Fate Forged: Bound Magic, Book 1

Donigan’s solid debut urban fantasy introduces self-sufficient Bostonian Maeve O’Neill and her trusty knife, Ripper, to the magical parallel realm of Aeterna and its inhabitants, many of whom have a vested interest in Maeve. She thinks magic is fictional until nightmare visions lead her to a warehouse, where she discovers a metal charm that matches a tattoo on her arm. Events escalate rapidly, with Maeve’s mentor at the women’s shelter where she works confirming the existence of magic and explaining that some otherworldly power has been transferred to her. As enemies threaten her, Maeve flees in the company of the studly but annoying Silas Valeron. While Maeve takes magical battles, sword fights, and strange creatures admirably in stride, she also creates obstacles for herself and her allies through impulsive and emotional responses. Some worldbuilding details are given short shrift by the fast pace, but there’s a lot here for readers of Seanan McGuire and Patricia Briggs. (Mar.)