Illicit Magic by Camilla Chafer

 This is the 1^st in the Stella Mayweather series.

Stella has lived a life in and out of foster homes, as she lost he parents at a young age. This lack of any kind of a settled life continued as she worked as a temp in various offices, until the night she realised she was being followed as she walked home from work in London.

Stella hadn’t given it much thought, but she was aware she felt there was something a little strange about her, odd incidents had happened throughout her life, like when she was annoyed at a work colleague and thought how good it would be if a book case fell on him, and it did!

However, finding herself in the quiet streets with a gang all dressed alike and in black and faces covered and obviously after her, made her a little worried. They were crying out to her they wanted to ‘burn the witch,’ and after a near miss, she manages to get back to her bedsit, where she keeps the lights off but turns her TV on to hear the latest story about women being caught, tortured then burn alive as witches, by the ‘Brotherhood.’ 

Shortly afterwards she hears a pounding on her door, and a voice asking for Stella, the person says her name is Etoile, Stella refuses to let her in, but looking out her spyhole sees her disappear and then she reappears in her flat!!

Etoile explains ‘they’ have been watching her and they need to leave now so she can get her somewhere safe. As the sinister gang have arrived they have to do a quick escape, and then they are boarding a plane for New York. Stella is somewhat shell-shocked and confused, by the events of the last few hours, but as she has nothing holding her in London, and she is very aware that the gang are out to kill her, she is content to go along with Etoile.

They arrive at a very expensive home in New York, where she is introduced to her history, which is that she is the daughter of 2 witches, and so is one also. She is to meet with the Council of Witches so they can decide how to proceed, to decide her future safety.

This is the basis of the story, there are threats, and attacks, and of course we learn more about Stella’s background, her powers, who can and who can’t be trusted. There were twists and turns, as you would expect, but all great fun.

I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy read, it was fast, and there was even romance there. I have already bought the 2^nd book on Kindle, as I found I really wanted to know how she does after the ending of book 1.