Enchanted, Inc. (Katie Chandler, Book 1)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 320 pages
• Published by: Ballantine Books May 31, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0345481259
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0345481252
• Book Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 8.8 ounces

From Publishers Weekly
In her first mainstream novel, romance writer Swendson puts a Harry Potter–inspired twist on the standard tale of a smalltown girl in the big city, with lively if saccharine sweet results. Fish-out-of-water Katie Chandler suffers in her thankless job as assistant to marketing manager "Evil Mimi," worrying that maybe she just can't hack it in New York City. Will her colleagues ever consider her anything but a hick? For a girl from Texas, the Big Apple is stranger than a foreign country, but she discovers that the weird things she notices are signs of real magic afoot. Her "small-town honesty and common sense" soon land her a new job at Magic, Spells, and Illusion Inc., which traffics in benevolent sorcery. "You are of the rare breed who can neither do magic nor be influenced by magic. You see the world as it is," an MSI executive explains. With her clear-sightedness—plus business acumen gained working for her family's feed-and-seed store—Katie will play a pivotal role in MSI's magical battle against a malevolent competitor. From sanitized descriptions of New York City life to hunky wizards and fairies on the subway, this book is pure and innocent fantasy, suitable for preteens or readers hungry for a cotton candy read.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–Sex and the City meets Harry Potter in this fanciful story about Katie Chandler, 26, who has moved to New York to make her mark in business. Having long viewed herself as an everybody's little sister-type person, she is unprepared for the adventures that await her when MSI, Inc., approaches her with a once-in-a-lifetime offer. Thinking that they fall into the spam category, she ignores the overtures for several days. MSI's persistence wears her down, and, on meeting with the company's representatives, she learns that the initials stand for Magic, Spells, and Illusions, and that the magic community is alive and well in New York City. Katie discovers that her very ordinariness allows her to see this community at work in ways that most others cannot. Her acceptance of the job is the first step in a series of captivating and hilarious adventures. MSI's products may have been on the market for a millennium, but the company's knowledge of modern concepts is sorely lacking, and Swendson uses Katie's business acumen to educate not only the employees, but also her readers in an utterly engaging fashion. A former staffer who has gone over to the darker side of magic has begun marketing spells that will allow magical folks to manipulate the non-magical population, and the race is on to try to stop him. Although the plot stretches credulity in places, the novel cleverly combines fantasy and practicality. Students will appreciate the glimpse into corporate America's strange mix of seriousness and silliness.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reader Reviews
Kathleen "Katie" Chandler lives in a one bedroom apartment, with two roommates, in New York. Her awful boss goes from hot to cold in an instant and treats all her employees worse than any animal. Suddenly Katie begins getting job offers, via email, from MSI, Inc. It has the feel of a scam, but Katie is getting desperate to change jobs. So she goes to an interview. Turns out that MSI stands for Magic, Spells, & Illusions. It is a company that sells tricks of the trade to the magical beings in the community. Katie does not take much persuading. She has been seeing people with wings (whose feet do not touch the ground), a stone gargoyle that changes positions and buildings (and seemed to wink once), and many other odd things. Katie has always assumed no one else seemed to notice because they were used to it and she had just not been living in NY long enough. Katie takes the job and begins working in the department of Verification. Katie's ordinariness is rare. Few people, such as herself, lack even a drop of magic. Magic will not work on Katie. Therefore, she can easily spot a fake spell, see hidden clauses in contracts, detect any magically disguised intruders, and more. The company needs "immunes" like Katie very badly. An ex-employee is threatening to sell black magic on the streets. If the magic community begins using dark spells, it will harm more than just the magical people in the world. Katie and her new bosses must save the world as we know it. ***** This is a stand alone novel, but I sure hope it becomes the first of a series. Katie's love life is not mentioned in my synopsis because she has her sights on more than one potential guy. I am told that this is Shanna Swendson's debut novel. I would never have known by reading it. The writing is superb and the story is seamless! Fans of Charlaine Harris's "Southern Vampire" series will especially enjoy this new author! A fun and witty read! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews. Comment | | (Report this)