Most sensible people avoid fire-breathing carnivores that prey on humans. But Jordan has built a career out of studying such legendary animals, creatures thought mythological until their reemergence in the world three decades ago. She and researchers like her believe that knowledge is the key to reclaiming the land they'd lost back then, when humanity retreated into designated safety zones.
But when the humans moved out, the legends moved in.
They were the descendants of mythical heroes, inheriting the powers of their ancestors, and they weren't afraid of the monsters. Jordan never expected to run into a legend, but when a field expedition turns into a trap for her team, she realizes that one deliberately tried to kill her. It's a diplomatic nightmare the Roman authorities might happily sweep under the rug. But if Jordan doesn't figure out who attacked her and why, they could try again. Yet even if she does solve the mystery, what could one stubborn scientist possibly do to stop a powerful legend?
Terrestrial Magic by Marina Ermakova is the first book in the Jordan Sanders series. Jordan works with other researchers to study legendary creatures who made their way back into the world a few decades ago. With their arrival, life changed with safety zones set up for humans and the vacated land reclaimed by legends of long ago. These legends have power inherited from ancestors such as Hercules and show no fear of the monsters. Jordan's life is fairly routine with expeditions to study legendary monsters until someone tries to kill her. This leads Jordan and her team to the House of Hercules where she works to navigate diplomatic conflict and decide who tried to kill her and why.
The story begins in the middle of Jordan and her team going after a monster, diving straight into the action with a fight against a chimera and basilisk. A world of monsters and legends is quickly introduced while also exploring Jordan's dynamics with her team, which consists of Hayley, Tony, Luca, and Carter. These relationships are an integral part of Jordan's life as this is the team she relies on and works with every day. She has a different relationship with each of them, but each has banter and moments when she connects with them. The team dynamic is a crucial part of the story as how they work together plays into solving who wants to kill her and provides back-up when going up against the legends. An interesting aspect of Jordan's character is the thrill she gets at entering this danger. She's passionate about learning about these creatures but she also enjoys the freedom of leaving the safety zones.
Marina Ermakova weaves in quieter moments for readers to see these characters in a more vulnerable light and to see more layers to their personalities. This world is incredibly complex and dangerous. The legends further weave in mythology as they're based on famed myths such as Remus and Romulus, and the story of Hercules. Ermakova opens this world with a fresh take on mythology, weaving in a post-apocalyptic set up with the story taking place decades after the literal return of legends and myths. The mystery is at the heart of the story as Jordan investigates who would want to kill her and uncovers plenty of twists and surprises. Terrestrial Magic is a unique post-apocalyptic adventure that's a breath of fresh air and puts a new spin on mythology and legendary monsters, with mystery, danger, and instantly likable characters.
