So far, I believe that this is the best book in the series. The first one was good, but at the end when Allie loses her memories, she kind of has to start over and so do we in the second book. I felt like Magic in the Blood was a little foggy storyline wise as I assume everything was likewise foggy for Allie. 
 Magic in the Shadows literally picks up the exact moment that Magic in the Blood ends. At the end of the second book Allie is in her bathroom moticing how her father's soul is in her, and that is where we pick up. 
 I am impressed with Devon Monk's writing in that she takes a whole book (350 pages I think this one) and it only covers about a day and a half. But it doesn't drag on. One would think with that much coverage we would be getting very minute details about the day, but with all the trouble that occurs in Allie's life there is definitely enough action to make the books fast paced. 
 I liked that in this book we finally find out more information about Zayvion. In the last book I felt almost angry that he was blatantly keeping a bunch of information from Allie, but then he would turn around and comment about how much she really didn't know about magic. In this book, we really get to see Zay do magic, and he lets Allie in a little more in that regard. 
 We also get to learn more about the Authority. I just don't really trust the Authority. They seem to really be back and forth and their beliefs about what is good and what is bad. I think that there are people that are probably not what they seem, but I think that's the point. I think we, the readers, are supposed to feel that way about them. I am interested to learn more about their role with magic in the upcoming books. 
 I admire the world that Deovn Monk has created here. This isn't a typical UF book. The world is completely original and doesn't rely on the same characters (i.e. vampires, werewolves, etc.). Monk has done a wonderful job creating her own magical universe that coexists with the normal world that we live in so it makes everything more real and less fantastical, easier to relate to.I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where Monk will take her characters because as this novel sets up, there's more out there than we know.