After getting tossed into the world of the supernatural in Boundary Crossed, Lex is back and starting to learn just why everyone seems to be out to get her in Boundary Lines.

Someone is stirring up local magic, brining back magical beasties from an age long gone and driving the (semi-)local werewolf mad. We get a good amount of world building, learning a fair bit more about the werewolves and finally seeing a second boundary mage--even if she died a long time ago. We get a bit more characterization of the other witches and vampires, a bit more on the local politics and tensions between the various supernatural factions. Neat worldbuilding all around and a few decent plot twists.

Characterwise, I still think Lex is a decent protagonist, especially now that she's not just learning about everything for the first time. She still has a bit of a problem with actually using the knowledge of those who actually know what they're talking about in the supernatural world, but I think that works as part of her character.

I like Quinn a lot more this time around. He's definitely there primarily as love interest (which we get a bit more of this time around, albeit still not that much), but he feels more 'real' this time time time around.

“Please visualize me hitting you with a pillow,” Quinn grumbled, “as I currently lack the strength.”

The new witches (Lily and Simon's older sisters) don't really seem to have much going for them, but so it goes. At least we get a bit more insight into the local witches.

Overall, it's a solid extension to the series. There's nothing hugely new or innovative here, but better than the first by a decent margin (I think mostly because we aren't just starting out fresh) and it's a good read. ( )

“Boundary Lines” continues straight on from where “Boundary Crossed” left off.

Lex, a Boundary Witch who has just come in to her death-magic powers, is working for Mavin, the local Vampire leader, in order to protect her baby niece, who is a null, from the Old World powers who would exploit her.

You got all that, right?

No?

Then read the first book before you read this one.

In “Boundary Lines”, Lex’s world is made more complicated when something goes wrong with the magic in Denver, making witches twitchy, pushing vampires into public feeding frenzies, compelling werewolves to invade and unleashing something big, bad and decidedly icky on the world.

There’s a good plot here and, unlike Scarlett Bernard the female lead in the earlier books, Lex is right in the middle of the action: using fists, guns, swords, knives and even fragmentation grenades to kick ass.

The only thing Lex seems not to use is magic, at least not for combat. Lex’s magic is only used to let her interview the not so evil dead. This surprised me a little and left me a bit puzzled. Why have a supernatural heroine who solves all her problems as if she was ex-special services?

“Boundary Lines” was a fun read, with some strong scenes but overall it felt more like an episode in a TV series than a novel that stood up on its own.

I enjoyed learning more about Lex’s past and meeting a Thaumaturge or wonder worker focused on healing. I also liked the scene with the Peller sisters in the cake shop but those parts stood out because they were about the only places with real emotional content.

The rest of the book was action packed and full of twists in the plot but when the resolution was reached, I didn’t really care because I hadn’t become engaged with the characters enough to be worried about what would happen to them.

This is still an above average Urban Fantasy series but I think it has the potential to be outstanding if the characters are given a bit more depth. ( )

Boundary Lines by Melissa F. Olson and narrated by Kate Rudd is book two in the series. Our witch learns more tricks that are pretty cool, werewolves come into the story, giant sandworms type creatures are eating people and our witch is assigned to get rid of it. More ghost activity and much more! This is a non-stop supernatural book! Plenty of suspense, surprises, twists, creatures, wonderful plot, new characters, danger, humor, and endless entertainment!
The narrator performs the characters flawlessly! 10 stars for sure! ( )

This review covers the Boundary Magic Series by Melissa F. Olson: Book1 Boundary Crossed; Book 2 Boundary Lines; Book 3 Boundary Born.

I read the three books in this series back to back and something that struck me about them is how well-planned it felt. I expect bigger and badder powers and enemies in each book, and this book had them so no surprise there. To me, each of those increases felt logical and as if the series had left room for it or foreshadowed it. It just felt very planned and I appreciated that.

Another thing I appreciated was that the love story in this series was first and foremost between Lex and her family and most importantly between Lex and her niece. Family is everything to Lex, it motivates everything she does. Her family is huge and sprawling and they populate her world. It's nice to have a woman in an urban fantasy not be alone and lonely.

Okay, yes, there is a love story, at least in that Lex falls in love. But it never dominates the true story of Lex doing whatever it takes to protect her niece. Actually, it doesn't take center stage much at all, to the point that when Lex did think about it I was sort of confused by her strong emotions because there hadn't been the intense buildup I expect from UF.

Other things I liked:
The witch stuff, how they were organized, how magic was treated.
Lex's new friends who teach her magic.
Lex's family and their number and variety.
That family was always the most important thing in these books, from start to finish.

[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.] ( )

I really like Lex and her cast of friends and characters. Good plot with enough twists to stay interesting. When is the next one?? ( )