Book Review: "Oleander" by Jennifer Allis Prost

 

Eli tried to leave the supernatural life behind. Problem is, it won’t let her go.

Eliza “Eli” Moore may have been born a seer, but she didn’t want to live like one. That was why she became a private detective, and opened Nine Lives Investigations. Being able to talk to the dead gives her an undeniable edge in solving cases, and she figured it was all for the greater good. Then Eli is forced to exorcise a demon, the local witch elder ends up dead, and Eli fears she’s in over her head.

Throughout it all, Eli has one dedicated ally: Dan, mortal police detective who isn’t scared of things that go bump in the night, and who hints he wants to be more than friends. But mortals and seers don’t mix… do they?

Before Eli can sort out how she feels about Dan, an enemy from her past resurfaces and threatens everything she hold dear. Eli is forced to take on the title inherited from her grandmother, and become the Mistress of Seers—but just because leading the seer community is her birthright doesn’t mean anyone will follow her. - from Booksirens.com

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

This is is the first book in a new series labled "Poison Garden" and so I am guessing that the following books of the series will be named after other delightful, yet deadly, flowers. 

This was a quick read for me, completing it in one afternoon. What helped most was that it kept my attention. This is my favorite kind of go-to urban fantasy story - strong female lead, with a slow-burn romance, that not only solves the problem, but ends up getting themselves into a bigger situation they have been trying to avoid. These types of stories just interest me quite a bit, and I find myself more open to reading a series like this, rather than some long-winded epic fantasy that just 'drags'  (in telling of the story) all over the place.

Characters were quite simple with not a lot shared about their background. We know Eli was "raised" by her mother until a magical event around 8 years old, then was raised by her grandmother, who just happens to be the Grand Poobaa of the Seer community. She comes across the police detective, Dan, during some of the few crimes she has solved (using her magical abilities) and this particular story will bring them in contact more. I would like to see if there is more to Dan - not much was said about his past, yet he seemed so open-minded about the whole magical world thing. Throw in a good friend who is a powerful witch, and you have a story.

World-building was fine. It has been a few days since I read it (trying to sort out what I wanted to write) so from what I recall, it was a typical town. I am a little confused about the "relationships" amongst the magical communities (like how they get along or divide their 'areas') but maybe there will be more in a forth-coming second book. I would recommend to a friend for reading, if they are into this kind of story. Three and a half stars....

Book Review: "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" by Heather Fawcett

 

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones—the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart. - from Netgalley.com

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

When I noticed this title up for review, I almost skipped by it without reading the story description. Normally I would think, oh, it's some picture book with paragraph descriptions of how this author thinks of how faeries look/act. Well, once I started reading it, that does fit the description, sort of. Emily is our main character, and is working on an encyclopedia of faeries. She is traveling to the arctic north from Cambridge to finish up her encyclopedia with a last section about the 'Hidden Ones'. She has just settled in for the winter in a remote village, when her rival, Wendall, shows up on her doorstep. They are polar opposites, him being the attractive, boistrous, friendly , outgoing one of the two of them.

I won't go much more into the story, as I am sure you want to enjoy it yourself. I liked how a bit of a characters story surprised me. but overall improved the story. World building was fine, nothing overly drastic, but how much is there to really describe about an arctic winter? There probably could have been a more descriptive narrative of the fae king's place, but I felt it left more for the reader to imagin. As I go back to post this review, I notice in the heading that this is book one of the Emily Wilde series, so I will be watching for further adventures to be written.

Book Review: "Fox Creek" by William Kent Krueger

 

The latest in the New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor Mystery Series from the “master storyteller” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author) follows Cork in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries.

The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom.

Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. On the last journey he may ever take into this beloved land, Meloux must do his best to outwit the deadly mercenaries who follow.

Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. Desperate, Cork begins tracking the killers but his own skills as a hunter are severely tested by nightfall and a late season snowstorm. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves. - from Netgalley.com

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

This is book nineteen in the Cork O'Connor series, and I am surprised (yet very happy) it has made it out. A couple of years ago I became a fan of this series and each time I hear there is a new book in the series coming out, I get excited.

Where to start? Hmmm. I have always liked how Krueger has built up this Native American community that Cork lives in, and the amount of nature surrounding it. The character Henry Meloux, being a 'medicene man' is a great secondary character, and helps lead the reader into a prediction to the direction of how some of the story will go. With Cork's retirement from law enforcement (a few books ago) it is nice to get away from some the legalese and procedures that would normally have to be followed, allowing the author to freely dictate how Cork will act/react to things in a more natural manner. An interesting point I have noticed in the past few books, is that they are about our environment, pointing out ways companies (and governments) are (or could be) destroying it.

Not sure what else I am able to say about this story, except I enjoyed it. It's always nice to return to a favored character when reading, and this is just another example of such. Not sure if there is more story to write in regards to Cork, but if there is a way, I know I would enjoy to read yet another book.

Book Review: "Hate Machine" by Stephen Blackmoore

 

The eighth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.

If there's one thing Eric Carter can count on, it's his past coming back to bite him in the ass.
 
Gabriela Cortez, La Bruja, has had her soul trapped... somewhere, and the only one who knows how to get it back is the Oracle of Las Vegas, a powerful artifact that Carter helped create almost thirty years before. It doesn't just predict the future—it makes things happen, influencing events to reach the goal it wants.
 
Only somebody's gone and stolen it, attempting to turn it into an artifact that doesn't just change the future, but also the past.
 
Eric needs to find it and steal it back before this comes to pass. If he doesn't, Gabriela's soul is lost. And quite possibly the future as well. - from Netgalley.com

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

This is book eight in the Eric Carter series by this author, and I have been an avid fan of Blackmoore from the start. It is written in a way you pretty much have to know what is going on in the series to understand completely what is happening in the story. This part of the main character's journey is returning to Las Vegas, where from prior books, all we know is he had some bad history there. This book opens up the past and we get to learn a bit more about the how/why Eric is the way he is.

Being a fan of this series makes it hard to write about the book, besides it was good! I enjoyed learning more about the Eric's past. We find out (again) how seemingly cruel and heartless he can be when needed, yet find out how much he yearns for a love that never seems to go well. Many other new characters are brought forth in this story, mostly from the MC's past. Not much time is spent on building their past, as throughout the story, they end up dead. World building - heh - more like world destroying. In typical Carter fashion, Las Vegas does lose a few memorable buildings during his short stay.

Overall, this was a wonderful addition to the series, and rounds up the storyline coming from book seven. Not sure where Blackmoore will go from here, but I am hoping he does, or creates a new series that has a similar character. I really enjoy the snark and sarcasm he brings to the character.

Book Review: "A Shift in Fate" by Maddox Grey

 

Doing a favor for a daemon is always a bad idea…

Six months after Nemain defeated the warlock leadership known as the Circle, she’s soaking in the freedom that comes with no longer being hunted. Her former lover turned enemy, Sebastian, is dead and the Circle has retreated in defeat. However, her reprieve comes to an end when a friend asks for a favor that she can’t refuse. Not when it could lead to answers that Nemain wants and alliances she desperately needs.

After a young fae boy with extraordinary magic wandered into a remote village in one of the fae realms, the village was destroyed. No one knows the identities or allegiances of the fae who destroyed the village, but one thing was clear, their magic consumed other magic. They were devourers—or at least part devourer. While most didn’t believe that was possible, Nemain certainly did. She had been hiding her devourer heritage for her entire life.

While Nemain and her friends set out to find the mysterious child and search for answers about the fae with magic so similar to hers, they discover that there are more secrets in their world than they ever thought possible. Old secrets, new secrets. Ancient secrets long forgotten. Secrets from both friend and foe. And Nemain is in the center of it all. Can she save herself and the fae child? And how much is she willing to sacrifice? - from Booksirens.com

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

This is the second book in the 'Lost Legacies' series (trilogy? Maybe more?) and after very much enjoying the first one, I knew that this would be just as good. Our regular characters are back, and just getting better. Character development is progressing well, with many fo the characters learning more about their powers. Our MC discovers things about her past and family. All while completing a favor from a demon-friend.

After reading this book, I feel like there will be only about three books in all for this series. The way the story is advancing, I just feel that the third book is going to wind up with the conclusion about things. Of course, I have my own thoughts as to what will happen and what will be revealed.

Truly enjoyed reading this story, and would like to see more maybe set in this world, or maybe on pre-quel stuff from some of the supporting characters.

Book Review : "A Shift in the Shadows" by Maddox Grey

 

Secrets can only stay hidden in the shadows for so long.

Nemain is a feline shapeshifter with dangerous skills and even more dangerous magic. Her entire life she has hidden her magic from the fae, daemons, and every other being that inhabits the human realm and beyond. But now her former lover turned enemy, Sebastian, is hot on her trail after she escaped from him with the help of an old friend. The warlock is relentless in his pursuit… and he knows Nemain’s secret.

Seeking refuge in the daemon-run town of Emerald Bay on the Washington coast, Nemain works with her friends to ensure she is finally ready to face Sebastian when he finds her. It’s only a matter of time until he does. But soon she learns it’s not just Sebastian after her, the leaders of the warlocks know about her magic and they now seek her as well. To make matters worse, they’ve enlisted the vampires to help them.

With her enemies closing in around her, Nemain must fight to keep herself free and her loved ones safe. All while keeping her magic a secret. Because if the fae and daemons find out about her magic and what she truly is, they won’t want to capture her. Nemain poses too great of a threat to be allowed to live, if her secrets become known… Nemain’s life will be forfeit. - from Booksirens.com

I received this advance reader copy from Booksirens.com and am providing an unbiased review.

This is probably one of the better female-lead stories I have read in a while. As you read above, the plot synopsis explains that our MC is a shifter, with additional talents, that even she is not sure of. Yes, she is being chased/sought after, but one can only hide for so long. I cannot express how much I enjoyed reading this book! My attention was kept in the story throughout the whole read. I really enjoyed so much of the world building, how daemon/fae/vampire/werewolf/other exist amongst the realm(s), and the magic system in place. Our main character is strong-willed, yet flawed in relationship material (as are many) yet able to still kick-ass (and kiss ass) with the best. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Book Review: "Master of Shadows" by Joss Walker

 

A lost grimoire. A dangerous new enemy. And a powerful magical weapon that could destroy the world.

Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian, is back for another exciting mission. When her mentor goes missing, Jayne is sent to Paris to find him, only to land in the crosshairs of a deadly terrorist organization and their diabolical weapon, a mysterious poison that renders their enemies powerless.

Fighting to combat this weakness, Jayne struggles to make peace with her sister, who has been hiding the truth of their family history for years, and overcome difficulties with her shifter boyfriend, who can't quite sync up with Jayne's new powers. Even worse, the terrorists demand she locate a necromantic grimoire in France, or they will kill her mentor.

As Jayne hunts for the grimoire, she unlocks the secret to summoning the Master of Shadows—a long-dead master magician possessing a dark and destructive magic. With this lethal power unleashed, she must protect her team from the worst magical threats they've ever faced… or suffer the deadly consequences. - from Booksirens.com 

I received this advanced review copy from Booksirens and am providing an unbiased review.

This is the second book in the 'Jayne Thorne - CIA Librarian' series, so before I could actually read it, I had to go find the first one.I know some authors, you can pick up a book further in the series, and still be kept pretty much up to date regarding events from prior books due to the author adding that backstory, but I don't care for that. In fact, in some ways I get irritated becasue I have to read info I already knew about - rant for another time....

So I'm not going to ruin this with spoilers, but book one is about how Jayne becomes a CIA Librarian, gains her magical abilities, and  provides much about the MC's background, as well as other supportive characters. The author has done a very fine job of background information on characters, and into the second book, has added more depth for the reader to understand how the characters are acting/re-acting to things/events. In book one, we find out that there is an 'evil' group called the Kingdom, that is going after some major artifacts/grimoires to gain power. Book two begins a new case for Jayne and another group enters the story, not aligned with the Kingdom, but not with the CIA either. So we are finding out more about the magical communities in this world the author has created. In this Case, it seems more geographical, than world-wide. Book two is based in Paris and surrounding area, and seemed fairly accurate (I don't know the place physically, so can't say) and the writing detail was fine.

I do like stories with a strong female heroine/lead, and this series is definitely in that category. Sarcasm and snark are always welcome to come across in dialogue, or references to 'nerdy' movies (basically any sci-fi/fantasy). I think that much of the convos in this second book just was a little over the top on all that talk. By mid-way through, I felt like every conversation with the MC almost had to end with some witty quip, or sarcastic thought. Maybe a little less of that, and it would be a bit more enjoyable.

Overall, I felt it was a good story (both books, and the pre-quel) and am looking forward to seeing (at my guess) at least two more stories in this series.

#Booksirens #MasterOfShadows