Section 1: Urban Fantasy Books Similar to Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient MagiC
For this book, Dowser #4, the story structure reminded me a lot of Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light.
Both Doidge and Marske interweave their urban fantasy worlds around uncovering mysteries that require solving puzzles and finding hidden objects. Doidge prefers to use a broad spectrum of supernatural beings, including werewolves, vampires, dragons, and witches. Marske’s world focuses mainly on human magic users, although there is a hint of the Fae-folk.
Doidge and Marske also create their urban fantasies to include swoon-worthy, hot, and heavy scenes. Doidge’s work focuses mainly on hetero-love connections, although some supporting characters mention non-hetero relationships, but always as a secondary option. Marske, on the other hand, is all about LGBTQ+ romance, and she gets FAR MORE descriptive and in-depth with her romance scenes as compared to Doidge — i.e., explicit sexual content warning!!!
Section 2: Most Powerful Themes in Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic
In this book, our main character, Jade (half witch and half demigod dragon), desires to gain control of her choices and who she keeps safe. Unfortunately, her enemies are forcing her to take specific actions, as is her destiny to become a Dragon Guardian. She can’t stand the thought of her friends or loved ones getting hurt, but nor can she stop them from getting involved with the chaos that constantly surrounds her.
After four books, we finally see Jade vaguely starting to realize her limits on what she can control, including the actions and choices of those around her. She doesn’t like it and still wants to stop the big bad from one-upping her and hurting her friends.
In this book, I saw a glimmer of hope that Jade understands how playing defense to protect her loved ones has limited her control. Eventually, she has to play offense, think ahead several moves, and be willing to let go of complete control if she wants any hope of winning. She’s not quite there yet, but as she learns more about her dragon abilities and uncovers more secrets about the magical world of the Adepts, you can see a stronger version of Jade slowly emerging.
Section 3: What I Did Not Like about Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic
The series describes Jade as tall, blonde, curvy, and loaded with magical power. She’s absolutely stunning and can draw people in with her personality and magic. If all she wanted was sex, there is no reason at all why she couldn’t get that from the number of delicious men surrounding her in the narrative.
Her whining about lacking sex annoys me because she never really admits the truth in this book. She complains about not having sex or not having enough chocolate, but she doesn’t want just sex or just chocolate (well, maybe chocolate). She wants a real relationship that gives her safety, which seems entirely out of reach, given the magical chaos that swarms around her nonstop.
I think it’s interesting that Doidge creates this boring, average guy who obviously has the hots for Jade and tries to flirt with her at Jade’s bakery, but their courtship never really goes anywhere. It does prove that if all Jade wanted was sex, she could’ve had it with this guy. Doidge’s dangling the normal guy under Jade’s nose is pushing Jade to admit that she needs a real relationship, but Jade never actually says it, which frustrates me.
Section 4: Who Will Love and Hate Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient MagiC
Readers tired of the romantic trope that people who hate each other upon first meeting must fall in love later may want to skip this book and the entire series. Likewise, if you do not like cozy romances, baking references, or desire more werewolf and vampire action, this book may not be your favorite.
Section 5: L. Rigdon’s Star Rating of Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic
Doidge has grouped her books within the Dowser series so that every three form a mini trilogy within the overall series (9 books total). As this is book 4, it starts off the next mini trilogy, and I adore how it’s giving off the National Treasure vibe with solving puzzles and searching for hidden items. Given all the secrets about the world of the Adepts (magical peeps), Jade will have plenty of mysteries to solve.
At this point in the whole series, you’ve also seen Jade go through so much trauma that it’s a wonder she’s not catatonic! If anyone needs therapy, it’s this woman! That said, you start to see the hints of her coping and dealing with what has happened to her. It’s difficult because things are constantly moving, but her training in the alternate dragon dimension has given her some needed private time away from the chaos. It may not be therapy, but it has given her time to reflect and process.
Will I continue reading the series?
One of the things that attracted me most to Doidge’s urban fantasy world is that she constructs all these different series within the same universe — what she calls her Adept universe. I do the same thing with my Rupt World universe.
Doidge also has some exciting crossovers mapped out [go here to see the awesome graphic], including crossovers with the Dowser series.
I started reading her Oracle series, which crosses over with Dowser #3, but the Oracle series didn’t really grab me. That said, future books of the Dowser series also crossover into her other ongoing and complete series. My question: How much do I want to commit?
Since I’ve read this far and I’m still intrigued, I’m confident I will finish the Dowser series. I may start her Reconstructionist and Amplifier series, but no promises.