Sam never wanted to use her gift – the ability to take the magical powers from other mystics – to hurt anybody, but that hasn’t kept others from attacking her. Balanced Chaos, the third book in the Void Series sees Sam recovering from the injuries she suffered at the end of Book 2 as she tried to prevent a massacre of the vampires. Sam paid a heavy price in that fight and is even more determined now to not use her gift. But things on the mystic reservation have been changing while Sam recovers, and there are still members of the fae community that want Sam dead. The National Guard has been brought in to restore order and Sam soon finds herself working for the new commanding officer and with a bodyguard to help keep her safe. As Sam struggles to adjust to the new realities of the reservation, a new mystery crops up and Sam must investigate poisonings happening among the fae. But nothing is ever easy for Sam, and as the attacks on her continue, and the assassins seem to lurk around every corner, she must reluctantly tap into her gift if she wants to survive.

Balanced Chaos adds an interesting new element to Sam’s world. Sam continues to be a character you care about, and you definitely feel for her as the slings and arrows never seem to cease. Sam shows some growth in this installment of the series, though not as much as I would have liked to have seen. But for me, what really makes this book shine is the inclusion of a whole new set of characters in the form of the National Guardsmen brought in to take over from the mystic bureau. Characters like Lt. Col Gallagher add a new element to the story, especially the inclusion of Corporal Werner. Werner is assigned as Sam’s personal protective detail, and being able to see Sam and the reservation from Werner’s human perspective adds a new and refreshing twist on the tale. Couple that with a complex relationship between Sam and Werner, and you have a wonderful chance for character interaction that Charissa makes full use of by putting Sam and Werner in some very interesting and complicated situations. (No details, because SPOILERS!)

Overall, I really enjoyed Balanced Chaos. This third book in the series keeps up the pace from the previous books and Charissa has done a great job of weaving in additional plot items and foreshadowing for future events that I am sure Sam will have to deal with if she can get out of the current chaos in her life alive. I recommend this book for anybody interested in a twist on the typical urban fantasy story. Charissa continues to craft a fantastic world of magic penned into a tiny space, and like a pot sitting on a fire, the environment naturally creates conflict that threatens to boil over at any moment. Couple this setting with a strong-willed but reluctant heroine, and you have the makings of great urban fantasy.

I listened to the audio production of the book. Janelle Tedesco continues to do a wonderful job of narrating Sam’s story and bringing Sam to life. There were no problems with the production and it was a wonderful book to listen to and easy to enjoy. ( )