Review: Blood Born by Renee Lake

Blood Born by Renee Lake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions included in this review are my own.

This book is aimed at a New Adult audience, which is obvious from the start, as the book opens with snippets of social media messaging between the main characters. It felt a bit gimmicky to me, but then I’m old and not the target audience, however, it did show communications between the characters and as such were part of the story and introduced the main characters.

The story was about a group of young women who roomed together at university. They were living in a big beautiful house that was filled with history. Two of the women with rooms were Jo and Maddie who became girlfriends in High School. Maddie’s twin brother, Lucca was also starting at the university but was staying in a dorm. Maddie is a touch idealistic and is a passionate women’s rights activist. Jo is much more intellectual and plans to be a lawyer and work with her father on graduation. They spent the summer apart and this has exposed a few cracks in their relationship, even though both still love the other.

They find out that a professor of Jo’s actually owns half the town as well as the house they are renting. She is originally from Romania and oozes sex appeal, power and mystery. When Jo and Lucca start working at her mansion on a cataloging project, Jo begins to be very wary of Valora and her strange interns. At the same time Maddie becomes captivated by her, meeting randomly and spending time together without Jo’s knowledge.

Jo and Maddie’s room mates are also very wary of Valora, Queenie in particular is frightened of her and states her uncle believes Valora to be very dangerous indeed. It becomes obvious, as the book progresses, that though Queenie’s uncle may be right, he is quite a dangerous man himself.

The reason I gave this book 3 stars is because whilst the book is incredibly plot driven, there is a distinct weakness in the characters. It felt like the author had no sympathy for anyone, so the telling of the story was cold and distant. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters and it isn’t just because I’m old because I have read plenty of NA books where I find the characters sympathetic and remind me of myself at that age. Sadly none of these characters had depth, they were all self absorbed and shallow. Blood Born is definitely a plot focused story rather than one that is character driven.

This book felt like a ghost story told round the campfire like Queenie’s when she told them about the monster who protected a castle and it’s lands. This kind of story has it’s place, and maybe a younger reader may it enjoy the book more than I did, but I felt like the book could have been much more if the characters had been more sympathetic.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

I'm On Facebook

This is just a quick note to let you know that I'm on Facebook now. I've set it up so that you go to the page for Chrissy's Book Shelf and click on the "Follow" button underneath the page heading. When you click on that button, a drop down menu will appear and you can select whether you want to receive notifications from the page in your normal feed, or if you want it to appear first, so it doesn't get lost.

On the page, so far, all I've posted are my blog posts. This means you will get notifications of when a new review is posted and a link to the blog post. This is another way for you to follow the blog, if you don't use a feed reader. It's also another a way for you to communicate with me. I'll always welcome comments about reviews and tips about other books you think I might like. I'm constantly looking for new authors and series to try out.

Come see me over there!

Review: Triad Found (Claimed By The Goddess Book 1) by Rozie Marshall

Triad Found by Rozie Marshall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very Steamy Paranormal Reverse Harem

I think that if I could, I would give this book 3.5 stars. The start of the book felt quite stilted but as it progressed the author seemed to relax into her writing a lot more and the characters started to flesh out a little bit.

The story revolves around Luna, who moves to Denver because of a necklace that was left to her by her deceased mother. Luna never really knew her mother so the necklace was special to her, especially the message on it “It Begins In Denver”. Luna moves there and ends up renting an apartment above the garage of a very big house. The house is owned by the father of one of the occupants. There are three men, all of which are gorgeous (of course). The men are very friendly and Luna is attracted to all of them.

It turns out that all three men have supernatural abilities and by meeting them Luna’s own powers have been released. Her mother sent her to them, without Luna understanding it. All three men want Luna and it seems they were pre-destined to want to be together with Luna and each other.

There is a LOT of sex in this book. I would definitely count it as erotica as well as paranormal romance, as it is explicit in nature. If you aren’t interested in a sex heavy book then give this one a miss. If you like some smut with your paranormal romance and are happy with multiple partners being involved at the same time you might give this one a go.

I haven’t decided yet whether I’m going to read the next in the series, but as the writing improved as the book progressed I am inclined to at least think about it.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Oath Sworn (Jacky Leon Book 1) by Kristen Banet

Oath Sworn by Kristen Banet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another bullseye from Kristen Banet

This book is a cracking urban fantasy book, the first in a new series, by Kristen Banet. I have to be honest here and say that I’ve never read a book by this author that I haven’t loved. Kristen Banet knows how to write about strong women, without them becoming two dimensional. It takes real skill to avoid shortcuts when creating a fictional universe but this author has that in spades.

The book is about Jacky Leon, a werecat. Jacky has been a werecat for 10 years and lived alone for 6 of those years. Werecats are loners by nature and create and hold territory by themselves. They defend that territory with their strength and fierceness. They are incredibly protective of what they own. They also hold incredibly tightly to their oaths. This means when an 11 year old human daughter of the local Alpha werewolf turns up at her door asking for protection, by treaty and Duty she is bound to protect her, from all the supernatural shenanigans going on around Dallas.

This Duty would normally be relatively simple, keeping humans away from supernatural wars is written into Law and therefore Carey should be safe with Jacky, 2 hours away from where a werewolf war is going on. As this happens in the first section of the book, it should be obvious that this doesn’t happen.

I love the intricate web of Laws that are set up to determine the actions of the supernatural community. These Laws are slowly revealed as the book progresses in a natural way, that also informs the reader.

I really like that Jacky is not only an outsider within the supernatural community as a whole, but also with her werecat ‘family’. She is lonely and isolated, but also strong and protective. I love that her werecat instincts run parallel to her human ones to protect a child. Her situation explains why she bonds so hard to Carey.

Being dragged into this supernatural mayhem allows the author to gradually expand the reader’s knowledge about the supernatural community at large, as well as learning about Jacky’s true depths. We learn about her fears and pain as well as her loneliness. I love that Jacky isn’t the perfect warrior, but is determined to do the best that she can do to protect Carey.

This is not a book with any romance. This is about Duty, family and Law. It is about people and what they are prepared to do to protect what they believe in and those they care about. It’s a book that I devoured in one sitting and I loved every page.

If you love a book about a strong woman who isn’t afraid to show her fears, but continue on doing what she believes to be right, then this is the book for you. If not, find another book, there are lots out there!

I can’t wait for the next in the series. As this one just came out, I’m sure I’ll have to wait a while, but I know that the wait will be worth it.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Darkness (Their Vampire Queen Book 8) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Darkness by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet Short Novella

This is another short story (novella) from the Their Vampire Queen series. We read about Helayna who is trapped in the dark, slowly being consumed. She has forgotten who she is and where she came from. A being wants her to use her power as an Aima Queen to break free of her confines to destroy her prison. Helayna knows this is a bad idea, somehow. Trusting the voice of a Queen who calls to her in the darkness, she reaches for her Blood for the first time and calls forth beings that have slept for millennia.

I really liked how Norse mythology was employed in this short story. We heard about Helayna in a previous book within the series, but we didn’t hear how she escaped. Helayna was an abstract rather than a real character until this book was written. Joely Sue Burkhart does write a good short story and this was enjoyable as we learned about Helayna’s entrapment and the reasons for it.

This is a good short and fun read, a perfect snack of a story.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Captivated: A Reverse Harem Witches and Vampires Royal Covens Novel (Book 1) by JR Thorn

Captivated: A Reverse Harem Witches and Vampires Royal Covens Novel by J.R. Thorn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I would give this book more of a 3.5 star rating.

A solid start to an interesting new series

I had seen this book on Amazon a few times but avoided it because someone had given it a very low rating and that rating was the only one. However, someone on one of my Facebook groups recommended the series, explaining that the first book wasn’t brilliant but the series improved with each book. As the blurb had always intrigued me I decided to give it a go.

I’m pleased I did. The book was a solid start to a new series. It’s not perfect by any means, hence the star rating, but I can see the potential for much more.

The book revolves around Evelyn a mortal born witch who has been raised by a coven after the death of her parents when she was very young. Her coven wasn’t the most welcoming of places to a mortal born witch, but they did look after her when she was alone, and for that she is grateful.

Close to coming of age and undergoing initiation into the Royal Covens, of which her coven is one, things are going to start to change for Evelyn. She is worried that if she attracts too much attention she will be in danger because not everyone approves of her getting a chance to be accepted into the coven and gaining access to the magic she is only able to borrow as a mortal.

When an incident forces her into a vision, she latches on to the four Warlock Vampires she sees in that vision and their magic. Using the magic to anchor and protect herself she releases the Warlock Vampires from their own trapped state, not realising their fate is tied together.

I really liked the writing style, which was fluid and relaxed. Evelyn is an interesting character and has been through a lot. Her life in the coven hasn’t been easy, but she has done her best and been supported by Cassidy, her best friend and a servant/slave in the coven, and Sparkle her familiar. She doesn’t think like the born witches, which makes her unusual in her world and more accessible to the reader.

Evelyn’s relationships with the four Warlock Vampires is interesting and each relationship is different from the others. It’s not just the characters that are different it’s the way they relate to Evelyn and the way she reacts to them that differs. I like that it’s not all smooth sailing as she learns about each one.

Though the premise for the story is great the plot isn’t fully realised for the reader. The author makes quite a few big leaps that aren’t fully explained to the reader as the story moves along. They are explained later in the book but not especially clearly. The jumps just feel like the author forgot that the reader didn’t know the whole plot, as there are no hints about what is going on, there is just a great big hole.

It’s a shame that the structure of the book isn’t more fleshed out because there is great promise in the book. The characters are great, the writing style is good, and the story line is interesting, it’s just annoying that the reader is confused, and not in a good way, through some significant chunks in the book. However, if you can cope with being confused for around 15% of the book, you will enjoy it!

I will be reading the rest of the series because if the series gets better, as I’ve been lead to believe, it will be a good fun read.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Medusa's Destiny: A WhyChoose Romance (Monsters and Gargoyles Book 1) by Lacey Carter Andersen

Medusa's Destiny by Lacey Carter Andersen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting take on the myth of Medusa

It is thought that Medusa is dead, that she was killed by a hero who took her head. But in actual fact she’s still alive and just lost her boyfriend and her job (again). She’s empty and alone and sick of being hated and feared. Then she’s kidnapped by three gargoyles who need her help, despite being a hated monster, the kind they usually kill.

I really liked how this book slowly revealed how the myth and reality of Medusa were so different. I liked hearing about the stories of her very long life and at the same time hearing about the history and culture of gargoyles. Gargoyles were willed into life by desperate humans who needed protection and that need forced the statues to come to life. Since then their whole culture has been about protection.

There was a trial or two with the initial three gargoyles and then, when they meet with their alpha, a new trial begins. How the monster and the monster hunters communicate with each other is the centre of the whole book as they gradually learn about each other.

This is a fun book, with some real emotion, but not true darkness. It’s a quick read and highly entertaining. The characters are written well and the plot interesting.

I’ll definitely be reading the next in the series.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: The Wolf's Call (Raven's Blade Book 1) by Anthony Ryan

The Wolf's Call by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided with a copy of this book as an Advance Reader Copy, by the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions included in this review are my own.

This book brilliantly captures the reader in the same way the first book in the Raven's Shadow series did. If you are like most readers, the first two books in the Raven's Shadow series were the perfect blend of world building, character construction and plot and the third book depressed you beyond measure. (See my review of Queen of Fire). Reading The Wolf's Call will make you forget all about the sadness you felt at the end of Queen of Fire. It will fire you up with excitement that Vaelin is once again charging into action accompanied by a fantastic group of associates.

This book is set 10 years after the end of Queen of Fire. Vaelin has spent that time in the Northern Reaches, serving as the Lord of the Northern Tower for Lyrna, alone and not very happy. Word reaches Vaelin that his first love, Sherin, is in danger on the other side of the world. He immediately tears off to save her, taking with him a group made up of old friends and new associates. This starts a new adventure in a new environment, against a new deadly enemy.

I love that this book is a blend of all the best things about things about the first series and new characters and environment. This new location of the Lands of the Merchant Kings is a chance for Ryan to show his masterful skills as a world builder. He creates a wonderfully rich culture filled with it's own history and geography. This new culture brings the sense that Vaelin is a fish out of water once more and his missing Blood Song doesn't help him. He's relying on experience accrued with age and the bitter battles fought throughout his life to assist him in making decisions, the way the un-Gifted always have to. This brings a freshness to the story because though we know and love Vaelin his circumstances have changed. We also have a few characters from Raven's Shadow but mainly Vaelin relies on finding new allies, again refreshing the story.

One thing that hasn't changed with this book is the inclusion of the Gifted. Vaelin has to battle against a new foe who is Gifted, in a way Vaelin doesn't understand, who has captured the love and devotion of thousands. This new foe might not be the same one as before but his rise to power owes much to 'The Dark'.

I am so happy that Anthony Ryan has revived this series and given it new life. I loved Raven's Shadow, even when Queen of Fire induced depression, and reading the new book lifted my spirits significantly. I can't wait to find out what happens next because whilst this book ends at a convenient point, there is everything to be resolved.

I highly recommend this book if you read Raven's Shadow, even if you didn't enjoy Queen of Fire, because this books shows Anthony Ryan at his storytelling best. If you haven't read Raven's Shadow I don't think you will enjoy this book as much because there is a wealth of history and backstory you won't understand. The history of Raven's Shadow enriches this book significantly.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Supernatural Academy: Year One by Jaymin Eve

Supernatural Academy: Year One by Jaymin Eve
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyable urban fantasy Academy book

There are a rash of Academy books floating around Amazon at the moment, in particular on Kindle Unlimited. Some have been great and others mediocre enough to make me give up after a few chapters. This makes me conflicted every time I see a recommendation. I decided to take a chance on this book because I’ve read Jaymin Eve before and enjoyed her writing style. I was fairly sure it wouldn’t be a duff book.

One of the main things going for this particular book is that it revolved around NA rather than YA, a much more enjoyable genre for me. I like my characters to have grown up a little bit before they try to save the world. The MFC, Maddi has just turned 22 and is going through her birthday/New Year’s tradition of dyeing her hair a different colour. Whilst she is rinsing out her hair she is accosted by a woman who tells her that she is a supernatural and needs to go with her to an Academy so she doesn’t kill a lot of humans when she loses control.

Maddi is, unsurprisingly, skeptical. She has been alone since she was 17 when her drug addicted mother was killed. She was a witness and ran in fear for her life and has moved around every 12 months ever since, never getting too close to anyone because she knew she would be moving on. Finally the woman, Ilia, throws some magic cuffs on her and tells Maddi the only they way they are coming off is if she comes to the Academy.

When she arrives at the Academy she is captivated by the surroundings and eventually throws herself head first into learning about supernaturals. She never really has a major freak out about her change in circumstances and she even comments on it.

"Was it normal to adjust this quickly?"

It was one area I felt uncertain about, because though Maddi is a strong and independent character, learning you are supernatural has got to be a kick in the pants.

The other area I’m not sure of is that Maddi comes from an abusive and neglectful background and has been on her own for 5 years.

"That was the thing with scars … you really couldn’t get rid of them. Even after they faded, the shadow of the injury remained. And it always would."

The trauma and scarring that should be evident in anyone is missing, despite her commenting on it. This felt like a lack to me and I’d be interested if it comes up in future books because what is the point of making her past traumatic if it has no relevance to the character or the plot? The only relevance I can see is that she has always been poor so she jumps at being giving a cash allowance, enough food and a warm comfortable place to stay. I suppose this has an impact on her easy acceptance of her change in circumstances but it seems to be a bit of a leap.

Once ensconced at the Academy Maddi learns a lot, makes friends and enemies (of course) and starts to find out about herself, because no one knows what she is.

There is plot a-plenty in this book and in particular I enjoyed the strong female characters and their support and friendship for each other. I also really enjoyed how Maddi and her love interest slowly got to know and trust each other as they dealt with all their problems.

There is lots lined up for the coming book/s and I look forward to reading it/them.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Link'd Up (Dead Presidents MC Book 1) by Harley Stone

Link'd Up by Harley Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alpha Male + Alpha Female = Fireworks

Emily is a lawyer, a really good one. She is fierce in court and out of it. She also has a big heart and believes in doing the right thing. She meets Link at the courthouse as he approaches her to get him to take on his friend’s case. His friend is in jail for attempted murder after he caught the man raping someone. The man also happens to be the Mayor’s son. It’s not a pretty subject matter, but it’s dealt with in a matter fact way and skims over the traumatic stuff.

Obviously, Emily is wary about getting a job from the local MC, but she believes in doing the right thing, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s very hot for Link. It also helps that the MC was set up to help ex-service personnel once they leave the service and is legitimate.

This is is one of my favourite kinds of MC books. It’s short, fun and sexy. To be honest the plot is essentially a framework for fun between the sheets, against the wall, on the sofa....... You get the picture?

Emily is no pushover and I really like that. She’s self-confident and knows how to protect herself physically as well as emotionally. It takes an alpha male to make her consider letting someone in. A weaker male wouldn’t stand a chance. Her strength is one of the things that Link is crazy about, even if he wants to wrap her up in cotton wool.

This book isn’t deep by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not completely shallow either. The characters are well thought out as is the plot. The writing style is relaxed and easy to read, with good editing. The sex scenes are pretty hot too. Essentially it’s a really good escapist book.

The other characters are fun and I’m sure the rest of the series will be interesting.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Jaguars (Their Vampire Queen Book 7) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Jaguars by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this after reading the previous 6 books of the Their Vampire Queen series and I’m pleased to say that it filled some gaps in the story. The gaps didn’t need filling, but it was nice that they were. This short story covers Mayte’s search for her Blood and a way to have a daughter. On the way to searching for a god, she learns about herself and her relationship with her Blood.

There is also a nice additional chapter at the end about Mayte’s daughter and her search for Unicorn Blood for when she is grown up. This chapter has been added since I read the book the first time round. I think there are plans for a book that stars her when she is grown up that will be called “Queen Takes Unicorn”.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Triune (Their Vampire Queen Book 6) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Triune by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Mother’s Dream

This book fulfills the dream that Shara’s mother had for her. We learn about how she protected her and ensured that she would have the freedom to be the queen she wanted to be. We also learn more about the Dauphine, the secretive member of the Triune, who hides in plain sight, manipulating behind the scenes, without taking the responsibility that her position demands.

This book also sees Shara connect with her father in spirit, the way she has previously done with her mother. Her father dwells in the darkness and reaches out to her there, giving her access to different powers.

There is so much more to do to fulfill the dreams of all the goddesses, but Shara finishes her initial part of the journey with this book. I can’t wait to see what happens next with some of the characters we are introduced to in this book.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen of Fire (Raven's Shadow Book 3) by Anthony Ryan

Queen of Fire by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Very Depressing Conclusion to the Trilogy

If you look on Amazon or Goodreads, you will see a surprisingly low star rating for this last book in the Raven’s Shadow Trilogy. The other two books got high ratings, but the ones for this are lower. If you are wondering why, I think it’s because it’s just a really depressing book. The book is filled with war, bloodshed and trauma.

The book follows the Queen’s campaign to destroy The Ally and the Volarian Empire. There are three main strands to the story with Lyrna taking ships to Volar, Vaelin going across the ice to find the Eternal Man and Frentis and a small band of fighters working their way across the Empire towards the capital city, changing the Empire as they pass.

There are so few happy moments in this book, but that does not mean it is not well written. It contains the same well structured plot and well rounded characters, it’s just that the plot and those characters explore the darker side of humanity during the course of a war. Writing about how war changes, not only the individual, but the face of a nation is not an easy or pleasant task and Anthony Ryan does not shy away from this difficult subject. This ability of his to reveal the depths of human emotion is probably what makes this book so depressing. All the characters we have come to love, all lose so much. The loss often includes compassion and empathy in the face of anger and the desire for vengeance.

As I say, it really is a very good book, I just wouldn’t recommend it if you are in a depressed state of mind, or conversely a really happy one.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Checkmate (Their Vampire Queen Book 5) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Checkmate by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sex, Blood and Power

I love this series in all it’s bloody, violent and sexy glory. It isn’t for the faint of heart as it is a reverse harem and there is lots and lots of sex with lots and lots of blood and magic involved. There is also MM and FF action in addition to the MF action. Whilst I love of all of that, the thing I love most about this series is the world building.

I love the idea of a race of people who are descended from goddesses and are bound into households ruled by Queens. All that rule is based on blood and power gifted from the goddess to the queen to her household. Each Queen has her own unique powers gifted to her by her birthright and she rules as she sees fit within her household.

This fifth book in the series is the culmination of the battle against Ra, better known in my head as “the god who hates all the Queens”. All the plots in the preceding books start to line up and the individual strengths of Shara’s Bloods line up in order to rid House Isadora of it’s greatest enemy.

It’s a fun book with lots going on and as always there are lots of steamy scenes interspersed with very tender ones.

I’m so glad this isn’t the last in the series!

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Rook (Their Vampire Queen Book 4) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Rook by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dealing With The Queens

This book is all about dealing with queens, both friendly and antagonistic. We start the book with Shara and her Blood still with Mayte at her nest. Taking on Mayte as a sib has increased both her power and her responsibilities. It has also given her access to different information than she had before, which is always useful!

In this book we see more of Ra and his hatred of women. We see how he twists and contaminates all he deals with in order to take control of as much as he can. He is violent and tortures in order to gain more power. Because Shara is a strong willed and powerful Aima queen she represents everything he hates so he tries to attack her almost compulsively.

We begin to see more about what Shara’s parents and the goddesses have in store for her in the future, especially as she takes on another patron goddess, Coatlicue, Mayte’s mother goddess. There is a pattern to her growing power, as she gains more Blood and sibs, she also has an opportunity to gain patronage from their goddesses.

This is definitely a plot book. Lots of defining moments occur in this book as you gain essential information about how the rest of the series is going to go. It increases excitement about what is going to happen next as the tension mounts.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Queen (Their Vampire Queen Book 3) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Queen by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Building a Home and Safety

This book is mainly about the building of a place of safety for Shara and her Blood. She has been led to a location to build a nest by Isis and she has to make it safe. Building a nest requires lots of blood (surprise, surprise), energy and sex. Whilst Shara builds her nest the raven she sensed when searching for the location to build it, arrives. That raven is Navarre a child of Morrigan and is also a druid who lives only as a spirit.

As Navarre joins Shara’s blood he brings with him a connection to Morrigan and her presence is felt quickly as the nest is constructed. I love Navarre as a character. He is easy going, grateful to have found a new home and fits in instantly with the group. He doesn’t rattle any cages, but brings power and loyalty to the group. He is not the only new Blood to attempt to join with Shara during this book, but he is certainly the easiest and quickest fit.

There is some pretty powerful magics being employed in this book and I really enjoyed the imagery used for conveying how that worked. It really drew me in and helped me picture the way Shara saw the magic that she practiced. Sometimes magic use in books can be confusing or a little ‘ta-dah!’ When a writer explains a magical process and I can envisage it, that makes me happy.

Once again, the book ends with a HFN and leads the reader onwards in desperation for the next book.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes King (Their Vampire Queen Book 2) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes King by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So much blood!

If blood squicks you out at all, you really don’t want to read this book. There is a lot of vampire feeding in this book, along with lots of lovely smutty sex, which means in the world of the Aima, lots and lots of blood

In this book we start to see Shara grow into her powers, and her self confidence, as she starts to work out what kind of queen she wants to be. She gains abilities with each passing day and each additional new Blood that she calls. With some of the people who show up she’s not so sure she wants them and they have to work a little harder to get her to accept them. Others simply slot into place like they’ve always been there.

In this book we are also introduced to more of the politics of Aima society. Each new member of the Blood brings a history of service which affects their needs, but also brings information that is passed on to Shara (and us). It’s a very clever way of world and history building that this author employs well. We also start to see the other queens become aware of Shara and tip toe around the edges of her group. There is no direct contact, but tendrils are starting to be extended towards her, meaning she has to find somewhere safe to nest.

I really enjoy this series and this is a second read through for me. I like the unique characters and the author’s ability to differentiate so clearly between them. Often in a RH some of the men seem to start to blur together, especially when there are a larger number of them. However, this author draws on history and different cultures to create her characters and her hard work pays off in spades.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Queen Takes Knights (Their Vampire Queen Book 1) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Queen Takes Knights by Joely Sue Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I got this on audio book and listened to it for the first time in May 2018. Since then I’ve read the rest of the series rather than listened, so I think that can tell you something about my enjoyment of the listening process. In relation to the narrators, I just didn’t think they were the right ones. They weren’t bad narrators, but they just didn’t fit with the characters, in my opinion.

The actual story is fantastic. I’d not read any other Joely Sue Burkhart before and I think it was a recommendation on a Facebook group that lead me to the books. The cover of the book is rather grisly and I’m not a great one for blood and gore, but the blurb and the recommendation counteracted that for me. After listening to the book my mind about the cover changed. It’s absolutely perfect for the book, and my perspective on the photograph changed.

The book is about Shara Isador, a young woman who has been on her own since the age of 17, when her mother was murdered, moving on every few weeks to avoid the same happening to her. Shara is tracked relentlessly by ‘monsters’. On the night we are introduced to Shara she is stranded outside, after dark, with only a salt circle and a club filled with iron nails to protect her against a mob of monsters. Just as she is about to give up she is rescued by two men armed with swords who quickly dispatch the monsters and hurry her into safety. Once there they tell her she is, essentially, a vampire. Instead of human blood she needs the blood of other vampires to provide her with power and strength. In turn she provides them with her blood to increase their power and strength. The more people she has feeding her and being fed by her the stronger she will become.

Shara is the last in the line of queens descended directly from Isis and she has been hidden from her society from birth, which has kept her weak. Rik and Daire, the two men who rescue her are shocked she managed to survive on her own for so long as she is a great temptation to the monsters and to other queens who wish to gain her power for themselves. Choosing to bond herself to Rik and Daire, as she hungers for the blood, she takes the first steps into a new world where she hopes to find out about herself and her heritage in order to protect herself and her Blood (her new men).

This is such a fascinating story and Shara is a strong and independent woman. She has an inherent royalty to her even after being on the run for so long. She resists being told what to do. I love that the Blood are completely loyal and won’t do anything against their queen that could possibly harm her. Their sole reason for living is to protect her and keep her happy. Rik and Daire both seem like very interesting characters. Two men who have been out in the world seeking for their own queen to bind to, risking security in a huge gamble, that actually pays off. I love that Rik is such an alpha but is submissive to the queen. I love that Daire is such a light hearted mischief maker who balances out Rik perfectly. I also love that Rik and Daire have their own relationship with each other and that isn’t forgotten about in the rush of becoming Blood.

The set up for this RH is one of the best I’ve seen. There is a need for lots of Blood to keep everyone strong and safe, and along with blood exchange comes sex. I like how well thought out the society is, with power descending from the goddesses, to the queens, to their Blood and their Sibs. There is a very well thought out history of this society and we have some of it revealed in this book along with the basic outlines of magic. On top of the world building and the strong characters the plot completely absorbs the reader. I didn’t stop listening from start to finish today, apart from short breaks. I would recommend reading the book though, rather than listening to it on audio, but you may have a different opinion if you listen to the audio sample.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: The Tower Lord (Raven's Shadow Book 2) by Anthony Ryan

The Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So Much Plot!!!!

Wow, where to start with reviewing this book?

This book is structured in a different way from the first. The POV is separated into several sections in order to convey all the action, because there is a lot.

Vaelin is back in the Realm and is slowly making his way back to Varinshold. He is attacked by a young woman, Reva, who has been brainwashed to hate Vaelin as someone reviled by her faith. However, she’s not very well trained and Vaelin is. This action starts the first step along a very long road, that takes them in different directions, both of which we follow in this book.

We also follow Lyrna, a Princess of the Realm, as she starts a journey to negotiate peace with Lornak, something not achieved in centuries. Her journey in the lands of Lornak begin to change her into someone better than she has been before. She becomes warmer and she earns true friendship for the first time in her life. This is the first step on her own epic journey of magic, fire and blood.

Lastly, we follow Frentis, the former thief, turned Brother of the 6th Order and honorary little brother to Vaelin. He was stolen away at the end of the battle for Untesh. Taken to Volar to fight in the pits, his tenure there ends with being bought by a strange woman. His slavery is absolute and his hatred of her all encompassing. Their journey together is filled with murder and hatred and through his story we learn of the enemy to the Realm.

This multiple stranded approach can be overwhelming in a shorter book, but in a book this length it gives the reader a break from one view point. It also gives a more complete view of the plot that drives the whole series. Without each story line we would have little understanding of why each character acts the way they do. However, it is easy to forget how each character relates to the others as there is a huge cast of characters!

The world building in this series is on the epic scale and the magic system is captivating. Within all this grand building of plot and place are the characters. This book fleshes out the people we are introduced to in the first book of the series. It tests those characters and they are often changed by the events described. Each change is believable and is a natural progression, as life often changes our personality as we journey through it. I also like how the relationships evolve. People who have nothing in common are bonded by their situation. Affection is found in the midst of blood and death and is made sweeter for the circumstances.

There is so much still unlearned by the end of this book, but that draws the reader on to the next book, to find out what happens next, and more importantly - why.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Scrivens (The Librarian's Coven Book 3) by Kathryn Moon

Scrivens by Kathryn Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little confusing in places

As you may have guessed from the previous reviews of the books in this series, I love it. I was all set to slap down another 5 star review after reading this one and I just can’t. There is so much love in this book. There is the interaction of the coven members and their complicated relationships, and their very hot sex. There is the intrigue of the Scrivens coming to the university to escape persecution in their homeland and there is mysterious magic occupancies on campus. However, there is a big chunk in the middle where I was left scratching my head. I was just plain confused. It sorted itself out later on, but it just broke things for me. The normal flow of this author’s work was abruptly stopped and started again and it threw me for a while. It took another couple of chapters for me to forget I was annoyed with the writing.

I think because I loved the other books so much, it was a much bigger disappointment than if this was the first book by a new author. I would be happy to write a four star review for a new author, but it’s a let down to write one for an author you really like.

As this is an ongoing series, I’m hoping that the next book will bring the normal excellent standard of writing back, but it in the meantime it’s left me a little disappointed and frustrated with the cliffhanger. I want Kathryn Moon to fix it!

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Sea Dragon's Command (Royal Dragon Shifters of Morocco Book 3) by Ava Ward

Sea Dragon's Command: Royal Dragon Shifters of Morocco #3: A Red Letter Hotel Paranormal Romance by Ava Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Murder At The Hotel

This third book in the series is as good as the first two. In my previous reviews I’ve raved about how beautifully Ava Ward writes about magic, place and emotion. But in this book, her plot writing abilities shine through even more strongly than previously.

There are several strands to the plot in this book, magic, romance, murder and politics. Layla has been working on her magic and controlling her power, but as yet it’s not tamed. Her relationships with Dusk and Adrian have been put on hold as Reginald starts to train Layla as a Courtesan. It is during this training that, despite Layla’s resentment at being forced to take this path, we see glimmers of the real Reginald beneath his manners and elegance.

During the week long stay of the Owners of the Red Letter Hotel Paris we are introduced to Bastian, Reginald’s bitter and angry brother. His snarling fury at Bastian for shutting himself away as a Courtier, rather than fighting battles with his clan, knows no bounds and he rips away Reginald’s control of Layla during a ball in front of the Owners, making it difficult for Layla and Adrian to control their power.

We learn much in the aftermath of this confrontation about Reginald’s past and the depth of his character hidden beneath his control. His control snaps at the death of a loved one, a murder set up to make Adrian look like the guilty party. This is the second strand in the plot, the murder, and dealing with the police arm of the High Council. In order to clear Adrian, Layla has to go and seek out some answers, outside of the hotel.

We hear so much more of the story behind their enemy’s motivations, during this book, and why they seek out Layla, even in the midst of insanity. The information Layla gathers feeds into the overarching storyline.

We also find out a bit more about the politics of the Red Hotel and it’s owners. We see how politics manipulates every move that is made within the hotel. This strand of the plot is very clever and very interesting to read. It feeds into the overarching story in a big way, but is still feels like a separate strand from the magic and romance. I’ve a feeling in the future, that all the strands might bind together like the separate powers of Layla’s Dragon Binds.

Once again Ava Ward has written a riveting and passion filled book, where magic and romance weave tightly within plot lines that thrill and intrigue.

I really want to read the next book in the series. I hope I don’t have to wait for long!

At the time of writing this review, the first book in the series is free on Amazon and the second book is available for purchase for £0.99 in the UK and $1.24 in the US.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Warriors (The Librarian's Coven Book 2) by Kathryn Moon

Warriors by Kathryn Moon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Politics and Daring

I loved this book as much, if not more, than the first in the series. I have always believed that first books are generally a little slow in the plot stakes, because they have to establish EVERYTHING. The second book is where the plot takes off and this book is no exception.

With this book we are introduced to the coven member’s various families. Each family is unique and essential to the character formation of each coven mate, which means they must be believable. This author is so good at building individual characters, placing them in a group and creating a fantastic group dynamic. Kathryn Moon really understands personalities, that people have strengths and flaws and this is what makes them real. She takes that knowledge of people and creates these wonderful characters that are stubborn and loving, playful and strong. They have all the dichotomies that living people have.

In this book the story continues with the coven heading to Callum’s father’s house for the Winter Solstice. Callum does not have a good relationship with his Army General father, but he feels obligated to take his coven with him for the holiday.

Alone, this set up is meaty enough for a good story, but the author takes this situation and adds politics to the mix, stirs in a touch of action thriller and runs with it. It works!

I really enjoy ménage and RH books because of the interplay of the characters, but this book has ‘more’. Kathryn Moon writes wonderful prose that captures a snow filled day perfectly or makes the reader imagine the perfect dress for a concert. Add this writing gift to her understanding of human nature, plus her great plot creation that has you turning the pages quickly, and you have a really good book.

I must go and read the third book immediately!

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: In a Badger Way (Honey Badger Chronicles Book 2) by Shelly Laurenston

In a Badger Way by Shelly Laurenston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this as an audio book available from Audible, narrated by Charlotte Kane. Therefore my review includes comments relating to her narration.

When you have a series about a family and the people they are friends or associate with, the second book is always more plot orientated than the first. We are introduced to everyone in the first book. We understand the family structure, the personalities of the people involved and the world building is already established. This means the book can be about things other than the set up.

This book is about Stevie, the youngest of the MacKilligan sisters. Stevie is a former child prodigy who suffers from a panic disorder. She is also a tiger/honey badger hybrid that turns into a 2 ton giant tiger striped honey badger. When she panics, she shifts and she is met with horror and disgust amongst her community. She has often wished she could be different. Other than her enormous alter-ego she is a sweet and kind woman and incredibly brilliant. She was a music prodigy but she felt too pressured, as a child, by her fame so she left the music industry and became an equally brilliant physicist.

Since she has been back in America with her sisters, Stevie has started relaxing a little and even started writing music again. She has also decided that she likes cuddling Shen Li, a giant panda shifter who is her friend Kyle’s bodyguard. There’s not much to do whilst guarding Kyle, so Shen Li finds himself being drawn into more of Stevie’s schemes as she tries to get a handle on her panic disorder whilst trying to find out who is murdering hybrid shifters, all without involving her sisters. Shen finds himself becoming more drawn to Stevie as each day goes by, despite her unusual ways and her high maintenance family.

As with the first book in the series this story was hilarious. The author’s writing is fluid and natural and the narrator delivers very well. The only reason I didn’t give the narration 5 stars is because of the dodgy Scottish accents. I thought with a change in narrator from the first in the series, the accents might improve, but I think it’s an American failing that their Scottish accents always drift into Irish ones. Apart from the accents, the narrator delivers the personalities of all the characters flawlessly. I’ll definitely look out for other books read by her.

The plot was intriguing and complex with many different strands to the story. There are a lot of characters in the book and if you hadn’t read the first book recently the reader may find the book confusing. I read the books quite closely to each other so I had no problem keeping track, so that wasn’t a detriment to me. It’s just something to bear in mind.

It was also nice to see how the other two sisters were doing in this book. There is character development within the family as a whole as well as only focusing on Stevie, which I really enjoyed.

I really look forward the third book being released next year. I may have to re-listen to really enjoy the next one, but that won't be a hardship!

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: An Assassin's Death (The Huntress Book 1) by AK Koonce and Harper Wylde

An Assassin's Death by A.K. Koonce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Took a long time to get going

I would normally have ditched this book at 30%, a habit I'm trying to break, because I just wasn’t feeling very connected to the main character, Alexa Hart, an assassin. I don’t have a problem with assassins as main characters, what I have a problem with is very self contained characters, who are secretive to the point of not sharing anything with the reader. This is what this character felt like initially.

The book starts with Alexa stalking a victim set by her boss at the Lifeless League. He is one of four people she has been set against. When she finally goes in to kill him she notices the tattoo on his neck that identifies him as a fellow member of the Lifeless League. She’s stunned into holding back, eventually running away after one of the other people she’s supposed to kill arrives. Alexa didn’t realise there was any connection between her victims and this second surprise knocks her for six. Alexa is torn between her loyalty to her boss and her history with the League and her curiosity and feeling that she’s been lied to.

This RH is very slow moving and the relationships between Alexa and the men are very strained for the most part. There is so much mistrust and outright dislike, it’s hard to see how they can work through their issues. There is certainly fire in their interactions but affection is slow to show.

The best thing about this book is the plot. It’s an interesting scenario with a group of assassins undergoing internal strife. I like the idea of an assassin being sent against another assassin, without being told about it. The intrigue is definitely there and add in the paranormal aspects to the plot and it becomes even more interesting.

I don’t know if the plot alone, or the increased knowledge of what makes Alexa tick, that is shared later in the book, is quite enough for me to read the rest of the series though, because the character just doesn’t click for me. Other readers may enjoy her self containment and mystery, it’s just not for me.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Blood Song (Raven's Shadow Book 1) by Anthony Ryan

Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enthralling start to a series

This book captivated me from the moment I started it. This is actually my second reading of the book. I decided to re-read the series in advance of Anthony Ryan’s new book coming out next month, which follows on from the end of this series. I can say that the second read of the book reassures me that my impression of the first read in 2014 was accurate and this is a very good book.

Anthony Ryan has carefully created an interesting world of empires and realms, of kings and warriors, of religion and faith. He lays out the social aspects of this world carefully alongside a magical system that intrigues.

The book is told, in a series of very lengthy flashbacks, from the perspective of Vaelin, a great warrior guilty of killing ‘The Hope’ the heir to an Empire. He is on a ship on the way to take part in a ritual combat that is intended to kill him after his 5 years of imprisonment. He is accompanied by an historian who draws his story from him.

The flashbacks start from his entry into the 6th Order, the armed branch of "The Faith" as a boy, taken by his father 2 months after the death of his beloved mother. He becomes a brother and starts to learn to become a warrior. During his time in training he comes friends with several boys who become his family. During the brutal training which, over the course of the years, cost this group half of their number’s lives, the remaining brothers become tightly bound together. Facing death together binds them closer than they imagined at the start of their journey and this binding is tested over the course of the coming years.

As the son of the former Battle Lord the King has an interest in Vaelin and during their encounters he comes into contact with Princess Lyrna, a remarkably beautiful and intelligent young woman, who is as manipulative as her father the King. Vaelin finds himself bound by the King’s will as he is sent around the Realm, even into the neighbouring Empire. Accompanying him throughout all his trials is the Blood Song, the magical ability that is considered "The Dark" and evil by the people of the Realm. He keeps it secret, never revealing it, but it steers his hand in battle and in life, trying to keep him true to a path that he never truly understands, but knows to be right.

This complex world of Kings, Warriors and Faith is Vaelin’s entire world, and he navigates it with the help of his fierce intellect, skill of sword and his Blood Song.

I love the characters that Anthony Ryan writes. Vaelin is a complex and clever character. The author is a master at never revealing his hand until he last minute and he employs these techniques not only in his plot, but also in his character building. We often do not understand a characters actions until much later in the book and we are blind in the same way that Vaelin is to the motives of others.

The characters that surround Vaelin, from his brothers to the men he encounters in battle, are fully realised and not purely background noise. For me, as a reader, if I believe the characters are real I will always read to the end because they drag me into their story so deeply I cannot escape until the last page. This author achieves that in spades.

I know I will enjoy re-reading the next book in the series and can’t wait to get stuck in.

Buy on Amazon UK
Buy on Amazon US

Review: Pride and Perdition: Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy (Gesa's Menagerie Book 6) by Kaye Draper

Pride and Perdition by Kaye Draper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short and powerful

There’s something so captivating about this series. It should leave me frustrated because the books are so short, but they come out so quickly I don’t have time to be annoyed.

This book covers the rescue of Oisin. Oisin has been taken by his evil Fae King father in order to drain his powers. Derek White (the demon) has said he will help get Oisin back but it will take time for everyone to train to get up to strength. This delay of course drives Gesa in particular to distraction. Our protective and very anger driven gryphon is is blaming herself for Oisin being taken and Hisashi thinks Gesa blames him for Oisin being taken. Somehow they all have to work through their pain and anger and pull together as a team to take on the fae.

I think my favourite character in this book is Kai, the Kraken. She is ancient and grabbed onto Gesa and her pride so quickly and passionately it would be easy to dismiss her as sex driven and impulsive, but she is wiser than she appears. She is able to see clearly how everyone feels about each other and is able to nudge each one into the path of working this things out. Sometimes it’s more of a sledgehammer than a nudge though!

I do love the way Kaye Draper creates this wonderful web of interactions and emotions between all the characters, both within the pride and outside of it. It’s complex and beautiful.

I can’t wait for the next one....well apparently I’ll have to wait until 31st July, but that isn’t *that* far away!

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Wounded Pride (Gesa's Menagerie Book 5) by Kaye Draper

Wounded Pride by Kaye Draper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More fun with Gesa’s Pride

I do love Gesa. She’s such an Alpha character, with tonnes of loyalty and heart. She loves so hard that sometimes she forgets to engage her brain. Oisin is her perfect match, the clever and ruthless fae who dominates and submits on the flip of a coin and provides a rich and exciting contrast to Gesa. These two characters are the heart of the pride but the others are becoming more tightly woven to Gesa and to each other. I love how the inter-pride relationships are developing in this book. Everyone is becoming closer. However, there is still that nagging matter of White and Oisin’s father.......

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Pride Before the Fall (Gesa's Menagerie Book 4) by Kaye Draper

Pride Before the Fall by Kaye Draper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All About the Famillies

This books is all about the family, those we are born to and those we choose. Obviously Gesa’s pride is a family of choice, but we also meet Gesa’s family of birth and her mother is a real piece of work, however we are introduced to Gesa’s sister, Gabbi, someone Gesa sincerely loves.

We also find out about Oisin’s family history and why he lives alone.

Once again, a lot happens in the book, and it happens quickly. It feels like if you blink you will miss something. I particularly loved finding out what Kaimana shifts into!

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: With Pride (Gesa's Menagerie Book 3) by Kaye Draper

With Pride by Kaye Draper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A whirlwind of events

This book felt like it flew by. There was so much going on emotionally that the cases that previously were so much part of the storyline were minimal at best. However, we did meet two new interesting characters, both who are attracted to Gesa, a mute woman and psychic man. Both are beautiful and interesting and need the help of Gesa and her pride.

Oh, and we still don’t know what Derek White is!

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Heart of the Pride (Gesa's Menagerie Book 2) by Kaye Draper

Heart of the Pride by Kaye Draper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gesa adds to her pride

This second book in the series is a fun continuation of the first book. Gesa, Oisin and Con are living together above the bookstore/bounty hunter office. The two supernatural members of the team are enjoying the physical side of their relationship as well as companionship after being lonely for so long. Con, though human, is a great addition to the team with his research skills and cooking ability ensuring they don’t all starve.

The next case they tackle is unpaid as it seems something is killing and butchering animals and leaving them around the city. The disturbing Derek White is involved somehow and Gesa is itching to prove he is up to no good.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: Gryphon's Pride (Gesa's Menagerie Book 1) by Kaye Draper

Gryphon's Pride by Kaye Draper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting Start to An Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem Series

I’ve not read this author before and I decided to take a risk on a book that wasn’t actually in Kindle Unlimited, which is rare for me when I don’t know the author. However, I was really pleased with my purchase. The book itself is a longer length novella, so it didn’t feel like I was being short changed. It was a nice bite sized treat.

The story revolves around Gesa a gryphon who has left her clan and is trying to make it in a human city. Humanity is aware of supernaturals but don’t really ‘see’ them. Gesa is working as Supernatural Bounty Hunter and she is quite inexperienced and undertrained. She is searching for a missing man when she comes into contact with a fae bartender, Oisin. Oisin is also living separate from his clan. Both characters are lonely, and are attracted to each other.

I like how Gesa is a big strapping lethal killing machine. She stands 6’ 3” tall and is muscular. Oisin is much more slightly built and shorter. There is a nice reversal of roles here and Oisin isn’t your usual alpha male. He’s a surprisingly complex and interesting character. He ends up joining with Gesa in her hunt because he likes her, is lonely, bored and fae naturally love to hunt.

I think this series shows great promise and I look forward to treating myself to future books.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: The Devil to Pay by Jackie May

The Devil to Pay by Jackie May
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Spin Off urban fantasy with sass

This spin off from the Nora Jacobs series is a definite change of pace. It’s fast and frantic from the get go with a very different main character Shayne, a fox shifter at the centre. Shayne, unlike Nora, knows exactly what she is, a devious, exuberant and feisty individual who comes from a family of similar foxes. She grew up on a trailer park, with her family of gypsy fox shifters, who live with their trailers parked up in a circle, in and out of each other’s business all day long. Shayne is trying to find a way to be independent of her family, which is constantly putting her down. She knows deep inside that she would a great fit for the Federal Underworld Agency and keeps trying to uncover cases that she can take to their offices to work her way in. She finally succeeds and ends up way over her head!

Though it is set in the same world as Nora Jacobs, with some of the same characters around the periphery, the book has a very different feel, because Shayne is a very different woman. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the Nora Jacobs books, probably because I didn’t connect as well with Shayne as I did with Nora. Hence the 4 stars. Other than that it was an interesting read but it didn’t really feed into the main series much at all, and should probably be considered as a separate entity.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: So Deep the Ocean: Volume 1 by Elle Cross

So Deep the Ocean: Volume 1 by Elle Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cliffhanger Alert!

I’ve been waiting for this book since The Brightling Court Book 2 came out. I love this series so much. I love how the Lady Brightling became the Queen of Shadows and Flame. The journey of Karina from a princess living in a realm that hurt her, to living in a realm that allowed her to flourish and grown in power as she developed her court as a queen is a fantastic one.

Karina’s court is settling as new members are absorbed and they find their place. Prince Drystan’s merge with the dragon Jindyss needs to be solidified along with their connection to the queen. Lord Ourus has been accepted as a member of the court but not into the inner circle. His role is still to become defined. These new additions to Karina’s court are well thought out and illustrative of how well the author understands character development and interaction. With a large group of people in a relationship it’s always going to be a tricky road to walk in order to decide whether to absorb new people in, or choose to exclude them because they just don’t fit. The author doesn’t use magic as a tool to make all characters fit instantly, it is used as a reason for a connection to start but it doesn’t take over every step of the process and I like this a lot.

As her court develops, Karina’s journey is still ongoing and in this book we see her exploring her powers some more. She has inherited her mother’s skills at dream walking and has a connection to prophecy that comes from her father’s lineage. The two seem to have combined in her and separating dream from reality is a skill she needs to learn. Karina seems to be getting a warning in her dreams about something deep and dangerous in the oceans. She is going to visit her father’s court, an island which sits within an ocean and the timing seems Oracle induced, even if she is going to help bond with her new found family.

This author is brilliant at getting the reader totally absorbed in the story and with the characters. I love Karina’s court, from her Primus to her Steward. The way the author describes the magical world in which Karina and her court live is phenomenal. It’s so easy to picture the wonders of an ever changing house and the magic of walking pathways between worlds. These descriptions and the fully realised characters in the book pull you into The Brightling Court and don’t let go until the last page. But be prepared to scream in frustration at the end of the book - there is a cliffhanger! At least the next book is coming out soon.


Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: The Horse Mistress (The Eborusi Chronicles Books 2 - 4) by R A Steffan

The Horse Mistress: Books 2 - 4 by R.A. Steffan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A different take on fantasy

This box set is the excellent follow on from the first book in The Horse Mistress series, which is available for free. The Horse Mistress books are the first section in the overarching saga of The Eburosi. This means that this section of the saga, told via Carivel, Senovo and Andoc is complete.

The trio faced many obstacles in their lives before meeting each other and once they met the trials were not over. They face the resentment of their fellow villagers, the anger of Volya, the chief and the prospect of war with the Empire. It is the friendship and loyalty of the villagers from nearby Meren that help the trio immensely through their trials with their own villagers and against the enemy.

So much happens in this box set that is impossible to reveal much without spoiling so much of the plot. This box set is plot heavy in relation to the first book, which established the characters and their relationship with each other. It takes all three working together and supporting each other, even when they have to be apart for the sake of their community to even hope to bring a successful outcome against tremendous odds. All three have to work to their strengths, Andoc with his strategic brain and gift for leadership, Carivel’s work with horses and her ability to help with weapons innovation and Senovo’s ability lead with compassion and strength as a priest and to change shape into a wolf.

I really liked how the author had all three working together but separately some of the time. They went and did their own thing, but always coming back to each other for solace. I also liked how when one would get wrapped up in their own troubles the other two would let them get on with it for a while and then yank them back to take a break and look after themselves whilst taking time to bond again.

I also liked how though this a fantasy saga and the characters do go on journeys, they are not longer than a few weeks and they are to meet with other people who can help before returning home. So often in fantasy the hero goes on long journeys and become Heroes (with a capital H!) Their abilities transform them. This book takes the heroes on a journey that is more about their standing within their community. It is about protecting home by staying there and doing the hard work. It isn’t all about fighting, it’s about treaties and friendships and working together to develop new strategies and weapons and above all else their identities. Throughout these books they all come to terms with who they are and what they have to offer those around them and that is a much more epic tale than fighting monsters and casting spells.

Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: The Horse Mistress (The Eburosi Chronicles Book 1) by R A Steffan

The Horse Mistress: Book 1 by R.A. Steffan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantasy Ménage

This was a recommendation from the fabulous Reverse Harem group on Facebook that I’m a member of. The recommendation was made when someone wanted RH with MM involvement. This is technically a Ménage rather than a RH with only three people involved. It’s really interesting as the main character is non-binary gender. Born as a female Carivel works as assistant to the horse master of her village whilst dressed and acting as male. This is her preference but it is also a necessity because women are forbidden from working with horses in her culture. Horses are Carivel’s great love and passion and she so desperately wanted to work with them, to the extent she changed her identity. Women also have very narrowly defined roles that she rebelled against. (Note - I refer to Carivel as 'she' because when asked how she wanted to be called by Andoc that was the gender pronoun she requested. I am well aware that other genderqueer people have different preferences for pronoun usage and would always check with them for their preference where possible)

Carivel gained experience in working with horses after she left her home village and wandered the wilderness for many weeks observing the wild herds of horses. Her natural observational skills and love of horses led her to her position of responsibility in her new village, as assistant to the Horse Master. Though she finds satisfaction in her work, she is lonely. She lusts after one of the warriors Andoc and a eunuch priest Senovo, who seem to be lovers, but who are not treated as a couple.

When their village is attacked, Carivel, Andoc and Senovo are thrust together as they help to put the village back together and are sent to build new alliances, with a nearby village.

This book is very well written and handles the subject of gender identity and sexuality, and the differences between the two, extremely well. There is acceptance between the trio, even if they do not expect to get it elsewhere. I also thought the subject of Sendovo’s castration was handled extremely sensitively and the author had obviously done lots of research on how a eunuch would gain satisfaction from a sexual relationship.

The plot isn’t overly complicated as most of the careful work of the author is put into the characters and their identities. However, this is the first book in a series and as such I believe the rest of the series will be more plot heavy. Establishing the trio’s relationship is the most important thing in this book, and that provided plenty of enjoyment and interest for me. I really look forward to seeing where it goes from here as the set up for the coming plot looks very interesting.

This first book in the series is free
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US

Review: The Light We Seek (Together We Fall Book 2) by Katie May

The Light We Seek by Katie May
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every dystopian novel needs a road trip

The second book in the series is darker than the first book. In this book the world is falling apart quickly with the natural disasters and the virus spreading. Shops are emptying, people are hiding at home instead of going to work and folks are starting barter instead of using money. As the world continues to fall apart Addie gets closer to her guys. Calax is getting firmly entrenched in her heart and we hear more about their history.

When Addie hears the news about Atlanta falling to pieces she panics. Her little brother has been sent away to live there and she needs to find out whether he is ok or not. The guys all decide to join her in her journey - and thus we have our mandatory road trip.

The thing about road trips in dystopian novels is that the main characters are always going to be going through new environments where different perils await, and this is what happens in this book. It’s through this stage of the book we see things really start to get dark. There are ragers, environmental perils and the basic bad element of humanity to deal with, not to mention all the shortages.

This second book is definitely more intriguing than the first and the deepening bonds between Addie and the guys helps with that. We don’t get to hear much more about the guys’ individual histories, but we do get to hear about their feelings.

I will definitely be continuing to read this series.

Borrow Free From Kindle Unlimited
Buy From Amazon UK
Buy From Amazon US