Review: Haunted Blade - J.C. Daniels

Haunted, Hunted…and harassed.

Never let it be said that Kit Colbana had ever been given the easy road. Or even the semi-paved road. Only weeks after dealing with the mysterious—and murderous—being called Puck, she’s got another killer on her hands. Perhaps even two.

Some of the bodies turning up bring up haunting memories of a past she longs to forget, but as always, that past is chasing her at her heels, like a hated shadow.

As the body count racks up, there’s an imbalance of power, particularly among the vampire population, and Kit must yet again deal with ugly memories as one of the monsters who tried to break her is set free to deal with the imbalance of power. Yet while a power struggle rages in East Orlando, there’s another, more subtle battle taking place and Kit feels like the center of it all.

Arrogant? Maybe. But the dead bodies don’t bear the mark of her grandmother’s pet killer by sheer coincidence…and she doubts her nemesis being released is either.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of this series so I loved the chance to dive back into Kit's world and see what's going on with her now. Her relationship with Damon is stronger than ever so she's in a pretty good place personally but things in Orlando aren't running quite as smoothly. It starts with the murders of powerful vampires from several of the largest houses and the power vacuum causes a lot of the younger vampires to lose control resulting in a number of killing sprees. As the bloodlust spreads more vampires are drawn to the area and it's not long before the situation is dire.

This instalment gives us a chance to learn more about Kit's background as a face from her past puts in an appearance and it looks like her grandmother has finally decided that it's time to come after her because there are a few too many things coming at her for it all to be a coincidence. I have a feeling this is just the beginning though and we're obviously building up for a huge showdown in the next couple of books.

It's no secret that I love these books so it pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I hoped to. I really struggled in the beginning because the story didn't seem to flow very well and that made it very hard to get into. Some scenes seemed to just end halfway through and then you'd be dropped into the middle of another scene and there were several times when I found myself backtracking trying to figure out what I'd missed. That was something completely unexpected from this author because I've never had that problem with any of the previous books. It did improve a lot in the second half though and at that point the pace picked up a lot and I found myself swept away in the story. This may not be the strongest instalment but it was still an enjoyable read and there were a lot of interesting revelations that have set things up nicely for the series going forward.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and I'm hoping we're going to start to discover even more about Kit's family as we go on.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition - J.C. Daniels

Special Anniversary Edition

Includes the short story DAMON and never-before-released deleted scenes and more.

Kit Colbana--half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades--has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters--especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it's all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she's gotten in over her head. Or maybe it's because if she fails--she's dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she'll even live long to collect her fee...

Included:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck
Bladed Magic
Damon
Blade Song
Proceed with Caution - A Collection of Deleted Shorts & Scenes

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
This is a special anniversary edition of Blade Song that doesn't just include the first book in the Colbana Files but also has several short stories, novellas and deleted scenes too. A Stroke of Dumb Luck and Bladed Magic are both available to purchase separately but this is the first (and currently only) opportunity fans have to purchase the novella Damon (a Damon POV story) outside of J.C. Daniel's (AKA Shiloh Walker) Patreon campaign and the deleted scenes and shorts gathered together with the title Proceed with Caution are unavailable anywhere else.

I already reviewed nearly all of the stories included in this collection so I've just copied my reviews here to make it easier for you. I literally bought this ebook for the deleted scenes at the end but if you've not read the short stories or the first book then this is a great price to get you started on the Colbana Files series.

A Stroke of Dumb Luck:

Fans of the Colbana Files are going to really enjoy this little short story prequel that can be read for free on the Tor website. The story is also available to download from Amazon for the Kindle but you have to pay a small amount for that version. I have to say that although I'm happy to have read it for free I think I'd have been disappointed if I'd spent money on it (it's very short at around 20 pages). Please note that while A Stroke of Dumb Luck is published on Amazon with the author's correct name, Shiloh Walker, but the rest of the series has been published under her pen name, J.C. Daniels. I think that is a little confusing - especially to anyone who hasn't come across the series before - so I wanted to point it out for anyone who is unaware.

This story will have much more meaning to people who have already started reading the series and who know the characters involved. I've read the first two books (Blade Song & Night Blade) so I'm already invested in this world and it was really nice to get a glimpse into Kit's past. We get to see one of her earliest meetings with vampire Jude and we also get to see a bit more of the background of her friendship with Colleen. If you're new to the series then this story is a nice introduction but it doesn't show the full complexity of the world Shiloh Walker / J.C. Daniels has created, it's a nice taster to whet your appetite but there is only so much you can show in 20 pages. I would highly recommend the series though, it is fast becoming one of my favourite urban fantasy series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs.

Bladed Magic:

Bladed Magic is a short story prequel to the Colbana Files series by J.C. Daniels so you can start with this story even if you're new to the series. If you're a series reading order nut like me then it technically fits into the timeline after A Stroke of Dumb Luck (another short story) and before the first book Blade Song.

For people who are new to the series this is a nice introduction to the main character Kit Colbana, you'll learn a little about her history and discover some of her magical abilities but obviously as this is a short story it won't go into a huge amount of detail. I think it does a good job of showing what a kickass character she can be though and this is a great way to test the waters if you're not sure whether to start the series or not. I do think it's worth pointing out that Justin isn't the love interest for these books so even though he and Kit have some chemistry you shouldn't read too much into that - I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed when they go on to read Blade Song.

If, like me, you're up to date with the series then I'm sure you'll love this chance to see how Kit met her ex Justin. This story shows just how Kit was persuaded out of her hiding place in TJ's bar and how she ended up working as a private investigator. It was Justin's encouragement that helped her get past her anxiety to start taking control of her life again and I enjoyed seeing how instrumental he is in helping her discover more about her abilities.

The Colbana Files has quickly become one of my favourite urban fantasy series since I discovered it so it's one I'd highly recommend. If you're a fan of Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews then I'm sure you'll enjoy J.C. Daniels just as much!

Damon:

Damon is a short story set in the Colbana Files world and its only available to Shiloh Walker's (aka J.C. Daniels) supporters on Patreon. You can sign up for as little as a dollar so it doesn't cost a fortune but it's a great way to help out an author you love and you only pay per story so you're always getting something for your money.

If you're a fan of the Colbana Files then you're going to love this novella, it's set just before Blade Song (although I think you'll enjoy it more if you're already familiar with the characters so I'd recommend reading it after that book) and gives us the chance to see what Damon's life was like before he met Kit. We get to find out why nobody worries when Doyle first goes missing, see more of the friendship between Damon and Chang as well as visit Alisdair and the wolf pack.

I enjoyed seeing certain things from Damon's point of view and this was a nice little teaser that's left me even more eager to read the next book in the series.

Blade Song:

Kit is half human and half Aneira (think Amazon warrior), she was trained by her family to become an assassin and thief but instead she has opened a PI firm and is struggling to make ends meet on her own. There has been a distinct lack of cases recently so when she is approached by the enforcer for the alpha of the local pack of cat shifters she reluctantly accepts the job. Working for the cats is madness - everyone knows the alpha is insane - but finding out that the job is to locate a missing teenage boy tugs at her heartstrings and she just can't say no. When she finds out that the penalty for failure is her death she realises that she may come to regret that decision, especially since it also means working in close contact with pack enforcer Damon. The job won't be an easy one but if anyone has the skills needed to get it done then it's Kit, she just needs to do it fast enough to keep the alpha happy.

I love urban fantasy so as soon as I heard about Blade Song I wanted to get my hands on a copy, thankfully I was approved for an advanced copy via Netgalley and I couldn't wait to get started. This is a fantastic start to a new series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs. I love the fact that Kit brings something new to the table in a genre that is crowded with vampires and shapeshifters. She is descended from a race of warriors and although she isn't the most physically powerful amongst the supernatural races she has a unique skill set and a special affinity with weapons that mean she isn't someone to be taken lightly. She had a difficult past with her family which has made her wary of trusting others but she is strong enough to stand on her own two feet. If anything she can be a bit too independent and needs to learn to rely on her friends to help her more, I'm sure that is something that we will see her learn to do as the series continues though. There aren't many Aneira left and most of the supernatural community have never even heard of them so Kit is often mistaken for a human and her adversaries have a tendency to underestimate her which comes in quite handy and allows her to take them by surprise.

When it comes to enforcer Damon I have to admit it took me a while to warm to him. I do love Alpha heroes, especially when I'm reading paranormal books, but Damon takes it to the extreme and has a really bad attitude towards Kit at the beginning of the book. One particular action of his was almost unforgivable but you get to see how much he regrets what happened and Kit doesn't let him off easily. As we get to know him we see a much nicer side to his character and it was at that point I really started to see his appeal. There is some great snarky banter between the pair of them and although I felt they moved their relationship forward a bit too quickly I still find that preferable to a series where the protagonists have that will they or won't they thing going on for multiple books. I like a bit of teasing but you can have too much of a good thing!

Alongside Kit and Damon we are introduced to some interesting side characters that I'm looking forward to getting to know better. The witches in particular have a lot of potential as allies for future books and it would be interesting to learn more about the covens. I have a feeling we're going to be finding out a lot more about Kit's family as the series continues and I also think that Damon still has some secrets up his sleeve. I'd recommend Blade Song for any urban fantasy fan, there is plenty of action, the story is fast moving, Kit is a strong heroine with unusual and interesting abilities and Damon is a hero who will grow on you the more time you spend with him. I'm already looking forward to the next instalment.

Proceed with Caution - A Collection of Deleted Shorts & Scenes:

Proceed with Caution is a collection of 4 short stories and deleted scenes that haven't been published before. These haven't been fully edited (it openly states that in the book) so there are some errors but not enough to stop me enjoying reading them.

1. Damon POV from beginning of Blade Song - get to see Kit and Damon's first meeting from his point of view. It was really interesting to see inside his head during that first meeting so I definitely enjoyed this short. My only complaint is that I wanted it to be longer.

2. The Tree - this is a short story featuring Kit, Justin and another witch called Tate (who I can't remember if we've come across in the series before or not). They are working a case and have been asked to investigate a haunted tree but it quickly becomes clear that there is much more going on that a simple ghost. I really enjoyed this story but it ended a little abruptly which was a major disappointment, it didn't feel like a finished story & was almost like the final chapter hadn't been included.

3. Damon POV from the end of Night Blade - This contains spoilers for Night Blade so if you've not read that far in the series please hold off on this Damon POV. If you have read Night Blade then you'll probably find it pretty heartbreaking reading about his side of Kit's rescue (I know I did) but I'm always happy to get the chance to see more of his side of the story.

4. Damon's Valentine POV set sometime after Edged Blade - this is a cute little slice of life snippet set after Edged Blade, it probably contains mild spoilers but doesn't go into much detail about what has happened to Kit so you're probably safe to read it before the book. It's all about Damon trying to put a smile on Kit's face one Valentine's Day and I really enjoyed seeing them having fun together.

Also included at the end of this edition is an excerpt from Hidden Blade, the next book in the series which will be publishing sometime in the next few months. If you're new to the Colbana Files this is a perfect collection to get you started as it includes the first book and all the prequel short stories, but even if you're already familiar with the series you'll probably find it worth buying just for the additional extras that aren't available elsewhere.

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.

Kindle:

Review: Damon - J.C. Daniels

Exclusive short story for J.C. Daniels / Shiloh Walker supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Shilohwalker.

This is a prequel to the Kit Colbana series featuring Damon

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
Damon is a short story set in the Colbana Files world and its only available to Shiloh Walker's (aka J.C. Daniels) supporters on Patreon. You can sign up for as little as a dollar so it doesn't cost a fortune but it's a great way to help out an author you love and you only pay per story so you're always getting something for your money.

If you're a fan of the Colbana Files then you're going to love this novella, it's set just before Blade Song (although I think you'll enjoy it more if you're already familiar with the characters so I'd recommend reading it after that book) and gives us the chance to see what Damon's life was like before he met Kit. We get to find out why nobody worries when Doyle first goes missing, see more of the friendship between Damon and Chang as well as visit Alisdair and the wolf pack.

I enjoyed seeing certain things from Damon's point of view and this was a nice little teaser that's left me even more eager to read the next book in the series.

Source: Purchased via Patreon sponsorship

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: Shadowed Blade - J.C. Daniels

Something wicked this way comes . . .

The arrival of a very important person in her office seemed to be the start of a lot of problems for Kit Colbana, investigator extraordinaire. Claiming that he needed somebody with her special skillset, he sends her on a series of jobs that made little to no sense until one culminated with both her and her partner, Justin barely escaping with their lives.

Back in Orlando, they go their separate ways to recover, Justin heading to the house of a local witch, while Kit returns to the Lair, where she’s recently been living with her lover Damon, the Alpha of the Southern Cat Clans.

There’s barely a chance for to catch her breath before trouble of the highest order comes knocking on her door. This time, it’s the form of a psychic by the name of Nova. Nova has bad, bad news…Justin has gone missing and so has the witch who was going to put him up while he healed. Colleen, one of Kit’s closest, dearest friends.

With all sorts of non-humans disappearing, fury doesn’t even touch what Kit is feeling as she heads out to hunt down the people responsible.

But Kit isn’t the only one out on a hunt…somebody is hunting for her…somebody Kit would rather never, ever see again.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series since I read Blade Song nearly four years ago (where the hell does the time go?) so I'm always itching to get the next instalment and I couldn't wait to start reading Shadowed Blade. You definitely need to read these books in order to get the most out of them though so I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read at least as far as Edged Blade. I'd also recommend reading the short story Misery's Way before starting this book, if you haven't already bought that story separately you're in luck because it's included at the end of this one (this is one of the very rare occasions when it's better to start at the end of the book LOL). This story jumps in as if you already know the new character introduced in that short so you could end up feeling a little lost if you haven't.

I have to say that the beginning of Shadowed Blade felt a little choppy anyway, it jumped around a bit and skips chunks of time so I was initially left wondering what was going on but once the story kicks off it was everything I'd hope for from this series. Kit and Justin are working together on a case but everywhere they go a crazy witch appears and tries to kill them. There's plenty of action as Kit and Justin try to figure out who is targeting them and it looks like they have a new and incredibly dangerous enemy to deal with. While this is going on we finally get the chance to find out whether Frankie's magic had any effect on Kit.

We also get to meet a few interesting people from Kit's past which I really enjoyed. Nova is a fab addition to the cast, he has some incredibly interesting abilities and he added a lot of humour but we also have an encounter with a member of Kit's family and let's just say things don't go as expected! I'm not going to say more than that so I don't spoil the surprise but I think we're going to see the series take a very interesting turn over the next few books. This series continues to be as much fun as always and I'm settling in and preparing myself for the long wait for the next book.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Misery's Way - J.C. Daniels

Her name is Frankie. At least, that’s what she calls herself.

She looks human, but she’s no more human than she is a faith-healer. That doesn’t stop her from using her…more unique abilities to take care of certain needs. It’s those abilities that lead to a chance encounter with an unusual woman in Florida.

It’s a chance encounter with fate that will set these two down a collision course with destiny.

This short story is loosely connected to the Kit Colbana Files. Can be read as a stand-alone.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
Misery's Way is set in the Kit Colbana world and in my opinion it's best read after Edged Blade because even though this is mainly introducing a new character we do get to see Kit and Justin through her eyes and you could end up getting lost if you're new to the series.

Frankie is a fascinating new character who I hope we will see again in future books of the series. She is very obviously not human but she never quite admits to what she actually is and I wasn't able to figure it out myself. She feeds off of human misery and pain but she is also able to use her gift to heal people. She has been living as a faith healer trying to save people without bringing too much attention to herself but it's very hard to stay under the radar and do a good job at the same time.

As much as I loved Frankie I really want to know more about her past and who is chasing her, I'm also incredibly curious about her (also not quite human) companion Saleel. The two have an interesting bond and I'm sure there's a story to be told but we don't get much information here.

Misery's Way is a very short story but it's priced so low that I don't think you'll be disappointed and fans of the series will enjoy getting to see Kit and Justin through an outsider's eyes. Frankie also does something that is going to have a big impact on Kit in the future and you won't want to miss that. The ebook includes a bonus extra story, Bladed Magic, which you may have already read since it was published previously but that makes this eBook an even better price if you don't already own it. My love for this series just continues to grow and this story just made me more eager than ever to get my hands on the next instalment.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Reivew: Final Protocol - J.C. Daniels

Tip #1: Don’t get on her bad side. Tip #2: There’s no good side.

Her name is Silence. If she was ever known by any other name, she doesn’t remember.

She is a killer. If she was ever anything else, she doesn’t remember.

She has an owner. If she was ever free…well, that she does remember. She was free and then somebody gave her to a madman to pay a debt that wasn’t hers. She’s his toy, his pet…and his trained killer. She kills at his whim or she dies.

She has a target. Her so-called owner…the man who makes her life a living hell. If she could kill anybody in the universe, it would be him. But he holds her life in his hands.

And she has a wish—to find a man she barely remembers. A man she knows she once loved. The man who betrayed her and stole away her freedom.

With one final target between her and the tantalizing promise of freedom, she moves in for the kill. There’s one problem. There’s something strangely familiar about her mark. Something that echoes in the void where love used to live.

Warning: One woman with a mission, one evil bastard who lies as often as he breathes, and a man who’ll stop at nothing to find what he lost. Be warned…some questionable consent lies within.

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
Silence doesn't remember much of her past, all she knows is that she has suffered 10 years of torture and abuse at the hands of her owner because the man she loved betrayed her. She has spent those 10 years being trained as an assassin and thanks to the chip implanted into her brain she has no choice but to obey her master's commands. She has very little hope of ever being able to escape so when her master offers her the chance at freedom she is immediately suspicious. He promises her that all she has to do is take out one more target and then he will release her but when she takes the job she finds herself confronting the man who sold her into slavery. Who should she trust - the man she once loved who has already betrayed her or the man who has spent the last 10 years thinking up new and fun ways to make her suffer?

This was very different from the other stories we've had from J.C. Daniels, I absolutely love her Kit Colbana urban fantasy series but found myself fully sucked into this new sci-fi story to and I actually hope we might get to see more of this world in the future. Silence is a hard character to get to know, mainly because she hardly knows herself. She has spent so long being treated like an object and being forced to do things against her will that she's pretty much forgotten what it's like to be human. We do start to dig beneath the surface though, especially when her memories start to come through, and it was interesting to see her gradually coming back to herself.

Final Protocol is a fairly short and fast read but it is full of interesting world building and great characters, I'd definitely be interested in seeing more of Silence in the future so I'm keeping my fingers crossed this will turn into a series.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Urban Fantasy Series

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week has a different theme & you can find all the details about how to join in HERE.

Today's topic is a Halloween Freebie so I've decided to talk about my Top Ten Urban Fantasy Series. These are all adult series so most of them won't be suitable for younger readers but they're all fantastic and books I'm happy to shout from the rooftops recommending. It was actually REALLY hard to narrow this list down to just 10 series so I may have sneaked a few extra in there! All links below will take you to my reviews the different series mentioned.

1. My absolute favourite urban fantasy writers would have to be Ilona and Gordon Andrews, their most well known series is about Kate Daniels, a sword wielding, totally kick arse heroine who has a great deal of power and is half of one of my favourite fictional couples. I just have one word for you - Curran. I LOVE him and that's all you need to know! These books are full of action and danger, have a great supporting cast of characters and just never fail to make me smile. You can find my reviews of the Kate Daniel's series here but I'd highly recommend EVERYTHING by these authors including their Edge series and Innkeeper Chronicles and their most recent Hidden Legacy series which I'm desperately waiting for the next instalment of. Ilona and Gordon are undoubtedly the Queen and King of urban fantasy so if you've not read any of their books you're definitely missing out.

2. Nalini Singh is another author that I absolutely adore. I'm kind of cheating with this one because her Guild Hunter series definitely straddles the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance but it's absolutely excellent so I had to include it. The series follows vampire hunter Elena as she hunts rogue vampires to keep humanity safe. This is a world where angels are in control, they're powerful and often terrifying creatures and they rule over humanity with an iron fist. The world is divided into territories, each controlled by an Archangel and Elena catches the attention of Raphael, the Archangel who runs New York. While many of the books in this series focus on Elena and Raphael and are definitely what I would consider urban fantasy (with a fairly high level of romance!) there are some books that feature other couples and are probably more paranormal romance. The world building is very strong in the whole series though and there is an incredibly likeable cast of secondary characters who all have major roles to play. If you enjoy Nalini's writing then it would be well worth checking out Nalini's Psy-Changeling series too, it's definitely PNR but also has very strong world building, wonderful characters and a lot of action. Nalini is an auto-buy author for me and I've yet to read a book by her that I didn't love.

3. I recently reread Rachel Vincent's Shifters series and I loved it just as much the second time around. The main character of this series is Faythe Sanders, a twenty something cat shifter and her family. The Shifters world is very male oriented and Faythe struggles to make some of the old fashioned council members take her seriously because she's a woman but she's stubborn, intelligent and stands up for what she believes in so she refuses to back down. This series can be quite dark in places and there were a few parts that absolutely broke my heart but I love it.

4. Another series I absolutely adore is Rachel Caine's Weather Warden and the spin off Outcast Season. It's been a long time since I read these books, in fact I read most of the series before I started blogging so it would have been about 6 or 7 years ago, but I love them. I was incredibly excited when Rachel Caine recently announced that she is going to revisit this world and I'm planning on rereading and reviewing the entire series before the new book releases next summer. These books are about humans who have the ability to control the weather and the Djinn they use to help them, the series is very different to anything else I've read and I'm looking forward to revisiting it.

5. You can't really talk about urban fantasy and not mention Patricia Briggs and her Mercy Thompson series (or the spin off Alpha & Omega books!). This is a series full of werewolves, vampires and fae and Mercy Thompson is the only known coyote shifter. She is less powerful than the other supernatural creatures around her but that never stops her for standing up for what she believes in no matter what it costs her. I love Mercy, she's one of the bravest characters you'll ever meet and I've been rooting for her from the beginning. The spin off series allows us to spend time with werewolf couple Anna and Charles and lets us explore more of the world that Patricia Briggs has created. There is always so much going on in these books and I just wish we didn't have to wait so long for new instalments!

6. So I've already included series with shifters, angels, vampires and even humans with magical abilities but the fantastic Katherine "Kitty" Katt series by Gini Koch is a little different because it's all about aliens. Kitty's whole life is turned upside down when she discovers not only that aliens exist but that they're living among us and hiding in plain sight. Not all of the aliens are benign though and when she manages to kill one of the monsters using just a pen from the bottom of her handbag Kitty is recruited to fight alongside the good aliens to protect humanity. This series is absolutely hilarious and never fails to make me laugh out loud, the characters are brilliant, the antics are madcap, the plotting is superb and I guarantee you'll never know what's coming next.

7. There is a reason that Karen Marie Moning's Fever series is such an incredibly popular one and it's a series that I'm going to be rereading over the next few weeks. Mac isn't your typical urban fantasy heroine, in fact at the very beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to like her much because she comes across as quite weak, but she goes through a baptism of fire and we really get to see what she's made of throughout the series. I ended up absolutely loving Mac but even if I hadn't these books would be worth reading just for Barrons. He's a totally mysterious, unapologetic alpha arse and I just can't resist his charms!

8. Another one of my favourite authors is Keri Arthur, she writes brilliant paranormal romances as well as urban fantasy but my favourite is her Riley Jenson series and the spin off Dark Angel books. Riley is a half werewolf- half vampire hybrid and alongside her twin brother Rhoan she works for the Directorate of Other Races, an organisation that is tasked with keeping humans safe from the huge variety of supernatural creatures that are wandering around. Life isn't easy for Riley, she is often forced into difficult situations because of her job but she always comes out fighting and I love her for that. This is a vast world and has a great range of characters and I loved meeting the next generation in the Dark Angels spin off, I keep hoping that Keri Arthur will revisit some of the other side characters in the future but I've not seen any indication that it will actually happen.

9. If you love vampires you should definitely check out Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series, Merit never asked to be a vampire but she was turned by Master Ethan when he found her badly injured after she had been attacked. He may have saved her life but he also turned it upside down at the same time and now she has to find a way to come to terms with what happened and rebuild a new life for herself with the vampires of Cadogan House. I love this series, Merit is brilliant and there are some great side characters, the series has plenty of humour but also plenty of danger, there's magic, sorcery, shapeshifters and interesting vampire politics, not to mention a brilliant romance.

10. I can't compile a list of my favourite urban fantasy series without including the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. I discovered this series back in 2010 when it was recommended to me by several UK bloggers and I've been hooked ever since. Cat Crawford is a half vampire who was born after her mother was attacked by a vampire. She has dedicated her life to killing every vampire she meets believing them all to be evil but then she meets Bones and he makes her realise that not all vampires are monsters. Cat is kick arse, Bones is hot and I absolutely love them as a couple. It's been a long time since I read these books but it's still a favourite series and I think I might be due a reread soon!

Honourable mentions:

So those are my top urban fantasy series but I feel like there are a lot of other series that also deserve some love, these are mostly (but not all) newer series so haven't quite earned such a huge place in my heart (yet!) but they're definitely ones I'm excited to continue and worth giving a try!

1. The Hollows series by Kim Harrison: I started this series before I was a blogger so I've not reviewed any of the books but I remember loving the world Kim has created and it's a series that I'm planning on starting again next year.
2. Cassandra Palmer & Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance: Two more series that I started years ago and haven't reviewed, I love Karen's writing and really want to catch up with these books.
3. Weird Girls - Cecy Robson: This series is about four sisters, each with their own unusual magical ability thanks to a curse that was placed upon them when they were children. The curse backfired and left them extremely powerful but it also placed a target on their backs and now they're trying to deal with the aftermath.
4. The Colbana Files - J.C. Daniels: Kit is a warrior born and bread and she is incredibly skilled with weapons of all kinds. She was raised to be an assassin but escaped from her family and now works as a PI trying to help people in need.
5. The Veil - Pippa DaCosta: Muse is half human and half demon, she was raised in the hell where she suffered horrific torture until she was able to escape and make it to the human realm. Her whole life has been about survival and now she just wants to live a quiet life but with the veil between the worlds starting to fail and old enemies looking to catch up with her Muse is going to have to choose which side of the upcoming war to fight for.
6. Fallen Siren series by S.J. Harper: This series is all about a siren who was cursed by Greek Goddess Demeter and it's quickly becoming a favourite, Emma is an FBI agent who specialises in tracking down kidnapping victims and her partner at the agency is a werewolf.
7. Monster Haven series by R.L. Naquin: The Monster Haven books are really light hearted and very funny reads, the author includes a huge amount of different supernatural creatures and they cause all sorts of mischief for the main character, Zoey, to deal with.

So those are my favourite urban fantasy series! Do any of them make your top ten? Have I missed any series that you love? Urban fantasy is definitely one of my favourite genres so I'd love some new recommendations :o)

Review: Edged Blade - J.C. Daniels

In the year since her life was torn apart, Kit Colbana has slowly rebuilt herself. There’s a promise of hope in the relationship with the alpha of the local shapeshifters and she no longer comes screaming into wakefulness. Life’s not perfect but then again, when was it ever?

When her best friend Justin comes to her for help, there’s little question as to what her answer will be. Witches are disappearing and Justin won’t rest until he has answers. Soon, they learn that it’s not just witches who’ve gone missing, but vampires and shifters, too.

Unlikely alliances are forged as Kit and Justin found themselves drawn into a twisted web of lies and betrayal. As the clock counts down and the culprit behind recent disappearances is revealed, those Kit loves the most become the target of somebody who will kill to protect an ugly secret.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
I absolutely love J.C. Daniels (also known as Shiloh Walker) and her Colbana Files has fast become one of my favourite urban fantasy series. The only thing I don't like about these books is having to wait for each new instalment to release so to say I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Edged Blade is an understatement. You know you're reading a good series when you can go a year between books but can immediately dive back into the world like you were just there yesterday. These characters are all so memorable that I never have any problem picking up where I left off and that's quite rare when you read as many books as I do.

Anyone familiar with the series will know what a tough journey Kit has been on, we have suffered alongside her and watched her go to hell and back but we've also seen how tough she is and watched her start putting her life back together. She came a long way in the last book but her recovery isn't complete and she still struggles to cope with certain fears. I think I find her character even easier to relate to now, she is still that kick ass warrior we first met but she also has a more vulnerable side that we never saw in the beginning. She is brave enough to work through her fears though and she won't let them stop her from helping people in need. I love her relationship with Damon and it was great to see things starting to get back on track. Her ordeal had a major effect on both of them, he felt guilt over not protecting her and she worried that he would see her as a victim, but they are moving past that now and their relationship is stronger than ever. I love how patient he was with her but I also enjoyed seeing Kit take control and tell him exactly what she wanted from him. The banter between them has always been fabulous but there were some particularly hilarious laugh out loud moments in this instalment.

As I've come to expect from the series there is also plenty of action as Kit works a case alongside Justin who is searching for missing supernaturals. Can they figure out who is taking not just witches but also shapeshifters and vampires? Why are they being taken and what is happening to them? They desperately need to find answers and they're on a time limit, one that is made even worse when someone very important to Kit goes missing. I loved watching Kit at work and especially seeing her dealing with vampires again, something that she's been dreading and trying to avoid ever since her attack. She has to really fight her fears to even be in the same room as a vampire now but she makes a surprising new ally who I'm very intrigued about and hoping we see more of going forward.

This series is going from strength to strength and Edged Blade is another fantastic instalment. It's going to be a long wait for the next book but I'm confident it'll be worth it and I'm looking forward to many more adventures with Kit and her friends.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Bladed Magic - J.C. Daniels

A Colbana Files Prequel

The events of this short story take place between A STROKE OF DUMB LUCK and BLADE SONG. It can be read as a stand-alone.

For the first time in her life, Kit Colbana’s life was going just fine. She had a nice, easy job. She’d managed to escape the not-so-loving attentions of a family who’d rather see her dead than look at her. She had a roof over her head and she didn’t have to fight for every little thing she had.

Then she finds herself tangled up with a green-eyed witch by the name of Justin. He’s looking for somebody and for some bizarre reason, he seems to think she can help. All she has to do is say no, and she can go back to her safe little existence. That’s exactly what she needs to do and she knows it.

Too bad she’s not very good at following her own advice.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
Bladed Magic is a short story prequel to the Colbana Files series by J.C. Daniels so you can start with this story even if you're new to the series. If you're a series reading order nut like me then it technically fits into the timeline after A Stroke of Dumb Luck (another short story) and before the first book Blade Song.

For people who are new to the series this is a nice introduction to the main character Kit Colbana, you'll learn a little about her history and discover some of her magical abilities but obviously as this is a short story it won't go into a huge amount of detail. I think it does a good job of showing what a kickass character she can be though and this is a great way to test the waters if you're not sure whether to start the series or not. I do think it's worth pointing out that Justin isn't the love interest for these books so even though he and Kit have some chemistry you shouldn't read too much into that - I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed when they go on to read Blade Song.

If, like me, you're up to date with the series then I'm sure you'll love this chance to see how Kit met her ex Justin. This story shows just how Kit was persuaded out of her hiding place in TJ's bar and how she ended up working as a private investigator. It was Justin's encouragement that helped her get past her anxiety to start taking control of her life again and I enjoyed seeing how instrumental he is in helping her discover more about her abilities.

The Colbana Files has quickly become one of my favourite urban fantasy series since I discovered it so it's one I'd highly recommend. If you're a fan of Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews then I'm sure you'll enjoy J.C. Daniels just as much!

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

Other Reviews:
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Review: Broken Blade - J.C. Daniels

Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she's retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man's land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn't taking the hint.

Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic...one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it's a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.

Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world's original monsters.

If she survives the job, she won’t be the same...and neither will those closest to her.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of this series and after the shocking ending of Night Blade I was desperate to get my hands on Broken Blade. I'll warn you now that this review will probably contain spoilers for previous books so if you're not up to date with the series then you probably want to look away now. Not before I tell you that this is an absolutely fabulous urban fantasy series though, trust me if you haven't started it yet then you need to get yourself a copy of Blade Song immediately! Fans of kick ass heroines and authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs will LOVE the Colbana Files. Now, back to my review (and potential spoilers for Night Blade so now is the time to look away if you haven't read it!).

I'm sure anyone who read the previous book has been just as desperate as I was to find out how Kit is coping with the aftermath of her horrific experiences. She went through hell and even though she survived she is completely and utterly broken. J.C. Daniels doesn't take the easy way out on this one and she shows us just how hard it is for Kit to pull herself back from the depths of despair. Kit has always been a fighter but this time she has just given up, she is pushing away everyone who cares about her and has gone into hiding at Wolf Haven. My heart hurt for her and the beginning of the book really tugs on your emotions as you see what she is going through. Kit has been broken before though and surviving only made her stronger, it takes a lot for her to pick herself back up all over again but our girl has a core of steel and nothing is going to keep her down for too long.

I was so incredibly proud of Kit for the way she starts to put her life back together, it's not all plain sailing and she still has a lot of pain and anger to work through but she's made a good start. I think one of the things I appreciated most was seeing how the events had effected not just Kit but also those around her. Damon feels so guilty for not protecting her and Kit has anger towards him for the same reason even though logically she knows there is nothing he could have done. It was interesting to see how people reacted to Kit and how their attitude towards her had changed, the shifters in particular can't even meet her eyes any more which made me incredibly angry. I have to admit I was surprised at their reasoning though, I thought it was because they thought she was damaged goods but the truth was much more understandable.

Obviously Broken Blade is an incredibly emotional read, it had me close to tears on numerous occasions and really put me through the wringer but I loved it all the more for not taking the easy way out. Even though this story is the most emotional one of the series that doesn't mean there is any less ass kicking and when Kit comes out fighting she does it in style. There are a lot of things she is having to relearn about herself but she will always be a warrior deep down and she proves that to herself and everyone else by the end of the book. She still has a way to go in the recovery process but she has made good progress and it left me feeling hopeful that she'll be back and stronger than ever before too long. I'm already dying to get my hands on the next instalment to the series so I don't know how I'm going to survive another year long wait. This really has become one of my favourite series and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Source: Received from the publisher 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.

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