Review: Forsaken By the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

I'll admit it. I was really worried that Royce was going to abandon Shiarra after the way the last book ended.  Things were a little too good to be true there. Add that to the title of the book (I was expecting some forsaking to go down.) Add that to the fact that Jess Haines has sucker punched me before, and well, it seemed like a lot of heartbreak would be inevitable.  Shows what I know.

The story picks up right where the last one left off... with Shiarra in Royce's bed.  Buyer's remorse is kicking in, but the sexy mojo he had the night before is still there too and he is not willing to let her off the hook.  Unfortunately, two problems take precedence over her love life. One: that weird almost-Other transformation she has percolating --didn't quite leave with the belt.  And two: she's no longer safe at Royce's place.  So before she has a chance to shag him more than one bonus round, she and Sara are flying the friendly skies to Los Angeles.

Royce has sent them to go stay with another master vamp who owes him a favor. But it's not like anything can ever be easy for Shia. Clyde is... eccentric... and has his own agenda.  Not to mention, there is a zombie infestation targeting his vampires, and he essentially forces Shiarra and Sara to search for the magi responsible.  No small task without her PI connections at home.

The book is high on action, violence, and gore.  But you'll also find introspection, political machinations and maneuvering. In short, it's a wild ride; one made even better with the reappearance of Tiny and Devon. As with any road trip book, we miss out on a lot of characters left behind on the home turf. There's no time with Chaz... the Sunchasers... Arnold or Jack.  And frankly, very little Royce.  I was ok with that, though. I would be happy never to see Chaz or his pack again, and I'd rather take a vacation from Royce than see him somehow break Shia's heart --or her spirit.

The time we spend with Shia and Sara is satisfying. I like seeing their bond of sisterhood, a f/f friendship is too often lacking or trampled in UF series.  It's nice to see Shiarra return to more of her normal voice. I like her --I enjoy reading from her POV.  Meanwhile, I'm intrigued by Shiarra's Other-ness and very curious to see what's behind her Hulk-Smash vibe.  But beyond all that, I am biting my nails over the gnarly cliffhanger we're left with.  The action at the end felt a little rushed and the ending bit me right in the rear. I definitely did not see it coming.  It's going to be a tough wait to see how it all plays out.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Zebra

Click to purchase: Amazon

Forsaken By the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: Zebra

 

Review: Deja VooDoo

Reviewed by Carrie

This is the third book in Elle James’ Cajun Magic series but the first one for me. I didn’t have any trouble hopping in and understanding the world. The book is set in the atmospheric swamps of Louisiana’s Cajun country in the small town of Bayou Miste where alligators are kept as pets and the local Voodoo Queen is revered. Alexandra (Alex) Boyette is trying to keep her head above water while running her gym and helping her mom care for Alex’s 19 siblings. Ed Marceaux is an undercover Baton Rouge cop in town to protect a high profile witness. When Alex’s scheming Mama pairs them up at a family dinner, an instant connection is made.

Had the plot stuck to this storyline, I feel like the book could have succeeded. At the beginning of the book, the Voodoo Queen gives Alex a gris gris bag that turns Alex’s dog, Sport, into man to supposedly help cure her loneliness. This was supposed to be the charming and quirky part of the book but, unfortunately, it just seemed out of place and kept me from enjoying the main story.

Ed was a good fish-out-of-water character being the city cop trying to pretend he’s a backwoods fisherman. The author doesn’t get too heavy handed with his troubled childhood backstory and instead focuses on how good a family man he could be and I appreciated that.

Alex, on the other hand, was tiresome. She complained that she was lonely, but adamantly refused to entertain any idea of a relationship. This fact was reiterated every other chapter. Oh, but then she runs into handsome Ed in town, has sex with him about two seconds later and promptly runs away from him because she can’t possibly have a relationship and maintain a business. I will say the sex scenes have good tension and have the right amount of heat.

The main suspense story was ok, if completely predictable. The cops are hiding the witness. The bad guys start attacking Alex and Ed rushes to protect her and insta-love happens. Never mind that they have only had one conversation out of bed. Perhaps Alex & Ed had conversations in the previous books that would’ve made their relationship make more sense.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, because I love the unique culture of the Cajuns and the swamps really are a little bit magical. However, the voodoo in the book was just downright corny and not needed. I had a hard time with the writing in general and kept putting the book down and forcing myself to pick it back up. If you’ve read the previous two books, then you probably know what you are getting in to, but for me, this one didn’t work and doesn’t inspire me to pick up the others.

Rating: C-

*ARC Provided by Entangled

Click to purchase: Amazon

Deja VooDoo

by Elle James

Release Date: June 24, 2013

Publisher: Entangled

Review: Stalking the Others

Reviewed by Jen

Well, I'll give you this. Jess Haines knows how to go for a big ending. Wow.

This installment of H&W Investigations picks up right where the last one left off.  Shiarra is out for blood. Chaz and his pack nearly destroyed her in the last book. She is livid over his betrayal and terrified that she may be turning were.  So she decides to take matters into her own hands and seek revenge.

Unfortunately, the Sunchasers don't make it easy for her. They go into hiding at the same time she knows she is a walking target. She can't stay home; she won't stay under Royce's thumb, so she goes to find sanctuary and back-up with the White Hats.  Just like we got an intimate look at the weres in the last book, here we are getting even deeper with the renegade humans here, especially Jack.

But the real meat of the story was inside Shiarra head.  One of the things I have consistently liked about these books is Shia's voice. I have always found her easy to relate to; I could always understand her thoughts and motivations.  Here... not so much.  She really goes off the deep end. I found myself questioning her bloodlust and her need for vengeance which seemed totally out of proportion and, honestly, out of character.  I mean, yeah, Chaz is a dick. He deserved to be dumped --humiliated, even-- but does he deserve to die for being a cheater?  It was a tough read at times to see Shiarra fall so far.

But Haines has a plan.  I won't tell you what it is, but I will say I started to suspect about 40 pages before it was revealed.  It was enough to make me feel a little smart, but also a little dumb for not figuring it out sooner.  I still hate Chaz.  And Royce... well... I have mixed feelings there.  He is sexy to be sure. And I believe he feels something for Shiarra.  But I don't know what. I don't entirely trust him, and his power over Shiarra makes me nervous.

All in all, I'd say the book is a pretty good ride.  Kind of a roller coaster.  I'm still kind of high on the ending. But I am scared to pick of up the next book. It's called FORSAKEN By the Others. Who is going to betray her next? I don't know if my heart can take it.

Rating: B+

P.S. Huge improvement on the cover!

*Book provided by author

Click to purchase: Amazon

Stalking the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: July 3, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Review: Tempest Reborn

Reviewed by Jen
 

After the soul stomping ending of the last Jane True book, I was ready for this book to sweep me off my feet and continue the wild ride from page one. Let me warn you now, it doesn't do that. In fact, for the first 90+ pages, I found myself struggling to get through the book.  There's a lot of quiet misery, which I understand.  But there is a huge amount of time devoted to existential ideas and ideology inside the world building.  I found myself asking What happened to the characters I love so much in this series? The relationships? The action?  The short answer: they're here.  You just don't see them until about a third of the way into the book.

That being said, the second two thirds of the book were great.  After the requisite amount of research (*shudder*) Jane figures out what she needs to do to save Anyan from a lifetime trapped inside an evil white dragon.  Jane must work with her band of friends and supporters to get the job done.  It's a mishmash of her people from Rockabill and those she has met in her various adventures. (Honestly, I wish I would have done a series re-read, because I kind of struggled remembering who everyone was.)  But it became increasingly obvious just how vital her team is to her success.

It's a great finish to the series in a few ways: most notably with Jane and Anyan. One of my chief complaints about their relationship has always been in how it's been ridiculously parceled out. The wait for them to finally get together was excruciating.  Thankfully, all of that is over.  We finally see Jane and Anyan as they were meant to be together. Plenty of love; plenty of sex.  Plenty satisfying.  Also great: Nicole Peeler ties up her loose ends nicely.  We get resolution on many lingering threads. We see what happens to all these characters we have gotten to know.  And finally --we see Jane come full circle.  She has evolved into this awesome champion... only to find it's her fragile humanity --her heart-- that makes her capable of saving the world.  Good stuff.

There were a couple of niggles.  Like I said, the start was really slow.  And this book is really missing the humor I have come to love from Jane and the series.  There's a great line about sex surrounded by Oreos and a river of milk that gave me a chuckle, but all in all... it's heavy.  The prior installments really  balanced the humor and the serious in a way this book just didn't.

All in all, though, I liked the way it ended.  Peeler throws in a good surprise or two and kept me emotionally invested until the end.  A satisfying conclusion to a good series.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Orbit

Click to purchase: Amazon

Tempest Reborn

by Nicole Peeler

Release Date: May 28, 2013 

Publisher: Orbit

Review: Taken By the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

I am really enjoying this series! Taken By the Others picks up a few months after the events of book one, but despite the passage of time, the transition is a smooth one. Private investigator and reluctant badass Shiarra is doing her best to avoid the vampire she never wanted in her life. She is happy solving her small cases and spending time with her were-boyfriend. But it's only a matter of time before Royce is back --with a vengeance.

It seems an old frenemy of the ancient vamp is targeting Shiarra as a way to get to Royce.  A long time ago, Royce killed a woman he loved. Now Max wants to return the favor.  This was a little perplexing for me, since I don't entirely understand the depth of Royce's feelings for Shiarra. The interaction between Royce and Shia in the first book didn't seem enough for me to extend beyond attraction, but I can compartmentalize this and move on.

Shiarra has to decide who she can turn to in order to protect herself from Max's evil plans. Royce?  Her boyfriend Chaz? The White Hats?  She is definitely not strong enough to take him on herself... even with all the mojo she gets from her fancy belt.  Much of the story is spent revealing different facets of all the players in her life.  I liked going behind the scenes of the White Hats and meeting some of them.  Seeing the members as individuals instead of as a rabid, racist whole helped give that part of the world-building more depth. We're also seeing behind the curtain on some of Royce's vampire family.  I am intrigued my some of his peeps, especially Mouse.

But the real show is in the main characters. Shiarra is growing and questioning her own ideas and prejudices.  She is evolving into a better heroine. I like Chaz. It's hard not to root for him with his unwavering devotion to Shia.... though her feelings for him are a little murky to me as a reader.  Maybe that's the only way to keep that door firmly cracked open for something to happen with Royce.  I've got mixed feelings about him. But I like that he is sort of an enigma because it keeps things interesting.

I think my favorite thing about the book is Shia's voice. Jess Haines does such a great job of making me understand her; of making her so easy to relate to.  Between that and the great world building, it's just so easy to fall into these books! Can't wait to keep reading.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

  Taken By the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: January 1, 2011

Publisher: Zebra

Review: Hunted by the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

What took me so long to try this series? OK, I know the answer to that. I've seen mixed reviews. Some people really, really liked it, while others took issue with a few particular elements that essentially ruined the book for them.  I came out on the side of those who enjoyed it.  I found it a fun and entertaining ride.

Shiarra is a private investigator who works in a world where the supernatural exists.  The "Others" came out after September 11th, making awareness of them relatively new, but the knowledge has been out there long enough that there isn't mass hysteria.  Shiarra doesn't work with the Others as a rule (mostly because they scare the pants off her.)  But her business is in dire financial trouble and a magi offers her a job too lucrative to refuse.

Her mission is to recover a powerful device from an ancient vamp. Royce is sexy, scary and older than dirt. And it takes him no time at all to realize what Shia is after.  So she basically gets stuck between two supernatural factions --and somehow ends up more powerful than anyone could have predicted.

I won't spoil the details of the plot, but I will say that I found the progression of Shiarra's character interesting. When I said she was afraid, that was a huge understatement.  She was terrified, but over the course of the book, she became pretty bad ass. I know some readers didn't like the Shiarra at the beginning of the book: the quivering bundle of nerves who broke up with her boyfriend because he was a were. But I think the reason we meet Shiarra this way is to be able to appreciate the contrast when we see what she becomes... and the struggles she continues to have as she works to overcome her fears.

I like the cast of characters... the supportive best friend, the nerdy Magi, the earnest ex and the sexy vamp.  Yes, some of the names are unfortunate (ie. Shiarra and Chaz,)  but Jess Haines made me feel like I had a vested interest in them all. I loved Arnold and Chaz --and I was intrigued by Royce. And I believed in each role that they played in Shiarra's mission.  I liked the world-building. It's simple and easy to understand.  It has a similar feel to Kim Harrison's The Hollows world, but it's not a copycat by any stretch. It has mostly traditional UF elements with its own little quirks.

There's not quite a romance, but there's a hint of one (or two) --enough to satisfy my need for a love interest.  There is no sex, though.  I would have liked to see more of Royce --there was lot of build up there-- but I feel like it's more of a setup on him for future books.

I'm definitely going to keep reading to see what happens next.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Hunted by the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: May 1, 2010

Publisher: Zebra

Review: How Beauty Loved the Beast

Reviewed by Jen
 

I feel like I have been waiting forever for the payoff on this love story.  And it was just as satisfying as I hoped it would be.  Now I am sad that it's over.

First, let me say, this is the last part of a trilogy and not the place for a new reader to jump in.  If you want to try some angsty & sexy romance/ sci-fi Beauty & the Beast action, go start with How Beauty Met the Beast.  For those of you who have been following along already, this installment picks up two weeks after the events of the last story.  Hauk is still recovering in the hospital and Jolie is impatiently waiting for his return, so they can finally make a go of a relationship.

She gets her wish, but only as a new threat from the Ananke soldiers rears up.  They are injecting members of the Underlight with some kind of chemical, one that is sure to have terrible consequences once it activates.  Of course, the danger and plotting are only the backdrop for the real draw here: the romance.

Hauk has been crazy about Jolie since he met her, and now, for the first time, he can have her.  But she wants more than he is ready to give.  She needs him to stop pulling away from her touch, hiding his scars from her eyes.  She wants him to bear himself to her; she wants nothing between them.  It's a tall order for a man who has turned so inward since his injury.  He makes a commitment to get there, though, and it's so touching as he makes his way toward that kind of intimacy.  Jolie has work to do too.  She's afraid of what it means to love, to go all-in emotionally.  But as she tears down his wall, Hauk does the same with her.  It's so, so good.  And the sex is great.

Jax Garren takes things in an unexpected direction in the last quarter of the book. At one point, I was utterly decimated --and from there, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster all the way until the end.  I think I was ok with how things ended up, but I think there may be mixed feelings about it.  (I liked that Garren addressed her own concerns with the ending in an Author's Note.)

Overall, though, I thought it was fabulous.  I love Hauk. Love. And I love him and Jolie together. Well done.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Carina Press via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

How Beauty Loved the Beast

by Jax Garren

Release Date: May 13, 2013

Publisher: Carina Press

Review: Dead Man's Deal

Reviewed by Jen
 

I liked Angel's Ink, as well as the two novellas published so far in this series. But I'll tell you, this story is where the series really hits its stride.  Maybe it's because we've gotten past all the introductions and establishing the characters.  But more than that, it features a fast moving plot and unpredictable course of events.  With great world building and a fantastic sympathetic hero, it's a book I didn't want to put down.

As the story begins, Gage is being forced to work for Reave, the Dark Fae crime boss. Reave knows Gage is a warlock and is using the information to blackmail him.  That's problem number one.  Problem number two: the Summer Court is in town, putting Trixie in danger. The Light Fae king still wants her as his consort; now the Queen is demanding a meeting.  Problem three: someone has figured out the locations of the Dark Towers, putting the warlocks in kill-mode, and painting a huge target on Gage, a rouge who knows all their secrets.

All three problems not only put Gage in great danger, they threaten the people he loves as well.  Reave uses Bronx as leverage.  The Fae are a threat to Trixie.  And the Towers, well... the Towers are a threat to everyone.  Poor Gage is being pulled in so many directions, it's a wonder that he can remember his own name, yet he rises to the challenge.  He makes tough decisions.  He shows he is resourceful, loyal, powerful, fallible, and brave.  You couldn't ask for a better hero.

One of my biggest issues with Angel's Ink was that I found the romance too easy --kind of anticlimactic.  I worried the Gage/ Trixie relationship would be a lame plot point this time around.  Jocelynn Drake avoids this by not making it a plot point at all.  Gage and Trixie simply are a given.  And making it a non-issue was the best possible course of action. So many other things were going on, I didn't have time to bemoan a lack of romantic tension.  The book is filled with too many other kinds of tension.   The kind that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what life would throw at Gage next.

Beyond that, I really enjoyed learning more about Gage's backstory and his family.  I loved, loved, loved Gideon. (What a treat to see how his character has developed!)  I think my female hormones went in overdrive reading about Gage and his connection to the baby Squall.  I suffered watching him struggle with all he had to sacrifice for the greater good.  And the ending --while not really a cliffhanger-- has me itching to see where the story will go next.

Very well done. Would definitely recommend.  (While this may work ok as a standalone, it would be better if you read Angel's Ink first, if you haven't already.)

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Harper Collins

Click to purchase: Amazon

Dead Man's Deal

by Jocelynn Drake

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Review: Voodoo on the Bayou

Reviewed by Allison
 

This book was very intriguing. Think "The Frog Prince" mixed with some Voodoo magic, shifting, & a dash of N'Awlins charm.

Craig Thibodeaux is a lawyer from New Orleans who came to help out his uncle on a "business vacation" to the small town of Bayou Miste. When he goes out with and turns down the wrong girl, her grandma, Madame LeBieu, comes a looking for him. While she has him tied down and chants over him he thinks it's all a joke his buddies are playing on him... until he wakes up a frog!

"By day a frog, by night a man, 'til de next full moon, dis cunja will span... A woman will answer Ezill's call, one who'll love him, warts, and all... He'll watch by day and woo by night, to gain her love, he mus fight, to break de cunja, be whole again, transformed into a caring man"

When he transforms back into his human form, he realizes that he needs to find a girl to fall in love with him, stat. However, Bayou Miste being a small town, the pickings are slim! That is until Elaine Smith comes to town. A scientist from the city, freshly dumped by her jerk of a fiance, she's on a mission to find out why the Bayou is becoming toxic and be an environmental hero. If only she could get over her fear of water...

Although the timeline was a bit quick for my taste, it was fun to see Craig and Elaine drawn together, no matter how hard they fought it. I loved to see the commitment phobes fall so hard! Each night that Craig took Elaine out to hunt frogs was another chance they could get to know each other, so that by the next full moon, they were both head over heels for each other. I think the mystery could've been fleshed out more, because it was actually pretty interesting and relevant. It was a gripping twist that would've been really fun to follow further. I also would've enjoyed seeing the couple after the curse was over to see how they fared back in the big city together.

All in all, it was an sexy and compelling interpretation of a popular fairy tale and a happy ever after I was delighted to read!

Grade: B+

*ARC provided by Entangled

Click to purchase: Amazon

Voodoo on the Bayou

by Elle James

Release Date: February 18, 2013

Publisher: Entangled

Review: Dark Secrets

Reviewed by Jen
 

Haidyn thought he had what it takes to be part of the Arcane Guild. His gifts lie with magic, but when he first tried to join the Guild, he just was not strong enough. Too ashamed to return home a failure, he struck out on his own, and eventually ended up using his abilities to become a prostitute.  That was six years ago.

His life isn't exactly happy now, but he has become wealthy in his trade.  Things are... passably ok, until he finds out his long lost love has married one of his most depraved clients.  He wants desperately to save her from the misery he knows the lawman will inflict. But does he have the power to help her?  And will she even want him in her life once she finds out what he has become?

This book is hard to read at times. While Haidyn does not actually have sex with his clients, he must endure some demeaning and disturbing things to get the job done.  And while the lawman does not physically get to act out his sick fantasies on him, seeing their sessions play out on the page is uncomfortable reading.

This is book two in Shona Husk's Arcane series, though the only thing it has in common with book one is the world building, which is pretty interesting. It has that alternate-world fantasy feel that seems both futuristic and distant past at the same time.   Unfortunately, the romance element doesn't hold up.  Haidyn and Anisa have a history, but nothing in their present shows me any feeling between them.  It's more like she has no other choice to get away from a horrible situation.  That's not much of a love story.  They're not even together very much at all.  Anisa is the real victim in the story. First Haidyn abandoned her, then she got married off to a monster.  At least Haidyn chose his own path.

It was ok.  I preferred Dark Vow to this one.

Rating: C

*ARC Provided by Carina Press via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Dark Secrets

by Shona Husk

Release Date: February 18, 2013

Publisher: Carina Press

Review: Crystal Cove

Reviewed by Jen
 

I'll tell you a little secret. This is my first Lisa Kleypas book.  I generally don't read contemporary romance, but the description on this felt a little PNR-ish and I have long heard positive things about this author. So I figured this was a great opportunity to give her a try.  Here's the blurb:

ONE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN CURSED NEVER TO FIND LOVE . . .

ONE MAN WITHOUT A SOUL WHO WANTS HER MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF . . .

THEY MEET IN A SMALL ISLAND TOWN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, WHERE MAGIC IS IN THE AIR AND FATE IS A FORCE TOO POWERFUL TO DEFY. . . .

In New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas's Crystal Cove, Justine Hoffman has made a comfortable life for herself on the island of Friday Harbor. She is the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, and she has the safe, predictable life she has always wanted. Growing up with her flighty, nomadic mother, Marigold, has instilled in her a deep longing for stability. But in spite of everything Justine has achieved, there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny.

What Justine soon discovers is that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. Determined to change her fate, Justine finds a way to break the enchantment, never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow.

And when Justine meets the mysterious Jason Black, she accidentally unleashes a storm of desire and danger that threaten everything she holds dear . . . because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow.

Frankly, she had me at Man-Without-A-Soul.  Unfortunately, when I actually started reading, I was sorely disappointed.  I think the description of the story is accurate, but let me tell you about some of the things it leaves out.

This is not PNR.  Maybe everyone else already familiar with Lisa Kleypas knew that.  This is a contemporary romance with paranormal elements.  That may sound nitpicky, but for lack of a better explanation, the two genres have a very different feel.  And I'm not sure who the audience is supposed to be.  Readers looking for PNR are going to unsatisfied, and I am not sure that anyone looking for a contemporary will love the magic woven in.  It's an uncomfortable blend.

The hero is a conceited, self-absorbed ass.  He is heavy handed. He lies to Justine. He makes choices that satisfy his own needs, and she is expected to just get over it and accept it.  Then... she does... which goes on to frustrate me even more.  Yeah, he tried to make a noble sacrifice at the end, but it was still to get what he wanted, which --by then-- was Justine.

There are BDSM elements in the story, which both surprised and perturbed me. I don't like BDSM and actively avoid it.  I am a strong believer that if it's part of a book, the blurb or cover art or SOMETHING needs to tip me off that it's in there.   Folks on Twitter and Goodreads asked me if I was sure Kleypas was writing BDSM. I'll tell you what I told them... he trusses her up in a hemp rope like a turkey at Thanksgiving, and went at her while she couldn't move.  --Yes, definitely bondage, and in the other scenes, he's still clearly dominating.  Let's look at the cover and read the blurb again.  Did I miss something??

There was absolutely no reason to believe that these two are in love.  Jason goes from wanting Justine for her magic to being in love with her instantly.  There was no basis for it and they were proclaiming their love within just a few days.

I just couldn't invest in the romance. I didn't like the hero. And I didn't enjoy the sex.  Not a winner for me.

Rating: D+

*ARC Provided by St Martin's Griffin

Click to purchase: Amazon

Crystal Cove

by Lisa Keypas

Release Date: February 5, 2013

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Review: Ever After

Reviewed by Jen
 

This is my absolute favorite installment of the Hollows series to date.  The best book I have read in months.  I loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.  It's as though Kim Harrison made this book to order, handpicking all of my favorite elements of the series and letting them shine.  Tons of Trent.  Al.  Jenks. And, of course, the ever after.  It's light on Ivy, the vampire culture, witches and werewolves.  And we actually see real growth in Rachel.  It's like Christmas and my birthday all at once.

The story feels more like a follow up to Pale Demon than A Perfect Blood.  We're experiencing a lot of repercussions from that book.  The ley line Rachel accidentally made is leaking --and slowly destroying the ever after.  Of course, she is blamed, but it's really Ku'Sox who is setting her up. He exacerbated the problems with the lines to put Rachel in the crosshairs --and he'll only fix the problem if she takes the curse off of him that keeps him away from her reality.

Ku'Sox is also gunning for Trent. He's been kidnapping Rosewood babies and he wants Trent to manipulate their genes to make more day-walking demons like Rachel. Ku'Sox wants control of the babies to boost his power among the demons.  Trent won't budge, so Ku'Sox takes desperate action.  Trent and Rachel must work together to best Ku'Sox, as the demon endangers those near and dear to both of their hearts... and all of demonkind.

There is a ton of action in this book. I was pulled in from the very beginning and I did not want to put it down until the last page.  It is unpredictable.  Remember the kind of shockers Kim Harrison delivered in some of the earlier books in the series?  Oh yeah, those are back.  At right about the halfway mark, she kicked me in the gut --hard.  No punches are pulled. No easy roads are taken.  It had me by the seat of my pants the whole time.

One of the things I love about these books is the continuity. Harrison never tries to ignore past events. Instead, she weaves them into current stories, reminding us of those things that built the characters into who they are.  From the rat fights to the doctor Trent killed --from Rachel's failed romances to Denon's death and the boat explosion.  It's all there and then some... all kinds of little Easter Eggs for longtime fans.

We continue to learn more about the demons --and their history.  We meet more gargoyles. Learn more about the ever after. Plot Ellsbeth's death (wait... maybe that last part was just me.)  And we get movement on the whole Rachel and Trent will-they or won't-they dance.  I won't spoil it.  But it's a pretty big story thread, or at least, a major current throughout the book.

I am forcing myself to stop gushing now, before I tell you everything that happened.  Just know that if you were on the fence about continuing this series after A Perfect Blood, please take my advice and read this book. If it doesn't make you fall in love with The Hollows again, I don't know what will.

Rating: A

*ARC Provided by Harper Collins 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Ever After

by Kim Harrison

Release Date: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Review: Sealed With a Curse

Reviewed by Jen
 

Celia is the oldest of four sisters, who each carry within them a different brand of magic.  They've spent their entire lives laying low, trying to avoid the supernatural community. But now they no longer have a the anonymity they have enjoyed for so long.  One of the sisters, Taran, had an unfortunate encounter with a vampire that ended with his death. Now, Misha, the dead vamp's master, wants to hold all four women accountable for his demise.  So he has them called in front of a group of vampire judges for justice.

It turns out the sisters had no choice but to off the vampire. But through their trial they are outed to their fellow supes.  And they are drawn in to a major problem plaguing the vamps.  There is a bloodlust sickening them.  As each vampire is infected, they keep eating and eating, growing larger, mindless, and more dangerous with each kill.  Misha reaches out for their help and despite the fact that he almost had them killed, Celia accepts.

In the meantime, the sisters end up falling for a group of werewolves.  Celia has it bad for Aric, the alpha.  She, herself, is a shifter... only she turns into a tigress.  She doesn't have a lot of experience with men, but all of a sudden she finds herself the object of desire for both Aric and Misha.  Though it's only Aric she wants, there are obstacles in the way.  The story follows Celia and her sisters as they try to solve the mystery of the vampire infections while they find love with werewolves in Aric's pack.

Overall, I liked the story. But there were a few things that kept me from loving it.  One, is that in the beginning, I sort of felt like I was jumping into a story already in progress.  Not only with the dead vamp, but just these women in general. So much so, that I went online to see if I had missed an earlier book in the series.  It turns out, there was a prequel, and maybe I would not have had the same nagging feeling had I read "The Weird Girls."

Problem number two: the romances.  Not so much the one between Aric and Celia, but the ones involving her sisters.  The other three just so happen to run into Liam, Gem, and Koda in a bar.  Then they all match up into happy little couples and it's all HEA for them from that point on.  It was a little too convenient for me.  Fortunately, the progression of Celia's relationship with Aric took a more winding road... with even the hint of a triangle with Misha.

Oh, and problem three: I figured out the bad guy in the first quarter of the book.

I know that probably sounds like a lot of complaints.  But it was generally an enjoyable read.  I liked the Wird sisters. Their personalities, voices, and talents were all distinct and developed enough that they did not run together.  The world-building was straightforward and easy to follow.  And I liked the action and the plot.  It was a fun read. No sex, but I have hope for the future. --I definitely plan to read A Cursed Embrace to see where the story goes next.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Signet Eclipse

Click to purchase: Amazon

Sealed With a Curse

by Cecy Robson

Release Date: December 31, 2012

Publisher: Signet Eclipse

 

Review: Steel's Edge

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have to say that I am disappointed that there will not be any more Edge books.  Ilona Andrews has made me fall so deeply in love with the characters of Jack and George that I feel positively robbed when I consider the idea that they will not get their own book.  A travesty.  But I'll get back to my boys in just a minute.

The hero of the story is Richard Mar, Kaldar's brother, who we first met in Bayou Moon.  He is on a mission to destroy the slave trade thriving in the Weird.  The slavers nearly destroyed his niece, Sophie, and now he won't rest until he finds the head of the serpent and cuts it off.

Charlotte is the Healer of her generation.  Her gift helped her become magic nobility.  But even her skills could not help her conceive a child --or keep a husband who married her for all the wrong reasons.  His betrayal of their marriage drove Charlotte to use her gifts to harm... and as a result, she fled to the Edge to start a new life.

The two cross paths when slavers chase Richard into the Edge nearly killing him. Charlotte saves his life, but his attackers follow him to her home and kill a dear friend of hers.  That starts Charlotte on her own path of revenge against the slavers, and she is willing to use any means necessary to take them down.  She and Richard join forces --and end up falling in love.

First I'll tell you what I liked.  The world building in this series is fantastic and unique.  I love the idiosyncrasies of the Edge and the Weird. I love the complex social class system and the magic.  I love how all the books and characters are connected, and while each book features a different love story, the bigger picture remains.  Last but not least, I love the characters.  Richard is a solid hero, with just a touch of that "I'm not good enough for her" vibe going on.  Charlotte is refined, broken, and powerful all at once.  She is almost impossible not to like. And --of course-- there are Jack, George, and Lark (Sophie.) Damn you, Ilona, for making me love them without ever giving me a look at their adult lives.

This wasn't my favorite book in the series, however.  The love story was too fast and the romance too easy.  I think Richard and Charlotte were declaring their love in about two days.  The real angst was in the external conflict.  --My other issue was that it felt like the book was forced into an end-of-series role. It tacked on the Spider and the Hand elements almost as an afterthought... which is a shame considering they were worth their own big story arc.  

Overall I did enjoy it.  Definitely worth reading for any Edge fan.

Rating: B

UPDATE: Ilona says she may indeed give us Jack, George, and Lark's story --but in a different format than the current Edge books. A trilogy, perhaps. Someone... cue the party music!!

*ARC Provided by Ace

Click to purchase: Amazon

Steel's Edge

by Ilona Andrews

Release Date: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Ace

Review: Angel's Ink

Reviewed by Jen
 

I like this new Urban Fantasy world from Jocelynn Drake.  It's different.  Supernaturals live openly among humans, but the magic-wielding witches and warlocks are set apart from everyone else.  They are powerful, ruthless, and consider themselves gods.  No one can stop them.  No one even dares to question them.

Gage changed that.  Primed to be a warlock from childhood, he turned his back on it all.  He refused to look at humans as chattel and left the Ivory Towers behind to become a tattoo artist.  Of course, he's not only pushing ink, his tats are imbued with special potions that give the recipient a little something extra, from good luck to love spells and beyond.  He remains under the watch of the warlocks, though. If he uses his magic for anything other than self-defense, he's a dead man.

Gage has a little trouble clamping down on his gifts, but he tries. He wants to keep the new life he has made for himself: his tattoo parlor and his two employees and best friends Bronx and Trixie.  Of course, to call Trixie a friend may be a little bit of an understatement. He is head over heels for the beautiful elf in hiding.  He knows she has secrets, but as he learns why she is on the run, the two of them become closer and closer.

Things are going on along pretty well for Gage until a woman dying of cancer comes into his shop, asking for a special tattoo. She tells him she wants wings on her back, saying it may be closest she ever comes to being an angel.  Gage is touched by her story and ends up mixing a powerful potion that inadvertently makes her immortal.  He must spend the rest of the book trying to clean up his mistake, all while trying to help Trixie out of her problems, and staying away from his old warlock mentor who is hellbent on killing him.

If it sounds like there is a lot going on, that's because there is. The book is faced paced and kept me engaged from beginning to end.  I love how easily Drake slips in the details of the world-building. There are no big info dumps, but I always felt like I understood what was going on.  I liked Gage, and though I am not used to a male first person POV in my Urban Fantasies, it was easy to slide into his head.  He is a good guy, but he's not a perfect guy. He's powerful but he's not infallible.   He is impetuous and he makes some bad choices, but I think that's part of why I like him.

I felt like the relationship between Gage and Trixie was a little... easy.  I think I would have liked the chance for a little more tension to grow between these two.   But romance and deep feelings take a backseat to the action in this book.  It's not superficial, but it's not emotionally gripping. It's fast and exciting.

When all is said and done, I feel like we got a solid resolution, but the door is left wide open for the future of Gage and his crew.  I look forward to see what is coming for them next.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Harper Collins 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Angel's Ink

by Jocelynn Drake

Release Date: October 16, 2012

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Review: Into the Woods

Reviewed by Jen
 

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories by Kim Harrison. I had read more than half of them already in previously released books. But the anthology included one all new Hollows short story and four stories outside of the Hollows world.

“Undead in the Garden of Good & Evil” (originally released in Dates from Hell)
Ever wonder what Ivy was like before she met Rachel? We get a little peek in this short story. It’s set a couple of years before the events in Dead Witch Walking.  Ivy has been a Homicide Investigator at the I.S. for about 6 months. She is living with Kisten and they are in a relationship. This is before her blood-fast… she is still giving and taking blood. But she is very confused about what it means to her.  She tries not to equate a blood exchange with anything emotionally meaningful, unless it involves sexual intimacy. And her boss, Art, wants both from her.  If she doesn’t give in, he’ll never promote her.  But she doesn’t like the man and if she gives in, it will be a huge blow to her self-respect.  This novella is great for Hollows fans because it shows us the Kisten/Ivy relationship that has been referenced all along in the series.  It shows us the events that lead to Ivy abstaining from blood and gives us a better insight into her struggle with what her vampiric needs mean for her. And it introduces Art. He comes back to bite our friends in a big way down the road.  This story sets the stage for why he hates them so much.

“Dirty Magic” (originally released in Hotter Than Hell)
This story doesn’t directly involve any of the main characters in the Hollows, but instead, focuses on a banshee named Mia. We met her in “Undead in the Garden of Good & Evil,” when she was called in to help with a case Ivy was working on. She was the one who helped Ivy realize should could change her life. And we learn here what happened to that wish Rachel gave Ivy in Dead Witch Walking. She gave it to Mia.  The banshee has since gone on to marry and have a banshee baby named Holly. And now, she is having an affair with a human named Tom. She is soaking up his love like a sponge, but in the process she is killing him.  Can her wish give her the lasting relationship no banshee has ever been able to maintain?  –This story is very short… only about 30 pages. And I didn’t like the twist at the end.  You could skip this one… but we do see Mia and her clan again in a later story.

“The Bridges of Eden Park” (originally released in For a Few Demons More)
It was very bittersweet to get this short story about Kisten and Rachel after the tragic end of For a Few Demons More.  It’s probably set chronologically, just before that book’s beginning.  Our couple is having a picnic at the park, when they are interrupted by Kisten’s sister and his nephew, Audric. The child’s father is trying to kidnap him and sends thugs to get the job done.  Kisten and Rachel work together to stop them. This story is only 12 pages long, but it reminds me how much I love Kisten.

“Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel” (originally released in Holidays are Hell)
We get a blast from Rachel’s past in this novella. It takes place when she is just 18 years-old and has decided she wants to join the I.S. Her big brother Robbie is against the plan, sure she is not strong enough.  But he agrees that if she can do a spell to ask their father’s ghost –and he gives his blessing– Robbie will support her. When Rachel does the spell, though, she brings forth the ghost of a witch named Pierce, who hunted evil vamps over 100 years ago. He quickly realizes that a vampire he once hunted is kidnapping girls in the present day. He and Rachel work together to bring him down and save the child.  This story gives us a chance to meet Rachel while she still feels the effects of her illness. But she already has that fire we love about her. There are definite sparks between her and Pierce –and we haven’t seen the last of him yet.

“The Bespelled” (originally released in The Outlaw Demon Wails)
This quick, 9 page read, gives us the backstory of how Ceri became Al’s familiar.  It seems that unlike any other would-be familiar he has brought across the lines, Ceri was willing to go. After 7 years of summoning Al, she had fallen in love with him. And he seemed strangely enamoured of her as well. Though it was not enough to keep him from breaking her will and torturing her for 1000 years.

“Ley Line Drifter” (originally released in Unbound)
Jenks gets his very own story in this novella.  Another pixy comes to him, asking for help when a statue in his garden seems to be possessed by an evil force.  The statue is endangering his babies and he doesn’t know what to do. So Jenks and Bis come to the rescue.  It turns out that it’s a Druid trapped in the stone… and a nymph has been tasked with keeping him bound there.  Jenks struggles to determine who is the good guy and who is the bad, so he can help the young pixy family in need.  It was great to see things from Jenks’ perspective while we get a closer look at pixy culture.  Somehow, I think we’ll see Sylvan the Druid again someday.

"Million Dollar Baby" - This is the story you will buy the book for. And it will be worth it.  I loved this story. Loved, loved, loved.  We get to see, firsthand, the adventure of Trent and Jenks as they kidnap baby Lucy from Ellsbeth. I think what really makes it sing is that it is in Trent's POV. We get to finally have a little peek as to what is going on inside his head.  Unfortunately, there is no big Rachel reveal, but it's still really interesting stuff.

We get a glimpse of how Trent sees himself and about the kind of man he wants to be.  And we see the camaraderie build between him and Jenks. This story makes me 10x more hungry for Ever After than A Perfect Blood ever did.  More Trent!!!

"Pet Shop Boys" - This short story is set in a world where vampires and the Fae live in a realm parallel to humanity. Cooper, a 20-something pet shop employee finds out about their existence the hard way. It all starts when a strange young girl and her beautiful mother enter his shop to buy a cat. The woman invites him to an exclusive club where he quickly discovers all is not as it seems. There is something sinister behind the ratio of beautiful people to average-Joe's.  Can he get away or was his fate sealed the moment he entered the door?

This story was ok. I never really got what made Cooper so special that Felicity would want him the way that she did... especially after such a short time in his company.  I also thought the world-building was really hazy here. The premise was interesting, but I think it needed a lot more fleshing out to really work.

"Temson Estates" - Will travels across the ocean to claim his inheritance when his grandfather dies.  It's a huge plot of woods and he realizes he can sell the land for logging. He could really use the money to help in his life.  But his grandfather's sister has other ideas. She knows there are dryads (tree spirits) inhabiting the woods.  So she sets out to help him learn the truth about the family land.

The story flew by pretty fast. The dryad mythology was interesting and Will seems like a good guy, It's not very deep, but for 15 pages, what can you expect?

"Spider's Silk" - I thought this one was really cool, with an awesome/ horrible twist at the end.  For her entire life, Lilly's mother has told her stories of the spirit Penn that lives in the trees. It wears the guise of a young man, hoping to lure girls into the woods for his own nefarious ends.  Her mother says she trapped Penn inside a tree in her youth, but now he's back and he is targeting Lilly's daughter.

Of course, Lilly initially thinks her mother is crazy, but as the story progresses, she becomes less and less sure. Then, it seems Penn has set his interest on her. Is she strong enough to fight his lure, when he knows exactly what she needs?  This one is kind of creepy, but I liked it.

"Grace" - This was my favorite of the four "non-Hollows" stories.  It's title character is a "throw" --a person who can manipulate energy. Her job is to collect young people with the same abilities, so that her employer, The Strand, can either teach them how to control their powers or burn them out to prevent a danger to society at large.

This story follows Grace on a particularly tough run, one that will test her skills and her moral compass. Making an already difficult situation worse is the re-emergence of an old flame into her life. The world-build here is very intriguing. Grace is very likable and I'd really like to see her story continue beyond this.  Especially with Jason.  (*fingers crossed*)

Overall, this is a good anthology. Especially for readers who haven't read all of the previously released novellas.  The Trent novella alone makes it a must-read for any Hollows fan.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Harper Collins

Click to purchase: Amazon

Into the Woods

by Kim Harrison

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins

Review: The Burning Bush

Reviewed by Jen

I didn't love every single thing about this book. But I still thought it was very, very good.  I really like the series. The world building fascinates me. It's dark and disturbing, but very compelling.  The main character is a contradiction, but one that makes sense. She is flawed but powerful; maligned yet idolized; loyal but conflicted.  I like her. I want her to be happy. I want her to beat the odds. (I want her to be with Zulu.  --But we'll get to that later.)

Basically, the story picks up where Fire Baptized left off.  Lanore is in a relationship with Zulu and helping him with the MFE.  MeShack is still a part of her life, as they raise little Ben together.  But he opposes how she and Zulu are fighting the war against the vampire Dante.  MFE is working with a more radical organization and they've bombed one of Dante's factories.

The bombing gives a crooked cop ammunition against Lanore, to force her to help him solve a murder case.  Someone has killed a shifter and a Mixie, and hung each body on a magically burning bush. Either Lanore figures out the identity of the killer or the cop fingers her for the bombing.  The story follows Lanore as she works to solve the case.

Of course, there is much more going on. There is the dangerous feud with Dante... a wealth of strong secondary characters.  And the love triangle.  The damn love triangle is killing me.  I am firmly and completely Team Zulu.  MeShack is a whore. He is unapologetic. He doesn't hide it. He simply blames the biology of his "season" and expects Lenore to be there waiting for him when he gets tired of humping every female in a 50 mile radius.  It bothers me tremendously that even as we see Lanore move forward with Zulu, it feels like a foregone conclusion that MeShack is the endgame.  And I DO NOT WANT that.  I could go on and on about this, but I'll spare you.

What you can tell about my small rant is that I actually care about these characters a lot.  There is no way I could say that this book is "meh." Even when I yelled at it (and I did,) I was completely engrossed in it. Invested.  And not just in the relationships --though that part gave me the most angst.  I was wrapped up in the murder mystery.  And the politics. And the horrible racist (species-ist?) atmosphere in which the story is set.  I can see Lenore becoming something so much more than what her society relegates her to. It all just... speaks to me. It affects me.

Then there is the ending.  To call it a cliffhanger would be kind.  I read the Epilogue and said out loud, "What the actual fuck was that?"  I don't know what the hell happened to two of the major characters.  I think I would have preferred if there had been no Epilogue at all. We would still have the same questions unanswered, but I wouldn't feel so confused.

That aside, this is a book (and a series) I would wholeheartedly recommend.  It's just captivating. And different.  Worth a read.

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Burning Bush

by Kenya Wright

Release Date: September 19, 2012

Publisher: Dragonfairy Press

Review: Chosen

Reviewed by Jen
 

The Dark Breeds series has changed a lot over the course of three books.  Or maybe it's just that the main character has utterly transformed --from a maligned mixed breed to a goddess of the Greek pantheon. 

This third installment begins with Kyana ensconced in Olympus as the new goddess of the hunt.  She is happy with Ryker and learning more about her new abilities.  Her best friend Haven is recovering from her possession by Cronus. And all seems well until Haven begins having prophetic dreams about Cronus coming back to punish his enemies and regain his power.  It turns out that Cronus is resurrecting the dead to become his minions and it's a race to see if Kyana and the other gods can stop him before he achieves his goals.

Honestly, I think I preferred the Kyana of old. She was so damaged and gritty and angry.  The first half of this book, I just wasn't feeling the pull.  I remember thinking to myself as I read that it just wasn't dark anymore. Then, I swear to you, about two pages later, horrors unfold for Kyana that I never dreamed of. Things picked up at that point.  The action was fast and the team takes at least one brutal emotional hit. And yet I just didn't love this one.  I was, indeed, shocked by the gruesome attack on Kyana and suitably saddened by the Really Bad Thing that happened, but overall, I was kind of meh on the book.

The ending felt like a series finale, but there are threads left hanging. Like how did Cronus escape the island?  (This is pretty significant, as it's kind of the whole starting point for the book.)  Why was Henry with the bad souls? (He seemed like a good man.) And while I'm talking about Henry, I felt like there should have been more in that reunion. There could have been more emotional resonance there --and with the Bad Thing that happened.  I felt like the Haven resolution was abrupt. Poor Silas was just left hanging. I felt like there was untapped potential across the board.  And except in a couple of powerful moments, it all felt kind of superficial.

Eh. I wanted to like it more than I did.  I just don't feel like the series ended with the same feel in which it began.  Even the romance lacked oomph, despite the fact that it finds a HEA. It's a shame, because I liked the first two books.

Rating: C 

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

Chosen

by Sable Grace

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Avon

Review: Blade Song

Reviewed by Jen
 

OK, Urban Fantasy fans, listen up. I have a premise for you. It involves a woman with a magical sword. She is part human, but has supernatural blood in her veins.  Though she is not as strong as some of the paranormal beings around her, she is more than she appears. She is often underestimated. She's a bit cut off, emotionally. Her childhood was miserable, filled with training and bloodshed.  She's sort of a gun for hire now... well, a sword for hire.  And her life begins to change with the arrival of a sexy, powerful cat shifter who can't resist her strength and her spirit.

Sound familiar?  No, I'm not talking about Kate Daniels, though it's hard not to see the parallels there.  Our heroine's name is Kit Colbana. She is half human, half-aneira --which is sort of an Amazon race.  Her father was never in her life and her mother died when she was young, leaving her in the clutches of an evil grandmother who tortured her for years.  She ran away as a teenager and has started a new life for herself.

The agency she owns isn't doing well. Between that and a vampire who won't stop stalking her, Kit is just about ready to pull up stakes again when Damon (see "sexy, powerful cat shifter" above) walks into her office with a job. The nephew of his Alpha is missing and the pack wants Kit to solve the case.  Despite Damon's cocky and obnoxious behavior and despite the cats' reputation as crazy, she takes the case to save the boy.  She has no idea at the time that her life will depend on her success.

The Cat Alpha is as mad as a hatter and when she meets Kit, she lets her know in no uncertain terms what failure will mean. Damon is assigned as her bodyguard as she investigates the case.  And, of course, he ends up being much, much more.

I liked this story very much.  Even though it seems familiar in some places, it didn't really feel like a Kate rehash.  Kit is damaged in a way Kate isn't. She perseveres through grim determination.  She gets beaten down, but her survival is her victory.  I really enjoyed watching the evolution of her relationship with Damon.  He is such an ass at the beginning, but I could see him changing with her. She earns his respect and affection by simply being who she is and by never giving up. And when we learn more about his backstory, so much of his behavior makes sense.

The world-building is solid here and the characters are fleshed out. I admire Kit and her fortitude --and I commiserate with her inability to keep her mouth shut. Damon is sexy and deliciously Alpha --though he pushed me close to my limits at the beginning.  My only small complaint was the speed in which they make a key decision in their relationship. It happened awfully fast for something so monumental, but at least they weren't tossing around "I Love You's" quite yet.

The action was intense. And while the motivation for the kidnappers didn't exactly tread new ground, there were enough surprises to keep me engaged. The villain reveal was pretty cool. And the writing was fast paced and very engaging. I will definitely read the sequel. Very good.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Blade Song

by JC Daniels (Shiloh Walker)

Release Date: August 1, 2012

Review: Gunmetal Magic

Reviewed by Jen
 

Oh Andrea.  I knew you had a horrible history, but not truly knowing your story, my heart breaks for you.

This Kate Daniels spinoff is told from the first person POV of her best friend Andrea.  She is a beastkin bouda, which means that her father was truly part animal.  She was raised among a pack of sadistic were-hyenas who tortured her for the first 11 years of her life.  Though she has grown strong in many ways, she was also irreparably damaged by the abuse.

For almost all of her adult life, she hid her true self. She became a protector of others.  But her blind loyalty to the Order caused a split with the man she loved and as the story begins, she wants him back. Unfortunately, Raphael can't get past his own hurt long enough for her to set things right.  --I'll get back to their issues in just a moment.

Someone --or something-- has killed four members of the Pack and Andrea is called to investigate. The victims were all employees of Raphael's, which throws her back into his orbit.  The story follows Andrea as she closes on the killers and the ancient evil they are trying to unleash.  This, while she works to deal with her feelings for Raphael.

I am such a fan of Ilona Andrews.  She makes me laugh when I least expect it. The wit is dry and sometimes biting. The dialogue is crisp. The characters are amazingly well defined and the increasingly complicated world-building is.. well, it's complicated, but it's consistent and integrated well into the developing story.  The pacing is fast, making the book feel like it flies by.

I loved learning more about Andrea.  Her memories and her residual trauma are gut wrenching.  And it's seamlessly incorporated into her present day issues with Aunt B and the Pack.  Raphael isn't drawn with quite as much depth, but then again, it's not in his POV.  One of the very best things about the book is watching Andrea grow comfortable with who she is for the first time in her life.  She is a hero. She's tough and strong and loyal and brave and it's about damn time she sees her own worth.

The romance had a few hiccups.  The emotional immaturity of both Andrea and Raphael was evident as they lashed out at one another over and over again.  When they weren't hurting each other, they were running away from each other and while it was totally in character, it was frustrating at times.

I did love the wide array of secondary characters: some old favorites, some new. Of course, we have Kate and Curran.  It was cool to see Kate from an outside perspective and get a glimpse of her relationship with the Beast Lord in action.  We see Derek, Jim, Doolittle, Aunt B and Julie.  But the real scene stealers are Ascanio, the teen bouda, and Roman, the flirty black volhv.

The action part of the storyline was entertaining and different. Andrews delves in to an array of multiple mythologies to construct her story arcs and as a result they are never stale.  There's also plenty of bloodshed.  A lot of shooting, clawing, biting, and violence of all kinds here.  But for me, the characters are what set this series, and this book, apart from so many others in the genre.

Very good.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Gunmetal Magic

by Ilona Andrews

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Publisher: Ace