Tag Archives: Paranormal Fantasy

Double the Bite by Chris Marie Green

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
First Blood

Title: Double the Bite
Author: Chris Marie Green
Series: Vampire Babylon #3.5
In: First Blood (Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 25th September 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: As a deputy back home, he knew his way around an investigation.

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Synopsis

On a hunt to find the cause of his brother’s mysterious death, Ben Tyree finds himself at the infamous Studio 54, and soon in the path of two preternaturally beautiful women. Ginny and Geneva aren’t just twins, they’re vampires. Their connection is put to the test when Ginny falls for Ben, much to Geneva’s anger. How can Ginny choose between the man she’s falling in love with and the sister who won’t let her go?

Thoughts

I don’t think I will ever understand why men are so obsessively fascinated by identical twins. Ever. I do not understand the attraction. But I do get that it’s there, and it’s a great story tactic to fill out the hours. After all, there’s a huge attraction to the stereotype, so why wouldn’t it be used in a paranormal romance tale?

The idea that blood means you can get away with pretty much anything has never quite sat well with me. It’s not a great ideal, and, as is the case in this story, that bond is used in the worst possible way. Alright, that bond has previously been twisted beyond all recognition by a sadistic S.O.B. but it still added complications which shouldn’t have been there. Although, I can’t quite imagine going so far with getting my sister to stop… I suppose I’m just lucky that I’m not a twin and my sister is not certifiably insane…

This was a great story which took two sides of the same coin and showed how differently they can handle some severe changes in their social dynamics. For one, a sense of compassion and need to find oneself came about her awful turning. For the other, a desperate need to feel anything which led to a lot of death and mayhem. I like that the one who finds compassion also finds love… although, they may just be interlinked. Regardless, this story was intense, bloody and oh so good. Well worth the read.

 <- Russian Roulette ReviewThicker Than Blood Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Kiss by Lilith Saintcrow

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

Title: Kiss
Author: Lilith Saintcrow
Series: Jill Kismet #6.5
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 22nd September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: You must agree that’s only fair.

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Synopsis

Is it the kiss of steel or the kiss of death? What could this horrifying creature be planning for?

Thoughts

I’m still not entirely sure what the storyline in this tale was. I’m more than a little confused by it. But I liked the darkness. The idea of a villain plotting against her victims for decades… and there was a lot of information about kisses and debts to be paid… like I said, not entirely sure what I was actually reading about… but I know that I liked what I did understand.

Most of the short stories that I read are really good standalones. This is not really one of those stories. It’s kind of hard to follow, and the insidiousness of the villain seems to be highlighted better in the preceding stories. it made it a little hard to fear and question the villain than other stories in this collection. Because I just didn’t know how much of a villain she truly was…

This story was a lot about plotting. Every move is calculated and part of a much larger scheme. It reads like a set up for the next Jill Kismet novel. One that will pay dividends when you finally get up to that point in the series, but a short story that doesn’t necessarily draw me into the world and make me want to rush out and buy the first novel.

 <- Sixty-Six Seconds ReviewThe Naughtiest Cherub Review ->
Image source: Simon & Schuster

Sixty-Six Seconds by Craig Schaefer

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

Title: Sixty-Six Seconds
Author: Craig Schaefer
Series: Daniel Faust Companion
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 16th September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: At all?

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Synopsis

What happens when two warring factions meet up? Nothing good. A blood bath is likely to be in the next sixty-six seconds…

Thoughts

I liked how all of the moments in this story were measured in short bursts of time. Almost as though each moment was actually worth sixty-six seconds and it was only in those short periods of time which the tale could be told. Breaking up the time and storyline in this way created an incredibly fast paced and intense short story. One that had me racing along with it every step of the way.

This was quite a graphic story of death and bloodshed. And a heck of a lot of assassination. I didn’t quite understand many of the backstory of this tale, but I know that I liked the goriness of it. And want to read more. There is nothing like a grey hero to spice up a storyline… and a lot of murky motives to make it seriously impossible to put down.

The revealing of motives at the end of this tale was somewhat surprising. Although I didn’t really think to question why the lead was hunting people, I just assumed that it was part of a greater organisation. Revealing the actual reasons of why and the conspiracy behind it… it made me intrigued as to the rest of the story. There is nothing like a good conspiracy to draw me into a new series…

 <- Nigsu Ga Tesgu ReviewKiss Review ->
Image source: Simon & Schuster

No Rest for the Witches by Mary Janice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warren

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Overview
Image result for no rest for the witches book cover

Title: No Rest for the Witches
Author: MaryJanice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warren
In: No Rest for the Witches (Mary Janice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warren)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Witches
Dates read: 14th July – 9th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: She thought of an even better, more relevant question.

Synopsis

From broomsticks to black magic, leather-clad warriors to love potions gone wrong, here you’ll find four stories of supernatural sex and suspense from some of today’s hottest bestselling authors.

MaryJanice Davidson – “The Majicka”
Life’s a bit crowded for Ireland and her roommates–a fairy, a werewolf, a vampire, and now a zombie…especially when a mysterious man walks through the door. Will there be any room left for love?

Lori Handeland – “Voodoo Moon”
For Devil’s Fork-based FBI Agent Dana Duran, the only way to fight a supernatural serial killer just may be to embrace life. But little did she know that voodoo could be so viciously sexy…

Cheyenne McCray – “Breath of Magic”
San Francisco’s witches are in an epic battle. But even if Sydney can use her sultry ways and ancient Druid powers to save the world, can she risk losing her heart to handsome warrior Conlan?

Christine Warren – “Any Witch Way She Can”
A desperately lonely witch decides to take matters of love into her own hands when she casts a cosmic personal ad…only to find that the perfect formula for love is a strange brew indeed.

Thoughts

This was one of those random books that I picked up in a second hand shop. I had no idea what it was about. Really what genre it belonged to, and only vaguely recognised the names of the authors who had contributed. I really just liked the name of the collection, it was a fun little pun that made me quite intrigued…

From beginning to end, this collection has women who pack an amazing punch. They’re strong, they’re powerful and they’re constantly finding themselves in a spot of trouble. All things which I thoroughly love in a good, strong protagonist. The fact that sex, lust and magic are all mixed in with each other to create some incredibly fun and often times awkward stories just makes it that much better. Mostly the sex and lust. A girls gotta get her kicks where she can…

All four of these novellas, like many other similar collections have sent me down the path of finding new beloved authors and series. They’re always a good way to escape for only a short amount of time when I have to be responsible, but long enough that I get completely sucked into a whole new world. The fact that these were all paranormal fantasy and filled with a good dose of romance just made me sink all the quicker into these stories. Definitely one that I would suggest to anybody who likes their witches with a bit of extra steam!

 <- Any Witch Way She CanThe Majicka ->

Image source: Goodreads

Any Witch Way She Can by Christine Warren

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for no rest for the witches book cover

Title: Any Witch Way She Can
Author: Christine Warren
Series: The Others #3.5
In: No Rest for the Witches (Mary Janice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warren)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Dates read: 5th September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Quinn laughed and leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek.

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Synopsis

A desperately lonely witch decides to take matters of love into her own hands when she casts a cosmic personal ad…only to find that the perfect formula for love is a strange brew indeed.

Thoughts

I was thinking just the other day that if I could, I would probably cast a spell for my sister to find her one true love. This novella made me rethink that desire. Although, it did have a happy ending… so maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea…

Most paranormal romance stories I read feature… well, the paranormal. I’ve never read one in which the thing that makes the girl special is that she isn’t paranormal. Unlike the rest of her extended family. Don’t get me wrong, there’s hints that she could have more talent than expected, but all in all, the magic-less woman is a great breath of fresh air. One that I absolutely adored and would love to read more about… although I don’t think she’ll feature so strongly in any of the other stories in this series…

Although the romance takes centre stage in this novella, the fixing of old wounds and reconnecting with a family member is a fantastic secondary story. Actually, I was more drawn in by the secondary storyline than I was by the first. After all, the first is just another romance, the secondary is about finding what you have in common with your insane family and finding a way to make things work…

<- Breath of MagicNo Rest for the Witches ->

Image source: Goodreads

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

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Overview
Image result for one foot in the grave book cover

Title: One Foot in the Grave
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress #2, Night Huntress Universe #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 28th July – 31st August 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Yeah, right.

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Synopsis

You can run from the grave, but you can’t hide…

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head – wanted: dead of half-alive – means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep thing professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever… and that Bones won’t let her get away again.

Thoughts

This book took me way too long to read. Not because I didn’t love it, but because I started reading it at a really crappy time in my life, and just didn’t read many books at all. It almost made me want to quickly pick up the next book in the series, At Grave’s End, and spend all night reading it. Just to make up for the fact that I haven’t had much of a chance to truly enjoy One Foot in the Grave like I usually would.

I haven’t read many series which jump years ahead between the first and second book. There have been a few that have done so later in the series. But never so early on. Which is why I found it kind of exciting that this took a very different approach to timeline than I am thus far used to. It almost made Halfway to the Grave feel like a prequel novel and that this is where the depths and insanities of the series were going to really get started. I am also feeling far more desperate to pick up At Grave’s End than I did before.

I’m a big believer in true love. Which is completely obvious from the selection of books which I tend to read. Although I don’t normally love the insta-love feeling that some books give you. There is a bit of that kind of feeling in Halfway to the Grave, but that completely disappears when you get to One Foot in the Grave. After all, they’ve both spent years pinning for each other and feeling unable to move on with their lives. Insta-love might be annoying, but when that turns into the kind of love that stands the test of time… that’s the kind of story that just melts my heart.

No matter how many series, genres and books I read, I always love to come back to the urban fantasy and paranormal fantasy series. The ones which feature strong women who can kick us. This is exactly that kind of book. Even when Cat is given a nice, easy out of the predicament she finds herself in, she decides to take the harder way out. After all, the easy way isn’t about independence, but the hard way is all about winning and triumphing over bullying power hungry fools.

<- Happily Never AfterAt Grave’s End ->

Image source: Goodreads

Hounded by Kelley Armstrong

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

Title: Hounded
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Cainsville #4.5
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 31st July 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: She dove under and pretended to snatch his feet as he kicked.

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Synopsis

He’s a huntsman and his Hound has been taken from him. He may have found a way to find a new one, but at what cost?

Thoughts

I was kind of thrown by how creepy this story felt. I know that it was going to be a bit off-kilter since it was in a collection of tales about villains from bigger series. What I wasn’t expecting was to go from really liking a character to feeling seriously uncomfortable about their entire existence. And reason for being. To close the last page and not only want to pick up the series, but to also not ever want to confront this rogue Hunter again.

To begin with, I was expecting this story to be a tale about a misunderstood villain. Or at least one who did have a nicer, softer side. And it started off in this fashion. Although he was obviously not a “good” guy, he did miss his hound and have a sense of yearning for what he had lost. He was also quite obviously hunting a woman who was not in any sense of the word “good”. Her inability to consider others, her belief that she was the victim and the ways in which she approached those who spurned her. Well, I started to think that this woman was the actual villain and one that I didn’t really want to have much exposure to.

Normally I love tales of poetic justice. Tales which highlight that no wrongdoing goes unpunished, and that there will somehow be a form of revenge. This short story did stick to that ideal, but it wasn’t in the normal format that I enjoy. Because the person who was serving the poetic justice was also the one pushing the wrongdoer and committing sins even greater. And, in my opinion, far more heinous.

<- Even HandNigsu Ga Tesgu ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for stealing snow book cover

Title: Stealing Snow
Author: Danielle Paige
Series: Stealing Snow #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Magic, Paranormal fantasy, Young adult
Dates read: 10th – 15th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: The fever isn’t breaking.

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Synopsis

SHE WILL BRING DOWN THE WORLD

Snow barely remembers a time before she was locked in a psychiatric hospital. But when the love of her life disappears in the night, Snow must follow a mysterious stranger into a magical frozen world to find him.

Amidst witches, thieves and spells, secrets unravel as Snow discovers she is heir to this world’s corrupt and twisted king.

And she has great ice powers of her own.

Now Snow faces choices that will decide the fate of a kingdom – and if she can ever return to the life she knew before.

WORLDS COLLIDE AND HEARTS MELT IN THIS FIRST NOVEL IN AN ICILY GLAMOROUS AND EPIC NEW SERIES

Thoughts

I read the two prequel novellas to this story months and months ago. They were on my kobo and I figured why not. And then I had to wait to read this novel. And boy was it worth the wait. Not quite what I was expecting, and definitely able to twist me into knots far more than I expected, but this was nonetheless amazing. The kind of book that I would have quite happily read in one sitting… if I didn’t have a job and a PhD to take up the majority of my time…

From the blurb I knew that this story started with Snow in a mental asylum. What I really wasn’t expecting was how intense that aspect of the story was going to be. Not only did it rip my heart out in multiple places that this was all she had ever known, but it also made me begin to question where the story was going to go. I had just kind of assumed that this was going to be a nice fantasy story with a Snow White influence. And it was that… but it was also a lot darker and twistier than I had ever anticipated. Not only in these beginnings, but also in the betrayal at the end. That one left me with my mouth hanging open and a tear on my cheek.

In the original Snow White, I’m fairly certain that there aren’t any dwarves. But I do like the Disney version, and although the idea of the seven dwarves doesn’t necessarily come up strongly in this story, it is still there. In Snow’s pills. There were many little allusions to fairy tales throughout this story, some of which I actually went and googled or flicked through my many collections after I finished this story. They were just so well done.

Stealing Snow was a good, easy and fun read. But it was also much darker and heart rending than anything that I was expecting. Not only in reading about Snow’s upbringing, but also the betrayal after betrayal that she experiences. Her loss and her confusion. Every chapter seemed to drive a new wedge into my heart and make me fall more and more in love with her. I can’t wait to read the next book, I’m hoping that there will eventually be a happy ending!!!

 <- Queen Rising ReviewUntitled Review ->
Image source: Amazon

An Apple for the Creature edited by Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner

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Overview
Image result for an apple for the creature book cover

Title: An Apple for the Creature
Author: Charlaine Harris, Toni L. P. Kelner, Jonathan Maberry, Donald Harstad, Marjorie M. Liu, Rhys Bowen, Amber Benson, Mike Carey, Faith Hunter, Ilona Andrews, Steve Hockensmith, Nancy Holder & Thomas E. Sniegoski
In: An Apple for the Creature (Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 23rd May – 13th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Ace Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He’d charged George, heading toward the cornfield behind the store, and George had shot him.

Synopsis

Includes a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story!

What could be scarier than the first day of school? How about a crash course in the paranormal from Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner, editors of Home Improvement: Undead Edition? Your worst school nightmares—taking that math test you never studied for, finding yourself naked in school assembly, not knowing which door to enter—will pale in comparison to these thirteen original stories that take academic anxiety to whole new realms.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris’s story, “Playing Possum,” Sookie Stackhouse brings enough birthday cupcakes for her nephew’s entire class but finds she’s one short when the angry ex-boyfriend of the school secretary shows up.

When her guardian, Kate Daniels, sends her undercover to a school for exceptional children, teenaged Julie learns an all-new definition of “exceptional,” in New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews’s “Magic Tests.”

For those who like fangs with their forensics, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder offers “VSI,” in which FBI agent Claire is tested as never before in a school for Vampire Scene Investigation.

And in New York Times bestselling author Thomas Sniegoski’s “The Bad Hour,” Remy Chandler and his dog Marlowe find evil unleashed in an obedience school.

You’ll need more than an apple to stave off the creatures in these and nine other stories. Remember your first lesson: resistance is fruitless!

Includes stories by: ILONA ANDREWS, AMBER BENSON, RHYS BOWEN, MIKE CAREY, CHARLAINE HARRIS, DONALD HARSTAD, STEVE HOCKENSMITH, NANCY HOLDER, FAITH HUNTER, TONI L.P. KELNER, MARJORIE LIU, JONATHAN MABERRY, THOMAS SNIEGOSKI

Thoughts

This book has been on my wishlist for ages. But, it’s one that’s out of print, so I had to get a second-hand copy, and I always seem to be a bit slower at getting these. Now I’m not sure why I waited so damn long! I loved every single one of these short stories. They managed to reflect not only your worst nightmares relived in high school, but it was also filled with stories of training and cops, the paranormal and the supernatural.

Sometimes short story collections are full of tales which fit into series. Some are just full of tales that stand beautifully alone. An Apple for the Creature has a nice balance of the two. Some of these stories are ones which make me want to pick up the rest of the series. Some just a nice appreciation for a new author. It was a great balance, meant that I didn’t break the bank wanting to buy new books, but also found some great new series to sink my teeth into.

This collection contains everything I love about urban fantasy tales. There are vampires and werewolves, dragons and nymphs. Some of these characters are only just starting at their first high school, and others are in training for a greater purpose, such as crime fighting. Regardless of the reason why they’re in school though, every single character in these stories learns something from their adventures and made each and every story a complete, total and utter pleasure.

 <- Pirate Dave and the Captain’s GhostPlaying Possum ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Majicka by Mary Janice Davidson

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for no rest for the witches book cover

Title: The Majicka
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
In: No Rest for the Witches (Mary Janice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warren)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 13th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: She thought of an even better, more relevant question.

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

Life’s a bit crowded for Ireland and her roommates–a fairy, a werewolf, a vampire, and now a zombie…especially when a mysterious man walks through the door. Will there be any room left for love?

Thoughts

I’m a little bit disappointed that the premise of this story was only fleshed out in a novella. I would happily read a full length novel, or even a series which features Ireland and all of her awkward rescues. Although, maybe that’s just being greedy. After all, this worked brilliantly, and I loved it immensely. Expanding on it could just ruin the enjoyment that it made me feel.

No matter how many books I read, across how many genres, I am always drawn to stories about misfits. Probably because I’ve always felt like one myself. Maybe just because I tend to find they make the most interesting people. Whatever it is, I’m always happily drawn in; hook, line and sinker. Which, considering this is a story about a girl who constantly takes people in that don’t quite fit into whichever world they come from… I couldn’t put it down. And almost screamed with frustration when it was over. I want to read more about the Angry Fairy and the Zombie Nymph (amongst a few).

The Majicka had a bit of a whodunnit feel to it. Firstly, in trying to help out the zombie. And then, when they’ve finally figured out just who she is, how to save her. The extra entertainment of a Tutor trying to train the next, somewhat resisting Majicka, a car that thinks for itself and a vampire with airs just made it so much more entertaining. Luckily, I have a few MaryJanice Davidson books on their way to fill my bookshelves. Otherwise, I would be sorely disappointed to have finished this novella. Great start to the No Rest for the Witches collection though!

 <- No Rest for the Witches ReviewVoodoo Moon Review ->
Image source: Goodreads