Laughing at Magic - London's Edge #1 Paperback

fast paced and fun
I loved this book. The main character prefers dark chocolate digestives ' what great taste. She also stands up to bullies and bigots so I am totally sold. This book was fast paced and fun. I read it within 24 hours and will look out for more in the series. There were mentions of characters from the Razor's edge series but this book would work if you hadn't read those. I highly recommend it

Very cool new story and characters from Celine Jeanjean
This can be read as a stand-alone story, and builds on the character of Pree who was first introduced in 'Chained-by-Memory', book 6 in the 'Razor's Edge Chronicles'.
Set in London, Pree is a strong minded, quirky heroine who doesn't fit into the conventional standards of society. She's discovering the magical community in London, and introduces herself to it on her terms. For other's who've felt at some level that they don't quite fit, it's a very fun inspiring story. If you've read the 'Razor's Edge Chronicles', there are short but happy guest appearances by Apiya and Sarroch. Whee!

A Victorian ghost, a vegan Vampire and a zany heroine
Laughing-at-Magic is the first of a new series of books about Pree (Priscilla) whom I met in Book 6 of The Razor's Edge Chronicles, when Apiya came to London. Pree and Apiya were old school friends, both forthright, brave young women with zany clothes and distinctive personalities. Pree had never left England, perhaps because she is so close to her loving family, of Mum, Dad, two brothers and several cats living in a council house in Staines. But her lack of a job means she must return home with her eclectic clothes stored in bin bags inside her ancient but reliable car.
As Pree tries to turn her life around she answers an advert to improve her aura. Unfortunately, this leads her to the residence of a vegetarian Vampire who discovers that she is impervious to his hypnotism. Soon she is involved in an attack by a group of 'touched' individuals who look nerdy but have magical powers. It would seem she too has been 'Touched-by-Magic' in an unusual way and they want her to be part of their faction.
The plot takes a while to develop as we get to know Pree and her family and she discovers how she can use her power to help people. Her true gift is her quick mind and her ability to persuade others to do as she wishes, but she seems unaware of this.
The most delightful part of the story is Pree's relationship with a hyena whom she rescues from mistreatment, but how can she hide a fierce animal in plain sight? Her conversations with Mary, a Victorian ghost who refuses to crossover to the other side until she has a proper tombstone, add amusement, especially when she takes Mary into the 20th century.
The context of this story is less exotic and more mundane than Celine Jeanjean's previous novels but the characterisation makes this an enjoyable read.

At last, a spin-off of Razor's Edge Chronicles
Celine Jeanjean is wonderful at world-building. In her hands, we see beneath the lives of the ordinary residents of London and discover a world of magic and mayhem. The captain who will be our guide into this new world is a delightfully free-spirited woman of 28 years and a childhood friend of Apiya, heroine of the Razor's Edge Chronicles. If you haven't given that series a try, you will still thoroughly enjoy this one.
'Pree' Postlewaite is very nonconformist ' from her magenta shoes to the knuckle duster in her pocket to her half-shaved, purple hair. And she comes by it honestly. Priscilla's dad, in his youth, 'used to be in the acquisitions business', but when babies started coming along, her mom said he had to find another form of employment. So now he owns a dirt bike race track.
Her brother, Harry, is serving time in the local prison for the same sort of entrepreneurship shown by his father, and her brother, Nick, is busy raising and selling marijuana, anticipating that very soon now, it will be legalized, and he and his partner will have a corner on the market.
Pree is tall, cheerfully positive, easily bored, not often employed, knows enough martial arts action to take care of herself, and now has moved back home since she can't afford rent. Right off, her mom gives her the want ads section to look for another job, but instead, it is an ad for an 'aura cleansing and energy realignment' that draws her eye.
Because of a bit of bother had by Apiya and her were-tiger boyfriend which brought them to London, Pree was introduced to a magical world existing right alongside the mundane one in her own back yard. Now that Apiya has returned home, Pree will have to find out more on her own. This ad has the right kind of feeling to it. So, she texts her interest in a 30-minute, free evaluation set for 11pm that night. This could very well be her way to discover and get to know a real magical creature.
Of course, Pree finds magical people. Suddenly, they're everywhere. She also discovers that she has a bit of magic, too. A kind of magic that could make her a dangerous weapon in hostilities involving the Touched, the Vetus, and those who have been turned ' like vampires and werewolves ' by other magical creatures. Being Touched means you're human but have a single, limited magical ability, and Vetus are the Ancient magical people who are not human.
Follow Pree as she navigates this new world. But don't be surprised if you find her adventures taking unexpected turns. After all, it's magic.