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: Darkness Falls - Keri Arthur

The bestselling Dark Angels series builds to a breathtaking conclusion as half-werewolf, half-aedh Risa Jones treads a knife's edge between the salvation of the human race and its total annihilation.

The search for the last key to the gates of hell has begun. Risa Jones is in more danger than ever - and one misstep could prove ruinous. It's only a matter of time before Madeleine Hunter, the dangerous head of the vampire council, begins her plan for complete domination. For Risa, that comes with an alarming ultimatum: hand over the last key to Hunter or, one by one, her loved ones will die. Now it's a race against time for Risa to save those she loves and to stop Hunter's apocalyptic plans to open the gates of hell . . .

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
Once again it's been time to say goodbye to a much loved series so I put off reading Darkness Falls for a while even though I was desperate to find out how everything was resolved. One of the things I really love about Keri Arthur is that she never drags her series out just because they're popular, in fact she often ends them before I'm really ready for it. She obviously has her stories planned well in advance and as much as I'm sad to say goodbye to this world, I would rather see things end on a high note than be dragged out forever like some series I won't mention. The Dark Angel series definitely went out with a bang and I have really loved every single book.

I'm not going to say much about what happens in this book but I will tell you that there is plenty of action and we get to see a lot of loose ends tied together. We discover what the future holds for Risa and Azriel, we get a glimpse at all our favourite characters from the previous Riley Jenson series, we finally see Madeleine Hunter make her move to take over the vampire council and we see Risa locate the final key. Once again Risa is working to a very tight schedule, she is doing her best to protect everyone she cares about but with so many enemies coming at her from all different directions it isn't going to be easy to fight them all.

Risa has really come into her own since the beginning of this series, she was already pretty powerful but she's learned a lot about her aedh side and picked up some interesting new abilities thanks to her bond with Azriel. She isn't perfect and she's made mistakes in the past by trusting the wrong people but she has the courage to stand up for herself and others and she always does what she thinks is right. I've loved the relationship between her and Azriel, it hasn't been easy for them but I've been rooting for a happy ending for them for a long time now. You're going to have to read the book for yourselves to see if they get one but I think you'll be happy with the overall outcome of the series.

I'm sad that it's over but I've enjoyed the journey and I'm already looking forward to rereading these books at some point in the future.

Source: Received from Piatkus 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.

Paperback / Kindle

Review: Darkness Splintered - Keri Arthur

Risa has angered several powerful people, and now she's feeling the pressure from all sides. In particular, she's come under the eagle-eyed scrutiny of the vampire council - some of whom consider her a monster who should be destroyed. But then they decide to offer her a secret, bloody bargain: to save her own life she must help them defeat Hunter, the lethal head of the council . . .

As the search for the keys to hell heats up, Risa realises that she has no choice. For the sake of the people she loves, she must find the keys - and get rid of Hunter - before the next gate is opened and brings the world closer to all hell breaking loose . . .

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
I have been a fan of this series since the beginning but it really does get better and better with every instalment. Risa has been on a very steep learning curve when it comes to her adeh abilities but she is still discovering more that she can do and I'm loving seeing her character blossom. I've also enjoyed every minute of her relationship with reaper Azriel, they have some issues to work through in this instalment but they come out the other side stronger than ever and I was so pleased to see them on in such a good place relationship wise.

Risa may be confident about her feelings for Azriel but the rest of her life is very much in flux. Her best friend Tao is still struggling to gain control of the fire elemental that he consumed to save Illiana's life and they're facing the very real risk of losing him forever. Both Risa and Illiana are also dealing with the after effects of Lucian's actions in the last book. As if that wasn't enough Risa is being hounded on all sides by people who want her to find the keys to hell for them, she has her father, the Raziq, a crazed dark sorceress and Madeline Hunter - the terrifying head of the vampire council - on her tail and they ALL want the keys for their own reasons. Risa is working hard to try and protect the keys but it isn't easy when she is up against so many opponents.

This story was quite a hard hitting one, not as dark as the last book but there are some very surprising occurrences. Madeline Hunter seems to have completely lost the plot, there has been no love lost between her and Risa since the beginning but it looks like things are reaching the point of no return and Risa may end up having to face off against this incredibly powerful enemy. I'm sad that Darkness Falls is the last book in the series because I'm going to miss this world and the characters when I finish it but at the same time I can't wait to see how things play out for Risa 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: Darkness Unmasked - Keri Arthur

Risa Jones, a half-aedh/half-werewolf, can speak to the souls of the dying and the dead, and see Reapers, the collectors of souls. She received a phone call from Madeline Hunter, the leader of the vampire council, ordering her to investigate the death of Hunter's close friend and lover, Wolfgang Schmidt. His body has been discovered wrapped in a web-like substance and has been completely drained. As the body count continues to grow Risa must summon her gifts to find the dark spirit before it strikes again.

Meanwhile, as the search for the keys that keep the gate to Hell closed grows more intense, Risa begins to unravel mysteries that will have startling consequences for her.

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
I've been on a bit of a reading slump for the last couple of days so I decided to pull out the big guns and I knew Keri Arthur wouldn't fail me. I was right, this series just get better with every instalment and Darkness Unmasked was absolutely fantastic.

Risa has already been through so much but the pace just never lets up and this story sees her facing worse challenges than ever before. Hunter has set Risa the task of tracking down a murderer, one who leaves her victims little more than a dried up, empty husk that has been encased in a mysterious web. As if tracking down a murderer that seems to be part giant spider wasn't bad enough she is still trying to track down the remaining keys to hell and more than one enemy has a vested interest in her succeeding quickly. Risa is juggling a lot of balls all while trying to keep her friends safe and stop the gates to hell from being opened permanently but now more than ever she is at risk of losing everything.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot of Darkness Unmasked because I'd hate to give spoilers but oh wow Keri Arthur does not hold back in this story and she takes Risa to dark places I'd never have dreamed of even in my worst nightmares. An old enemy makes a reappearance and as despicable as his behaviour was in the past that was nothing compared to what he has up his sleeve this time around. I was shocked and horrified by what happens, not just to Risa but also to one of her closest friends, and I have no idea who that is going to effect things for the rest of the series.

It isn't all bad though and one of the things I've been loving for the last few books is the continued development of Risa's relationship with Azriel. It's been so great to see Azriel become more human in his reaction to things, I've been fascinated by his character from the beginning but I love him even more now we're starting to see his sense of humour and how much he obviously cares about Risa. Their relationship has never run smoothly and they still have more challenges to face but I have hope that they'll be able to work things out eventually.

Darkness Unmasked had me on the edge of my seat and it's left me desperate to know what happens next. I'm thankful that the entire series is already available and I'm sure I'll be devouring the remaining two books very soon. In fact, I'm planning on diving right into Darkness Splintered as soon as I finish writing this review!

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: Darkness Hunts - Keri Arthur

Risa Jones, half-aedh / half-werewolf can enter the realm between life and death. She can speak to the dying and the dead, and she can see the Reapers, collectors of souls. What she cannot yet see is the identity of a stranger murdering women and draining their blood. Now Risa must summon her gifts to find him, even if it means putting her own life in danger. But Risa needn't look far. The killer knows who she is.

Fascinated by Risa, he engages her in a sinister game: the chance to save the life of his next victim by deciphering his series of clues. In a race against time, she enlists the help of the Reaper, Azriel. But as an attraction between them grows, so does the fear that the stranger's motives are only part of a larger, more dangerous scheme - one that has lured Risa and Azriel into the dark.

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
I've become really hooked on this series over the last few weeks so it'll be no surprise if I tell you that I absolutely devoured Darkness Hunts. Poor Risa seems to go from one fight for her life straight into the next one without a moment to even breathe let alone sleep or eat. Now she has managed to capture the attention of a murderer, one who is attacking his victims on the astral plane, somewhere that even Azriel can't help her so this time she really is on her own.

I absolutely love seeing how far Risa has come in this series, she has gone from strength to strength and although she makes mistakes she always comes back fighting. I think one of the things I love most about her is that she isn't invulnerable, she has impressive abilities but she still gets injured and she feels the after effects of a battle just like anyone else would. I can't even tell you how much I've been enjoying the relationship development between her and Azriel. I've been crazy about his character since the very beginning and desperately want to see the two of them work things out but it isn't easy for them when they are both so different. There are obviously deep feelings there though and I have high hopes that they'll work things out.

Another thing I'm really enjoying is seeing her connection with her sword Amaya, I have a feeling that this is only going to grow stronger with time and it will probably be the thing that saves Risa in the long run. I'm also glad we finally have some kind of resolution to things with Lucian. I've had a bad feeling about his character from the beginning and some of his actions in this book are despicable. I have to say the one thing that stopped this from being a five star read was Risa's reaction when she finds out what Lucian has been up to. I expected her to be outraged by the things he did and she seemed to take them far to calmly and in her stride. I would have been much happier if she had given him a piece of her mind and kicked him into touch.

Like all of the previous books Darkness Hunts has plenty of action, Risa is dealing with the aftermath of her attack by her father's enemies and at the same time trying to juggle the wishes of the vampire council and the Directorate who both need her help, she is having to keep secrets from the people she loves in the hope of protecting them from a madman all while she struggles to deal with her feelings for Azriel and the way he keeps blowing hot and cold with her. I just can't wait to see what happens in Darkness Unmasked!

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: Darkness Devours - Keri Arthur

Half-werewolf, half-aedh Risa Jones can enter the realm between life and death, and she can see the Reapers who collect the souls of the dead. Now she is using her gifts - and the investigative know-how of a man who broke her heart - to find a cabal searching for the power to control time, reality and fate. And this is beside her work for the Vampire Council, half of whom want her dead.

But for now the Council needs her alive. Someone is killing blood-whore addicted vampires, and Risa must find the guilty party. If she succeeds, she may finally convince the council to lift the execution order on her life. But before she succeeds, she must first survive . . .

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
The Dark Angels series is just getting better and better with each instalment and I'm excited that the rest of the books are already available so I'm going to be able to devour them in quick succession. I'm a huge fan of Keri Arthur and she never disappoints so if you've not read these books (or any of her others!) then I'd definitely recommend them. You do need to read this series in order starting with Darkness Unbound though so if you're new to this series please don't carry on reading this review or you'll probably end up with spoilers!

Now that Risa has been coerced into working for Madeline Hunter and the rest of the Vampire Council she's in a very difficult position. She only made the deal for Hunter's help finding out who murdered her mother but since they're not offering her much in the way of assistance she is getting the raw end of things since they're constantly testing her. As much as she wants to tell Hunter where to go Risa knows that wouldn't be good for her health, as it is half of the Council want her dead and the only way to get them off her back is to solve the mystery of who is murdering blood-addicted vampires. Luckily she's got reaper Azriel on her side but even he can only do so much and she'll be lucky to survive the latest case.

I think the thing I love the most about this series is the characters, Risa's two very good friends Tao and Illiana have both proved time and time again that they would do anything for Risa and it's obvious how much they all care for each other. Risa doesn't want to get them involved but neither of them are going to walk away easily. My favourite character from the beginning (aside from Risa of course) is without a doubt Azriel, he has always stolen the show every time he steps onto the pages and that's no exception here. I am absolutely loving seeing his relationship with Risa grow, I have a feeling he's keeping more than a few secrets but I don't doubt for a second that he would do anything to protect her. I was actually pleased that we saw less of Lucien in this instalment, I've never particularly trusted his character and I'm convinced that he has his own agenda that doesn't necessarily include looking out for Risa's best interests. I'm hoping we'll find out one way or the other soon and that Risa will send him out of her life on a permanent basis!

We do get to meet an interesting character from Risa's past too, Jak is the werewolf who used her to write a story about her mother and broke her heart in the process so I was predisposed to hate him but he's actually incredibly charming. I'm glad that Risa doesn't trust him and isn't planning on letting him get too close again in the future but I did end up quite liking the banter between them and the way he constantly teases her. Jak isn't a great guy, he fully admits that the story is always the most important thing to him and that he'll do whatever it takes to get it, which definitely doesn't make him trustworthy but he's not a bad person for Risa to have in her corner the whole time their interests align. He has useful contacts and he's willing to help Risa as long as there is something in it for him in the long run.

I think Darkness Devours was probably the most action packed story in the series so far, Risa has a lot to deal with and there are plenty of obstacles in her way so be prepared for some new and interesting enemies to pop up. I love the way Keri Arthur is always expanding on her world building to add new creatures and legends because you really never can guess what she'll throw at you next. I can't wait to dive into Darkness Hunts to see what's next for Risa and crew.

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: Darkness Rising - Keri Arthur

Risa will go to any lengths to avenge her mother's murder - even if it means making a pact with the most evil vampire she's ever met. Lethal and powerful, Madeline Hunter is leader of the vampire council and will put her resources behind finding the killer - for a price. The venerable vampire requires the assistance of Risa's psychic powers. Quid pro quo.

Someone - or something - is targeting the elders of the local council, cursing the immortal vampires to rapidly age, sink into madness and die. Risa must track down the vengeful being responsible. But Risa's father a rogue Aedh priest, also enlists her in a dangerous mission. And not even the great Madeline Hunter may be able to protect her from the shadowy forces that desire nothing less than Risa's destruction.

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
As a huge fan of the Riley Jenson series I was excited that Keri Arthur decided to continue writing about this world from Risa's point of view. For fans like me it is fantastic to get glimpses of some of our favourite original characters but at the same time I think the author has done a great job of getting us invested in the lives of Risa and her friends. After the utterly heartbreaking events at the end of Darkness Unbound I knew Risa was going to be in for a tough time of it in Darkness Rising and I wasn't wrong, everything is against her in this book and she's forced to make some very difficult decisions.

Risa is still grieving for her mother but more than anything she is determined to find out who was behind her murder so that she can make them pay. She is desperate for revenge and will do whatever it takes, even if that means working for Madeline Hunter, head of the vampire council, to achieve her goals. The last thing Risa really needs is to be caught in Madeline's spotlight and forced to investigate the deaths of some very old and powerful vampires but she doesn't have a choice if she wants access to information that only Madeline can provide. As if her two different investigations weren't enough to worry about her father, the Adeh who has been absent for her entire life, makes a sudden reappearance and he has an important task for her. Failure isn't an option unless Risa wants her friends to pay the price.

I'm really enjoying getting to know Risa, she isn't as strong as Riley was but she's still quite kickass in her own way and she definitely refuses to back down from a challenge. I love the supportive friendships she has with her room-mates Tao and Illiana and the way all three of them have each other's backs no matter what. I'm not a fan of the newly introduced character Lucien but I absolutely adore Azriel. We get to see a more human side to him in this instalment and I think he's really starting to care for Risa, I definitely want to see more of the two of them as the series continues because I'm loving the hints we're getting of the chemistry between them. I have a feeling if they ever give into that desire things are going to be explosive.

This series has a good amount of action making it real page turner that I didn't want to put down. I love the humour throughout the story too along with the camaraderie between Risa's group of allies. I have a feeling things are going to get even more complicated thanks to Madeline's interest in Risa, I wouldn't trust that woman as far as I could throw her and we've seen from her interactions with Riley that she always has an ulterior motive. I just hope Risa hasn't got herself in over her head and I guess I'll have to read Darkness Devours ASAP to find 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.

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Review: Darkness Unbound - Keri Arthur

Born from a lab-enhanced clone mother and an Aedh father, Risa Jones can not only talk to the souls of the dying and the dead, but she can see reapers and walk the grey fields that divide this world from the next. They are skills she rarely uses, however. But when her mother asks her to help the parents of a little girl locked in a coma, she reluctantly agrees. What she discovers terrifies her: someone has ripped the girl’s soul from her flesh.

As it turns out, a creature consuming the souls of the innocent - and not so innocent - is the least of her problems. Because someone wants to rip open the gates that divide hell from earth, and Risa is a key component in their plans. And the only person standing between her and disaster is a reaper who isn't exactly on her side.

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Visit Keri Arthur's website for more information

Review:
Darkness Unbound is the first book in Keri Arthur's Dark Angels series. It is a spin off from the Riley Jenson series staring Dia's daughter Risa and does have cameo appearances from Riley and the rest of our favourite characters. I do think that it would be possible to read this new series separately but be aware that it will give you spoilers for how the Riley books ended if you decide to pick them up at a later date. I'm a massive fan of Keri Arthur's and would highly recommend both the Riley series and Darkness Unbound.

If you've read the Riley series then you'll remember Risa as a young child, Darkness Unbound begins her story about 25 years later. Risa is now 28 years old and runs a restaurant with her two best friends Ilianna and Tao. As a half-werewolf and half-Aedh she has some unusual abilities that have put her in the Directorate's radar, they want her to become a Guardian like her aunt Riley but so far she has refused. All she really wants is a quiet life, she may be able to see reapers and visit the grey lands (the spirit world) but she only does so reluctantly and usually when she feels compelled to help someone.

It did feel a bit strange at first to be reading about Risa as an adult but it didn't take me too long to get used to that. I loved getting a glimpse of how things have turned out for Riley, Quinn, Rhoan and Liander but I'm glad that they weren't the main focus of the story. I hope we see more of them as the series continues but I don't want them to overtake Risa. We are introduced to an interesting new cast of characters and I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better. Risa and her friends Ilianna (a mare who is also a powerful witch) and Tao (a werewolf with the ability to control fire) are a tight group and have each others backs. It's always nice to read about supportive friendships and this was no exception. Risa is a strong woman on her own but surrounded by her friends and family she can take on the world. In fact she will do anything to protect those she loves but I like the fact that she isn't too proud to ask for help when she needs it.

Risa's current love interest is another Aedh called Lucien, now he may be hot but I have to admit that I have my suspicions about him. There is nothing concrete but I just don't trust him and am concerned that he doesn't actually have Risa's best interests at heart. I'm much more interested in reaper Azriel - who can resist a half naked, sword wielding warrior? - and after watching the attraction between him and Risa I have high hopes for a future romance between them.

The plot is just as strong as any of Keri Arthur's other books although there is slightly more focus on introducing the new characters as this is the first of a new series. I'm fascinated with Risa's abilities and have a feeling we've only touched the surface of what she can do. I'm also very curious to find out more about her father and to see how Risa copes with the aftermath of a very shocking event at the end of the first book. This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Source: Received from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle
 

Review: Moon Sworn - Keri Arthur

She ventures where no one else dares - into realms of peril and pleasure. But will this next journey be her last?

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death - causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate Kye Murphy is dead - and at Riley's own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover Quinn can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley - including her job at the Directorate.

But then ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons start turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. For a vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her twin brother- and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark for ever . . .

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
It's always a bittersweet moment when you reach the final book in a series you love. There's that sense of sadness that the journey is over but if the author has done it well there is also gratitude that the series is ending on a high note rather than dragging on for too long and ruining things. I think Keri Arthur has ended the Riley Jenson series at just the right time, I'd much rather be left wanting more than be dreading yet another installment. Although this review won't contain spoilers for Moon Sworn please bear in mind that this is the ninth and final book in the series and I will be mentioning things that could spoil earlier books if you've not already read them. If you haven't started the Riley Jenson series yet then it is one I'd highly recommend.

Moon Sworn picks up not long after the ending of Bound to Shadows, Riley is just returning to work after the death of her soul mate. She may have hated Kye but she didn't want to be forced into killing him and her wolf side is devastated by his loss.  Luckily she has Quinn, Rhoan and Liander to help her pick up the pieces. Nothing is ever simple for Riley though and a blast from her past has an elaborate plan to destroy everything she loves. Riley will be forced to face her toughest challenge yet if she wants to be able to keep her family close.

The Riley that we say goodbye to at the end of the series is very different to the Riley we met in Full Moon Rising. She has gone through physical changes thanks to the drugs that were slipped into her system by Talon and she has grown stronger mentally thanks to her Guardian training. She has never been comfortable with what the Directorate want her to become though so although she will do what she has to to protect herself and those she loves she doesn't want to become a stone cold killing machine. I have to admire her for knowing her limits and sticking to them.

I don't want to give any spoilers so I'm just going to say that I loved Moon Sworn and think it was my favourite book in the series. I loved the way Keri Arthur has left things with Riley, Quinn, Rhoan and Liander and I couldn't have picked a better ending. This was a fabulous end to a great series and although I'm sad to have reached the end of the journey I'm excited to start the spin off Dark Angels series starring Risa which I believe will have occasional appearances from Riley and the gang.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Review: Bound to Shadows - Keri Arthur

At a local vampire club, someone is beheading the clientele, and the peace the Guardians are meant to maintain is getting shaky. Human and vampire fatalities escalate and Riley Jenson - a rare hybrid of werewolf and vampire - finds herself struggling to make sense of the murders and, in particular, her main suspect: the club's owner Dante Starke and his powerful sexual aura.

And if things weren't bad enough, she's also torn between her love for Quinn and her connection with the unpredictable werewolf Kye - her soulmate. With the city on the verge of all-out war, Riley must not only capture the killer, but choose between the man she loves and the man she's destined to be with.

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

Dark Angel Series:
(This is a spin off from the Riley Jenson Guardian series)
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
Darkness Falls

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
I'm a big fan of Keri Arthur and the Riley Jenson series and Bound to Shadows was probably one of my favourite books in the series so far. Although I'm looking forward to reading the next and final book Moon Sworn I'm actually quite sad that the series is coming to a close, I'll miss Riley and her gang when it's all over. This review won't have spoilers for Bound to Shadows but please be aware that this is book 8 in the series so it will include spoilers for previous books.

Since Riley discovered her wolf soul mate Kye her love life has become even more complicated than ever before. She is madly in love with vampire Quinn but her wolf side pines for Kye even though Riley can't stand him. So far she has been able to avoid spending much time with Kye but now he is back and seems determined to claim Riley whether she wants him to or not. The attraction between them is strong but it is more of a love to hate kind of thing than a genuine love match, Riley is terrified that it will cause problems between her and Quinn but she is powerless to avoid Kye - her wolf just won't let that happen. I've gone through periods of loving and loathing Quinn throughout the series but he has changed a lot over the later books and I really want him and Riley to get a happy ending. It's about time that poor Riley had some kind of luck with men, lets face it she has had some disastrous relationships in the past!

Bound to Shadows managed to surprise me several times, the plot was strong and I enjoyed the mystery of who was behind the deaths of the vampires. I enjoyed watching Riley try to deal with her attraction to Kye and still keep things on track with Quinn. Keri Arthur doesn't hold back and isn't afraid to take her characters to dark places. I actually shed tears while reading this one but I'm not going to tell you why, I'll just say I was gutted by something that happened towards the end of the book. I love reading about Riley's twin Rhoan and his partner Liander so it was good to see more of them both in this instalment, in fact they made a very important announcement and I can't wait to see the results of this in the next book. Bound to Shadows is a great read and I'd highly recommend this series if you haven't already discovered it.

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.