Author Marina Ermakova offers a second story in the same universe as her first book, “Terrestrial Magic.” Both books take place in the near future, although the history of Earth has a twist. There are families, known as Houses, that possess magical powers related to whoever their ancestors were. These families have wielded power over Earth’s inhabitants (usually in a benevolent way), but as the world changes the threat of non-magical people assuming the reins of power does not sit well with all the Houses.

Jordan Sanders studies legendary animals (legimals) which appeared suddenly a few decades ago. The first book introduced some of the Houses and thrust Jordan into their world when she and her crew experience a physical threat to their lives. “Natural Sorcery” begins with Jordan learning about a drought that threatens the food supply, and the lack of water appears to be the result of magic. Once again she finds herself in the middle of politics and House intrigues as she attempts to solve the mystery of who is blocking the absorption of water by the plants, and why.

While this book does not have as much physical action as the first, Ms. Ermakova provides a deeper look into a world quite different than what we are used to experiencing. The worldbuilding and the characterizations are what kept me reading, and would entice me to read a third book. While “Natural Sorcery” can be read as a standalone, my recommendation is to start at the beginning with “Terrestrial Magic.” There are plenty of pages describing the folks on her crew as well as some of the members of different Houses, and there are some relationships that continue into book two. Recommended for lovers of fantasy. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

Having read the first book in the series, Terrestrial Magic, I decided to give the author another try when I saw this on NetGalley. Terrestrial Magic had left me a little on the fence but Natural Sorcery had me captivated from start to finish. Each book has it's own complete story and whilst I suspect you could read this stand alone I do think reading the books in order would provide the best reading experience.


Jordan felt a more balanced character in this, still flawed, still disliking social situations, still awkward and uneasy with physical contact. However I just felt as though I got to know her in this book and I found myself warming to her in a way I hadn't previously. There is a very vague and tiny hint of romance in this, it is a minor part of the plot but I did enjoy how the relationship between Luca and Jordan evolved. In fact we saw a lot more interaction between Jordan and supporting characters, both new and old, which added texture and colour to the story.


The mystery was well written, subtle clues were given along with red herrings and even though I'd guessed somewhat at the culprit I still very much enjoyed the journey we took to resolve the problems faced. There were also plenty of unexpected plot twists and turns, along with several crises for Jordan to combat. Personally I loved her little mental conversations where she imagined what various friends or relatives would advise her to do. Her inner monologues, choices and reactions showed good personal growth and an increased self awareness, all of which made her more believable and likeable.


The prose flowed really well, the author has produced an engaging and exciting story and I look forward to reading the next book when it is released.

Natural Sorcery is the second book in Marina Ermakova's urban fantasy series featuring Jordan Sanders, a biologist and a leader of a team that studies magical animals (legimals). You can read Natural Sorcery as a standalone, as the author provides enough background into this fantasy world. However, there are also spoilers to the first book, so I would recommend to start from Terrestrial Magic and get a fuller experience of the series.

I did enjoy the second book much more for several reasons. Partly, it's the blessing of the second book where the world has already been established and here we are dealing with a complex and original blend of fantasy and mythology. It is clear from the aftermath of the events in the previous book that Jordan got involved into complex political games which may well be a matter of survival for non-magical humans, but Jordan is a scientist and knows very little about politics. Even she understands straightaway that the mystery at the core of the second book is threatening to leave her community without food and it isn't going to be easy to find the guilty party, if the legends (the magical community) are involved. There are twists and turns, including narrow escapes from death and lethal animal attacks. Natural Sorcery grabbed me straightaway and I just had to read it in one sitting.

The first book left me a bit unsure about the protagonist. This time it felt as if she matured and left some of her insecurities behind her. Jordan often thought what her family members would say or do in a situation of danger and this helps her analyse the events form different angles and come up with a course of action. She still does it, but now she goes beyond choosing between the options her family would consider and finds her own way.

Overall, I enjoyed this second instalment in Jordan Sanders series and was glad to be back in this original world with legends and mythological animals. I'm looking forward to getting to know more about Jordan and her team in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

this was a really great sequel in the Jordan Sanders series, it was a fun read with great characters. The plot was fun and I enjoyed reading this.

I really enjoyed this book because it was a fun and quick read. I like Jordan and Luca and really loved all the legends and legimals in the story. I wish there were more of them.
I will read the next book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.