Audiobook Review: Risk by Dannika Dark

Series:	Mageri World
Pub. Date:	Aug. 16, 2016
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Nicole Poole
Length:	10 hrs 6 min
Source:	Publisher

I remember that I really enjoyed the Mageri series by Dannika Dark. After checking Goodreads, I saw that all of the books got 4 or 5 stars from me, so I was excited to see another book in the Mageri World. Unfortunately I should have re-read the original series before reading this book. Having read the series in one swoop more than three years ago, I didn't remember anything! There was a lot of character crossover in this story that made me feel like I was missing out. I couldn't remember Silver or Sunny or Levi or Novis or Justice... or anyone! I didn't even remember our hero, Simon. Gah! 

Simon Hunt is a mage who got his start with the Mageri in a tragic way. Though no one knows the secret of his tragic past, and he is not forthcoming even with his closet friends. He hides the insecurity in flirtatious and womanizing behavior, and this shallow facade prevents people from seeing his intelligence or pain. He really takes the manwhore image to the extreme, continually dressing in leather pants and thin shirts that show his nipple piercings. I did like Simon's playful nature, and hated his tortured past. I just wish I could have remembered his role in the earlier books of the series as it would have helped me connect to his character more. 

Ella is the young learner of Hannah, the Ice Queen. Ella has a tragic past of her own, having witnessed the brutal murder of her family before being violated in a cruel and personal way. Then shortly after being offered the life of an immortal mage by Hannah, Ella is deafened by an attack. Since that time, Hannah (and everyone else) has treated Ella as flawed. Unable to communicate and prohibited from leaving Hannah's house, Ella has become totally isolated. When Simon is hired to train Ella to protect herself, we see her come out of her shell with youthful exuberance. It was a shame that Hannah did not have the ability to nurture her Learner, because Ella quickly demonstrated that she was not helpless and could learn any task quickly and well. 

The romance between Simon and Ella was so-so. It built slowly and had good potential, but it left me wanting at the end. I am assuming by how things were left that there will be additional books in the Mageri World where we will revisit Simon, Ella and all the other secondary characters. I think that I definitely need to go back and re-read the series before that time so I can remember who is who and what is what. I would have loved it if this book would have had a recap or something to re-familiarize the reader with the characters and world.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars / 2 flames.