Book Review: Boundary Lines by Melissa F. Olson

Boundary Lines by Melissa F. Olson second book in Boundary Magic series. While I have not read the previous book in the series (though I plan top now) I felt like I bought up pretty quickly and was still able to enjoy the story. 

Fitting into the Old World isn’t going very well for Boulder boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther. She may have earned a place in a vampire’s service, but now it seems as if every supernatural creature in town has found a reason to hate her. And when Lex and her partner are assigned to investigate the suspicious disappearance of two vampires during the night of the full moon, they find themselves with more questions than answers. The crusade for answers will lead Lex all over the Colorado Old World, from a prison cell for a broken werewolf to a haunted Denver brothel. And when Lex determines the responsible party, the hunt is just beginning: something has been awakened in Boulder, something as old and powerful as it is terrifying. Only the woman with death in her blood can stop what’s coming.

Boundary Lines had a good balance of action, world building, and a touch of romance. While I missed most of the set up by not reading the first book, I feel like there was enough refresher information for returning readers that I got the gist of what had happened, and it was not so much that those returning readers would have been bored. Lex is making the best of a bad situation, trying to do the right things to keep everyone safe, even if they do not like her. The tension between Lex and the vampires and witch community is strong, and Lex’s dislike of social situations in general made me like her immediately. I liked the mystery, the danger, and the character development for Lex and the circle of people in her life. The compassion and need to protect others is a diving force in her, one that trumps all else, which made me like her even more. I need to go back and read the first book, not because I need holes filled, but because I want to know more. The characters are complex, and their connections even more so. 

Boundary Lines is the perfect pick for anyone that likes urban fantasy or mysteries but want complex characters and situations. The pacing is steady, and there are plenty of twists and turns coupled with tough choices that will keep those pages turning well past bed time.

Melissa F. Olson was raised in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and studied film and literature at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After a brief stint in the Hollywood studio system, Melissa moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she eventually acquired a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, a husband, a mortgage, a teaching gig, two kids, and two comically oversized dogs—not at all in that order. Learn more about Melissa, her work, and her dogs at www.MelissaFOlson.com.