Book Review: "Hourglass" by Daniel James

 

Two best friends. One living, one dead. Together they'll protect the borders between life and death.

Clyde Williams is no stranger to death, having lost his older brother and father in service to the US Marine Corps, and more recently, his best friend Kev to a liquor store hold-up. But Kev never stayed dead, and ghosts are something Clyde certainly has no experience with. And things only get stranger and deadlier for Clyde and Kev when Rose Hadfield, agent of Hourglass, knocks at their front door. Rose has some understanding of what it’s like to commune with the dead, and offers them the choice to train their untapped abilities, or remain under Hourglass’ scrutiny in the name of public safety.

Unbeknownst to either of them, they're about to embark on a collision course with an ex-KGB officer turned necromancer, the wealthy and morally dubious Cairnwood Society, and the horrific denizens of Erebus. They're about to learn that death is only the beginning. - from Booksirens.com

This eARC was given to me through Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

I actually came across another book in this series, and since I had not read the first, I saw it was still available to request for reading. However, once I started, I just could not continue reading it, so I admit, I did not finish the book. Though the plot of the story sounded somewhat interesting, the writing just made me feel like the author was trying too hard. We have a struggling comic book artist, with a dead best friend's ghost that "lives" with him. They can converse like normal people, and the ghost is slowly gaining some sort of telekinesis power as he is a ghost longer. There conversations are just... inane? I think that is the word I want. Then the ghost starts messing with people, like an evil streak. 

They get approached by a person from a secret organization that wants to bring them on, so they both just say yes, and go traveling with said person to the 'headquarters'. I know we need to get the story moving and giving some background as to how they get in this group, but it just felt too fake, rushed, and lacked a real feel to it.

Book Review: "Hellfire" by B. C. Hollywood

 

Past and present collide in a fiery tale of redemption, magic, and second chances.

Vincent Burke thought he'd already been to hell and back. He was wrong.

In the shadows of modern Dublin, Vincent Burke is a man haunted by his past and driven to the edge by grief. But when a reckless act catapults him back in time to 1800s Ireland, he discovers that his personal hell is just beginning.

Thrust into a world of dark magic and even darker intentions, Vincent encounters Siobhan, a young witch with powers that defy explanation. As the sinister Hellfire Club prepares a ritual that threatens Siobhan's very existence, Vincent must confront the demons of his past to save her from a fate worse than death.

In this desperate race against time, every choice comes with a price. With each step, the line between savior and monster blurs, and Vincent begins to question whether he's rescuing Siobhan or damning them both.

As past and present collide, Vincent and Siobhan find their fates intertwined in ways they could never have imagined. Can Vincent overcome his own troubled history to forge a new future, or will the flames of hell finally consume them both? - from Booksirens.com

I received this eARC from Booksirens.com and and providing an unbiased review.

This book plot sounded interesting to me, so I decided to request if I had the chance to read it. I did. I read. And I want more. Though the story starts off a bit slow, with seemingly repetitious recollections of a tragedy that our MC is dealing with the grief of, it finally gets somewhat into gear around the halfway point. Though not listed as part of a series, I think there is a possibility of a maybe a trilogy out of the starting story. I would be somewhat interested in the future plot plans for the MC and supporting character.