I have given the
Moon Shadow series by Maria E. Schneider a try while waiting for the next Butcher book. Though it is labeled as urban fantasy, a lot of the action takes place in suburban settings. Some is still happening in city, so it would still count - not being too picky about how it is labeled. Reading order so far is:
- Under Witch Moon
- Under Witch Aura
- Under Witch Curse
- Ghost Shadow
You can get them DRM free either from Maria's own store (link above) or at Amazon, Kobo, and B&N (I don't recommend B&N, they are more expensive and don't even have all of them as ebook) and first two in ScribD.
Under Witch Moon is currently on sale for $0.99 in all three stores that carry them (except B&N) and also available in
ScribD. That, I think, is a relatively low risk to see if the series is for you. I am not done yet with it, close to the end of the second book so far. I don't have enough time as I would like right now to indulge in the pleasure of reading as much as I would like (blame my too busy work schedule, which is still better than the opposite of not enough work). The magic is similar to Harry Dresden, and yet it is different. Interesting is that there is not a defined hard line in either being magical or not - from the sound of it everybody can learn the magic. Some just have more talent compared to the ones that don't have any. Some magic or talent has to be present in a person to create a spell, but not necessary to use it. And there is different kinds of magic, different elements (earth, water, air, fire), and different ways to draw and utilize the magic out of each element.
You always follow around a young witch (at least as far as I have read, and I see no reason for it to change), Adriel. If something happens in a different place, it usually has to be explained later to her through a conversation. That is just how I like it same as Butcher's
Dresden Files. Maria has the ability to even make boring passages interesting to read - there is not really anything boring going on. Even inventing and testing out spells has its humor in it. Sometimes a little painful for Adriel. That is what makes it funny. A lot of OOOPS, and fighting is usually risky as most opponents have to be outsmarted rather than outmuscled. Cursing is limited to non-curse words. Yes, a lot of cursing going on, but very clean language. Not only does it make reading a lot nicer ( I came to dislike books that throw in the f-bomb regularily very annoying), but has a practical reason as well. (careful some minor spoiler concerning cursing, open at your own risk)
Here is the first few lines of the first book, Chapter 1:
Quote:
Being a witch isn’t easy. It’s smelly, grueling work. I’m not talking about magic. Magic is a power that comes from natural forces. I’m talking about witchery, the chemical reactions for spells. Mind you, I dabble in magic; most witches do, but the bulk of my work involves a lot of formulas. It’s a chore like any, much like caulking a house–messy, stinky and the results don’t last forever.
Yes, spells wear out. They sometimes glue themselves to the wrong thing or dry too fast or don’t dry at all. When I’m finished, I need a bath and in some cases, just as paint needs turpentine, I need special solutions to rid myself of the chemicals that have made themselves at home on my person.
At present, I was working on a spell for protection. It was an easy spell and thankfully cleaner than most.
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Well, needless to say, after hoping for a cleaner than most spell, it turns out to go downhill from there. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems ...
As for the reading order. I talked to Maria a little bit about it, and it is not really necessary to read in order, but it is recommended as the story evolves and characters evolve. If you got any more question from the horses mouth, drop her a
PM, she is usually happy to answer any questions you may have.