Review: Shadowblack - Sebastien de Castell

A Shadowblack plague is taking hold . . . The second book in the page-turning SPELLSLINGER fantasy series.

It's a few months since Kellen left the Jan'Tep people. Now aged sixteen, Kellen is an outlaw, relying on his wits to keep him alive in the land of the Seven Sands. He misses home, he misses family and more than anything, he misses Nephenia, who he once loved.

Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind, and who carries a secret that's all too familiar to Kellen. Kellen and Ferius resolve to help - but the stakes are far higher than they realise. A Shadowblack plague is taking hold - and Kellen can't help but suspect his own people may be behind it.

Spellslinger Series:
Spellslinger
The Dowager Magus (Free short story)
Shadowblack
Charmcaster
Soulbinder
Queenslayer (May 2019)
Crownbreaker (October 2019)

Visit Sebastien de Castell's website for more information

Review:
Shadowblack picks up Kellen's story several months after the end of Spellslinger, now an outcast amongst his own people, Kellen is currently travelling through the Seven Sands with his mentor the Argosi Ferius, and Reichis, his violent squirrel-cat sidekick. Life isn't easy as an outlaw and the group are living by their wits trying to stay ahead of the Jan'Tep mages who have been sent after them but life gets even more complicated when they come across another Argosi and her charge. Seneria isn't a member of the Jan'Tep but she has been afflicted with the same mysterious Shadowblack illness as Kellen, it looks like a plague has broken out in the Seven Sands and both Kellen and Ferius feel duty bound to investigate it.

I was a little surprised at the direction that this book took, I think I was expecting to see more of the Jan'Tep and a confrontation with Kellen's family but I actually really enjoyed getting to explore a bit more of this world and having the chance to meet other characters who aren't mages. Seneria was an great character but it was Dexan, a fellow Spellslinger like Kellen, and Rosie, another Argosi, who I was most interesting. I've been wanting to know more about the Argosi way of life and we did start to get answers to some of my many questions here, Ferius is as closemouthed and guarded in her answers as ever but Rosie is a little more willing to explain herself. It was really interesting to see how both Argosi interpreted their roles so differently and were on completely different paths despite having very similar beliefs. Dexan was one of those characters who always looks out for themselves but he definitely made life interesting so I hope we'll get to see more of him.

Of course Reichis continues to steal the show for me, he's just such a funny character and I love how he always thinks violence is the answer. His constant threats to eat people's eyeballs always have me laughing and I really do think that every book should have its own murderous squirrel-cat to lighten the mood! Shadowblack has raised the stakes for the series, we're starting to uncover more about what is going on in the wider world and now it's up to Kellen to decide what he is willing to do about it. He has several options available to him at the end of this story and I think the decision he makes says a lot about the kind of man he's turning into. I'm already enjoying this series a lot and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Dowager Magus - Sebastien de Castell

Set during the events of the first Spellslinger book, Mer’essan, a Dowager Magus of the Jan’Tep finds her contemplations interrupted by a mysterious stranger who brings unexpected danger into Mer’essan’s life.

This is a free short story that can be read on Sebastien de Castell's website

Spellslinger Series:
Spellslinger
The Dowager Magus (Free short story)
Shadowblack
Charmcaster
Soulbinder
Queenslayer (May 2019)
Crownbreaker (October 2019)

Visit Sebastien de Castell's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed this little short story showing the first meeting between the Dowager Magus Mer’essan and the wanderer Ferius of the Argosi.

I'm not going to say much about it but you can get this and other short stories for free by signing up to Sebastien de Castell's newsletter here: https://decastell.com/secrets/

Source: Read for free on the author's website

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Review: Spellslinger - Sebastien de Castell

MAGIC IS A CON GAME.

Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone.

As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path.

Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...

The first in a rich and compelling fantasy series bursting with tricks, traps and a devious talking squirrel cat.

Spellslinger Series:
Spellslinger
The Dowager Magus (Free short story)
Shadowblack
Charmcaster
Soulbinder
Queenslayer (May 2019)
Crownbreaker (October 2019)

Visit Sebastien de Castell's website for more information

Review:
Kellan comes from a people with two very different types of citizen, you either pass your magic trials before your sixteenth birthday and become Jan'Tep (a mage) or you fail and become Sha'Tep (basically second class citizens whose only duty is to serve the mages). Kellan comes from a powerful family so there should be no question about whether he'll pass or not, there's just one small problem though, his magic is gone. If Kellan can't find a way to get it back his life will be a misery but when Ferius, a mysterious traveller, passes through his village she makes him question everything and offers him the chance at a different kind of life.

There is a lot to love about Spellslinger, the story was fast paced and had me totally hooked from very early on. It was very easy to connect to Kellan and it felt like I was going though the trials right alongside him, I hurt for him when he failed and I wanted to climb into the book to defend him when he was bullied by other kids his age for his practically nonexistent magic. There was a lot of humour in the story but there were some really dark things too. It was hard to like any of the Jan'Tep and Kellan's parents crossed lines that were incredibly painful to read about so I'd happily set them on fire and watch them burn.

It was only the humour that Ferius brought to the story and the addition of Reichis, the talking squirrel cat, that kept this from being a bit too dark for me but they were such fun characters to read about and I was so invested in Kellan's story that I couldn't put the book down. I have very high hopes for this series and can't wait to see where Kellan's journey takes him next.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Heartstone Thief - Pippa DaCosta

In the City of Brea, thieves and sorceresses do not mix.

When Curtis Vance—professional thief—stumbles into a sorceress’s trap, he’d prefer to kill her than help her. Now bound to the insane sorceress, his only escape (and chance to turn a profit) is to find the long forgotten Dragon Eye gem. Little does Vance know, the Dragon Eye holds more than the key to Vance’s freedom. The Eye could awaken a devastating power—a worldkiller bent on destruction, and Vance is all that stands in its way.

The ebook version of The Heartstone Thief is exclusive to the box set Legends of the Damned: A Collection of Edgy Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Pippa DaCosta has done it again! A new world, a fabulously delicious anti-hero, an homicidal and slightly insane heroine and it all adds up to another book that you'll just want to get lost in!

There aren't many authors who can consistently come up with such exciting new worlds and series for their readers to play in but Pippa is one of the best. I'd kind of like to take a holiday inside her brain and go rooting around to see what else she has hiding in there! The Heartstone Thief is a fabulous story and one I'm really hoping is the start of a new series (please write more Pippa, please, please, please!). This is a world full of magic but not your nice wave-a-want-and-get-whatever-you-want magic, its a darker magic, one that demands a very high price. Be careful what you wish for because it might just come at a cost you weren't prepared to pay!

Curtis Vance is one messed up anti-hero with a dark and troubled past, he's a mercenary thief who doesn't think twice about taking from others as long as he's getting paid for his troubles. When he is approached by a mysterious sorceress he agrees to help her look for a hidden treasure but he completely ignores her warnings about the danger involved, after all there is no such thing as magic and the monsters she describes can't possibly exist. Well that was what he thought anyway, he plans to go along with her until he can steal her treasure out from under her nose but that backfires quite spectacularly when he finds himself caught up in something huge, something that could end up costing him everything.

I absolutely loved The Heartstone Thief, the characters are fantastic and full of surprises, the world is dark and twisted and its full of action and adventure. Pippa DaCosta takes us on a thrilling journey thats full of surprises and will leave you breathless. She definitely has another future hit on her hands with this one and I'm keeping everything crossed that she turns it into a series.

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

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Review: The Ghoul Vendetta - Lisa Shearin

Men in Black meets Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum in the fourth urban fantasy novel in the series starring seer Makenna Fraser and her fellow agents at Supernatural Protection & Investigation.

The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) are paid to keep the peace. But that’s not so easy when an endless evil threatens to tear that peace to pieces...

A vampire gangster’s nephew is abducted off his yacht by a bunch of low-rent Creatures from the Black Lagoon. A slew of banks are knocked over by what looks like the cast of Night of the Living Dead. All of this may seem like the movies, but, I promise you, it’s not.

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI, and I know the culprits aren’t wearing disguises or makeup. They’re real. Deadly real. Especially their leader—an ancient shapeshifter who leaves a trail of chaos and blood in his wake. Now, he’s taken my partner, Ian—and his intentions aren’t pretty.

The worst part? This is only the beginning...

The beginning of the end of the human race.

SPI Files:
Lucky Charms (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
The Grendel Affair
The Dragon Conspiracy
The Brimstone Deception
The Ghoul Vendetta

Visit Lisa Shearin's website for more information

Review:
What should have been a fun date for Seer Mac and her Goblin boyfriend Rake quickly turns sour when the yacht they're partying on is attacked by a kraken and a bunch of other weird creatures normally only seen in bad sci-fi movies. Things only get worse when ghouls start carrying out perfect bank jobs and eating any security guards who come anywhere close to catching them in the act. Throw in an old vendetta against her SPI partner Ian and shocking kidnap and Mac realises the stakes have never been higher but can she rescue Ian from the clutches of a madman AND save the world from an ancient enemy or is she destined to fail?

One of the things I love most about this series is the way Lisa Shearin keeps coming up with interesting new creatures to populate her world with. We've had dragons, gorgons, demons and more but The Ghoul Vendetta increases the stakes and introduces a whole new host of monsters for Mac to worry about. We also get to find out a lot more about Ian's background which was fascinating (I wish we'd seen some of the story from his point of view though!). Mac is much more confident than she was at the beginning of the series and while she's not the strongest fighter in the SPI she's definitely willing to stand up when it counts, especially when her partner's life is on the line.

If there is one thing I'm a little disappointed with it's the romance though. Rake has really grown on me as a character but I just don't see any real connection between him and Mac which makes it very hard to believe in them as a couple. Mac spends so much time thinking about Ian that Rake is pretty much an after thought throughout the whole book, even when he's going out of his way to help her. It's probably easy to guess that I'm totally team Ian but I can see that ship has firmly sailed and I'm sure I'll get over it eventually. I just hope the author can actually create half the chemistry between Mac and Rake that she's already done between Mac and Ian. Luckily the romance isn't the main focus of the story though and I'm happy to just roll with the unbelievable relationships because I'm enjoying the rest of the story so much.

The Ghoul Vendetta has plenty of action and some really funny moments to lighten up the dark nature of the ghoul attacks. We're getting a much view of the world now and there are some really interesting revelations that will have a knock on effect as the series continues. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where things go from here and I'm still not-so-secretly keeping my fingers crossed that Mac and Ian will see sense and stop dating other people when they're both so obviously in love with each other LOL.

Source: Received from Ace in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Brimstone Deception - Lisa Shearin

The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) know that fighting evil is a full-time job, especially when a new designer drug - with mind-blowing side effects - hits the streets . . .

It's called Brimstone. After the first few hits, you'll see every supernatural beast sharing the sidewalk, train, or office with you. After that, you'll start seeing the really scary stuff.

I'm Makenna Fraser, seer for the SPI. And the collateral damage caused by Brimstone is something I'd like to unsee: dead drug dealers missing their hearts - and souls. Because your local pusher doesn't stand a chance against the new cartel muscling its way into New York. Plus, since the drug can only be produced with magic and molten brimstone fresh from Hell, a rift to the underworld must be open somewhere in the city.

And when - not if - the cartel loses control of it, well . . .

It's going to be Hell on Earth.

SPI Files:
Lucky Charms (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
The Grendel Affair
The Dragon Conspiracy
The Brimstone Deception
The Ghoul Vendetta

Visit Lisa Shearin's website for more information

Review:
There's a new designer drug in town and it has some unfortunate side effects including allowing humans to see through supernatural glamours and realise that there are monsters living among us. As if that wasn't bad enough the drug's main ingredient is brimstone, imported freshly from Hell itself and that means that somewhere hidden in New York is an open portal which could have disastrous consequences if it's not closed before demons start using it as a one way ticket to paradise. SPI Agents Mac and Ian have been tasked with finding out who is behind the drug's creation and also a string of grisly murders amongst the local drug dealers but most importantly they need to find that portal and figure out how to close it before the world is change forever.

This series is going from strength to strength and I really enjoy diving back into this world to spend time with these characters. I love the partnership that is developing between Mac and Ian now that she's starting to find her feet as a Seer. She's still got a lot to learn but it's clear that there is mutual respect between them now and I love the banter between them and their regular driver, werewolf Yasha. I will say that I'm still a bit disappointed that Lisa Shearin seems to have given up on the idea of a romance between Mac and Ian though, they had such brilliant chemistry in the beginning and although I love them as friends I'm still hoping they'll end up being more. I just don't feel the connection between Mac and Rake yet and I'm even less convinced by the Ian and Kylie pairing. Both relationships feel false and they definitely don't have anywhere near the chemistry that Mac and Ian used to. Having said that Rake is growing on me so I'm glad he's still hanging around and perhaps the author will convince me he's a worthy romantic lead eventually.

This series is full of humour so there is lots of witty banter and I enjoy Mac's way of snarking when she's stressed. There is a great cast of side characters too with more being added in every instalment. The Brimstone Deception is full of action and Mac's abilities seem to be heading in an interesting direction, the same goes for the bad guy they're hunting and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens on both counts in future instalments. If you're looking for a lighter funny urban fantasy series you can't go far wrong with this one.

Source: Received from Ace in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Silver-Tongued Devil - Jaye Wells

Life is looking up for Sabina Kane. The threat of war between the dark races seems to have passed, and her magic training is also progressing well - just like her relationship with the sexy mage Adam Lazarus. But as much as Sabina feels hopeful about the future, she doesn't quite trust that peace is possible . . .

Her suspicions are confirmed when a string of sadistic murders threaten to stall peace talks between the vampires and the mages. Sabina pitches in to find the killer, but this dark investigation soon has her questioning everyone she thought she could trust. And the closer she gets to the killer, the more Sabina begins to suspect this is one foe she may not be able to kill.

Sabina Kane Series:
Fool's Gold (Novella)
Red-Headed Stepchild
The Mage in Black
Violet Tendencies (Novella)
Green-Eyed Demon
Silver-Tongued Devil
Blue-Blooded Vamp
Rusted Veins (Novella)

Visit Jaye Wells' website for more information

Review:
Having finally got rid of her grandmother you'd think that Sabina's life would be a lot easier now and to some extent it has been. Things are going well with Adam but she's struggling to control her vampire side and fit in with the mages, she still isn't completely accepted no matter what she's done to prove that she's on their side. It doesn't help that she's still finding it hard to use her mage powers and the one person she should be able to relate to the most, her twin sister Maisie, is fighting off her own demons. Maisie was broken by their grandmother and is pushing everyone away, Sabina blames herself for what happened to her sister and is desperate to find a way to help her but it's very hard to help someone who doesn't want to admit that they're in trouble.

Silver-Tongued Devil was slower than the previous books in the series, there is still a mystery for Sabina to solve thanks to a string of brutal murders that are being committed but there is definitely less action and more drama and if I'm honest I was a little disappointed by that. I don't mind drama if it serves some kind of purpose to develop the storyline or to teach the characters something but in Sabina's case it just felt manufactured. I knew the moment she slept with Slade and kept it secret from Adam that it would come back to bite her and now is the time for her to pay the price. It's not that she cheated on Adam because they weren't even a couple when it happened but he's understandably hurt by the fact that she kept things hidden from him, I do think he took it a little too far though and that dragged things out more than necessary. It probably wouldn't have been so irritating if we didn't have two other couples also having their own dramas going on at the same time, I expect that kind of thing if I'm reading a contemporary romance but it's not what I'm hoping for when I read urban fantasy.

So the middle of the book was a bit bogged down with multiple relationship woes but the beginning and the last third of the book made up for it. I'm not going to talk about what actually happened but you can tell that Jaye Wells was really ramping things up ready for the final book and I'm hoping that Blue-Blooded Vamp is going to be action from start to finish. Everything is all starting to come together and I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Green-Eyed Demons - Jaye Wells

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. With her sister taken by mysterious captors, the Dark Races on the brink of war and a sinister order manipulating everyone behind the scenes, she's really got her work cut out.

Using information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks - the sexy mage Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, the Mischief demon - head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and, perhaps most frightening of all, humans.

But before Sabina can save those she cares about, she's got to save herself from the ghosts of her former life. Because the past is haunting her. Literally.

Sabina Kane Series:
Fool's Gold (Novella)
Red-Headed Stepchild
The Mage in Black
Violet Tendencies (Novella)
Green-Eyed Demon
Silver-Tongued Devil
Blue-Blooded Vamp
Rusted Veins (Novella)

Visit Jaye Wells' website for more information

Review:
The stakes have never been higher for Sabina, not only is her grandmother trying to start a war amongst all the Dark Races that could destroy half the world's population but she has also taken Sabina's twin sister as a hostage. Having seen first hand exactly what Lavinia is capable of Sabina knows that she has a limited time to save Maisie's life, she may have only just met her twin but Sabina wants the chance to get to know her properly and she will do whatever it takes to rescue her.

While I enjoyed the first two books in this series I feel like Green-Eyed Demon really sees things step up a gear. We get more action, more romance, the introduction of some fab new characters and a fun new setting as Sabina and friends visit New Orleans in search of Maisie. Sabina takes a long hard look at herself in this book and it made her character so much easier to relate to, she has always been a loner (with good reason!) but she is starting to realise that she isn't quite as heartless as she has always pretended to be and that as a team her, Adam and Gighul are pretty much unstoppable. She makes a slip up towards the end but I'm going to blame that on temporary insanity and hope that she's finally learnt her lesson once and for all.

I love the development in Sabina and Adam's relationship, I like that he's supportive of her and understands where she is coming from but that he doesn't let her walk all over him. He tells her in no uncertain terms that he cares and wants to be with her but that he's not going to put up with her dithering indefinitely so she'd better pull her finger out. Gighul is one of the stars of the show as always, his snark always puts a smile on his face, but he has some competition in this book in the form of a fae transvestite, a voodoo priestess and a very angry werewolf. I hope we're going to see more of all the new characters introduced here because they all had something to add to the story.

This series has definitely captured my interest and I'm looking forward to reading the last few stories to find out how everything turns out for Sabina.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Violet Tendencies - Jaye Wells

Former assassin Sabina Kane heads to Los Angeles to find her kidnapped sister. Helping her on the mission are her hot mage partner, her Mischief demon minion, and a Vanity demon named Valva. The problem? She's got to figure out how to find her sister without letting her enemies know she's back in town. But when Sabina seeks out an old ally - a vampire strip club owner named Fang - for help, she learns the hard way that Vanity demons don't know the meaning of the phrase "low profile."

Sabina Kane Series:
Fool's Gold (Novella)
Red-Headed Stepchild
The Mage in Black
Violet Tendencies (Novella)
Green-Eyed Demon
Silver-Tongued Devil
Blue-Blooded Vamp
Rusted Veins (Novella)

Visit Jaye Wells' website for more information

Review:
Violet Tendencies is set just after the ending of The Mage in Black but really it could have been included as a prologue to Green-Eyed Demon. It was a short and fun read but I don't think there is enough of a story here to justify it being published as an extra, especially not one that readers are expected to pay for. If it had been a freebie I would rate it higher but charging £1.49 for about 30 pages just screams rip off and if I'm honest it's left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyway, back to the actual story! Here we see Sabina head back to Los Angeles with Adam, Giguhl and Valva to begin the hunt for her sister. It is vitally important that they stay under the radar since the Dominae have put a price on Sabina's head so they turn to one of Sabina's few remaining friends for help. Unfortunately things are never simple when you have a couple of demons in tow and it all goes horribly wrong very quickly.

There isn't much more I can say without giving too many spoilers so I'll keep this deliberately short. Although I was disappointed there wasn't more meat to this story I'm still looking forward to continuing the series so I'll be picking up Green-Eyed Demon very soon.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Mage in Black - Jaye Wells

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she's some kind of 'Chosen' who'll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn't care who chose her, she's not into destiny.

But the mages aren't Sabina's only problem. In New York's Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she'd take a bite out of the Big Apple, but it looks like it wants to bite back.

Sabina Kane Series:
Fool's Gold (Novella)
Red-Headed Stepchild
The Mage in Black
Violet Tendencies (Novella)
Green-Eyed Demon
Silver-Tongued Devil
Blue-Blooded Vamp
Rusted Veins (Novella)

Visit Jaye Wells' website for more information

Review:
While I enjoyed the first book in the Sabina Kane series I ended up absolutely devouring The Mage in Black and for me this is where the series really kicked up a gear. Sabina's whole life has been turned upside down by previous events, everything she ever believed in has been torn away from her and she's left without any kind of anchor. The vampires were the only family she ever knew but her grandmother betrayed her terribly and now she has discovered that she has a twin sister who was raised by the mages. Sabina had to leave everything behind and now she's trying to make a new life for herself in New York but it's not easy being constantly surrounded by mages, especially considering she was raised to see them as the enemy.

It was really interesting to see Sabina so totally out of her comfort zone in this book, she is faced with meeting her sister Maisie and although they're twins they couldn't be more different. Thanks to upbringings that were pretty much polar opposites Maisie is the sweetness and light that Sabina was never given the opportunity to become. Sabina is the darker, much more cynical sister and considering her grandmother's actions she has understandable trust issues when it comes to family, especially family she's only just met. It's quite heartbreaking watching Sabina realise how different her life would have been if she'd been the lucky one picked to go and live with the mages at birth but she plays the hand she was dealt pretty well and doesn't let the resentment affect her relationship with Maisie for long.

The side characters who stole my heart in the previous book have just as big roles in this book and Gighul is still my favourite, who knew he could be quite so badass though! He adds a lot of humour to the series and he makes a couple of interesting new friends who I'm looking forward to seeing more of. I did find myself missing Adam though, he's busy with another task for the mage council so he's not around as much as I hoped he would be but I still love the connection between him and Sabina when they are together. They have great chemistry and I have high hopes for them becoming a couple but he has a little competition for her affection in the form of a new character known only as The Shade. If you've read the prequel novella Fool's Gold then The Shade won't be such an unknown quantity and I really do think that novella will give you a better insight into why Sabina's reaction to him was quite so intense. He's definitely going to make life interesting for her that's for sure!

The plot of this book was fairly fast paced and I found this was a very quick read because I didn't want to put it down, I enjoyed getting to know some of the mages and I hope we'll see more of the other races (especially the newly introduced werewolves!) as the series continues. The Dominae have stepped things up a gear now and Sabina is about to head into all out war so I'm sure the series is just going to get even better from here onwards.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Red-Headed Stepchild - Jaye Wells

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina doesn't really fit in. And being an assassin - the only profession fit for an outcast - doesn't help matters. But she's never brought her work home. Until now.

Her latest mission is uncomfortably complex, and threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races. As Sabina scrambles to figure out which side she's on, she uncovers a tangled political web, some nasty facts about her family and some unexpected new talents. Any of these things could be worryingly life-changing, but together, they could be fatal . . .

Sabina Kane Series:
Fool's Gold (Novella)
Red-Headed Stepchild
The Mage in Black
Violet Tendencies (Novella)
Green-Eyed Demon
Silver-Tongued Devil
Blue-Blooded Vamp
Rusted Veins (Novella)

Visit Jaye Wells' website for more information

Review:
Sabina Kane has always been an outcast thanks to her mixed blood heritage, as a half-vampire/half-mage she is seen by most as an abomination. Abandoned by the mage side of her family as a baby she was raised by her grandmother, a member of the Dominae (the ruling council of the vampires). Sabina has never been able to fully live up to her grandmother's expectations of her, and the vampires are able to find fault in pretty much everything she does but they are the only family she has ever known and she is completely loyal to them.

Although Sabina usually works as an assassin her latest task is much more dangerous and it's not going to be an easy one to pull off. Sabina must convince the entire supernatural community that she has broken ties with the Dominae and go undercover with the enemy to try and uncover his plans. That would be hard enough if she wasn't being stalked by a mage who wants to train her to use her magic and introduce her to the other side of her family but Adam adds a whole new set of complications. Sabina has been raised to hate mages and she doesn't find it easy to trust but the more she uncovers about her past the more she starts to realise that the Dominae, and her grandmother, have been keeping a few too many secrets from her. She is forced to question everything she's ever been told but how can she decide which path she should take from now onwards?

I've seen mixed reviews for Red-Headed Stepchild but I thought it was a great introduction to the Sabina Kane series and it definitely left me wanting to know more. Sabina isn't always the easiest character to get along with, she's spent years being brainwashed by the vampires and even when certain things are staring her in the face she is very quick to try and justify her grandmother's actions. I can't say I blame her for that though, the vampires are the only family she has ever had and no matter how badly they treat her they are still the only ones who have ever been there for her. She may be stubborn but she's not stupid and even though it takes a while she does start to put all the pieces together later on in the story. Once she's made a decision about the right thing to do she is determined to see things through no matter what it costs her.

Although I liked Sabina I have to admit it was the side characters who really stole the show in this book. My favourite was her demon sidekick Giguhl who added a lot of humour to the story and constantly made me laugh while I was reading. I also really liked Adam, the mage who has come searching for Sabina. It took me a while to decide he could be trusted but I liked the chemistry between him and Sabina and I hope we get to see a lot more of them working alongside each other. The world building was done well and I enjoyed finding out about the history of vampires and mages, I still have a few questions but I'm sure it'll all come clear as the series continues. We have a good mix of supernatural characters, alongside the vamps and mages you also have demons, faeries and nymphs but I wouldn't be surprised if there are more species yet to be introduced. Yes this is a fairly standard urban fantasy world but I think the characters are strong enough to pull it through and I'm hooked enough to want to continue reading.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Taste of Darkness - Maria V. Snyder (+ UK Giveaway)

The final battle begins . . .

Powerful healer Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought a plague and survived. She took on corrupt King Tohon and defeated him. But now her true love, Kerrick, is missing and Avry fears he's gone forever.

Yet she faces a more immediate - and deadly - threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own.

With the territories' armies in disarray and the dead not staying dead, Avry's powers are needed now more than ever.

Torn between love and loyalty, she must choose her path carefully. For the future of Avry's world depends on her decision . . .

Healer Series:
Touch of Power
Scent of Magic
Taste of Darkness

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website or the Touch of Power website for more information

Review:
I have been a huge fan of this series ever since I read Touch of Power two years ago so I was eagerly waiting for the final instalment in the trilogy. It's always a bit scary seeing a favourite series come to an end though, you have all those fears about whether it will live up to expectations and you'll be pleased with the way things turn out and you have to prepare to say goodbye to the characters you've come to love. I'm happy to say that Taste of Darkness was worth the wait and was a fitting end to the series.

Maria V. Snyder has really upped the stakes in this last book, not only is Kerrick missing and presumed dead by everyone apart from Avry but they are also facing a new enemy who seems even more powerful than Tohon. As if that wasn't bad enough Prince Ryne's soldiers are getting sick and it looks like Avry has a new version of the plague on her hands. There is so much going on and the story is pretty much non-stop action as the characters push forward from one disaster to another trying to save the Fifteen Realms.

I was very happy to see that Avry and Kerrick spend more time together in this book than they did in the last one, if I'm honest I still wanted to see more of them as a couple but every interaction between them is just so good that I can't complain too much. They really are so perfect together and I love the fact that even though Kerrick's instincts are to protect Avry and keep her out of harms way he knows that she'd never be happy if she didn't play her part and he doesn't try to stop her from doing what she needs to. Avry is a fabulous heroine, one who constantly puts herself at risk to protect others, she has such strong instincts to take care of others even when it costs her a great deal of pain and I've always been in awe of the way she is so willing to use her healing abilities. She uses her wits, intelligence and instincts to keep herself and her friends safe and she always keeps her promises no matter how hard that may be.

As much as I'm going to miss Avry and Kerrick I was also sad to say goodbye to the other characters I've come to love throughout the series. Flea, Belen and the monkeys have all played such major roles and I've also grown really fond of Odd since the last book. The interactions between all of the characters always leads to some light hearted moments which was desperately needed since this book was quite dark in places. I'd say this is easily the darkest of all the books in the trilogy and while I loved that I enjoyed the light hearted banter even more because of it. Having read both Maria V. Snyder's Healer series and her Study series I have to say it's very hard to pick a favourite but I'm tempted to say that this one wins out slightly. They are both wonderful series with strong, kick ass female characters which seems to be a trademark of this author and I'd highly recommend both of them. I'm quite pleased that I still have the Glass trilogy to dive into - I'm hoping it will help me get over my withdrawal symptoms from this one!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Stone Guardian - Danielle Monsch

Gryphons flying past skyscrapers? Wizards battling it out in coffeehouses? Women riding motorcycles with large swords strapped to their backs? All normal sights since the Great Collision happened twenty-six years ago.

Well, not normal for everyone. Larissa Miller may have been born after the Great Collision, but as a history teacher who lives in the human-only city, she has never come into contact with any other race or species, nor has she wanted to. Her life is as ordinary as it gets - that is, until one day she walks out of her apartment and is attacked by a mob of Zombies, only to be saved by a Gargoyle.

Gargoyles trust no one outside their Clan, but due to a cryptic prophecy, Terak, Leader of the Gargoyles, has been watching over the human woman for months. While he can find no reason why the woman has been singled out, something about her stirs every protective instinct within him. When the attack confirms that the threats against her exist and are real, he convinces Larissa that though their races have never been allies, the best chance of discovering why she has been brought into his world is by working together.

In the course of their investigation Terak becomes entranced by his little human. But when he discovers why Necromancers want her and the great reward that awaits him if he betrays her, he must choose between the welfare of his Clan and not only Larissa’s life, but the fate of this New Realm as well.

Entwined Realms Series:
Stone Guardian
Stone Embrace (Free extended epilogue of Stone Guardian)
The Cage King (Novella) (release date to be confirmed)
The Dream Crafter (release date to be confirmed)
Master of Monsters (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Danielle Monsch's website for more information

Review:
I wanted to read Stone Guardian purely because it was a paranormal romance with a gargoyle hero, come on how could I possibly resist that? I was expecting a story that would be heavy on the romance and hopefully have a little world building to go along with it but I wasn't expecting the fantastic world full of so many wonderful supernatural creatures that Danielle Monsch has created. The book starts with a bang as two world collide, the human dimension suddenly finds itself sharing space with a world full of gargoyles, elves, mages, werewolves, vampires, necromancers, orcs, goblins, zombies, direwolves and much, much more and I'm sure you can take a good guess at the kind of chaos that would cause!

26 years on from the Great Collision things have calmed down to a certain degree now that everyone has learned to live together. Well, a lot of the humans have managed to ward their cities so that none of the supernatural creatures can come anywhere near them and they're now quite happily living their lives in ignorance, but, a lot of the other species have carved out their own territories and come to agreements with each other. Larissa is one of those humans who is bumbling along in her human only city quite happily ignoring the world outside. Until the day she is attacked by zombies that is. First of all how the hell did the zombies get through the wards and what could they possibly want to come after her for? Secondly who is the mysterious gargoyle who has rescued her and now he's whisked her away to his lair will she ever see her family again?

I have to admit I had a bit of a love-hate relationship going on with Larissa. It irritated me no end that she was so completely ignorant about all of the supernatural creatures now sharing her world. I know her father and big brothers were overprotective of her but she was a grown woman, intelligent enough to be a teacher and she hadn't bothered to do any research? That just struck me as a bit odd and made me want to shake some curiosity into her! Having said that she really does start to come into her own as the story continues, once she gets over the shock of what is happening she uses her brain and she knows when to accept the help she needs. She isn't a kick ass heroine in any sense of the word but there are times she fights next to her man rather than just sits around waiting for him to rescue her. She also learns to stand up to her father and brothers and she stops letting them push her around and walk all over her. She definitely has her stupid moments but overall I ended up learning to like her and I do think that her flaws made her more realistic.

I really liked Terak from the get go though, he was a fab alpha character who is protective of his people and of Larissa since he has become her protector. I loved the fact that he wasn't a super experienced womaniser and that he treated Larissa with respect and let her make her own choices. He wanted to protect her but he accepted that it needed to be on her terms and that it wouldn't be right to force her to do things his way even though he was physically capable of doing it if he really wanted to. If Terak hadn't been enough to keep me reading (and he definitely was!) then the side characters would have. Larissa may not have been a kick ass female lead but that doesn't mean there weren't any strong female characters. I absolutely loved Fallon and can't wait to get my hands on her story, watching her slay enemies with her sword was epic and I also enjoyed seeing her work alongside Laire and Aislynn. Those women sure know how to kick butt and they're not afraid to get a little bloody as they do it.

I think it would be wrong not to mention that there were some editing errors in this book. The spelling mistakes, missed words and grammar problems were enough to pull me out of the story on occasion but considering that is a major hot button of mine and that I never once considered giving up reading the book that should tell you just how good the story was. Since the version I read was an ARC I'm hoping a lot of these issues may have been resolved in the final version but even if they haven't I'd still highly recommend reading this book. As much as Stone Guardian is labelled paranormal romance (and each book in the series will focus on a different couple) I would actually be tempted to label it urban fantasy. There is so much action and such fantastic world building that it really didn't feel like the romance was the main focus of the story. That isn't a complaint by the way, it had the perfect combination of romance and action to make it an edge of your seat read and have me hooked from the very beginning. This really is a fantastic start to a new series and it's one I'm incredibly excited about continuing!

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

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Review: Scent of Magic - Maria V. Snyder

The army of the dead are coming . . .

Avry of Kazan, the last Healer of the mystical Fifteen Realms, has a power that can't be matched. But in the minds of her friends and foe alike, Avry no longer exists.

Now, as the psychotic King Tohon builds an army mightier than any that has ever been seen before - a league of undead soldiers - Avry must face her toughest, most terrifying battle alone.

Fighting to be reunited with her family and her lover Kerrick, Avry must infiltrate Tohon's troops.

But does she have the power, the rare magic, to do what legend says is impossible?

Healer Series:
Touch of Power
Scent of Magic
Taste of Darkness

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website or the Touch of Power website for more information

Review:
After using her healing abilities to cure Ryne Avry came very close to death, in fact most of the world believe that she did die so she decides to use that to her advantage. Kerrick is the only one who knows the truth and Avry has sworn him to secrecy. While Kerrick must return to his homeland to rally more troops for the war against Tohon Avry heads straight into the danger zone determined to do what she can to train the soldiers to fight Tohon's army of undead. Neither of them are going to have an easy time of it, they will both face shocking betrayals and also find unexpected allies but can they survive long enough to meet again before Tohon really raises the stakes?

I absolutely loved Touch of Power so I had high expectations for Scent of Magic, I was nervous that Maria V. Snyder wouldn't be able to recreate the magic of the first book but I needn't have worried because I loved this second instalment just as much if not more. Everything I loved about the first book was continued in the second, we have fantastic world building, great characters, surprising plot twists and shocking events that took my breath away. My only disappointment was that Avry and Kerrick spent so much time apart during this book, I absolutely love the chemistry between them and the dynamics between them, Belen, Quain Loren and Flea was one of my favourite things about the first book so I missed that during this one. Even though I missed seeing the pair of them together I still enjoyed following their separate journeys and I could see why it was necessary for them to take different paths. It just made the time that they did spend together that much more special too.

We get to catch up with characters we know and loved from the first book but we are also introduced to a great selection of new ones. The story moves along at breakneck pace and was practically impossible to put down, I was so immersed in the world that I didn't want the book to end. Maria V. Snyder has a way of pulling me in and making me so connected to her characters that I feel their emotions right alongside them. Throughout the course of Scent of Magic I went through a rollercoaster of fear, worry, despair, grief, anger, shock, hope, happiness, relief and love. I had my heart broken and ripped into tiny little pieces one minute only to have it stuck back together the next. Shocking twists and betrayals kept me on the edge of my seat and have left me desperate to get my hands on the next book Taste of Death.

I'm sure that anyone who has read Touch of Power has been waiting to get their hands on Scent of Magic and I'm pleased to say that it was worth the wait. I wouldn't recommend starting the series with this book though so if you haven't read the first instalment then you need to do that immediately - this is a series that high fantasy fans will not want to miss.

Source: Initially received from publisher via NetGalley but I also received a print copy from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Fated - Benedict Jacka

Camden, North London.

A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads and waterways. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals and where tourists and moody teenagers mingle.

In the heart of Camden, where rail meets road meets leyline, you'll find the Arcana Emporium, run by one Alex Verus. He won't sell you a wand or mix you a potion, but if you know what you're looking for, he might just be able to help. That's if he's not too busy avoiding his would-be apprentice, foiling the Dark, outwitting the Light and investigating a mysterious relic that's just turned up at the British Museum.

Alex Verus Series:
Fated
Cursed
Taken (September 2012)

Visit Benedict Jacka's website for more information.

Review:
I have been saying for a while now that I want to find more urban fantasy written by British authors and set in the UK so when my Dad discovered Fated in the library I jumped at the chance of reading it. A story set in London with Dark and Light mages living unseen amongst the human population was just what I was looking for and I have to say that I loved the setting. It was nice to see London through Alex's eyes and I'm now itching to visit Camden market and the British Museum!

Alex may be a mage but as a diviner his abilities are limited, he can't use his power as a weapon and he can't shield himself from magical attacks. Actually his powers are much more interesting than that - he is able to look forward and see the future. Not just one future but infinite different futures so he can foresee the outcome of any actions he might take and work out in advance what gives him the best chance of success. When you can see what your enemy is about to throw at you and the best way to avoid it you end up with a bit of an advantage. I've not come across this ability before and found it fascinating to read about. It would have been easy for this to take away all sense of suspense from the story but somehow Alex manages to keep readers on their toes even when he is warning you of attacks that are about to happen.

Originally apprenticed to a Dark mage Alex made plenty of enemies when he escaped and decided to go his own way. We have been given hints at some of the things he went through at the hands of the Dark mages but I think this is something that we are going to learn a lot more about as the series continues. Although the Light mages are supposed to be the good to the Dark mages' evil things aren't quite as black and white as that. Alex learnt the hard way that the Light mages aren't really his friends either and just wants to be left to live his life in peace and quiet. As one of the only diviners in the country that isn't going to be easy though. The discovery of an ancient artefact with powerful protection wards that only he has a chance of getting past means Alex suddenly finds himself the most sought after mage in London. Because when an artefact that could change the balance between the Light and Dark is at stake there are going to be a large number of people who want to get their hands on it.

As Alex tries to recover the artefact he must decide which faction he trusts to use it wisely. He also has to figure out a way to make it through the next few days in one piece when each side of the war are threatening to kill him if he doesn't help them. Luckily Alex has a few friends to help him with the challenge. His would be apprentice Luna comes with an interesting curse of her own that I'm looking forward learning more about as the series continues and Starbreeze added some light relief to the story.

Although I enjoyed the story it didn't quite wow me as much as I had expected it to. I can't put my finger on anything that I didn't like though and I'm sure that the series will only grow stronger with each instalment. Fated is an interesting debut from Benedict Jacka and I'm looking forward to reading about Alex's next adventure.

Source: Library

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Review: Heart of Darkness - Lauren Dane

Meriel Owen, next in line to control the largest organization of witches in the country, is asked to investigate the owner of a notorious club reportedly siphoning magick from the font of the clan.  It's a direct violation of the clan's rules, but one look at Dominic Bright and Meriel's willing to make a deal.  One taste of the sexually feral outlaw witch and she's eager to go further: He's her bond-mate, a legal conduit into the world of clan witches and their magick.

Playing by the rules isn't Dominic's style, but bonding with Meriel - night after explosive night - is.  However, Meriel has unwittingly invited someone else into her world: Dominic's mother, a dangerous and poisonously influential magick addict whose lust for death and power corrupts all she touches.  Now her shadow is closing in on Meriel, her clan and the man Meriel loves, and it's casting them all into the inescapable heart of darkness.

Bound by Magick Series:
Heart of Darkness
Chaos Burning (June 2012)
Going Under (2013)

Visit Lauren Dane's website for more information

Review:
Meriel is a coven witch and has been raised knowing that one day she will take over the role of running the Owen clan from her mother.  As the future leader Meriel has to live up to her mother's high expectations of her which she doesn't always find easy and their relationship is quite strained at times.  Before she can take over her place at the head of the clan she must become a full council member and she is unable to do that until she has met and joined with her bond-mate.

As they discover that witches across the country, both coven members and ones that prefer to go it alone, are disappearing Meriel's mother puts her in charge of the investigation. Meriel must find a way to work with other clans and lone witches to find out exactly what is happening and put a stop to it.  She has also been given the task of contacting nightclub owner Dominic.  It appears he has moved into the area and tapped into the Owen clan's magick without requesting permission and Meriel must get him to either join the clan or disconnect him from their magick supply.

Now I have to admit that I was a bit confused by some of the world building in Heart of Darkness.  I'm not 100% sure how the clans share their magic, how bond-mates work and I was left with a few other questions too but I don't know if that is because some of these have been answered in a different series?  This is the first book I've read by Lauren Dane and I did wonder if this is a spin off to one of her other series but I can't seem to find any confirmation of that on her website.  Possibly because of my confusion I did find the story was a little slow moving at times, I was interested in the world but I seemed to spend a lot of time waiting for something to happen.  The book probably could have been trimmed down quite a bit and been made into a much faster read and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been.

Having said that I did still enjoy the book.  I really liked both of the main characters and I was pleased that they didn't immediately jump into a full on relationship despite the obvious chemistry between them and the fact that they are bond-mates.  They took time to get to know each other properly and I enjoyed seeing them spend time together doing the things that normal couples do like going on a dinner date.  Meriel is a strong woman who proved over and over again that she will be a force to be reckoned with as leader of the Clan.  Dominic was an alpha who likes to be in control but he was also prepared to learn from Meriel where she had so much more magick experience than he did.

I really liked the relationships between Meriel and her best friend Nell and Dominic with his business partner Simon.  Simon is a shape shifter and a character I want to see more of so I was pleased to discover the next book in the series is focused on him.  Heart of Darkness is the start of a series that has a lot of potential and I'm looking forward to reading Chaos Burning when it releases in the summer.  I'll also be checking out some of Lauren Dane's back list when I've reduced my to read pile a bit.

Source: Received from Turnaround in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder

They destroyed her world.
But she's their only hope...

Avry's power to heal the sick should earn her respect in the plague-torn land of Kazan. Instead she is feared. Her kind are blamed for the horrifying disease that has taken hold of the nation.

When Avry uses her forbidden magic to save a dying child, she faces the guillotine. Until a dark, mysterious man rescues her from her prison cell. His people need Avry's magic to save their dying prince. The very prince who first unleashed the plague on Kazan.

Saving the prince is certain to kill Avry - yet she already faces a violent death. Now she must choose - use her healing touch to show the ultimate mercy or die a martyr to a lost cause?

Healer Series:
Touch of Power
Scent of Magic
Taste of Darkness

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website or the Touch of Power website for more information

Review:
As a Healer Avry should be a respected member of the community, someone that people turn to for help and who spends her life tending to the sick. Unfortunately the plague that killed millions of people was wrongly blamed on the Healers and Avry has to hide her gift or risk execution. She lives in the shadows, moving from village to village searching for others like her and for somewhere she can be safe. When her neighbour's child is on the verge of death Avry can't resist the call to heal her even knowing what will happen if she is discovered. When the worst happens and she is captured Avry accepts her fate but before she can be put to the guillotine she is rescued by Kerrick and his gang. Kerrick needs Avry's help to cure his friend Prince Ryne of the plague but Avry has very good reasons not to help him, the least of which is the fact that curing him will mean her certain death. Can Kerrick convince her that Ryne's life is worth more than her own?

Despite the fact that I have several books by Maria V. Snyder sitting on my shelves Touch of Power is the first one I've actually read. I really have no idea why I haven't picked up her work sooner and having loved this one I'm looking forward to reading her back list as soon as possible. Touch of Power is a fantastic start to a new fantasy trilogy and my only disappointment is that I have to wait a year for the next instalment!

I loved the world that the author has created and Avry is a fantastic heroine. I was fascinated with her healing abilities right from the start, it takes a special kind of person to willingly suffer someone else's pain to heal them. As a Healer Avry doesn't magic someone's injuries / illness away, she actually draws them into herself so someone's knife wound will appear on her body and she will be the one left with the scar to show for it. Her only advantage is that she heals faster than a normal human would but she can still die if the injury or illness is too severe.

Despite the fact that this book has nearly 400 pages I finished it within a day, I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put it down. I loved Avry but there is also a great supporting cast of characters. Kerrick comes across as grumpy and uncaring but deep down is a really nice guy but I think my favourite characters were Belan, a warrior who becomes very protective of Avry and Flea who was like a sweet younger brother to her. I loved the banter between Kerrick's gang and the way they accepted Avry and took care of her.

The story moves along at a fast pace, has a hint of romance and some good twists that I didn't see coming. Although we are left with questions and I'm desperate to get my hands on the next instalment this isn't because we are left with a major cliffhanger which is something I really appreciate. If you're a fan of fantasy stories then I would definitely recommend giving Touch of Power a try and I'm looking forward to reading more of Maria V. Snyder's work in the future.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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