Harper the harpy was a fun character, and I love that she’s starting out at the Supernatural Retrieval Agency, I could learn alongside her. There’s also a lot of hints about the fact that Harper is entering a corrupt system. And that maybe she’s been hired for not so above board reasons. From thr very first moment, Harper the harpy and her new job completely drew me in. And now I can’t wait to read Harpy’s Escape.
Greenwood’s writing is always an easy read, and I enjoy the short adventures that I get to go on. Harpy’s Mission is no different. It’s an amazing adventure from beginning to end, with a lot of drama and action thrown in. There’s also the hints of a slowburn relationship with Elias from early on in the story. Now not only do I want to know all of the insand outs of the crime world run by the Big Bad, but also how Harper’s relationship with Elias unfolds.
Not going to lie, I’m really wanting Harper’s boss to get his comeuppance. He’s definitely a horrible human being, and I want to know if he’s actually evil, or just an ass. I’m hoping that he’s just an egotistical red herring, because I just want to see him demoted, but I suppose I have to read the rest of the story to find out.
Harpy’s Mission is the beginning of yet another enjoyable Greenwood story. One that I, as usual, look forward to reading again in the future. Particularly as her works are an easy departure from reality.
As always when I find a random new series that I like, I actually read this series slightly out of order. I read The Bear’s Claws first, and then really wanted to go back in the series to find out more about Vic’s brother Kem. Lucky for me, the very first book in this series is actually about Kem, and so I didn’t have long to wait to learn his story. Plus, it’s a good introduction into the Paranormal Council. So far the shifters and the dryads have been introduced, and I can’t wait to read more and find more of the other paranormals throughout this series. And how the power plays are going to work.
Lia and Kem are a sweet couple, they kind of have the insta-love vibes, but it’s just managed to mature over the year of their separation. It gives plenty of sweet steam to the book, without feeling too contrived and forceful. For me, the perfect balance to reach in these shorter novels. Stories that give you a happily ever after and a whole lot of enjoyment. Plus, I love that, although there are barriers to their relationship, they are fairly simple ones. Which meant that this was a much more pleasant story.
I thought that Lia’s sister was going to be a much bigger problem than she ended up being. Although it is obvious that Lia adores her sister, there is a lot of jealousy in many of the actions. And, you know, the whole part where Kem is supposed to marry the wrong sister. Luckily, this had the kind of sister relationship that I always love – one that’s actually supportive and kind. They might bicker, but they ultimately adore each other and support one another.
I get the feeling that the activities and alliances formed in The Dryad’s Pawprint are leading into a bigger time of change within this world. I’m incredibly excited to see how this occurs, removing the stuffy old guard and replacing it with the new.
This was such an adorable and fun second chance romance. And, I really like that although the couple split when they were younger, there were ultimately no hard feelings. It made this story so much sweeter and cuter. Plus, it meant, that although I was totally barracking for the couple, I could focus a little more on the archaeological mystery.
This was a nice little introduction to another spin-off series in the world of Greenwood. I like that it mentions Mona (from First Time’s a Charm). Plus, it introduced the Cauldron Coffee Shop. A fantastic way to introduce readers to the world and some lovely and loveable characters.
I love that there is the mystery of the giant stone and all of the mayhem that follows. But that it doesn’t actually get solved. I mean, I love a good conclusion as does everyone else, but I also love when things are a little open ended and unsolved. This did so beautifully and made me want to know more about the different magical artifacts that people come across in Greenwood’s writing.
There is a lot of crossover in this story, and multitudes of world building. It’s why I have so many of Greenwood’s stories on my TBR at the moment – they are all wonderfully interconnected and built wonderfully.
I honestly wish that I’d read Summer Magic before reading this, but sadly, it’s on Kindle Unlimited, and I don’t currently have access to it. Which is seriously disappointing, so I’ll just have to wait and hope. Summer and Coop are a great couple, and I really want to learn more about how they got together, and all of the challenges that are alluded to within Enduring Magic.
I really enjoyed Summer and Coop as a couple, but I mostly loved how this short story talks about the monumental shift that you go through when you become parents. I mean, I’ve recently been through that myself. And, although I had a little longer to get settled into my relationship, there are still days that feel… unreal and unsettled. I’ve gone from being a single person to being someone’s mum. Cromer really did this unsettled feeling of displacement and love complete and total justice.
Although I loved all of the relationship dynamic and adjustment within this, I was completely and stupidly in love with Summer’s familiar – he is a total and utter thug. He was freaking hilarious, and I just want more and more of him! Absolutely adorable. Plus, Summer’s father, Alistair, is incredibly dodgy and manipulative. But I kind of liked his version of dodgy…
I love that this is a novel about a turkey shapeshifter and the woman who hunted him, literally. They are not the most likely of couples, but definitely one that I loved reading about and made a kind of sense once you thought about it. Also, I just loved that the shapeshifter was a turkey who likes to smack interlopers about with his wings. The level of aggression was kind of hilarious, and the fact that Kelvin’s hunter is a potty-mouthed sassy pants was just brilliant.
I’m not going to lie, Kelvin’s family completely, totally and utterly sucks. I mean, they use him and refuse to respect his choices. But then it does completely justify his abdication. An abdication that causes a lot of shock waves and drives home the point that everyone has their breaking point. There were a few unanswered questions about just how his family was able to justify his lack of medical care and security training. I mean, there’s being ignorant, but seriously? That was more than a little bit concerning…
Mostly what concerned me about Kelvin’s family was how willing his mother was to throw away their relationship because she wanted to be right. I mean, it’s one thing to be incorrect about who will be a good match. But to repeatedly bring that person into your life and ignore your own child’s judgement? It actually made me flinch multiple times whilst reading this. But it did make a great plot line and point of conflict.
The Royal States series is honestly a series that frequently has me laughing. Everyone throughout it is kind of insane and there are so many shenanigans throughout. I love how heavily involved and insane Montana is in this world. Plus, their influence manages to smooth over all of the mistakes of others. I love that Copperfield has placed a couple as the powerhouse of the world who genuinely just want what is best for others. It’s also fantastic that the majority of the couples in this involve an empath creating an unbreakable connection that just cements their bonds and relationship.
As with all of the other stories in the Royal States series, there is a few comments on socio-political issues in the world. In this case, it’s creepy, lecherous older men forcing younger girls to marry them. It was incredibly cringe-worthy and I love how the horrible man got the crap slapped out of him by an angry turkey…
Adam and Veronica are a seriously cute and lovely couple. One that I was rooting for from the very beginning of the story. And I really like that although they both have a lot of history, they are working towards one another throughout the entire story. Even if they take forever to actually get back to one another, they have managed to grow and change towards each other. Plus, Adam’s total and utter devotion and love is kind of adorable.
The dangers and grossness of childhood marriage contracts is touched upon a little in Null and Void. And I love that although the two instances in this series have happy endings, the story of Adam and Veronica also highlights the beginning of the end of this practice. There is something seriously gross about children being pushed into marriages. The fact that within this series, they are actual legal and binding contracts between kingdoms… incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.
The difficulties that Adam has with his family are really heartbreaking, and as the story unfolds, you realise that they aren’t all evil. I definitely got the impression towards the end of this story that they actually abandoned him to protect him. But, none of his abandonment issues or their motives are really dealt with in this story. I would’ve loved to explore all of this a whole lot more. Particularly once you find out that they were both victims of marriage contracts. And also just generally bad ass individuals. Ones that I kind of immediately fell in love with…
Like all of Copperfield, Blain and Franklin books, this is one that is filled with a wonderful dose of humour and wit. Yet, as with the rest of the Royal States series, there is a whole tone of comments on society as a whole. Other than the childhood marriage grossness, A Guiding Light focuses on the power of money, banks and the stock market. It felt really poignant to read a story about this at the moment – with the cost of living surpassing our wages and the knowledge that everyone is in a whole lot of trouble moneywise.
As a villain, the king in this is an absolute nutter. I mean, he’s probably been one of the worst bad guys in the whole series – mostly because his evil deeds impact on his wife and children. Particularly his youngest son and eldest daughter – they both have suffered a lot at his hands. I kind of love that he ultimately paid the price for murder and manipulation. Now onto the next amazing novel in this series and the social issues that I’m sure I’ll have to think about upon reading it!
For some reason, I was expecting this to be a much longer story. This was incredibly short, sharp and shiny. Which was kind of surprising. Honestly, I really wanted this story to be far more fleshed out. There was so much room for character development, it happened a little bit too quickly to really get into it!
I did love that Mariah Van Helsing is forced to face her prejudices and assumptions. I mean, to be a monster hunter, you kind of have to assume that the those she hunts are monsters… I love that she then finds herself smitten with a werewolf. Plus, he’s kind of sweet and gives her just the right amount of space.
Honestly, like this review, this tale was a little bit too short and sweet for my liking. I seriously enjoyed the story though and look forward to reading more tales of the Van Helsing Sisters!
Let’s face it, any book that is called Booked for Murder and is the first in a series titled Vigilante Magical Librarians is going to draw me in. I’m a total book dragon, kind of half convinced that a library might be a good place for me to exist (but then I’d never actually help anyone, because books) and then there’s the whole, vigilante spin. There is literally nothing about this that isn’t going to draw me in and have me hooked from pretty much the very beginning. That, and then you have the whole spin that Janette is an ex-bodyguard who is kind of hiding out from her previous, and very sexy, employer. The perfect storm of absolute joy and an impossible to put down book.
Even after finishing this story, I couldn’t get the idea of an exsanguinator out of my head. Particularly the many different medical applications that Janette used her talent for. I mean, yeah, the obvious shooting blood out of orifices and killing people works. But I love how it’s also used to stop traumatic bleed outs, for blood transfusions, to remove impurities from the blood… there were so many aspects to the human body that were delved into within this. Although most of this story was focused on the murders and the more violent aspects of exsanguination, it was all of the medical and life saving parts that I really honed in on. I love the idea of a skill that is both offensive and protective.
Alongside the magic and the mayhem, there is the hint of romance in the air. A bit like in The Fox Witch, Janette finds herself in a betrothal to protect her from others… it’s disturbing how this is common and no even remotely surprising. But, I do have the idea that, although her ex-boss might not have instigated this engagement, he’s fully supportive of it. In fact, as the story unfolded, it was pretty obvious that the Hamptons thought of Janette as more family than employee, they just didn’t know how to show their emotions. I’m looking forward to finding out more about how these social and emotional entanglements unfold in Booked for Kidnapping.
The other thing I’m really looking forward to in Booked for Kidnapping is finding out just who is behind all of the murder and mayhem throughout this story. It’s obvious that it’s a pretty big conspiracy that is being machinated behind the scenes. But, as to which shadowy conspiracy it is, remains a mystery. Plus, it’s fun to figure out the how and the why. There’s also a whole lot of social commentary that Blain has managed to sneak into this story. But, mostly I will focus on the shadow conspiracies and whodunnit I think.
One of the most cheerful and enjoyable parts of social commentary throughout Booked for Murder though is the importance of libraries and librarians. And, how underfunded the public sector is. I mean, I might live in Australia and not the USA, but its definitely a universal issue. Amongst the murder and mayhem, there is the constant drive for the characters to find the funding for their library. And the many ways in which they are able to use research and public resources to better a multitude of peoples’ lives. Libraries are important. Even if they are based in a paranormal world with lots of murder…
I’m definitely having a whole lot of obsession over R.J. Blain at the moment. There’s just something about her writing that is hitting my happy spot at this point in my life. Then I read this book, and I’m also completely (not kind of, completely) obsessed with the idea of magic being caused by nuclear warfare. I mean, it’s something that still freaks us all out – but this is such an optimistic spin on it. Better than just a nuclear wasteland after the stupidity of those in power. To be honest, I also just loved this world building.
Olivia is such a strong voice and female lead. I love that within the GBI / law enforcement world, she’s one of the hardest hitters. But instead of doing this by emulating ‘masculinity’ she does it with her own version of sass. That, and she’s also close to her family and more than willing to hide when overwhelmed and overtired.
I really loved the idea of not only setting this series on a post-apocalyptic, magic world. But also combining western and Chinese zodiacs. I’m assuming (hoping) that that means that there are 12 books planned out. It was really interesting how Blain combines multiple aspects of both systems to create Hypnos and the mayhem that follows. Its a unique idea, and I’m excited to find out how the other combinations work in Blain’s wonderful mind.
He only thing about this book that I’m really disappointed with is that it’s sequel is not yet out. I absolutely devoured this book and was smiling a LOT while reading it. This is a gritty and slightly horrifying world with at least one villain beautifully set up. And now I have to wait to read more… lucky I have a whole lot of Blain’s work still sitting in my TBR to catch up on in the meantime.
As with everything by R.J. Blain, I was completely obsessed with this story. I mean, there is just something great about Blain’sworld building that makes me really, really happy. I love that in this story, the lead is not only a paranormal creature, part cheetah, part man, but also ends up being part werewolf too. The constant discussions between the three voices and identities in his brain are quite humorous and made me smile. I absolutely adored how its kind of reflective of the internal monologues and arguments that go on in my own mind – constant parts of myself arguing with one another.
Sean is a fun and great lead. I love the moments when he just, randomly decides to escape and take matters into his own hands. There’s very obviously no real thought process behind many of his actions. And I find it seriously hilarious the many moments when he just… runs away. I mean, some of the background as to why his characterization is like that is a little sad – some of it is funny. But a whole slew of self confidence issues inform Sean’s behaviors, ones that are created by Idette and her abusive decisions.
Andrea and Sean are a fantastic couple – I love that Sean is able to find a loving and supportive women to heal from his abusive past. But I really enjoyed how they danced around each other for absolutely years before finally just acknowledging their feelings. Plus, when they are finally able to show their love for one another, I love how cute they are straight off the bat. There’s also the fun antagonism of each other throughout. As someone who constantly enjoys poking fun at her loved ones, this dynamic made total sense to me. Particularly when they are also a competitive couple.
As with everything that I’ve read recently by R.J. Blain (which is a lot), I found this absolutely impossible to put down. I also just love the fact that most of the police force are Fenerec. I probably should’ve started a bit more with the Witch & Wolf books before getting into this because I do feel like I’ve missed a bit of the world building, but I was still completely hooked. Now I just have a whole new Blain world to get to know and disappear into…
Earth and Skye 