Book Review: "Fear the Wolf" by Stefanie Gilmour

 

Since she shifted into a werewolf, Alex was terrified. Of the man who attacked her—then of herself.

If her inner wolf breaks free again, people could die, and she’ll be the one hunted.

Alex struggles to keep her savage passenger caged, but life doesn’t make it easy. The Committee ruling the supernatural community would punish her for the slightest misstep. A group of zealots are targeting supernatural beings of all kinds. Worst of all—some people are just jerks.

For help, she relies on her best friend Emma, a wizard and the only person she trusts with her secret. But Emma has her own secret: Mitch. He’s twisting her into someone unrecognizable… and he may be inflicting the same treatment on other vulnerable supernatural citizens.

To save Emma, Alex must make alliances with wizards and werewolves alike, face the Committee, unravel deadly conspiracies, and confront her own worst fear—herself. - from Booksirens.com

This eARC was provided through Booksirens.com and I am giving an unbiased review.

This is the first book of a shifter series by this new author. The plot description sounded interesting enough, I decided to request it for review. I was not completely disappointed. 

The story follows Alex, aged in her 20's, as she tries to keep the wolf in her contained, afraid it comes out, she will hurt people. While doing this, trying to keep a job, and hiding under the radar of the supernatural Committee, who govern the Supes. Unintentionally, she drags herself into a larger mess, that it seems only she can help clean up.

Overall the story wasn't bad. I enjoyed learning about the characters that revolve around the MC. There isn't a lot of background story to our MC, but it comes out in bits and pieces as the story progresses. There isn't much about the backgrounds of the supporting cast. Worldbuilding was fine, as scenes were easily pictured, and seemed consistent with the timeline and urban-ness of the story setting.

Our MC has several conflicts that almost follow each other with no break in between, and it makes the story drag a bit. I could understand how overall, they all lead to the same conclusion, but I felt like the author was trying to shove too many conflicts into the story. I don't recall specifically which ones could have possibly been omitted, as if I remember correctly, they all introduced something/someone/some group/some-something that the author wanted to be sure the reader knew. It just felt like "c'mon, really? That much conflict?" and my attention would wane a bit.

Aside from the couple small issues I noted, I did enjoy the story, and would be interested in reading future books in this series - I'm always curious where the author(s) go next. 

Book Review: "An Inheritance of Magic" by Benedict Jacka

 

The super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant, contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels.

The wealthy seem to exist in a different, glittering world from the rest of us. Almost as if by . . . magic.

Stephen Oakwood is a young man on the edge of this hidden world. He has talent and potential, but turning that potential into magical power takes money, opportunity, and training. All Stephen has is a minimum wage job and a cat. 

But when a chance encounter with a member of House Ashford gets him noticed by the wrong people, Stephen is thrown in the deep end. For centuries, the vast corporations and aristocratic Houses of the magical world have grown impossibly rich and influential by hoarding their knowledge. To survive, Stephen will have to take his talent and build it up into something greater—for only then can he beat them at their own game. - from Netgalley.com 

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

Before I say anything, I am a big fan of the Alex Verus series that this author has blessed the reading world with, so starting a new series, with a whole new concept of magic, was basically a no-brainer to request to read. Thankfully, I was chosen, and am so happy!

This first book in what looks to be a good series, has our main character in a pit of depression. Well,  he's stressed, living paycheck to paycheck, in bare minimum housing, sulking in the memories of a mother that abandoned him , a father that taught him a little magic then disappeared, and he is alone (except for a cat) in the world. From there, that chance encounter opens his eyes more to the real world around him, and a glimpse of how those with magic tend to be in powerful positions - family or otherwise. Thus begins his immersion into this new world, learning more about magic than he could even guess at before.

Jacka's writing style ahs always been easy to read, and flows well in the tale he weaves. This version of the magic system is so different than the Verus series yet different from so many other writings, it is like a new concept. I don't know how to describe it, but to me it seems to make sense, and I am curious about certain effects, which may come out in future books. Though the world building and description were good, I felt a little out that there was not much going to the description of the main character. Maybe it is something that will be expanded on later, but we do have the bare bones and was enough to enjoy the tale.

Book Review: "The Immortal Detective" by D. B. Woodling

 

Sometimes being immortal makes you wish you were dead.

Detective Celeste Crenshaw has survived her parents’ grisly murders, grueling and gender-biased police training, a battle with rogue vampires, and even her own death. While immortality might seem a dream come true, can she accept the strings attached?

Celeste spends the onset of her immortal life within the Hollow Earth, where ancient vampires known as The Elders hone her supernatural powers, but little do they know, Celeste isn’t wholly committed to granting eternal life to those deserving, regardless of her promise.

Upon a return home to her immortal lover, and the Kansas City Detective Squad, she battles mortal foes, not so unlike the demonic undead. And when a fellow detective falls victim to a murderous gang member, and her lover delivers a shocking ultimatum, Celeste not only faces gut-wrenching decisions but also the wrath of the Elders. - from Booksirens.com

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

When I initially came across this book, I thought it could be pretty interesting. Get some fantasy fiction going with vampires, that have a little bit different creation story and powers. Toss in some police work and crimes - could be a good fantasy, crime, thriller, vampire story. Well, it wasn't too bad of an idea.

At first, I felt kind of lost, as I was not aware there is a previous book that covers some details that were mentioned in this book. So I was putting it off to the writer's style, and was not going to be pleased if it was this 'detail empty' throughout the whole story. I liked some of the creation of a vampire, and how they obtain some of their powers process. A bit humorous of who these Elders were, but it is what it is. By the time our main character gets back to the regular human police force, and has a couple criminals apprehended, I was starting to lose interest. These Elders training her, assisting her when she is stressed at her job, making her into some super-cop idea...I just ... nah. So I skimmed the remaining part of the book, and probably lost much of what story there might have been.

I truly did like the concept of Vampirism and it's creation. Cover art looks nice, too. If this had been titled noting it was a second book in a series, or of a story world, I probably would not have requested to read it, as I had not even heard of the first story. 

Book Review: "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" by Heather Fawcett

 When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.

Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her infuriatingly charming fellow scholar Wendell Bambleby. 

Because Bambleby is more than brilliant and unbearably handsome. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers. 

She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans. 

But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart. - from Netgalley.com

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

This is the second book in the Emily Wilde series, continuing the adventures of a college professor that is collecting data about things fae. The story starts off a short time from the ending of the first book, where it was revealed Brambleby is a faerie king and has proposed marriage to Emily. So with this in mind, they are off to the Alps to try to find a nexus to map Faerie, and try to find the kingdom Brambleby is from, to stop the plans of his family.

Overall this was an enjoyable story. Written in a way that was somewhat professor-ish (loved the footnotes and etc throughout) yet easily understood. It definitely is a different look at a story of fae, and their interactions with normal folk. The characters have gotten some more depth to them, though in Brambleby's case, I was sort of ...meh. He seemed more absent-minded and not 'paying attention' as he had in the first tale. I kind of lost interest in the other half of the main character. Emily's character was quite has again shown her to be solid-minded and self-sufficient, even with trying to follow fae etiquette, and the constant wheedling of Brambleby and his marriage proposal. Well written tale I would recommend for anyone.

Book Review: "Legally Burned" by Jane Biteme

 

After nailing the biggest case of her career, Sloan Reynolds should be sipping some well-deserved smoked bourbon by the fireplace, right?

Yeah, right…

With love troubles, legal troubles, and every other freaking thing under the sun troubles, Sloan can’t seem to find a moment to catch her breath.

Add a few dead bodies, betrayal, the usual suspects, paranormal misbehavior, and a dash of internal organizational corruption, and you have the perfect supernatural concoction. And yeah, we’re not talking about a mixed drink.

With few friends, and even fewer places to turn for backup, Sloan must top her own best performance in short order.

Is she willing to pay a heavy price for the power needed to accomplish the impossible?

Join Sloan Reynolds on her second adventure in the Paranormal Justice for All series, and get lost in a world of legal ambiguity, witches, vampires, monsters, and the unapologetically supernatural.- from Netgalley.com

This eARC was provided by Netgalley.com and I am giving an unbiased review.

When I came across this book on Netgalley.com, I paused. The cover art was nice, title catchy, story plot interesting -and the author name...hilarious! I couldn't believe someone would (and could) publish under such a pseudonym. I had to find out more about this author, as I see from the story info that this is a second book. I found her website, and knew I just had to request and read this book (regardless it being a second in a series).

I read it as a stand-alone, and though there were some references to earlier events (I assume from book one) they were easily explained in short, so that this story could move on. I liked seeing a female character that shows determination, and a 'take no names' type attitude. So many I read about nowadays seem to be timid, 'oh did I do that' types, that just doesn't fit the model of character I would expect. As the main character being an AUSA, I thought the story idea was brilliant, and showed enough knowledge of that field of work it was believable to actually have a legal department to prosecute and hold accountable the vampires, and more, that exist.

I did feel a little lost at first with the use of veeri and vedma for vampires and witches, but after awhile was easily acclimated to it. I feel the author has created a nice world and environment that her characters easily were written into. The storyline was completely believable, and I look forward to a few more books in this series.

Book Review: "Night Angel Nemesis" by Brent Weeks

 

Return to the New York Times bestselling world of the Night Angel, where master assassin Kylar embarks on a new adventure as the High King Logan Gyre calls on him to save his kingdom and the hope of peace.

After the war that cost him so much, Kylar Stern is broken and alone. He's determined not to kill again, but an impending amnesty will pardon the one murderer he can't let walk free. He promises himself this is the last time. One last hit to tie up the loose ends of his old, lost life.

But Kylar's best--and maybe only--friend, the High King Logan Gyre, needs him. To protect a fragile peace, Logan’s new kingdom, and the king’s twin sons, he needs Kylar to secure a powerful magical artifact that was unearthed during the war.

With rumors that a ka'kari may be found, adversaries both old and new are on the hunt. And if Kylar has learned anything, it’s that ancient magics are better left in the hands of those he can trust.

If he does the job right, he won’t need to kill at all. This isn’t an assassination—it’s a heist.

But some jobs are too hard for an easy conscience, and some enemies are so powerful the only answer lies in the shadows. - from Netgalley.com

I received this eARC from Netgalley.com in exchange for an unbiased review.

**Spoilers Ahead**

Author Brent Weeks has taken years, but he has finally returned to the world of Night Angel. Most of NA's story can be found in the previous three books. This tale picks up shortly after where the last book ended.

I'm not sure how to express what I think about this story, so I'm just going to throw out my thoughts about it all...so it might sound confusing. I truly enjoyed the Night Angel series many years ago when I first came across them. I was happy I was able to get all three at the same time, so would not have to spend time waiting for 'the next book'. That trilogy ended well, and didn't leave a cliff-hanger for future novels. I was excited to see Weeks had decided to come back to this story world with a new tale(s). The further into the story I got, I started getting an unhappy feeling about where this tale was going. Throughout there is much internal conversation of the main character as to ethics, morals, and decisions he has made. In some places it was fairly long-winded and I would skim to get ahead of the wordiness. Otherwise the story flowed well, and I was happy, until the last few sections.

I didn't like how it ended. There wasn't any finalization, no cliff-hanger, just .. .the story ended. Does that mean the end of this series? I see some possibilities of how the tale could continue - Spin-off to Vi and her issues with the Chantry. It is alluded that Kylar was seeking to end his mortal life, but it was never confirmed, so maybe something happened there that will bring him back around. There is something about the babe, Caeden, one of the King's twin sons, that the story could be more focused there. And whatever did happen to the other twin? I don't remember reading anything happening to him, just that the twins were abducted, yet separately.

It was a lengthy novel to read, and took me several attempts - as I said there were some very wordy sections. In an afterword, Weeks says that he was challenged by another author (Scalzi) to keep it under 125K words, but the end result was still near 325K. So yeah, very wordy. But because I loved returning to the story, I will give it a four star rating.

Book Review: "Angel's Creed" by Paul Sating

 

Making enemies is easy. Stopping them from killing you is the challenge.

I’m more than just a Grim Reaper, assassin, and demon hunter. I’m also the target of subterfuge.

With plenty of enemies already, by assassinating the Nephilim who stole the First Bowl of Wrath, I’ve now made a powerful one. But I’m not done. The Nephilim are holding their cards close. Protecting someone. Who? Why? What’s everyone hiding?

The First Bowl released a worldwide plague. Nephilim, disguised as monsters straight out of lore and urban legend, terrorize mortals. And now, I’ve got a bigger problem—literally.

Something is wrong in Heaven’s higher echelons. No one knows why God released His newest version of the behemoth. Yeah, that one. Straight out of the good old book.

Armed with nothing more than my Angelfire magic, trusty .327 Ruger, and charming freaking personality, my next job is to take down the overgrown lizard before it stomps around the world like Godzilla going through a bad detox. In the past, this job required teams of angels. This time, it’s just me.

I’ve got an ex I need to mend fences with while also going rogue to uncover who’s tampering with Yahweh’s plague machine before it’s too late for seven billion mortals.

I’ll have to fight like hell to uncover my enemies’ secrets before they put me on the wrong side of death. - from Booksirens.com

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

This is the second book in the Rev Carter series, and I am glad to see it continue on! The story takes off pretty much from the first novel, so it would not read well as a stand-alone novel. Rev Carter has learned much more in this installment, being able to delegate some of his duties as Prime Reaper, which frees up more time to search for the behemoth that is loose in Pacific NW, and try to find out who released it.

I liked how the story flowed, and have enjoyed Rev's character building from the start. His personality is one I could get along with. There is some more relationship building between he and his 'partner', as some of the dialogue in this book helps explain part of Rev's past, and duties of his partner. We also learn more of Rev's ex-wife, whom also makes an appearance in the story.

Overall, I am enjoying this series, and look forward to hopefully a few more books, rather than tying it all off in a small trilogy. The writing was done where one could easily lose their self into the story, and quickly read through it.

Book Review: "Leave No Trace" by M J White

A revenge fifteen years in the making...

Ewan Stokes disappeared after a football match in Ipswich 15 years ago. No one knows where he went – or why – but every year on the anniversary of his disappearance, random mysterious sightings are reported across Europe. Since Ewan vanished, a fanatical online following has grown up around the mystery. The cult believes Stokesy is coming back. And he wants payback.

When police are alerted to CCTV images of a man holding a sign that reads ‘Help Me’, followed by acts of violence that seem to be linked to the mystery surrounding Ewan Stokes, they fear that the online hysteria has ramped up at the prospect of Stokesy’s return – a pressure that mounts when Maisie, Ewan’s ex-girlfriend at the time of his disappearance, finds herself targeted by a series of sinister attacks.

As tension grows, psychologist Dr Cora Lael, working with DS Rob Minshull and the South Suffolk CID, is called upon to use her special intuition to help the police protect Maisie. But as the anniversary grows nearer and the attacks widen out to target more people in Ewan’s life, can they stop Stokesy in his tracks… before he wreaks his revenge?

A twisty, addictive crime thriller with an extraordinary lead character. Fans of Mari Hannah and LJ Ross won’t be able to put this down. - from Netgalley.com

I received this eARC from Netgalley.com in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the third book in the series of Dr. Cora Lael, and is able to read well as a stand-alone novel. It is set in the United Kingdom and Europe, so the world building was not familiar to me, yet the author was able to describe enough detail I could picture the events taking place. The plot of this thriller was a bit twisted, which helped keep my interest in the story. There is some relationship building/development going on as well that added some emotional issues to the story line. Overall I enjoyed the story, and will be looking up the two prior novels from this author.

Book Review: "Robert B. Parker's Bad Influence" by Alison Gaylin

 

Boston PI Sunny Randall investigates the dark side of social media in this exciting new thriller in the bestselling series.

Sunny Randall’s newest client, Blake, seems to have it all: he is an Instagram influencer, with all the perks the lifestyle entails—a beautiful girlfriend, wealth, and adoring fans. But one of those fans has turned ugly, and Sunny is brought on board by Blake’s manager, Bethany, to protect him and to uncover who is out to kill him. In doing so, she investigates a glamorous world rife with lies and schemes…and ties to a dangerous criminal scene.

When Bethany goes missing and the threats against Blake escalate, Sunny realizes that in order to solve this case, she has to find out exactly who Blake and Bethany are, behind the Instagram filters. While digging into their pasts, she is also forced to confront her own, as old friends—and ex-husbands—reappear. With a combination of old-school crime-solving skills and modern internet savvy, Sunny will stop at nothing to catch a killer. - from Netgalley.com

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

Having been a fan of Robert B. Parker's writings for many years, I requested this 11th book in the Sunny Randall series. For those of you not familiar, Parker wrote the original series of 'Spenser', that lead into a television show called 'Spenser For Hire' featuring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks. I became a fan of the show, which led me to reading the books. Parker has created the Jesse Stone (made into several movies starring Tom Selleck) and Sunny Randall series. He has several stand-alone novels and another series based in the old west.

So being a big fan, when Parker passed away around 2010, I was very happy several authors took up the reins on these series of books. This is the first one I have seen from Alison Gaylin, and she has copied Parker's writing and story style very well. In fact, I believe she has improved it, as she seems to write with more detail than Parker did, which helps add more color to the world we are reading about.

Overall, finding a storyline in a detective series that is fresh and new can be daunting, but Graylin has done a very good job with this novel. I was kept guessing throughout most of the story to determine the 'whodunit', and once discovered, she wrapped it up well. I definitely would look forward to more from this author, even if it not following a series by Parker.

Book Review: "The Hammer of Fate" by G. N. Gudgion

 

“No surrender. No retreat.” With twenty enemy swords at their backs and a broken bridge ahead, the last knights of an outlaw order turn to fight. A young woman with forbidden magic joins their final stand. And as blade meets blade, she starts to sing…

Adelais was raised in the far north, learning stories of the old gods and the skill of weaving runes into magic. Now, she is locked in a convent far from home, forced to kneel to a foreign god.

When inquisitors arrive with plans to torture an innocent man, Adelais cannot stand by. She aids an attack to free the prisoner and joins the raiders as they flee into the night.

Her new companions are the last of the Guardians—once a powerful holy order, now ragged fugitives, hunted almost to extinction.

The knights carry a secret treasure, precious and powerful enough to shape kingdoms. Their pursuers, desperate to possess it, will crush any who stand in their way.

Nowhere is safe—in city or chateau, on the road or in the wilds. And even disguised as a boy, Adelais draws attention wherever she goes. Is she angel or demon, priestess or witch?

Adelais must summon all her courage and all her memories of the old gods’ magic as the noose tightens around her and a thunderous final reckoning approaches.

Discover a thrilling new series, with a rich world and action that will leave you breathless. Hammer of Fate is inspired by Viking magic, medieval combat and the fall of the Templar knights—perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence, Andrzej Sapkowski and Robin Hobb. - from Netgalley.com

I received an eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

I was a bit hesitant on requesting to read this story, based solely on the synopsis. Not so much what the story is about, but the last bit, where "... perfect for fans of ..." then lists a few authors that I consider fairly well-known for their works. This time I decided to take the risk, requested the novel, and am glad I did.

I already said I was hesitant about starting this one, and the beginning of the novel had me wondering if maybe I had been right. The story felt a little slow at the start, but soon started to make some sense. This portion of the tale is told by three of the more principal characters: Adelais, Malory, and Guy. Not one of my favorite ways of reading a story from three viewpoints, but for the most part, it works well for this tale. Much of it is because each character is not telling the same event(s) from their point of view, but the events around their self, which adds to the overall story.

Truly a very well written work that does remind me stories of the Templars, Vikings, and other mythological beliefs. Throw in a bit of Robin Hood type theatrics, and it turns out to be a really good story. I look forward to the next installment, and plan to check out other works from this author.

Book Review: "The Doctrines of Fire" by C.L. Jarvis

 

An academic rivalry turns deadly.

Edinburgh, 1779. George Stephens was a decent soldier, but he's a lousy medical student. Lacking the social and financial resources to succeed in Edinburgh’s elite medical school, his dream of becoming a physician appears over before it began.

Then George comes to the attention of two famous professors, William Cullen and Joseph Black. Medical students are dying mysteriously - the professors suspect a disgraced former student is to blame - and they need George’s help uncovering the truth. Believing the partnership will bolster his academic standing, George agrees.

Their investigation pulls them into the murkiest, most dangerous corners of Enlightenment Edinburgh. The professors are secret wielders of fire magic, but their foes are courting even darker forces. With violence threatening to erupt, and George struggling to navigate this confusing city, getting justice for the dead will be harder than he imagined. - from Booksirens.com

This ARC was given to me by Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

The story description and basic cover art brought my interest to bear when I requested this book. As I started it, I was immediately pulled into the story, and remained there most of the day as I pretty much read this in one sitting. Usually I am not one for historical fiction, but the author's telling of this tale, and the story itself were very well written.

The use of magic in this historical setting of the medical college in Edinburgh, is quite complicated, and just .... weird. I forget the term they used to describe it, but, as with much of the story, the word used fit in with all the other miscellaneous Latin jargon one would expect at a medical college in the past. Add in a mystery, an old rivalry, and some jealousy, you get this story.

I loved the plot twists, the wording specifically that fit with what I would guess Scots would pronounce words, and the 'high-bred' speech of professors of the time period in a medical college. Add in that our main character, George, was a "late" student, having served in the military prior to being accepted to the college. Plus, he, like many of us in this day and age, struggled financially to stay in school. Yeah. Just a great story. I see it is listed as a 'book one' so looking forward to more from this author.

Book Review: "Angel Assassin" by Paul Sating

 

I just want to die. Too bad I’m immortal.

Assassin. Demon hunter. Grim Reaper. That’s me. Revelation Carver is my name, being Heaven’s Mr. Fix-It is my game.

Overworked and underpaid, I was busy staking out a demon slated to become the next Lucifer, Ruler of Hell, when yet another job came down from on high.

My challenge to take down the next great Satan is put on hold. The new task? Eliminate a runaway demon stalking Seattle. A minimum-wage task, yet my bosses think it's one for the Grim Reaper. God knows—literally—I don’t have enough on my plate.

What should have been a simple snag-and-kill operation turns my investigation upside-down. Nephilim are involved in the theft of a Bowl of Wrath. Seven wraths to spread suffering and pain across the world. Under impenetrable protection, they should have been sealed away for all eternity.

Now, Earth’s population will pay the price while angels stink of subversion. It all comes down to me. My mystery to solve.

With the impossible now a frightening reality, I’ve got the biggest job of my long life. All I have to do? Stop Armageddon.

Heaven has yet another job for its Grim Reaper. A job I must finish for the sake of all humanity. Failure is not an option, even if it kills me. - from Booksirens.com

This book was provided at no cost from Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is titled as a 'book one' so the obvious conclusion is there will be more books in this series, that makes me glad. Rev Carter is one tired angel, having spent thousands of years being a Reaper and escorting the dead, he also has become not only the most senior of Reapers, but also the 'special projects' guy, meaning, when a bad guy needs taken out, he is ordered for the job. With one of the seven bowls of the Armeggadon being stolen from the Safe in the Upperworld, Rev's biggest task is to find the Nephilim and stop them at ... at any cost, before the world is lost.

After thousands of years of doing the same type of job, one would think a person would be immune, and jaded, to be able to have any care for humanity, yet this character seems to still have it. Rev is sarcastic and witty, yet at times his anger at injustices, and yes, even at his job, comes through quite a bit. The story is fairly fast paced, and action is spaced evenly with background information - shared by explaining to his 300th (or so) assistant - of how things came to be for this story. 

Fans of the Nate Temple series will surely enjoy this read. I find I like dthe snark and sarcasm quite a bit. Story flowed well, with enough world-building I could easily picture the settings. The story itself was planned well, and progressed at a good steady pace. Defintely would recommend to a friend.

Book Review: "Springs Arcana" by Lilith Saintcrow

 

American Gods vs. Baba Yaga in this Russian-inspired contemporary fantasy Spring's Arcana, by New York Times bestseller Lilith Saintcrow.

Nat Drozdova is desperate to save a life. Doctors can do little for her cancer-ridden mother, who insists there is only one cure—and that Nat must visit a skyscraper in Manhattan to get it.

Amid a snow-locked city, inside a sleek glass-walled office, Nat makes her plea and is whisked into a terrifying new world. For the skyscraper holds a hungry winter goddess who has the power to cure her mother…if Nat finds a stolen object of great power.

Now Nat must travel with a razor-wielding assassin across an American continent brimming with terror, wonder, and hungry divinities with every reason to consume a young woman. For her ailing mother is indeed suffering no ordinary illness, and Nat Drozdova is no ordinary girl. Blood calls to blood, magic to magic, and a daughter may indeed save what she loves...

…if it doesn’t consume her first.

This is the way to the Dead God’s Heart. - from Netgalley.com

This ARC was given at no cost from Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased opinion.

I have read Saintcrow's work before (Dante Valentine series) and have enjoyed her writing style. I was happy to see her coming out with a new series. As it states above, this does feel like American Gods vs Baba Yaga, who is in fact a major character in the story. But it mostly centers around Nat, who appears to be the offspring of the 'Spring' persona of the Baba Yaga myth/lore. Of course, she has no ideas of what power she has, or will have, or how things go in the "magic realm" that she has never been exposed to until now. Add in the death-sick mother (whom the MC loves) that sends her on a mission to recover something stolen.... Yeah. Gets pretty interesting.

Definitely a good start for a new series, with a different accounting of the Baba Yaga legend in a modern day setting. I don't foresee any romance happening in the series, but who really knows aside from the author. I have a few ideas of what may happen in the next book, and will anxiously await the next in this series.

Book Review: "Pearl Sky" by Elizabeth Hunter

 

It was a friendly visit until a priceless artifact was stolen. Now Ben and Tenzin are up to their necks in secrets that can kill.

It’s not just any holiday season in the immortal world. Elder Zhang’s oldest servant is reaching the century mark and Ben and Tenzin are ready to celebrate, but no sooner do they land on Penglai Island than a mystery falls in their path. A valuable seal has gone missing, and the artifact was a gift from an ancient vampire who just happens to be heading to Penglai for a long-overdue formal visit.

The Elders of Penglai may have asked Ben and Tenzin’s assistance to find the lost treasure, but that doesn’t mean that eight ancient vampires, their immortal children, and all the humans who serve them will suddenly become open books. Penglai Island is secret for a reason, and the heart of that reason may just reveal the motive behind the theft.

PEARL SKY is a brand new Elemental Legacy story by Elizabeth Hunter, ten-time USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, and other works of fiction. - from Netgalley.com 

This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is the eighth book in the Elemental Legacy series by this author, who also has other series that are related to the same world as set in this novel. In this particular part of the series, it find Ben and Tenzin returning to their 'creator' 's island for a celebration, only to be asked to help solve the theft of a valuable (and possibly political) seal. As recoverers of lost/stolen artifacts, this is, of course, right in the skill set of these two characters.

Seeing the relationship between Ben and Tenzin grow in the stories has been satisfying. It isn't like instant and true love at first sight. With Ben being a new creature of the night, and matched to Tenzin's hundreds (thousands?) of years as one, makes this relationship very interesting. Add in the mental quirks and old habits, it helps provide a good side distraction to the actual story line - though I guess this would be part of that as well. I have enjoyed this series from book one, and have been trying to get up to date on the side stories of the other series, many of which have interesting information on the side characters of this series line.

Hunter is a wonderful writer, and the ease of reading her novels are one of the many things I enjoy. The 'sexual' sections of stories are not written in the style of a letter to a porn magazine, and I feel the story is realistic (as far as vampires anyways). I would recommend to any adult reader.

Book Review: "Burner" by Mark Greaney

 

Court Gentry is caught between the Russian mafia and the CIA in this latest electrifying thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling Gray Man series.

When you kick over a rock, you never know what's going to crawl out. 
 
Alex Velesky is about to discover that the hard way. He's stolen records from the Swiss bank that employs him, thinking that he'll uncover a criminal conspiracy. But he soon finds that he's tapped into the mother lode of corruption. Before he knows it, he's being hunted by everyone from the Russian mafia to the CIA. 
 
Court Gentry and his erstwhile lover, Zoya Zakharova, find themselves on opposites poles when it comes to Velesky. They both want him but for different reasons. 
 
That's a problem for tomorrow. Today they need to keep him and themselves alive. Right now, it's not looking good. - from Netgalley.com

This ARC was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is about book twelve in the series about 'The Gray Man' by this author. In fact, I beleive there is a movie out called that, based on the main character. Anyways, I was happy to delve back into this action series and see what Court has been up to. It wasn't much. Our action-oriented main character was basically sinking some expensive yachts/cruisers of money-hungry Russians, until he is asked to help on a case from his old handler, Brewer. Needless to say, when one of the groups from governmental ABC organizations get involved, things get messed up. They send him after a target to bring in alive, with the information he allegedly possesses. Little known at the time, his previous lover, Zoya, has been hired by a different foreign orginization to do the same thing.

There has been a time difference since the previous novel, and the two lovers have been apart for some time. The splitting wasn't easy, and each has handled it their own way: Court doing stoic, Zoya drowning in the bottle. The author has brought the story more into modern times, as the Ukrainian War with Russia has been going on, and Zoya feels guilt about it - as she is Russian, even though she has played no part in the war. 

So there isn't a lot of time to get all mushy when they run into each other, and Zoya has the target. They decide to work together, and find out that no government agency should have this info, and work to get it released to the world. Well, yes, there is quite a bit of action in the midst of them doing this, and even a nice ending. I don't know if we will see Gray Man come around again or not. It may be time he retired and settled down.

Book Review: "Devouring Darkness" by Chloe Neill

 In the newest installment of the USA Today bestselling Heirs of Chicagoland series, vampire Elisa Sullivan unearths an ancient grudge, with potentially devastating consequences.

As the only vampire ever born, and the daughter of two very powerful Chicago vampires, Elisa Sullivan knew her life was going to be…unusual. But she wanted to make her own way in the world, preferably away from her famous family. Then supernatural politics—and perhaps a bit of destiny—intervened, and Elisa had to steady her nerves and sharpen her steel to fight for the city of Chicago. Luckily, Connor Keene, son of the North American Central Pack’s Apex wolf, is right by her side.
 
When Elisa and her Ombudsman colleagues agree to escort a vulnerable supernatural to Chicago, they inadvertently set in motion a scheme of long-awaited magical vengeance. The city may pay an arcane price it can’t afford unless Elisa and her allies rise to the challenge. - from NetGalley.com

I received this ARC at no cost from NetGalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

This is the fourth book in this spin-off sereis of Heirs to Chicagoland, and takes off pretty much from where the last book ended. I have enjoyed Chloe Neill's writing style and story-telling ability from the start with the 'Chicagoland Vampires' series, and she is able to keep a story going through the children of the main characters from that series is nice. It will be nice to see possible future installments as some issues still have not been resolved (I won't spoil by listing).

Overall was a pretty fast read for me, and kept my attention. There is some love interests, mild flirtation, and some action scenes that were written well. I would defintely recommend this series to anyone that is interested in Urban Fantasy.