Book Review: Aftermarket Afterlife (InCryptid) by Seanan McGuire

Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire is the thirteenth book in the InCryptid, and the first focusing on Mary- the family's babysitting ghost. For those that enjoy audiobooks, the audiobook editions of this series are very well done (including this title).

Mary Dunlavy didn't intend to become a professional babysitter. Of course, she didn't intend to die, either, or to become a crossroads ghost. As a babysitting ghost, she's been caring for the Price family for four generations, and she's planning to keep doing the job for the better part of forever. With her first charge finally back from her decades-long cross-dimensional field trip, with a long-lost husband and adopted daughter in tow, it's time for Mary to oversee the world's most chaotic family reunion. And that's before the Covenant of St. George launches a full scale strike against the cryptids of Manhattan, followed quickly by an attack on the Campbell Family Carnival.  It's going to take every advantage and every ally they have for the Prices to survive what's coming—and for Mary, to avoid finding out the answer to a question she's never wanted to know: what happens to a babysitting ghost if she loses the people she's promised to protect?

Aftermarket Afterlife offers readers exactly what they want and expect from the continuation of this series. I really enjoyed getting to see the characters and plot points of the last twelve books come together here. We get Mary's history and huge movements in the larger story lines. There is so much going on here- and fair warning for very attached readers- not everything turns out the way you want or are prepared for. This is very much for fans of the series- for whom this is an absolute much read (or listen), but I do not recommend to newcomers to the series because there are just so many threads coming together here that they would be beyond lost. 

Book Review: Personal Demons (Magicsmith Universe/Rifter) by L. R. Braden

Personal Demons is part of the larger Magicsmith Universe, and the second book in the Rifter series by L. R. Braden. I do highly recommend starting the larger series at the start to fully understand the setting and its particulars, but you do need to at least start this spin off from the beginning to fully understand some of the dynamics. 

Protecting her secret and hunting demons is a matter of survival for possessed-practitioner Mira Fuentes. She's spent years learning to work with the snarky demon housed in her body, and it hasn't always gone smoothly. Nor has her recent partnership with an agent of the Paranatural Task Force. Ty Williams—uncomfortably-attractive and overly-protective—may never fully accept that his partner has a literal inner demon. But work-life-demon balance is the least of Mira's problems when a figure from her past drags her back to the hometown she's avoided for nearly a decade to investigate a string of potentially-magical disappearances. Someone or something is snatching teens from the local high school. Emotionally off-balance in a city full of old ghosts and new dangers, Mira will have to confront her past to discover what is hunting the innocent.

Personal Demons is a solid continuation of this universe and series. I liked getting a better understanding of Mira's family and history. I thought the mystery, solution, and many of the twists the book took were extremely well planned and thought out. I thought that the character development was fantastic and I cannot wait to see more of both Mira and Ty. I think they are a well balanced pair- and discovering more about each of them as they figure themselves and each other out at the same time is a fantastic ride. I look forward to seeing where things go from here- both in their relationship and in the larger storyline of the world they live in as well. 

Book Review: Grave Suspicions (Lavington Windsor Mysteries) by Alice James

Grave Suspicions by Alice James is the third book in the Lavington Windsor Mystery series. I thought I had read at least one of the two previous books, but I have not. Thankfully I have read enough of this sub genre of books that I was able to figure out most of the important bits quickly.

Estate agent by day, necromancer by night, and reluctant amateur sleuth when bullied into it Toni Windsor is already juggling life and now she has to find out who clubbed a Cornish cheese millionaire to death while he was alone in a locked room. And her diary was already full. She’s trying to keep the peace between vampire courts, a fistful of demonic contracts have just landed on her lap and – no surprise – her love life still isn’t looking great even though she’s finally dating someone who isn’t dead. Can’t a girl catch a break?

Grave Suspicions is an enjoyable and engaging read. When I started the book I thought I had certainly read the first book in the series, simply because this is right up my ally, but I must have some how missed the first two books at some point, which is something I will now have to rectify. The book is balanced well between snarky humor, trying to figure out several mysteries and problems at one, and Toni just trying to figure out exactly who she is and what she want. There is fun, danger, sexy times, and character growth all woven together. If you have read the first two books, then don't stop now. If you have not read the other books I do suggest starting at the beginning (I wish I had) so that you don't have the earlier surprises ruined for you. I am going back to read the first two books now- and I look forward to seeing how Toni got to the point where I met her in this book. 

Grave Suspicions is a fun read with plenty of mystery, shenanigans, and some sexy times.

Book Review: The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan

The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan is the first book in a young adult fantasy trilogy. As the only hedgewitch in Blackthorn, Massachusetts—an uncommonly magical place—Aziza El-Amin has bargained with wood nymphs, rescued palm-sized fairies from house cats, banished flesh-eating shadows from the local park. But when a dark entity awakens in the forest outside of town, eroding the invisible boundary between the human world and fairyland, run-of-the-mill fae mischief turns into outright aggression, and the danger—to herself and others—becomes too great for her to handle alone. Leo Merritt is no stranger to magical catastrophes. On his sixteenth birthday, a dormant curse kicked in and ripped away all his memories of his true love. A miserable year has passed since then. He's road-tripped up and down the East Coast looking for a way to get his memories back and hit one dead end after another. He doesn't even know his true love's name, but he feels the absence in his life, and it's haunting. Desperate for answers, he makes a pact with Aziza: he’ll provide much-needed backup on her nightly patrols, and in exchange, she’ll help him break the curse. When the creature in the woods sets its sights on them, their survival depends on the aid of a mysterious young necromancer they’re not certain they can trust. But they’ll have to work together to eradicate the new threat and take back their hometown, even if it forces them to uncover deeply buried secrets and make devastating sacrifices.

The Buried and the Bound is complicated in all the best ways. The town and the laws of magic for this series are fed to readers through out the book, as some of the characters learn for themselves, or are taught. Every character has more to them than might first appear, and while some of the surprises I guessed early on, I thought the slow reveal and getting to know each other parts of the story were very well done. There was a nice balance between the 'normal' teen angst with the mafic and danger that flows through the entire book. The dynamics between Aziza and Leo, and then with the others and families led to an engaging and sometimes stressful read. I was very glad to see the resolution and thought some of the most important questions were answered, but I must admit that there is so much more I want to know. I look forward to a continuation of this story.  

The Buried and the Bound is a well written fantasy novel that left me looking forward to the next installment.

Book Review: Crack the Spine (The Wayward Series) by Wade Lewellyn-Hughes

Crack the Spine is the first book in The Wayward Series by Wade Lewellyn-Hughes. Fulfilling bounties on the supernatural requires a balance between safety and profit. Kendall Blake and the Wayward Investigations team walk this line with one goal in mind: to create a haven for runaway LGBTQ+ youth living on the streets of New Orleans, easy food for the darkness seldom discussed outside of fairy tales. But real estate is anything but cheap and selling the feu follet they catch in the swamps isn’t bringing in the cash they need. Enter Frankie Singh. Her childhood friend has gone missing in what appears to be a very sophisticated abduction. The fact it began with a murder in Portland has already skewed the balance beyond Wayward Investigations’ threshold. But they needed the money. Unraveling the mystery of what happened to her friend forces them deeper into the shadows and puts their own magical abilities to the test. Even tough-as-nails Kendall wonders if they made a mistake in trying to find her once she is staring down her gun into the glowing eyes of an incubus. 

Crack the Spine is a solid urban fantasy, but I have to admit that I had one problem with it. While it is the first in a series it felt like there was something leading up to this point, or that there should have been. I searched a bit, and while there are other books by the author I could find nothing that struck me as offering the answers of how the group in Wayward Investigations came together and formed their found family style bonds. However, I did like the major players and the story itself. I thought there were some great moments, and a couple I had to go back and re read because I was not sure if I missed something. I like the world that was created here, and the efforts of Kendall and her friends. There are plenty of mysteries and questions left in my mind at the end of this book, and I will read the next to see if I get those answered, and some more back story. 

Crack the Spine is a good urban fantasy, and I liked many aspects of the read. I believe I will give the second book a try when it comes out and decide after that read if I want to stick with the series.

Book Review: Sweep of the Heart (Innkeeper Chronicles) by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Nora Sofyan

Sweep of the Heart is the sixth installment of the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews, and was originally released as a few novella series. The audiobook is narrated by Nora Sofyan. Life is busier than ever for Innkeeper, Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. But it’s about to get even more chaotic when Sean's werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, they must host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Dina is never one to back down from a challenge. That is, if she can manage her temperamental Red Cleaver chef; the consequences of her favorite Galactic ex-tyrant's dark history; the tangled politics of an interstellar nation, and oh, yes, keep the wedding candidates from a dozen alien species from killing each other. Not to mention the Costco lady. They say love is a battlefield; but Dina and Sean are determined to limit the casualties!

Sweep of the Heart is a must read (or listen) for fans of the series. There is plenty of action and danger, great growth and display of character for Dina and Sean as well as the secondary characters. I really enjoyed getting to see some visits from characters that I remember from the Edge series, and those that have made prior appearances in the Innkeeper world. I feel like I got a great deal out of this audiobook, but that readers that are new to the series would be very lost. There are some great summaries and catch up moments if readers mist a related book, but someone with no prior foray into this series would not fully appreciate the amount of information, humor, and winks to other books that fans and returning readers that will enjoy. I have to admit to laughing in my car as I was listening to this, and I was inspired to go back and download other books by the author that I had somehow missed.

Book Review: Chaos Song (Magicsmith) by L. R. Braden

Chaos Song is the sixth book in the Magicsmith, series by L. R. Braden. This is a series that needs to be read in order, both in terms of plot and character development, in order to enjoy the story. 

Nothing has gone to plan since she joined the PTF. Now mysterious "natural" disasters are happening all over the world, and all signs point to a fae attack. But by whom? And why now? In the midst of this chaos, she faces Purity protesters, coworkers looking to undermine her every decision, and werewolves who can't stop snapping at each other long enough to prove they're safe to work with. Now is not the time to abandon her fledgling alliance for an off-the-books mission, but if she doesn't… the fragile peace between the Realms may shatter.

Chaos Song is a solid addition to the series, and answered many questions and wrapped up quite a bit nicely. There are still some unanswered questions however, I thought that Alex grew a little bit more as a character in the first half of the book, and so did the explanations and understanding of the world and communities in it. The tension and danger ramped up quickly, and there were some good twists and turns. However, I have to admit that by the time the big battle and resolutions come on the page I was more than ready for things to wrap up. Each big moment was important, and so many of the twists were great, but it felt like there was just more than necessary and things felt like they dragged on too much for my personal tastes. 

Chaos Song is a good conclusion to the story, and I thought Alex and her world has grown a great deal since the start of the series.

Book Review: Becoming Crone (The Crone Wars) by Lydia M. Hawke

Becoming Crone is the first book in The Crone Wars series by Lydia M. Hawke. She's unabashedly gray and destined to save the world. Meet Claire. On her 60th birthday, she got a cranky gargoyle, an overprotective wolf-shifter, and a magical calling she never saw coming. It’s not quite the retirement plan she had in mind!

Becoming Crone is a good start to an urban fantasy series, and I really enjoyed the read. I liked Claire, who is struggling with a fairly resent divorce and what life might look like now that she does not really feel needed and has spent her whole life following the rules set on her by others and society. I thought her thoughts and concerns were very realistic, and I liked that readers get to learn all about the magic and legends of her world right along side her. I also liked getting to have a more mature heroine as the main character of the story, but I have to admit it bothered me more than a little when everyone (including Claire herself) kept referring to her as so old. Sixty is older than the typical chosen one we get to read about, but sixty is not decrepit. I am still a bit away from it, but I still think of sixty as older, but not old. Although, that was really my only sticking point with this book. I really enjoyed the read and will be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.

Becoming Crone is an engaging and enjoyable urban fantasy read. 

Book Review: City of Night (Secrets & Sin) by Linsey Hall

City of Night is the first book in the Secrets & Sin series by Linsey Hall. When I inherit a haunted bookstore in New Orleans, I go from demon hunter to my dream job. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to my beautiful new life—the gorgeous demon who seems to think he owns the place. The attraction between us is insane, and we can’t keep our eyes off each other. But I don’t trust him one bit—especially not the way he uses his seductive charms to try to compel me to work for him. When a young girl is kidnapped from right outside my house, he’s the first person on my mind. I just can’t figure out if he’s the culprit or my fiercest protector. But I do know he has answers. And I have to resist his dangerous allure, because to give in is to risk losing everything—including my life.

City of Night is an urban fantasy that sets the stage nicely for a series. I felt like there were many teases about what happened in the past, and what might tie the many players together beyond attraction. I really liked the world building and the small town feel that the New Orleans neighborhood is given. I liked the secondary characters, and I thought the mystery and set up were all very well done. I did feel like certain aspects of the story were a little predictable, and since I have read other things from the author everything felt very familiar. I double checked a couple times that I hadn't already read this series, or a companion book to the series, which I could find no evidence of. The result was a bit like rereading a favorite but with the surprises of solving the mystery and meeting the characters for the first time.

City of Night is a solid urban fantasy that kept me engaged and reading. 

Book Review: Southwest Heat (Southwest Supernatural Society) by E.L. Adams

Southwest Heat is the first book in the Southwest Supernatural Society series by E.L. Adams. Addyson Owings is the best at what she does—working as an investigator for the Southwest Supernatural Society, where crimes come in all shapes and sizes. But when her ex shows up after seven years, partnering with her on a serious crime, she’s faced with not only figuring out why a family was killed without a single mark on their bodies, but also with the lingering attraction to the man who broke her heart. Cooper Braxton plans to get his woman back. He has one weekend to help solve a complex crime that combines the world of paranormals and humans while also convincing Addyson to give him a second chance. His success rate is high, and he doesn’t plan to lose now. But when a traitor takes a kid as a hostage, Cooper and Addy must overcome their past while saving the innocent, stopping a killer, and trying to salvage any chance of their happily ever after.

Southwest Heat is a mixed bag of second chance romance and suspense. I thought Cooper and Addy were good characters, although I do not feel like I know either of them well. I liked the premise and the potential of everything this book could be, but while it was an enjoyable read it did not quite meet my hopes for the read. Because of the second chance romance aspect of the book I felt like I did not get a whole lot of character building, and I felt like because of the series aspect of the book some of the world building was not quite as developed as I might have liked because there will be room for that later in the series. I thought the suspense as to how they were going to save victims was good, but again it felt very surface level with very little actual detective work happening. I think there were many great ideas, but each could have stood for more attention. Like perhaps have the pair do some sleuthing rather than getting busy in other ways, or have them figure out their relationship a bit more in depth and then hunt for the bad guys. It just felt like watching the trailer to a movie- just the big moments- and none of how we got there.

Southwest Heat is an interesting and engaging read but I felt there could have been more depth. 

Book Review: Final Heir (Jane Yellowrock) by Faith Hunter

Final Heir is the fifteenth book in the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter. You do need to have read most, if not all, of the books in the series to appreciate and understand all of the references and moving parts that come together in this book. 

Jane Yellowrock is the queen of the vampires, and that makes her a target as she fights to maintain control and keep peace in the city of New Orleans. She has enemies at every turn, because vampires live forever, and they keep their grudges alive with them. That includes the Heir, the vampire sire of the Pellissier bloodline, which gave rise to Leo Pellissier himself—Jane’s old boss and the former master of the city. With the Heir and all the forces of darkness he can muster arrayed against her, Jane will need all the help she can get. She’ll find it in her city, her friends, her found family, and, of course, the Beast inside of her.

Final Heir is exactly what I was looking for this far into the series. I feel like so many moments and loose ends were brought back together, and I will admit that even though I have kept up with this series, read most of the short stories related to it, and the spin offs, there were still moments when I had to stop and think about when or how something mentioned came about and how it might come into play here. There were so many characters and connections that Hunter manage to weave into this story, while still keeping character and plot development moving ahead. 

Final Heir is the culmination of a fairly long series, and I think it hits on everything fans want and need to see to make them happy. This is a must read for fans of the series. 

Book Review: Ruby Fever (Hidden Legacy) by Ilona Andrews

Ruby Fever is the sixth book in the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews. This is a series that should be read in order to fully understand the world and characters that have been built. 

An escaped spider, the unexpected arrival of an Imperial Russian Prince, the senseless assassination of a powerful figure, a shocking attack on the supposedly invincible Warden of Texas, Catalina’s boss, and it’s only Monday. Within hours, the fate of Houston—not to mention the House of Baylor—now rests on Catalina, who will have to harness her powers as never before. But even with her fellow Prime and fiancé Alessandro Sagredo by her side, she may not be able to expose who’s responsible before all hell really breaks loose.

Ruby Fever is the last book in Catalina's story arc, and I am sad to see her personal story wrap up, even though it means we must be something from Arabella's point of view soon.  I really enjoyed her part of the story and think that this book was a great addition to the larger story. I though the action, mystery, and hints about the future were all very well balanced. I was engaged in the story the whole read, and while I saw some of the twists coming, everything was so well done that it did not matter. It was great seeing Catalina come into her own, and get a better understanding of herself and what she could do. Fans of the series will love the read and be looking forward to what ever come next in this world.

Ruby Fever is a must read for fans of the series. 

Book Review: Eventually, They All Fall by Jenna Marcus

Eventually, They All Fall by Jenna Marcus is a young adult urban fantasy. Domino Garrison knows that he is the king of all that is weird, but he would rather abdicate that throne. He would rather be a normal teenager who just goes to school and works at a bookstore—and for all intents and purposes—that's exactly how he appears to his peers; however, aside from his best friend, Griswold, no one knows Domino's secret, or his secrets. His father abandoned him and his only family—his mom—when he was 5 years old, and his mom is a drug addict who has a parade of men coming in and out of their home. Oh, and Domino has the ability to see into other people's fantasies. He thinks this ability is pretty useless; however, little does he know that his ability is more powerful and expansive than he thinks. When extraordinary circumstances begin to occur, like massive earthquakes hitting the East coast, exotic animals wandering around zoos that they had not escaped from, and black sludge eviscerating everything in its path, Domino soon discovers that not only can he see fantasies, but he can also pull these fantasies into reality; however, doing so causes horrendous pain and mental anguish as Domino is concerned that the power he has could corrupt his mind. However, he knows that it is up to him—with the support of his friends Griswold and Lucy, and his boss Miles—to put a stop to the unnatural occurrences plaguing the earth before it is too late.

Eventually, They All Fall is a read with a great premise and some intriguing possibilities. I thought the character introduction and building was very well done, and the world building for Domino's gifts was well done. I was glad to see character and relationship growth across the board, and even though there is a hint of romance, it did not take over the other aspects of the story and stayed in the background for the most part. I thought the problems the group faced were well constructed and handled, even if a few details seemed a little too easy for me - but when the magic involved is wish fulfillment it does make sense. There were some twists that went in a completely different direction than I was expecting, and some that follow my expectations. It was nice to be surprised a couple times. I will say that I liked everything about the book, but I did not get that 'I need to get back to reading" urge that some books give me. I do not think it had anything to do with the book or writing, but rather it was not the right book for me at the time. I still will be recommending it to those in my circle that I feel will enjoy it. I think there is a large audience for this book and I am interested to see where the story goes from here. 

Eventually, They All Fall is an engaging read the young adults and adults alike can enjoy.

Book Review: Unfinished Business (Wolftown) by Tim Susman

Unfinished Business by Tim Susman is the first book in the urban fantasy series Wolftown. Private Investigator Jae Kim doesn't have a werewolf problem—at least not as long as he can keep clear of his ex-boyfriend Czoltan. But when a suspicious police report hits the streets of Wolftown, Jae suddenly finds himself hunted on the streets he used to freely roam. Dodging bullets from Wolftown vigilantes, he's stuck hiding out with Czoltan while he and his were-bear ghost Sergei search out whoever set him up—and his life isn't the only one at stake.

Unfinished Business had a bit of a slow start for me, but I was quickly caught up in Jae's personal drama and the multilayered world and character building. I thought the mix of adventure, personal growth, mystery, and honesty about mental health all come together perfectly. I liked getting to know Jae, and seeing the complexity of his relationships and how war and family dynamics shape the way he reacts to the world around him. I thought the mystery and crime aspects were handled very well, and even when I thought I was a step ahead I greatly enjoyed the ride. I really liked the way mental health, honesty, and prejudice were approached throughout the book, and I expect it to be handled similarly in future volumes. Honestly, my only complaint is that when the book ended I felt like I had just gotten to fully know and understand some of the characters and I wanted more. I look forward to whatever comes next. 

Unfinished Business is a highly engaging read and the start of a series I will be following.

Book Review: Of Claws and Fangs: Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood by Faith Hunter

Of Claws and Fangs: Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood by Faith Hunter is a collection of shorter works featuring heroines Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram, as well as a host of other characters from the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series.  From a vampire-filled Halloween evening in New Orleans to the searing tale of how a certain were-leopard first got his spots, this collection has something for everyone, and each story is sure to put the super in supernatural. With eighteen stories in all, Of Claws and Fangs will enrich and entertain—it’s a must-have for Faith Hunter’s readers and all lovers of fantasy.

Of Claws and Fangs  is a collection of vignettes, short stories, and a novella all from the world of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood. Those that subscribe to the newsletter and follow Hunter online might have seen some of these stories previously, but most will be brand new to readers. I loved getting a look at some of the moments between the stories I have read and particularly moments from characters the generally do not get to have their thoughts shared. I loved that some of these stories tie the characters I felt I have come to know well, and those that always seem on the periphery, closer together in ways I never expected. This was a great collection and I think all fans of Hunter's work will enjoy it very much. 

Of Claws and Fangs is a must have for fans of Faith Hunter. For those that prefer to listen, the audiobook version is available, and extremely well done. 

Book Review: Book of Night by Holly Black

Book of Night by Holly Black is a urban fantasy. Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn’t pick, a book she couldn’t steal, or a bad decision she wouldn’t make. She's spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie Hall. Now, she’s trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but getting out isn’t easy. Bartending at a dive, she’s still entirely too close to the corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that Charlie's shadowless, and possibly soulless, boyfriend has been hiding things from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends into a maelstrom of murder and lies. Determined to survive, she’s up against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world—all trying to steal a secret that will give them vast and terrible power.

Book of Night was a little of a mixed bag for me. I have enjoy Holly Black's books in the past, and I enjoy urban fantasy, so I thought this was going to be a hit for me. I thought the story and writing were very well done, and I liked some of the slow reveals. However, I found the much needed timeline hopping a little jaring. I completely understand the why behind it, and think it might have been the only way to get the reveals in there, but I prefer a more linear stoeytelling style. I thought the characters were well built, as were the connections between them. I really liked Charlie as a character, and often wanted a little bit more of her personal interactions with Vince or Psey to give me just a bit more of her personality. I thought the world building was also well done, and the only downsides for me were ones of personal preference rather than mistakes or lacking skill on the author's part. Maybe it has just been too long since I read other books from Black, or perhaps it is the real world intruding that wqas making it hard for me to get lost in the story. Once I finished the book I was still intrigued by the set up, and wanted to know what happened next and more stories from the world Black created. So, while I might have had trouble getting engaged with the story, honestly three books later and it still has not let me go. 

Book of Night is a book that fans of the author will want to pick up, and those that enjoy darker urban fantasy will enjoy. 

Book Review: Accidental Magic (Myrtlewood Mysteries) by Iris Beaglehole

Accidental Magic is the first book in the Myrtlewood Mysteries series by Iris Beaglehole. Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.  Despite her cousin's sinister maneuverings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. But there's more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out — in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures and endless cups of tea. Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril – for at least a little while!  A small town with endless secrets, strange activities and a house with a mind of its own.

Accidental Magic left me satisfied with the ending, but with plenty of questions about where the series will go from here.  I thought that Rosemary and Athena had an interesting mother-daughter relationship, but I did like both characters. I thought that they balanced each other nicely and I was glad to get parts of the story from both of them. I liked the quirky nature of the town and its residents, although what do you expect from a magical town full of secrets. I am interested to see where some of the friendships and relationships might form and grow, and which might reveal even more secrets.  I was a little frustrated with the number of secrets and forgotten bits of information, even though it did fit with the story. I just felt like aspect of Rosemary and magic got used a little too often. However, I was interested in the mystery and magic of the story start to finish and plan on reading the second book to see what happens next and how Athena and Rosemary grow as characters.

Accidental Magic is an intriguing start to a new series and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. 

Audiobook Review: Between Bloode and Stone (Between the Shadows) by Marie Harte, Narrated by Ellis Evans

Between Bloode and Stone is the first book in the Between the Shadows series by Marie Harte. The audiobook is narrated by Ellis Evans. Cursed long ago to check their growing power, vampires can only coexist in small groups. Yet despite their many conflicts, those Of the Bloode possess similar traits. All vampires, no matter from where they come, are male. They can go unnoticed by humans unless they wish otherwise, and they can’t survive sunlight. Mormo, servant of the goddess Hecate, has created a small new bloode clan at her behest. The six vampires he commands are rough, ill-disciplined, and mean, and they fail to follow orders on a daily basis. But they’re needed. Something big and bad is coming. Hecate, goddess of death, magic, and gateways, has a duty to guard the borders of the mortal world. She knows that without a strong force to contain the threat, chaos will come, destroying everything in its wake. Her secret weapons are those Of the Bloode. Though they refuse to worship anything but themselves, she loves their wild ways. In order to battle gods and monsters and survive, they’ll need ferocity, inner strength, and something to fight for.

Between Bloode and Stone is an interesting urban fantasy and series starter. First off, I think Ellis Evans did a great job narrating. I enjoyed the tone variations and inflections they used, and simply enjoyed listening. I also enjoyed the characters and world building. There was a great deal of ground to cover in the world building, and I suspect more important pieces have yet to be revealed about all the varied supernatural creatures living there in future books. I thought the development of the characters, and their relationships with each other, was very well paced and engaging. I liked that I did get different points of view, and that those view changes were clear as I listened. Getting insight to the minds of more than just the romantic leads was great, and gave me a better understanding of the bigger picture and how important certain things might be later in the series. It also made me more invested in the world and secondary characters. There were moments where the amount of world building seemed too much, but sometimes that happens at the beginning of any series to get a full understanding of the moving parts. I was not put off by this and think that I will continue on with this series, only partly because I want to see more of the vampires and see hoe the teasers in the epilogue play out.  

Between Bloode and Stone is a good start to a series, and I am interested to see where the story goes from here. 

Book Review: Blood and Fire (Alpha and Omega) by Kim Mullican

Blood and Fire is the first book in the Alpha and Omega series by Kim Mullican. I am Maia Delacroix and I hunt people and relics. My life does not lack excitement or danger. I have it in spades. Then the Mageri surprised me with an orphan...yes, an orphan. I can’t even keep a house plant alive, let alone a kid. It turns out I’m her only living relative, and even though we’ve never met, I’m her only hope. Great. Can I feed her after midnight? What does she eat? I have no idea what I’m doing. They tell me this little witchling will need care for a few years until she comes of age. The bizarre fire leaking out of Elaina’s hands is a pretty good indicator that she is no witch. Then the coven comes—they want her back. Necromancers show up, turning my vampire friends into enemies. If that isn’t bad enough, I have a demon problem now too. Join me, and see if we can make it out alive!

Blood and Fire is a book grabbed my attention from the beginning. I liked the character building from the start, and the development of personalities and history that were reveal throughout the book was entertaining and well paced. There was a great deal of information about the different kinds of magical people, and how they interact, that needed to be included for the story and set up for future adventure to work. At no point did it feel like an information dump because of how well it was woven into the story. I thought the emotional reactions through the book were realistic for the situation, and I enjoyed seeing Maia and her unusual collection of friends and antiquates play their parts in this book. I look forward to continuing this series and will be on the lookout for more from this author.

Blood and Fire is a solid start to a new series, with quality world and character building. I am eager for more.

Book Review: Demon Riding Shotgun (Magicsmith) by L. R. Braden

Demon Riding Shotgun is part of the world from the Magicsmith series by L. R. Braden.  This book does refer to events in the previous books, and has characters returning readers will recognize, but new readers could pick up the story line here fairly easily. 

Possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old, Mira Fuentes maintains a fragile alliance with the snarky soul who shares her body. Together they hunt down unstable Rifters— demon-controlled humans bent on causing chaos in the mortal realm. But when a routine hunt leads to a powerful Rifter with plans for Baltimore, Mira quickly finds herself in over her head and at the top of the city's Most Wanted. Recently retired from the PTF after losing his partner, Ty Williams now works for the Baltimore PD and keeps his distance from cases involving magic. But when a person dies of clearly magical causes and the PTF doesn't have any agents to spare, Ty is the closest thing the department has to an expert. Saddled with a new partner he doesn't want and a mountain of self-doubt, it's his job to track down a suspect who looks suspiciously like the one-night-stand he brought home from the bar last night. Mira will have to set her trust issues aside and enlist the help of a man determined to uncover her secrets if she hopes to learn the identity of the demon's host and prevent the human race from becoming meat puppets for the denizens of the Rift.

Demon Riding Shotgun is a book that takes the Magicsmith universe and runs with great characters and a fresh angle. I enjoyed getting to see more of Mira, since she had peaked my curiosity in the previous books. I thought Mira, Ty, and the secondary characters were all dynamic and well crafted. The individual trauma and hang ups will be continuous factors and how they have been handled thus far has been fantastic, and I am eager to see how they shape the future of the characters and adventures to come.  I will admit that I saw a twist or two coming pretty far off, but I enjoyed the ride. I thought the balance of explaining the world to newcomers and refreshing details to returning readers was very well done, and I never really felt like there were information dumps to slog through, which can sometimes happen in fantasy. I like the direction this story arc is going and I can see great potential for  action, mystery, romance, and some serious character development as the series continues. I am intrigued by Mira and want to see so much more of here interacting with Ty- and how he copes with everything. 

Demon Riding Shotgun is a great start to a new story arc and I am excited to see where it takes me.