Customer Reviews

A Reckless Magick (Unladylike Adventures Kat Step)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The only bad thing I can say about this book is that it's the end of the series, and I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters. While Burgis leaves plenty of story threads that could be picked up again in future books, this book has a satisfying end that resolves the main conflict in Kat's life, specifically, who her mother was and what kind of scandalous magicks did she practice?

The story opens with Kat and family arriving for Angeline's wedding, and her betrothed's family hasn't exactly welcomed her into the fold. She's too poor, both in terms of money and social connections, and her future mother-in-law is not about to hand over the keys to the castle. Meanwhile, one of the other wedding guests is a woman who knows Kat's father very well, which is odd, because Kat's never heard a single thing about her. Yet a little bit of spying soon reveals that this woman practices magick, and not the proper, Guardian kind.

And Kat would love to ponder this further, only someone keeps trying to take Angeline's life, really, that's quite distracting for our heroine. Who, though, is at fault? The reluctant soon to be in-laws? The mysterious witch wedding guest? The jealous cousin who'd once hoped to wed Angeline's fiancee? Only Kat knows enough about magick and mayhem to get to the bottom of this.

"There was nothing in the world quite so improper as magic. That was one of the reasons I loved it so much."

That tells you everything you need to know to fall in love with thirteen-year-old Kat Stephenson, witch, Guardian, would-be highwayman, constant thorn in the side of her family, and Saviour of England from the dastardly French. When we first met Kat she had hacked off her hair and was running away to be a highwayman, and A Reckless Magick opens, naturally, with her shinning out of a first-floor window on a magical mission.

Kat and her noisy, lovable, infuriating family are on their way to Devon for her sister Angeline's wedding at a sprawling Devonshire estate, when Kat uncovers a plot that threatens not only her country, but her life, and the lives of those closest to her. Can she untangle the threads of magic, sort out her brother's love life, track down her mysterious stalker, and make sure the wedding goes ahead? Never count Kat out....

A Reckless Magick is darker and more mature in tone than the two previous books of the trilogy, reflecting Kat's coming-of-age, as she struggles with the prospect of being parted from her sisters and learns more about her late mother. There's even a whiff of romance for our little firecracker, and more than a whiff for her brother Charles, who finally strides out from beneath the shadow of his sisters to become his own man.

But it's all Kat's book. There will rarely be a heroine you root harder for than messy, tempestuous Kat, and even though the trilogy is over the ending hints that they may be a few more unladylike adventures to come. Let's hope so...

Third in the serie and showing no sign of flagging. In fact it is perfect; the characters continue to develop, the plot was very suspenful and the customs of the time brilliantly described. Hope it is not the last 1 as a reviewer said.

I adore this book, in fact I love the whole series!
This book is a must read for Girls of all ages.
Happy Reading!!!

Absolutely positively fabulous, the Best book of the series!!!! Recommended to any young ladies, this wonderful novel deserves 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book as it the story drew you in from the first and I love all the romance in the book. Though sometimes I find the plot a bit to predictable!