Review: Running Wilde - Tonya Burrows

All's fair in lust and seduction . . .

Lark Warren can never stay one person for too long, so when her past starts to catch up to her, she hops the first bus out of DC, steals a new name, and goes deep into hiding in New Orleans. Unfortunately, all it takes is the wrong set of eyes to blow her cover. Enter Vaughn—the man she once let get too close to her real self.

Ex-Navy SEAL Vaughn Wilde has one objective: drive Lark back to DC to face charges for identity theft—which would be easier if he could forget the three lust-filled weeks he shared with her before she disappeared. With each passing mile, he can’t ignore the heat still sparking between them . . . or the fact he has led her enemies right to her.

Lark can’t stay with Vaughn, not when it will put him in the crosshairs of the dangerous man she’s spent the last five years running from. But Vaughn is determined to keep her safe—even if it means she’ll run off with his heart all over again.

HORNET Series:
SEAL of Honor
Honor Reclaimed
Broken Honor
Code of Honor
Reckless Honor

Wilde Security Series:
Wilde Nights in Paradise
Wilde for Her
Wilde at Heart
Running Wilde
Too Wilde To Tame

HORNET: Class Alpha Series:
Fragmented Loyalty

Visit Tonya Burrows' website for more information

Review:
Vaughn may be Cam's identical twin but personality wise they couldn't be more different, Vaughn is the intense and broody one who takes life very seriously but that's probably because deep down he feels things more than most and he doesn't want anyone else to realise he's so sensitive. We got a glimpse of the great chemistry between Vaughn and Lark in the previous books but then Lark did a disappearing act leaving Vaughn confused, hurt and angry. Lark has covered her tracks well but Vaughn is nothing if he's not persistent and he is determined to hunt her down and get answers. As it turns out Lark had a very good reason for running and now Vaughn has brought her enemies straight to her door putting her life at risk. No way he's going to walk away and leave her in trouble though so he calls on his brothers and a few friends to help keep her safe.

I have to say I absolutely loved Vaughn, in fact I think he might even be my favourite Wilde brother so far which is saying something because they've all been fab! I don't know what it is about a dark and broody hero that does it for me but it totally works in this case, especially when you discover that underneath that tough surface Vaughn has a gooey marshmallow centre. He loves his brothers but watching them all settle down and find love has made him realise how much he is missing out on and just when he thought that he might be about to find the same happiness Lark did a runner on him. He's hurt and angry at what he feels is a betrayal but no matter how much Lark frustrates him all he really wants is to make sure she is safe and well. Oh he likes to pretend that he's planning on handing her over to the authorities for identity theft but we all know he'd never go through with it.

I'm not going to tell you about what Lark is running from or whether Vaughn and the others are able to help her fix her problems, you'll just have to read the book if you want to find out, but instead I'll mention how great I thought she was. She's smart, resourceful and a survivor who escaped from a horrendous situation and is now fighting hard keep herself alive. Yes, she's stolen people's identities but she's only ever used their names to find employment and has never run up debts by taking out credit under her assumed identities. It would have been easier for her if she'd been willing to take that extra step but she's not a criminal by choice and all she really wants is to be able to settle down and live an honest life.

I did have a few minor issues with the plot but it's really hard to say what it was that bugged me without giving spoilers. I just felt that a few things at the beginning were a little too convenient when you realise how they tie into Lark's past and I also wasn't that pleased with the turn that things took when Cam was captured. I would have liked Lark and Vaughn to have discussed things like adults and for her to have put a little more faith in him from the beginning. Like I said those were minor things though and I still really enjoyed this story. They are a great couple with fantastic chemistry and I was rooting for them to figure out a way to solve Lark's problems. I also loved getting to catch up with the other Wilde brothers as well as a couple of the HORNET boys. I'm hoping that means we're going to get books for Marcus and Jean-Luc sooner rather than later but what I REALLY want to know is where is that elusive final Wilde boy Greer has got to and what kind of trouble he's in?

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

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Review: Tied to Trouble - Megan Erickson

A sexy new M/M romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint

Between love and hate, there's a whole lot of trouble . . .

Chad Lake only showed up at his sister's party for the free food, but when he spots an uptight nerd at the edge of the crowd, he can't resist trying to ruffle the guy's perfect bow tie and impeccable hair. The hottie's ready for him, though, and in the end, it's Chad who's left wide-eyed, his ears still ringing with the filthy things Bow Tie whispered in his ear. No one gets the upper hand on Chad. Ever.

Owen Hawkins has heard all about the cocky Adonis from Chad's sister—the same sister who holds Owen's career advancement in her hands. He has every intention of steering clear of the other man . . . until Chad's sexy taunts push him too far. There's something intriguing about Chad, and even though Owen knows that getting tangled up with the infuriating man is trouble, he can't seem to stay away . . .

**This is part of an M/F series but can be read as standalone**

Gamers Series:
Changing His Game
Playing for Her Heart
Tied to Trouble

Visit Megan Erickson's website for more information.

Review:
I've been hoping we'd get to read Chad's story since we met him in Changing His Game so I was really excited when I found out about Tied to Trouble. The previous two books in the series were M/F romance but I'm really pleased that more and more authors are mixing their series up a bit and including M/M stories in them too. If you've read any of the previous books you'll already know that the Gamers series is full of geeky main characters who are more than a little kinky and that's no different here.

Chad is Marley's younger brother and he's always drifted through life moving from one job to another whenever the mood strikes him. He doesn't seem to take much seriously and he has a reputation as a bit of a player. Deep down he does have ambition though, he's just scared to take a chance in case he fails. I have to admit there were times when Chad irritated me, he can come across as a petulant child sometimes and that wasn't something I'd expected after him being such a fun character in the previous books. Owen totally stole the show here, he works alongside Marley at Gamers magazine and is a shy nerd who has a tendency to fade into the background in spite of his colourful bowties. Owen wants to be taken more seriously at work but he lacks confidence and struggles to step forward into the limelight. These two come close to hate at first sight but no matter how much they irritate each other there is no denying the attraction they feel.

Chad has a way of bringing out Owen's adventurous side, for once Owen finds himself saying and doing the things he's always wanted to but never quite been brave enough to. You know how they say it's always the quiet ones? Well that's definitely the case with Owen and he is the king of dirty talking. Chad doesn't do so badly on that front either so if you like the dirty talk there is a lot to love about this book. This couple have fantastic chemistry which they act on at any and every opportunity but we do see a sweeter side to their romance eventually, especially in the epilogue which I thought was adorable. We also get a nice opportunity to catch up with Marley and Austin (the main couple from book 1, Changing His Game), Austin has big plans and he's recruited Chad and Owen to help him which I thought was a nice little extra for fans of the previous books.

I'm hoping we're going to get more books in this series but I'm definitely a fan of Megan Erickson's writing and will be buying anything new she releases in the future.

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

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Kindle:

Review: Phoenix in My Fortune - R.L. Naquin

When Zoey Donovan found out monsters are real, her life changed—mostly for the better. Since then, she's fought bad guys, saved the world a time or two and earned the love of a growing family of humans and Hidden creatures alike. But the danger that's chased her from the beginning is finally here.

Shadow Man, aka The Last Hidden, has stepped out of the story humans wrote for him and into the real world, hell-bent on stealing children. Fiction has become reality and Shadow Man intends to break the Covenant, reclaim the Hidden, and kill all Aegises along the way…triple bad news for Zoey and her mother, the only two Aegises still alive.

Zoey will have to rescue the stolen kids and hunt down the most terrifying villain humanity has ever imagined. But how can she fight a creature only invented a few years ago? If Shadow Man triumphs, the world as she knows it will end. If Zoey succeeds in driving him out, the people she loves the most may be lost to her forever.

Monster Haven Series:
Monster in My Closet
Ill-Conceived Magic (Short Story)
Pooka in My Pantry
Hidden Holidays (Short Story)
Fairies in My Fireplace
What Zoey Doesn't Know (Short Story)
Golem in My Glovebox
Demons in My Driveway
Transmonstrified (Short Story Collection)
Phoenix in My Fortune

Djinn Haven series:
(Spin off from the Monster Haven series but can be read separately)
To Catch A Stolen Soul
To Seize a Wayward Spirit
To Free a Captured Heart

Visit R.L. Naquin's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of the Monster Haven series since I first read Monster in My Closet a few years ago. These stories never fail to make me laugh and I love the way R.L. Naquin always comes up with such weird and wonderful magical creatures to include. As much as I was looking forward to reading Phoenix in My Fortune I'm still really sad that it was the last book in the series. I'm glad that it's going out on a high but I would happily have continued reading more books about Zoey and her friends.

I'm deliberately going to keep this review vague because I think most people who are reading it are already going to be fans of the series and will know what to expect from one of these stories. If you haven't discovered this world yet then I'd recommend starting at the beginning, these books really need to be read in order to make the most of the character development and the story arc that has developed across all of the books. These are really fun, light hearted stories though and I'd highly recommend them to fans of the supernatural.

Zoey and her friends are finally facing off against the enemy that has been coming after them via third parties for a while now. He is a danger unlike anything they've ever faced before and the risks have never been greater. Phoenix in My Fortune is a bittersweet ending to the series, it ties up all the loose ends and gives us a lot of closure but at the same time it's not all rainbows and happiness and there are a few tears to be shed along the way.

I'm so sad that this series is over, I've enjoyed every minute spent with Zoey and I'm going to miss her and the rest of the gang. I really hope that R.L. Naquin will decide to revisit this world in the future even if it's only in occasional short stories or a spin off series. That's not because anything has been left hanging, it's actually all tied up really nicely, but because I'm not ready for it to be over. I'm looking forward to starting her new Mount Olympus series in the meantime though and I'll definitely be watching out for anything else she publishes in the future because I love her humorous writing style.

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

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Transmonstrified - R.L. Naquin

R.L. Naquin, author of the Monster Haven series, shares an assortment of stories from places just outside the world we know. These pages are filled with friendly monsters, dueling witches, floating ice fish, chupacabra taxidermy, and escalators leading to Heaven and Hell.

This collection includes two brand-new Monster Haven tales. Find out how Riley got his job in “Reaper’s Tale,” and join Kam the djinn as she chases down a ghost with unfinished salon business in “Shampoo Girl.” Plus, as a bonus, this collection includes three previously released Monster Haven stories – just in case you missed them.

Also, take a peek into the new world of the Mount Olympus Employment Agency (series coming in 2015) with “Unmatched Cupid” and “Undercover Gorgon.”

Transmonstrified offers quick reads for when the boss leaves the room to get coffee and longer ones for when that chatty lady on the plane won’t be quiet. Eighteen stories filled with magic and oddities await.

Because everybody needs a little magic.

Monster Haven Series:
Monster in My Closet
Ill-Conceived Magic (Short Story)
Pooka in My Pantry
Hidden Holidays (Short Story)
Fairies in My Fireplace
What Zoey Doesn't Know (Short Story)
Golem in My Glovebox
Demons in My Driveway
Transmonstrified (Short Story Collection)
Phoenix in My Fortune

Djinn Haven series:
(Spin off from the Monster Haven series but can be read separately)
To Catch A Stolen Soul
To Seize a Wayward Spirit
To Free a Captured Heart

Mount Olympus Series:
Transmonstrified (Short Story Collection)
Unfinished Muse
Unamused Muse

Visit R.L. Naquin's website for more information

Review:
As a fan of R.L. Naquin's Monster Haven series when I found out that the Transmonstrified short story collection contained 2 never before seen stories set in that world I knew I had to buy it. It actually contains 5 Monster Haven stories (3 of which were published separately so I'd already read them) but I didn't realise how many other stories would be included. In total the collection contains 22 stories and poems 2 set in the world of the author's new Mount Olympus series and 15 that are completely stand alone.

The stand alone stories are about a weird and wonderful collection of different supernatural creatures, you'll read about everything from feuding witches and leprechauns who've had their gold stolen to chupacabras and dream eating monsters. Some of the tales have a darker fairytale feel to them while others are humorous life observations. As with any short story collection there were some stories I enjoyed more than others but overall I'd say the quality was very high and considering I only expected to be reading 2 new to me stories I was thrilled by how much new material the book contains.

I'll give you a little more information on the Monster Haven and Mount Olympus stories below, most of these stories can be read even if you're unfamiliar with the series but I'd definitely recommend reading the full length books if you like these shorts. I'm already a fan of Monster Haven but these prequels have made me excited to get started on the Mount Olympus books too.

Monster Haven Short Stories:

1.1 - Reaper's Tale (new story)

This is the true tale of how Riley became a reaper and it also gives a little information about what attracted him to Zoey.

1.5 - Ill Conceived Magic (also available as a separate ebook)

Zoey gets a very unexpected surprise when she's literally left holding the baby. Along with Maurice it's up to her to track down the baby's parents and try to reunite their family.

2.5 - Hidden Holidays (also available as a separate ebook)

A cute little story about different Hidden holiday traditions, Zoey is a little overwhelmed at first but soon realises how grateful she is to have all her friends around her.

3.5 - What Zoey Doesn't know (also available as a separate ebook)

This story is told from Maurice's point of view and shows a day in the life of a closet monster, he gets up to some rather surprising things while Zoey is out at work.

5.5 - Shampoo Girl (new story)

A fun story featuring our favourite djinn Kam who is doing a little undercover ghost hunting in a beauty salon.

Mount Olympus Short Stories:
(I believe these are both prequels to the main books)

Unmatched Cupid (new story)

This is the story of a young girl who has been employed by the Mount Olympus Employment Agency as a Cupid, she's pretty disastrous at making matches though.

Undercover Gorgon: Becoming (also available as a separate ebook)

The first in a spin off series Becoming is the tale of Patrice who discovers on her 20th birthday that's she's a gorgon. With her new snake hairdo she's not able to continue her normal human life so she goes to work at the Mount Olympus Employment Agency.

Overall I really enjoyed this anthology and would definitely recommend it for anyone who likes funny short stories with crazy characters and interesting supernatural creatures. Even if you're like me and have already purchased some of the stories separately there is enough new material in here to make it worth buying again and it's nice to have all of the Monster Haven shorts in one place.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Demons in my Driveway - R.L. Naquin

Zoey Donovan Aegis and co-opted protector of all things supernatural is moving up in the Hidden world. Actually, she's being drop kicked onto the front lines of a fight between the newly formed Cult of Imagination and Hidden governments everywhere.

The Cult is opening portals and unleashing demons, vampires and werewolves, growing closer to breaking the lock that holds back the zombie apocalypse with every world they crack open. Oh, and they want every last Aegis in the world dead, and a roving band of Hidden worshippers is only too eager to assist.

On the upside, Zoey finally has her mother back. But having another Aegis around one with very different ideas on how to run things is proving difficult. For their own safety, they're stuck inside Zoey's home. What was once a haven is now a prison, further straining maternal relations and alienating her reaper boyfriend. Taking down a cult and saving the world again would be a lot easier if she could go farther than her own driveway.

Monster Haven Series:
Monster in My Closet
Ill-Conceived Magic (Short Story)
Pooka in My Pantry
Hidden Holidays (Short Story)
Fairies in My Fireplace
What Zoey Doesn't Know (Short Story)
Golem in My Glovebox
Demons in My Driveway
Transmonstrified (Short Story Collection)
Phoenix in My Fortune

Djinn Haven series:
(Spin off from the Monster Haven series but can be read separately)
To Catch A Stolen Soul
To Seize a Wayward Spirit
To Free a Captured Heart

Visit R.L. Naquin's website for more information

Review:
When I'm looking for a fun, light hearted read with a huge collection of weird and wonderful supernatural creatures this is my go to series, R.L. Naquin never fails to make me laugh and Demons in My Driveway was no exception to that. I have to admit that this story was a little darker in tone and had a few less humorous moments than the previous books but I'm still an avid fan and looking forward to seeing how Zoey's story ends in Phoenix in My Fortune. Actually, I'm not sure that I'm ready for the series to end but that's always the sign of a great series - leave your readers wanting more not wishing it had ended 5 books ago!

A lot of things have changed for Zoey, for one she has her mother back which she is over the moon about even if it is a little awkward having two Aegis in one house. Zoey and her mother both have very different ways of doing things and that leads to a lot of friction between them. They are now the only two remaining Aegis in the country so when Zoey is given the chance to go to an Aegis conference in the UK she jumps at the chance of meeting others like herself. Unfortunately things don't go quite to plan and now she finds herself in a desperate race to save the last remaining Aegis before their enemy can kill them all and destroy the planet in the process.

Yes, once more Zoey is in the middle of the action and she is going to need the help of all her friends and allies if she is going to save the day. I'm not going to say much more about the plot other than to mention that we meet some interesting new characters. I was a little surprised (and very disappointed!) by the way Zoey and Riley have let the stress of their jobs come between them and put a halt on their relationship and I really hope they get things sorted out before the series comes to a close. I'm also curious to see how the Board will cope with having such a massive shortage of Aegis. Considering how much work Zoey already has to deal with they really are going to have to figure something out quickly unless they want the general public to discover the existence of the Hidden. It'll definitely be interesting to see how the series closes out but I'm kind of hoping that things will be left open enough to allow us to revisit these characters in the future or to at least have a spin off series. Anyone else interested in a series about a Closet Monster? I know I would be!

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

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Review: Tower of Thorns - Juliet Marillier

Award-winning author Juliet Marillier’s “lavishly detailed” Blackthorn & Grim series continues as a mysterious creature holds an enchanted and imperiled ancient Ireland in thrall.

Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn’s bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. But trouble has a way of seeking out Blackthorn and Grim.

Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada’s help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land—one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. Casting a blight over the entire district, and impossible to drive out by ordinary means, it threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby. With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim.

As Blackthorn and Grim begin to put the pieces of this puzzle together, it’s apparent that a powerful adversary is working behind the scenes. Their quest is about to become a life and death struggle—a conflict in which even the closest of friends can find themselves on opposite sides.

Blackthorn & Grim:
Dreamer's Pool
Tower of Thorns
Den of Wolves

Warrior Bards:
(This series can be read completely separately but it stars Blackthorn & Grim's children)
The Harp of Kings
A Dance with Fate (2020)

Visit Juliet Marillier's website for more information

Review:
I fell in love with both Blackthorn and Grim in Dreamer's Pool but this series is honestly getting better and better with each new book. I'm not sure that I have enough words to do Tower of Thorns justice but I'm going to try because I really do want everyone to discover these wonderful books for themselves. Although this book does work well as a stand alone I do think you'll be missing out by not reading the series in order, mainly because both books are excellent but also because it's been so brilliant watching the friendship slowly build between the main characters.

Blackthorn and Grim have started to build a life for themselves in their new home, Blackthorn would deny it but even she has made a few ties within the community and I think she's enjoying practising her craft as a wise woman again. She still doesn't have much patience and doesn't have the best people skills but she is very good at figuring out what is going on and finding a solution to fix it. When Prince Oran is approached by a noblewoman who is in desperate need of assistance Blackthorn is the most likely person to be able to help her. You see Lady Geiléis's lands are being badly affected by a cursed monster that's been trapped in a tower near her home. The monster howls from dawn to dusk without letup and it's driving the people and animals in the vicinity mad. This has been going on for nearly two years now and Lady Geiléis is desperate for a way to make it stop.

Blackthorn initially isn't keen to offer her services but an old friend convinces her to investigate, promising her it will get her one step closer to taking revenge on her greatest enemy. Grim has reservations about it but he would follow Blackthorn to hell and back if it meant he could keep her safe so when Blackthorn agrees to help Grim travels with her to Lady Geiléis's home. When they arrive it quickly becomes clear that there is more going on than they originally suspected but what remains to be seen is whether they can solve the mystery in time or whether the curse will cost them more than they ever bargained for.

I'm not really going to talk much more about the plot in this review because I want to focus on the characters. We've seen a huge change in Blackthorn since the beginning but she's still a damaged young woman who is desperate to take revenge on the person who wronged her (and who can blame her after everything she's been through!). I've enjoyed seeing her character start to take a small amount of pleasure in things again though and I've loved watching her friendship with Grim develop. I'm desperately hoping for romance between these two at some point but I'm so glad Juliet Marillier is taking her time with them because they're both too damaged to find their happily ever after just yet. I was a tiny bit irritated with Blackthorn in this book because of the way she turned all of her focus onto a familiar face from her distant past. I could understand why she was so pleased to see someone who knew her before her life was destroyed but I was upset for poor Grim who was so convinced that she was going to replace him with the new guy. It was interesting to get more of a glimpse into a side of Blackthorn that we've never met before though and I did love the way things turned out in the end.

In the first book Grim was more in the background, he was there to help Blackthorn whenever she needed him but we didn't get to learn much about his past or why he had such a low opinion of himself so I was thrilled that we got to see much more of him here. I absolutely love Grim's character, he's the kind of guy who is pretty happy to fade into the background but he goes out of his way to help anyone he meets and he's far more intelligent than most people give him credit for. People seem to think that because he's big, strong and quiet he can't be clever but that is far from the truth and he's very observant in an unobtrusive way. Blackthorn relies on his instincts as much as her own and I love the way she always turns to him to talk through her ideas. It's heartbreaking to see how little Grim thinks of himself and I really want to see that change as the series continues but now we have had a chance to learn more about his background I can understand why he feels that way. I'm not going to talk about what happened to him but I will say his scenes stole the limelight in this book and left me more in love with him than ever. He is just as damaged as Blackthorn but we got to see him do a little healing here and I was so proud of him for the way he faced up to his past and started dealing with his issues. There's still a way to go but he's definitely making progress.

This series has a really familiar, fairytale type feel to it, Juliet Marillier has created a world full of magic and fae folk, there are dark curses and mysterious goings on but also strong friendships and some really light hearted and fun moments that just make you smile. From the moment I picked up Tower of Thorns until I reached the very last page I didn't want to put this book down and even then I just wanted to turn to the beginning and start reading it all over again. This series has quickly become one of my favourites and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Den of Wolves when it's released later this year.

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

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Hardback / Paperback:

Review: Dreamer's Pool - Juliet Marillier

In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she’ll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help.

Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters.

With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.

Blackthorn & Grim:
Dreamer's Pool
Tower of Thorns
Den of Wolves

Warrior Bards:
(This series can be read completely separately but it stars Blackthorn & Grim's children)
The Harp of Kings
A Dance with Fate (2020)

Visit Juliet Marillier's website for more information

Review:
Blackthorn was born to be a healer but treachery, betrayal and a year spent in prison for a crime she didn't commit have changed her. Now she's a bitter and angry young woman whose only focus is on revenge against those who wronged her. Just as she thinks she's about to get her chance to tell her side of the story the rug is pulled out from underneath her when she discovers a plot to murder her before her she can publicly prove her innocence. When she is approached by fae stranger Conmael, he offers her a deal, life and freedom in exchange for seven years of service to anyone who asks for her assistance. She will be forbidden from seeking revenge for the duration of the bargain and if she refuses a single request her punishment will be severe. Blackthorn knows that making a deal with the fae can be fatal but she already has death hanging over her head so she makes the decision to live now so she can eventually make her tormentors pay for what they did to her. After a daring prison break Blackthorn and fellow prisoner Grimm set out to find a new home and soon find themselves at the centre of a mystery surrounding a prince and his fiancée.

For a long time now I've been hearing amazing things about Juliet Marillier but this is actually the first book of hers I've read. I went in with high expectations and I wasn't at all disappointed, Dreamer's Pool has a dark and twisted fairy tale feel to it and although I'd managed to guess one of the main plot twists there were plenty of surprises along the way and I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. Blackthorn is brilliant, for someone who is incredibly wise and who has natural healing abilities she really doesn't have much in the way of people skills. She's been so hurt by past losses and betrayals that she doesn't want to let anyone close again, she deliberately pushes people away and tries to keep her distance but no matter how much she wants to keep a barrier up around herself people are naturally drawn to her and they respect her because of the sound advice she gives them. I could completely understand why Blackthorn was so set on revenge (and I really hope we get to see her mete out her own kind of justice eventually!) but I actually really enjoyed seeing her start to settle into her new home and put down a few roots. She'd deny any affection for her new village vehemently but we can all see she's starting to soften towards the people she meets.

Grim is another great character, he's as messed up as Blackthorn just in different ways. He's a big tough guy, someone who is incredibly powerful physically and who has a quick temper on him when people cross him or especially Blackthorn but at the same time he has a kind of sweetness to him and he's quite a big softie when you get to know him properly. I really enjoyed watching the bond that slowly starts growing between them, Blackthorn is determined to keep Grim at a distance but he worms his way into her heart anyway and they make a great team. There isn't much in the way of romance between them but I have high hopes that we'll see some in later books.

The story is told from three different points of view and Blackthorn, Grim and prince Oran are all narrators. Prince Oran has always dreamed of marrying for love but his family have been putting pressure on him to wed and start a family. When they arrange a match for him with Lady Flidais he only agrees to proceed after weeks spent exchanging letters convince him that they have a chance at falling in love. Unfortunately for him the young lady that arrives for the wedding is nothing like the one he was writing to, she seems to have undergone a complete change of personality and he has no idea why so he turns to Blackthorn for assistance. I liked Oran, he's very honourable compared to the other nobles and he bucks tradition in a good way. He cares a lot for the people he is responsible for and goes out of his way to make sure life is better for those who live in his home and the local villages. I'm not going to talk too much about what happened between him and Flidais but I enjoyed watching Oran and Blackthorn trying to get to the bottom of things.

Dreamer's Pool was a great start to the series and has definitely left me excited to start the next book. The series was darker than I expected but I mean that in the best possible way and I loved the whole fairy tale feel to it. I'm very curious to find out what Conmael's ultimate plan for Blackthorn is and I'm looking forward to spending more time in this world. This may be my first Juliet Marillier book but it certainly won't be my last and I'm looking forward to making my way through her back list as soon as possible.

Source: Received from Orion in exchange for an honest review

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