Tag Archives: Urban Fantasy

Blue Moon by Lori Handeland

Overview
Image result for book cover blue moon lori handeland

Title: Blue Moon
Author: Lori Handeland
Series: Nightcreature #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 5th – 11th January 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: I could have savored another cola in the Sportsman, which was what I usually did when I ate there.

Synopsis

By the light of a blue moon, danger prowls –
Miniwa, Wisconsin, is under siege, but not by the usual summer tourists. The area’s normally shy wolf population has begun stalking human prey, and their victims have been disappearing…or worse. Something is happening in the woods. Something no one can explain…

and desire is unleashed…
Officer Jessie McQuade has seen plenty in her years on the force – but nothing as intriguing as the gorgeous, naked man she encounters while tracking a rogue wolf. Professor Will Cadotte is a Native American activist. He’s also the only man capable of distracting Jessie from her work. And for a cop, distraction – no matter how pleasurable – can be deadly. It’s against Jessie’s better judgement to accept Will’s help in her investigation, yet she soon finds herself doing exactly that – and more. Will’s dark, penetrating eyes see into a part of Jessie’s soul she never knew existed. It’s exhilarating…and terrifying. Now, as a town’s deepest secrets come to light, no one is safe: not friends, lover, or strangers. And as Jessie follows a trail to the shocking truth, she’ll have to decide who she can trust when the moon is full…

Thoughts

Yeah. This book was brilliant. And fun. I could put it down though, which made me happy, because I have a number of other things that I needed to do. Unlike other books which seem to absorb my whole consciousness (they’re sometimes good), this one was always in my mind. But never all consuming. It let me take my time over the book which I normally wouldn’t be able to do. And, taking that extra time made me feel somehow more connected to Jess and Will.

I read a lot of fantasy books, and especially love stories which feature werewolves. This is the first book in a really, really long time that actually featured werewolves as an evil entity. I loved the change. Especially since there is now going to be an entire, evil werewolf army that is now on the loose. Alright, one evil culprit was killed off. But there are going to be so many more… I also didn’t actually guess who the culprit was going to be… which was a whole other level of surprising.

Most stories that you read which feature a romance has a gorgeous woman, and she’s most likely a virgin or just inexperienced. Thank god, Handeland didn’t go down this route. Actually, she kind of went with the flipside. Instead, they’re both experienced (but not in any insane way in either direction). Yet, the woman is the one who is considered plain and way too normal to attract a gorgeous man, which is what Will is. I love that Will’s looks are also his point of insecurity. One of the things that I often see today is the fact that men won’t “settle” for the plainer women in their lives, thinking that they can “get” a supermodel… it was nice that this expectation was completely flipped.

I don’t have much to do with Native American culture. I don’t have many books which feature it, and it’s something that I want to expand on in my shelves. I do have at least one more book that features such a topic (Stormwalker), but it isn’t something that I often come across. I love that alongside the Native American character and rituals, there was also an incredibly intense history of Nazi experimentation and hunting the evils of the world. I seriously can’t wait to see what the future of this series holds!

 <- Shadow of the MoonRed Moon Rising ->

Image source: Goodreads

Sweet Enchantment by Anya Bast

Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: Sweet Enchantment
Author: Anya Bast
Series: Dark Magick #0.5
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 11th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: “Ready to go back?”

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Synopsis

This novella provides a first taste of the world in which Anya’s new Dark Magick series is set.

Thoughts

I kind of found Ronan annoying at the beginning of this story. There was just something about him that was a bit too pushy and immature. He refuses the woman he loves, so he can escape and win back the woman he loves. Rather than just marrying her and working on their relationship in a way that would have been much simpler for both. Don’t get me wrong, it made an incredibly fun and impossible to put down novella. But he’s kind of stupid. He did grow on me though, so that was alright.

I loved the comparisons between the Seelie and Unseelie Court. There is still a hint of mystery about the Unseelie Court, but I assume that when I get around to buying the actual novels in this series, I will find out so much more. But I did love that this was the wonderfully traditional outlook on the fae courts. And that those who are normally considered powerful in the mythos (the Courts), were not so powerful. It’s a great start at world building and, since this is the prequel novella, a fantastic introduction to a brand new world.

This is a really cute love story. And I really enjoyed how Bella wanted nothing more than to find her way back to the man she loves, even if that means giving up everything else. But, what made me really hooked to this story was the fact that an amazing fae world was being created. And I want to explore every single aspect of it!

 <- A Little Night Magic ReviewA Christmas Kiss Review ->

Image source: Amazon

A Little Night Magic by Allyson James

Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: A Little Night Magic
Author: Allyson James
Series: Stormwalker #0.5
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Strong women, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 9th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: They laugh at me but they fear and distrust me.

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Synopsis

The town of Magellan is famous for its woo-woo activity. Naomi is known as an Unbeliever (one who doesn’t believe in Magellan’s mystical energy). But Naomi must put disbelief aside when her Navajo lover reveals that he is a Changer, a shapeshifter, and has returned to Magellan to protect her from grave anger on Christmas Eve.

Thoughts

Wow. This is an amazing novella. Just like the other novella I read in the Stormwalker series. I’m remembering why I’m so addicted to the idea of this series. Luckily, this time, I actually have Stormwalker sitting on my bookshelves… so I will probably start reading that almost immediately. There is just something incredibly intense and fun about this writing and world building that takes me to my super happy place.

Naomi and Jamison are a really great couple. I wasn’t as attached at the outset, due to the whole, he abandoned her for two years thing. But then he explained that away. And I fell completely, head over heels, in love. It helped that Jamison is a Native American, and I love the addition of this cultural group into my shelves.

To expand on the Native American theme, Coyote is also a major player in this story. He has got to be my favourite trickster deity. At least, thus far. There is something conniving, fun and wonderful about him. Plus, tricksters are supposed to be agents of change and balance… he’s the closest fit in all the mythos I’ve read. And he fits the bill perfectly in here. He kind of helps out Jamison and Naomi… but then he also kind of just abandons them….

<- More Allyson JamesStormwalker ->

Image source: Amazon

Urban Enemies edited by Joseph Nassise

Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: Urban Enemies
Author: Joseph Nassise, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Jeff Somers, Craig Schaefer, Lilith Saintcrow, Kevin Hearne, Caitlin Kittredge, Carrie Vaughn, Jonathan Maberry, Faith Hunter, Jon F. Merz, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Steven Savile, Domino Finn, Seanan McGuire & Sam Witt
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Short story collections, Urban fantasy, Villains
Dates read: 31st July – 30th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: He’d sent her out of the morgue just long enough to make a quick phone call in private.

Synopsis

Villains have all the fun

For every hero trying to save the world, there’s a villain trying to tear it all down – and in this star-studded urban fantasy anthology, the villains get their say. Told from antagonists’ points of view, this is a rare glimpse into the dark side of your favorite series.

John Marcone decides to battle a cantrev lord instead of going after Harry Dresden in Jim Butcher’s “Even Hand” (Dresden Files). Loki traverses Hell to ahve a sit-down with Lucifer in Kevin Hearn’es “The Naughtiest Cherub” (Iron Druid Chronicles). Kelley Armstrong’s “Hounded” (Cainsville) tells the tale of the Huntsman’s plot to replace his missing hound in a most surprising fashion. The cuckoos are powerful telepathic predators, but one finds herself with difficult decisions to make in Seanan McGuire’s “Balance” (InCryptid). In Jonathan Maberry’s “Altar Boy” (Joe Ledger), the man called Toys is no saint, and certainly isn’t playing around…

Includes other stories by Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw), Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches), Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock), Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles), Jon F. Merz (Lawson Vampire), Joseph Nassise (Templar Chronicles), Lilith Saintcrow (Jill Kismet), Steven Savile (Glass Town), Craig Schaefer (Daniel Faust), Jeff Somers (The Ustari Cycle), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), and Sam Witt (Pitchfork County).

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this collection, but it was a little more difficult to get through. Unlike a lot of anthologies, every single one of these stories was placed in an already established world and series. However, unlike the few other books that I’ve read which have the same setup, these shorts didn’t stand by themselves very well. Actually, some were just downright confusing because I had no idea what was happening.

What I did love about this collection is that even though I wasn’t 100% about what was happening… there was a little introduction at the beginning of each story. It just explained the worlds and series in a brief manner. Not excellently because I still didn’t actually get what was happening in a number of stories, but enough that it helped me to place the stories a little.

I’d be keen to reread a number of these short stories. Particularly once I’ve actually read the series in which they are situated. At this point, they’re all on my wish list, so it’ll happen… eventually. I seriously need to stop starting a series and then starting a new one… should really finish a few before I get too hooked into a new series.

 <- EverywhereEven Hand ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Everywhere by Sam Witt

Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: Everywhere
Author: Sam Witt
Series: Pitchfork County #3.5
In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 30th December 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: He was debased and defiled, a broken shadow of his former glory.

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Synopsis

They’ve battled each other to the death before. But this villain managed to escape with a husk of himself. The next battle might make things even more dangerous. The villain might finally find a way to be everywhere.

Thoughts

The premise of this short story is kind of terrifying. After all, it’s the way in which a villain is able to make himself be a part of everything. Not exactly the kind of story that makes you feel safe. But, since it’s a tale about the villain of a series… it works perfectly. If you don’t think too hard about the whole hive mind villain thing.

At first I didn’t really enjoy this story. It talked a little too much about a past, epic battle that I had no idea about. I hate when I feel like I’m missing something. But, after a while, enough past information was filled in and I really started getting into this. After all, it was the beginnings of a new epic battle and setting up the storyline for a new version of the dangerous villain.

Once I sunk into this story. I seriously sunk into it. There was something not only fun and amazing about it, but the idea of a villain finding a way to get his consciousness into beer. And then weasling his way into soooooo many other consciousnesses (consciousii?). That was brilliant and somewhat terrifying. I can’t wait to start reading this series! In a long while… I want to finish some other series first.

 <- Balance ReviewUrban Enemies Review ->
Image source: Simon & Schuster

Balance by Seanan McGuire

Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: Balance
Author: Seanan McGuire
Series: InCryptid #6.6
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: 30th December 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: “Tangy,” I said, and felt him swell with pride.

Synopsis

The world needs balance. And in the reality of the InCryptid’s, maths and malice work perfectly to do so. A cuckoo creates a new nest, but is removed. Then hes kin remove the hunter… it’s all about checks and balances.

Thoughts

This is my first every taste of the InCryptid series. And now I’m so excited that I already have the first novel in this series on my shelves. There was just something completely amazing about the idea of cryptids (monsters) that are hunted down for preying on humans. And writing this whole short story from the point of view of the monster… freaking, totally and utterly brilliant. I’m hooked. I’m happy.

I’ve read about a lot of monsters in my many, many, many fantasy books. I’ve never read about a monster that is a cuckoo. One that parasitising on the human race by doing exactly what a cuckoo does. And now I’m wondering why there aren’t more parasitic creatures like this. It’s just such a damn brilliant idea! And it asks, they exploit us, so does that mean that they’re actually malicious? Or like the cuckoo, just doing what they’re designed for?

Ultimately this story is all about checks and balances. Or at least, that’s how it’s written and acts are justified. Which I kind of like. The idea is that humans keep ruining things, they are getting a little too big for their britches, so we have predators that keep us in check. After all, ecosystems don’t survive when one organism is overpowering all of the others.

<- The Difference Between Deceit and DelusionEverywhere ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds by Eric J. Guignard

Overview
Image result for book cover haunted nights ellen datlow

Title: A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds
Author: Eric J. Guignard
In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, LGBTQI, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 29th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Blumhouse
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Abuelita last shakes a single bony finger at me.

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Synopsis

All he wanted was to see Santi one last time. But a misspelt sugar skull and an accidental run in with the spirits get in the way. They also teach him a very valuable lesson.

Thoughts

In a collection of Halloween stories, I was so excited to find a Dia de los Muertos story. Like, ridiculously excited. I can still remember the grad paper that I wrote comparing Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. And I’ve been obsessed ever since. So the fact that there was a story entirely featuring this celebration… wow!

I did get a little bit confused when I realised that the lead narrator was a male. For some reason, the voice sounded incredibly feminine and I just made an assumption. When I realised that the person mourning the death of a loved one was male and he was mourning what happened because of his homosexuality. I was much, much happier. It worked out so much better that way.

The gangster wannabe homophobes in this story seriously pissed me off. Like ridiculously. But that’s okay, because there is an Abuelita who you just don’t mess with in this story. One that can still own people… even when she’s beyond the grave.

 <- All Through the Night ReviewThe Turn Review ->

Image source: Amazon

Naked City edited by Ellen Datlow

Overview
naked-city

Title: Naked City
Author: Ellen Datlow, Jim Butcher, Delia Sherman, Richard Bowes, Ellen Kushner, Christopher Fowler, Patricia Briggs, Pat Cadigan, Peter S. Beagle, Naomi Novik, Matthew Kressel, Kit Reed, Lavie Tidhar, Nathan Ballingrud, Melissa Marr, John Crowley, Holly Black, Jeffrey Ford, Lucius Shepard, Caitlin R. Kiernan & Elizabeth Bear
In: Naked City (Ellen Datlow)
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: 28th June – 26th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Out in Brooklyn in a couple of spots you can walk down a street and almost think it’s a hundred and twenty-five years ago.

Synopsis

In this thrilling collection of original stories, some of today’s hottest paranormal authors delight, thrill, and captivate readers with otherworldly tales of magic and mischief. In Jim Butcher’s “Curses”, Harry Dresden investigates how to lift a curse laid by the Fair Folk on the Chicago Cubs. In Patricia Briggs’s “Fairy Gifts”, a vampire is called home by magic to save the Fae who freed him from a dark curse. In Melissa Marr’s “Guns for the Dead”, the newly dead Frankie Lee seeks a job in the afterlife on the wrong side of the law. In Holly Black’s “Noble Rot”, a dying rock star discovers that the young woman who brings him food every day has some strange appetites of her own.

Featuring original stories from twenty authors, this dark, captivating, fabulous, and fantastical collection is not to be missed!

Thoughts

This is a seriously diverse collection of urban fantasy short stories. Not to mention fun and engaging. Probably moving right to the top of my list if I’m being honest. Normally my purview of urban fantasy is kind of small. But the breadth and width of these stories and the style in which they’re written… just wow.

I loved the fact that most of these short stories were standalones. I used to really enjoy finding new series through short stories and novellas. But, I have so many now that sometimes just reading a standalone without having to hunt out more of that world (I’m obsessive, I do this EVERY time) was kind of nice. I got a great taste of the imaginations and storytelling talents of a variety of authors, without actually feeling the need to buy more, more, more. Honestly, there is nothing worse than finding myself a new series to obsess over and then realising that I have a whole slew of new books to buy…

Although this is an urban fantasy collection, it does have a darker twist to it than usual. Every single one of these stories is a little bit dark, a lot bit fun and most don’t have a happy ending. Which, I tend to love, because I get a bit over all the happily ever afters… but it’s definitely something to keep in mind as you rip through the stories.

<- CorpsemouthCurses ->

Image source: Patricia Briggs

King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree by Elizabeth Bear

Overview
naked-city

Title: King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree
Author: Elizabeth Bear
In: Naked City (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: CircusGhosts, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 26th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Following the line of his motion, I realized suddenly that there was an awful lot of ink on my arm.

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Synopsis

He followed the ghost to the Bottle Tree. Then he started to lose his memory. How will they get it back?

Thoughts

I think that one of my greatest fears about growing old is the idea of forgetting everything that I know. There is a history of dementia in my family, so it’s a particularly scary thought for me. Which kind of made this story quite intense and almost terrifying. After all, it’s about forgetting parts of yourself that you don’t even know your forgetting. Sounds a little too familiar if you ask me.

I loved that this story’s lead was actually a city. In a weird, metaphysical way. Or a deity of the city, that’s a huge conversation for another day. But the idea was still brilliant. It made me wonder what beings would be created by my cities and towns. What they would forget with the passage of time. And how their personalities would change.

Probably the thing that I loved most about this story though was the interconnection between the circus, death and ghosts. It’s a surprising mix and not one that I would have thought of for myself. Yet, it was so blatantly obvious with a backdrop of LA once you read it. Such a great adventure!

 <- The Colliers’ Venus (1893) ReviewNightmare Carnival Review ->
Image source: Patricia Briggs

The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion by Domino Finn

Overview
Image result for urban enemies book cover

Title: The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion
Author: Domino Finn
Series: Black Magic Outlaw Companion
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: 19th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Bullets peppered the large surface but failed to penetrate.

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Synopsis

What’s the difference between deceit and delusion? Will this villain be able to figure out the answer before it’s too late?

Thoughts

This entire story was just a complete, total and utter massacre. Which I loved. Because I’m a blood-thirsty little freak. But it’s probably not okay that I actually enjoyed this much death and killing. I grinned the whole way through this story. Completely unable to remove the grin from my face. But, it’s hooked me into this series. So obviously it was a story that was worth reading and a series that will make it to the top of my TBR list.

I loved that this story utilises people of African faith and mythology. It’s not one that I come across frequently, and I hope that this African flavor makes its way into the greater series when I finally get to add them to my shelves. Most of my stories generally include European mythologies, and I’m sure some of that will makes its way in, but the fact that there was discussion of Anansi and the such? It made the bloodthirsty grin even wider.

One of the reasons that I probably enjoyed the bloodthirstiness of this story so much – I’ve been in a pretty bad mood of late. Reading a story which is incredibly violent and dark is always a way to draw me in when I’m in such a state. Not the kind of short story that I’m likely to forget anytime soon.

 <- Reel Life ReviewBalance Review ->
Image source: Simon & Schuster