Review: How to Catch a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls # 6) by Shannon Mae

Rating: 4.5🌈

How to Catch a Hellhound is the conclusion to the Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series by Shannon Mae and it’s absolutely one of my favorite stories of the series, a great way to finish it off.

Through the series we’ve been learning more about the different types of otherworldly beings who are living in Paradise Falls as well as following the Smith hellhounds as they each find their mate amid a mysterious new drama that comes their way and enlarges the current universe that everyone is familiar with.

That’s the story here. We get to see the events that brought Sheriff Paul to Paradise Falls, his perspective on Jude’s pursuit of him, and the town’s community itself. I always wanted his POV and this really connected me to him and see how they worked together as a couple. They absolutely meshed together so well, but it took them time.

Paul’s development is very much a terrific aspect of the story, not just the relationship. It pulls from past events and his and Jude’s storyline features importantly into further series and Paradise Falls itself.

There’s a great twist here and I really hope that it means we will see this couple as well as the other characters crossover into more of the forthcoming Paradise Falls series.

This is a great story and wonderful way to finish it all off. Highly recommended. As is everything else in the related Paradise Falls universe.

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls:

How To Flirt With A Hellhound #1

How To Hack A Hellhound #2

How To Tame A Hellhound #3

How To Trust A Hellhound #4

How Not To Kill A Hellhound #5

How to Catch a Hellhound #6 – finale

What else takes place in Paradise Falls?

Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures (8 book series) more coming plus a new series

Buy link

How to Catch a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls Book 6)

Blurb

Paul

I’m not exactly sure how I became sheriff of Paradise Falls, but I take the protection of the people in my town seriously. That even includes Jude, who’s constantly pulling pranks in the hopes of getting arrested. I know he’s flirting with me, but how can someone as damaged as me be a match for his eternal good cheer? Never mind the fact that I may also be losing my mind—I’m getting crazy feelings about people, and the urge to act on them is getting stronger. My goal has always been to save people, not to harm them. Something is changing, though, and I’m not sure who I am anymore.

Jude

Being an assassin and a hellhound is all-around fun, and teasing my sexy sheriff makes my life complete. Lately, though, something’s been wrong with Paul. He’s been cranky and secretive, and I’m determined to get to the bottom of it. Is something from Paul’s past haunting him? Because if someone needs killing, then I’ll be happy to do it. Although maybe it’s time to show the sheriff what he’s really capable of. He’s a kindred spirit—I can sense it—and I’m only too happy to show him how hellhounds take care of the bad guys.

Tags: Sheriff Paul can sense things; Jude is, as always, ridiculous; there are numerous Beatle references, so get ready to have songs stuck in your head; Jude is the happiest assassin you’ll ever meet; these two have explosive chemistry; Paul might kill Jude (or at least shoot him); the entire pack is there for all the fun; Paul isn’t exactly what he appears; Oracles give the vaguest advice; trying to get arrested is Jude’s love language.

October 1, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

235 pages

Book 6 of 6

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls

Review: The Nameless Land (The Witch Roads #1) by Kate Elliott

Rating: 4⭐️

The Nameless Land was a good conclusion to The Witch Roads. Overall I kept wanting a third book to resolve the plot lines that were left hanging and the main characters that were just sent off with no real ending to their journey.

Elen herself has a dangerous mission that she’s agreed to go on at the end of the book, and it’s left open for her to do so in the future.

So while there’s so many terrific elements to this story, magical moments and great scenes, it’s balanced with equally nebulous ones of that need more depth and more explanation to them to give the characters and scenes satisfying foundation and framework.

It’s like ooh the snake coming out of Elen’s arm and poisoning that person is fantastic but ok where’s the backstory and magic coming from? Things like this that both make and break the plot and scenes. We like it but we’re spending too much time outside the narrative questioning the storytelling fabric.

The emotional payoff here, which the reader can see coming, is a good one. Does it also leave us with a lot of questions? Yes it does.

As a duology it’s lacking. As a trilogy that adds in that final story and missing knowledge, it would be more satisfying.

Still i liked reading it.

Beautiful cover.

Cover art by Raja Nandepu

Cover design by Jess Kiley

The Witch Roads Duology :

The Witch Roads #1

The Nameless Land #2

Buy link

Blurb

Surprising betrayals, surprising alliances, and surprising discoveries of heritage abound in this energetic sequel to The Witch Roads.

When the royal party finds themselves in a land they never believed they could access, it will take all of Prince Gevulin’s (admittedly impressive) diplomatic skills to forge a coalition with an unlikely group of would-be allies.

Meanwhile, as Elen mourns her lost love, an unwelcome visit to the land of her birth brings back the traumatic memories of the childhood she shared with her sister.

And a surprise visit from an unwelcome family member threatens to derail the plans of multiple opposing factions.

Loyalty cannot be demanded, only won.

Tor Books

Publication date

August 25, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

416 pages

ISBN-10

1250338662

ISBN-13

978-1250338662

Item Weight

‎1 pounds

Dimensions

5.38 x 0.98 x 8.25 inches

Book 2 of 2

The Witch Roads

Review: Ale Storm (Tales from the Dragon Diner Book 4) by Lindsey Buroker

Rating: 4⭐️

Ale Storm picks up right after Rylana and Jildarin have decided to take their relationship to a different stage, a date and maybe more.

Plus there’s that pesky dwarf hunting horn that Rylana was given during the last story, one that glows blue on mysterious occasions, that she has to find out where it’s from before it causes her trouble.

Ale Storm predictably features a meal with ale, a special menu, and multiple storylines, all really interesting and involving the characters that live in and around the community.

It also has many dragons, ones who don’t seem to take no for an answer.

I enjoyed it. Found Jildarin somewhat less appealing, especially when he continues to be non-communicative about his plans and ever eager to repeat his mistakes when dealing with the other dragons. That’s getting old.

But her bestie the assassin elf? The dwarf baker? Love them. More of the community please.

Still a terrific series.

Tales from the Dragon Diner (5 book series to date)

Calculated Whisk #1

Knead for Speed #2

Morel Dilemma #3

Ale Storm #4

About Jam Time #5 – Nov 30, 2026

Buy link

Blurb

Now that her business partner, the dragon and award-winning chef Jildarin-grozanarav, has realized he has feelings for her, Rylana’s looks forward to going on a date with him. The elven queen has departed and the troll-god curse has been resolved, so it’s the perfect time for a moonlit walk and a kiss.

Or so Rylana thinks.

But dwarven thieves show up, ransacking the diner and looking for an antique hunting horn she recently found. Even worse, Jildarin has unearthed a centuries-old book on the proper protocol for courting a human woman. Now, he’s determined that he needs permission from Rylana’s father before they can go on a date. Lastly, the female dragons that want Jildarin to mate with them have returned and are threatening Rylana.

Why can’t life ever go according to plan?

Lindsay Buroker

Publication date

September 25, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

318 pages

Book 4 of 5

Tales from the Dragon Diner

Review : Tea and Tarot: Crossroads Queen Side Quest (A Cozy Urban Fantasy Novel) by Annabel Chase

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I absolutely love this story. Tea and Tarot is a side story in Annabel Chase’s completed and fantastic urban fantasy Crossroads Queen series.

It does help to have read that series to have a firm understanding of these characters and a foundation for their histories , the town and world building. Honestly, this makes me want to pick up that series and start over again.

That said, this is a wonderful story. We dive right back into the town and characters by way of the wonderful Tarot Mages we got to know in the Crossroads Queen series.

The fabulous cousins Camryn Sable and Gunther “ Gun” Saxon, and Indigo Briggs, all three former members of La Fortuna, a secret and ancient society of mages skilled in the art of tarot magic. Now along with Claude, the revenant, they are residing in Fairhaven. Cam and Gun are private investigators and , the focus of this story, Indigo, is trying to open a tea shop.

But Indigo is having trouble getting started launching her business. Then another mage appears with a surprise business proposal. Boone Fincher needs a fake fiancée that his strict ill father will approve of so Boone can get his inheritance.

Yes, it’s a fake fiancée trope storyline. And it works so well here. Chase has crafted a wonderful narrative with a great relationship between Indigo and Boone that’s got chemistry, vulnerability and shared background damage.

There’s also a side plot about Indigo’s past history, a dramatic event that comes back to haunt her and how that involves many other important characters from the Crossroads Queen series that just makes this even better and adds layers to Indigo’s story and her future adventures.

I really hope this is just the beginning of more stories like this in the Crossroads series universe. I adore the characters so much.

Highly recommended.

Crossroads Queen (9 book series)

Tea and Tarot: Crossroads Queen Side Quest

Cover design by Jenny Zemanek

Buy link

amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comTea and Tarot: Crossroads Queen Side Quest: Chase, Annabel – Urban Fantasy Novel

Blurb

She walked away from the life she was born to live. Now she has one chance to build the life she’s always wanted.

Indigo Briggs was one of the most feared tarot mages in the business—until a job went wrong and she walked away from it all. Now she’s in Fairhaven, a quirky supernatural town with secrets of its own, trying to build something quieter: a tea shop, a fresh start, and a life she might actually deserve.

The only problem? Her new venture needs funding she doesn’t have.

Enter Boone Fincher—charming, infuriatingly handsome, and in desperate need of a fake fiancée. His father’s will requires him to marry a mage with a powerful lineage, and Boone is running out of time. The arrangement is strictly business: Indy gets the money she needs, Boone gets his inheritance, and when it’s over, they part ways.

Simple.

Except nothing about this is simple. Between a blind vampire with unsettling insight, a revenant who likes to lend a hand, a mysterious bone monster that wanders through the crossroads, and a ghost from her old life determined to unravel everything she’s built, Indy is starting to suspect the universe has a plan she didn’t envision.

Then the past she thought she’d escaped comes looking for her, and Indigo must decide whether she’s willing to risk everything for the future she’s finally begun to imagine—one that includes a love that was never supposed to be real.

Tea and Tarot is a Crossroads Queen Side Quest Novel—an enchanting cozy urban fantasy standalone with fake dating, witty banter, found family, and the slow-burn realization that happily-ever-afters are worth believing in.

Red Palm Press LLC

Publication date

September 17, 2026

Accessibility

Learn more

Language

‎English

File size

1.5 MB

Screen Reader

Supported

Enhanced typesetting

Enabled

X-Ray

Not Enabled

Word Wise

Enabled

Print length

240 pages

Review: Whose Midlife Crisis Is It Anyway? (Good To The Last Death Book 2) by Robyn Peterman

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I am so in love with this series and these characters. And I’m consuming them like bonbons. They are so addictive .

They are quick reads and flow beautifully into each other, mostly because the last chapter of each book is the first chapter of the next novel, catching the reader on the narrative and any cliffhanger that might have happened.

My favorite part is that the character development is so good along with the magical elements. Daisy’s adjusting to her new abilities , supergluing body parts to ghosts and helping them on their way, and her growing relationship with the Grim Reaper, to say nothing of her own found family of mixed humans and otherworldly beings. And now it includes Daisy’s gay dead ex husband, Steve, who is terrific! He’s got his own story.

Don’t forget Clarisse, who’s truly evil acts . Her plot will carry over several books.

This is exciting, well written, emotional, and fast paced. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself reading through the entire series unable to stop.

Amazing! A great time and highlight as a reader.

Cover by Cookies.

Good To The Last Death (16 book series)

It’s A Wonderful Midlife Crisis #1

Whose Midlife Crisis Is It Anyway? #2

A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis #3

My Midlife Crisis, My Rules #4

You Light Up My Midlife Crisis #5

It’s A Matter of Midlife and Death #6

The Facts of Midlife #7

It’s A Hard-Knock Midlife #8

Run For Your Midlife #9

It’s A Hell of A Midlife #10

A Leaner Meaner Midlife #11

Having the Time of My Midlife #12

Someone Save My Midlife Tonight #13

Semi-Charmed Midlife #14

Got To Get You Into My Midlife #15

Spice Up Your Midlife #16

Buy link

Book 2 of 16: Good To The Last Death

Blurb

A Paranormal Women’s Fiction with a bit of class, and a lot of sass, for anyone who feels like age is just a number! Midlife’s a journey. Enjoy the ride. Crisis included.

Never knew that life after death was far more dangerous than real life. Never in my forty years did I think my new normal would be gluing body parts back onto ghosts and hosting a houseful of dead squatters. Thank God for superglue and a strong stomach. Never thought I’d date the Grim Reaper and that I would be the one to blow it. I mean, how idiotic does one have to be to get dumped by a dude who lives in Hell? Going about business as usual is not usual in any way. No one is who they seem to be… and to be honest, neither am I. What I’d known to be true has turned out to be myth. The Angels are frightening and the Demons are hot.

Wait. I mean not. Who am I kidding? The Grim Reaper is very hot—like a freaking pre-menopausal hot flash hot. Now I’m in a race against time and all sorts of unsavory supernatural horrors to save my deceased gay husband’s afterlife. And that was a sentence I never thought would leave my lips. Whatever. I’ll yank up my big girl panties, stock up on wine and lean on my girlfriends as needed. As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get inebriated… or something like that. With everything to lose, I have no choice but to grow some lady balls. That I can do. I just hope balls will be enough. I had planned to live midlife in peace, not in pieces. Good luck to me…

Robyn Peterman

Publication date

May 18, 2020

Language

‎English

Print length

308 pages

Check out the new Release “Search for the Lost“ by J. Scott Coatsworth & Kim Fielding (tour and excerpt from Other Worlds Ink Tours)

J. Scott Coatsworth and Kim Fielding has a new MM romantasy book out, Chaos and Order book two: Search for the Lost.

SOMETIMES ORDER BECOMES CHAOS…

Leopold Lane—after being “collected” for the Office of the Lost by Crispin Eladrin Moss’caladin—is tucked away cozily with his beloved office fae in their treehouse. Happily ever after, right? Not so fast.

Before Leo can even get settled, Crispin’s mother disappears, leaving Crispin in charge and his brother Aspin in a panic. As Queen of the Fae, she has also left them a little surprise: a bit of oxymoronic magic that turns their world upside down.

Crispin and Leo set off in search of the queen and a solution to their predicament. Aspin tags along, with some less-than-helpful friends. On the way they will discover important family secrets and learn new things about each other… and themselves. Nothing is simple when Chaos and Order get involved. Besides, it wouldn’t be a proper quest if it was straightforward, would it?

Series Blurb:

Crispin and Leopold are poorly matched. They’re nothing like one another – Crispin is Order personified, while Leo’s nothing but Chaos. So of course, they are perfect for each other. Now they just have to figure out why the Universe has thrust them together – and how not to get themselves killed (or murder each other) in the process.

Note: Book One is on sale everywhere for just 99¢ from October 1st-31st.

Universal Buy Link

Excerpt

A sharp banging at the door brought Crispin back to the present. Or rather, to the past, when Leo had been taken away from him by Juzir and Qyl.

They shared a look. Leo was clearly thinking the same thing.

Wordlessly, he gathered up his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, snicking the lock closed.

We have a bathroom lock now? Crispin brushed away the thought. “Coming!”

He hoped Leo wasn’t in trouble again. After all, they’d fixed everything. There were no more flattened citizens aimlessly lying about. Well, except on Tarkon, where most of the wildlife and half of the people were naturally pretty flat. And they’d thrown a big party to smooth the waters with all their new friends, including the Mucklins, even though Molly the moth-woman had planned to feed Leo and Crispin to her children. But that was all in the past.

He opened the door, half expecting an angry mob. Instead it was his annoying older brother, Aspin, staring at him forlornly. “Hey, Elly….”

The old much-hated nickname—derived from his middle name, Eladrin—brought a rebuke to Crispin’s lips, but it died when he realized how dejected Aspin looked. “All clear!” he called over his shoulder. Crispin made way for Aspin to enter. “Come in. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Aspin nodded, looking as if he’d eaten a canary—or Minkis, Crispin’s pet squirrel.

“Who is it?” Leo had appeared, dressed formally for company—which for him meant flip-flops and a loose white T-shirt that he’d made a half-hearted attempt to tuck into his jeans. His hair, which usually stuck straight up, was slightly more tamed. “Oh, hey Aspin!”

Even though Aspin clearly despised him, Leo never held a grudge, one of the many things Crispin loved about him.

Aspin threw his arms around Crispin. “She’s gone, Elly. She’s gone.”

“Who?” But then it dawned on him: Aspin had only one her. And Aspin confirmed it with a single word. “Mother.”

Crispin stiffened. “Mother is dead?” Oh sordid heavens. I’m not ready to take over yet.

Aspin ended the embrace, returning to form. “No, you idiot. I said she was gone, not dead. Three days ago, and no one knows where she is or if she will come back. You have to help me find her.”

“Gone.” Crispin eased himself down onto their newest piece of furniture, the hideous old couch from Leo’s Earth apartment. Leo stared at him, blinking, then sat on the cushion next to him. “She’s gone. So that means….”

Aspin sank down onto one knee. “Hail to Crispin Eladrin Moss’caladin, King of the High Holy Fae.”

Oh flack. If there’s one thing that Crispin was positively absolutely emphatically five-thousand-percent not ready for, it was to take his mother’s throne. He had no aspirations to power, and he certainly didn’t share his mother’s proclivities for seducing mortals. Well, maybe just the one.

Author Bios

Scott lives with his husband Mark in a small Italian villa outside of Sacramento, California. He was indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine. He devoured her library, but as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were.

He decided that if there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.

A Rainbow Award winning author, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, Liminal Fiction and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that celebrate fiction reflecting queer reality, and was the committee chair for the Indie Authors Committee at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for almost three years.

Website: https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com

Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworth

Facebook (author): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworthauthor/

Mastodon: https://mastodon.otherworldsink.com/@jscottcoatsworth

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jscottcoatsworth.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jscottcoatsworth/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8392709.J_Scott_Coatsworth

QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/j-scott-coatsworth/

Liminal Fiction: https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/j-scott-coatsworth/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/J.-Scott-Coatsworth/e/B011AFO4OQ

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-scott-coatsworth

Kim Fielding is very pleased every time someone calls her eclectic. She writes fantasy, mm romance, science fiction, horror, and whatever else her muse demands.

Winner of the 2021 BookLife Prize for Fiction, a Lambda Award finalist and Foreword INDIE finalist, she has migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States and now lives in Oregon, where she will never have enough bookshelf space.

She’s a university professor who dreams of being able to travel and write full time. She also dreams of having two daughters who fully appreciate her, a husband who isn’t obsessed with football, and a house that cleans itself. Some dreams are more easily obtained than others.

Website: https://www.kfieldingwrites.com

Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/pgerstenfeld

Facebook (author): https://www.facebook.com/KFieldingWrites

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kfieldingwrites.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfieldingwrites/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4105707.Kim_Fielding

QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/kim-fielding/

Review: A Tale of Secrets and Sorcery by Vanessa Nelson

Rating: 3.75⭐️

I enjoyed this new fantasy adventure novel by Vanessa Nelson and feel it’s got some wonderful elements to it.

But after reading it, it feels very much like a prequel or half of a story for a larger version. The characters, the concept and overall powers here as laid out are intriguing. But in the scenes where,especially Evie’s magic is revealed in marvelous detail, the promise of increasing potential for her as “the most powerful sorceress” that he’s known to have any impact here never happens.

Even those gremlins, a fantastic asset to Evie and a element that I wanted to know more about, from their magical abilities to their backgrounds, their futures were left unanswered by the ending, a rushed finale that begged for a sequel.

But back to the main characters, Evie the magical librarian and Lord Fentemann, Barnaby, on a secret mission from his Queen. Evie’s got a great backstory and she’s totally believable in this fantasy. My issue here is that we get constant scenes where we’re watching Evie, along with the gremlins, bring alive fantastical legendary landscapes from descriptions in ancient tomes she and Barnaby are researching from . Where’s more of this in the story? More of her powers and her abilities here? This is what I want as a reader.

Even Barnaby, who is supposed to be a high level magician, isn’t shown any of the scenes to be that powerful. The characters are interesting enough but not entirely credible. Except for Evie and the gremlins.

The plot is very good. And its elements of an ancient earth based religion that’s been upended holds more promise than was satisfied by the storyline’s ending. Again, no real finish to the multi plots and characters.

It just ends with everyone just leaving to different paths with no resolution to the many different journeys of this novel. What happened to the Druids? The gremlins? The enemy?

And spoiler, that rushed romance and instant marriage felt less like a real believable event between two people and more like a plot device needed to bring the story to a close.

That is a shame. Because the beginning of this book is very different, layered and well done. Unlike the ending which feels rushed, unbalanced and unsatisfying.

So much potential for a sequel to set this right.

Interesting though.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comA Tale of Secrets and Sorcery eBook : Nelson, Vanessa

Blurb

One librarian, one sorcerer, and a whole lot of trouble.

Evie has been doing her best to lead a quiet, unremarkable life, working her job as a librarian at one of the largest libraries in the world amid a collection of magical books and magical creatures that delight in causing mischief. She dreams of adventure even as she struggles to hide her magical abilities in a kingdom that executes rogue sorcerers. When a chance encounter leads to her secret being uncovered, Evie finds herself in the middle of a greater adventure than she could ever have imagined.

Lord Fentemann – Barnaby to his few friends – has been charged by his Queen with a special, dangerous and vital task. Already annoyed at having to travel to the kingdom to carry out research in the library, worse is to come when he is forced to go on the run. Someone doesn’t want Barnaby to succeed in his mission.

Thrown together, Evie and Barnaby realise that their best chance of survival is working together.

Can Evie and Barnaby work together to stay ahead of the Queen’s enemies and complete the mission not just for the Queen but possibly the whole world?

Review: Storm’s Reckoning (Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series Book 2) by Sean Cunningham

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I love it when the second book is better than the first and that’s certainly the case with Storm’s Reckoning by Sean Cunningham.

The next novel in his Storm Herald series, it picks up directly from the end of Storm’s Edge and Vanessa trying to decide what she wants to do next. Try to stay low key or resume her high risk courier jobs that are making her more noticeable to those of power and influence. The very ones she has been avoiding.

But working full time for Odd’s Transport and doing a new job for the mysterious Edric seems to be her next step forward towards her new path.

Storm’s Reckoning takes her and Leo on a new mission for Edric and straight to a location where there’s a divisive battle taking place for dominance among a powerful werewolf pack as its current Alpha is in poor health.

Cunningham’s story always includes multiple strong plots layered into the main investigation and mission for Edric. Vanessa’s powers continue to grow without her understanding how that’s possible and Leo’s seeking knowledge about himself and his own magic and background. All while they face dangerous situations and new challenges.

Vanessa and Leo, a non romantic main character duo, are new favorites. Both complicated characters with personalities that are changing and developing as the series and circumstances demand more from each of them.

The action sequences are fierce and powerful , magically charged and full of emotion. Mostly blinding rage.

The secondary or new characters are just as strong as the established ones. Which makes both the narrative richer and their occasional loss during the story more realistic and raw.

The backgrounds and mysteries of Edric, Vanessa and even Leo continue forward to the future stories. I can’t wait to read more.

Highly recommended.

Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series (3 book series)

Storm’s Edge #1

Storm’s Reckoning #2

Storm’s Awakening #3

Buy link

Book 2 of 3: Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series

Blurb

She’s not hiding anymore. Neither is what’s inside her.

Vanessa Montiero has a new employer, a vampire partner, and a job that should be straightforward: negotiate with one of England’s most powerful werewolf dynasties for access to the ghost of a witch, one they’ve kept secret for a century.

Behind the manicured hedges of the Godwins’ country estate lies a succession war sharp enough to draw blood, a string of mysterious murders, and something in the forest that doesn’t leave survivors.

She’s faced monsters before. She’s been one.

But the Godwins are a family of predators – and whatever hunts their forest is worse. Getting out alive will require everything she has, and possibly everything she’s been trying not to be.

Storm’s Reckoning continues the brutal, emotionally charged Storm Herald series. Perfect for fans of Alex Verus, Kate Daniels, and The Dresden Files.

Falconbrook Press

Publication date

April 15, 2026

Language

‎English

Screen Reader

Supported

Print length

326 pages

Book 2 of 3

Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series

Review: Swordheart by T Kingfisher

Rating: 4⭐️

Swordheart is one of three books planned in this series by T. Kingfisher, an author whose books I automatically read. I often find them sharply plotted, full of intriguing characters and the narratives can often turn dry, humorous and bittersweet while maintaining a depth of truth and honesty to the situation and storyline.

This carries many of these elements here.

It starts with widowed 36 year old Halla who’s been taking care of her ailing uncle, a collector of oddities in his enormous house. When he dies, to the chagrin of his greedy relatives, it’s Halla who unexpectedly inherits her uncle’s entire fortune. When the relatives decide to force Halla to give up his estate to them, by marriage or by locking her up inside the house, she becomes desperate.

How Sarkis comes into her life and gets her out of the house is a remarkable aspect of the story. It demonstrates Halla’s resilience and gives us a perfect example of her personality.

What I could have done without is Sarkis’s constant remarks about Halla’s physical appearance. And his own reaction to it.

It’s a road trip and a slow burn romance but I could have done with just a road trip action adventure. There’s a lot of stories about Sarkis, the time that’s passed, the current religious beliefs and tensions between the different temples and their territories. And, of course, those who wish to possess magical items, like swords.

And interwoven with all that is Halla needing to obtain her own goals and end game. With Sarkis at her side.

All beautifully descriptive as this is, and as well executed is the world building, I felt that the story was or got too slow, especially around the middle. I had figured out who was the bad guy(s), what they were going to do, and then had to wait pages and pages until the action and drama came into play towards the end. Then it all came together and got interesting.

It felt like it took too long to get there.

One aspect of this I do appreciate is there’s no magical “fix” for Sarkis. No waving of a crystal or anything to undo his magic. Bittersweet and realistic.

That’s T Kingfisher. Recommended.

Swordheart series:

Swordheart

Daggerbound #2

Shieldborn #3 – Aug 24, 2027

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: Swordheart

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comSwordheart: Kingfisher, T.: 9781250400222

Blurb

The delicious bodyguard romance of From Blood and Ash meets the delightful charm of The Princess Bridein this cozy fantasy romance from New York Timesbestselling author T. Kingfisher

Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of the wealthy distant uncle she’s been caring for for the past decade. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.

While hiding in her bedroom to escape her family, Halla inspects the ancient sword that’s been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. On a whim, she pulls it down and unsheaths it—and suddenly a man appears in her bedroom. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.

Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla—a most unusual wielder—he finds himself not fending off grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis become closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all—the sword itself.

Bramble

Publication date

September 20, 2024

Language

‎English

Print length

458 pages

Review: Storm’s Edge (Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series Book 1) by Sean Cunningham

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Sean Cunningham is another new discovery for me in urban fantasy fiction and I am absolutely loving his characters and universe I’ve found in the first story in his new Storm Herald series, Storm’s Edge.

It’s an action packed urban fantasy thriller, full of paranormal beings who battle mythical creatures, seek to obtain clients magical objects even investigating murders. All the while they are hiding their own problematic dark backgrounds.

The main character is a woman whose identity and past history is slowly being revealed over the course of the series. But who she was is a persona of enormous power and dark energy. On the wrong side of the line. Now she’s called Vanessa Montiero, not as powerful but strong enough. Vanessa works temporarily both for a coffee shop and as a courier who takes less than legal jobs. It’s a living and keeps her out of the notice of others.

Until it doesn’t.

I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying this character and the storylines here.

First of all, no romance. She exists first as a solo character, and then, reluctantly, as perhaps someone who might consider her to think of one or two of the other characters she’s gathering around her as friends.

Not that she’d ever come out and acknowledge that.

Vanessa is a hard personality. The past is one she’s working to overcome, as well as a core that thrives on violence. As the story continues, she has to develop and adapt to her changing circumstances, and that’s means that instead of being able to always battle her way through a difficult situation, she has to learn how to handle it differently.

And Cunningham has just the other characters to assist her in this change in perspective. Including a vampire who’s not exactly the poster boy for the species himself, Leo.

With every new character, there’s a good chance they might not make it through to the end. Cunningham exhibits a willingness to take his characters out of the narrative, even when we’re getting fond of them.

Be warned.

I hope Vanessa stays romantically free, that’s a great element here. The story is exciting, fast paced and very well executed. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book and see what happens next.

I hope the author has more than 3 books planned for the series.

Highly recommended and yes, when I’m done reading this, I’ll head to the writer’s other series too.

Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series (3 book series)

Storm’s Edge #1

Storm’s Reckoning #2

Storm’s Awakening #3

Buy link

Storm’s Edge (Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series Book 1)

Blurb

She just wanted to stay hidden. They had other plans.

Vanessa Montiero has spent a year keeping her head down – slinging coffee by day, running courier jobs by night. It was enough to stay off the radar of the people hunting her. It was safe.

Until a wealthy eccentric offers her more money than she’s seen in months to extract one girl from the Brotherhood: a gang of street-level warlocks who burn through their girlfriends like batteries to fuel their magic.

Simple job. Get in, get Mia, get out.

Except Freddie Wright isn’t about to let his “crucible” walk away. And the magic he wields is far more dangerous than anyone realised.

With Leo at her side – a vampire who’d rather cook you dinner than drain you, and whose strange abilities make him an outcast even among the undead – Vanessa will face necromancers, ancient vampires, and relentless warlocks, all while keeping one traumatised girl alive.

But the thing that made Vanessa so good at violence never really left her. Unleashing her old self might be the only way to save them – or it might shatter the life she’s worked so hard to build.

Storm’s Edge launches the Storm Herald series with brutal fight scenes, morally complex characters, and a London where magic hides just beneath the surface. Perfect for fans of Alex Verus, Kate Daniels, and The Dresden Files who like their urban fantasy served with found family forged in fire.

Join Vanessa on this action-packed urban fantasy adventure across London today!

Falconbrook Press

Publication date

December 6, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

316 pages

Book 1 of 3

Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series

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Note: Book One is on sale everywhere for just 99¢ from October 1st-31st.

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