Buried Magic by TJ Green:

4 Stars

T.J. Green’s Buried Magic achieves a fascinating phenomenon: the story isn’t complete, and yet—rather than feeling annoyed—I fully intend to get my hands on the next book. Much of the credit goes to Green’s pacing. At about eighty percent of the way through, I realized there wasn’t enough remaining length to wrap everything up, and fortunately, the author recognized that as well and didn’t force a rushed conclusion.

I immediately liked Avery, the main character. She struck me as charming, introverted, and slightly surly. Alex, Gil, El, Briar, and Reuben all pull their weight, though I would have enjoyed a bit more development. I did appreciate that they weren’t an especially tight-knit group, instead brought together by circumstance rather than convenience.

At one point, I found myself wishing the villain had been given more on-page villainy—and then, suddenly, I got exactly what I asked for. I’m a little torn about it: the moment felt abrupt, and since the villain doesn’t reappear afterward, the worst of it feels slightly disconnected. That said, this is nitpicking.

Overall, I enjoyed Buried Magic. It’s a fun introduction to a magical world, and I fully intend to find out what happens next.