Tag Archives: Dark Fantasy

The Beacon by Shannon K. Butcher

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Dark and Stormy KnightsTitle: The Beacon
Author: Shannon K. Butcher
In: Dark and Stormy Knights (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Demons, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Something in his leg cracked and pain screamed up his spine, setting his brain on fire.

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Synopsis

Ryder is after a Beacon, someone who draws demonic creatures into our world. But this Beacon isn’t anything like he expected, and the battle that follows will change his life forever.

Thoughts

The opening scene in this short story drew me in from the very beginning. Partially because Butcher is a really good writer, but also partly because it starts with a man going for a drive specifically to kill someone. There is something that I always find fun about assassin stories (this may be a deeper comment on my psyche, but we won’t go into that…)

Although Ryder is off to kill someone for the greater good, the person who he has been sent after is completely unexpected, and the battle that follows is epic. Not only is Ryder faced with an incredibly intimidating foe, he also has a crisis of faith, and a plucky (if not completely underqualified) side kick that he really doesn’t want or need.

I love how The Beacon is bought full circle, albeit with an incredibly changed lifestyle and bunch of choices for Ryder. It ties everything up so neatly and leaves you feeling like he is able to continue fighting the good fight.

 <- Even Hand Review Even a Rabbit Will Bite Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Dark and Stormy Knights edited by P.N. Elrod

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Overview
Dark and Stormy Knights

Title: Dark and Stormy Knights
Author: Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Shannon K. Butcher, Rachel Caine, P.N. Elrod, Deidre Knight, Vicki Pettersson, Lilith Saintcrow & Carrie Vaughn
In: Dark and Stormy Knights (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Even today’s cleverest smiths are no match for the magic of the fomor.

Synopsis

It was a dark and stormy knight, and nine dark defenders are about to embark upon a perilous quest…

They’re the shadowy defenders of humanity – modern-day knights committing the darkest of deeds for all the right reasons. In this all-star collection, nine of today’s hottest urban fantasy authors bring us thrilling, all-new stories of the supernatural brimming with magic, mystery, and mayhem.

An unlikely hero goes head-to-head with a ruthless cantrev lord in Jim Butcher’s “Even Hand”. Kate Daniels is called upon for bodyguard duty to protect Saimen, a shifter she trusts less than her worst enemy, in Ilona Andrews’s “A Questionable Client”. At all costs, Cormac must stop a vicious werewolf before it attacks again on the next full moon in Carrie Vaughn’s “God’s Creatures”. And in Vicki Pettersson’s “Shifting Star”, Skamar reluctantly enlists the aid of her frustratingly sexy neighbor when she takes on a vengeful creature kidnapping young girls.

When everything’s on the line, can these sinister guardians complete their missions and live to fight another day? Find out in Dark and Stormy Knights!

Thoughts

I loved this collection. I loved it so much that I really didn’t want to put it down. And bought almost every series featured in this collection. Which has cost me a fair bit of money in the last few days… yes, I am well aware that I have a problem. And I’m a little bit concerned by how quickly and easily I fall into these amazing literary worlds.

I loved the variety of stories, genres and tales throughout this. I loved the fact that the dark fantasy common thread ran through seamlessly. And I loved that each time I turned the page something exciting and thrilling was leaping out at me. There’s actually not much negative that I can say about this collection. After all, it took me through the scale of emotions, a number of whirlwind adventures and made me feel like I never wanted to put this book down again. For any fans of fantasy, this is definitely one to add to your shelf.

 <- A Questionable ClientGod’s Creatures ->

Image source: Goodreads

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Wicked Lovely

Title: Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fae, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Teen
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Seth came up behind her.

Synopsis

Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.

Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.

Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. When the rules that have kept Aislinn safe from them stop working, everything is suddenly on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr’s stunning twenty-first century faery tale.

Thoughts

I loved this book when I first read it, and I love it today. There is something so completely captivating about this kind of dark faery tale that makes it impossible to put down. Something that seems to draw me in again and again and again. I like when retellings of old paranormal creatures, such as the fae are told in a way that sticks true to past tellings – that they are not good. They are not romantic. They are wicked. And lovely.

Although Aislinn is obviously different from every other girl that has been pursued by the Summer King (otherwise why would there be this story?), she is completely independent of him. And I love how she attempts to retain this independence throughout the entire story. Even when she is overwhelmed by fear, and well, overwhelming odds, she doesn’t succumb or relent. I love this independence and the modern-take on how faeries work in today’s society. That, and the fact that the female lead isn’t easy to take control of and push around.

I’m not sure that this is a good book to read when you want to be productive elsewhere. It has just enough of a pace that if you want to put it down, you can. But it is still fast enough that you really won’t want to. I read it in 2 days, and this is when I was supposed to be working on some fairly important things – it was just too good to stop. Even though I’ve read it a few times before…

 <- Cold Iron HeartInk Exchange ->

Image source: Goodreads

Blue Moon by Nikki Kelly

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Overview

Kisses and CursesTitle: Blue Moon
Author: Nikki Kelly
Series: The Styclar Saga #0.5
In: Kisses & Curses (Lauren Burniac)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: As I rounded the corner, I stopped briefly to rub away the chill that nipped at my ears.

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Synopsis

A young bartender with a hidden past wants out, but is the young, posh man potentially her way out?

Thoughts

This short story had one of my favourite settings in the entire Kisses and Curses collection. It’s a small pub in Wales, with a couple that are kind of the worst owners / bosses. Although completely expected for this setting.

The dark history of the main character, and the somewhat pensive scene helped to create an amazing mood. One that I hope is going to be even more captivating in Lailah.

The final moments of the full moon as the future was contemplated were really potent and, as someone who loves a darkness in stories, it’s a great way to end a short tale and begin a new series.

 <- Tortured Review The Cypress Project Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Shutter by Courtney Alameda

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Overview

ShutterTitle: Shutter
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I eyed my bedroom door hinges.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

LOCK, STOCK, AND LENS, SHE’S IN FOR ONE HELL OF A WEEK.

As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, Micheline Helsing has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual. The corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She’s aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz who developed the camera’s technology; Jude, who sees death before it occurs; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever. When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly sickness spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn’t exorcise their entities in seven days, she and her friends are dead. Can she track down and destory a nightmare more powerful than anything she’s ever faced before the week is up?

Thoughts

I really liked this story. I loved the incorporation of Van Helsing and Bram Stoker into a modern day horror tale. The fast pace and Micheline’s terrifying past all help to create a slightly terrifying world and a hunt where the stakes are as high as they can possibly be. Actually, this really inspired me to buy and read Dracula, since it features so heavily within the storyline and construction of Micheline’s world.

Although this story is heavily based on the premise of Dracula, I loved the originality and uniqueness of the tale. I’ve read a lot of paranormal and vampire stories, but the creatures in this are far more terrifying. Actually I had to stop myself from reading this before I went to bed… mostly because it gave me some amazingly vivid (and weird) dreams. I love when the descriptions and writing are so realistic that it seeps into my psyche. And, luckily this one did so.

There is always a bit of romantic entanglement in a good story. It helps to heighten the risks and stakes of the battle. Sometimes it’s a little too predictable and boring. Which, honestly, I was half expecting this story to have that kind of love story. It is about two teenagers, one who is effectively royalty, after all. But that certainly wasn’t the case. Although it might come as no surprise to see who ends up with who, but the angst and the journey is far more enjoyable than I thought it would be. And it’s a big part of what has made me hope that there might be another journey on the horizon for these four amazing characters.

 <- Fixer Review Trigger Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Fixer by Courtney Alameda

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Kisses and CursesTitle: Fixer
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #0.6
In: Kisses and Curses (Lauren Burniae)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I stop, wondering when Micheline became my girl.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Ryder has recently rescued the girl he loves from a horrific monster – but that doesn’t mean that the battle is won. Both Micheline and Ryder are left with scars that they are trying to overcome.

Thoughts

This book has made me incredibly curious about the larger Shutter world in general. The idea of one of the descendants of Van Helsing is fun, although I’m still a little bit hazy as to what the team is hunting in the first place. It feels like a dark, demonic hybrid of a vampire, but I’m going to buy the novel to actually find out.

I found this a really interesting story – it flicked between the present day (and the aftermath of THAT NIGHT) to well, That Night. It’s a great way to see the harm that is inflicted upon Ryder in his attempt to save Micheline. The team’s risk and the ways in which this all interrelates is really fun and interesting. And something that I can’t wait to read more about.

The other thing that I really enjoyed about this story was how the name connected to the last scene. It seemed very random and non-descriptive when I first started reading this, but once the story actually unfolded, I finally understood it. And loved it. Which is why I immediately jumped online to actually buy my copy of Shutter.

 <- Trigger Review Shutter Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Trigger by Courtney Alameda

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

TriggerTitle: Trigger
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Tor Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: The Bay Bridge stretched from San Francisco to Oakland, covering about eight miles of open water.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat – a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. Now she’s facing one of her most challenging ghost hunts ever. Lock, stock, and lens, she’s in for one hell of a ride.

Thoughts

This is a really interesting novella. I read the short story Fixer before I read this, and the tragedy in Michelline’s future hasn’t quite yet occurred. So it’s nice to see how she is stuck between two worlds – that of her father and mother and two legacies. Yet, Michelline’s gumption somehow saves the day. Albeit in a very destructive manner.

I’m really enjoying the single word names for Alameda’s Shutter series. Somehow they manage to explain exactly the topic and trend of the story. I love how one simple word might seem a little bizarre as a title at the beginning of the tale, but by the end I have this beautiful light bulb moment where everything makes sense and it seems so glaringly obvious.

Now I just have to wait for Shutter to appear in the mail…

 <- Shutter Review Fixer Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Silver Silence by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Silver Silence

Title: Silver Silence
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #16, Psy-Changeling Trinity #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: At least I don’t lose to ten-year-old ponies from Tajikistan.

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her extraordinary Psy-Changeling world with a story of wild passion and darkest betrayal…

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him.

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence – her mind clear of all emotion – Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious… and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed…

Thoughts

The conclusion of the first season of the Psy-Changeling series was brilliant. It tied of arcs, but also helped to introduce new characters and changeling packs. The idea of changeling bears especially appealed to me, and Silver Silence finally introduces one of these stubborn creatures was thoroughly enjoyable. The fact that he is partnered with button down and deadly Silver Mercant from Kaleb’s domain just makes it all the better.

I love the stubbornness and overbearing (haha, get it?) attitudes of the bears are exactly what I imagine a large and unconventional family would feel like. I love the emphasis which Singh places on the importance of family throughout the entire series. The way that this weirdly echoes in Silver’s family is kind of fun. Although there is the idea that there is a complete lack of similarities between the two, there are so many fun similarities. They highlight the importance of loyalty and love in family. And the fact that no matter what, you don’t turn your back on those that love you. Ultimately, this is put to the test in Valentin and Silver’s relationship. And, even though I expect the couples’ happily ever after in Singh’s books, I actually doubted it for a little while. And that new twist was a refreshing change.

I’ve heard many theories about how the powerful encourage war and mayhem – it makes more money. This new Psy-Changeling tale brings this idea into the light and I can’t wait to see how this idea progresses. Silver and Valentin might be on the road to finding their place in the world, but what about the rest of the characters? What about the rest of the Psy-Changeling world and the future of their children? It’s going to be such an amazing journey!

<- Allegiance of HonourOcean Light ->

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Allegiance of Honour by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Allegiance of Honour

Title: Allegiance of Honour
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #15, Psy-Changeling Season One #15
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: However, not only were her skills as a cook dismal, she had nothing on how sexy Lucas looked while cooking.

Synopsis

The ‘unparalleled romantic adventure’ of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as a new dawn begins for the Psy-Changeling world…

The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from wihtin at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: a child who is both Psy… and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable and save Trinity no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honour even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?

Thoughts

The Psy-Changeling series is one of my favourites because although you are constantly revisiting the characters that you love, each book is about a new couple. It is a new love story and each time my heart threatens to burst with the hope and joy of love. It’s also a little frustrating at times, because there are certain characters that you fall in love with, and then only get fleeting glimpses of them throughout the rest of the series. Allegiance of Honour kind of helps with this. Although the main arc of the “first season” finishes with Shards of Hope, Allegiance of Honour revisits every single couple from the series. Including those who are only in short stories and novellas.

Not only is revisiting all of my favourite characters thoroughly enjoyable, but it ties in the complex web that you catch glimpses of throughout the rest of the series. Every character has had a happily ever after, in a way. But, there are still battles to be fought (and run). It creates such a multi-dimensional, and thoroughly enjoyable world. If this was the end of a series, I’d be happy. It revisits much loved storylines, shows how far all of the characters have come and lets them float off into the sunset. The fact that it’s not, it’s just the end of this chapter of the story just makes me immensely and insanely happy. And excited for the storylines to come…

<- Shards of HopeSilver Silence ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Shards of Hope

Title: Shards of Hope
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #14, Psy-Changeling Season One #14
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: It was why the pack had never made any aggressive moves against him.

Synopsis

The smoldering heat, epic romance, and awesome actions of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as two Arrows find themselves caught in a chilling conspiracy that spans all three races…

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough – because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken… like Zaira.

Thoughts

This is a great way to round out the arc of the “first” Psy-Changeling series. The Arrows start out as the bogeymen of the story, but as characters are slowly introduced, their story seems to be the epitome of Silence and the tragedies of their race. So, to finish a tale with the leader of the Arrows and his lieutenants just seemed to me to fit. It provided a happy ending for the breaking of Silence, but also hinted at many more battles to come in the future…

Where Shield of Winter opened up the stories of the Arrows and their own rebellion, it isn’t until Aden and Zaira’s story is told that the true tragedies of not embracing every aspect of oneself are shown. Specifically in the history of Zaira’s upbringing and shadowy past. The horrors inflicted on children seem to be a cornerstone of Psy history throughout the series, and this story is no different. However, the joint trauma of their past and their willingness to create a future in which no more children will be forced to suffer left me feeling warm, gooey feelings at their tale. Rather than horror at the creation of such a terrible past.

Although, as with all of the other Psy-Changeling stories, this is, at its heart a love story about two people healing and becoming one, I loved the creation of family within this. Primarily through changing the way young Arrows are taught and taking a leaf out of the Changeling book – to create a large, mutli-faceted family that is always willing to support and protect its young. Something I think is important (and sometimes lacking) in today’s society.

<- Shield of WinterAllegiance of Honour ->

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