Shadowed Relics by G.J. Ogden and Sabrina Vale is a high-octane urban fantasy adventure with a razor-sharp edge and a protagonist you won’t forget in a hurry. We’re with Astrid Knightstorm, a supernatural private eye who is tasked with retrieving a stolen time-warping relic that could collapse reality if it falls into the wrong hands. What follows is a globe-hopping pursuit through Rome, London, and New Orleans, packed with magical duels, deadly creatures, and uneasy alliances with witches, fae, and Vatican agents. As Astrid uncovers a layered conspiracy, she’s forced to confront secrets of her origins that shake her to the core. This is a gritty, fast-paced fantasy that blends noir cool with supernatural stakes.

Authors G.J. Ogden and Sabrina Vale are a formidable writing team with an ideal balance of action and atmosphere, and they’ve struck gold with Astrid. I loved her from the first moment she burst onto the page, and she’s a heroine whose smart mouth hides a battered heart and steel backbone, which readers are sure to empathize with. I had a blast following her through each twist, and there were plenty of those in this well-structured story, as she’s the kind of character you root for immediately and want to see succeed. The world-building is also intricate without being overwhelming, and the action is cinematic, but it still lets character dynamics breathe. I especially loved the blend of ancient mythology and modern detective tropes that gave the book a sleek, original feel. Overall, Shadowed Relics is a knockout start to what promises to be a thrilling series, and I’d certainly recommend it to fans of urban fantasy who love their magic laced with danger, attitude, and heart.

Shadowed Relics, co-written by G.J. Ogden and Sabrina Vale, is a fast-paced urban fantasy filled with magick, mystery, and mythical beasts. The story follows Astrid Knightstorm, a wizard and PI in Austin, whose routine investigations take a dangerous turn when she's summoned to the Vatican and faces a three-headed dragon. Soon, she's drawn into a globe-spanning chase to stop a Dark Alchemist bent on misusing stolen relics for nefarious purposes. Reminiscent of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, Astrid takes on the part thrust on her to protect her friends and the city she calls home. She reluctantly allows her friends to help contain the threat, but soon realizes that to successfully save the day, she needs to trust them to help her.

G.J. Ogden and Sabrina Vale clearly understand the urban fantasy genre and what readers expect. Their fight scenes are dynamic yet grounded and well-choreographed, showing that even magical characters are vulnerable. This is clear in the final battle between the Dark Alchemist and Astrid, where timing and execution are critical in overcoming and neutralizing the threat. Astrid is a tough, engaging heroine, and the supporting cast adds depth and tension. The supporting characters include a Fae assistant with a secret and a loyal werewolf trying to protect the wizard who holds his heart. While the pacing drags slightly during exposition-heavy moments, the action and intrigue keep readers hooked. At its core, Shadowed Relics explores the consequences of betrayal and the hunger for power, making it a solid addition to urban fantasy fans' shelves.

Shadowed Relics by GJ Ogden and Sabrina Vales follows Astrid, a magickal investigator, who is tasked with confronting Zmey, a three-headed dragon beneath the Vatican, after ancient wards protecting a secret vault are broken. Astrid contains part of it, but its presence signals a larger, darker magickal disturbance. As Astrid investigates, she uncovers connections between the dragon, a stolen artifact called the Chrono-Compass, and a missing magickal tome, the Tome of Time. With help from allies like Sarah, a witch librarian, and Gideon, an expert in magickal creatures, Astrid tracks a series of escalating threats tied to the powerful Dark Alchemist aiming to unbind a time demon and manipulate reality. When Ember, Astrid’s fae assistant, is attacked by the Dark Alchemist, who warns Astrid to stop interfering, Astrid vows to fight back.

Shadowed Relics by GJ Ogden and Sabrina Vales is a fantastically written first entry into the Knightstorm Arcane Investigation series, and we are immediately pulled into a fully imagined magickal world of mystery and ancient power. Astrid is the ultimate in strong female protagonists, but even she is unsettled when the head witch, Lyra, shares the tale of alchemists who blurred the boundaries between realms. I loved all the descriptions, where even everyday spaces and routines, like the coven’s kitchen and the witches’ daily lives, grounded the story and gave us a tangible sense of place. Magickal combat and investigation keep the plot moving steadily, with some fun sparring breaks to lighten the load. Ogden and Vales shine in how they represent arcane lore and the consequences of tampering with forbidden magick, which is obviously a really important backdrop for the unfolding events. Overall, this is a great launch of the series and a satisfying read for those who adore mystery and magick.

Shadowed Relics by G.J. Ogden and Sabrina Vale is the first book in the Knightstorm Arcane Investigations fantasy series. Astrid Knightstorm is an American wizard and private investigator. She deals with cases involving magickal creatures, such as territorial disputes involving werewolves and vampires raiding blood banks. Astrid had just completed her latest case paperwork and sighed with relief. Out of the blue, she receives a call from an unknown number. The caller is Monsignor Alfonso Giovanni from the Vatican. Complimenting Astrid on her unique magickal talents, the Monsignor asks Astrid to come to the Vatican, but be prepared for a battle. Sensing fear and desperation in his voice and suspecting major trouble, Astrid sets off on the first flight to Rome. What magickal mission awaits Astrid in the Vatican?

What a gently paced, atmospheric, and humor-laden treat Shadowed Relics was for me, a fantasy fan! G.J. Ogden and Sabrina Vale created an amazing world inhabited by wizards, witches, alchemists, fae, dragons, and demons. Astrid’s atmospheric account of her magickal missions in the Vatican and the British Library made me feel as if I were revisiting them with Astrid’s wizardly outlook. I felt riveted by Astrid’s magickal adventures and standoffs in the witch covens and fae realm. But most of all, I liked Dean, the utterly charismatic werewolf who made this tale unique and special. As I look forward to my reunion with Astrid, Dean, and their otherworldly friends and foes in the upcoming sequel, I highly recommend this brilliant fantasy tale to magickal fantasy fans.