Review: Stealing Summer - Lexi Blake

From New York Times and USA Today bestseller Lexi Blake comes a new epic-length story in her Thieves/Hunter world… 

A daughter lost 

Summer has spent her whole life wondering about the family she left behind. On the night she came into being she only had a few moments with them. In that brief time, she reached out to her father, looking deep into his soul, and gifted him the will to go on. But now she is the one in need. Once a child made of pure magic, she is forced to live as a mortal. Her power caused great harm, and she has sworn never to let it happen again. With her friends beside her, she tries her best to help those she can. If that requires her to do a little thievery, well, she is her mother’s daughter, after all.

Everything changes when a woman falls from the sky and Summer meets the handsome vampire named Marcus Vorenus. Just as her past begins to catch up with her, she might have finally met her future.

A mother discovered

Kelsey Owens went searching for Dev and Marcus but all she found was a trap. She was pulled through a magical painting and thrown smack into the middle of a battle on a foreign plane of existence. Luckily she’s good in a fight. Saving the woman targeted by the horde of brutal soldiers, Kelsey is shocked by her resemblance to her queen. As Kelsey investigates the mystery surrounding Summer Donovan-Quinn, she also hunts for a way back to the husbands and son she just claimed.

A queen exiled

Zoey Donovan-Quinn is not happy. The wizard Myrddin is back, her marriage is troubled, and she is sure those two problems are connected. But nothing is more worrying than Dev’s sudden disappearance. When she and Daniel go looking for him, they are drawn into a world thought lost to the Earth plane. Danger awaits them there, but so does the daughter they thought they would never see again. She hopes they survive their reunion.

Three heroines. One mystery. And an ending that will change the Thieves world forever…

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
I love Lexi Blake's Thieves series and always hoped that we'd find out what happened to Summer as well as that we'd see Marcus get his own romance so I was thrilled when I heard about Stealing Summer. While a lot of this author's books work as stand alone stories (you can pretty much read the Masters & Mercenaries series in any order for example) I really recommend reading this book after the rest of the Thieves and Hunter books because there is so much going on here that it would be confusing for a first time reader.

We have three different points of view for the book, Zoey from the original books in the series, Kelsey whose story was told in the Hunter spin off and also Summer who we saw briefly as a baby but never as a POV character before. Sometimes I find stories confusing when they're told from multiple points of view but these three characters were distinctive enough that it was easy to keep track of who we were reading about.

It's really hard to say too much about the plot of this book without giving spoilers but trust me if you had questions at the end of the previous books then you'll get most of the answers here. As well as Zoey and Kelsey we get to catch up with other series favourites like Daniel, Dev and Marcus, we also get to explore a few new realms and if you're fans of Lexi's other books you'll spot cameos from characters from both the Masters and Mercenaries and the Faery story series. I loved getting to meet Summer and see how her life had turned out since she was taken to Faerie and I really loved seeing Marcus finally get his own happily ever after that he's waited thousands of years for. 

The only other thing I'm going to tell to is that this is a total game changer for this series and whole world. Lots of revelations are made and while I expected something like what happened at the end it was still a jaw dropping moment and a HUGE cliffhanger. I honestly can't wait for the next book in the series and I'm really glad that Lexi Blake is writing in this world again!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Hope is Swift - Seanan McGuire

Follows Raj's POV during the timeline of The Unkindest Tide while he is in charge of the Court of Cat's in Tybalt's absence.

October Daye Series:
In Little Stars (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
Through This House (Short story in the Home Improvement: Undead Edition anthology)
One Salt Sea
In Sea-Salt Tears (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Ashes of Honor
Rat-Catcher (Free short story available on the Lightspeed Magazine website)
No Sooner Met (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Chimes at Midnight
Never Shines the Sun (Short story included in the print version of Chimes at Midnight)
Forbid the Sea (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Stage of Fools (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Voice of Lions (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Act of Hares (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Instruments of Darkness (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
With Honest Trifles (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
In Deepest Consequence (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Jealous in Honor (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Quick in Quarrel (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Winter Long
Heaps of Pearl (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Shore to Shore (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Write in Water (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Live in Brass (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Ambitious Ocean (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
And Thrice Again (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Fixed Stars (Free short story available on the Baen website)
A Red-Rose Chain
Full of Briars (Short story)
Once Broken Faith
Dreams and Slumbers (Short story included in Once Broken Faith)
The Brightest Fell
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Of Things Unknown (Short story included in The Brightest Fell)
Night and Silence
Suffer a Sea-Change (Short story included in Night and Silence)
The Unkindest Tide
Hope is Swift (Short story included in The Unkindest Tide)

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
Hope is Swift is a short story included in The Unkindest Tide and I think it's the first time we've had a Raj point of view story. Raj is a Prince of Cats and Tybalt's heir, he thought he would have decades before he was asked to take his rightful place as King but it's become increasingly obvious that Tybalt will be stepping down much sooner than expected.

This story is about Raj coming to terms with the ways his life is about to change but also about him trying to enjoy the last of his freedom. There were a few laugh out loud moments but it was also a little bittersweet when Raj finds himself in a sticky situation waiting to be rescued. I always love these additional insights into side characters from the series though and this was a very enjoyable extra.

Source: Short story included in Night and Silence

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback:

Review: The Unkindest Tide - Seanan McGuire

Hundreds of years ago, the Selkies made a deal with the sea witch: they would have the sea for as long as she allowed it, and when the time came, she would call in all their debts at once. Many people assumed that day would never come. Those people were wrong.

When the Luidaeg—October "Toby" Daye's oldest and most dangerous ally—tells her the time has come for the Selkies to fulfill their side of the bargain, and that Toby must be a part of the process, Toby can't refuse. Literally. The Selkies aren't the only ones in debt to the Luidaeg, and Toby has to pay what she owes like anyone else. They will travel to the fabled Duchy of Ships and call a convocation of the Selkies, telling them to come and meet the Luidaeg's price...or face the consequences.

Of course, nothing is that simple. When Dianda Lorden's brother appears to arrest Dianda for treason against the Undersea, when a Selkie woman is stripped of her skin and then murdered, when everything is falling apart, that's when Toby will have to answer the real question of the hour.

Is she going to sink? Or is she going to swim?

October Daye Series:
In Little Stars (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
Through This House (Short story in the Home Improvement: Undead Edition anthology)
One Salt Sea
In Sea-Salt Tears (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Ashes of Honor
Rat-Catcher (Free short story available on the Lightspeed Magazine website)
No Sooner Met (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Chimes at Midnight
Never Shines the Sun (Short story included in the print version of Chimes at Midnight)
Forbid the Sea (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Stage of Fools (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Voice of Lions (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Act of Hares (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Instruments of Darkness (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
With Honest Trifles (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
In Deepest Consequence (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Jealous in Honor (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Quick in Quarrel (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Winter Long
Heaps of Pearl (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Shore to Shore (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Write in Water (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Live in Brass (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Ambitious Ocean (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
And Thrice Again (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Fixed Stars (Free short story available on the Baen website)
A Red-Rose Chain
Full of Briars (Short story)
Once Broken Faith
Dreams and Slumbers (Short story included in Once Broken Faith)
The Brightest Fell
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Of Things Unknown (Short story included in The Brightest Fell)
Night and Silence
Suffer a Sea-Change (Short story included in Night and Silence)
The Unkindest Tide
Hope is Swift (Short story included in The Unkindest Tide)

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
Toby has been accumulating debts with The Luidaeg for almost as long as we've known her and now the time has come for her to pay up. The selkies have also been living on borrowed time since their ancestors massacred The Luidaeg's children to steal their skins, she allowed them to keep the skins but it was always a temporary thing and now everyone's debts are being called in and Toby will be forced to help the Luidaeg deal with her selkie problem.

When Toby, Tybalt, Quentin, Dean and Gillian travel with The Luidaeg to the Duchey of Ships for a final confrontation with the selkies their lives get complicated very quickly. This story has everything I want from this series and more, we get to visit a floating city to spend time with pirates, there are murders and treasonous plots, we get to meet another First and we finally find out The Luidaeg's plans for the selkies. This book has been a long time coming and since The Luidaeg is one of my favourite characters in the series I loved how much time we got to spend with her here.

I have a kind of love / hate thing going on with the selkies, on one hand they aren't the ones who murdered The Luidaeg's children and we can't hold people responsible for something a family member did generations ago, but at the same time The Luidaeg has been suffering the loss of her children for hundreds of years and every single selkie who wears a skin does so having chosen to continue her pain so that they could live for longer so they're not exactly innocent either. While The Luidaeg hates the selkies for everything they stand for she has also spend centuries watching over their families and it's obvious that there is some kind of attachment there too. I'm not going to give you any clues about the price they have to pay but I felt it was all quite fitting in the end and I was happy with the way it worked out.

Thirteen books in and this is still one of my favourite series, I absolutely love Toby and her motley crew of misfits and I can't wait to see what adventures they go on in the next instalment.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback:

Review: Promise of Darkness - Bec McMaster

Princess. Tribute. Sacrifice. Is she the one prophesied to unite two warring Fae courts? Or the one bound to destroy them?

In a realm ruled by magic, the ruthless Queen of Thorns is determined to destroy her nemesis, the cursed Prince of Evernight.

With war brewing between the bitter enemies, the prince forces Queen Adaia to uphold an ancient treaty: she will send one of her daughters to his court as a political hostage for three months.

The queen insists it’s the perfect opportunity for Princess Iskvien to end the war before it begins. But one look into Thiago’s smoldering eyes and Vi knows she’s no assassin.

The more secrets she uncovers about the prince and his court, the more she begins to question her mother’s motives.

Who is the true enemy? The dark prince who threatens her heart? Or the ruthless queen who will stop at nothing to destroy him?

And when the curse threatens to shatter both courts, is her heart strong enough to break it?

A fairytale twist inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth.

Dark Court Rising Series:
Thief of Dreams (Novella available in the Of Thrones and Crowns anthology)
Promise of Darkness

Visit Bec McMaster's website for more information

Review:
Princess Iskvien has spent her whole life trying to please her mother Adaia, Queen of Thorns but her mother is ruthless and loves to torment her daughter and make her life miserable. Vi is still shocked when she finds out that her mother has agreed for her to spend three months as the Prince of Evernight's hostage though, she just never expected her mother to betray her quite so deeply. Vi is terrified of spending time in Thiago's court but the longer she spends there the less sense things start to make. Her mother has always talked about how vicious Thiago is but all the evidence points to him being a good leader that his people like and respect. Vi finds herself drawn to Thiago in unexpected ways but it's obvious that he is keeping secrets from her and the more she starts to unravel the mystery the harder it is to know who to trust.

Promise of Darkness is a fabulous start to Bec McMaster's new Dark Court Rising fantasy romance series. With hints of the tale of Hades and Persephone this is set in a dark world of fae where nothing is quite what it seems and nobody can be completely trusted. Vi is right in the middle of a large conspiracy and it's going to take everything she has to unravel what is really going on. With a great cast of characters and a wonderful slow build romance I didn't want to put this one down.

I had guessed one of the big twists but no matter how many times I thought I knew what would happen next Bec McMaster always found new ways to surprise me. Vi and Thiago have already had to face impossible odds but it's clear that things are going to get far more complicated for them as the series continues so I can't wait to see what else they're going to have to face. This series has definitely jumped to the top of my list and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Review: And Thrice Again - Seanan McGuire

December 2018 Patreon story "And Thrice Again"

This month we follow Simon Torquill, friend and family man, as he attempts to make things better for his beloved Patrick. But things are not always as easy as they seem, and sometimes the best of intentions can lead us down very dark paths...

October Daye Series:
In Little Stars (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
Through This House (Short story in the Home Improvement: Undead Edition anthology)
One Salt Sea
In Sea-Salt Tears (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Ashes of Honor
Rat-Catcher (Free short story available on the Lightspeed Magazine website)
No Sooner Met (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Chimes at Midnight
Never Shines the Sun (Short story included in the print version of Chimes at Midnight)
Forbid the Sea (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Stage of Fools (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Voice of Lions (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Act of Hares (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Instruments of Darkness (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
With Honest Trifles (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
In Deepest Consequence (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Jealous in Honor (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Quick in Quarrel (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Winter Long
Heaps of Pearl (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Shore to Shore (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Write in Water (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Live in Brass (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Ambitious Ocean (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
And Thrice Again (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Fixed Stars (Free short story available on the Baen website)
A Red-Rose Chain
Full of Briars (Short story)
Once Broken Faith
Dreams and Slumbers (Short story included in Once Broken Faith)
The Brightest Fell
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Of Things Unknown (Short story included in The Brightest Fell)
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Night and Silence
Suffer a Sea-Change (Short story included in Night and Silence)
The Unkindest Tide
Hope is Swift (Short story included in The Unkindest Tide)

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
And Thrice Again is a short story from Simon's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). We've had quite a few October Daye world stories now from Patrick, Dianda and Tybalt's points of view, these stories aren't essential reading but they all give us background information into some of our favourite characters and I'd highly recommend them to fans of the series.

I found it really interesting to read a story from Simon's point of view, we have very good reasons to hate his character from the main books but we've been seeing a different side to him in some of these short stories. I enjoyed seeing him with Amandine and August (way back before the main series starts) and I have to admit I've started to almost feel sorry for him. He pays a high price here for his loyalty to Patrick and Dianda and that definitely starts to show some of his actions in a different light. I'm really curious to see where Seanan McGuire is going with this, I have a feeling we're going to see a lot more of Simon in the future.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Outcast - Lexi Blake

On the hunt for a vicious killer, Kelsey discovers that the true threat lies closer than she could have ever imagined.

It’s been months since Trent Wilcox was sentenced to exile, but Kelsey hasn’t given up on finding a way to bring him home. Grayson Sloane doesn’t share her enthusiasm. Loving two men is challenging enough without them being at each other’s throats, and she is unwilling to compromise on the future she knows is meant for them.

Kelsey’s only hope for bringing them all together comes in the form of the Hell lord who insisted on Trent’s exile – Gray’s father. Lord Sloane is willing to acquiesce on Trent’s punishment if Kelsey will do one little job for him. A stray wolf is on a killing spree in Wyoming and he’s killed a number of witches in Lord Sloane’s service. The situation is made all the more complicated by the presence of a sinister werewolf cult in the area. Lupus Solum is known for being cruel to their own kind, and even worse to outsiders.

Caught between a craven wolf cult, a brutal killer, a Hell lord, and a mounting pile of bodies, Kelsey is going to have her work cut out for her. But if she can solve the case, she might have a chance to earn her happily ever after.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Kelsey's love life has never been more complicated, Gray still can't forgive Trent for his brother's death while Trent has been exiled as punishment for what happened making him a target for anyone who wants to hurt her. She's doing her best to hold things together but she needs both of the men in her life and is desperate to find a way to bring Trent home and make peace between him and Gray. Gray's father Lord Sloane has offered her a way to make that happen but when demons are involved the only thing you can guarantee that there is going to be a catch. Still, if she agrees to hunt a werewolf who is on a killing spree in Wyoming there is a chance of getting Trent out of exile, but only if they can survive whatever trap Sloane has put in place to hurt them.

Outcast makes all of the main characters face up to things that happened to them in the past, there is a lot of emotional baggage with their families but also between the three of them that they need to work through but it looks like Kelsey, Gray and Trent are finally building towards their happily ever after. There are lots of complications along the way but the future is definitely looking much brighter for all of them. Lexi Blake is never afraid to put her characters through the wringer though so you should definitely be prepared for things to get much worse before they start to get better.

There are several plots that have been building to a head for a while now, a few of which are resolved in this book but some that are only just getting started and after the way things ended I'm ridiculously excited for the next book. This was definitely my favourite instalment in Kelsey's series, we're introduced to some great new characters, we get to spend time with old favourites and the story had me hooked from beginning to end. The next book can't be ready soon enough!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Sleeper - Lexi Blake

When Neil’s past catches up to him, Kelsey must choose between her new family and an old love…

With tensions rising between the Council and demonkind, Kelsey finds herself investigating a series of murders that threaten the fragile truce between them. If she can’t stop these killings soon, they could ignite a fire sure to burn the supernatural world down.

Unfortunately for her, Kelsey’s problems don’t stop with a pile of dead halflings. Her connection with Marcus is frayed at best, and Gray hasn’t been heard from in months. Her only semblance of peace comes from a new man in her life. When Gray storms back into the picture, her love life goes from incredibly complicated to apocalyptic.

Just as Kelsey begins to unravel the mystery, the forces of Heaven decide to take an interest in her actions. Outclassed with these powers in play, Kelsey knows that one misstep could leave the human and supernatural worlds in ashes.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
After a rocky start to the Hunter spin off from Lexi Blake's Thieves series I have to say I'm now really enjoying Kelsey's story. Addict was the turning point for me but Sleeper ended up being even better and it definitely left me excited to read more about Kelsey and her ever more complicated life.

As the contract between demons and vampires is very close to running out completely tensions between the two groups are high, especially since vampire king refuses to allow the council to start to negotiate new terms. Kelsey has more reasons than most to have a grudge against the demons but she knows how precarious the balance is between the different supernatural groups and when a murderer starts targeting half-breeds she knows it's her job as Nex Aparatus to get to the bottom of it. Of course she's also busy with her side quest to find a way to destroy her nemesis Nemcox but he's turning out to be tricky to track down.

I've never been a big fan of Kelsey and Marcus as a couple, their connection always felt forced to me, more down to the bond because he is her trainer than any real, long lasting attraction so I was happy with the way their relationship started to change at the beginning of this story. I like them both as individuals and really, really want to see Marcus get his own book and a HEA, but I like Kelsey so much more when she's with Trent and Gray, either individually or as an eventual triad. Things have gotten really complicated with Gray since he was given his prophecy powers and walked away from her yet again but it's much easier when it comes to Trent and he is obviously willing to sacrifice a lot to be with her.

This story isn't just about the relationships though, there are some brilliant moments between Kelsey and Lee in particular but I'm also enjoying seeing the old gang now they're back to their old selves. We were left with a lot of questions about Neil at the end of the original Thieves series and it was great to finally get some answers here about what had happened to him all those years ago. I also think the next book is going to be even more exciting now that a certain wizard has decided to put in a reappearance, I suspect he's going to be causing all kinds of trouble and I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Addict - Lexi Blake

In order to destroy a legendary monster and save the royal family, Kelsey must make a deal with a devil…

When Kelsey Owens returns home to Dallas, she is a changed woman. After months of training with Marcus Vorenus, she has more control over her abilities. She’s ready to start her new job, even if it means dealing with the King of All Vampire and his partner, Devinshea Quinn. Her first assignment, however, will force her to face her past. Grayson Sloane is in trouble and she has to find him.

With the help of Gray’s brother, a full empath demon, Kelsey tracks her one-time lover down. Before she knows it, she’s pulled into Gray’s undercover operation in a demon sex club and sitting across from a Duke of Hell. Abbas Hiberna plans to use her city to test his new drug, Brimstone. It doesn’t just give supernatural creatures a high. It also leaves them vulnerable to demonic persuasion.

When the king’s own men begin to turn against him, even the royal family is in danger. Keeping them safe will put Kelsey in the duke’s crosshairs and test her fledgling relationship with Marcus. With her new life crumbling around her, a dark secret about her former lover is revealed, and Kelsey will have to choose between saving Gray Sloane and the revenge she’s waited a lifetime for.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
As a huge fan of the original Thieves books it pained me to say that I didn't really enjoy Ripper, the first book in this spin off series. I felt that a lot of the people we already knew and loved were acting completely out of character and I just hadn't connected to the new narrator Kelsey as much as I had with Zoey in the original books. So I was a little wary going into Addict, I wanted to like it but I wasn't sure if I would so I'm very happy to report that this was a HUGE improvement for me.

Now that Kelsey knows more about who and what she is she's starting to become more confident in herself and her abilities which made her a more interesting character to follow. Apart from a dodgy start where I wanted to slap some sense into him Daniel was much more like his old self in this book and we saw a bit more of Devlin and Zoey too. I'm glad that the main focus of this series is with the newer characters though and I really loved the developments with Grayson in this book, I liked the addition of werewolf Trent and I loved seeing Zach as an uncle.

I have to admit I'm not sold on Kelsey's relationship with Marcus though. I love Marcus as a character but I just don't feel the chemistry between him and Kelsey, it felt a bit forced and frankly a little bit creepy because of the special connection they had thanks to him being her trainer. I think I'd prefer them with a platonic mentor type relationship so I'm definitely team Grayson (& quite possibly team Grayson & Trent!) at the moment. Perhaps Lexi Blake will convince me otherwise but at the moment I think Marcus would be much happier with someone else and I'm hoping we'll get to see that in another spin off.

It was good to see Kelsey starting to rebuild bridges with some of the people who let her down in the first book. There were a lot of people who did things that hurt her previously but I think some of them were doing it for the right reasons so that's a little more forgivable than what Daniel did. The overarching plot of this spin off definitely seems to be building up to a war between the vampires and demons and things are getting very interesting on that front. I'm not quite sure what Daniel is hoping to achieve with this because no war can be won without a lot of casualties along the way but he was always a long term planner so I expect he knows what he is doing.

Now that the series has started to gain momentum I'm much more excited about continuing it and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for Kelsey and her friends.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Ripper - Lexi Blake

A New Heroine Rises...

Kelsey Atwood is a private detective with a problem. She came from a family of hunters, growing up on the wrong side of the supernatural world. Tracking down bail jumpers and deadbeat dads may not make her a lot of friends, but it’s a lot safer than the life she turned her back on. She was hoping to escape from the nightmares of her past, but her latest case has brought them right back to her door.

A young woman has gone missing, and she didn’t go willingly. When Kelsey discovers that the girl is actually a shifter, she knows she should drop the case and walk away. But this shifter was a sweet kid, and she’s in serious trouble. More females are missing and the evidence points to a legendary killer. Bodies are piling up, and her case is becoming center stage for a conflict that could shatter the fragile peace between wolves and vampires.

As the hunt intensifies, she finds herself trapped between two men—Gray, a magnetic half-demon lawman, and the ancient vampire Marcus Vorenus. Both men call to her, but when a shocking secret about Kelsey’s family is revealed, it could ruin them all. To stop the killer, she will have to embrace the truth about who—and what—she truly is.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Ripper is the first book in Lexi Blake's Hunter series, it's set in the same world as her Thieves books with reappearances from some of the original characters so to be honest I think it's best read as a continuation of the original series rather than being used as a starting point but I'm enjoying getting to know a new main character and looking forward to seeing how Kelsey's journey continues.

Kelsey is a character that we've not met before but I thought it was really fun to eventually find out how she tied back to the original group we grew to love in the Thieves books. She was raised by her father to believe all supernatural characters were evil and he used her abilities to help him hunt werewolves and shapeshifters to murder. She was horrified when she realised how wrong he was and she's never forgiven herself for the part she played in his killing spree, even though she was only a child at the time, so has tried to avoid the supernatural world as much as possible since then.

She focuses on her job as a private detective tracking down cheating husbands or bail jumpers but won't touch a case if it involves the supernatural. Until a desperate woman begs for her help to find her missing daughter, a shapeshifter who has vanished in mysterious circumstances. Kelsey is reluctant to get involved but she knows her skills put her in a unique position to help and she finds it really difficult to say no to a desperate mother. As Kelsey starts to investigate she realises that there has been a spate of abductions recently and they all seem to tie back to a local vampire club. It looks like this case won't be as easy as she first assumed and it's going to drag her right back into a world she hoped she'd left behind forever.

After loving the Thieves series I had really high hopes for this spin off and I do think it has a lot of potential but there were a couple of big issues I had with this first book. Firstly was the pace of the relationship that develops between Kelsey and the half-demon Gray. He is a friend of her brother's who has apparently been interested in her for a long time but things between them move at a ridiculously fast pace so we miss out on all the build up that is usually half the fun of a romance story. There were reasons for this that were revealed later on in the book but I still didn't like it and Gray's overbearing possessiveness was a bit of a sticking point. I don't dislike his character but I'm not at the point where I'm rooting for him so he's going to have to change his attitude if he wants to win me around. It's clear that vampire Marcus (who I already loved from the original books) also has an interest in Kelsey so I don't think the romance side of the story is sorted yet, I'm kind of hoping for a menage relationship like we got with Zoey, Danny & Dev but I'm not sure if either Gray or Marcus would be up for that.

The other thing that really upset me about this was how badly everyone treats Kelsey, nearly everyone in her life is keeping secrets from her, using her in some way or manipulating her to do what they want her to do. By the end of the story I was angry with pretty much everyone but especially at Danny and Dev which was really upsetting because I've always loved those two in the past. I couldn't believe the way Danny treated Kelsey, it ruined my opinion of him and kind of spoiled all the happy feelings I'd been having at seeing some of my favourite characters make a reappearance. You know Danny is behaving badly when even Zack, who has always his followed orders without question, and Marcus, who has been his number one supporter from day one, go against him!

I am going to continue reading the series but in the next book I REALLY need to see an attitude adjustment from Danny, he's got some serious making up to do after this book. I'd also like whatever relationship Kelsey decides to embark on to be with a man who can respect her without trying to control her in any way. There needs to be some proper slow-build romance for her and if that's with Gray he's going to have to work hard to earn her trust back. What I'm most looking forward to is seeing Kelsey come to terms with the revelations about who and what she is, she's going to have to learn how her abilities work and then I want to see her take back control of her own fate and not let Danny get away with using her like he's currently trying to.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Steal the Night - Lexi Blake

She was born to be a thief. To save the world, she will have to become a queen…

Zoey Donovan-Quinn is growing restless. After months of searching, her crew hasn’t been able to locate the resting place of the one man who could save Daniel. While they frantically continue their quest, Zoey is still struggling to recover from the devastating losses she suffered in Faery. In the midst of her grief and worry, Louis Marini appears and demands the Blood Stone he forced Zoey to steal. Zoey has no other choice than to hand it over.

When the giant ruby’s true nature is revealed, Zoey discovers she has given their greatest enemy a weapon of unimaginable power. Equipped with the Blood Stone, Marini intends to dominate the supernatural world and, on a more personal note, claim Zoey as his companion.

Desperate and on the run, Zoey, Dev, and Daniel forge an unlikely alliance with an old adversary who claims he can lead them to the wizard who can free Daniel from Marini’s clutches and help him claim his throne. As they race to solve a thousand-year-old mystery and gather their forces for the ultimate battle, Zoey prepares to do what she does best.

If Daniel and Dev are to have any hope of victory, she will have to do the unthinkable... surrender to Louis Marini and steal back the Blood Stone.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Months after returning from the sithein Zoey, Daniel and Dev are still searching for the one person who may be able to save Daniel by removing the silver bomb attached to his heart and until they do that they are completely powerless to do anything to stop Marini and the rest of the vampire council. When Zoey is forced to hand over the Blood Stone to give them more time she unwittingly hands Marini the key to take everything he has ever wanted and now they're in even more peril than before. Now her only choice may be to hand herself over to her greatest enemy in the hope that she can steal the Blood Stone back in time to save the men she loves.

Steal the Night is the final story with Zoey as the main character and it really was a fitting end to her, Daniel and Dev's story. I've loved watching the relationship that has slowly built between the three of them since the beginning of the series and was really pleased with the way things ended for them as a triad. They haven't had an easy time of it and there is more hurt and loss they'll have to get through in this last book but I think they've definitely earned their HEA now.

There was a lot to love about this book, not just the relationship between the three main characters but also Zoey's friendship with characters like Neil and Sarah, her brotherly relationships with Lee and Zack, the alliances they have slowly been developing with the werewolves, fae and some of the vampires and the world that they're trying to build for the future. So many of the side characters from this world had a chance to shine in this book and while some things broke my heart others left me with a huge smile on my face.

While there was a lot I enjoyed about this world and I love the series as a whole there were a few things that stopped this being a 5 star read for me. The main one was how things unfolded with Marini, I really didn't like the way Zoey had to spend so much time with him or the things that happened while she was there, I know the author was trying to show the danger of the world but I found some of those scenes very hard to stomach reading. Then there's the fact that there was very little aftermath for everything Zoey has been through, she seems to forget about everything within seconds whenever either Danny or Dev are around and if you're not going to make her feel the full emotional effects of what she's suffered then I don't think it's worth putting her through it in the first place. I was also confused about the way the story ended with a certain wizard, it looked like he was going to be a major player in the story and I was worried about where that plot was going but then it just completely fizzled out with no resolution. Perhaps that's because we'll see more of his character in the new spin off but for now it just left me feeling confused.

So, while I did enjoy most of this book and I definitely loved this series but I don't think this was the strongest instalment compared to the first four books. I'm really looking forward to starting Ripper though, I can't wait to meet new character Kelsey and I'm very excited that Marcus is going to play a larger role in the spin off because he's been a brilliant side character so far.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Steal the Sun - Lexi Blake

Zoey thought she would never have to choose, but to save one husband, she will have to betray the other…

As Zoey Donovan-Quinn first sets foot in the faery homeland of her beloved Devinshea, life is perfect. Her enemy is defeated, her heart is full, and Neil and Sarah are at her side. Daniel and Dev are happy, so their visit to the sithein should be a pleasant honeymoon full of wonder and joy. Well, except for the part where Zoey needs to steal an ancient gem from the Queen of Faery in order to prevent Louis Marini from killing Daniel.

Reunited with her whole crew, stealing the magical artifact should be relatively easy, but unknown to Zoey, Dev, and Daniel, there are dark forces gathering against them. As her search for the Blood Stone gets underway, Zoey makes a startling discovery that will change her life, and Dev and Daniel’s forever.

When her new enemy finally strikes at Zoey from the shadows, her newfound happiness is shattered, and to avenge the horrific attack, Dev prepares his mother’s kingdom for war. Recovering from the attempt on her life, Zoey and Daniel desperately search for the stone and in the process unmask the real monster behind the assault.

Stopping the real threat, and saving Daniel, will force Zoey to choose sides in an epic war between the Seelie and Unseelie Fae, even if it means betraying Dev and his people.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Zoey and her husbands arrive in faerie unsure of the welcome they'll receive but Dev is treated like a returning hero, even by the people who looked down on him before he bonded with the god Bris, Zoey is considered an unworthy consort to their priest while Daniel is a curiosity that the fae aren't too sure what to do with. Zoey has been tasked with stealing the blood stone to save Daniel's life but as tensions increase between the Seelie and Unseelie the entire group is in danger and this time not everyone will survive.

I'm still really enjoying this series and I'm loving the overall relationship development between Zoey, Daniel, Dev and now Bris, they have come a long way together and are learning to trust each other and to work as a team. Daniel and Dev are getting on better than ever but they do still have a bit of a tendency to bulldoze ahead with their plans without really taking Zoey's opinion or wishes into account, they're better than they used to be but they still need to work on it. Zoey has a bad habit of keeping secrets or sneaking out without backup because she knows they'll try to stop her so really they all make mistakes in this one even when you can see what they're trying to do.

I really enjoyed this story being set in the sithein and getting to meet more of Dev's family, Declan is still a bit of an ass but we do see a different side to him and it's obvious he misses his twin and wants to be close with Dev again. There are quite a few new interesting characters to meet and we also have the whole gang back together so we get to see plenty of Neil, Lee and Sarah which is always a bonus.

It wouldn't be Zoey if she wasn't finding trouble somehow so you just know that her task of finding the blood stone isn't going to be as easy as it seems and with a war brewing things are getting more dangerous than ever. One part of this book was quite tough to read and really broke my heart, it was a very emotional event for everyone involved and grief caused them all to act in ways they wouldn't normally so they do go through a bit of an emotional hiccup for a while there while they're all coping with events in their own way.

I was really happy with the progress on the overall series arc though and I can't wait to see what awaits the gang next in Steal the Night.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Steal the Moon - Lexi Blake

When an ancient artifact enslaves every werewolf on earth, humanity’s only hope is a thief…

Zoey Donovan should be happy. Her love life couldn’t be better, her demonic nemesis is on the run, business is booming, and no one has tried to kill her in seven whole months. But without her best friend to share it with, it all seems a little hollow. Neil, her fabulous furry wingman, is missing and two grumpy werewolf bodyguards have taken his place.

Undaunted by her humorless babysitters, she intends to track Neil down even if it means risking her newfound romantic bliss. But someone else has plans for Zoey, and they don’t intend to play nice. Lucas Halfer is desperate for revenge, and he knows just how to get it.

An ancient Roman legend tells of an artifact that will grant its possessor the power to control all wolves. No one, including Daniel and Dev, believes the Strong Arm of Remus is real but Zoey thinks Halfer might have already located it. With every werewolf pack in North America gathering in Colorado, the demon could enslave an unstoppable army.

To save the day, and possibly the world, Zoey will have to find a way to steal the Strong Arm of Remus from one of the most powerful demons in existence. Then again, impossible is kind of her specialty.

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Zoey finally has her love life more or less on track but she's a bit fed up with being followed around everywhere by the two werewolf bodyguards her lovers have hired to protect her. She's missing her best friend Neil who has been missing for months now so she's extremely worried about his safety and if she has to find ways to get around her bodyguards to go and look for him then that's what she'll do. Even if demon Lucas Halfer is still out for revenge. Daniel and Dev are currently trying to build an alliance with the werewolves but getting an invite to their gathering is proving difficult as they don't trust vampires, Dev may be able to get them in by offering himself and Zoey to perform a fertility ritual for them. That could all go horribly wrong if Lucas manages to get hold of an ancient Roman artefact that he believes will allow him to control all of the wolves. It's up to Zoey and her crew to stay one step ahead and prevent a disaster but that could be easier said than done.

This series is just getting better and better. I love the relationship development in our Zoey / Daniel / Dev triangle, the boys are finally on the same page and have started to rebuild the friendship they had early on in the series. They are working together as a team which is fantastic to see but there are times when they seem to forget that Zoey is an independent woman who is capable of making her own choices. I get their need to keep her safe but trying to keep her wrapped in a bubble is driving her insane and I was so glad to see her stand up for herself and tell them what she wanted and needed. I enjoyed seeing her get back into the action and I really loved the addition of werewolf Lee to her crew. It was also great to see Neil again, he's been through a lot and is in a really difficult place right now but he obviously needs his friends around him and Zoey will do anything for the people she cares about.

This story had plenty of action and some fabulous scenes with the werewolves. I did get a little frustrated with Zoey for paying so little attention when anyone tried to talk to her about the fertility ceremony but it was quite funny to see her reaction when things get started and I liked the way it changed her relationship with Dev. It was good to see her having some one on one time with both of her boys but I think my favourite parts are when they're all together as a happy trio, especially now that Daniel has let himself loosen up a bit! The addition of Dev's twin brother Declan made things really interesting and I'm really curious to see how the rest of his family reacts to their arrival in the next book. I have a feeling things are about to get even more complicated and I can't wait!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: The Ambitious Ocean - Seanan McGuire

October 2018 Patreon story "The Ambitious Ocean," in which our dear Patrick Twycross makes some questionable choices, an oft-mentioned but never seen figure is finally revealed, and Countess Evening Winterrose makes her grand debut in this timeline.

This story is set after "Write in Water" and "Live in Brass," moving us forward in the Patrick, Dianda, and Simon-era timeline. Things are getting messy.

October Daye Series:
In Little Stars (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
Through This House (Short story in the Home Improvement: Undead Edition anthology)
One Salt Sea
In Sea-Salt Tears (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Ashes of Honor
Rat-Catcher (Free short story available on the Lightspeed Magazine website)
No Sooner Met (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Chimes at Midnight
Never Shines the Sun (Short story included in the print version of Chimes at Midnight)
Forbid the Sea (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Stage of Fools (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Voice of Lions (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Act of Hares (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Instruments of Darkness (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
With Honest Trifles (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
In Deepest Consequence (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Jealous in Honor (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Quick in Quarrel (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Winter Long
Heaps of Pearl (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Shore to Shore (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Write in Water (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Live in Brass (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Ambitious Ocean (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
And Thrice Again (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Fixed Stars (Free short story available on the Baen website)
A Red-Rose Chain
Full of Briars (Short story)
Once Broken Faith
Dreams and Slumbers (Short story included in Once Broken Faith)
The Brightest Fell
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Of Things Unknown (Short story included in The Brightest Fell)
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Night and Silence
Suffer a Sea-Change (Short story included in Night and Silence)
The Unkindest Tide
Hope is Swift (Short story included in The Unkindest Tide)

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
The Ambitious Ocean is a short story from Patrick's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). We've had quite a few October Daye world stories now from Patrick, Dianda and Tybalt's points of view, these stories aren't essential reading but they all give us background information into some of our favourite characters and I'd highly recommend them to fans of the series.

This story follows on from events in Write in Water and Live in Brass and continues to fill in our knowledge of the early days of Patrick and Dianda's relationship. Patrick feels he has a score to settle with Evening after her actions in the previous story but when he goes to talk to her about it things don't go quite to plan. Dianda and Patrick are so cute together, it was really interesting to see more of Evening in action and I always love these early glimpses of Simon before life goes so terribly wrong for him but what I'm most curious about was the introduction of Dawn. Have we met her in the series already? I honestly can't remember her so I'm definitely left wondering why!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.