In Dark Magic: The Chronicles of the Underworld (Book 1) by Raluca Narita, "All life ends with death. And in death, there is no happiness." No one is more aware of this than Primrose Titan, the Goddess of Death. But she is holding onto a secret that no one can know - she has an affinity for mortals. An unfortunate turn of events since she must collect their souls and bring them to the Underworld to live out their final days of eternity. It was a secret she was willing to keep to herself until humanity's most dangerous enemy - Lucifer, the Demon King - escaped from prison. As Primrose hunts for the man she once called a friend, she must contend with other gods and deities seeking her crown. In this delightful tale, the battle of good vs. evil takes on a deeper meaning as Fate, Destiny, and the Grimm Brothers all vie for the seat of Ruler of the Underworld. But in the end, only one person will be strong enough to hold power over death.

In Dark Magic, Raluca Narita takes the reader on an adventure into the lives of old gods, deities, and supernatural beings who exist under the noses of mortals. From their clothing to their vendettas against humans, readers can visualize myths and fables in all their nuances thanks to Narita's imaginative and detailed writing style. Multiple layers of deceit, betrayal, and interactions with dangerous creatures enhance the development of a well-paced drama about a power struggle between the gods. A complex story full of nail-biting scenes that leave the reader wanting more is told by Narita's heroine, who struggles to balance her duties as Queen of the Underworld with protecting those she loves. Dark fantasy, old gods, and new players in the quest for the truth will captivate readers. Can love conquer all?

Who would dare threaten the existence of the Goddess of Death and Queen of the Underworld? Quite a few beings, it seems. Dark Magic: The Chronicles of the Underworld by Raluca Narita follows Primrose as she hunts down the escaped Lucifer with the unwanted help of one of the Grimm brothers. In her search for Lucifer’s soul dagger, the only thing capable of killing the devil, it seems her dagger is also being hunted.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Magic by Raluca Narita. The entire premise of this book was different and I found myself hooked once I started reading. The multitude of deities along with the inclusion of the Grimm brothers set this book apart for me. Narita did a wonderful job with world-building, from the description of the Underworld down to the intricacies of magic in this world. One of my favorite aspects of this book was Primrose’s relationships, not only with her reapers and her realm but the friendship she has with Elinore.

It seems almost ironic that the only deity in the book who seems to care for humans is the Goddess of Death herself but that’s what makes her character so endearing. Lucifer, although one of the villains in the story, was another personality that I found intriguing. His charming and witty attitude grows on you over time. I fell in love with this book. I enjoyed the writing style and creative take on mythology and I will be looking out for more of Narita’s works.

The Devil is on the loose in Dark Magic: The Chronicles of the Underworld by Raluca Narita. Primrose Titan, Goddess of Death and Ruler of the Underworld, was tasked with finding Lucifer before he brings hell to Earth. Teamed up with Atlas Grimm, the icy, yet handsome elder brother to the King of the High Court, this Goddess of Death has to find her way around the furious siblings of Lucifer bent on protecting their brother, the FBI, and conspiring deities covetous of her title. Journeying through different realms, Primrose is more interested in tracking down the Devil and ending his life than her safety. Unsure of whom to trust, Primrose is not afraid. After all, she’s the Goddess of Death, and dead is only dead when she says so.

I loved Raluca Narita’s plot development in this first book of the series. The consistency holds the book together and makes it such a joyride. The most powerful thing about Dark Magic is the author’s firm hand in creating suspense. She doles it out masterfully, with questions running through your mind, and then she feeds you the answers so skillfully that you will be wanting more. By the end of the book, you will still be drawn into the plot by sheer curiosity and powerful storytelling, eagerly anticipating the follow-up. This modern-day mythology has the right feel, with a tough protagonist who can hold her own, battles, suspense, and emotions too muddy to comprehend. A good choice for lovers of paranormal and mythological fiction.

Dark Magic by Raluca Narita is the first book in the Chronicles of the Underworld series. Primrose has her hands full as the Goddess of Death, but her job becomes more complicated when Lucifer escapes from prison. Now the earth is threatened as Lucifer has chaotic plans in store for humanity. Primrose is determined to bring him back to the prison where he belongs but a meeting with the High Court quickly establishes their lack of faith in her abilities. Now she has to take the God of Ice (otherwise known as Atlas Grimm) with her. Catching Lucifer isn’t going to be easy as he sends an army after her and complicated feelings begin to arise.

Primrose Titan is a delightful and headstrong character that embarks on an epic cat-and-mouse chase when Lucifer escapes. This dynamic is immediately established in the prologue which introduces Lucifer with an ominous wink at his plans for her. The back and forth between them is carried throughout the story as she works to catch him. Despite her role as Goddess of Death, she remains grounded as she gets confused over humanity’s greed and fits within our modern reality with her use of an iPhone, a Walmart bag, and an 'I Love New York' baseball cap. Raluca Narita crafts a delightful concept of death that blends grittiness and humor. Primrose isn’t what you expect Death to be with a Disney shirt and reading Wuthering Heights but she’s relatable and it’s easy to adore her character. Death imagery is incorporated throughout the story, immediately setting up the tone with Primrose’s perspective of life and death. Her abilities also contribute to this imagery with her summoning the dead and comparing the actions to marionettes that move by her command.

Narita has created a unique world that achieves its originality with a great blend of elements such as Lucifer, the Underworld, Greek mythology, and the Grimm Brothers. The writing style has a dark edge (due to the subject of death) but Narita weaves a subtle beauty and at times innocence. The beauty in the writing adds to the world by bringing it to life and setting up a playground for the chase after Lucifer to take place. Dark Magic succeeds at beginning the series with an epic, humorous, spirited, and lovely approach to the concept of death with a leading goddess that is fun and complex.

Dark Magic is the first book of the new series The Chronicles of the Underworld. Primrose Titan is the Goddess of Death. When Lucifer escapes his prison, the human world is threatened. Primrose must hunt him down. To help hunt Lucifer, Atlas Grimm who is part of the Grimm brothers volunteers to help her because he doesn't trust Primrose since she put Lucifer in his prison the first time and he escaped from the Underworld where she is in charge of.

First off the cover of this book is beautiful, the author put a lot of work into making this book look beautiful. I loved this book, I couldn't put it down, it was so good. Primrose is a strong heroine just trying to do her job and hunt Lucifer, not letting anything stop her. I like how we got glimpses of her feelings for humans and some of her past that she starts to remember.

The ending ugh.....I can't! I need the next book!!