Category: Fantasy

Review: Elven Duty (Roman and Jude: Monster Hunters #1) by Rhys Lawless

Rating: 4.25

I’m such a fan of urban fantasy and fell in love with the entire Magic Emporium multi-author series, which this story was a part of.

Now it’s been re-edited, and the author added a chapter at the end to swing the characters and storylines into the next book.

So of course I needed to check it out.

All the wonderful elements remain intact. Two sons, from families that both despise and need each other , almost a urban fantasy Romeo and Jules, or in this case Jude tale.

Except one didn’t know he was a son of one of the battling families until his grandmother came looking for him.

That’s Jude Cohen,awesome game coder, foster kid, and apparently a elf to his surprise (although it does explain the ears and purple eyes). Soon to be weaver of the Aether magic.

Another terrific character is Aggie, aka Agatha Cohen, his grandmother , partner to Roman. She jumpstarts our story by barging into Jude’s life at a turning point.

Who’s Roman? That’s Roman Meyers, heir to the Meyers family, the one who can access the Aether. He’s immediately, enormously attracted to Jude, even before they knew who or what they were to each other. And the rules .

Descendants of Cain and Abel, elves and monster Hunters. One’s a weaver of Aether magic and the other the door to the Aether, magical threads of all life. A forever pairing, that comes with a rule . One can never love the other.

Some rules are made to be broken.

Lawless gives us complicated, damaged lineages of two powerful magical families. And monsters bent on entering the present dimension to destroy it all. Only the sons, their families stand in the way.

The plot is exciting. The characters well crafted, and some like Royal downright adorable. I’m definitely committed to finding out where Lawless is taking the storylines and their HFN romance next.

There’s plenty of unanswered questions here about the dead or missing members from both families, especially now that the readers learn some of the huge “secrets “ towards the end of the story.

I’m sure some of those will be forthcoming in Elven Game (Roman and Jude: Monster Hunters #2).

That’s where I’m going next. It’s to be released March 31, 2022.

Until then, I’m recommending Elven Duty! It’s entertaining and terrific fantasy.

Roman and Jude: Monster Hunters :

✓ Elven Duty #1

◦ Elven Game #2 – to released 3/31/2022

Elven Duty (Roman and Jude: Monster Hunters #1) by Rhys Lawless – Goodreads

Synopsis:

My legacy is to hate him, but I can’t.

Life was normal. Until a woman appears and tells me I’m an elf and she’s my grandmother. Not quite what I expected after another day at the office.

Soon, I’m thrown into a world of duty, magic, and monsters.

And a family feud as old as time itself.

I would have run. I would have gone back to my old life. Or started a new one.

But when the man I’m supposed to hate turns out to be my elven soulmate the only thing I can do is fight for my right to love him.
No matter what kind of monster gets in the way.

Notes:

Elven Duty is a gay urban fantasy romance with two star-crossed lovers, a ton of monsters hellbent on destroying this dimension and a secret “baby”. This book has a Happy For Now ending with a tease of the next book in the series.

This book was previously part of the Magic Emporium multi-author series. The only changes made are the fixing of awry typos and the addition of the last chapter tease.

Review: Fluke and the Frontier Farce (Fantastic Fluke #4) by Sam Burns

Rating: 5🌈💫

You know when you read a book that’s so clever, so fantastically crafted, so beautifully ingenious that when the “aha” moments hit you , you’re both giggling AND gobsmacked because you love it so much , you appreciate the writer’s artistry, well, you just didn’t see it coming?

That’s the entire Fluke and the Frontier Farce (Fantastic Fluke #4) by Sam Burns! I’ve read it twice now and with each new reading, I’ve found different elements I missed and new aspects to admire and think about. In fact , this maybe my favorite Sam Burns series yet, and that’s saying a lot!

This novel has a main element of time travel, no surprise there as it’s in the description. But anything more should absolutely not be said. This is a book that must be read!

It’s the penultimate book in the series (yes I know I said that before) but the author starts tying up the series storylines in some of the most amazing and incredibly satisfying ways. Ones I didn’t even realize needed resolution get a finalization they needed and deserved. Truly wonderful and often emotional as well.

And that’s the other thing here that Burns never let’s go of, that her characters, their relationships and growth is the key to this series. Yes it’s about magic and mystery but it’s heart is it’s people. They are who we’ve come to love and they’re lives and loves are who we’re invested in.

That’s never more clear here that when it’s family and love that comes together to make things happen!

I’ll say no more!

Fluke and the Frontier Farce , the fourth novel in Sam Burns’ Fantastic Fluke series is magnificent! It’s one of the best fantasy stories this year in one of my favorite series! It’s so imaginative, the storylines are incredibly clever, and the characters are ones I’m well certain not to be ready to let go of by the end of the Finale.

Usually I might say a book is too short, or sometimes a tad longish. But Fluke and the Frontier Farce is exactly as long as it had to be!

I don’t need to tell you what that means do I?

Highly recommend this, the series, and the author! Binge read it in order before the finale comes out! I should be done rereading this by then!

The Fantastic Fluke Series -4 of 5:

✓ The Fantastic Fluke #1

✓ Fluke and the Failthless Father #2

✓ Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco #3

✓ Fluke and the Frontier Farce #4

◦ Fluke and the Fantastic Finale #5 – August 25, 2022 release date

https://www.goodreads.com › seriesThe Fantastic Fluke Series by Sam Burns – Goodreads

Synopsis:

It’s been a long year for Sage and his friends, and all of Junction, California, and it’s not over yet.

Freddy’s school of magic is still a mystery, and figuring it out would be enough work, but the investigation leads them to the mysterious coded notes of Junction’s long-dead first magical artist, and then to the last place any of them ever expected to end up: the nineteenth century. Worse yet, when they get there Fluke is missing, and Sage isn’t sure he can get back home without his best friend.

Now—or is it then?—they just need to find Fluke, decode the notes, avoid changing the past, dodge evil Uncle Jonathon and the shady French nobleman at his side, and maybe most importantly, find their way home.

But there’s more in the past than trouble, and Gideon might want to stay there with his wife. If Sage has to leave him behind, is it worth returning to his own time at all?

Review: A Stroke of Brilliance (Arcane Hearts #2) by Nazri Noor

Rating: 4.75🌈

This series just gets better. Nazri Noor takes the plot of two young magical people find love while doing amazing things to save the world. Sounds simple, right?

But in Arcane Hearts nothing is simple, even falling in love.

The first story saw Noor establish the sad histories of Jackson Pryde, and his next door neighbor Xander Wright. Jackson, a artificer who lost his parents in an explosion that saw the loss as well all his Guild, was first at odds with his old childhood friend. Xander is a mage who’s parents and college have a awful future planned out for him. But a joint quest and several murders soon saw their friendship renewed and then turned into something more. Now they’re in love and working together to uncover the basis of the purple threat that’s killing people.

Noor laid out his wildly fascinating universe, with its amazing Black Market who’s ability to move itself effortlessly onto new locations just by placing new doorways is endlessly entertaining. It opens up the characters and storylines to endless possibilities about new countries and mythologies to encounter. I love this!

Here the door goes to Japan and we meet some endearing tree spirits and one goddess from Mt Fuji. Culturally, Noor has thrown his narrative door wide open with his moving Black Market and it’s terrific.

The author has paid close attention to his characters as well. Their characters are developing more depth as their relationship is deepening. As they learn more about each other, they bring out more growth personally. It’s great to see.

There’s also a circle of friends that’s continuing to expand. Another master of a Guild, more friends pulled in by events or acts of kindness. A foundation of another sort of family comes together. Just as a bigger enemy is found that threatens the world.

The book ends as a small battle is eon knowing a bigger one is coming. Absolutely satisfying and I’m ready for the next book!

I’m so happy to have found this author and series. I’m recommending both! Read them in the order they are written in order to understand the series of events and the character development.

Arcane Hearts series:

✓ A Touch of Fever #1

✓ A Stroke of Brilliance #2

◦ An Iron Fist #3

◦ A Velvet Glove #4

https://www.amazon.com › Stroke-B…A Stroke of Brilliance (Arcane Hearts Book 2) – Kindle edition – Amazon.com

https://www.goodreads.com › showA Stroke of Brilliance (Arcane Hearts #2) by Nazri Noor – Goodreads

Synopsis:

The fragrance of chaos. The flavor of terror. The color of madness.

Jackson Pryde and Xander Wright are loving a life of hunting and harvesting rare reagents wherever the Black Market travels. But a routine trip to visit Japanese tree spirits turns up something sinister: two crystal shards, embedded in the bodies of wild animals. They’re familiar, glimmering, violet… like splinters of amethyst.

But that’s not all. Two rival guilds are in strife, Jack and Xander caught in a crossfire of spells and slander. SEER and its hundred eyes are still watching their every move. And then there’s the matter of meeting Xander’s parents, perhaps Jackson’s deadliest challenge to date.

The Chrysanthemyst’s return is the least of their problems.

A Stroke of Brilliance is a 70,000-word M/M urban fantasy romance with a HFN ending. Join a fast-talking artificer and a snarky sorcerer, childhood friends who become bitter enemies, then lovers, as they explore a world filled with strange flora, mythical fauna, and magical murders. If you like your urban fantasy with humor, horror, and a whole lot of heart, you’ve come to the right place. Experience A Stroke of Brilliance today.

Review: Edge Lines (Fallen Messenger #3) by Ava Marie Salinger

Rating: 4 .5🌈

It’s been a while since I read the last book in this series, so it took a bit to get back into this extremely complicated universe with its ever expanding cast of supernatural and mythological characters. This of course includes those characters challenging, complex relationships with each other which is made even more convoluted and clouded because none of The Fallen remember their past lives due to a curse.

Salinger has written not just characters but characters that have characters layered over top of them, with each character layer having a distinct history complete with memories separate from one another. One preFallen and the person they’ve become sans memories after The Fall. Does this make them completely different beings now?

I suspect that’s going to be a question the author will be addressing in her storylines.

Edge Lines sees a return of some of those memories to our characters with haunting ramifications.

The memories have been returning in bits and pieces as Cassius Black and Morgan King find themselves with new powers and titles. In the last book, it became apparent that Morgan had Fae blood and powers that now manifested in a Wind Sword and a Crown of greens. Cassius too remembered names and took on a powerful heavenly shine when he used his powers to blast demons out of the city.

Their new Demi status is only the beginning.

The author is ramping up her series plot and it seems to be a wow of a series arc!

It happens over the course of the book. As Morgan and Cassius seek answers to who they were before The Fall , their enemy is making huge maneuvers to end the world order.

Salinger starts enlarging the cast of characters by bringing on more “ players “ who will have to help bring down the “big bad”. So we see the enlarging corp of fighters being assembled.

It’s more Gods and it’s fascinating as well as imaginative.

All I’ll say is I adore the Reapers!

And the author must have a huge wall of pinned cards to keep everyone and everything straight in the narrative because this is one labyrinthine series arc!

It’s just keeps getting better with each revelation.

I will say I’m not as heavily invested in Morgan and Cassius’s relationship as I am in the entire plot. Perhaps it’s a lack of chemistry for me that I find in other couples the author has created in this book.

Either way, the fantastic storylines keep me hugely entertained and engaged in the events going forward!

I need to know more! What happens next!

That’s Oathbreaker! I’ll be waiting for that to be released. It’s the series finale!

Until then, get ready. Read all the books in the order they were written and meet me at Oathbreaker!

I’m highly recommending this series and story!

Fallen Messenger series:

◦ Unbound #0.5

✓ Fractured Souls #1

✓ Spellbound #2

✓ Edge Lines #3

◦ Oathbreaker #4

https://www.goodreads.com › showEdge Lines (Fallen Messengers #3) by Ava Marie Salinger – Goodreads

Synopsis:

The Gods have come to San Francisco…

Cassius Black and Morgan King’s trip to Ivory Peaks to uncover clues about their past takes an unexpected turn when a rift materializes and war demons attack the capital. Having saved one world by the skin of their teeth, they return to Earth, only to find it has been rocked by ominous quakes bearing a close resemblance to the phenomenon that nearly destroyed the Dryad kingdom.

After defeating demons that emerge from a crevasse in San Francisco, Cassius and Morgan rescue the Wild God Pan from the bottom of a rift with the help of Victor Sloan and the city’s otherwordly. But instead of thanking them, Pan makes a startling demand: rescue his lover and prevent the Spirit Realm from being destroyed, and he will reveal the truth about who Cassius and Morgan are.

Help comes from an unexpected source when a pair of Reapers visit the city and Cassius, Morgan, and Victor soon go hunting for a missing deity who may hold the key to saving all the realms. Can they free the immortals from their prisons and find the powerful artefact that can bend the mind and will of even a God? Or will the enemy who has long manipulated them from the shadows win this war and destroy everything they have come to care for?

Edge Lines is the third novel in the gay urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers. If you like your paranormal adventures full of action, magic, snark, and a host of steamy angels and demons, then you’re not going to want to miss this enthralling, fun-filled ride!

Review: Nixing the End of the World by Alice Winters

Rating: 3 🌈

I love Alice Winters. I love urban fantasy. I usually love Alice Winters urban fantasy romances. So why was Nixing the End of the World by Alice Winters, while entertaining, not wholly enjoyable?

That’s a question that has really been bothering me.

The story has Winters usual elements. A interesting plot, a likable main, albeit clueless character in Nix, some fascinating other beings the circle around him. But for me I believe the issue started immediately, and it’s built within the story. It’s that old problem of honor, trust, friendship, and betrayal.

Here it becomes my issue with the book. Why? Because fundamental to this story is breaking the trust of someone who is supposed to be so close to you, they’re almost a sibling. It’s is done here often, with all the processes at times of a person crumpling a bag of chips, and with the expectations that that person will immediately forgive you. Every single time.

Knows a person for most their lives, lies to them about the things that are essential to saving them, puts them in danger. Says basically oops. Over and over.

A number of characters. To Nix.

So what’s the message here a reader is to take away? While absorbing all the stuff about the new fantasy world, the characters, travel and Nix’s mission… we get that everyone close to Nix essentially lies to him all the time, betrays him, has since he can remember. And the reader is supposed to connect with any or all of them?

Um no.

I don’t find anyone of them, outside of the cat and so called horse with antlers halfway personable.

His best friend since early childhood is probably the worst of them all. She consistently betrays his trust, has actually been a fraud in all their lives, and then no matter what she’s done, expects their relationship to continue on the same and instant forgiveness.

Which she gets.

The author apparently discarding the impact all the revelations would actually make on a person. Instead treating these issues as trivial notions, or something to be given mention but emotionally impactful? Narratively not.

There’s exciting battles, mages and magic. A touch of romance. And the journey continues on with the note that Nix will still need to save the world.

All very well.

But first, there’s a foundation that needs to be fixed and more then a few characters in need of a make over in order for me to find this a place to be comfortable in.

I left this story, as I entered it. Unconnected and uninvolved in anyone’s lives and how the journey will out in the end.

If they don’t care that they can’t depend on those closest to them, why should I? Therein lies the crux.

If this seems like a story for you, continue forward. For me? I’m stopping here.

https://www.goodreads.com › showNixing the End of the World by Alice Winters – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Nix
“You are the savior of mankind” are the last words I ever expected to hear while nibbling on fries. The thing is, I’m not mankind saving material. I don’t even have magic (and just found out it exists). I’m the most boring, normal(ish) human ever.

Suddenly, I’m being tossed right into the middle of a fight that started years before I was even born, and then I get partnered up with Alastair, a quirky magical Guardian. He is rather attractive and sweet when he’s not into the whole “woe is me, I can’t let myself fall in love with you” nonsense. I mean, the moment he took my annoyingly judgmental grandma hostage, it was all over for me. I was hooked.

Now the only problem is… what exactly are we saving the world from?

Alastair
The moment I laid eyes on Nix, the naive yet easygoing human captivated my attention, and now I’m determined to protect him. But despite my amazing and majestic abilities, we might not make it out of this mess. Still, there must be a reason Nix was chosen. No, he doesn’t have pizazz and maybe he really doesn’t have magic, but he’s also one of the strongest and kindest men I’ve ever met.

Now if I can just get him to stop throwing blankets at enemies, we might have a shot at this.

Nixing the End of the World contains a flaming “horse” with antlers who inexplicably appears when needed (or not), an interfering BFF who didn’t really mean to light the trunk on fire, a six-toed cat that looks like he put a claw in a socket, and an incubus who just wants a smoothie without anyone losing their clothes.

Review: Wyrmwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #2) by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes

Rating : 4 🌈

Wyrmwood is a short story in the Poisonwood & Lyric series by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes. It’s romance between Augustine, a dragon who’s sure he’s finally found his mate and Declan Lynch, son of a incubus and a sea nymph , who’s equally sure he hasn’t.

A kidnapping, a starving incubus, a totally confused dragon, and a crisis to come makes for a tightly told fantasy romance.

Jasper from Poisonwood just so happens to be the younger brother to Declan, so we have one of several links that help we with the series overall theme.

But it’s the chemistry between August and Declan that makes this story. It’s just lovely. We get the arguments, the hesitation to believe that Declan is actually THE mate , and August isn’t just driven by the incubus’s beauty and magic.

The dramatic climax is scary, there’s a potential rape scene if that’s a trigger. But it’s a HEA story. And I hope to see this couple make an appearance somewhere in the series down the line. They are that adorable.

I’m recommending this!

Poisonwood & Lyric series:

✓ Poisonwood #1

✓ Wyrmwood #2

◦ Hardwood #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showWyrmwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #2) by Sam Burns – Goodreads

Synopsis:

A dragon searching for a crowning jewel for his fabulous hoard.

A misanthropic incubus who just wants to swim.

Declan might be the world’s only shut-in incubus, but with a father like Elrith, it’s little wonder his faith in people is nonexistent. He skates through life as a computer programmer, closed into his tiny apartment, only feeding by ordering sex workers to his door. But his mother was a water nymph, and occasionally, Declan can’t resist the need to sneak out and swim. This time, he’s in for a surprise.

Augustine is a water dragon who has spent years building the perfect hoard, and now there’s just one thing missing: someone to share it with. When he spots the stunning creature swimming just outside his home, he realizes the jewel he sought has come to him. But after centuries of little human contact, he’s out of touch with the meaning of the word consent. When the tempting nymph chafes his control, August can’t figure out how to win him over.

But word of August’s treasure has reached greedy ears, and all he cares for is under threat. Can a dyed-in-the-wool misanthrope teach August the true value of possession before he loses everything?

Review : A Touch of Fever (Arcane Hearts #1) by Nazri Noor

Rating: 4🌈

A Touch of Fever is the first story in the Arcane Hearts series by Nazri Noor. He’s a new author for me and I’m definitely going to look forward to more from him in the future.

I enjoyed my time with these characters and this universe. Noor does an excellent job creating a world we want to know more about, especially the Black Market. It’s a place that moves itself, it’s new destination known only to itself. What a exciting concept.

Our main characters, which I think will grow over the next couple of books to include a sort of found family, is especially fascinating. We have a mage with a haunting future, Xander Wright. Our main hero, the artificer Jackson Pryde, who just might be something more. We have a witch Beatrice and a Guardian who I’ll let you read about. That’s part of the story.

There’s a small quest, a bigger mystery, some murders, and finally a larger adventure looming on the horizon.

If there wasn’t some on the page sex, very hot btw, I’d say this was the perfect YA series.

Noor has written terrific relatable characters, one’s dealing with issues of self worth, family responsibilities, the burden of duty, the pain of loss, and inadequacy. It’s tough being young sometimes. And Noor captures that.

Which is why I think that it’s a YA novel is everything but that it has sex scenes . It’s a terrific story either way.

I’m definitely on my way to the next in the series. And recommending this book now.

Arcane Hearts series:

✓ A Touch of Fever #1

◦ A Stroke of Brilliance #2

◦ An Iron Fist #3

◦ A Velvet Glove #4

https://www.goodreads.com › showA Touch of Fever (Arcane Hearts, #1) by Nazri Noor – Goodreads

Synopsis:

What do you do when you can’t cast spells? You make your own magic.

Jackson Pryde was never great at wielding magic. Instead, he works as an artificer, crafting enchanted devices in the Black Market, a shadowy bazaar of wonders. But Xander Wright, the mouthy, pretentious mage next door, hates all the hammering in Jackson’s workshop.

When a chance assignment forces them to team up, they discover a terrifying predicament. Something is driving members of the magical community into murderous rages. Jackson and Xander must combine might and magic to find the source of the Fever and stop it. Can they put aside their differences long enough to end the Fever, or will they succumb to its bloodthirsty curse?

A Touch of Fever is a 70,000-word M/M urban fantasy romance with a HFN ending. Join a fast-talking artificer and a snarky sorcerer, best friends turned bitter enemies, as they navigate an adventure filled with strange flora, mythical fauna, and magical murders. If you like your urban fantasy with humor, horror, and a whole lot of heart, you’ve come to the right place. Experience A Touch of Fever today.

Review: A Gilded Iron Blade ( San Amara Investigations #3) by Kai Butler

Rating: 4.75🌈

A Gilded Iron Blade is a gripping story where you absolutely must have read all the preceding books in the series. There’s just no way Kai Butler can bring a new reader up to date within this ever expanding, utterly complicated universe and series arc in a story and still carry out their vision for the book.

I’m a total fan of this series and sometimes it’s a task, albeit a very happy one, for me to remember all the various characters, the politics (on Earth and in the other Realms), the amazingly labyrinthine character histories and relationship dynamics. Plus , thanks to a author with a flexible and imaginative mind, each story is a dramatic and emotionally exciting journey to a higher new stage of development for everyone involved.

It’s normally a more frightening one as well.

In A Gilded Iron Blade, Parker Ferro, has assumed , unwillingly, the all important title and role of the Windrose, high judge and arbitrator for the Other Realms, one’s that now include the Dark one. As well as the one tasked with making sure nothing happens to new The World Tree which is still reestablishing itself with its portals and enemies.

Parker Ferro is one of the most intriguing characters I’ve read. His history is tortured and still much as mystery to himself and others. His dysfunctional childhood impacts all his relationships and decisions, often for the worst. And yet just when you may want to throttle him (Butler’s characters feel totally alive that you believe in them), then he sees in something or someone a greater pain , or makes a step forward in his growth that shows such utter emotional depth you’ve confounded and committed even greater to his journey. Wherever that’s taking him, you, and those around him.

And it’s quite a group of found family he’s gathering up there as well. Not just his conflicted Detective boyfriend, Nick, an alchemist who’s family has a way of negatively impacting their lives as well as Nick’s career.

A Gilded Iron Blade follows the events from the battle for the World Tree , new and old enemies, new storylines and characters.

Layers upon layers. No things aren’t getting any easier for anyone. In fact, there’s a character death here. It’s logical but it’s not any less devastating.

Kai Butler is ramping up the excitement, the suspense, and the heart stopping events as new mysteries are just about to appear.

This was an awesome, wildly entertaining, imaginative, and gripping story. It was emotional and I was invested in Parker’s growth, as well as his many relationships with Nick, and his family.

I can’t wait for the next book to be released.

Until then, I’m highly recommending this series and story. Read them in the order they are written to understand the events and characters histories and relationships.

San Amara Investigations Series:

◦ A Haunting at Midnight #0.5

◦ A Debt Unpaid #0.75

✓ Wormwood Summer #1

✓ A Belated Burial #1.5

✓ The Oak Wood Throne #2

✓ A Gilded Iron Blade #3

◦ A Shattered Silver Crown #4

https://www.goodreads.com › showA Gilded Iron Blade (San Amaro Investigations #3) by Kai Butler – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Saving the city was supposed to be the hard part…

Parker Ferro can’t catch a break. After saving San Amaro from destruction for the second time and reconciling with his boyfriend, his current plans are to relax on his couch until his ears stop ringing.

Unfortunately, the thousand realms he just saved have a way of yanking him back into service and the dead have come back to haunt him. When he’s called in by the SAPD to consult on the murder of an anti-paranormals protestor killed with fae magic, Parker is caught up in an intricate political web that was spun long before he was ever born.

Now Parker has to unravel the mystery behind the murder and untangle old family secrets before irreversible damage is done to his new friends and alliances. At least this time, he’ll hopefully have some help…

A Gilded Iron Blade is a 100k MM urban fantasy with a HFN and an ongoing storyline.

Review: Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1) by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes

Rating: 3.25🌈

While waiting for the next Sam Burns release in a series, I thought I’d start up another fantasy series she co-wrote that sounds interesting.

Poisonwood has many neat factors that’s grabbed me. The authors, a great description in the blurb and a wow of a cover. All that sold me enough to dive into the first story.

I liked it, mostly. Jasper Jones is a sympathetic character with his hesitation about consensual feeding versus the norm for his species, which might be anything but. Although it does seem more that his family could be a rather abysmal lot, other than his sister.

Caleb, the bear shifter, is also a lovely if undefined character. We get someone with a big heart , who falls immediately for a sick incubus.

What feels lacking around a neat romance is foundation and back history. We don’t know to what lengths Jasper’s gone to see how to feed consensually. He has a cellphone. What about others of his species outside of Lyric? We just don’t have any information. He just runs off. More than once.

And Caleb? His actions? While I get he’s attracted to the man he’s found who just moved in on him and stayed.. and stayed… I’d ask a few questions. He’s still a sweetheart of a bear shifter!

And why did no one help that poor thing in the woods?

So yes… their romance should have had a foundation to stand on. Sometimes love or lust isn’t everything.

But perhaps it’s a start. The characters are enough to make me wonder about what’s coming next , so are the writers.

I’m headed to Wyrmwood.

Follow me there!

Poisonwood & Lyric series:

✓ Poisonwood #1

◦ Wyrmwood #2

◦ Hardwood #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showPoisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1) by Sam Burns – Goodreads

Synopsis:

A starving incubus.

A bear alone.

Jasper Jones is Lyric’s most pitiful incubus. He can’t feed and doesn’t want to if it means hurting people. When a witch gives him a chance at breaking the cycle of hunger, he rushes half cocked into the woods in search of a cure.

Caleb moved into Poisonwood Forest to escape the crowded city of Lyric, but it’s lonely by himself. He doesn’t expect to find his mate when he trips over an unconscious young man in the middle of the woods, but there he is, perfect—except for a peculiar fondness for processed cookies.

Their only problem is that Jasper’s sick, and when he doesn’t get better, his one shot at survival is in the hands of a bear shifter who’ll do anything to save him.

Review: The Paladin’s Shadow (Radience #2) by Tavia Lark

Rating: 4🌈

Both main characters in The Paladin’s Shadow are people we’ve read about before. One, Ronan the thief, although a very minor character as far as part of the book’s plot, was actually someone who was pivotal in launching the events that started Arthur off on his journey in The Necromancer’s Light.

We find out more about Ronan and Arthur’s past relationship here, from Ronan perspective and that clears everything up.

For our thief is anything but what we’ve been lead to believe he is. Here we learn he’s actually a part of a small group of individuals, all from different countries all worship a different one of the 6 gods. The Locksmiths as the group calls themselves have one goal and Ronan has been leading them towards it one theft at a time.

Karis too had a few mentions in that first book but here get his time to shine, literally. As a member of the Radient order and secretly, the one person who actually hears the voice of his God Vara, he’s not happy with the mixed messages he’s been getting lately. His church says one thing but his God says another…

Tavia Lark second book in the Radience series has a quick to love romance, a very likable couple and interesting group of characters in the Locksmiths. Lark’s plot is creative and I’d loved more time unraveling it’s effects upon the trapped Gods and them once released.

Maybe that’s coming in book three.

I enjoyed Karis and Ronan’s journey and it appears to be joined with our first couple in some way now if I read that ending correctly. Sounds like fun.

Anyway I’m onto the next and recommending this to lovers of fantasy.

Radiance series:

✓ The Necromancer’s Light #1

✓ The Paladin’s Shadow #2

◦ The Sword-Witch’s Heart #3 – to be released Feb 23

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Paladin’s Shadow (Radiance #2) by Tavia Lark – Goodreads

Synopsis:

His secret could kill him.

Karis is the arrogant young prodigy of the Radiant Order, and his talent gets him plenty of attention but very few friends. Under the order’s prying eyes, there’s one secret Karis has to hide at all costs: the meddling, un-paladin-like voice in his head. Sometimes the voice is helpful. Sometimes it gets him into trouble.

This time, trouble’s name is Ronan.

Ronan does the dirty work. Anything for the trickster god he serves, no matter how tired he’s getting. He’s so used to deception, he wouldn’t recognize real love if it bit him. When he’s captured by the Radiant Order, he doesn’t think twice before kidnapping a cute little squire to cover his escape.

His new hostage is a lot more complicated than he expected.

Between escape attempts and counterspells, Karis keeps getting under Ronan’s skin, and Ronan keeps getting inside Karis’s head. And the longer they stay together, Karis starts thinking less about escaping, and more about how Ronan might taste.

But the conspiracy they’re tangled in is far deadlier than they know.

The Paladin’s Shadow is a gay fantasy romance, with enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, and Very Inconvenient divine intervention. Book Two in the Radiance series; events from The Necromancer’s Light are referenced, but the romance arc can stand alone. 65,000 words, HEA guaranteed.