Hard Magic

{"contributor_id":"102275","name":"Laura Anne Gilman","first":"Laura Anne","last":" Gilman","seo":"laura-anne-gilman","role":"A01","hide":false,"reference_id":null,"bio":"Laura Anne Gilman is the author of the popular Cosa Nostradamus novels for LUNA Books (including the Retrievers and Paranormal Scene Investigations urban fantasy series) and the Nebula award–nominated The Vineart War trilogy from Pocket, as well as the YA trilogy Grail Quest for HarperCollins. Her first story collection, Dragon Virus, came out in summer 2011, and she continues to write and sell short fiction in a variety of genres. She also writes paranormal romances under the name Anna Leonard.

Laura Anne lives in New York City.

Laura Anne loves to hear from her readers via her email: LAG@lauraannegilman.net","bio_short":"","image":"https://i.harperapps.com/hcanz/authors/0000001/x500.jpg","on_tour":false,"featured":false,"deceased":false,"sensitivity":"0","locale":null,"custom":{"algoliaKey":"3be23f1b35edc3c1f3d108b1c6b79bb7-0","export_hash":"5803b4af9601f20f6f90c660a99fe92964e2608a180650ab3d7dead8c6d2a2db"},"events":null,"awards":null,"assets":[{"id":"177427-102275","asset_id":"102275","asset":{"id":"177427","unique":"d482f9fd531f393d18e65cb2d3f02159","name":"laura-anne-gilman-author-website","description":null,"type":"link-url","sub_type":"author-website","order":"1","size":"0","height":"0","width":"0","embed":null,"path":"http://www.lauraannegilman.net","source":"Import Author Details Script","schedule":"2021-09-21 01:01:39"}},{"id":"213211-102275","asset_id":"102275","asset":{"id":"213211","unique":"x500-laura-anne-gilman-Contributors","name":"laura-anne-gilman-author-photo","description":null,"type":"image","sub_type":"author-photo","order":"1","size":"500","height":null,"width":"500","embed":null,"path":"https://i.harperapps.com/hcanz/authors/0000001/x500.jpg","source":"new-image-import","schedule":"2022-11-02 23:00:00"}}],"books":[{"description":"

Return to the magical world of the Retrievers in book 5 of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.Return to the magical world of the Retrievers in book 5 of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.

The Cosa Nostradamus is in disarray; the Truce holding violence in check has been broken. Magical Manhattan is at war, and Wren Valere is left without her partner/lover Sergei, whose past loyalties keep him from her side just when she needs him the most.

Hoping to keep herself occupied, Wren takes a job — but what should have been an ordinary Retrieval instead forces her to realise that it is time to do more. It is time for the Cosa to take the battle to the enemy.

But she'll do it her way. The Retrievers' way. Sneaky, smart — and with maximum damage possible. What was lost will be found, what was stolen will be Retrieved. And this war will be ended, once and for all.

Wren Valere always finishes the job. Always.

","rating":"3.86","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23240,"isbn13":"9781489267085","title":"Free Fall","seo":"free-fall","summary":"Return to the magical world of the Retrievers in book 5 of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.Return to the magical world of the Retrievers in book 5 of this popular series by Laura Anne...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267085.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":false,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"

Save the world — early and often 

Three months ago Jan learned that elves were real, our world wasn't safe and it was up to her to save her boyfriend — and the world — from being englamoured into slavery. Now Jan has a new deadline — ten weeks, ten days and ten hours. That's when the truce she arranged between our world and the elves' realm ends, and the invasion starts. 

While supernatural creatures work to defend humanity, Jan and the kelpie Martin have to find the preter queen, and use her to force the portals closed. But when magic mixes with technology, shutting it down isn't as simple as closing a door or pulling a plug…. 

Jan's geek-girl know-how might have gotten her this far, but they're going to need technical skills and magic to shut the portals for good…. 

And their time's nearly up.

","rating":"3.54","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23205,"isbn13":"9781489267030","title":"Soul Of Fire","seo":"soul-of-fire","summary":"Save the world — early and often Three months ago Jan learned that elves were real, our world wasn't safe and it was up to her to save her boyfriend — and the world — from being...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267030.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"

Discover the magical world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in the final book of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.

Wren Valere's job is driving her crazy. She's still Manhattan's most sought-after Retriever, but after last year's deadly confrontation with the Silence, all this magic-user wants is a break. With her apartment going co-op and her relationship with the demon P.B. putting stress on her romance with partner Sergei, is Wren finally ready to settle down to a more stable existence?

Not likely.

Because when you're good, trouble always finds you. Wren's next assignment puts her on the wrong side of a child-snatcher — and a collision course with her past. But to save a friend — and protect her future — Wren must pull off the most important Retrieval of her life…and for once magic isn't on her side.

","rating":"3.91","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23197,"isbn13":"9781489267092","title":"Blood From Stone","seo":"blood-from-stone","summary":"Discover the magical world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in the final book of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.Wren Valere's job is driving her crazy. She's...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267092.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"Rediscover the world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 4 of the popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.

Wren Valere used to be almost invisible. But now she's not only being seen, she's getting involved.

Recent attacks against nonhuman Fatae have escalated into hate crimes against magic users in general — humans included. With the Mage Council distracted by internal power struggles, Wren is guilted into stepping up as spokesperson for the fragilely united Fatae and lonejack communities….

And, because the cosmos deems her without enough complications, her partner-lover Sergei is drowning in his own problems. But not only can't she help him — she's the cause.

With lives on the line — including her own — Wren is going to have to break the lonejack credo, ditch her long-cherished invisibility and take a stand.

But burning bridges can be deadly….

","rating":"3.78","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23195,"isbn13":"9781489267078","title":"Burning Bridges","seo":"burning-bridges","summary":"Rediscover the world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 4 of the popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.Wren Valere used to be almost invisible. But now she's not...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267078.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"

Rediscover the world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 1 of the popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.

It starts as a simple job — but simple jobs, when you're dealing with the magical world, often end up anything but. As a Retriever, Wren Valere specialises in finding things gone missing — and then bringing them back, no questions asked. Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while…
 
Case in point: A cornerstone containing a spell is stolen and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?) Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this particular case to rest, so she turns to some friends: a demon (minor), a mage who has lost his mind, and a few others, including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe a bit more?).

Sometimes what a woman has to do to get the job done is enough to give even Wren nightmares…

","rating":"3.52","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23194,"isbn13":"9781489267047","title":"Staying Dead","seo":"staying-dead","summary":"Rediscover the world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 1 of the popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.It starts as a simple job — but simple jobs, when you're...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267047.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":false,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"

Return to the magical world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 2 of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.

Once more Wren Valere’s game plan has taken an unexpected direction. She made a bargain with a supersecret magic-watching outfit to protect her and her partner on their last job,\" but now the Silence is trying to wedge them apart. And ever since she and Sergei began to talk about their \"\"relationship\",\" things have been tricky. Still…they’re a team, and a force to be reckoned with when danger is near.

So now they are off to Italy in search of a missing artifact, without any information other than that it’s very old, very dangerous and everyone who gets too close disappears. Compared with what’s going on at home (lonejacks banding together, a jealous demon, tracking bugs needing fumigation…) maybe disappearing wouldn’t be so bad!

Originally published in 2005

","rating":"3.72","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23193,"isbn13":"9781489267054","title":"Curse The Dark","seo":"curse-the-dark","summary":"Return to the magical world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 2 of this popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.Once more Wren Valere’s game plan has taken...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267054.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"

\"He has been taken. And you are his only chance.\" 

That wasn't something Jan expected to hear — especially from strangers who'd just rescued her from some mysterious and ferocious creatures. And she really hadn't expected her rescuers to be shape-shifters…. 

Now it turns out her boyfriend, Tyler, hasn't gone missing, he's been stolen — and Jan's the only one who might be able to get him back. 

From Elfland. 

Yeah, Jan's pretty sure the entire world's gone crazy. Even if the shifters claim that the naturals (like her) and the supernaturals (like them) belong in this world…but the preternaturals, what humans call elves, don't. And they've found a portal into our world. A doorway they can use to infiltrate, to take, to conquer.  

And now Jan's not just Ty's only hope — she's got to rescue humanity, as well….

","rating":"3.39","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23192,"isbn13":"9781489267023","title":"Heart Of Briar","seo":"heart-of-briar","summary":"\"He has been taken. And you are his only chance.\" That wasn't something Jan expected to hear — especially from strangers who'd just rescued her from some mysterious and ferocious...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267023.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"

Return to the world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 3 of the popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.

Wren Valere used to have a simple life. Her partner Sergei would negotiate the terms of the Retrieval — all right, the theft — and she would use her magical Talent to carry it out. Paycheck deposited, on to the next job.

Now? Her relationship with Sergei is even more complicated (sex will do that). Her fellow lonejacks are trying to organise against the Mage’s Council. The nonhuman population of Manhattan is getting fed up with being ignored and abused. And the Council? Well, they have an agenda of their own, and it’s not one the lonejacks are going to like.

When it comes down to choosing sides, the first rule of the lonejack credo is \"Don’t get involved.\" But when friends are in danger, and the city you love is at risk, sometimes getting into the thick of things is all you can do…

","rating":"3.68","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-07-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23182,"isbn13":"9781489267061","title":"Bring It On","seo":"bring-it-on","summary":"Return to the world of the Retrievers and the Cosa Nostradamus, in book 3 of the popular series by Laura Anne Gilman.Wren Valere used to have a simple life. Her partner Sergei...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489267061.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC009060"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"In my time with PUPI, formally known as Private, Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations, I’ve seen a lot. Learned a lot. And not all of it’s been good. But what we do — make people accountable for crimes committed with magic — is important work.

Still. Even I need to take a break every now and again. Or so I’ve just been told (ordered).

So hey, vacation. Maybe I’ll finally figure out what’s going on with the ‘special bond’ between me and the boss man, Benjamin Venec. Venec seems to like that idea — he’s invited me down to join him on a jaunt to Philly. But no sooner do I arrive in the City of Brotherly Love than we’re called in to look at a dead body.

And that’s when life gets really complicated…

","rating":"3.92","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23547,"isbn13":"9781489271082","title":"Dragon Justice","seo":"dragon-justice","summary":"In my time with PUPI, formally known as Private, Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations, I’ve...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489271082.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":false,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC027030"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"Welcome to P.U.P.I. — Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations.

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can’t touch — crimes of magic.

My name’s Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn’t applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work — so off I went.

Two days later I’m a PUPI — me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twenty-somethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic.

The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We’re sniffing out things they’d rather keep buried.

Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we’re making it up as we go along…

","rating":"3.61","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23546,"isbn13":"9781489271051","title":"Hard Magic","seo":"hard-magic","summary":"Welcome to P.U.P.I. — Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations.A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489271051.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":false,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC027030"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"My name is Bonita Torres, and eight months ago I was an unemployed college graduate without a plan. Now I’m an investigator with the Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations team of New York. Pretty awesome, right?

The Cosa Nostradamus, the magical community, isn’t quick to give up its secrets, though. Not even to fellow members. Not even when it’s in their best interests. So we’ve been busting our tails, perfecting our forensic skills, working to gain acceptance. The team’s tight…but we have our quirks, too. And our Big Dog, Benjamin Venec…well, he’s a special case, all right.

But we can’t give up. We’re needed, especially when a case comes along that threatens to pit human against fatae. But one wrong move could cost us everything we’ve worked for….

","rating":"3.85","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23545,"isbn13":"9781489271068","title":"Pack Of Lies","seo":"pack-of-lies","summary":"My name is Bonita Torres, and eight months ago I was an unemployed college graduate without a plan. Now I’m...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489271068.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":true,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC027030"}],"scheduled":[]},{"description":"When magic goes wrong, who are you going to call?

The name’s Torres, Bonnie Torres, and I'm a paranormal scene investigator — rooting out the truth about crimes of magic. It’s dangerous and boring and scary and fascinating. Though not everyone in the Cosa Nostradamus is happy we’re around, which can make things…tricky.

Working two cases — looking into a murder for the NYPD, and a rich man’s break-in — should be well within our abilities. But when things start getting weird in the Electric Apple, Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations is stretched to the limits, trying to keep one step ahead and out of trouble. Add in rumors of a powerful creature gunning for us and it’s not just our rep on the line this time — if we don’t solve this case, everyone will suffer.

Fortunately, around here, when the going gets weird, the weird hire us...

","rating":"3.96","stock":0,"date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"sale_date":{"__className":"DateTime","date":"2018-09-01 00:00:00.000000","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"Australia/Sydney"},"product_id":23544,"isbn13":"9781489271075","title":"Tricks Of The Trade","seo":"tricks-of-the-trade","summary":"When magic goes wrong, who are you going to call?The name’s Torres, Bonnie...","image":"https://harpercollins-millsandboon-au.imgix.net/covers/9781489271075.jpg?auto=format&w=298&blend=https://supadu-imgix.s3.amazonaws.com/harpercollins-millsandboon-au/EBOOK.png&blend-mode=normal&blend-size=inherit&blend-y=0","hide":false,"categories":[{"name":"Undefined Category","type":"bic","seo_name":"F00M0R000"},{"name":"Paranormal & Fantasy","type":"bisac","seo_name":"FIC027030"}],"scheduled":[]}],"scheduled":[],"products":[]}