This is a magical fairy tale. Not in the sense of a
children's book -- oh no -- in the sense that the book
revolves around some rather remarkable or odd New Yorkers.
Now many would say that is a rather oxymoronic statement but
it fits the basis of the story which includes the
non-obvious magical beings that appear human and "normal"
every day folk. Katie Chandler is a "normal" being who has a
special talent of immunity -- that is she is immune to the
magic around her. She sees through the illusions conjured up
by the magical world to disguise their other worldliness.
She speaks to gargoyles, frogs and fairies -- well it would
appear we all do -- but she sees them as they really are. In
fact her job at MSI, (Magic, Spells & Illusions, Inc.) just
another one of those initial corporations, is to act as a go
between the magical and non magical. The goal of MSI is to
investigate and halt evil magic. Her latest assignment
handed to her by the CEO, Merlin, is to ferret out the
company spy. However someone has been playing around with
Katie's immunity and her usual awareness is gone leaving her
quite vulnerable to the chaos happening at work and
unfortunately invading her personal life such that it is.
Well some invasion has been rather welcome, she has been
enjoying a new found popularity especially with men. Except
for the one man who seems totally unaffected by even this
new enchantment, Owen Parker. Owen is the powerful wizard of
the R&D department and it is his office security that has
been breached which brings him together with Katie to
uncover the spy before any important spells are leaked. So
Katie and Owen are thrown together as a team even though
it's not exactly the type of relationship she has been
hoping for.
This is the second book by Shanna Swendson involving Katie,
Owen, MSI and a group of magical and human characters whom
she would have us believe actual live in New York. Those
that can see through the illusions are few and far between
and she even explains why this is so bringing attention to
the use of prescription mind/mood altering drugs. After all
if someone claims to see winged fairies begging on the
streets it is obviously time for that person to be
psychologically evaluated. All in all this is a wonderfully
witty book that can't help but make you laugh and wonder
what Swendson will conjure up next. Who said magic is just
for kids? The magic in ONCE UPON STILLETTOS is for anyone
looking for a fast reading enjoyable tale with a little bit
of everything -- friendship, family, love, trust and
corporate espionage.
When we left Katie at the end of Enchanted, Inc., she had
helped her new employers, Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc.
defeat Phelan Idris, a rogue wizard intent on stealing
spells. By her side, and leading the battle, was hunky
wizard Owen. Katie and Owen are still fighting their
attraction to each other in Shanna Swendson’s hilarious and
charming sequel Once Upon Stilettos, but first they have to
track down a corporate spy before the company dissolves into
paranoia. Then at the worst possible time, Katie's immunity
to magic goes on the blink. At least she's having better
luck in her social life, with men falling at her feet
everywhere she goes. Has she really become that
irresistible, or is it the new red shoes she felt compelled
to buy? Polish your fairy wings, put on your magic shoes,
click your heels three times, and join Shanna Swendson for a
romantic romp amidst fairies, goblins, wizards and
gargoyles.