Reading Fanatic Reviews
ParanormalThe Shadow Reigns by K. S. Marsden
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
The Shadow Reigns*
Recovery and Retribution
Hunter is recovering in the days after the conflagration that ended the last book. He’s made his manor house a place where the MMC and the military can gather as they figure out their next move against the Shadow Witch.
I thought that that first part moved a bit slowly. It would seem to me that the MMC and the military would want to be more proactive in going after the Shadow Witch. I think it might have been interesting to have some chapters that were based in Sophie’s world. She was such a great character in the previous book that only grew more intriguing. Alternating between Hunter’s world and Sophie’s world could have been a great point-counterpoint that could have sharpened the tension and the conflict in the book. The book does have some surprises; we do lose at least one person who we’ve come to respect as a character.
While this book has slightly improved from the last, this book has a fair number of issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. And I’m not talking about British English vs. American English. There are more than a few comma splices as well as other places where commas are not used correctly. Capitalization seems to be inconsistent in places.
This is definitely not a stand-alone book. The series should be read in sequence if you are interested in it. While this installment is a little slow, if you enjoyed the world that was set up in the previous book, you’re most likely be interested to see where it goes next. After this one, I’m definitely wanting to see what will be happening in book three.
Blaize and the Maven by Ellen Bard
Available at Amazon only
NOT with Kindle Unlimited
Blaize and the Maven*
Chakras Bedrock of This Magical World
We meet Blaize, the heroine of the story, as she is undergoing trials after five years as an Adherent training to use her primary chakra, the navel, which signifies fire. The trials are grueling and have the potential to kill the person being tested. We meet Cuinn as he is being asked to take on a new Adherent. He is a Maven, one who is well skilled in using the power of their two chakras, the dominant and the auxiliary. He doesn’t want to take one on for a variety of reasons, the main one being that he has a lot going on with a dire prophecy that he is accessing during his dream walking. Blaize passes her test, and she does become Cuinn’s new Adherent.
I’ve actually studied chakras for a long time, so I found the bedrock idea of this book to be a fascinating one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the chakra system used in such a way as the basis for a magical world. The author has clearly given this much thought, as the concepts are sophisticated but accessible. I wouldn’t say you need to know about chakras to appreciate this book, but if you do, you will find the way the author plays with them to add to your enjoyment of reading it.
This book is about the prophecy mentioned above, which is slowly being revealed, as well as the initially slow burn romance between Blaize and Cuinn. The prophecy does take away some of the conflict and tension in the book because it gives us such a glimpse of what’s going to happen, even if we don’t know all the details or what they’ll be able to do to counteract what has been foreseen. But there’s still enough going on to keep your interest. I thought the relationship between Blaize and Cuinn wasn’t quite as natural and organic as I like in stories with an element of romance. He was so dead set against having an Adherent, yet almost as soon as he meets her, this shifts quickly. Blaize can be unlikable, impetuous, proud, and sometimes a little rude, so it doesn’t quite seem that this person who has lived for so long would have an attraction so quickly to such a relatively immature young woman.
Weighing up the pluses and minuses of this book, I find that I like the chakra background so much that it outweighs what I might not like about it. So, if you like books about magical worlds—and perhaps an especially interesting one in that isn’t about witches and warlocks—you might find this a fascinating read.
Oopsy Daisy by Lucy May
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Oopsy Daisy*
Daisies Galore!
In this installment of the Charm Cove mystery series, daisies are literally falling from the sky. First it is just a little, but daisy dumps from the heavens just keep happening. They soon overrun the town, and these flowers don’t seem to die or wilt. Magical people in the town attempt to stem the daily tide, but it only gets worse. The daisies start to change color, and soon they are acting like aggressive vines that can even take over a house. What are the residents of Charm Cove to do?
If you’ve enjoyed previous installments of the Charm Cove mystery series, you will most likely enjoy this light and fanciful tale about the town being overrun by, of all things, daisies. Even if you haven’t read other books in the series, the author does a good job as at peppering in a little background about the town and the characters here and there as you need to know. Refreshingly, she doesn’t do an information dump, as often happens in later volumes in a series. The town is full of quirky characters, like a good cozy. So far, all the books I’ve read in this series are wicked good paranormal cozy mysteries—pun intended!
After the Darkness by May Sage
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
After the Darkness*
Grown-Up Hogwarts, Though Not Quite a Romance or Standalone
Chloe has a painful family past and seems to be in danger. She lives partly in a shadowy world of magic and vampires, in fact, working for a vampire in a bar. To keep her safe, she is sent to an institute in Scotland where magical people learn. Think of it as a Hogwarts for grown-ups. She meets a variety of supernatural beings, including vampires, huntsmen, and dragons.
I thought the first part of the book was a bit of an information dump, trying to set up Chloe’s backstory. Chloe’s relationship with Levi didn’t feel as developed as it should be, and it certainly didn’t feel like a full-on romance as it is said to be. The book is supposed to be a standalone, but if it is supposed to be a romance, it ended before that really got much underway. We get a sense that Chloe and Levi’s story is just beginning rather than at a natural stop point where we can see the rest of how their relationship will turn out, which is more common for the romance. Also, I thought there were too many unanswered questions at the end of the book to call it truly a standalone.
Still, this is a complex and intriguing world. Chloe is smart, and it is fascinating to watch her adapt to this new world she has been thrust into.
Queen of Darkness by Isadora Brown and Rebecca Hamilton
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Queen of Darkness*
New Life Direction for Kelia…and New Dangers
Now that Kelia’s life has been forced into a particular direction, new dangers seem to be around every curve. She needs knowledge and training, but Drew isn’t providing that. There are more problems with the Sirens, and of course, the queen.
It is interesting how much Kelia’s life has changed over the course of these four novels. Of course, the change documented in this novel is probably her most significant altering circumstance yet and one that she doesn’t really appreciate the full ramifications of through the course of the story. She has a hard time accepting that she had no choice, though, in a moment of clarity, she does realize that she would have made the choice that Drew made for her. In this book, Kelia has to find her bearings in a new reality where she is not as supported by Drew as she would like.
I continue to enjoy this series of Kelia‘s and Drew’s adventures and wonder what they will be next.
Crown of Ice by Michelle Areaux
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Crown of Ice*
Destiny of Rare Girl in Family
As one of the few girls born to her family, Sophie knew that at some point she would become the female head of the family coven. Yet, this knowledge has provided her with little comfort as many in her community have treated her poorly. Pierce is a vampire who has fallen for her from afar. At a meaningful ceremony, he reveals himself to her. She is in danger because of the power that she can wield, and a family member wants it.
This book is written in the first-person perspective from Sophie’s point of view. So it seems odd to me that on occasion she would speak from an omniscient viewpoint, not just her own. I also felt like there was too much telling in this book, not showing. The language to me, especially in dialogue, felt stilted.
A Slow Burn by Terri A. Wilson
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
A Slow Burn*
Well Paced, But a Little Too Short
Hotshot detective and dragon shifter Remi is investigating an intriguing new case. He’s a sought-after ladies’ man, but he can’t quite shake Dai from his memory. Dai is a woman who has been groomed great things. At a sacred gathering of their people, Remi and Dai are proclaimed the king and queen of Beltane. Sparks fly between them in more ways than one. Soon, however, they must band together to help find Dai’s missing sister. This might even connect to his case.
This story had a complex plot that I think might have been better served as a longer work. I felt like I was missing nuances and details about the couple and the world of the book. That being said, the writing was tight, and the plot kept moving. I liked seeing the development of the love-hate relationship between the couple and how they had to interact even though they didn’t want to.
Consumed by Magic by Kelli McCracken and Elena Gray
No Universal Book Link
Usually given away in BookFunnel giveaways, so if you are on author newsletters you may run across it
Consumed by Magic*
Short Story Packs in a Lot
Samara is frustrated by a spell. Soon she is distracted, though, by a voice speaking to her in what appears to be Latin. Zander, one of her harem, shows up, and they reconnect—literally. What else will the night hold for her?
For such a short read, this is surprisingly steamy. We meet one of her current harem and one she’s hoping to add—though it could be dangerous as he is a human, not paranormal—as well as her protectors. The writing is tight and descriptive but with a little more profanity and crude words than I like. Still, I think this is a good short to whet your appetite for this series.
Bridge to Eternity Romola Farr
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Bridge to Eternity*
Not Just Any Property… or Place
Audrey decides to buy an old boarding school in the north of England; she’s from the south. The place has been empty for a long time, and she was able to get it at a reasonable price. The realtor wasn’t pleased to get this assignment, as she felt that it would never sell. But it did; Tina feels guilty that she didn’t disclose the place is supposedly haunted. Even as Tina tried to prepare the property for sale, it gave her a creepy feeling. When’s Audrey moves in, we meet a quirky cast of characters from the neighboring area. Audrey finds an old diary that details events of a particular time at the school. Audrey even meets a widower who is of interest to her, but what secrets is he hiding?
I felt this book meandered a bit. The writing could have been tightened. Quite often, I just didn’t feel like much was going on, or I wasn’t sure where a scene was supposed to take me. The book also jumps around a bit in time, which seemed a little confusing on occasion. There is an essential mystery here, but I felt like its resolution was abrupt. The main text takes up about 82% of the book. The rest is the first act of a play that Audrey and Tina supposedly act in.
Sea of Darkness by Isadora Brown
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Sea of Darkness*
The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
Kelia’s in the fight of her life against an Infant Sea Shadow, a newly turned vampire of the seas. Back on land with just a few scrapes after the encounter, she meets her father, who asks that she meet him after she is debriefed. Her handler seems surprised at how well she tackled this difficult mission, coming out relatively unscathed. Kelia’s life is upended when her father is found dead, she is told, from suicide. Something is not quite right, and soon Kelly is teaming up with a most unlikely ally, Drew Knight, one of the leaders of the Sea Shadows. She believes that her father did not commit suicide, and he believes that The Society is keeping dark secrets. So it’s the old “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” They team up to figure it all out.
What a complex world of The Society and the Sea Shadows! The author has done an excellent job of world-building—all the details about the Slayers, The Society, social structure, and the Sea Shadows. Yet she was able to do this without making it feel like it was an information dump. Seeing the world from both Kelia’s and Drew’s perspectives help to give a fuller picture of what is going on. There are so many layers of secrets, lies, and intrigue. Their world is definitely not what either of them initially believes. I love stories in which characters exist in a bubble world that gets shattered; these characters assume the world is one way because they have been told it is so, and so they are rocked to their very core when they learn it is different. That’s exactly what’s going on here, and the author has done a good job in slowly revealing the lies and deception. And I know there is much more to come!
I so enjoy the relationship between Kelia and Drew. He has that pirate swagger way about him and a sarcastic, humorous way of looking at things. He loves to bait and challenge her, and it is fun to watch. Their interactions make this book so enjoyable.
While this took did have closure on some points, it left much to be explored, I became immersed in this world, and I can’t wait to move on to the next book to see what’s going to happen next.
Used To Build My Websites
NetGalley Badges