A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

Title: A Fistful of Charms

Author: Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The Hollows # 4

Publication: June 27, 2006, 510 pages

Source: Personal Library

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The evil night things that prowl Cincinnati despise witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. Her new reputation for the dark arts is turning human and undead heads alike with the intent to possess, bed, and kill her -- not necessarily in that order.

Now a mortal lover who abandoned Rachel has returned, haunted by his secret past. And there are those who covet what Nick possesses -- savage beasts willing to destroy the Hollows and everyone in it if necessary.

Forced to keep a low profile or eternally suffer the wrath of a vengeful demon, Rachel must nevertheless act quickly. For the pack is gathering for the first time in millennia to ravage and to rule. And suddenly more than Rachel's soul is at stake.

MY THOUGHTS

A Fistful of Charms throws us straight into the action, with Rachel, a newly recognized pack member is already facing a challenge from another Alpha. Luckily, she wins her first fight thanks to her spells. In this fourth installment, Rachel’s business takes her out of Cincinnati and deeper into the world of werewolf hierarchy and mayhem.

If you've read my previous Hollows book review, you know I’m continuing this series in the hopes of seeing more of David and Trent. To my disappointment, neither of them gets any real page time and we don’t even see Trent at all. Instead, Rachel’s out-of-town adventure consists of the characters I loathe most: Jenks, Nick, and Ivy. Literally the three I dislike the most.

Nick, being the spineless S.O.B. that he is, lands himself in trouble, and of course, the only person who can save him is Rachel. Jenks tags along because Nick has his son, Jackson. Ivy shows up later, either to help or just to be her usual possessive self. In my last review, I mentioned how much I dislike Ivy’s possessiveness over Rachel, and it gets even worse in this book. The first three books hinted at Ivy biting Rachel, and now she finally does, which only makes things more complicated. It blurs the line between friendship and lovers, even though Rachel isn’t interested in her that way. I still don’t like it and think it's disturbing.

The plot was more engaging this time around, as we got to explore werewolf hierarchy and territory. I appreciated the change of pace and scenery because I was getting tired of all the demon and vampire politics. Overall, this was another solid installment in the messy life of Rachel Morgan. I really hope Harrison brings Trent back soon. And is it too much to ask to get rid of Ivy and Jenks? I mean, at least Nick is finally gone gone.

Every Which Way but Dead by Kim Harrison

Title: Every Which Way but Dead

Author: Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The Hollows # 3

Publication: 501 pages, June 28, 2005

Source: Personal Library

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There's no witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life and soul in dire jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring criminal night creatures to justice.

Between "runs," she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blood-drinking partner, keeping a deadly secret from her backup, and resisting a hot new vamp suitor.

Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away its former vampire kingpin - and made a deal with a powerful demon to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation.

And now her dark "master" is coming to collect his due.

MY THOUGHTS

Three books into The Hollows, and there hasn't been much improvement for our heroine, Rachel Morgan. Many of the problems she faced were entirely her own doing. Which would've been preventable if she stopped to think before rushing in. The demon Al continues to cause havoc, as always, trying to drag Rachel into the Ever After. Oddly enough, Rachel manages to outsmart Al toward the end, and I sincerely hope this is the last we see of him because his storyline has become repetitive and stale.

Nick, Rachel’s boyfriend, or rather, ex-boyfriend has finally left. I must say, I’m relieved. I never liked him, and his presence in the group added nothing to the story. As for Ivy, Rachel’s vampire friend and roommate, I’m tired of her as well. She’s overly possessive of Rachel in a way that comes off as borderline romantic, and honestly, it’s just creepy. The author tries to excuse it as a vampire trait, but… no. Just no. Even Rachel is growing frustrated with it! The codependency is pathetic, especially considering Ivy is supposedly next in line to be the most powerful vampire in Cincinnati. Powerful, how?

The only part of the book that truly piqued my interest was Rachel’s interactions with Trent. I enjoyed learning more about their connection and Rachel’s past. The more I read about Trent, the more I realize he’s not so bad. Compared to everyone else in Rachel’s life, he might actually be the most normal and sane one. We’re also introduced to a new character, David, whom I really liked. I hope to see more of him, especially after everything that happened at the end.

Every Which Way but Dead was a decent addition to the series, better than the first two. While Rachel remains frustrating, I’ll keep reading for now, if only to see more of Trent and David.

The Bone Witch by Ivy Asher

Title: The Bone Witch

Author: Ivy Asher

Genre: UF Fantasy

Series: The Osseous Chronicles # 1

Paperback, 292 Pages

November 21, 2020

Source: Personal Library
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I never thought in a million years that the bones would choose me.

The power, the magic, was supposed to go to someone else in the family. I was counting on it.

But now my Grammy Ruby is gone, and here the bones sit on my kitchen table.

I thought bitter relatives would be my biggest problem. But I’ve barely had time to find a familiar before trouble comes a-knocking. The kind that possesses smoldering green eyes and a smile that can turn any woman dumb.

His name is Rogan Kendrick, and he’s certain that someone is hunting down and taking my kind.

According to him, I’m next.

This is a world that I never wanted to be a part of, but magic gives no fucks and takes no prisoners... At least we have that much in common.

I don’t know what my ancestors were thinking when they chose me, but I’m going to give them a run for their money. My name is Lennox Osseous, but you can call me the Bone Witch.

MY THOUGHTS

Urban Fantasy is one of my absolute favorite genres, and many of my top series in this genre were published in the early 2000s. Since then, I've been searching for books that recapture the magic of those early Urban Fantasy novels. There was just something special about the stories and writing back then that feels so different from what’s published today. Then I picked up The Bone Witch by Ivy Asher, and I’m so glad I did. This book had everything I’ve been searching for all these years!

The magic system in The Bone Witch is straightforward and easy to understand. As the title suggests, the story centers around witches—though there are some shifters too—all of whom fall under the jurisdiction of The Order, an organization that enforces rules and regulations for practitioners. That is, unless someone commits an offense so serious it gets them exiled or renounced from the community.

Our main heroine, Lennox, inherits the role of Osteomancer (Bone Witch) after her grandmother passes away. However, Lennox never expected to inherit either the bones or the powers that come with the job. The reader follows Lennox as she learns the ropes of being an Osteomancer and navigates the witch community. On top of all that, Lennox finds herself tethered to a Blood Witch named Rogan, who believes she is his only hope of finding his missing brother.

One refreshing aspect of this book is that Lennox is about 30 years old, which is a nice change of pace from the typical young characters (usually 24 and under) I often come across in novels. Lennox is an interesting mix of wisdom and immaturity. At times, she channels her inner sage, but other times, she acts like a child. Normally, I would find this behavior annoying, but Lennox’s sense of humor made it more tolerable. Yes, she makes plenty of pop culture references and childish remarks, but it seems like a coping mechanism for how drastically her life has changed. I’m hopeful that her character will grow in future books. Because Lennox never took life seriously, no one—including herself—expected her to become the next Osteomancer. Yet over the course of the book, she really steps up and grows into the role.

Then there’s the love interest, Rogan, the Blood Witch. Their initial meeting is pretty messed up, and both Lennox and Rogan are aware of that. I’m not sure what to make of him. As I read, I found myself starting to like him whenever I forgot his early behavior, but just as I began to warm up to him, he’d pull another a-hole move—especially at the end. I guess I’ll have to read the next book to get a better sense of his character.

Despite the few cons I mentioned, I thoroughly enjoyed The Bone Witch. It’s a relatively short book, making it a quick and fun read. If you’re a fan of Urban Fantasy, I highly recommend checking it out.

Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill

Title:Wicked Hour

Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Heirs of Chicagoland # 2
Paperback, 341 pages
Publication: December 3, 2019 by Berkley
Source: Personal Library
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Vampires were made, not born—until Elisa Sullivan came along. As the only vampire child in existence, she grew up with a heavy legacy, and tried to flee her past. Then circumstances drew her back to Chicago, and she stayed to keep it safe. With shifter Connor Keene, the only son of Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, at her side, she faced down a supernatural evil that threatened to destroy Chicago forever.

After the dust from the attack has settled, Elisa is surprised when Connor invites her to a usually private Pack event in the north woods of Minnesota, and by the warm welcome she receives from some of Connor’s family, even though she’s a vampire. But the peace doesn’t last. The shifters tell tales of a monster in the woods, and when the celebration is marred by death, Elisa and Connor find themselves in the middle of a struggle for control that forces Elisa to face her true self—fangs and all.

I am absolutely loving this spin-off series. Wicked Hour, is the second installment in the Heirs of Chicagoland series featuring Ethan and Merit’s daughter Elisa Sullivan as she navigates the world separate from the houses and her parents. In Wicked Hour we leave the city limits for the rustic mountains and delve deeper into pack politics and the uncharted territory of Elisa and Conner’s new relationship.

In the first book it was all about elementals and now shifters. I love that we got to see pack life outside of the Apex’s territory and a different perspective on clan life. I also appreciate the werewolf/vampire lore that were incorporated into the main plot. As you can always expect from Neill, there were plenty of drama and action to fill the pages. Never a dull moment when it comes to Elisa, especially when she the epitome of order and following rules.

The entire gang from the previous book were present, along with new characters. Although one character that I want to see more of is Alex, a chicagoland shifter. He was a pleasant surprise throughout the book and could I hope, is there a possible relationship there with our artsy Lulu? Their side banter were as enjoyable as Elisa and Connor. I’m a sucker for enemy/frenemy to lover tropes. Overall, another fun action-packed novel in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. I can’t wait to read the next book!

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Title: Written in Red

Author: Anne Bishop
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Others #1

Hardcover, 433 pages
Publication: March 5, 2013 by ROC
Source: Personal Library

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As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Too many books, not enough time. We’ve all heard of this sentiment time and time again, amiright? Every time I look there’s a new series popping up left and right. But one series I consistently heard about over the years was The Others Series by Anne Bishop. It’s extremely popular, is compared, and said to be in the same vein as Andrews’s Kate Daniels series, which is my all-time favorite series and Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series, which comes in a close second in term of favorite Urban Fantasy series. After many, many years I finally picked up Written in Red and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Written in Red follows Meg Corbyn, a blood prophet on the run. Meg ends up acquiring a job as Human Liaison to The Others, a sect of supernatural beings that comprises of shifters, vampires, and elementals. I very much enjoyed Written in Red but it was absolutely nothing like the other Urban Fantasies I’ve read. Meg is definitely no Kate, Mercy or October. The aforementioned ladies are what I’d described as your typical kick-ass heroines; they’re independent, strong-willed, smart and have no qualms about getting their hands dirty…or bloody. Meg on the other hand was the complete opposite. Grandpa Erebus, the head leader of the Sanguinetti refers to Meg as ‘The Sweet Blood’, blood that is both wonderous and deadly. But his meaning is that Meg is essentially childlike and innocent which is pretty spot on and accurate. Meg has been held a prisoner all her life and the outside world is foreign to her. Everything she knows about the world was through what her handlers showed her which were selective. I’m not a fan of plain Janes and was a bit confused why The Others took to Meg so quickly. In my opinion there was nothing remotely ‘special’ about Meg but she fell into the ‘special snowflakes’ category we’ve all encountered in other stories. It also didn’t help that Meg spoke and acted like a seven-year-old.

Despite it all, I found myself fully wrapped up into the story. Like The Others, I too was entertained and amused by Meg’s mundane tasks. Why? I'm not quite sure. Now that I’ve finished the novel, I must admit…the book was 80% full of long, detailed description of Meg’s tasks as a Human Liaison. From checking in deliveries from human drivers, delivering mail to the complexes or managing the front store to Howling Good Reads. I credit bishop’s masterful writing to make the most ordinary task exciting.

I like Written in Red, not as action-packed as I wanted but good nonetheless. The story was a bit slow for my liking but ultimately, it’s the characters that had me following through till the end. I enjoyed seeing Meg grow as she learned about herself, The Others and the world around her. Her naïve and childlike manner was a surprisingly breath of fresh air, teaching us that things don’t ever have to be overly complicated and that kindness does really go a long way.

 

Chicagoland Vampires 10th Anniversary Blog Blitz + Giveaway

Ten years ago today, Chloe Neill introduced the world to Merit, a grad student turned vampire. Readers followed along Merit's journey over the years as a young fledgling to House Sentinel, and it's been one helluva ride. After spanning 13 novels and multiple novellas, the series concluded in 2017 with Blade Bound and a final novella, Slay in 2018.

I remember discovering the series late 2009, having stumbled upon it by chance. At that time there were tons of vampire novels saturating the market. However, none of them had a female lead in their early 20's or taking place in a college setting. I was intrigued (I don't believe the New Adult genre was acknowledged yet back then either)! If you're looking for a relatable, funny, and kick-butt heroine then look no further, because Merit has it all. Definitely one of the best Urban Fantasy series ever.

Happy 10th Anniversary Chicagoland Vampires!

Let's take a look at the book that started it all, SOME GIRLS BITE. Don't forget to scroll down to the end of the post for a special giveaway.

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker–and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude–and servitude.

But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war–and there will be blood.

The amazing folks at Penguin Random House is offering one lucky reader the ENTIRE SERIES, yes you read that right, all 13 books in the series!

 To enter please click >>HERE<<! 

Good luck!

Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire

Title: Once Broken Faith
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: October Daye # 10

Mass Market Paperback, 420 Pages
Publication: September 6, 2016 by Daw

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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Politics have never been October “Toby” Daye’s strong suit. When she traveled to the Kingdom of Silences to prevent them from going to war with her home, the Kingdom of the Mists, she wasn’t expecting to return with a cure for elf-shot and a whole new set of political headaches.

Now the events she unwittingly set in motion could change the balance of modern Faerie forever, and she has been ordered to appear before a historic convocation of monarchs, hosted by Queen Windermere in the Mists and overseen by the High King and Queen themselves.

Naturally, things have barely gotten underway when the first dead body shows up. As the only changeling in attendance, Toby is already the target of suspicion and hostility. Now she needs to find a killer before they can strike again—and with the doors locked to keep the guilty from escaping, no one is safe.

As danger draws ever closer to her allies and the people she loves best, Toby will have to race against time to prevent the total political destabilization of the West Coast and to get the convocation back on track…and if she fails, the cure for elf-shot may be buried forever, along with the victims she was too slow to save.

Because there are worse fates than sleeping for a hundred years.

Having read the last book, A Red-Rose Chain fairly recently and not enjoying it as much as I hoped I was worried that I was going to encounter the same issues in Once Broken Faith. Thankfully I did not! Once Broken Faith was a much better improvement since the last two books and got me excited again; and reminded me why I loved this series in the first place. In the last book, Walter discovered the cure for Elf-Shot while in The Kingdom of Silences and now in Once Broken Faith all the Kings and Queens as well as the High King and Queen of the Westland are congregating in Queen Arden’s knowe to discuss whether Elf-Shot should be distributed. But of course a conclave of notabilities is the perfect place to wreck havoc and a King is murdered. And Toby, Hero of the Realm is once again tasked with finding the killer.

We all know the World of Faerie is vast, with many locations yet to be discovered. McGuire however expanded much more in Once Broken Faith as Knowes and their Kings and Queens make a first time appearance and others from little demesnes; there were approximately five or six new kingdoms introduced. There were certainly a lot of new characters and it got overwhelming in the beginning but by the middle of the book I was able to discerned who was who and from which Kingdom they hailed. Old familiar characters also had plenty of page time such as The Luidaeg, Tybalt, Quentin and Walter (who I’m starting to really adore!). While I loved seeing new and old characters I was especially happy to learn more about King Aethlin and Queen Maida, Quentin’s parents. Who would’ve thought that Maida used to be just like Toby? And for people with the most powers, they were nothing like their pureblood peers which was refreshing. Aethlin and Maida were understanding, kind and as down-to-earth as it gets when it comes to aristocracy. I hope we’ll get to see their home soon, perhaps during the wedding!

I’ve been with this series since the beginning and things you can always expect with each installment is danger, blood (a lot of it) and Toby an inch from death or actually dying. Each book is a compact whodunit mystery which is expected because let’s not forget she was a private investigator before she became a hero of the realms. I really enjoyed Once Broken Faith it made me laugh and cry throughout the entire book and I felt invested and engrossed in the plot unlike previous book. It was everything you’d get from reading this series overall and despite the last book…the book/series in generally have been getting better and better over time.

However I have two issues in regards to the series (which I stated in the last review). The first is the redundancy of recapping the same things over and over. Whether it was Toby stating information or McGuire summarizing…the same thing kept getting rehashed three or four times. For example whenever Sylvester made an appearance, Toby would whine how she wasn’t ready to forgive Sylvester for lying to her about Simon and how hurt she was. Yes, we get it and didn’t needed to be reminded when it was mentioned a couple pages before. It was pretty annoying. My second issue was literally around the 75% mark of the book Toby was dying or about to die. Something life-threatening would occur and Toby would lose consciousness only to wake up in the next chapter after being saved. This HAPPENED EXACTLY in the previous book. In A Red-Rose Chain, Toby gets Elf-Shot, scene said she blacks out/looses consciousness only to be saved by Walter. In Once Broken Faith, Toby gets pulled out of the tower window, falls and looses consciousness only to be saved by Jin. I am sure if I went back to all the previous book and checked around the 75% mark I would find the same modus operandi. I mean com’on, this is getting ridiculously old, predictable and tiresome. McGuire should change things up a bit instead of following the same exact format over and over.

With that said, I would give the book overall 4 stars because I still enjoyed it and the ending 2 stars because of the unoriginal almost-deaths and too convenient ending...for once I'd actually prefer a cliffhanger ending than this. 

Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Triumphs
Author: Ilona Andrews 
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Kate Daniels # 10

Hardcover, 352 Pages
Publication: August 28, 2018 by Ace

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.

For her child.

For Atlanta.

For the world.

I remember quite clearly when I first discovered the Kate Daniels series, it was the summer of 2009. I barely discovered Urban Fantasy then. But Ilona Andrews awoken and cemented my love for the genre and I’ve been a faithful reader of theirs and the genre ever since. I’ll be honest, like most of Andrews’ fans, ever since Andrews announced two years ago that the Kate Daniel’s series was coming to an end at book ten I was extremely sad. I wasn’t ready then nor was I ready now. But of course Andrews know what’s best and if it only takes ten books to tell Kate’s story then readers are just going to have to have faith that it will end as they hope and of course, Kate deserves a happy ending.

Magic Triumphs was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. This book gave me all the feels! I was grinning and laughing out loud so much. The tender moments made me immensely happy and had me crying…you always hear the term of your heart feeling so full; that’s exactly how I felt for the majority of the book. Andrews delivered on all front from the usual high quality world building, the beautiful personal scenes between characters, witty banter, incredible action scenes, to interesting mythology and a whole lot of heart. I loved every moment of Magic Triumphs.

Everything Kate has done is leading up to this point as she faces her father and an opponent she has never encountered before. Familiar characters we’ve met over the course of the series and new allies are all coming together for the final showdown to save Atlanta. Kate has always been a kick-ass characters, there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for the people she loves. But readers will see another side to Kate; and motherhood has never looked so good…or cool! While this book was already pretty damn near perfect, the introduction of Kate’s son Conlan was one of the biggest highlight of the book for me. The kid stole every scene he was in! I don’t want to go into too much details about anything but a lot of questions readers have will get answered and while this is the end of the series for Kate and Curran; it’s not the end to the characters/world as Andrews left the an open ending for a lot of possibilities and spin-offs.

Magic Triumphs was the perfect ending to a perfect series. It’s been a hell of a ride and I am so grateful to the authors for bringing Kate and Co into my life and letting me join them on their crazy awesome journey (even if it's fictional). I’ve said this before and it bears repeating, but this series is a must read for all Urban Fantasy/Fantasy fan. The Kate Daniels series is the epitome, best of the best of what Urban Fantasy has to offer. If you haven’t by chance read this series yet, please remedy that quickly by starting at the beginning with Magic Bites. If you’ve been a long time reader of the series make sure you read Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant #1), Hugh’s book before you start Magic Triumphs it’s imperative if you want the entire story/background (Huge plays a big role in the battle). This has been such a bittersweet ending to a beloved series but it also is a new beginning for other characters to share their own story. I’m so ready and can’t wait to see what new adventures awaits us with Andrews at the helm. 

Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill

Title: Wild Hunger
Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Heirs of Chicagoland # 1

Trade Paperback, 352 Pages
Publication: August 14, 2018 by Berkley Books

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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In the first thrilling installment of Chloe Neill's spinoff to the New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series, a new vampire will find out just how deep blood ties run.
As the only vampire child ever born, some believed Elisa Sullivan had all the luck. But the magic that helped bring her into the world left her with a dark secret. Shifter Connor Keene, the only son of North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, is the only one she trusts with it. But she's a vampire and the daughter of a Master and a Sentinel, and he's prince of the Pack and its future king.

When the assassination of an ambassador brings old feuds to the fore again, Elisa and Connor must choose between love and family, between honor and obligation, before Chicago disappears forever.

A full disclosure, I didn’t finish the Chicagoland Vampires series. I stopped at Drink Deep. The last two novels I read weren’t doing anything for me and I felt like the love and spark I found in the first three books were long gone. And I was hoping to find that spark again in Wild Hunger, the spin-off series. Which I’m happy to report I did! True to its series name, Wild Hunger follows the heirs of the original characters of the Chicagoland Vampire series twenty years into the future, specifically Ethan and Merit’s daughter Elisa Sullivan.

I will admit there was some trepidation going into Wild Hunger, worried that we were getting a replica of the Chicagoland Vampire series. Yes, we’re in the same world and all but Elisa isn’t anything like Merit. Merit came into the supernatural world against her will and learned to love it as to Elisa was born into it and didn’t have a choice about anything…what she was and where she came from. So it was quite refreshing to see how mature and independent Elisa was; carving a new path for herself and starting anew in Paris going to school and volunteering her time by serving the house of Maison Dumas. Elisa has the best qualities of both her parent and none of their vexing quirks (Ethan and his strict rules and Merit’s childish antics). It was a welcomed change. And how appropriate that her BFF is none other than Mallory Carmichael’s daughter Lulu, whom is also not like her mother except she's petite and snarky.

As I said I never finished the Chicagoland Vampires series, so I wouldn’t know if Neill ever explored the shifters indepth. But I definitely loved seeing more of the shifters in Wild Hunger. And for Gabriel’s son, Connor Keene to be the love interest was just the perfect bonus. I always loved the shifters (Twice Bitten was my fave!) and found Connor an excellent male lead (never fancied Ethan as the lead in the CV series). I loved the whole friends to lover angle, even if they drove each other crazy as children. It also had the star-cross/Romeo and Juliet vibe (except their families aren’t immortal enemies and not all shifters have love for the vampires). I enjoyed seeing Elisa and Connor’s budding romance and can’t wait to see what’s in store for them; especially with Gabriel’s ominous warning in the epilogue.

Wild Hunger exceeded my expectation and I found myself enjoying everything about this new series starter. I like the new generation characters and am looking forward to seeing more of Elisa and Conner. Fans of the original series will be happy to see key characters making an appearance. All in all, a fantastic start. 

Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews

Title: Iron and Magic
Author: Ilona Andrews
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Iron Covenant #1, Kate Daniels #9.5

Trade Paperback, 380 Pages
Publication: June 26, 2018 by Nancy Yost Literary Agency

Source: Personal Library

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No day is ordinary in a world where Technology and Magic compete for supremacy…But no matter which force is winning, in the apocalypse, a sword will always work.

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast.

Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she's trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify.

Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies?

As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.” Hugh and Elara may do both. 

Iron and Magic is the first book in The Iron Covenant Series and takes place between Book 9 and 10 in the Kate Daniel series. If you read the Kate Daniel series then you know who Hugh d’Ambray is, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs and Warlord of the Builder of Towers. He is the epitome of what it means to be maleficent and villainous. Like many of Andrews fan, I was skeptical of how they were going to redeem Hugh, it seemed impossible…but yet Andrews did it! They made Hugh, I dare say, likeable? Who would of thought?

Hugh was rescued from the streets at a very young age by Voron and Roland and from that moment on he knew nothing of pain or suffering...he had anything and everything he wanted. He was almost like a god among men until Roland abandoned Hugh. Roland was Hugh’s purpose for being and living and he didn’t know who he was without Roland. Thus began his descent into despair and darkness, drowning himself with booze to escape the real world. When someone hits rock bottom, there isn’t anywhere to go but up and that is exactly what Hugh did. Readers will watch Hugh grow and change over the course of the book. I loved seeing Hugh’s transformation to be a better person. There was a scene in the book where it literally hit Hugh that he was evil by the reaction of the people from nearby settlements that heard of him. He is loved and worshiped by his own Iron Dogs and Elara’s people eventually saw him as a protector but to have people recoil from him and fear to have their children around him was a rude awakening. There were a lot of changes for Hugh externally and internally, and it was great to see how far his character has come.

But it isn’t to say that Huge isn’t still a jerk…he is. And he has met his match in Elara Harper. She’s literally a girl version of Hugh! Elara who is known as The White Warlock is an enigma and very powerful. Elara’s people love her but everyone else is afraid of her and I am excited to learn more about her power and history. Hugh and Elara ends up getting married, a mere business agreement and from the moment they met they were determined to make eachother’s life a living hell. It was hilarious. No one does snark and witty dialogue like Andrews, and everything you love about their other series can be found in Iron and Magic; amazing character, world and mythology.

Hugh’s book started as an April’s Fool joke, but I am so glad that Andrews decided to turn it into a novel. Iron and Magic was brilliant and a great series opener and addition to the Kate Daniels series. Iron and Magic can be read as a standalone but any Kate Daniels fan out there, this must be read before the final book, Magic Triumphs which releases this month. I’m already looking forward to reading the next Iron Covenant book!

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

Title: Drink Deep
Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Chicagoland Vampires # 5

Trade Paperback, 321 Pages
Publication: November 1, 2011 by NAL

Source: Personal Library

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Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can’t tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city iself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven’t been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That’s when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.

Chicago’s mayor insists it’s nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She’ll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who’s behind this, and stop them before it’s too late for vampires and humans alike.

Neill has a spinoff series, Wild Hunger, from her Chicogoland Vampires releasing next week and I thought maybe I should go back and try to finish the series. I last left off with Hard Bitten and it ended there because I was too devastated to continue. Ethan, the Master of Cadogen House died! But I took the plunge and started reading Drink Deep long after the series ended. It was surprisingly easy to re-immerse myself in the series as if I read Hard Bitten yesterday and not 6-7 years ago. However, the spark I found in the first three books were totally lost in Drink Deep; which made it difficult to get through the book.

Drink Deep read like a whodunit novel with very little action. The natural elements in Chicago was going haywire because the balance of good and evil were being mixed and Merit and Jonah were running all over the city, going from one supernatural group to the next asking if they done it or knew who did it. That pretty much summed up 80% of the book and the other 20% involved turmoil in-house thanks to the GP rep Frank. Drink Deep left me so bored. And the characters weren’t making anything better. Yes, I understand everyone is still grieving two months after Ethan’s death but it made for very emo characters (those within the Cadogen House). All the other characters were bland, two-dimensional or irritable/angry. No one likes reading those type of characters. Thus making the entire reading experience unpleasant.

Like many others, I don’t plan on continuing with this series. I don’t have the desire or care to see Merit’s journey through. Not anymore. Ironically, I still plan on checking out the spin-off, hoping that the spark that I originally loved about this series can be found again.