MY NAME IS NOT ROSLYN JAMES is the follow-up to My Name is Not Alexa Pearce, and the second book of THE SEARCH FOR HOPE series. Author Kerri McLoone brings both new and old readers up to speed in the opening chapters, picking up immediately where the first installment left off. The sequel finds Alexa—now using the alias Roslyn “Roz” James—and her friend/roommate Cali, and new boyfriend Matt recovering from their recent battle with the ancient demon Darius. With the library where they worked completely leveled and The Book, the ancient magical text they were searching for, destroyed in the blast, the trio escapes to Rome. An identical copy of The Book is said to be hidden within the library system of the old city. Roslyn, Cali, and Matt lay low while Darius hunts for them, amassing a small army of Victus demons. As they prep for a showdown where a world-ending prophecy hangs in the balance, their search puts them and their loved ones in mortal danger.

MY NAME IS NOT ROSLYN JAMES has a refreshing spin on tropes that have been around in the genre forever, from Roz’s two friends being Extensios, her magically endowed sidekicks, to her adorable, loyal dog Milo, who has a keen preternatural sense for magical danger, and Roz’s own personal connections to The Book’s magic. Though the magic is sometimes too convenient, it’s subtly woven throughout the novel and employs a fantastic—if tremendously heart wrenching—use of foreshadowing. The dynamic between Roz, Matt, and Cali is realistic to the point that they’re characters one would want to hang out with; a delicate balance of teasing banter, silliness, and conflict makes their intertwined relationships believable. They’re at the heart of the novel, along with Cali and her longtime girlfriend Mickey, whose romance is challenged by powerful emotional stakes as the plot really gains momentum. Though he spends over half the novel recuperating, Darius proves to be a merciless leader who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The novel is a bit overlong, so the middle suffers from a slow-burn plot that’s hampered by extraneous minute details that aren’t necessary to the story itself. However, the amount of research that brings Rome and its love of food and art and culture to life on the pages is clearly done with much care that shines through. And, there’s a tense library heist, which does make the payoff of wading through a somewhat slow middle worth it. The romance between Roz and Matt sizzles on the page, the trio shows growth in their magical powers, and the stakes build to a suspenseful, action-packed climactic showdown. All of the shocking twists, meandering plot, and character development collide for a great final act—and one wicked, tragic twist that shows the true meaning of sacrifice and friendship. Although it would’ve been cool to see more fallout from the one surprising conflict involving Mickey, the last line of the novel pulls everything together beautifully. A satisfying, bittersweet ending that paves the way for the next chapter in Roz’s journey as a fledgling witch.

A high-stakes quest set against the dreamy backdrop of Rome, MY NAME IS NOT ROSLYN JAMES delivers a powerful and emotionally searing magical battle that builds to a jaw-dropping final twist.

~Jessica Thomas for IndieReader