This continuing series is not yet complete, so I will try to add the new titles to this post along with any links to future reviews.
Series List
Book 5 - Thwarting Cheaters (Review Not Yet Written)
Showing posts with label Witches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Witches. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Saturday, 13 November 2021
Review: The Magic of Destiny (Emerald Lakes Series Book 4) by Britt Andrews
The Magic of Destiny by Britt AndrewsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Emotional Rollercoaster
This is the fourth book in a continuing series. You need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book also ends on a significant cliffhanger, however the last book in the series is now out, so you won’t have to wait to get the resolution to all the situations.
TRIGGER WARNING: The final chapter of this book has a trigger warning at the start. I understand why the author has placed the warning at this point rather than at the start of the book as she doesn’t want to cause spoilers, so I won’t list them here. I suggest if you have read this far into the series and have triggers, if you download the book, check the trigger warning before you get too far into the story. Apart from this explicitly given warning, I would also suggest if you have problems relating to emotional abuse coming from a parent that this book may be problematic.
In this book, Saige has all her men back, with the exception of one, Sloane, who has gone to retrieve his father’s ashes. Still unsettled with the fire at Miranda’s and the kidnapping of Annie, Saige is worried about her missing man. It seems The Stars, or destiny, has it out for Saige as nothing ever seems to go right, it’s always out of her control, and yet she’s meant to do so much for others.
This book has a lot of emotional upheaval in it. With disappearances, the possibility of new and the return of old family members, there are a lot of reasons to be emotional.
In amongst the trauma, the team take every opportunity to bond and work their way through the complex web of relationships. Not all the romance in the group is between Saige and her men, some of it is also between the men themselves. There are a lot of hot and steamy scenes in this book too, which will get you hot under the collar.
This book feels very plot and romance focused. Whilst we still keep learning about the characters, the rate at which their secrets are revealed has definitely slowed.
I’m so glad the last book in the series is already out, the cliffhanger is awful. I need to read that book STAT!
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Thursday, 11 November 2021
Review: Glimmer of Hope (The Other Realm Series Book 2) by Heather G Harris
Glimmer of Hope by Heather G. HarrisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Drugs and Murder
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the second book in the series and you probably have to read the first book to enjoy this one. The book ends at a natural break in the story but has a substantial hook, that verges on a cliffhanger, for the next book.
After Jinx finished her last case she hoped to hear from Stone, but 8 weeks later there hasn’t been a word. She’s living in The Wirral now, to be close to the heart of the UK’s Other Realm in Liverpool. What she wasn’t expecting was a job back in her old home of Buckinghamshire. A dryad she met on the day she was introduced to the Other Realm wants her to investigate the murder of her husband, which has been written off as a mugging gone wrong.
During the course of the case, she meets up with Emory, the Dragon Prime of the UK, who she also met on her last case. He hires her to look into the death of one of his dragons, however, he fully intends to investigate with her, probably because he wants to flirt with her.
As this is the second book in the series there is less world-building, but there are still a lot of blanks filled in, especially as she spends most of this book with a dragon who gives her a different perspective on the Other Realm. There is less focus on The Connection, which is the ruling body of the Other Realm because dragons are not part of that body.
This book has a nice juicy murder mystery aspect to it. There are several layers to the case that intersect and Jinx finds that her contacts from the first book are helpful in finding her way through this case. We also get to see more of Jinx’s powers in action as she becomes more familiar with them and what the Glimmer Blade is capable of.
There is a touch of romance in this book, but once again it isn’t the main focus. It’s just an extra layer of fun on top of the plot. I have to say I enjoyed the possibility of a relationship between Jinx and Emory more than with Jinx and Stone. It will be interesting to see how that situation goes, but I assume once again any relationship stuff will be the sprinkles on top rather than the main part of the dish, as with this book and the previous one.
I am annoyed I have to wait for the next book, but apparently, it’s coming soon and the ending of this book isn’t too crazy-making!
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Monday, 8 November 2021
Review: Glimmer of The Other (The Other Realm Series Book 1) by Heather G Harris
Glimmer of The Other by Heather G. HarrisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
British Urban Fantasy At It’s Best
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the first book in a continuing series. The book finishes at a natural break in the story, but there is a definite hook to make you want to read the next in the series.
Jessica ‘Jinx’ Sharp is a private detective. She went into business for herself when she was 18 after the still-unsolved murder of her parents. One of her strengths that helps her with her chosen career, other than the ability to pick locks, is her skill at telling truth from lies.
When Jinx is hired to solve a missing person case she ends up being lumbered with another detective, Stone, who was brought on by the missing woman’s family friend. Stone may be attractive but Jinx is a loner by nature and preference. She has one friend, a neighbour with who she is friendly with and a Great Dane called Gatto. No one else has entered her circle of trust since the death of her parents.
When Stone reveals to Jinx that she’s only sort of human as she’s a member of the Other Realm and is a truth-teller, she winds up being exposed to a whole new world. She meets dragons, elves, vampyres and trolls and learns about magic. She also learns that the missing woman has touched the Other Realm, something somebody from the Common Realm should never do. She definitely needs Stone to help navigate this new world to help save her client’s daughter.
I love that this is a British urban fantasy novel. You don’t see many of those and this one is very good indeed. The world-building is imaginative and fun and seems to be well thought out. The plot is interesting and complex, keeping you guessing from start to finish and I really felt sucked in to the story.
I really liked Jinx. I thought she was a believable and admirable woman, who had a good head on her shoulders, something I really like in an MFC. She was intelligent, practical and unflappable. She drew on her experience and her newly discovered abilities to investigate in an unfamiliar world in a way that was believable, even if she did grasp hold of magical concepts quite quickly.
I loved that Jinx’s Great Dane was actually a hell hound and he had his own abilities that aided Jinx. I also like that there is an explanation for his very rare bonding with Jinx and it’s not a complete fluke.
Stone was an interesting MMC. He’s a feared Inspector and a warrior wizard. He’s protective of Jinx and helps her a great deal in coming to terms with the new world she’s exposed to. There is flirtation and the temptation to become romantically involved but it’s put aside for the case. This is not paranormal romantic fiction, it’s a straight-up urban fantasy. We are also introduced to several other characters that are important in the Other Realm and I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t pop up in future books.
The plot is complex and intriguing and I read the book in one go because I really wanted to know what happened next. I was kept guessing throughout the story, which I always enjoy. My one complaint is that it had time travel in the story and I HATE that. It confuses me and I spend ages trying to work out if it’s rational or not and I miss out on the pure pleasure of just being swept along by the plot. I also generally feel it’s a somewhat lazy solution to problems within a plot. I don’t think that’s the case here as it seems to be woven through the whole structure of the storyline and isn’t just a ‘fix it’.
I really am looking forward to seeing if the next book is as good as this one. I very much hope so!
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Sunday, 7 November 2021
Review: The Magic of Revenge (Emerald Lakes Series Book 3) by Britt Andrews
The Magic of Revenge by Britt AndrewsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem Series
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the third book in the series and you need to read the first books to understand this one. There is a cliffhanger, but the next book is already published.
Saige has met her father, Khol, learnt his story and she has reached her age of maturity and manifested. She, Khol and her new mate Bram have had to escape the demon realm where Saige is under threat. She returns to find her mates scattered and gone making her heart break, unleashing her new powerful magic in unexpected ways.
In order to find her mates, she must tap into her new magic and her bonds, whilst they try to rescue themselves from a new unexpected and very dangerous enemy.
Throughout this book, we learn more about each of the histories of the people involved and what makes them tick. Woven between the strands of the emotional evolution between the characters we are treated to an interesting and intriguing plot that is uncovered by the protagonists.
Though this is a reverse harem romance novel it’s also a very good urban fantasy novel with plenty to keep you engaged, with a well-structured world, magic system and excellent plot construction. The romance and the very spicy sex scenes are the icing on the cake.
This is a very enjoyable series and I look forward to finding out how the cliffhanger at the end of this book is resolved in the next one.
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Friday, 5 November 2021
Review: The Magic of Betrayal (Emerald Lakes Series Book 2) by Britt Andrews
The Magic of Betrayal by Britt AndrewsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Emotional
This book is the second in a continuing series, which means you need to read the previous book before enjoying this one. It also ends on a cliffhanger, but the next book is already available so you can’t get too mad!
TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains instances of sexual assault, emotional abuse and physical assault from outside the harem. If these subject matters affect you adversely, you may want to avoid this book/series.
Saige has been swept off her feet by the new men in her life; Cam, Kai and Fischer, and maybe there’s a possibility of Sloane joining them. However, her magic is failing her, her ex is still causing her emotional damage and she keeps dropping into a strange world in her sleep. Life is complicated and confusing, but she grabs hold of her newfound happiness with both hands.
What she doesn’t know is that her men are lying to her, and Sloane is lying more than the others. Her three boyfriends are very conflicted about lying to Saige and are trying to find a way to be with her when their job is over. They are opening up their hearts to her and beginning to share their history and pain without betraying their mission.
There are a lot of emotions flying around in this book. A lot of trauma is revealed, not just Saige’s that was/is caused by her ex, but also a lot of history is shared as we get to know the men a lot better. As a reader, I feel a bit bounced around as more of the plot is revealed and we learn more about all the players involved and preconceptions are turned on their head. It’s an exhilarating ride as things keep changing and twisting. I felt like I’d been on an emotional rollercoaster with the highs and lows of how the characters all feel.
This is an excellent second book and I’m now heavily invested in the very interesting characters and the complex story. These characters are all well developed and fascinating in their strengths and flaws. It’s the characters that drive this plot and make it so complex because it is their history, personality and secrets that cause the plot to shift at the turn of each page. This author has created intriguing characters and woven a story around them.
I can’t wait to read the next book. It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s first series.
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Monday, 1 November 2021
Review: Magical Redemption (Biomystic Security Series Book 4) by Jaliza A Burwell
Magical Redemption by Jaliza A. BurwellMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Retribution and Redemption
This is the fourth book in a continuing series. You need to read the first books to understand this one. There is a natural break at the end of this book, though there is a hook for future books.
After the attack on Biomystic Security and the loss of friends and colleagues, Laila is battered emotionally, physically and magically. Told that she can’t use her magic until she recovers enough means that she can’t even work and it makes her even more miserable. Trying to come to terms with temporarily losing the use of her magic and the loss of her friends she knows she can’t return to her home because it’s not safe, so she’s stuck in a company apartment. On top of this, her boyfriends don’t understand that magic is a part of her and can’t be ignored completely. Frustrated and feeling misunderstood and isolated she becomes a victim of another magical attack, one that seems tied to the work she’d been doing that Padraig tried to steal.
It’s been a while since I read the first three books in this series but I was reminded about it recently so decided to return to this book. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed the first books and was pleased to find that I was able to follow the plot without having to re-read the first three books. The information that I needed to remind me of previous events was given in a smooth and unobtrusive manner, which I always appreciate.
In this book, we get to see more of the dragon that is moving to the city because of Laila. We finally get the full explanation of what it is he wants. We also get to learn more about the Elementalists and about Laila’s past. There is a lot of plot in this book with peril to both Laila and her lovers. She also has to deal with unfamiliar magic and fear of the unknown. The book primarily deals with the suspense/adventure part of the plot and Laila’s emotional frailties and to a certain extent, I wish there had been more about the connection between Laila and the men in her life. I didn’t feel much of a bond in this book, there just seemed to be a lot of tension, and not the good kind. I hope in future books, this gets resolved after facing a few of her demons in this book.
I won’t leave it so long, this time, until I read the next book in the series, because despite the lack of emotional connections there was a still a really interesting storyline.
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Friday, 29 October 2021
Review: Unregulated Upheaval (Artemis University Series Book 12) by Erin R Flynn
Unregulated Upheaval by Erin R. FlynnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Aftermath
This is the 12th book in a continuing series that definitely requires reading the previous books to understand. There is a cliffhanger.
In the aftermath of the fairies return being revealed, there are many decisions for Tamsin to make. Tamsin has to decide how to make progress in bringing the two factions of fairies together to stop the constant wars. She needs to handle the elders and ancient ‘advisors’ in a way that won’t tear her society apart. She also has a huge list of evil people that she can now legally deal with as the Light Fairy Heir.
Still not at 100% after getting her wings, Tamsin has to accept protections she never would normally and she is learning to let go of some of the tight grips of control on everything she has always maintained. She has too much to do and finally has people to help if she lets them.
As always, Tamsin’s love life is a mixture of good and bad. Some of her men are wonderful, some, not so much. It seems the constant pressure of being Tamsin’s lover/mate is not conducive to happiness.
This book was a great leap forward in the plot as lots of strands of storyline from previous books came together as the fairies returned. The consequences of the actions taken by the supernatural elites are finally revealed and most are stunned that they are finally being called to task.
I liked that in this book we get to see more of the way fairies lived inside fairy. Tamsin gets taken on a tour and we have a lot of ordinary life explained to us via Tamsin. It’s great world-building and I enjoyed it a lot. We also got to see that bringing together the two factions might be easier for those who didn’t hold a lot of power under the old system.
As always there are massive highs and lows in Tamsin’s emotional state. She gets support from unexpected quarters and she gets none from some that she relies on. Even Neldor seems to be acting supportive, despite her suspicions of him when he’s being nice. However, I wouldn’t be Queen of Fairy if you paid me!
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Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Review: Royal Pawn (Jacky Leon Series Book 6) by KN Banet
Royal Pawn by K.N. BanetMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Manipulated By The Fae
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the sixth book of a continuing series. It crosses over with characters and events with a spin-off series set in the same world, The Tribunal Archives. Though the previous books in this series are required reading to understand this book, you probably don’t need to read the spin-off series, though reading it would make your understanding of the characters involved more in-depth. There is no cliffhanger, as the story ends at a natural break in the plot.
With Jacky’s position in the supernatural world, she has more influence and impact on people and events than her age should dictate, but she is her father’s daughter and because of that and his love for her, she will always be more important than would normally be expected. It also makes her a target because everyone knows that Hasan, the oldest werecat in existence will tear apart the world to protect his youngest daughter.
In this book, a royal Fae decides to use Jacky for his own ends and uses her relationship with Heath to blackmail them both into protecting his human wife. He knows that Heath and Jacky have others to rely on to help them protect his wife and if worse comes to worst, he will have the aid of Hasan.
There were certain things I didn’t enjoy about this book, namely how Jacky and Heath were manipulated by circumstances and by magic. They had no defence against either and it felt very one-sided. They were puppets and not particularly strong ones. Very few of the fae characters in this story were particularly tolerable, let alone likeable and they just left me cold. I didn’t particularly like the woman they were protecting either. In the past books in this series it felt like all the trouble Jacky got into was worthwhile because she was protecting people and ideas and in this book, she was powerless and being used for something she didn’t care about.
There were also things I really enjoyed about this book, as always KN Banet writes fantastic plots and worlds. I loved reading about the fae and the different realms. Just because I didn’t like the fae as people, didn’t mean I didn’t like reading about them (I’m weird like that sometimes). Cassius and Sorcha were introduced to me in the Kaliya Sahni series and they have always been likeable, so it was nice to read about them in this book, even if things were difficult for them. I hope that we read more about them in future books. My hope is that with the scope of this amazingly complex world the author has created, one of the series will be about the fae and we’ll read more about them.
One other really good thing about this book was how Heath and Jacky were in this book with each other. Their relationship is growing in depth and strength and despite it getting them into trouble they are not prepared to leave each other. As always the romance is not the main focus of the plot, but it is important and their emotions are a vital part of the story.
The plot was complicated and fast-moving and the book was over very quickly, despite its number of pages. KN Banet always manages to suck me into her books and only lets me go when I hit the acknowledgements at the back, and this book was no exception.
Once again, I’m left hungry for more books in this series as I really love Jacky as a character. She’s brave, strong and at the same time vulnerable. Her humanity is still with her as she was changed 10 years ago and sometimes the emotions she brought with her into her new life have the power to hurt her still. Her love for Heath and his daughter is tender and strong and she will defend it with everything she has. In particular, I enjoy her struggles with providing the right kind of support and advice to the teenager when she isn’t Carey’s mother and she doesn’t want to step on Heath’s toes and say the wrong thing. As much as she wants to support Heath’s decisions as a parent she also wants to make sure that Carey has someone she can always be honest with. It’s a fine line to walk and I really enjoy that aspect of this character.
I can’t wait to read what happens in the next book as though there is no cliffhanger, there are will definitely be consequences for how this book ends.
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Monday, 25 October 2021
Review: Shades of Hate (Jacky Leon Series Book 5) by KN Banet
Shades of Hate by K.N. BanetMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Results of Hatred
This book is the fifth in a continuing series. There are also related series that do not form part of this storyline but are set in the same world and share some world events and characters. Though the story continues there is no cliffhanger as the book concludes at a natural break.
Jacky is pretty happy with life at the moment. Her bar has been rebuilt from the ground up and it’s bigger and better. It’s also being run very efficiently by Oliver and Dirk, two humans raised in the werecat community. Jacky has stepped back somewhat from running the bar but it is still part of her life. Her relationship with Heath is stable and grows more important by the day to her, despite the necessity of keeping it secret from the supernatural community. She’s spending valuable time with Carey and she still relishes her relationship with Heath’s teenaged daughter. Life is pretty good until it isn’t.
Outside forces have put into action a plan to destroy her happiness and to hurt her and her family. She doesn’t see it coming and it blindsides her both metaphorically and literally. Everything she thought settled and solid becomes like shifting sand beneath her feet. The support of her family feels shaky, her life is at risk and she runs the risk of exposing her species, a secret that has been kept for centuries.
KN Banet layers up fantastic plot lines with emotional upheaval and solid world-building. This late into the series the world is well established and only previously fuzzy areas are fleshed out, such as relationships with the government. We see the growth and change of Jacky’s relationships with her werecat family and her feelings for Heath are subtly explored as they are shown to deepen and grow, without the romance being the main focus.
All the relationships in this book are complex and multifaceted. I love how well this author can seemingly focus tightly on so many separate relationships simultaneously. All the characters from Jacky, down to the bar clientele are important.
This author is capable of writing exciting and challenging plot lines that only enhance the writing about the relationships rather than diverting attention from them. It takes a really gifted author to pair up writing so well about plot and exciting events and also showing subtle character and emotional evolution. You don’t see it very often, but it’s what makes this author so often rate 5 ⭐️, because she is capable of this level of writing.
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series, and all the spin-offs set in the Tribunal Archives World.
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Friday, 22 October 2021
Series List: Tribunal Archives by KN Banet/Kristen Banet
I've decided to try and start creating blog entries that summarise ongoing series, as some are quite complex. I'll add the links to new reviews as I write them. I will try and add new entries to cover additional series as I come to them. I should have started this when I began blogging. I have left it rather late to begin and as a result, I have an enormous backlog.
Tribunal Archives by KN Banet/Kristen Banet
Jacky Leon
Ancient And Immortal (Call of Magic Anthology/Jacky Leon Series Book 4.5) (Still To Be Reviewed)
Royal Pawn (Jacky Leon Series Book 6) (Still To Be Reviewed)
Rogue Alpha (Jacky Leon Series Book 7) (To Be Published December 2021)
Kaliya Sahni
Monsters (Kaliya Sahni Series Book 3) (Still To Be Reviewed)
Reborn (Kaliya Sahni Series Book 4) (Still To Be Reviewed)
Legends (Kaliya Sahni Series Book 5) (Still To Be Reviewed)
Everly Abbott
Blood Of The Wicked (Everly Abbott Series Book 2) (To Be Published 2022)
Tribunal Archives Novellas
Hearts At War (To Be Published January 2022)
Review: Servant of the Blood (Everly Abbott Series Book 1) by KN Banet
Servant of the Blood by K.N. BanetMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Superb New Chapter In The Tribunal Archives
This is the first book in a continuing series that is set in a world shared with several other series. You don’t need to read the other Tribunal Archives books to understand this series, but you’d probably enjoy them! There is no cliffhanger to this book, just a very fine hook for the next book in the series.
Everly Abbott is a Servant of The Blood. She is part of a family that works for vampires and she chose to join the family business after the nest paid for her college education. Her father died 15 years ago and her brother decided not to work for vampires. Her mother works in the same nest as she does and is in charge of the household staff, a very important role. Everly is the person who formed the IT department and introduced the nest to modern technology and how to get around it when necessary. This aspect of her job is a lot more commonly used than it used to be.
After losing the old master of the nest the nature of the vampires living there has changed significantly. Under Jacob, the old master vampire, humans were treated gently and with respect, the new master vampire, Edwin, sees humans as a walking meal unless they happen to be useful to him in other ways. The nest is oppressive and the humans and less violent vampires are walking on a knife’s edge in a bid to remain alive.
Everly in particular is placed in situation after situation where she doesn’t know if she will get out alive or if she can save her friends and colleagues. When she finally finds someone to help she grabs on with both hands.
I will say that this book does not shy away from killing off characters. There is quite a lot of blood and gore described in violent scenes of death. There are lots of twists in the plot which is fantastically paced. It draws you in page by page until you have no space left in your mind for anything other than this world. This author is a tremendous world builder and she has created something violent and bloody in the world the Tribunal Vampires, with brief moments of hope for a better world that we might see in future books.
I love the concept of this book, which looks at the purely human servants of vampires. This type of main character is very unusual and makes the book even more interesting. In any vampire book, there are always ‘useful’ humans who help the vampires and it’s fascinating to see this world from those types of eyes. We witness the darkness of the vampire world but we also see some of the joyful aspects of sharing lives with beings who are hundreds of years old.
I loved this book so much with the feisty character of Everly, who stepped off the pages and became real for me. She was traumatised, suffered from anxiety and grief and she still got back up again. She is protective of not only humans but also vampires that don’t stray towards the darker path of their existence. She’s very bright, hard-working and more capable than she realises. I can’t wait to see how her personality develops as she gains confidence.
This book is as fantastic as others written by this author. I can’t wait to see what comes next, after the way this book ended!
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Monday, 18 October 2021
Review: The Rowan's Destiny (The Killian Blade Series Book 3) by Stella Brie
The Rowan's Destiny by Stella BrieMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
An Enemy Is Uncovered
This is the third book in a continuing series. It marks the end of this section of the story that focuses on Arden. The story will continue in future books focusing on a different main character, therefore there is no cliffhanger, just a few hooks to get you looking forward to the next books in the series.
This book is filled with content to keep you guessing what will happen next. The plot moves at a very fast pace and a lot happens to the characters. I gulped this book down in one sitting despite my gritty eyes at the end because I couldn’t stop following what was happening with each new turn of the page.
Arden must find a way to achieve her destiny, whatever she chooses to make of that. She has been given the guidance of visions of her deceased mother and other ancestors who set things into motion to provide her with a chance to make things right in the world of magic. The path she was forced to walk has taken her to a place where she can discover who her enemy is and do her best to defeat them. She also has to determine the best way to lead the witches into an age of acceptance of all magic users, no matter how much they hate the idea.
The path to winning her battles is not an easy one and not everything is smooth sailing in her relationships with the members of the Imperial Cadre. External pressures come to bear on their relationships and it may prove too much to accept for Arden when decisions are made for her without her knowledge or agreement.
This book is filled with passion, romance and the love of a family, made through choice. It’s not only the Cadre who are important to this sense of family but also those that raised Arden in the absence of her mother, and the other friends that she makes on her journey.
This author writes such rich and diverse characters they seem to step off the page into your heart and mind. They feel real and believable, as though you could bump into them in the street. The members of the Cadre are all so different yet at heart, they share the same passion for helping and protecting others weaker than themselves. They are flawed in such different ways and their personalities sometimes may be abrasive, but they are good people and adore Arden and the changes she has brought to their lives. I like how each relationship Arden has with the members of the Cadre is unique and separate from the others. Obviously, there is some involvement because these men have been family to each other for nearly 1000 years, but they don’t butt in too much and Arden doesn’t let them even if they wanted to. All of them, including Arden, have their own responsibilities separate from being part of the Imperium Cadre and these can take them away from home for days and weeks at a time. However, they are lucky that texting works across dimensions. Technology and magic in conjunction seem to do marvellous things!
There is so much unveiling of hidden truths in this book that it is difficult to keep up. It may be complex and fascinating, but the fabulous plot does not overwhelm the emotional content of this book. The characters and their emotions, and their connections to each other are as important to the book as the troop manoeuvres, magic skills and political manipulation. It’s very difficult for an author to maintain that balance in a book of this nature and that this author has achieved such a perfectly poised balance is a credit to her. It gives me high hopes for the rest of the series, that it’s not just the fabulous Arden that makes this series so readable but the entirety of the way she writes.
I’m sincerely looking forward to the next section of this series because even though one section of the plot is resolved, this world is fascinating and the next main characters are just as intriguing as Arden is!
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Saturday, 16 October 2021
Review: True Dead (Jane Yellowrock Series Book 14) by Faith Hunter
True Dead by Faith HunterMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Plots Within Plots
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the 14th book of a continuing series. You need to read the rest of the series before this book or it won’t make much sense. There is a tiny cliffhanger, but the narrative ends at a natural break.
Now Jane has been brought back to health and recognised the hardships her people have been exposed to in her absence, she is ready to head back to NOLA. Though she’s still having a little trouble controlling her shifting, at least she’s no longer dying.
She is returning in part for Wrassler and Jodie’s wedding, as well as to provide stability and protection to her people. Before she leaves she has arranged a sweat with her brother Ayatas Firewind and her ‘Grandmother’. Only once she comes face to face with the woman who made her into a War Woman she realises that maybe her Grandmother is not what she thought.
With her return to NOLA there is a confluence of events that has been centuries in the making. There are plots within plots within plots that reach into every aspect of Jane’s interactions with the vampires, except she has always been the wildcard that Leo named her, and she never reacts the way everyone thinks she will.
There is a lot of complex plot manoeuvring in this book, covering things that happened in books way back in the series. Long strings of incidents are tied together in a way that makes you ‘oooohhhh’ out loud. This book is fast-paced and as usual, there is plenty of violence and fight scenes interspersed with complex and mighty magics. Several new characters are introduced and recent characters become better known.
There is not a lot of space for fun and relaxation in this book, which makes me sad for Jane and her family and things are definitely ramping up for the next book in the series when Jane will have to face the ultimate puppet master.
As always this is an entertaining and engrossing read that kept me turning page after page until I was done. I wish I hadn’t read it as quickly because now I’m going to have to wait for ages for the next one.
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Monday, 11 October 2021
Review: The Gambler Grimoire (Wicklow College of Arcane Arts Series Book 1) by BR Kingsolver
The Gambler Grimoire by B.R. KingsolverMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Urban Fantasy Murder Mystery
This is the first book in a series but can be enjoyed as a standalone story as there is no cliffhanger.
Dr Savanna Robinson is a professor of apothecary and alchemy and newly hired at the prestigious Wicklow College of Arcane Arts near Pittsburg. What she didn’t realise is that the man who once held the position she has been hired for was murdered. In the five months since his death, the police don’t seem to have been making much headway in the investigation. Savanna’s curiosity is piqued and she decides to look into what happened to her predecessor. When she uncovers some papers that the police never found, she realises that the murder may be connected to a rare book purported to contained spells that can change your luck.
There is much to enjoy in this book, with its wonderful world-building and intelligent and interesting main character. Savanna is the daughter of a Councilman (a very important person) and she’s in her 40s. She has a sharp intellect and relishes the shaping of lively minds. She has a dry wit and enjoys matching those wits against others. She’s magically talented as well as intellectually but she keeps that a bit more under wraps. She’s sociable and enjoys the company of men though romance isn’t a priority.
This is an interesting world in which Savanna has been placed. It feels like British Academia rather than being set in the US, with its formalities and old and beautiful buildings created to emulate Oxford University. It’s rather staid and filled with older men on the faculty. We also get to see a little of the town as Savanna goes on explorations into the world outside the campus. As always with this author, you can visualise clearly the surroundings and structure of society with a few paragraphs scattered throughout the book, from Savanna’s dark apartment to the beautiful herb garden and greenhouses just outside.
The murder mystery was interesting but I felt like the solution to the mystery was handed to her on a plate a little bit. The rest of the resolution was pieced together because of the information handed to her and her good contacts. It felt a little bit cheaty.
Despite the resolution being a little disappointing I still really enjoyed the book as a whole. The world, the characters and the plot were fun and absorbing. I’m glad that this is the start of a series as I believe this character deserves more chances to shine. Dr Savanna Robinson is a force to be reckoned with.
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Thursday, 7 October 2021
Review: By Her Sight (The Unitam Realm Series Book 1) by Sunny Hart
By Her Sight by Sunny HartMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reverse Harem Academy
This is the first book in a series. The story comes to a natural break, but it definitely leaves you wanting more.
Claire is a low-level witch, who still lives in the orphanage she was raised in, despite long being past the age of majority. She can do a few basic spells but hasn’t really had much training, because of being declared a low-level witch. As she’s also blind, there is nowhere else for her to go. She has a quiet life, mainly gardening, which she loves, and reading, using a spell to read books out loud to her. She doesn’t have any friends and has always been bullied. Then one day she is called into the Mother’s office and she is told that she is to attend the Realm’s Academy where the best and the brightest witches and shifters got to learn how to be the best examples of their races. Confused at the opportunity, she knows she has no other choice but to go.
As soon as Desmond, Everett and Malcolm meet Claire, they know she is not only their Fourth but also their respective Soul Flame and Mate. It is unheard of a Triad all being mated to their Fourth, but they know it’s true. Not wanting to scare away their ‘Little Witch’ they decide to keep their distance as she settles into her very new and challenging life.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s not the most original of plots or the best execution but I really liked the characters. I particularly liked that Claire makes friends before she becomes too attached to her Triad. Her friends are there for her all the way from the beginning. They are supportive and protective and provide invaluable guidance. It is through these friends that we learn about the much larger world that Claire finds herself in after leaving her very small and isolated home town.
The world-building is interesting but there are big gaps, which I believe will be explained further in the series as there are references to the world outside the Academy and potentially visiting her friends’ homes. I understand the author wanting to spend this first book examining the characters to draw the reader in, but I would have preferred a little more information about the world in which they lived.
On the whole, this was an engaging and enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series when it’s published.
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Wednesday, 1 September 2021
Review: Shifted (Sundance Series Book 5) by CP Rider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Becoming Part Of The Group
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is Book 5 in a continuing series, that starts with Spiked. You need to read the previous books in order to understand this one. There is no cliffhanger.
Now Neeley is a member of the Group she is struggling to really become a part of it. She hasn’t shifted since her first time as she is scared of the pain. She won’t draw on the bonds of the group to help with the pain of spiking as she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. However, when enemies come to town she is forced into doing more than usual to defend their town and their people. She is forced to make decisions she has been avoiding through fear.
There is the usual banter between Neeley and Lucas showing not only their romantic bonds but also their friendship. Even whilst fighting they are hilariously honest with each other. Lucas is ridiculous in all the best ways with his obsessions with films and tv shows that he drags his loved ones into. He’s like a big kid half the time and the rest of the time he is a protective sibling or parent, watching over his Group and making sure they are all well, safe and happy.
I really enjoyed watching Neeley being dragged into the group by the scruff of her neck, kicking and screaming all the way. She had been used to being alone for so long that it was the only way she was going to become a part of the Group. I love how this series has carefully shown Neeley becoming less scared of caring for people and having them care for her.
This is a great book filled with humour, sweet but sassy romance and great world-building and plot. Admittedly most of the world-building has been done in previous books, but it gives a very solid background to the well-constructed plot, that is both action-filled and emotional in nature.
I really love this series and will always want to read more about Sundance and its inhabitants.
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Monday, 30 August 2021
Review: Multiplying Storms (Artemis University Series Book 11) by Erin R Flynn
Multiplying Storms by Erin R. FlynnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Stress Is Bad For Fairies Too
This is the 11th book in a continuing series. You need to read the preceding books in order to understand this one, starting with Book 1, Upended Life.
This is one of my favourite Erin R Flynn series, and I think I’m not alone in that. I don’t like academy books so much these days because I overdosed on them when they first became the ‘hot’ trope. This is one of the few series I’ve kept on reading and I think it’s because the academy part of the story is more the background than the main point, especially as it is as university the characters attend rather than a high school, and therefore the students are adults.
This book essentially deals with the incredible amounts of pressure placed on Tamsin’s shoulders. She has pressure from all sides as she tries to free more fairies and at the same time keep them hidden from the supes as they gain an understanding of the world they have woken up to after a 20-year nap in Fairy. The pressure she is under at school and from the councils is growing exponentially and at the same time, she is continuing to fight for equality and justice in both the supe and the human world.
Tamsin spends a lot of this book in tears. She is reaching breaking point, especially with how disappointed she is with the fairies, in particular the Elders and Ancients. As always she can’t be completely happy with all her lovers/mates. There is always one! Apart from the one causing problems her other lovers/mates have been supportive and loving and seem to have finally found a way to try and provide Tamsin with what she needs. She is also coming to a tentative truce with Neldor, aka The Prince of Darkness. I like that this author allows her characters to develop and change in both positive and negative ways. This happens in real life and whilst it is nice and tidy if a character’s emotions and behaviours develop in a straight line, in real life that line dips and soars as triumphs and tribulations affect who we are.
A lot happens in this book, apart from Tams being pushed to breaking point and we see a lot more of the fairies, meeting more individuals. This feels like an important book in the series and is definitely a turning point in the plot. I can’t wait to see what comes next, I’m sure it’s going to be good!
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Sunday, 1 August 2021
Review: Wandering Star (Cricket Kendall Series Book 3) by Willow Hadley
Wandering Star by Willow HadleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It would appear that Amazon/Kindle has eaten my review so I’m going to try again. This means there may be bits where I’m a little fuzzy on the details.
This book is the third in a continuing series, and the previous two books need to be read first to understand the story.
This book is essentially about what happens when Cricket turns 18. There is a joint party with Hollis to organise and hopes and fears about a possible mate mark to deal with. Cricket knows she has something special with the guys and is afraid that a mating mark may not appear. The guys are worried that they might not be mated with Cricket, leading to tension and miscommunications.
One thing that we do see in this book is Cricket building up a strong group of friends. People she initially connected with become strong friends and she connects with new people. We also see more of her relationship with her family and her brothers in particular.
There are several points of view to the story and these points of view are not always the main characters. We see from support characters how the main characters are seen by the rest of the community, which is very interesting. It helps round out the main characters and gives a peek into the support characters as they become more involved in the story.
There is slightly more angst in this book than in the previous ones, but it is still filled to the brim with sugary sweetness. Those wolves sure know how to woo a mate! There is the much-awaited passionate encounters that happen after Cricket hits 18. All that build-up is finally realised and it is pretty hot.
There is obviously lots more to come in this story and I can’t wait to read what happens next as this author knows how to sell a narrative and pulls you in slowly but surely, page by page. I hope I don’t have to wait long!
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Saturday, 17 July 2021
Review: Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace Series Book 7) by Keri Arthur
Magic Misled by Keri ArthurMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Price of Magic
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the seventh book in a continuing series, and you need to read the previous books to understand this one.
Lizzie is now living with Aidan, despite knowing there is a time limit on their relationship. She is trying to live in the moment and relish every day they have together, as they make happy memories. It’s not perfect, but it’s good. His mother, however, is causing problems and doesn’t want Lizzie to attend Aiden’s 30th birthday party as another way to force a wedge between them.
The Witch Council has sent someone to investigate the death of her ‘husband’, Clayton and they’ve sent someone who is very attractive who is also interested in Lizzie, but is he interested in her for own sake, or what she might bright bring magically and politically to a relationship.
Into the Reservation comes a darkness that is impossible to categorise because it defies nature. It is filled with rage and vengeance, seeking only to slaughter, leading Lizzie into dangerous situations as she tries to stop the violence.
One of the things I like most about this book is that Lizzie really struggles as she tries to protect herself and the people she loves. She doesn’t have a perfect grasp on her magic. She’s never been an all-powerfulo witch. She’s always struggled magically and just because she has access to Wild Magic hasn’t changed that, because she still hasn’t had much training. We see in this book that she has to pay a steep price for using the Wild Magic and she has to weigh up whether it’s worth it or not.
I like it when there are limits to powers in my Urban Fantasy books. I don’t want the main character to just keep powering up and up in order to face off bigger monsters. I want them to have to work better, learn more and get help from experts. If they do power-up, I want them to have to face the consequences of doing so.
This book was mainly focused on Lizzie’s magic and the darkness they faced. There wasn’t a huge amount of focus on her relationship with Aiden. I liked that there was more focus on Belle’s relationship with Monty, even if it was just observed by Lizzie.
Belle and Lizzie’s relationship is one of the best things about this series. No matter what else happens they are the best of friends. They are sisters of the soul rather than blood and they always try to put each other first. Their support for each other is a really lovely part of these books.
I get the feeling that the next book will have a lot more about Lizzie and Aiden’s relationship judging by some of the hints dropped in this book and also the blurb for the next book. I know it’s going to be ages until the next book comes out, but that just means I’ll have the opportunity for a re-read before it's release.
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