brain, taken all your favourite things and then put it into a story that was made just for you?
That is this book for me
It makes me feel
Warm, fuzzy and oh so satisfying
This picks up were we left off in book 1. The Quint are on their way to the Citadel to announce their intention of keeping Lera in the Quint. Everything doesn't go to plan and they end up having to complete the 3 trials as a new Quint sending the guys (who have 300 years of experience ) back to square one.
This means a lot more action in this one *high five*
Becoming the lowest rank of trainee causes a bit of tension between the other quints, along with the required trials Lera needs to take part in sends the overprotective-alpha-male tendencies of the 4 guys into overdrive
Tye-had me laughing out loud so many times - he's a keeper
Coal-still standoffish but coming around, alot more of his back story which was great
River- took a back seat in this one
and crème de la crème
Shade- I swear every time he said "Cub" I melted into a puddle on the floor
I struggled to find the extra half mark to put book 1 into the 5 star category, this one was a no brainier. I think it's because of the uncertainty of Lera's future in the Quint in the first whereas here they are fighting for her not against.
The heat level crept up a little (enough that I would put it from a NA to an Adult category but not vulgar)
High Five
I'm already looking forward to reading this again
Arc provided because my impatient self could not wait any longer - is it too early to ask for book 3 already?
That is this book for me
It makes me feel
Warm, fuzzy and oh so satisfying
This picks up were we left off in book 1. The Quint are on their way to the Citadel to announce their intention of keeping Lera in the Quint. Everything doesn't go to plan and they end up having to complete the 3 trials as a new Quint sending the guys (who have 300 years of experience ) back to square one.
This means a lot more action in this one *high five*
Becoming the lowest rank of trainee causes a bit of tension between the other quints, along with the required trials Lera needs to take part in sends the overprotective-alpha-male tendencies of the 4 guys into overdrive
Tye-had me laughing out loud so many times - he's a keeper
Coal-still standoffish but coming around, alot more of his back story which was great
River- took a back seat in this one
and crème de la crème
Shade- I swear every time he said "Cub" I melted into a puddle on the floor
I struggled to find the extra half mark to put book 1 into the 5 star category, this one was a no brainier. I think it's because of the uncertainty of Lera's future in the Quint in the first whereas here they are fighting for her not against.
The heat level crept up a little (enough that I would put it from a NA to an Adult category but not vulgar)
High Five
I'm already looking forward to reading this again
Arc provided because my impatient self could not wait any longer - is it too early to ask for book 3 already?
August 23, 2020
I am still liking the characters!
The story is moving forward a bit slower than I would like, but I am enjoying this enough to keep reading on to book 3. There was some great comedy as well as the continuing storyline that has been keeping my interest.
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The story is moving forward a bit slower than I would like, but I am enjoying this enough to keep reading on to book 3. There was some great comedy as well as the continuing storyline that has been keeping my interest.
“you may wish to let Shade care for him alone. Coal isn’t one to enjoy company when he’s hurt. When it’s me—and note that I say when, not if, because I think everyone knows I’ll do something stupid sooner or later—when it’s me, please feel free to sit by my side. You can brush my hair too; that always feels nice. And feel free to say soothing things about how tight my muscles are, how brave I am, how large my—”
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July 9, 2018
I adore this series so much. Actually I adore Lera and her guys.
Everything about this series is just so good, the writing style, the characters and the plot just flows so natural.
Waiting for the next book is like torture because I really want to know what happens next!
Everything about this series is just so good, the writing style, the characters and the plot just flows so natural.
Waiting for the next book is like torture because I really want to know what happens next!
December 31, 2018
This book was just as good as the first installment, not that I've come to expect anything less from this author. It's so much more than a reverse harem story, though I don't regret that aspect at all. I just love the bonds and the depth of emotion, especially on the part of the quint as it's not just from the heroine's point-of-view. All five perspectives are represented, and knowing what was going through everyone's head gave so much more insight into the bond. The situation with the trials is interesting, too, but as short as these books have been, I don't know how it'll all be tied up in the next book. I'm hoping it's not anyway...I could read a dozen more books in this series and still want more. (Also, you should be proud of the restraint I showed because I refrained from interjecting about a dozen smutty jokes and innuendo into this review. 😂)
July 11, 2018
I want more of Coal!
May 29, 2021
I am shook at how much I liked this.
1 star off because the choices Lera makes were
✨so stupid✨ that I threw this book at a wall.
Any-who, I can tell this series is just going to get better and better as the books go on and I’m here for it. 😎
1 star off because the choices Lera makes were
✨so stupid✨ that I threw this book at a wall.
Any-who, I can tell this series is just going to get better and better as the books go on and I’m here for it. 😎
October 9, 2018
Not bad for a second book.
Mistake for Magic was pretty entertaining. The smut definitely picked up between the guys and I loved it! I still hate Klarissa because I don't trust the snake. She's out for something and I just want to figure it out. Whether she just wants power, she's a double agent or going rogue, or if she wants my guy River - which is a no go girlfriend. HE HAS LERA YA BISH!
So the Quint travel to the council and that's where they basically don't approve of them bonding in a way. Mostly because of Lera being a human and shit.. but I don't give a flying fuck what they think. They are a bunch of douche canoes who are probably butt hurt that these guys are the second most powerful quint at like.. what.. half their age? I honestly don't know how old the these elders are.. but I know that I don't trust them one bit.
Throughout the book the guys main focus is to keep Lera safe. Meanwhile, she is doing everything in her power to make them safe. I found it pretty entertaining and interesting to see Lera sort of adapting to the guys and their powers throughout the trial. Of course no one really knows how or why it's a thing now.. but again, it was a little mystery that needed to be solved.
Overall, I can't wait to dive into the third to see how everything is going to play out.
Mistake for Magic was pretty entertaining. The smut definitely picked up between the guys and I loved it! I still hate Klarissa because I don't trust the snake. She's out for something and I just want to figure it out. Whether she just wants power, she's a double agent or going rogue, or if she wants my guy River - which is a no go girlfriend. HE HAS LERA YA BISH!
So the Quint travel to the council and that's where they basically don't approve of them bonding in a way. Mostly because of Lera being a human and shit.. but I don't give a flying fuck what they think. They are a bunch of douche canoes who are probably butt hurt that these guys are the second most powerful quint at like.. what.. half their age? I honestly don't know how old the these elders are.. but I know that I don't trust them one bit.
Throughout the book the guys main focus is to keep Lera safe. Meanwhile, she is doing everything in her power to make them safe. I found it pretty entertaining and interesting to see Lera sort of adapting to the guys and their powers throughout the trial. Of course no one really knows how or why it's a thing now.. but again, it was a little mystery that needed to be solved.
Overall, I can't wait to dive into the third to see how everything is going to play out.
July 3, 2018
5 favorite stars
I do believe MISTAKE OF MAGIC has secured POWER OF FIVE a place in my all-time favorite series. There was so much to love here – not a sophomore book slump in sight. The character development has been wonderful, and I still love each of them. The worldbuilding remains stellar. There is plenty of tension. All in all, this should go on your must-read list if you enjoy RH - especially if you are searching for something a little different than the ubiquitous paranormal and urban-fantasy RHs.
One of the strengths of POWER OF FIVE lies in the characters. Lera is a great heroine – strong yet innocent, a little naïve, occasionally fearful, sometimes stupid. But all in a believable way that she is growing out of as she gains more life experience and begins to trust and rely on both herself and her males. It is wonderful to see a strong MC that does not need to be snarky and sassy and violently aggressive – a trope that I have been reading a little too much of late.
Shade and Coal remain two of my favorite male characters. Shade is just adorably sweet and I loved the sexy scene where he lost control with Lera. Yum! I love his possessiveness and his unabashed need for Lera. Coal is pretty much Shade’s opposite in every way – aloof, controlled, nearly cruel in his desperation to keep Lera at arm’s length – but needing her just as badly as Shade does. And I think River may become one of my favorites once he gets his head out of his arse. There were glimmers of that here and his personality type – all controlled, dominant, alpha male – is generally one of my favorites. Lastly, Tye is the perfect foil for the other three and his humor adds a much-needed lightness to the series.
Perhaps part of my love for the series is the “Curse of the Gods by Jaymin Eve and Jane Washington” vibe that I got in book 2. Many of the aspects I most loved in that series were echoed here – but without feeling “copycat” in any way. It does have the Citadel for training, which is a little like CotG – but it's more about the way they interact. I really love the characters. Lera has a slightly similar feel to Willa Knight in that they are strong but also innocent and a little reticent. And that both are strongest when with their harem, because part of their ability comes from them.
If I have any cavils with MISTAKE OF MAGIC it is that it is too short. Actually, both books are too short. Even if they were 500 pages I would probably feel that way (though they are definitely not). There were a couple of frustrating/stupid decisions, and a few headscratcher metaphors, but none that derailed the read for me, because they were generally resolved pretty quickly (and a few may be addressed before release). And overall, it was very well written. There were a number of quotable lines that I LOVED. I may just have to dig them out.
Bottom line? Must. Read.
Really. Get it now!
UPDATE PROGRESS NOTES: (from ARC read)
87.0% "Yep, knew that was coming! There is no way this hadn't been staged with the third option the only one that would be available."
83.0% "Okay, I truly, honestly cannot believe Lera's stupidity with this. Wow. Everything I hate in MC dumb decisions and secret-keeping all rolled into one. Argh."
80.0% "Okay, now Lera leaving the suite in the dark of night with none of the males with her for protection is a seriously dumb dumb dumb move. Especially when she knows they want her dead. ARGH!"
62.0% "Hmm... I thought I remembered an earlier description of the pile of uniform clothing the quartermaster had given Lera. That certainly didn't sound like she was only given one outfit. In fact, that wouldn't really make sense given how much physical exercise they are doing. So why is she in her own clothes because the uniform she had on is full of sand?"
57.0% "This is a little frustrating. Though Lera may not be able to find it now, it is stupid to deny it ever existed when she clearly felt it in the arena and River knew she used it. So instead of arguing that it didn't exist, trying to work with him to find it would be much more logical. Even if that also fails and gets them back to the same place when their frustrations boil over."
50.0% "Uh seriously guys, even a little communication with Lera about what was going on with Shade's wolf would have prevented or at least delayed this problem. Why on earth would no one tell her this in advance?? Gah."
33.0% "Umm... why would a third trial quint be testing against a first trial quint? Would that be normal to have to defeat a much more advanced quint in your first trial? Or is it generally expected that most quints don't start ANY of their trials until they feel they can best all other trainees at the Citadel?"
29.0% "Loving this so far! Though what has happened at the Citadel was not a surprise, I suspect the quint will pay for the manner of their arrival. Uh oh."
Note: I received an ARC of Mistake of Magic in return for my honest review.
I do believe MISTAKE OF MAGIC has secured POWER OF FIVE a place in my all-time favorite series. There was so much to love here – not a sophomore book slump in sight. The character development has been wonderful, and I still love each of them. The worldbuilding remains stellar. There is plenty of tension. All in all, this should go on your must-read list if you enjoy RH - especially if you are searching for something a little different than the ubiquitous paranormal and urban-fantasy RHs.
One of the strengths of POWER OF FIVE lies in the characters. Lera is a great heroine – strong yet innocent, a little naïve, occasionally fearful, sometimes stupid. But all in a believable way that she is growing out of as she gains more life experience and begins to trust and rely on both herself and her males. It is wonderful to see a strong MC that does not need to be snarky and sassy and violently aggressive – a trope that I have been reading a little too much of late.
Shade and Coal remain two of my favorite male characters. Shade is just adorably sweet and I loved the sexy scene where he lost control with Lera. Yum! I love his possessiveness and his unabashed need for Lera. Coal is pretty much Shade’s opposite in every way – aloof, controlled, nearly cruel in his desperation to keep Lera at arm’s length – but needing her just as badly as Shade does. And I think River may become one of my favorites once he gets his head out of his arse. There were glimmers of that here and his personality type – all controlled, dominant, alpha male – is generally one of my favorites. Lastly, Tye is the perfect foil for the other three and his humor adds a much-needed lightness to the series.
Perhaps part of my love for the series is the “Curse of the Gods by Jaymin Eve and Jane Washington” vibe that I got in book 2. Many of the aspects I most loved in that series were echoed here – but without feeling “copycat” in any way. It does have the Citadel for training, which is a little like CotG – but it's more about the way they interact. I really love the characters. Lera has a slightly similar feel to Willa Knight in that they are strong but also innocent and a little reticent. And that both are strongest when with their harem, because part of their ability comes from them.
If I have any cavils with MISTAKE OF MAGIC it is that it is too short. Actually, both books are too short. Even if they were 500 pages I would probably feel that way (though they are definitely not). There were a couple of frustrating/stupid decisions, and a few headscratcher metaphors, but none that derailed the read for me, because they were generally resolved pretty quickly (and a few may be addressed before release). And overall, it was very well written. There were a number of quotable lines that I LOVED. I may just have to dig them out.
Bottom line? Must. Read.
Really. Get it now!
UPDATE PROGRESS NOTES: (from ARC read)
87.0% "Yep, knew that was coming! There is no way this hadn't been staged with the third option the only one that would be available."
83.0% "Okay, I truly, honestly cannot believe Lera's stupidity with this. Wow. Everything I hate in MC dumb decisions and secret-keeping all rolled into one. Argh."
80.0% "Okay, now Lera leaving the suite in the dark of night with none of the males with her for protection is a seriously dumb dumb dumb move. Especially when she knows they want her dead. ARGH!"
62.0% "Hmm... I thought I remembered an earlier description of the pile of uniform clothing the quartermaster had given Lera. That certainly didn't sound like she was only given one outfit. In fact, that wouldn't really make sense given how much physical exercise they are doing. So why is she in her own clothes because the uniform she had on is full of sand?"
57.0% "This is a little frustrating. Though Lera may not be able to find it now, it is stupid to deny it ever existed when she clearly felt it in the arena and River knew she used it. So instead of arguing that it didn't exist, trying to work with him to find it would be much more logical. Even if that also fails and gets them back to the same place when their frustrations boil over."
50.0% "Uh seriously guys, even a little communication with Lera about what was going on with Shade's wolf would have prevented or at least delayed this problem. Why on earth would no one tell her this in advance?? Gah."
33.0% "Umm... why would a third trial quint be testing against a first trial quint? Would that be normal to have to defeat a much more advanced quint in your first trial? Or is it generally expected that most quints don't start ANY of their trials until they feel they can best all other trainees at the Citadel?"
29.0% "Loving this so far! Though what has happened at the Citadel was not a surprise, I suspect the quint will pay for the manner of their arrival. Uh oh."
Note: I received an ARC of Mistake of Magic in return for my honest review.
July 16, 2018
Hmmm so this was pretty disappointing.
✗ I feel like a read a couple of chapters from a bigger book. The book just stops and I don't feel like any major development resolved here. Since with 216 pages I definitely would not call this a chunkster, I think author should have maybe merged this and book #3.
✗ I thought that 'reverse harem' label meant upgrade of 'menage'. And I was intrigued to find out how the author will pull that off - 4 males and one females in a relationship. But so far, MC is jumping in affection from one to another. The one who is closest to her attracts her the most and then 5 minutes later it's another one...
While I like the whole idea behind the plot of Power of Five series, the books is more erotic-fantasy-romance then anything else. In other words, a lot of lovin' at every available moment and a small amount of plot. So however the events are intriguing me, I am not sure how much of Lyra's indecision I can stomach.
✗ I feel like a read a couple of chapters from a bigger book. The book just stops and I don't feel like any major development resolved here. Since with 216 pages I definitely would not call this a chunkster, I think author should have maybe merged this and book #3.
✗ I thought that 'reverse harem' label meant upgrade of 'menage'. And I was intrigued to find out how the author will pull that off - 4 males and one females in a relationship. But so far, MC is jumping in affection from one to another. The one who is closest to her attracts her the most and then 5 minutes later it's another one...
While I like the whole idea behind the plot of Power of Five series, the books is more erotic-fantasy-romance then anything else. In other words, a lot of lovin' at every available moment and a small amount of plot. So however the events are intriguing me, I am not sure how much of Lyra's indecision I can stomach.
July 18, 2019
This sequel just felt underwhelming. I'm quite disappointed. A reverse harem of 4 fae males? Should've been in the bag. But it's just reading a little too young for me right now. I'm feeling bored with Leralynn. I like the males, but there wasn't enough of a strong plot in the beginning to keep me invested. The 2nd half of the book got significantly better -- and this is why I will continue reading the series. I am very interested to see how the rest of the trials play out. I also want to see more harem action! Book one had a verrrrry steamy scene and dammit, I want more of that!!
March 20, 2019
Guilty pleasure.
October 15, 2018
Short and sweet! This series is proving to be pretty darn enjoyable. What girl doesn’t love a reverse harem situation? The only thing I struggle with is the affinity she has for all four guys. It seems to me like there might be one or two that she’d prefer. But who am I to judge a girl who has four gorgeous immortal fae males vying for her attention? I’d probably want to jump all their bones too!
January 17, 2019
I'm really enjoying this series so far. I'm definitely interested in continuing on to the next book. My only complaint is that these are short books and I don't really think that this was worth $4.99. I hate when authors break stories into continuing parts and charge a typical full length (longer) standalone book price for each installment. But hey, I paid for it and am considering paying for the next one so I can see what happens next so obviously the author can get away with it. :)
July 2, 2018
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Mistake of Magic is the second book in the new adult fantasy romance Power of Five series by Alex Lidell. You all know how much I LOVED POwer of Five. It sent me into a spiraling book hangover. So much so, after reading 3 other books that I thought would help me move past my obsession of Power of Five, I had to go back and re-read Power of Five a mere 3 days after I binge read it the first time. I am so in love with all of the characters. So when Mistake of Magic was being edited, I was a big ole pile of impatient-ness. And when I did get my hands on it, I was so excited that I went back and re-read book one...again. Yes, that makes 3 times this year. I can't remember the last time I read a book 3 times in one year. And let me tell you, Mistake of Magic did not disappoint. The Power of Five series continues to be one of my favorite series of all time.
In case you are new to this series, Power of Five series is a fae fantasy and it is the story of a group of four elite fae warriors, who have been searching for years for the fifth member that will complete their warrior quint. They are all shock to find it is a human girl named Lera. Mistake of Magic takes place right after the events of Power of Five. Lera and her fae are forced to undergo the trials that all quints must face in order to become a warrior unit. We also get to explore more about the magic that binds Lera's quint together and the uniqueness of their bond. I love unraveling the secrets of this world. And of course, I love seeing Lera with all of her guys. Mistake of Magic was every bit as yummy and wonderful as the first book. Plus, fans of a competition element will love reading about the trials. And they will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. We get to see 2 trials in this book, and oh boy! I was sweating them!
We really got know each of the characters so much better in this book. And now that I have read two books worth of Coal, River, Shade and Tye I want to share some of my thoughts on each of them. Starting with Tye. Tye is the carefree flirt of the group. I love that Tye is always trying to cheer Lera up, but in this book we also got to see a glimpse of another side to Tye and I am loving it. I agree with Lera- Tye is a bit of a mystery to me. I need to figure him out! Shade. I love Shade but he did annoy me a bit in this book. Something he did irked me, and yes, I know it wasn't totally him. (Email me if you have read this series, so I can discuss it with you!) River. Oh River, I love you so. I loved that we got to see so much more of River in Mistake of Magic, and it just made me love him even more. His connection with Lera is something really special. I am looking forward to more of River in the next book. And then there is Coal, my favorite member of the quint. Coal and Lera have a super special extra layer of connection and I want so much more of that in the next book. We got to see a ton of Coal in Mistake of Magic and I lapped it all up greedily! He is so stoic and stern, and you can just tell there is so much simmering beneath the surface with him. I just have such a special place in my heart for River and Coal. I love them all, but I really really love Coal and River.
Fans of new adult fantasy romances do not want to miss this series because it will soon join your favorites shelf. As a reminder, there are multiple love interests in this series, but if you are unsure of how that will play out, just read the book! I promise you will be a convert and you will immediately fall in love with Lera, River, Coal, Tye, and Shade. I cannot get enough of this book! Everyone needs to read it immediately. (It is free on Kindle unlimited, so if you are a KU member, go grab this book this instant!) One of my favorite reads of 2018 and one of my favorite series of all time!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Mistake of Magic is the second book in the new adult fantasy romance Power of Five series by Alex Lidell. You all know how much I LOVED POwer of Five. It sent me into a spiraling book hangover. So much so, after reading 3 other books that I thought would help me move past my obsession of Power of Five, I had to go back and re-read Power of Five a mere 3 days after I binge read it the first time. I am so in love with all of the characters. So when Mistake of Magic was being edited, I was a big ole pile of impatient-ness. And when I did get my hands on it, I was so excited that I went back and re-read book one...again. Yes, that makes 3 times this year. I can't remember the last time I read a book 3 times in one year. And let me tell you, Mistake of Magic did not disappoint. The Power of Five series continues to be one of my favorite series of all time.
In case you are new to this series, Power of Five series is a fae fantasy and it is the story of a group of four elite fae warriors, who have been searching for years for the fifth member that will complete their warrior quint. They are all shock to find it is a human girl named Lera. Mistake of Magic takes place right after the events of Power of Five. Lera and her fae are forced to undergo the trials that all quints must face in order to become a warrior unit. We also get to explore more about the magic that binds Lera's quint together and the uniqueness of their bond. I love unraveling the secrets of this world. And of course, I love seeing Lera with all of her guys. Mistake of Magic was every bit as yummy and wonderful as the first book. Plus, fans of a competition element will love reading about the trials. And they will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. We get to see 2 trials in this book, and oh boy! I was sweating them!
We really got know each of the characters so much better in this book. And now that I have read two books worth of Coal, River, Shade and Tye I want to share some of my thoughts on each of them. Starting with Tye. Tye is the carefree flirt of the group. I love that Tye is always trying to cheer Lera up, but in this book we also got to see a glimpse of another side to Tye and I am loving it. I agree with Lera- Tye is a bit of a mystery to me. I need to figure him out! Shade. I love Shade but he did annoy me a bit in this book. Something he did irked me, and yes, I know it wasn't totally him. (Email me if you have read this series, so I can discuss it with you!) River. Oh River, I love you so. I loved that we got to see so much more of River in Mistake of Magic, and it just made me love him even more. His connection with Lera is something really special. I am looking forward to more of River in the next book. And then there is Coal, my favorite member of the quint. Coal and Lera have a super special extra layer of connection and I want so much more of that in the next book. We got to see a ton of Coal in Mistake of Magic and I lapped it all up greedily! He is so stoic and stern, and you can just tell there is so much simmering beneath the surface with him. I just have such a special place in my heart for River and Coal. I love them all, but I really really love Coal and River.
Fans of new adult fantasy romances do not want to miss this series because it will soon join your favorites shelf. As a reminder, there are multiple love interests in this series, but if you are unsure of how that will play out, just read the book! I promise you will be a convert and you will immediately fall in love with Lera, River, Coal, Tye, and Shade. I cannot get enough of this book! Everyone needs to read it immediately. (It is free on Kindle unlimited, so if you are a KU member, go grab this book this instant!) One of my favorite reads of 2018 and one of my favorite series of all time!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
January 24, 2025
There’s just something delicious about a 200-300 page book
September 29, 2020
ENTER AN AMAZING GIVEAWAY HERE!
Alex Lidell has managed to write a completely addicting novel again, providing us with the kind of addiction that makes you put the book down after more than three hours of non-stop reading in the early hours of the day, only because your device died from battery. And, of course, it has you starting reading right from where you left off, the second you wake up the next morning.
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If I thought the first installment of the Power of Five (PoF) series was an amazing read, I was in for the most pleasant surprise with Mistake of Magic (MoM).
In fact, it might have been the second in a series, but it was even more amazing than the first book! It was exactly what the second book should always be (and in most cases isn't, which makes it all the more awesome)! It extends the story line, the base of which was set on PoF, and strengthens both the plot, the twists and turns, the action and, of course, the relationships between the heroes.
Inevitably, my review for MoM will extend to the whole of the series so far, but that's an amazing thing for this series. Because, these books fall under the genre of Reverse Harem, but they are much much much more complicated than that. Our heroine, Lera, doesn't simply form a bond with all her guys right from the beginning, and certainly not right from the first book. Instead, it is a gradual process, which takes into account the unique personality of each of the characters. And, I couldn't love that more!!!
So, in the first book we thought Lera had gotten closer to Tye (at least around the end), but oh, the author liked to tease us during MoM, turning the tables, and surprising us around every corner. But, even if I was initially confused by the turn of events and the order with which everything happened (and despite the fact that I loved all of it), one thing I've learned to do while reading this series is to never doubt how thoroughly the author has thought out and set everything. And, I was right to do so!
I can't really go on without spoiling everything left and right from my excitement, but I definitely recommend this book to absolutely everyone (who is 18+, that is *wink wink*).
All in all, 6 out of 5 stars for a read that utterly amazed me, packed with action, sexiness, clever, playful, protective and brooding males and a female lead that became stronger and stronger with each passing page, blossoming into a person who rightfully belongs to the second most powerful quints of all time!
Alex Lidell has managed to write a completely addicting novel again, providing us with the kind of addiction that makes you put the book down after more than three hours of non-stop reading in the early hours of the day, only because your device died from battery. And, of course, it has you starting reading right from where you left off, the second you wake up the next morning.
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If I thought the first installment of the Power of Five (PoF) series was an amazing read, I was in for the most pleasant surprise with Mistake of Magic (MoM).
In fact, it might have been the second in a series, but it was even more amazing than the first book! It was exactly what the second book should always be (and in most cases isn't, which makes it all the more awesome)! It extends the story line, the base of which was set on PoF, and strengthens both the plot, the twists and turns, the action and, of course, the relationships between the heroes.
Inevitably, my review for MoM will extend to the whole of the series so far, but that's an amazing thing for this series. Because, these books fall under the genre of Reverse Harem, but they are much much much more complicated than that. Our heroine, Lera, doesn't simply form a bond with all her guys right from the beginning, and certainly not right from the first book. Instead, it is a gradual process, which takes into account the unique personality of each of the characters. And, I couldn't love that more!!!
So, in the first book we thought Lera had gotten closer to Tye (at least around the end), but oh, the author liked to tease us during MoM, turning the tables, and surprising us around every corner. But, even if I was initially confused by the turn of events and the order with which everything happened (and despite the fact that I loved all of it), one thing I've learned to do while reading this series is to never doubt how thoroughly the author has thought out and set everything. And, I was right to do so!
I can't really go on without spoiling everything left and right from my excitement, but I definitely recommend this book to absolutely everyone (who is 18+, that is *wink wink*).
All in all, 6 out of 5 stars for a read that utterly amazed me, packed with action, sexiness, clever, playful, protective and brooding males and a female lead that became stronger and stronger with each passing page, blossoming into a person who rightfully belongs to the second most powerful quints of all time!
July 10, 2018
Oh boy, I tell ya... when a book is really good it goes by so fast that before you even realize it, you're all ready at the damn end of it.... ha, ha, ha, and what do you find at the end? A damn cliffhanger!!!
Anyway this little series is a good read, even though the author's writing style is much to be desired but getting past that this is still a good series... I do love the storyline and it's characters.
Overall rating:
4*~ Pretty Good Read
Anyway this little series is a good read, even though the author's writing style is much to be desired but getting past that this is still a good series... I do love the storyline and it's characters.
Overall rating:
4*~ Pretty Good Read
January 19, 2021
In this follow up to Power of Five, the four warrior fae and Lera finally make their way to the Citadel. Because they have a new member in their quint, they discover that they can’t just pledge their allegiance. They have to undergo the same trials that all new quints go through to prove their strength and ability to protect the world from the evil (and still quite mysterious) Mors. This shouldn’t be a problem, BUT Lera is human, and definitely not a warrior, yet she’s going to be put in life or death situations. Many fae die during the trials, so a twenty-year-old human girl is definitely in serious danger.
Mistake of Magic is full of action scenes, drama, tons of romance, and we get to learn more about the fae and their powers. We also delve deeper into Coal and River’s backstories, as they get more POV scenes in this book. Coal’s abilities are quite interesting, and I love the way that they tie perfectly into the overall plotline for this book. This novel doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does introduce what will happen in the third instalment in this series.
5 stars!
Mistake of Magic is full of action scenes, drama, tons of romance, and we get to learn more about the fae and their powers. We also delve deeper into Coal and River’s backstories, as they get more POV scenes in this book. Coal’s abilities are quite interesting, and I love the way that they tie perfectly into the overall plotline for this book. This novel doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does introduce what will happen in the third instalment in this series.
5 stars!
August 8, 2024
✅ Smut / Reverse-Harem
✅ Romance / Relationships
✅🆗 Characters
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 World-building
🆗❌ Plot
This book is better than the first one. The interactions between Lera and the four males are similar to those in the first book, but at least she has spent a few weeks with them by now instead of a few days so it makes more sense (to me).
My problem now is more with the series as a whole. I was expecting this series to be about Lera and the quint fighting evil creatures and defending their lands, but it seems that it will be solely on whether or not they can be officially recognized as a quint. They only finished one of their three challenges in this book (and made an attempt to a second one), so the next book will still be about them finishing their challenges I guess...
It is not a bad book, I just don't see the point of dragging this whole "let's go to see the elder and prove to them that we can work together" on for two books. I found it weird that the first book was only about them traveling for a week, but now it feels as though these two books (and probably the third one also) could and should have been put together in one long book instead of splitting everything into small 200 pages books with weird endings (because the ending of Mistake of Magic is really unsatisfying and in a weird place in the story).
I probably will not read the next book, not because I did not enjoy Mistake of Magic, but more because I don't really want to read yet another book about them trying to prove that they can be a quint without a bigger plot or a bigger goal. Some parts of the book are funny and sexy, but the plot is close to non-existent.
1. Power of Five ⭐⭐.5
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✅ Romance / Relationships
✅🆗 Characters
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 World-building
🆗❌ Plot
This book is better than the first one. The interactions between Lera and the four males are similar to those in the first book, but at least she has spent a few weeks with them by now instead of a few days so it makes more sense (to me).
My problem now is more with the series as a whole. I was expecting this series to be about Lera and the quint fighting evil creatures and defending their lands, but it seems that it will be solely on whether or not they can be officially recognized as a quint. They only finished one of their three challenges in this book (and made an attempt to a second one), so the next book will still be about them finishing their challenges I guess...
It is not a bad book, I just don't see the point of dragging this whole "let's go to see the elder and prove to them that we can work together" on for two books. I found it weird that the first book was only about them traveling for a week, but now it feels as though these two books (and probably the third one also) could and should have been put together in one long book instead of splitting everything into small 200 pages books with weird endings (because the ending of Mistake of Magic is really unsatisfying and in a weird place in the story).
I probably will not read the next book, not because I did not enjoy Mistake of Magic, but more because I don't really want to read yet another book about them trying to prove that they can be a quint without a bigger plot or a bigger goal. Some parts of the book are funny and sexy, but the plot is close to non-existent.
1. Power of Five ⭐⭐.5
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September 10, 2018
Leralynn and the quint travel to the capital to renew their oaths and seal their bond. The council (and Klarissa especially) are against this decision as they feel having a mortal on the team will only weaken the quint. In order to stay together and prove their bond, the quint must compete in the trials created to train newly formed quints. It is a bit of an insult to the four fae warriors in River's quint, but it also highly dangerous for Lera since even fae sometimes die in the trials. As they compete, there are several distractions - the growing desires between the guys and Lera, the politics of the council, and a strange ability that Lera discovers in one of the trials.
Yep, still just average for me. We do get a little more plot occurring since book one introduced the characters and the world. Perhaps I am still comparing it to the other series that I read from Alex Lidell, but it is just not as good. Lera flip-flops from being a meek mortal to almost aggressive bravery as she struggles to find her place and purpose within the group. We also learned a little more about Coal's background, but his character and the other guy's are still not completely fleshed out. I'm still going to read the 3rd book when it comes out in a couple of weeks, but unless something amazing happens, I'm not sure I will put the 4th on my "to read" list.
Yep, still just average for me. We do get a little more plot occurring since book one introduced the characters and the world. Perhaps I am still comparing it to the other series that I read from Alex Lidell, but it is just not as good. Lera flip-flops from being a meek mortal to almost aggressive bravery as she struggles to find her place and purpose within the group. We also learned a little more about Coal's background, but his character and the other guy's are still not completely fleshed out. I'm still going to read the 3rd book when it comes out in a couple of weeks, but unless something amazing happens, I'm not sure I will put the 4th on my "to read" list.
November 2, 2018
Mini-Review:
Good follow up to the first book of the series. My biggest complaint for this book is the serial style format. It's more like reading a story progression for a net serial than a book. It's not awful but not the reflective of the series being a book series vs a periodic installment. Nice framework to show off how the training of the quint warriors work and a bit more about the inner politics of the fae world.
The story continues to be a fun PNR. A little bit of irony that the sexy parts are not as engaging as the rest.
Good follow up to the first book of the series. My biggest complaint for this book is the serial style format. It's more like reading a story progression for a net serial than a book. It's not awful but not the reflective of the series being a book series vs a periodic installment. Nice framework to show off how the training of the quint warriors work and a bit more about the inner politics of the fae world.
The story continues to be a fun PNR. A little bit of irony that the sexy parts are not as engaging as the rest.
May 16, 2024
3.5⭐️
I enjoyed being back in this world and picked the threads of the story up quickly. Coal, Tye, River, Shade and Lera are at the citadel to take their oath as a new quint. Because Lera is a mortal the council make them start their initiations again even though the 3 males completed their trials hundreds of years before. Through the trials Lera’s role as a weaver is discovered but that brings with it positives in that she can potentially survive and negatives in the emotional duress it causes the rest of the group.
Relationships also get stronger individually within the quint which is good to see. I would have liked a bit more from the book though and hoping the next in the series delivers.
I enjoyed being back in this world and picked the threads of the story up quickly. Coal, Tye, River, Shade and Lera are at the citadel to take their oath as a new quint. Because Lera is a mortal the council make them start their initiations again even though the 3 males completed their trials hundreds of years before. Through the trials Lera’s role as a weaver is discovered but that brings with it positives in that she can potentially survive and negatives in the emotional duress it causes the rest of the group.
Relationships also get stronger individually within the quint which is good to see. I would have liked a bit more from the book though and hoping the next in the series delivers.
October 3, 2018
Thank you Sharon J for recommending this book series to me. This was an incredible read. The story was really interesting and I loved how we got to see the trials and how they are like in this book. Also, I really Love Leralynn. She is a bold, fierce heroine and I thought that she grew in this book because she decided to be apart of the quint. Also, I really thought the boys were amazing. I still can’t choose who is my favourite, but I love that they all have different personalities. The ending was really intriguing. I can’t wait to read book 3. Overall, a fantastic read.
July 2, 2018
I really enjoyed the first book but now I just feel like this is going to drag on forever. A discovery was made about Lera and some new facets of our 5 guys revealed but it just wasn’t enough to keep me thoroughly engrossed. I mean we are still basically where we left off in the first book with a tiny bit more info. The FMC whiplashes between damsel in distress and heroine, her character itself seems unbalanced and her “bravery” tends toward recklessness not equipped with the training or knowledge she needs to actually accomplish her goals. At first glance the enemy in the series seems to be the mor however they don’t actually get to focus on that enemy as they seem focused on the council being the enemy. And it’s fine having 2 enemies or even more in a story but can we beat one so we can focus on the others already. These stories are extremely short making plot progression really slow. Seems this could go on for a while. Maybe I’ll wait till the next 5 books are out so we can actually get somewhere.
June 30, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
I thought book one was good but this one totally blows it out of the water!! Lera and her quint are traveling to reinforce their bond instead of severing it. When they reach the place to do it we gets all kinds of drama, action, magic, steamy bits, and so very much more. Honestly there is so much awesomeness going on that I could not bring myself to put the book down once I got started as I had to know what happened next. Amazing world building, characters with layers of depth, and enough surprises to keep you turning the page. After everything that happened in this book I cannot wait to see where this goes next. An absolute must read for fans of the genre. I loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
I thought book one was good but this one totally blows it out of the water!! Lera and her quint are traveling to reinforce their bond instead of severing it. When they reach the place to do it we gets all kinds of drama, action, magic, steamy bits, and so very much more. Honestly there is so much awesomeness going on that I could not bring myself to put the book down once I got started as I had to know what happened next. Amazing world building, characters with layers of depth, and enough surprises to keep you turning the page. After everything that happened in this book I cannot wait to see where this goes next. An absolute must read for fans of the genre. I loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
August 3, 2021
Well written, but not the right book for me. I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with all the petty drama at the Citadel, both at the trials and the jealousies.
Put it to the side for a while and picked it up again when looking for an audiobook. The narration was good, but I dnf after growing bored. A shame, I really wanted to like it :(
Put it to the side for a while and picked it up again when looking for an audiobook. The narration was good, but I dnf after growing bored. A shame, I really wanted to like it :(
June 30, 2018
It was Interesting, i do find this to short tho. I would have liked it if it was longer.
January 3, 2019
A Dec 2018 I'm sick as shit read
I'm low-key loving this series. Author went CrAzY and wrote it as more than a sex-fest.
I'm low-key loving this series. Author went CrAzY and wrote it as more than a sex-fest.
June 28, 2018
I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I really enjoyed Mistake of Magic. It's well written and the characters are a joy to read about. I just wanted to keep on reading. In this book Lera and the rest of her quint travel to the Elders Council where they want to take their oath as a quint, but things don't go as smoothly as they hope. They end up having to go to the trials again and that's quite the challenge. There also is a great twist, which I am curious to see how that develops in the next book.
When reading the blurb I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the direction the plot took. And while reading the book it quickly turns out that while the council might be fighting the right fight, there are a lot of bad and harsh things happening here as well. But overall the tone of the book was still pretty positive. And I think I even enjoyed it more than book 1. Because where book 1 was a lot of the introduction, book 2 took everything further and developed the relationships and characters and it was totally awesome.
I already mentioned in my review of Power of Five that the author did the characterization really well, each character has their own personality and in this book that all gets explored a bit more. There is so much more to each character and we see more of that in this book. I really enjoyed reading about Lera and her quint and I loved seeing their relationships develops. In this book we really feel how much the men mean to Lera and also the other way around. Each of the men shows this in their own way.
Lera continues to be a great main character. She has an interesting blend of characteristics. While she has little physical strength, she can be very stubborn and determined. She stands up for what she believes in and is sure of herself. Even tough this world is new to her she handles herself well. She tries to be strong, but also has her flaws. She can be a bit impulsive at times and has trouble dealing with some things. Which felt all pretty realistic.
I liked seeing how Lera got to know each of the men better and how she has a different relationship with all of them. There are additional layers about each character we discover in this book and I really liked learning more about them. Each relationship develops at a different pace and in a different way. I like all of the males and it also was great we got a few chapters from each of their point of views.
Ir's hard to pick a favorite as each of the men is so good for her in a way. River is all controlled, carrying a lot of responsibility and being the leader. He craves Lera, but rarely shows it and he can be a bit rude/ nasty at times. Shade is so cuddly and protective of Lera and there's a whole new dimension of his instincts and wolf side here. Tye might come across as the happy go lucky guy, who can get any women, but there is more to him as well and I really liked how he staged intervention to prevent things from escalating at times. Coal is all closed up and a warrior and I liked seeing the hint of vulnerability in him in this book. And what he did for Lera toward the end of the book was so sad and so caring at the same time. The depth of their emotions and feelings for Lera really shines through in this book and they all have their own gestures and ways to show they care.
This book adds a bit to our understanding of this world. Mostly about how the council works and how quints train and how harsh this world can be at times. And also a bit about magic and how quints work. I think this book was an important one in terms of developing the story, characters and the world.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book and it felt like I flew through the book. It's very well written and I liked discovering where she story went next. My favorite part of this book are probably the characters, I really like Lera and the four men. The author did a great job developing their personalities and their relationships. There are adding additional layers to their personalities we discover in this book and it was great to get to know them better. Lera's relationship with each of the men is different and develops at a different pace and way, which really works. There are also some struggles with how they work as a group and I loved seeing it all change and develop. The characters and romance really is one of the best parts of this series. There is some more we learn about the world as well. All in all this was a great sequel and I am looking forward to book 3!
I really enjoyed Mistake of Magic. It's well written and the characters are a joy to read about. I just wanted to keep on reading. In this book Lera and the rest of her quint travel to the Elders Council where they want to take their oath as a quint, but things don't go as smoothly as they hope. They end up having to go to the trials again and that's quite the challenge. There also is a great twist, which I am curious to see how that develops in the next book.
When reading the blurb I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the direction the plot took. And while reading the book it quickly turns out that while the council might be fighting the right fight, there are a lot of bad and harsh things happening here as well. But overall the tone of the book was still pretty positive. And I think I even enjoyed it more than book 1. Because where book 1 was a lot of the introduction, book 2 took everything further and developed the relationships and characters and it was totally awesome.
I already mentioned in my review of Power of Five that the author did the characterization really well, each character has their own personality and in this book that all gets explored a bit more. There is so much more to each character and we see more of that in this book. I really enjoyed reading about Lera and her quint and I loved seeing their relationships develops. In this book we really feel how much the men mean to Lera and also the other way around. Each of the men shows this in their own way.
Lera continues to be a great main character. She has an interesting blend of characteristics. While she has little physical strength, she can be very stubborn and determined. She stands up for what she believes in and is sure of herself. Even tough this world is new to her she handles herself well. She tries to be strong, but also has her flaws. She can be a bit impulsive at times and has trouble dealing with some things. Which felt all pretty realistic.
I liked seeing how Lera got to know each of the men better and how she has a different relationship with all of them. There are additional layers about each character we discover in this book and I really liked learning more about them. Each relationship develops at a different pace and in a different way. I like all of the males and it also was great we got a few chapters from each of their point of views.
Ir's hard to pick a favorite as each of the men is so good for her in a way. River is all controlled, carrying a lot of responsibility and being the leader. He craves Lera, but rarely shows it and he can be a bit rude/ nasty at times. Shade is so cuddly and protective of Lera and there's a whole new dimension of his instincts and wolf side here. Tye might come across as the happy go lucky guy, who can get any women, but there is more to him as well and I really liked how he staged intervention to prevent things from escalating at times. Coal is all closed up and a warrior and I liked seeing the hint of vulnerability in him in this book. And what he did for Lera toward the end of the book was so sad and so caring at the same time. The depth of their emotions and feelings for Lera really shines through in this book and they all have their own gestures and ways to show they care.
This book adds a bit to our understanding of this world. Mostly about how the council works and how quints train and how harsh this world can be at times. And also a bit about magic and how quints work. I think this book was an important one in terms of developing the story, characters and the world.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book and it felt like I flew through the book. It's very well written and I liked discovering where she story went next. My favorite part of this book are probably the characters, I really like Lera and the four men. The author did a great job developing their personalities and their relationships. There are adding additional layers to their personalities we discover in this book and it was great to get to know them better. Lera's relationship with each of the men is different and develops at a different pace and way, which really works. There are also some struggles with how they work as a group and I loved seeing it all change and develop. The characters and romance really is one of the best parts of this series. There is some more we learn about the world as well. All in all this was a great sequel and I am looking forward to book 3!
July 7, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat level: sensual with the occasional raunchiness
YESSSS book 2 in the Power of Five series! I adored the first book, so I was psyched to read the second instalment. But also dead nervous because so many series that start well flop in the next book.
In this book, the quint faces down the council, eager to break them one way or another. They must prove to the rest of the fae that Lera deserves to be there despite being human. Basically, that she is not, in fact, a mistake of magic.
As with the first book, yes, this is a reverse harem romance, but it's also a great fantasy story with an interesting world and lovable/detestable characters. I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the Council, which was the main focus of this. But even more than that, I loved seeing all the men in Lera's quint open up more and show other sides to themselves. Honestly, I am enamoured by each and every one.
Still not the heat level I'm dying to get from this series, but we do get a bit more than book 1. The focus was more on strengthening the emotional bonds between Lera and her men, balancing their protectiveness with trust that she is strong enough to handle the trials the Council throws at them. And we definitely saw that she belonged with them and was stronger for it! I was so surprised by just how much. (Though it also reminded me a little of The Twilight Saga, of all things.)
For some reason, I thought this series would be a trilogy, and I'm so glad it's not! For a start, there's no way everything can be resolved in the next book. Maybe just this one phase will? From the trajectory of the first two books, I'm guessing the series will be 5+ books long... AND I DO NOT MIND. Because these books are so fun and easy to read, with heat, humour, and heart, plus a good dose of badass magic.
But Alex, I need more group scenes please and thank you.
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