Conceptionally, Three Kinds of Lucky sounded amazing. However, it was very hard to get into, and I was never able to get hooked.

This is a quirky, small-town fantasy mystery with a touch of urban fantasy flair. The concept—a woman who can manipulate probability—is cool, and I liked the blend of detective work with supernatural weirdness. That said, the pacing felt uneven and the stakes weren’t always clear. It’s fun and strange in a cozy way, but I wanted a bit more cohesion in the worldbuilding. If you’re looking for a fantasy that’s offbeat and low-stakes but still engaging, this could be your kind of read.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison is the first book in a new series, The Shadow Age. Thus, this book tells an exciting tale of adventure, danger, and the revelation of secrets while introducing readers to a world of magic with a coherent system of checks and balances.

Petra Grady allows us to view the world through her understanding and experiences. She's a sweeper, first class, responsible for cleaning areas of dross—the magical energy bits left over when magic users cast spells and don't clean up after themselves. Dross buildup can cause havoc with everyday items. She works at the university so there is a lot of cleanup necessary as students seldom bother to clear their own spillage. Students consider the sweepers as garbage pickup people – useless drones too lacking in talent to do anything worthwhile.

One of the professors, Benedict Strom, has been funded for a research project to find a method to render dross inert. Petra is assigned to his study. The more she learns the more concerned she becomes with the safety of the process. While there is a definite need for such a process, she feels the scientists working on the project don't understand dross as she does and they don't listen.

These are the key ingredients for disaster. Some people don't want Strom to succeed and others feel it is a joke—until an accident leaves Petra and Strom desperate to find a solution before it is too late. The only person that could possibly help is in hiding.

There's non-stop action almost from the first few pages. The setup of the situation is smooth and interesting. The world-building is top-notch. I was caught up from the beginning to the final page and felt let down that I finished but so wanted to know what is going to happen next. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger; there is a satisfying resolution albeit one that appears to be temporary.

"Three Kinds of Lucky" caught my interest with its exploration of magic's consequences through magical waste known as Dross. However, the writing style gave off a vibe as if initially tailored for a middle school audience and later adapted for an older readership, resulting in an odd blend of immature writing and adult concepts.

*Fiasco* by Constance Fay is an engaging and dramatic exploration of personal turmoil and the consequences of poor decisions. The story centers around characters whose lives spiral out of control, each facing the fallout of their actions. Fay's writing is sharp and raw, capturing the emotional depth and complexity of her characters. The plot unfolds with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers hooked as they witness the characters' unraveling. Themes of redemption, failure, and self-realization are thoughtfully explored. *Fiasco* is a compelling read for those who enjoy character-driven stories that delve into human flaws and the messy realities of life.

Right, but, here's the thing: Isn't "tough but troubled woman with dead father who kind of lied about some important aspects of his identity but it's okay because her pluck and somewhat generic sex appeal when navigating a heretofore unknown and entirely unique magical ability that will definitely change the world if she isn't overwhelmed by the ignorant population before said change can be made manifest" a little played out?

Kim Harrison launches a new series with this complicated urban fantasy exploring the intersection of magic and luck. Lots of worldbuilding and status quo establishing, and lots of focus upon the magic system which defines the setting. Still, the addition of a second chance romance between the lead and her estranged best friend offers something for readers to really dig into.

I'm not gonna lie, it took me a little bit to get into this one, but once I did, I was pretty hooked.

But I always hated Ashley.

But anyway - the magical worldbuilding here is fantastic! I loved how creative it was, and how much it really added to the story. I was really hoping the next book would be coming soon so I could get my hands on it, but alas!

This is the first in a new series for Kim Harrison and I really enjoyed reading the world building and explanation on what Petra does with her magic which is sweeping bad luck dross which meant she had hardly any magic power but turns out she actually has a rare talent while trying to figure out what it does ends up sending her and Benedict on the run from the magical authorities and rebels alike. I am excited for the next book and to see where this goes.
Thanks to Ace and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

The first 40% of the book was a slog to get through. Nothing really happened and was mainly world building. The magic system is very scientific and complicated, so I had to read very slowly and sometimes reread parts and really think about them to understand what was going on. It is an interesting magic system unlike any I’ve read about before, but it was very hard to grasp.
The reveals were predictable & the romance made no sense to me. I have no clue why Petra even likes Benedict considering that they were friends for a short time over 14 years ago; his refusal to admit that he may be wrong was irritating, and I just wasn’t feeling the romance vibes between them at all. The last straw for me was the animal death in chapter 19. It was so unnecessary and it seems like the author just did it because they didn’t know what to do with said animal for the rest of the story and needed it gone to move the plot along. There should definitely be a trigger warning at the beginning of the book.
I am mildly curious about the direction this series is heading in, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing.

Kim Harrison has a new series coming out? Cue me screaming! THREE KINDS OF LUCKY is the first book in the new contemporary fantasy series.

As a longtime fan of Kim Harrison, I was thrilled about this news and couldn’t wait to see what this series is all about. The main heroine, Petra Grady, has no talent for magic. However, the world of the SHADOW AGE series puts her at the forefront alongside another intriguing character by the name of Benedict. I cannot wait to see how readers will react to this new duo as I think it’ll spark a lot of new interest for Harrison’s fans.

Harrison has proven that she had write kickass heroines before, so I think readers will be excited about Petra entering the scene. With her wits and skills, it’ll be interesting to see how her character develops throughout the series. As this is only the first book of the series, I guess time will tell.

However, if you enjoy magic and mayhem in your Urban Fantasy novels, then Harrison’s new Shadow Age series just might be the best new series of 2024!

I commend any author for building worlds and magic systems from scratch because that isn't easy. However, good intentions do not often make for a good story. The problem with building new worlds and systems is that you have to explain to your audience what they are and how they work in a way that makes it simple for us to grasp but also keeps it interesting.

Where the book lost me can be tied to this - overlong scenes sometimes try to show/explain the magic system, but not in a way that interests me. This also ties into the fact that I wouldn't say I liked the pacing.

Another factor that I could not get into was the characters - I didn't care for them. It's hard to like and want to continue a book where you don't care for the characters or their world.

I enjoy reading this book! This was a new author for me and I really enjoyed the writing and storyline! I will be checking out what other title the author has out!

Kim Harrison has started another series with Three Kinds of Lucky. Petra Grady is a sweeper first class who collects dross from the magicians' workings and disposes of it. She is not a mage, but is she something more? Magicians make mistakes handling dross, her roommate is a spy, and she has to flee her quarters with a mage and others. Shadow is more than terror; can she handle it? Modern fantasy with intriguing twists and turns.

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison- From its picturesque descriptive language to its twisty plot to its wonderful characters, Harrison has penned a beautifully crafted paranormal fantasy with a pinch of romance that will hook you as a fan. Can’t wait for book number 2! Highly recommended.

This is absolutely one of those books where you check to see when the sequel is being published as soon as you turn the final page. Heavily plot drive (there are problems that must be addressed) but we get to see some character growth as they frantically dash from disaster to disaster. Lots of sudden betrayals and very twisty motivations. Honestly, I could have just kept reading about how the magic system worked in this even more.

This book was different than what I expected, in a good way, and the title is kind of clever once you read the story. Dross is like a physical embodiment of bad luck, but only sweepers and spinners and can see it. Mages sometimes can, but really their focus is magic. So essentially it’s a little chaos gremlin that is just running amok wreaking havoc. But since this means that “sweepers” are essentially cleaning up after the mages, they’re looked down upon. However, as the dross and shadows react differently to Petra, there might be something more to it— to her than believed. This guy who she calls her uncle to anyone who asks, has been leaving her money and trying to contact her; Petra sees it as guilt for being responsible for her dad’s death. However, there’s more to it, and Petra realizes that there is more to the past and what is going on around her than she knew. People she thought she could trust betray her, and in the worst way, and someone she thought betrayed her, may become her best ally. Yes I’m looking at you MMC, Benedict. The ending reminded me of an action hero movie where it ends with the tease of a new upcoming mission, and I can’t wait to see how Petra and her new sidekick(s) tackle it!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the copy for review!

In Three Kinds of Lucky, the author introduces an unusual magical culture. The depiction of magic draws a bit from science proposing a world where magic produces waste. Otherwise know as dross, it is like dust bunnies, accumulating until they start to cling to you. And when that happens, bad luck follows.

Petra Grady is a sweeper. With supposedly no talent for magic, but able to see the dross, sweepers are an important part of the magical society, cleaning up after everyone else. And just like in the world of mundane trash collection, those with magical talent have no regard for those sweepers who perform such an important task.

When Benedict Strom invents a method for dealing with dross, Petra is called in to help with the research. The research takes a terrible turn compelling Petra and Benedict to flee, seeking solutions. The adventure will bring them together, revealing secrets, hidden talents and possibly a bit of revolution.

This first book in a new series is my introduction to Kim Harrison. Harrison is a fantastic storyteller! The Shadow Age sets up the world, the characters and a long-term story arc. It looks to be a fun and interesting new series.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

Engaging and entertaining, all at once. Kim Harrison’s THREE KINDS OF LUCKY reels you in from the very start.