Tag Archives: Animagus

Blood Challenge by Eileen Wilks

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Challenge (World of the Lupi, #7) by Eileen Wilks

Title: Blood Challenge
Author: Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi #7
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 1st – 22nd January 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: I usually don’t, but patterning’s potentially a -“

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Synopsis

Lily Yu and Rule Turner’s engagement announcement is stirring up ugly passions in the Humans First camp. There’s hate mail. Death threats. Lily’s car is vandalized.

But professionally, things are running smoothly… until a lupus in Tennessee goes on a killing spree. Then Rule’s brother, Benedict, catches a lovely intruder – twice. The first time, she’s sneaking around the home of the leader of Humans First. The second time, she’s sneaking around Nokolai Clanhome.

It may not be possible to deal with the rapidly escalating situation the way Lily always has: through the law. Especially when she’s pulled off the case due to an alleged conflict of interest. Lily’s loyalties will be stretched to the breaking point when she discovers that the deaths in Tennessee were only the opening skirmish in an all-our war.

Thoughts

I had this on my TBR pile late last year. There is something about the World of the Lupi books that are brilliant, and always make me want to reach out for them. Plus, I read Human Error just before Christmas, which gave me that yearning yet again. It did take longer to get through than many of the other books of this size tend to do… but it was still thoroughly, beautifully enjoyable. I just tend to forget that these books are long, complex and filled with small writing.

The fact that Benedict gets a second chosen was kind of given away in Human Error, so that pleasant surprise was very quickly taken away from me. But, getting to know Arjenie a bit better as the insanity of this storyline unfolded was brilliant and fun. Particularly when the “getting to know” was taking place alongside all of the insanity of a very complex plot that just seems to keep getting more and more complex. It’s one of the reasons that I don’t just breeze through these books, but become completely absorbed in them. They’re beautifully, wonderfully intricate and, often, confusing!

The major conspiracies and backstory in this series has slowly been ramping up. And now, getting to the 7th book in the series, it is getting seriously, ridiculously intense. The characters are still brilliant, and the emotions that you feel alongside them are wonderful. But there is so much more going on with the battle that the lupi face now. It meant that once I got about a quarter of the way into this book, I was sunk. And couldn’t stop reaching for it, even when I needed to be productive.

I loved this book. And now I need to wait until I’ve finished a few books before sinking my teeth into Death Magic. Now that the plot is thickening with the characters and conspiracies throughout this story, I can’t wait to see what insane shenanigans are going to happen next. Plus, Cynna has had her baby, Benedict also has a chosen, and everyone is just thoroughly loveable and impossible to forget…

<- Blood MagicDeath Magic ->

Image source: Goodreads

Human Error by Eileen Wilks

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Tied With a Bow

Title: Human Error
Author: Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi #8.5
In: Tied with a Bow (Lora Leigh, Virginia Kantra, Eileen Wilks & Kimberly Frost)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Christmas, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 26th December 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: That is not the same thing as can’t.

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Synopsis

Benedict is finally meeting the family of his life mate. All he wants is to make a good impression over Yule. But things most definitely don’t go as planned.

Thoughts

I’ve read this a touch early in my read through of the World of the Lupi series. But, considering I read this around Christmas, I am most definitely glad that I did start it kind of early. There was something about the idea of a Yule celebration, family and all sorts of typical mayhem breaking free that made me absolutely inhale this story. It was great, fun and had just the right amount of lust and sweetness to leave me feeling happy and content.

Reading this early means that it has been revealed a little earlier than I would like that Benedict finds himself a Life Mate. But, I love them both anyway, so I look forward to how this actually happens in either Blood Challenge or Death Magic. I know how nerve wracking it can be to bring someone home, hope that he’ll be accepted and wanted. The fact that the stakes are higher for these two, and Benedict is trying so damn hard to fit in… well, it made me love all of this all that much more.

The blend of Wicca, Christmas and Native American mythology was surprising. In the best way possible. I love when there is a blend of mythologies in a story that I didn’t quite expect but find that I seriously enjoy. This definitely did that for me. It also made me feel like picking up Blood Challenge as soon as feasible… although I swore I would try not to have a huge pile of unread books next to me at the turn of the year…

<- First LightAn Inconvenient Mate ->

Image source: Amazon

Dance Master by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
the-jane-yellowrock-world-companion

Title: Dance Master
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #3.3
In: Blood in Her Veins (Faith Hunter) & The Jane Yellowrock World Companion (Faith Hunter)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Dates read: 17th May 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: He would add the bill to Leo’s account along with his customary thirty percent tip.

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Synopsis

After the tumultous occurrences of Mercy Blade, Jane and Bruiser once again unite for a job. And a little dancing.

Thoughts

I have some seriously mixed feelings about Bruiser and Jane ending up together. Mostly, I think that I don’t want it to happen. I have too much of an attachment to Rick. But, there is this great chemistry between them. And reading short stories like Dance Master which tell things from Bruiser’s point of view… then I start to feel a little more inclined towards their eventual relationship. I still prefer Rick, but that may change as the series evolves…

Jane’s love of dancing helps to give her a slightly more vulnerable aspect to her personality. Something that is fun and not all about killing. Even in the middle of this short story, when she is hunting down a rogue, there is still the time to dance. The fact that it also involves a bit of a romantic / seductive moment with Bruiser just ties in everything quite nicely.

Honestly, there isn’t anything ground shaking that occurs in this short story. Rather, it just sets the scene for the continuation of the flirtation between Bruiser and Jane. Or at least, that’s how I’m reading this short story at the moment… I need to actually read Raven Cursed first and see if my hunch is correct. I’m pretty sure that Jane and Bruiser are going to get together soon though…

<- Blood, Fangs, and Going FurryRaven Cursed ->

Image source: Faith Hunter

Blood, Fangs, and Going Furry by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Blood in Her Veins

Title: Blood, Fangs, and Going Furry
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #3.2
In: Blood in Her Veins (Faith Hunter)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Dates read: 16th May 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Into the night?

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Synopsis

Rick is suffering. Experiencing his first change and feeling noodles of guilt over his betrayal of Jane. But what if she’s the only one who can save him?

Thoughts

At the end of Mercy Blade, I was honestly a little bit disappointed and frustrated. It ended on such a cliff hanger and I seriously wasn’t impressed. Plus, I couldn’t get up to get this short story or the next novel in the series because I had my very big, very cuddly dog on my lap… but then I got the chance to read this… and I was so very, very happy!

This short story luckily gave me all sorts of closure from the feeling of loss that I experienced at the end of Mercy Blade. Not only was it able to provide a little more information on one of Jane’s ruined relationships, but it also provided a hint as to her feelings towards Rick. The depth of them anyway. They’re kind of obvious throughout Mercy Blade, but it was nice to have that little bit of extra confirmation…

This is a great short story that gives a little extra closure from the previous novel. There are still so many questions and I still have this need to know more about what happens in the future. But overall, it did help to just give that extra piece of closure that I was otherwise missing. And now I will dig through my piles of books and start on Raven Cursed.

<- Mercy BladeDance Master ->

Image source: Goodreads

Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock, Book 3): Hunter, Faith ...

Title: Mercy Blade
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #3
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Dates read: 12th – 16th May 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He stopped right at the edge of saying we indulged in kinky sex, but I could see the thought in his eyes, appraising, looking over my clothes.

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Synopsis

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker – and a vampire killer for hire. But lately she’s found herwelf taking bloo money from the very vampires she used to hunt…

Things are heating up in the Big Easy. Weres have announced their existence to the world, and reviewed the bitter tensions that run between them and their old enemies: vampires. As a trusted employee of Leo Pellissier, Blood Master of the City, Jane finds herself caught in the cross fire.

When Jane is attacked by a pack of marauding werewolves, she is thankful for the help of a mysterious stranger named Girrard. He explains that he used to be Leo’s “Mercy Blade”, a sacred position charged with killing vampires who have gone insane. What Jane doesn’t know is why this powerful assassin left New Orleans – or, more troubling, why he’s now returned. It’s definitely not to make Jane’s life easier…

Thoughts

I did start this book like two years ago. And then I got distracted and it ended up back on my shelf. Now I’m not entirely sure why I did that. This was a great story. And now I’m remembering why I started buying up all the Jane Yellowrock books as soon as I read the first short story. Not entirely sure why I took such a long pause between reading the second and third book though… I’ll try not to make that mistake again.

The ending of this novel is kind of heartbreaking if I’m being honest. Rick and Jane are put through the absolute ringer throughout this novel and I don’t know if they have much hope for the future. Yes, Bruiser is still hanging around for a romantic entanglement, but I definitely prefer Rick and really hope that things get sorted. The ending of this is such a damn cliff-hanger on ALL relationships, so I seriously can’t wait to read Raven Cursed.

A whole new series of supernatural beings are introduced in this novel, and, that, partnered with Jane remembering more of her past alone makes it impossible to put down. But, of course, that’s not all there is to it… there are insane politics, vendettas and a multitude of entanglements that leave you somewhat reeling at the end of this story. And, as always, not everything is as it seems. There are wonderful little twists throughout that make you hope for the happily ever after that you just don’t quite get in this novel.

The more I read this series, the more I love the intricacies of politics and inter-species relationships throughout this whole world that Hunter has created. The use of a character as a way to reduce madness is something that I didn’t anticipate, but it worked incredibly well. Adding an extra unexpected, layer of world building that I think will continue to develop as the stories in this series progress.

<- Blood CrossBlood, Fangs, and Going Furry ->

Image source: Amazon

Blood Magic by Eileen Wilks

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover blood magic eileen wilks

Title: Blood Magic
Author: Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi #6
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 25th November – 8th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Cullen makes people mad all the time, but mad enough to stick a knife in him at his baby party…

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Synopsis

As they plan their wedding, Lily Yu and Rule Turner, a prince of the lup, are facing a great deal of tension from both their families. Not everyone can accept their mixed marriage: she’s Chinese; he’s a werewolf. Even Lily’s grandmother is acting strangely distant, though Lily and Rule are about to discover that her behavior has nothing to do with thier upcoming nuptials.

A powerful, undying nemesis has come to San Diego to exact vengeance on Lily’s family – and turn the city into a feeding ground. it’s up to Lily and Rule to stop her, in spite of ancient treaties and an inheritance passed down through the blood. Otherwise San Diego could go up in flames, and they won’t live to make it to the altar…

Thoughts

It’s been a while since I’ve visited the World of the Lupi. And, after reading this, I’m kind of wondering why it’s actually taken me this long. Now I can’t wait to get into Blood Challenge. Especially since we finally find out a little bit more about Lily’s heritage… after battling all of the demons in Rule’s world, it’s nice to battle those in Lily’s world.

I absolutely adore Lily’s grandmother. She is hilariously in control of her family, and a total enigma. Definitely the kind of character that I seriously enjoy. Finding out more about not only her past, but where she got some of her insane powers from was really fun. it gave her so much more depth. But then again, it’s always fun to find out a little bit more about the history of a favourite character. It was like reading two stories at once!

The sixth book in this series finally helps to answer a few questions. It ties up some loose ends in, in particularly Lily and her family’s history. But it also raises so many more mysteries! Which of course, makes me want to start Blood Challenge all that much more. However, I want to finish the currently reading books before the end of the year… not continue to add to the list.

As with all of the World of the Lupi books, this was a seriously awesome and intense story. The kind that I will love reading again and again. There is a reason that this is one of my top series… there is a bit of romance, a lot of action and a really strong, independent woman at the helm. All the ingredients for my favourite kind of story.

<- Human NatureBlood Challenge ->

Image source: Amazon

Make it Snappy by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: Make it Snappy
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.75
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Dates read: 28th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Katie pouted, her lips pursing around her canines.

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Synopsis

Leo’s heir has pinned and trapped him with some help. What she wants is something a little more difficult to define than simply power… plus, there’s some betrayal in the mix.

Thoughts

It’s been a little while since I picked up a Jane Yellowrock novel. It just seems to have fallen on the wayside of the series that I’m insanely digging through. I also tend to be a bit of a book slut – I’ll read one or two books from a series, and then move on to another one. I’m currently reading about 190 different series. Having said that, I did love revisiting this world and the introduction that this short story provides to Leo and his heir, Katie.

One of my favourite things about this short story is the final sentence. I won’t tell you what it is, because you should read it yourself… but it is a great ending to a fantastic story. It also gives a little more insight into the dynamics of the vampire clan which Jane is most closely involved with.

I love that although Katie is in a position of power over Leo, she doesn’t actually want to take his place. It’s a reminder that for different people, power means different things. And we all take advantage in our own ways. Actually, mostly, it just made me like Katie all the more – it’s the unseen powerful that you never see coming that are intimidating.

<- Signatures of the DeadSkinwalker ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Ecstasy Under the Moon by Lucy Monroe

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for enthralled lora leigh book cover

Title: Ecstasy Under the Moon
Author: Lucy Monroe
Series: Children of the Moon #3.5
In: Enthralled (Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook & Lucy Monroe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Dates read: 30th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: “You have a sense of safety there you do not feel when you are awake.”

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Synopsis

And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novels, unleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his mate.

Thoughts

This is one of those stories which makes you want to run out and buy every single story in this series. Not only is it a paranormal romance that features shapeshifters (something I am completely obsessed with), but it’s well written, incredibly sweet and impossible to forget. There is just something beautiful and mysterious about the two leads and the extra level which they connect on. Something intense about the world the Monroe has created…

I’ve read a lot of shapeshifting stories which feature werewolves, ones that feature cats. And even one or two with bears and sharks… but I’ve never actually read one which features a bird of prey…and an eagle who has lost her confidence… well, that completely hit my sweet spot. A secret village hidden in the forests of Scotland just made it all the more impossible to put down and stop thinking about…

A lot of information was squeezed into a very small amount of words. Normally novellas which take place in a complex world make me scratch my head a little at the background story. Yet, with a small prologue and a sordid past, Monroe manages to impart all of her wisdom in a short amount of time. Actually, it was the perfect amount of information – enough that I understood the politics completely, but also light enough on the information that I want to know more, more, more!

This was such a sweet, easy, light read. One that I won’t forget readily and I’m really looking forward to repeating in future novels from this series… when I’ve saved up a little first…

 <- Salvage ReviewEnthralled Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Golden Delicious by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for an apple for the creature book cover

Title: Golden Delicious
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #4.2
In: An Apple for the Creature (Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner) & Blood in Her Veins (Faith Hunter)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Dates read: 27th June 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ace Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Pea launched herself across the two yards and landed on the wolf’s head with a catlike yowl.

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Synopsis

Rick is in the training academy after being viciously attacked. He’s still coping with the stressors of his past, but his new job might just give him a great reason to head forwards into the future.

Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. But I was kind of ticked that it gave away a fair bit about the future in the Jane Yellowrock world. Which was kind of annoying when I keep meaning to pick up this series all over again… but, hopefully by the time that I do, I won’t really remember where this story fits into the series, and I’ll be able to be surprised anyway.

If you look at my bookshelves, you’ll notice that there has begun to be a bit of an obsession about urban fantasy stories with the lead female in law enforcement. Alright, Rick isn’t a woman, but I did love the idea of a policeman transferring to the supernatural police. He may have to go through training all over again, but his talents jump to the surface as they race to find the evil witch before the full moon.

The use of a number of alternate supernatural beings that I haven’t so far seen in the first few Jane Yellowrock books, was incredibly fun. It also helped to give me a hint of how the world is going to expand as time goes by.

<- Iphigenia in AulisMagic Tests ->

Image source: Goodreads

Wild Fire by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for wild fire christine feehan book cover

Title: Wild Fire
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: The Leopard People #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Dates read: 19th December 2018 – 6th January 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove Books
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: His gaze was too focused, too absolute, making her feel as if she were the only woman in his world.

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Synopsis

Called on a dangerous assignment, leopard shifter Conner Vega returns to the Panama rain forest of his homeland, looking every bit the civilized male. But as a member of the most lethal of the shifter tribes, he doesn’t have a civilized bone in his body. He carries the scent of a wild animal in its prime, he bears the soul-crushing sins of past kills and he’s branded with the scars of shame inflicted by the woman he betrayed.

Isabeau Chandler is a Borneo shifter who’s never forgiven Conner – or forgotten him. The mating urge is still with her, and when she crosses Conner’s path, passions burn like wild-fire. But as Conner’s mission draws Isabeau closer, another betrayal lies waiting in the shadows – and it’s the most perilous and intimate one of all.

Thoughts

It took me a very long time to get into this novel. I did start reading this last year, about six months ago, but it just wasn’t what I was completely in the mood for. But, this time, it was something that certainly tickled me fancy a little more. Even though it still took me a while to get into the first 200 pages. The last 200 I read in a matter of days, it’s just the pace of the book and the mood I’m in I suppose.

Conner and Isabeau start off this story with a past relationship, so rather than being a story about first love, it’s one about gaining trust. Although I do enjoy the stories about first passions, love at first sight, and the idea of that very first courtship, sometimes it’s a nice change of pace to read about another stage in the relationship. Especially when it is a somewhat fragmented one. Somehow, the idea of betrayal and regaining trust, finding out more about someone after that initial “honeymoon period” is more engaging. It’s more real. More intense and able to draw me in. Probably because I’m in a long-term relationship, so the issues I’m facing are very different to those of first love.

Although I enjoyed Burning Wild, I absolutely adored the setting in Wild Fire. After all, it’s set in some incredibly attractive lands of the rainforest. In Panama, a place I’ve never visited, but one my friend has assured me is absolutely stunning. The mystery of the land and the intensity of the wilderness add to the fast paced storyline as Conner and Isabeau not only fight to return to one another, but also take down a drug cartel and rescue innocent children. It’s certainly a dreamy and intense world in which Feehan transports you to.

 <- Burning Wild ReviewSavage Nature Review ->
Image source: Christine Feehan