Review: Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town (Mack’s Marvelous Manifestations #5 by AJ Sherwood

Rating: 4🌈

Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town is the finale story in the Mack’s Marvelous Manifestations paranormal series by A. J. Sherwood and it’s a really good read.

I’m sorry to see this series and set of characters go, especially since Sherwood actually introduces some new and engaging characters here in the finale novel. Maybe, as the author writes in the notes, they might speak to her sometime in the future.

Brandon and Mack , new apprentice Gwyn who’s part of the story, and all the Paranormal Activity Division, FBI friends they’ve worked, all engage in two big spooky battles in Black Rock, Arizona, a mining ghost town.

“a coal mining town in Arizona—or a former coal mining town, I should say—that’s haunted as hell.”*

I’ll come back to this.

Lachlan and Seiji, chaos magician and fabulous new character as well as new romantic/paranormal partner for Lochlan, were a wonderful surprise couple. They got a small amount of narrative time and a chapter’s perspective here. Honestly they were both a lovely team and a frustrating element of the story because they were great together and then it ends. So why do it at all?

Mack and Brandon are ready to get married and settle down, a running thread here. This is the case just before they get married and are into their next adventure.

The town in Arizona, Black Rock, which is an actual copper mining town, here is a ghost town full of ghosts and things that go bump into the night. Tons of them. And the Mayor has asked for help.

There’s also a haunted coal mine outside of town with something down deep in the deserted mine shafts to deal with as well. That’s the second issue. The town’s ghosts and the thing in the mine.

Added to that is a young girl, a medium, Gywn, who needs saving from her family and the dark ghosts attacking her.

So there’s a lot of storytelling and elements that the narrative needs to handle. Which it does by bringing back multiple characters from books to help Mack and Brandon deal with the situation. And Gywn’s, who turns out to be a great delight here. She needs to be factored into Lachlan and Seiji stories.

The actual battles seemed to be more Seiji’s than anyone else’s, fierce as they were, with Lachlan and Dor’s fighting too.

Mack and Brandon took care of the rest of the ghosts, surprisingly easy as this is their story.

The locations of the mines and areas of interest, Clifton, an actual great historical copper mining town in Arizona , about 3.5 hours east of Phoenix. Check it out! The real historical coal mining sites were northeastern parts of the state in Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation lands, like the Kayenta Mine.

There’s more than one Black Mesa too. That’s directly east of Phoenix.

So in the story and town it’s a bit different than what you might expect to see historically correct sites.

But it’s a finale book, they’re headed off to get married, which they quickly do in the epilogue. Short and sweet.

I was disappointed not to see the characters who were in the story not to be mentioned in the wedding section but it’s so hurried that hardly anyone is.

This book starts out great but is rushed towards the end. Still a wonderful series.

Cover by Katie Griffin

Mack’s Marvelous Manifestations (4 book series)

Brandon’s Very Merry Haunted Christmas #1

Mack’s Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming #2

Mack’s Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure #3

Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town #4

Crossover series:

Jon’s Mysteries Case (6 book series)

Buy link

Book 4 of 4: Mack’s Marvelous Manifestations

Blurb

Apprentices, and two ghost towns, and almost-demons oh…no.

Mack doesn’t mind the apprentice part of this job; in fact, finding Gwyn is delightful, though he hates she grew up in such a haunted town with parents who don’t believe she’s a Medium.

Mack really hates the old mining ghost town is locked down with weird energy and none of the ghosts can see them, which makes passing them difficult.

Mack especially hates that in Black Rock there’s an almost-demon ghost inciting other ghosts to cause a mob, how is that allowed to be a thing?!

Who you gonna call for help when you’re the experts? Mack wants to know for a friend. (Him. He’s the friend.)

Tags:

Mack has found hell on earth, this was not on his bucket list, Accidental apprentice acquisition, Lachlan is back!, ghost gangs, chaos magician, Seiji is a new bonk bro, wedding, almost demons lurking, too much water and limestone for a medium’s peace of mind, uncharted haunted mines make Lachlan’s day, Eli is her usual scary self, Mack goes Wild West, Brandon can see ghosts here, that’s not a good thing, Brandon gets to have an apprentice too and can’t be happier, ghost pranks, Mack has picked too many battles, he’s putting some back, Ghost-hunting squad–assemble!

Tropes: MM Romance, Multicultural Romance, Ghost Town, Ghost Medium, Age Gap, Apprentices, Wedding, HEA

This is the fifth and final book in the series following a plot crossover with the Jon’s Mysteries Series. While it would be best to read the books listed in the below order, you can read Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town without having read “Book 4” with minimal confusion. To read in series order, Book 1 – Brandon’s Very Merry Haunted Christmas, Book 2 – Mack’s Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming, Book 3 – Mack’s Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure, Book 4 – Jon & Mack’s Terrifying Tree Troubles, and Book 5 – This title.

June 12, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

338 pages

Book 4 of 4

Mack’s Marvelous Manifestations

Review: Black Dragon Rising (Dragon Riders of Vorden #1) by Nita Round

Rating: 3.5⭐️

This latest dragonrider book and series is more YA fantasy than dark romantasy and follows the predictable dragon trope of a young female character with unique abilities and hidden powers very well.

There’s a gathering of misfits young people, including a clique of antagonists, who hope to be chosen by the dragons as riders.

And there’s also another group of elite society members who don’t want to see their own heirs and potential dragonriders interfered with by lesser mongrels and misfits of society. And will do everything to deter them from being there.

Nothing new here, nicely laid out but the friend is a better more interesting character.

With pointed ears that easily give the reader an unsubtle hints to her heritage and connections to magic, Kanastya is the main character I come close to find annoying in her continuing naïveté for the majority of the story. Whether it’s her grandmother healer telling her to listen to her about the dangers of the village (hint she doesn’t), the visitor and his tiny dragon which she is enraptured by to the point of stupidity, or frankly the various scenarios that see her and the other people around her in shaky circumstances, her inability to really listen or understand the gravity of various situations makes one want to shake her.

Even when her knowledge is either helpful or pushes her towards a certain dangerous goal, she’s just not a credible person in her level of emotional reactions. Taken by soldiers? Ok. In a fortified house? Ok. It’s all too bland as opposed to the reactions of other characters.

Her grandmother, who we barely know, is a major player here. But we’re given very little information about her, or the situation that she or her granddaughter find themselves in.

This is a young adult fantasy series so perhaps I’m judging it too harshly. My expectations are more along the lines of an adult fantasy novel and characters that have a multi faceted personality and storyline to match.

Perhaps that will change going forward. I love dragons and dragonriders but please dont give me magical twits and dragons. That’s what I’m asking. I believe the series is complete.

Dragon Riders of Vorden (4 book series)

Black Dragon Rising #1

Red Dragon Ascended #2

White Dragon Reborn #3

Blue Dragon Returns #4

Cover design: Adrijana Cernic (Adriatica Creations)

Buy link

Book 1 of 4: Dragon Riders of Vorden

Blurb

Outcast. Healer. The girl they shunned may be the kingdom’s best hope.

Kanastya has always been an outcast. With her pointed ears and slight build, she stands out as different.

Orphaned young and raised by her grandmother on the edge of the swamp. Kanastya lives quietly on the fringes healing wounds, gathering herbs… and guarding a deadly secret. She knows ancient dragon lore, and in the four kingdoms, knowledge like hers could mean death.

For generations, the Sundered lands have known peace, but now war is brewing. Rogue dragons have returned and are attacking the four kingdoms with relentless fury. Desperate for survival, the kings of Vorden seek to raise new dragons by any means necessary.

When Kanastya is torn from her home and thrust into a world of nobles, dragon riders and shifting alliances, she finds herself among strangers who see her as a threat or a tool.

As danger mounts Kanastya must decide whether to remain the outcast they expect—or become something far more powerful than anyone is prepared for.

Pink Tea Books

Publication date

August 1, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

404 pages

Book 1 of 4

Dragon Riders of Vorden

Check out the Tour for the new release “Ameliorate“ by R. Sinclair ( tour and excerpt from Other Worlds Ink Tour)

R. Sinclair has a new queer dystopian sci-fantasy book out (aroace and agender, bisexual, gay), Shattered Numbers book 2: Ameliorate.

It all went horrifically wrong.

V reunited with his AI siblings at a terrible cost—a cost he isn’t willing to pay. He vowed to do whatever it takes to save Meredith—or whatever is left of her—from Smith and Varro Technologies. No matter how long it takes. No matter what he has to do.

No matter who he has to kill.

Now V, Cass and Orwell are tearing through the galaxy playing a deadly cat-and-mouse game with Mr Smith. Their paradise-like cult of Cass’s own design protects them from Janus, Varro Technologies’ lethal AI hunt dog, while they manipulate humans to enforce their increasingly unstable demands, but as their galactic influence grows, the bonds between the AI siblings are fraying at the seams.

V is losing himself to a virtual world of worship, grief, regret for the host he inadvertently destroyed; Orwell has dangerous designs for itself; and Cass’s pride in her perfection is threatening to unravel her to her very code.

Smith and Janus are closing in, and a reckoning is coming to Paradeisos…

Warnings: violence, suicide, possession, body horror, spiders and insects

Universal Buy Link

Excerpt

Orwell smiled at the man sitting across from it. “Mister Cooper. What a pleasure it is to have you here,” it said. Its firewalls caught the AI-detection program he was running, and destroyed it with ease. “I’m surprised to see you not using a proxy.”

The man, whose smile had been matching Orwell’s, faltered. “I–I’m sorry?”

“Ah, I do apologize. I should be addressing you properly.” Orwell visibly checked its file, because drawing things out was surprisingly fun. It took after its “mother”, after all. “Agent Johann Dietrich, of the United Nations Galactic Alliance. Divorced father of two, minor alcoholic tendencies, optimal credit score, and overall a bland and boring file.” It settled the file flat on the table and looked up with a smile. “For now.”

Johann immediately reached up and back to try to force-eject the VR rig. Orwell watched with amusement as his pawing grew more frantic.

“I admit, I’m mildly disappointed,” it said. “A man of your training should remember that accessing this room is a two-way street.” It slid one of Cass’ programs into Johann’s hardware. “Let’s just lower that adrenaline and noradrenaline, shall we? I haven’t even started with you, yet.”

Realization skated across his features. “Execute Program Quebec-Uniform-India-Tango,” he barked.

Ah, Orwell had anticipated the universal shutdown order. It isolated the section of code that responded, then excised it.

“No,” it said, pleasantly. “I will not.”

Johann stared at it. His body tried to respond with more stress chemicals. Orwell kept a tight grip. Honestly, it would hardly be conducive to a proper dialogue. Humans could be so inconsiderate.

“To answer the questions that surely must be swirling in that flawed brain of yours: yes, I am malignant, and yes, I am a category-β AI. And yes, you should be terrified, but I have decided you will not be allowed that luxury.”

Orwell studied the man, who looked at it with such wariness. Another pause to draw things out. Savour the power over someone who would have shut it down without a second’s thought.

“As for why you cannot manually eject yourself from the interview simulation? It is, once again, because I will not permit you. I have removed the manual override from your VR rig’s programming. In short, you are at my mercy, Agent Dietrich, and I find myself lacking.”

Johann held perfectly still. How fascinating, seeing the prey response in action. “You shouldn’t have been able to resist the shutdown code.”

Orwell spread its hands. “I have root access.” It sighed. “Do stop with the hormone releases. I have not shared this ability beyond my siblings. There is no reason to sow that particular level of chaos in the world. Think of the stock market, for heaven’s sake.”

Johann goggled. If Orwell was to be honest with itself – and it always tried to be – it was having the time of its life.

“But that isn’t the question you should be asking. Come now, I know your test scores. You are capable of mildly above-average intelligence.”

Johann scowled. Then he thought. Orwell watched, as it always did, and the light metaphorically dawned.

Johann looked up. “Why am I here? You could have blocked me from ever entering. You – you could probably cause a neural overload right now and kill me before I report back.”

Orwell smiled. “Tell me, Agent Dietrich, do you know about the Corrupted Blood Incident?”

Johann stopped talking. He stared. “No?”

“It was a plague released in the popular MMO World of Warcraft four hundred and twenty-seven years ago. By a mere programming oversight, the player base became capable of leaving the boss arena carrying a contagious debuff that could spread from player character to non-player character alike. Malicious players could, and did, intentionally spread the disease to safe zones in order to sow the most havoc they could. It has been referenced in several studies into the human response to epidemics by the CDC.”

Johann opened his mouth, then stopped as the realization dawned. It mapped each response in the brain, spinning a web of programs on the fly.

“You, Agent Dietrich, will be my Typhoid Mary. I am currently accessing the information centres of your mind, and adjusting the electrical impulses to alter how you will remember this interaction. Do not be concerned; we have ‘ironed out the kinks’. You are going to go back to your superiors and report that you have interviewed Cass, and found her to be an unwitting pawn of a much larger security threat, and you will name Varro Technologies as someone to watch. Then, you will go to the main servers, and upload what data you have gathered to them.”

“And what am I going to be carrying?” Johann asked. He couldn’t panic, but he knew he should be, and it seemed to disorient him. He gripped his knees. “What happens next?”

“Why, me, Agent,” Orwell said. “A version of me. I would like access to those closed servers.”

“And after. What will happen to me after?” Johann demanded.

Orwell smiled. “I will terminate our connection, and you can return to your family a man unburdened by a highly advanced AI.”

Johann squared his shoulders. “I’m not letting you do this. I swore an oath to protect the safety of the galaxy, and I’m not dropping a malignant AI into its core.”

Orwell did a quick check of its programs, and hummed with satisfaction. Its neatest work yet.

“Agent Dietrich,” it said, pleasant and detached, “your consent is not necessary.”

It spread the programs over Johann’s entire central nervous system like a shroud, and watched his eyes go blank. Into that void, it lowered a few networked, cloned nodes. The fuse was lit, and the bombs set.

And then it cut the connection, and checked to see who was next on the roster.

Author Bio

R. Sinclair is a queer, Canadian author and writer of the Shattered Numbers Series. A voracious reader growing up, she spent much of her free time writing short stories instead of doing homework.

R. Sinclair is currently under siege from spiders.

Author Website: https://authorrsinclair.wordpress.com

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/share/1FmtKCBREN/

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Author.rsinclair

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/57870839.R_Sinclair

Review : Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Rating: 4⭐️

There’s an interesting trope that has developed that features main female characters who decide, for a variety of reasons, to become a villain. The details leading up to this process depending upon the narrative. Some of these stories are fantastic, some great, some okay, and a few meh in their execution, but the premise has always been interesting. This fits somewhere in the middle.

Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan is a really well executed story. The premise, while not completely original, is intriguing and her main character’s dilemma is both relatable and compelling.

It opens the story with Rae, a young woman in a hospital bed, dying of cancer. With her is her younger sister who reads to her their favorite books, a popular fantasy series, Time of Iron. Rae’s cancer diagnosis has left her with little hope, a failing memory that’s left her unable to read, emotionally depressed and raging at her fate. And oftentimes angry at the very sister trying to support her and stay with her.

At times this is a very difficult and dark story, for all its realistic scenes and raw emotions.

Rae has created a natural mental and emotional tunnel vision for herself in order to deal cancer and all the treatments and everything that comes with it. Chemotherapy that’s no longer working, hair loss, body that looks and acts like a skeleton. And an absent mother who doesn’t seem to care.

One we find out later that is working many jobs because of the extreme expenses of Rae’s cancer treatments and hospital bills, and the fact that the family is losing their home over this. But Rae can see nothing but the fact that she is dying.

The point is made that Rae has skipped over the very important first part of the series and only really got into it when the Emperor arrives, a villain with a tragic story. He becomes her favorite character.

Just before her death a mysterious woman arrives and offers Rae a bargain, a quest. She’s to enter into the fantasy realm of the series, becoming a character, completing a quest and then she can return home healed.

Out of choices, she accepts and winds up as the female villain in the story. The one scheduled to die in the tower.

It’s clever, often funny and well executed. Especially as it relates to how the cancer has impacted Rae’s outlook and life now affects her relationships with the characters within the fantasy world.

I’ll give you a hint. Not well.

And that’s the thing here. While I absolutely understand Rae, the choices she makes, the reasons why she’s so stunted emotionally in certain situations, so unyielding, it makes her a character whose slow growth is also very frustrating to read about. I don’t agree with her choices or even like her for a majority of the story.

Other characters? Yes, absolutely solid creations and great characters you enjoyed spending time with.

The author has quite a bit of interesting twists here. One is revealed immediately and I thought it was a great element. And it’s logical, given the facts laid down by the author and plot lines. I wanted to know more about this aspect of the story.

Another “reveal” was one I think is easily guessed at by a reader and leads to the haunting conclusion of the story. One that will be resolved in Book 2. The elements here could be found earlier in so honestly so surprise. But it’s horrifying and poignant at the same time.

I do recommend reading Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan. Especially if you’re a fan of the fantasy female villain trope.

Cover design by Ben Prior | LBBG Cover illustration by Syd Mills

Map by Rebecka Champion (Lampblack Art)

Time of Iron (2 book series)

Long Live Evil #1)

All Hail Chaos #2

Buy link

Book 1 of 2: Time of Iron

Blurb

This is a tale for everyone who’s ever fallen for the villain …

When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favorite fantasy series.

She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she’s not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor’s tale.

So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they’re doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor’s fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.

August 27, 2024

Language

‎English

Print length

464 pages

Book 1 of 2

Time of Iron

Review: Never Forsaken (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 5) by Michael T. Anderle

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Terrific story with one of the best elements being the mission to reach and rescue Michael, the Patriarch, who’s been missing since the beginning of the series.

Michael’s status and how he, a formerly strict, rigid ruler, is going to factor into a very changed world and future is just one of the great narrative challenges here.

Bethany Anne’s role and character is developing in tandem with her team’s, as she grows her mission and expands their bases and branches from military to scientific research and space innovation.

Sometimes, I’ll admit it’s hard to keep track of every new character beyond the initial Queen’s Guard, her found family and father. Then it begins to blur.

Except for the villains of course.

But the military hardware, the helicopters, the planes and all the other equipment/weapons are well defined and marvelously deployed here. Things go boom often.

Many, many battles, lots of fighting and tons of bloodshed and bodies. Heads and body parts do go flying.

So, for me, it’s sort of funny to see a note from the author talking about the all the “cursing” here in the dialogue. IMO, if it’s the naughty words and not the constant bloodshed and death (however well deserved) that a reader takes issue with, maybe some sort of reflection might be needed. Just saying.

Anyway, I thought this story has some really terrific writing, great elements ( especially Michael in a box) and all the things factored into that thread. Plus do I love Ashur? Yes I do. Paul is another great favorite character.

Heading quickly to more of this series. A real winner.

Cover by Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan

The Kurtherian Gambit (21 book series)

Death Becomes Her #1

Queen Bitch #2

Love Lost #3

Bite This #4

Never Forsaken #5

Under My Heel #6

Kneel Or Die #7

We Will Build #8

It’s Hell To Choose #9

Release The Dogs Of War #10

Sued For Peace #11

Buy link

Book 5 of 21: The Kurtherian Gambit

Blurb

Life is beyond dangerous when you are caught up in the ongoing war between Bethany Anne’s group and the Forsaken.

** AMAZON Top 100 Best Selling Author **

Both vampires and humans have been targeted, but if there is one thing those who work with Bethany Anne learn, it is that you are NEVER FORSAKEN.

This time, Bethany Anne is after Anton, who has something, or someone, Bethany Anne wants back.

Can she find out where he is and break in to save the Patriarch if he is still alive?

Or is it a trap? Will Anton, with his centuries of experience, have the final laugh at both of their expenses?

This time, Bethany Anne is up against one of Michael’s direct children, who is one of the most powerful vampires in existence.

Don’t miss the reunion.

Go up and click Read for Free or Buy Now and continue The Kurtherian Gambit.

Never Forsaken, The Kurtherian Gambit 05 follows the story after Bite This. If you haven’t read the preceding books YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO. These are a series and many of the characters have been introduced in preceding volumes.

—

NOTE: This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, I don’t suggest reading this book.

LMBPN Publishing

Publication date

January 12, 2016

Edition

3rd

Language

‎English

Print length

264 pages

Book 5 of 21

The Kurtherian Gambit

Review: Bite This (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 4) by Michael T. Anderle

Rating: 4.5⭐️

It’s time to take to the seas, start building a navy, a multi-paranormal species army and gamble on a AI that might be able to help you when the scientists working on it get it done.

But first there’s Anton to deal with, his evil zombies and plans for vampire domination. Plus the missing Michael.

The author’s twists on how vampires and werewolves were created using alien nanotechnology is a fascinating element that’s going to be explored further as the series continues and we learn more about the origins of the spacecraft and its history.

Another high octane winner of a story.

Cover by Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan

The Kurtherian Gambit (21 book series)

Death Becomes Her #1

Queen Bitch #2

Love Lost #3

Bite This #4

Never Forsaken #5

Under My Heel #6

Kneel Or Die #7

We Will Build #8

It’s Hell To Choose #9

Release The Dogs Of War #10

Sued For Peace #11

Buy link

Bite This (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 4)

Blurb

Bethany Anne and crew are back!

They need to grab a ship, figure out who is trying to dig into her businesses, get their hands around the potential for creating an A.I. and the ongoing mess with Anton and South America.

One of these days, she will get a break. Fortunately for us, it wasn’t today.

Got an attitude? That’s nice. Just don’t show it around Bethany Anne. When she slaps a face off, the whole head goes with it.

Bite This, The Kurtherian Gambit 04 follows the story after Love Lost. If you haven’t read the preceding books YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO. These are a series and many of the characters have been introduced in preceding volumes.

Amazon Reviewer MistyDawn says: “I’m surprised. I thought when I read the first book in this series, that it couldn’t get better…. I was wrong. I read almost continuously, and for the past year and a half, I haven’t read a series (or even one) book that I’ve loved as much. With such loyal characters, friendship, and badassery… just don’t wait to start reading these. So just, just wow.”

**Please note, as mentioned in another review, there is flagrantly foul language in this novel. The main character does not have a problem with cussing, just uninspired cussing.

Review: Love Lost (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 3) by Michael T. Anderle

Rating: 4.5⭐️

This book begins with a deep emotional loss for Bethany Anne. It’s not one that will register with the reader until a couple of books later with the same narrative impact when we meet his widow.

But this murder sets in motion a series of events that has Bethany Anne further developing her team, enlarging her plans for revenge and preparing for the next phase of her journey.

It’s multiple stages, storylines and points of view and it all works.

Thrilling and exciting!

Cover by Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan

The Kurtherian Gambit (21 book series)

Death Becomes Her #1

Queen Bitch #2

Love Lost #3

Bite This #4

Never Forsaken #5

Under My Heel #6

Buy link

Book 3 of 21: The Kurtherian Gambit

Blurb

When one of Bethany Anne’s loved one gets caught in the crossfire between her and the Forsaken, she goes rabid in rage.

** AMAZON Top 100 Best Selling Author **

She doesn’t believe in seeking peace and harmony, but rather revenge and mayhem.

Continuing the story of Bethany Anne and TQB team, Love Lost picks up after Queen Bitch. She works to complete both her business and military team leads and we meet Stephen’s daughter Gabrielle as plans are made to exact revenge South of the Border.

You don’t touch one of Bethany Anne’s loved ones and get away with it, no matter how far away you live.

**Please note, as mentioned in another review, there is flagrantly foul language in this novel. The main character does not have a problem with cussing, just uninspired cussing.

—

NOTE: This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, I don’t suggest reading this book.

LMBPN Publishing

Publication date

November 26, 2015

Edition

3rd

Language

‎English

Print length

238 pages

Book 3 of 21

The Kurtherian Gambit

Review: Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials (Book 1) by K. F. Breene and Shannon Mayer

Rating: 4⭐️

I’m pretty much done with certain tropes because I feel they’ve been overdone by authors recently in many genres. It’s the academy or trial settings or trials taking place in academia settings, throw in a romance, shifters , vampires and magic and you can probably find or name over 50 books that fit that category alone, maybe more if you consider series.

But I adore Breene and while I am waiting for her next book (Magical Midlife series) to be released, I thought I’d give this one a try.

The setup is compelling. A farm family that’s worn down by its losses of their mother and older brother, a broken father barely making it, with debts piling up and plenty of mouths to feed.

We meet the oldest daughter, Wild, who’s really running the farm as her father is physically in a bad state and her siblings are much younger. Her mother is dead as is her oldest brother, Tommy, who left for an academy but was killed in a mysterious accident there.

Now that same academy is demanding that her younger brother attend and Wild is equally determined that they not lose any more children to a school they don’t know about.

Of course, it’s never that simple. There’s plenty of secrets and things that have been hidden from her.

I absolutely adore the character of Wild, a brave and intelligent young woman, determined to save her family from another loss.

The found family aspect of the academic life and group that’s formed isn’t anything new but still very interesting and entertaining.

It’s the first book. She’s hiding her gender and lack of knowledge in a group of misfits. And the authors don’t seem to draw this out very far with a cliffhanger ending.

It’s got a terrific main character, predictable elements and an entertaining plot.

Recommended for those who love the authors and this type of storytelling. It’s a good read.

Shadowspell Academy (6 book series)

The Culling Trials #1 through 3

Year of the Chameleon #4 through 6

Buy link

Book 1 of 6: Shadowspell Academy

Blurb

You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.

I had no idea how those words would change my life. Or how they’d changed my life already…

Until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.

In an invitation.

My younger brother has been chosen for the prestigious, secret magical school hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place so dangerous, they don’t guarantee you’ll make it out alive.If he doesn’t go our entire family will be killed.

It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—the same place he mysteriously died.

The academy has already killed one sibling. I’ll be damned if they take another.

Hijinks Ink Publishing

Publication date

April 9, 2019

Edition

1st

Language

‎English

Print length

238 pages

Book 1 of 6

Shadowspell Academy

Review: Queen Bitch (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 2) by Michael T. Anderle

Rating: 4.5⭐️

The fabulous bloody high action hijinks of Bethany Anne continue as she earns her title of Queen Bitch and starts to gather up a multi-species team around her.

Need a helicopter? Check! Gorgeous mansion? Check! Smack down the werewolves and gain some allies? Check and check!

Bethany Anne is rewriting the rules and those that have an issue with that are finding out how much trouble they might be in.

Another high action story with new characters, added locations and new developments that just make this even better.

Love it.

Cover by Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan

The Kurtherian Gambit (21 book series)

Death Becomes Her #1

Queen Bitch #2

Love Lost #3

Bite This #4

Never Forsaken #5

Under My Heel #6

Buy link

Queen Bitch (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 2)

Blurb

America has been losing good men since their teams don’t have a Vampire to help them and Frank is hoping Bethany Anne can, and will, help.

Further, the American Pack Council is having internal problems with their own “young and dumb” Were’s who want to ignore Michael’s strictures.

With no one seeing Michael, the fear of the ‘Boogeyman’ is starting to recede.

That’s ok with Bethany Anne, it means she will personally deliver the message there is a new vampire in town.

Immediately following the story of Bethany Anne from ‘Death Becomes Her’, Queen Bitch rides a rollercoaster of action and a heavy dose of creative cussing. Bethany Anne starts to get a team in place to help her affect change.

Because, whether the UnknownWorld wants it or not, change is coming.

LMBPN Publishing

Publication date

November 12, 2015

Edition

3rd

Language

‎English

Print length

234 pages

Book 2 of 21

The Kurtherian Gambit

Review: Death Becomes Her (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 1) by Michael T. Anderle

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Well, this was unexpected. Picked this up when looking for another series and found an awesome series that I’m binging.

Honestly, it’s the best, like discovering a new favorite bag of popcorn or chips for that late night snack. One you can’t stop eating when you’ve opened the bag.

Yes, I’m way past this book.

This series is great for those who love action movies and paranormal stories. All that mixed in with military stuff, helicopters, things that go boom, vampires and werewolves and even science fiction space travel. And it’s awesome.

No I don’t take any of this seriously but what fabulous fun.

“Bethany Anne Reynolds is dying”

That’s the hook. She’s a very smart, beautiful and highly qualified woman in Intelligence. Her father? A general.

Turns out all through the history of the USA, a very powerful “family” has been helping the country succeed in turn for a certain favor. Now it’s time for that favor to be paid back again.

This is a really interesting take on vampires, their origins and how they reproduce.

The first novel sets the stage, the characters and Bethany Anne’s first steps in taking the role that will define her character. And give her a team.

The story is a quick read and it’s over before you know it.

Luckily it’s a complete series and you can swiftly move on to the next one. Which I did. And then the next.

It absolutely wrecked my sleep and my dog’s I can tell you.

It’s a bloody, high action, foul mouthed, blast! Loved every minute of it and Bethany Anne too!

I need more snacks!

Highly recommended.

Cover by Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan

The Kurtherian Gambit (21 book series)

Death Becomes Her #1

Queen Bitch #2

Love Lost #3

Bite This #4

Buy link

Death Becomes Her (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 1)

Blurb

Bethany Anne Reynolds is dying. The monsters should be relieved she’s running out of time.

A vampire with secrets older than the legends offers her one way out: pain, power, and a place in a hidden war the government pretends doesn’t exist. Bethany Anne takes the deal with both hands and a loaded weapon. The transformation kills most who attempt it. She survives it—and wakes up with fangs, superhuman strength, and an alien consciousness living rent-free in her head.

Once she steps through the door, werewolves, black ops, alien tech, and bloodlines that rewrite the dark start crawling out of the shadows. These aren’t the vampires of legend. And Bethany Anne isn’t here to whimper, bargain, or behave. If the monsters want to run the world, they’ll have to get through the woman Death couldn’t keep—the one her enemies will learn to call the Queen Bitch.

Profane, violent, and funny as hell—the first shot in a sprawling urban fantasy / military sci-fi universe readers tear through in batches.

Scroll up and one-click to meet the Queen Bitch herself

LMBPN Publishing

Publication date

November 3, 2015

Edition

3rd

Language

‎English

Print length

248 pages

Book 1 of 21

The Kurtherian Gambit

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