Urban fantasy binge reading continues, this time with a author well established as a terrific writer of fantastical, magical tales and series.
I must have missed Sam Burnsā fantasy fairytale story first time around. So I was happy to make its acquaintance by chance now, lured in by its great cover and evocative title. Why did du Maurierās Rebecca spring to mind? Nevertheless, it pulled me right in.
Told from the pov of Wainwright, a cat and companion to Luke, youngest of three Miller brothers. Parents recently deceased and the older brothers have decided to deprive Luke of his rightful inheritance and chase him from his home, with only the cat and his grandfatherās book in his possession.
Lukeās shaky, uncertain perspective comes in later as the young man struggles to survive on the streets without resources, unwilling to part from Wainwright.
Unaware that Wainwright is trying to provide for them both and just might be more than either of them suspect.
The Cat Returns To Adderly turns into one of those stories that engages your imagination as well as your heart. Sam Burns builds such fascinating characters here! And not just the main characters of Luke and Alastair. But that circle of witches that attend to the Market just cries out for an expanded version or more stories. How powerful a presence were they!
Plus I needed more knowledge of Lukeās grandfather and that book! And poor Elz. And and andā¦ā¦
Itās a parade of intriguing characters here. And all I wanted to know was more more more. Of what came next. Of what happened in the pastā¦ just everything.
Because thereās more elements here that needed a wider universe and plain bigger novel (s).
This? Itās great. But the promise for over the top magnificent? Itās everywhere.
Read it and see if you agree.
Yes Iām definitely c recommending this.
Synopsis:
Orphaned, Luke Miller is left alone and homeless with only his cat for company. But Wentworth is more than an average feline, and when Luke makes a set of leather boots to keep his paws safe, it might help them both find the path to where they belong.
Previously published in Fables Retold under the same title
Iāve been pretty fortunate in my fantasy reading binge of late. Iāve found no less than six new series, four new authors (to date) and the some terrific series and stories from long-standing writers on my auto read list.
Like I saidā¦ great times.
Tavia Lark and The Necromancer’s Light, are new. New author, new novel and the first in this writerās new series. And itās a marvelous start!
Using a two person perspective, the author opens the tale with the person of the title. The Necromancer.
But far from the normally powerful, and darkly mystical mage we would expect to encounter, we instead meet a bone-thin, shivering, thread poor specimen, reviled and shunned by all he passes. Shae Nightven, our first narrator, is the very essence of last chance desperation. In need of the very thing heās being denied, and with a great evil pressing upon him, Shae is almost lost and the voice and character given to him by Lark screams of his pain, of the crisis, and fear of failure. Heās the opposite of powerful.
And that fragility combined with a prickly essence he hides behind makes Shae someone we immediately care about and need to understand.
The person heās drawn to and needs as a bodyguard to complete his mission? That would be Arthur Davorin of the Radient Order.
Heās our other pov, and one at the other end of the spectrum from Shae. Thatās in personality, in outlook, in physicality (heās huge, Shae is thin and small). Arthurās even has an aura that glows, well suited for the Radiance Order. Unlike the dark, spelled silver jeweled necromancer.
But Arthur is on a penance, temporarily removed from his order and missing it. Heās a man conflicted, over his path in life and why his Goddess is no longer speaking to him with guidance.
When the two men decide to go forward on Shaeās mission, the alternating pov works beautifully, especially to see certain battles, creatures or dire situations from each perspective.
Lark comes up with some fascinating creatures, a great quest with some haunting, traumatic memories for both men to pick apart and recover from if not triumph over.
My wishes for this story and from the author is for more foundation. We get some idea of the framework for the Order, and local municipalities. But other religions? Governments? Mages? Are the Necromancers not an order themselves? I just donāt have enough information.
Also the great evil. Weāre told how he/it came into the human realm but the potential for this character didnāt reach its full potential. The power indicated that it had would have easily extended over the series arc but maybe the author is playing a longer game here.
Which I would applaud.
Shae and Arthurās story does wrap up ( Iām assuming) at the end of this book because the next in this series deals with two secondary characters mentioned here.
The Necromancer’s Light
(Radiance #1) by Tavia Lark is a marvelous fantasy epic, full of action, romance, and adventure.
I look forward to the next book and the one after that! Iām definitely recommending this!
Radiance series:
The Necromancer’s Light
The Paladin’s Shadow #2
The Sword-Witch’s Heart #3
Synopsis:
Heāll die without touch.
As a necromancer, Shae loses a little more of himself every time he uses his magic. Always cold, always touch-starved, the only thing that helps is human contact. But thatās hard to come by when those same dark powers scare everyone away from him. Nobody likes a necromancer.
Especially a paladin of the Radiant Order.
Arthurās still bitter and broken after his last lover stabbed him in the back, and the last thing he needs is another brush with evil. When he agrees to escort the wandering necromancer north, heās just doing a public service.
But he never expected Shae to be so clingy. Or distractingly attractive.
Shae has never felt an aura as warm and safe as Arthurās. He craves the manās touchāand more. But everyone heās ever known has left him, and itās just a matter of time before Arthur leaves him too.
Assuming the soul-stealing monsters donāt kill them first.
The Necromancerās Light is a gay fantasy romance, with magic, hurt/comfort, and bed sharing for Reasons. First in a series but can be read alone. 56,000 words, HEA guaranteed
The Hound of the Burgervilles was such excellent fun! A total non-stop madcap romp fest of a urban fantasy murder mystery.
Howās that for throwing in the narrative trope sink! Thereās a hint of romance but itās really a backseat story line to all the other plots running about hither and yon here in and out of Fae lands.
The Hound of the Burgervilles picks up closely after the events of Five Dead Herrings, the novel that launched this series.
Now Quest Investigations has two new employees added to the payroll since the deeds of book one. That would be Eleri, the dryad whoās now an investigator and Matt Steinitz, aka Hugh Mannās BFF. Jordan, the ever lovable, overly energetic and accident prone young werewolf.
Jordan, a fav character of mine, has become Questās new, well only, intern. Probably just to save the coffee shop they like where he recently worked from anymore acts of accidental destruction. Here Jordanās character starts to show real emotional growth. And tbh, Iām not sure Iām ready for him to outgrow his āgolden retrieverā stage . Ah well.
Mattās love life is still on hold primarily because Brodyās husband has disappeared and is needed to sever their Fae marital bond.
But more dire happenings intrude ā¦ a murder or more to investigate. Loose doggies, and a hellish quest! All described through this authorās uniquely vibrant and imaginative writing.
Russell keeps the remarkable characters hopping to a labyrinthine plot thatās cements our interest to every page and scene as it occurs.
I mean glued!
Even if we have good clues as to who dunnit HOW they did it is still a even bigger problem. And a rabbit hole we and all the characters end up following or is it falling into?
Either wayā¦ itās a quick paced, high action, plot full of complexity and great characters and multiple storylines.
And while this story perfectly ends this mystery, it sets the stage for the next in the series The Lady Under The Lake.
This should be rated 5 š but itās so interwoven with the Mythmatched series and characters that for those readers who havenāt read those stories, youāre missing a richness of layers here that makes this story and series so much more multi dimensional.
These books must be read in the order they were written. And for, imo, complete understanding and enjoyment, read in conjunction with the other series referenced above.
Plus theyāre great novels too.
So yep, recommending this, that, and all of those!
After I try a little off-the-books interrogation to locate my selkie almost-boyfriendās nearly-ex-husband (donāt ask, itās complicated), Iām in the doghouse again with my bosses, who bust me back to surveillance. Ugh. So when another human inexplicably storms into Quest Investigationsāsomething our security spells ought to prevent since Iām supposed to be the only human admitted to our officesāIām reduced to staking out local fast food restaurants to check out the guyās alleged sighting of a giant, glowing-eyed, dumpster-diving spectral hound.
Ridiculous, right? Humiliating, too, not to mention boring. But at least they didnāt fire me.
Imagine my surprise when there actually is a giant, glowing-eyed, dumpster-diving spectral houndāone of the Cwn Annwn, Herne the Hunterās traitor-tracking dog pack, to be exact. Jeez, who let this dog out? Itās my case, though, so itās up to meāMatt Steinitz, aka Hugh Mannāto return him to Faerie. But while Herneās normally hopping kennels are inexplicably unpopulated by pups, theyāre playing host to one extremely dead body.
Uh oh. Looks like someoneās bite was a lot worse than their bark.
Guess my love life will have to take a back seat again while we nose out the truth.
Dammit.
The Hound of the Burgervilles is the second in the Quest Investigations M/M mystery series, a spinoff of E.J. Russellās Mythmatched paranormal rom-com story world. It contains no on-page sex or violence, and although there is a romantic subplot, it is not a romance. The series is best read in order
I just happened upon this book not realizing it was part of a series until the authorās note at the end. Then many of my issues with this story made sense.
If like me you just stumbled upon it because either the cover or description grabs your attention, then by itself itās a interesting and promising tale.
We get a oh so brief introduction to basically the destruction of the human race as hordes of āmonsters ā invade the earth through a tear between worlds.
Flash forward to 20 years and the near annihilation of the human species, an established love affair between a alien hunter, a Soul Eater and one human former soldier.
How they became to be together unfolds slowly over the course of the novel as does bits and pieces of the dystopian nightmare that the earth has become. Itās current status is all too vague but as it seems mostly empty of people, except at military bases, things arenāt looking good.
This strange air of human abandonment sets the foundation for the new reader ignorant about the situation. And it actually makes the manner in which the author who, via the characters dialogue, communicates details about the past in a spare manner very neat.
We eagerly anticipate each new detail so we can further gather together our puzzle pieces of a history and past for our couple.
A couple thatās on quite the mythic journey to join their disparate ages to equal out the amount of time they age.
Thatās fascinating. But what I found more intriguing was the humanās attitude towards what was basically the death of modern human civilization and the extirpation if not almost extinction of the human race. He seems pretty ok with it, despite mentions of nightmares (although those seem to do more with torture by the military and less by the current overall climate).
So yes, finding out this was part of a series made some of my questions about the story disappear. Clearly the other books should hold the answers.
But this novel and settings has so much promise and offers such a great premise that I clearly need to seek out the beginnings and get my background references.
As well as other characters.
What fun.
If dystopian stories, odd couple romances, and a mythic god or three are your jam, this might be the book and series for you.
Iām recommending this!
Monstrous series;
Soul Eater #1
Erin #2
The Ryche #3
Wyn #3.5
M/M Fantasy Romance.
Twenty years ago, monsters rose on earth and began a new age of civilization.
One where humans live in military-controlled, cramped and dirty cities along the coasts, and the majority of the United States is known as the Wastes. A lawless, desolate and dangerous place, teeming with monsters that have claimed the land for their own.
Including Wyn the Soul Eater.
He appears every three years, making his way across the country and slaughtering humans randomly, sucking them dry until theyāre nothing but husks.
Iāve only been in the military for six months, but now Iām part of a unit tasked with trying to stop and capture him. And when Iām the only soldier out of hundreds that the Soul Eater leaves alive, I realise thatā¦ something about me has intrigued him.
But what is it? What could a twenty-three year old guy from the south, with no one and nothing in the world, have possibly done to capture the attention of a death monster with horns, blackened fingertips and a face hidden in the dark depths of his hood?
Soul Eater is the debut novel of Lily Mayne. It is the first in a planned post-apocalyptic fantasy series featuring monsters and human men falling in love. This m/m love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. It also contains scenes of violence, but donāt worryāthey get their happy ending.
For me, the second story, the bridge book, is always the key to every series. It gives me a sense as to how the author intends to move their characters forward, what strategies and angles they might employ to enlarge the series arc and universe, and just a general idea of what sort of future might lay aheadā¦ great, scary, whatever, for those weāve come to care about.
If done successfully, we then are clamoring for book 3. If itās a clodhopper? Some readers valiantly plow on. While other readers quickly put the series down. Give it a pat and walk away.
Iām thrilled to report that Kai Butlerās The Oak Wood Throne
Is a great bridge story. It absolutely checks all the needed elements and then raises the narrative bar higher, continuing the well-written arc and complex relationship dynamics laid out in the previous story, Butler now proceeds to build an ever enlarging intricate structure comprised of well defined characters capable of unlimited growth and a universe that shows no boundaries.
The main (and outstanding) focal character is Parker Ferro. Itās Parker whoās character, painful dysfunctional childhood, and equally chaotic, bruised adulthood is developing into one of astonishing growth, albeit somewhat of a mulish nature, and accompanied by an equal number of revelations. About his past, his found family. Even his new boyfriend and their ever tenuous romance.
Heās certainly the heart.. almost the heart of the story. That would be The Tree of Life whoās also a fascinating, ongoing main character. Butlerās beings as met have a complex set character but thatās merely a starting point for the author to build on. For as the story threads wind through all the devious and convoluted plot points, heading towards various pathways, these characters gain more layers, more depths to their personalities and histories.
And as we learn more about each of the people and beings involved here, nothing simplifies . Not them , not the plot. Indeed as expected, we get many mysteries as the revelations only deepen the overall arc storyline.
To our delight.
Characters are added that swell this already addictive and amazing found family. I canāt even go into who and what they are without entering spoilers city so I wonāt but itās both humorous and endearing. And unexpected.
So much in this story is.
From the way in which Parker is trying to work through his many issues of trust, feeling unworthy, inability to make a commitment, and his position of being the Windrose. Along with dealing with his obligations to that which lives deep under the City.
And being a boyfriend.
I often have issues with the manner in which a second book ends. A cliffhanger? Abruptly? Just this novelās story with a hint going forward?
Well The Oak Wood Throne ends on a surprise! One I didnāt see coming at all! Not a cliffhanger but an actual surprise.
One I canāt wait to see the ramifications of in novel 3 out in February. Honestly, itās not that far away. And thereās so much great stuff to unpack here Iām probably just going to reread it again immediately because Iām already sure I missed something now.
Kai Butler was a new author for me but Iām absolutely hooked now. I love this series, the universe and all the amazing characters.
If you havenāt found this yet, head immediately back to the first story and begin your journey there. Then head here.
Then Iāll see you all in February.
Iām highly recommending this and the series. Itās not to be missed.
San Amara Investigations Series:
ā¦ A Haunting at Midnight #0.5
ā¦ A Debt Unpaid #0.75
ā¦ Wormwood Summer #1
ā¦ A Belated Burial #1.5
ā¦ The Oak Wood Throne #2
ā¦ A Gilded Iron Blade #3 – not yet released, publication date in February 2022.
Synopsis:
A new case won’t solve Parker’s old problems…
Parker Ferro needs a vacation. His boyfriend is MIA on a high profile murder investigation, the fae courts have him on call at all hours, and heās still cleaning up the mess from his last big case. Of course thatās nothing compared to the demands of the debt he owes the spirit of San Amaro.
So when a wealthy new client contacts him to locate a stolen a fae artifact, Parkerās hoping for a simple job. That the artifact in question looks eerily similar to the one that got him involved with a notorious criminal and almost ruined his life last year has no bearing on the decision, right? Not to mention the thiefās ability to enter high security areas without a trace and a few very suspicious deaths.
As his life continues to spiral out of control, Parker has to juggle whatās most important to him: his relationship, his need for revenge or his life. Then again, no one said becoming the new Windrose would be easy.
Fast upon the heels of my discovery of Ariana Nash and her urban fantasy series, Iāve stumbled across another story and urban fantasy series thatās threatened to have the very same effect upon me.
Itās straight away captivating me with its expanding universe, a mixture of things modern and mythic as well as swelling cast of characters to engage both heart and mind.
by Kai Butler . So far Iāve found 5 stories, releases and intended to be published (more on the later) and my investment in this series is all but cemented by the end of the story.
Apparently I love to smack myself in the head repeatedly because this also look to be fitting the same pattern as that other series, although Iāll just have to wait to February for book 3.
No, Butler has a way of starting with already complex characters and a baseline twisty storyline and then proceeds to up the game by leading us all through ever increasing labyrinthine corridors, peeling back layers to characters histories and personalities along the way.
I truly love books like that. This has witches, alchemists, werewolves, dragons, cops, forensics, zombies, murder, politics, high mystery and yes romance. And oh, yes, found families.
And it works so beautifully and smoothly as the angst, bewilderment, anxiety, and body count add up.
Parker Ferro, foster kid, part Fae, PI, down on his luck , soon to be evicted , with more problems than he wants to face is such an incredible character. He establishes himself as someone worthy of your compassion and commitment immediately,. Parker then goes onto grow during this tale into someone whoās strengths and new dimensions reveal him to be someone he never suspected. That steers him and his group towards a new path that will be fantastical and yes, perhaps heroic. And our hearts will be along with the ride.
Everything here , each new element offers up a springboard towards exciting new revelations and twists. All while Butler works their characters towards goals only the author is aware of.
I canāt wait to see what new beings, obligations (Fae after all), drama, and exciting adventures lie ahead.
I really need to track down those prequel books too.
Yes, Iām highly recommending this story and letting you know in advance that book 3 wonāt be out until February 2022.
I can work with that. Happy reading!
San Amara Investigations Series:
ā¦ A Haunting at Midnight #0.5
ā¦ A Debt Unpaid #0.75
ā¦ Wormwood Summer #1
ā¦ A Belated Burial #1.5
ā¦ The Oak Wood Throne #2
ā¦ A Gilded Iron Blade #3 – not yet released, publication date in February 2022.
Synopsis: Parker Ferro owes the fae his life. Theyāve come to collect.
When the Summer Queen summons Parker to her court, the private investigator knows thereās trouble brewing. Trapped into compliance by his past debt to the fae monarch, heās tasked with locating a missing girl in San Amaro. Now he has to find the girl or give up his life.
Things only get more complicated when a very familiar cop asks Parker for his help on a case involving murdered magic users. With the victims completely drained of their magic, the San Amaro Police Department needs Parkerās special skill set to track down a killer. Navigating through San Amaroās paranormal underbelly while dealing with his own past and this new case is the last thing Parker wants or needs.
Now Parkerās stuck trying to locate a missing girl, stop a paranormal war, find a killer, and resist Detective Nicholas Kingās many charms. Hereās hoping he doesnāt die trying.
Wormwood Summer is a 107,000 word MM urban fantasy with a HFN ending.
Not every 5 star read has to be deeply complicated or filled to the brim with characters in need of therapy.
Nopes. Sometimes youāre gifted with a 5 star ticket joy ride of an adventure journey, full of snappy on point dialog, charismatic characters to die for and full out sexy magical fun.
Yeah I needed that so bad.
I want to see it filmed, I want it in a RPG, and Iām Garen btw. I just want this anyway I can have it. And itās book one in a series with the first story wrapping up itās own storyline while clearly setting up a potential mystery and danger to come.
For those of us who devour fantasy, supernatural, sci-fy, anything of a mysterious and suspenseful albeit magical nature, certain elements will be telegraphing the hell out of this to you.
Wonderfully so. Much like Wicky and Nico with their light sabers! Itās wicked fun. We sort of know where the bad guys might be coį¹ing from but who cares! Bring them on! Our guys got this!
All while Sherwood uses this remarkable romance and bonding to further the adventurous, magical and wildly anticipatory tale sheās crafting along with Belās team. That will include the amazing Chadwick āWickyā Santosās, Fire Mage and his partner, Zia Garzon, rounder mage.
Each mission Bel gets called on is used to explore his background, reveal more of his talents and emerging personality. We also get the same for everyone along as part of the temporary team by mission element going on at first.
As Nico and Garen come into Belās world and understand not only that they work well with other MAD operatives like Wicky and Matt, they are happy and belong. To Bel. As well as once again to each other.
Thereās just so many fun beings (love Grandpa, just sayinā) to meet and plain hilarious outstanding stuff here. I just curled up , grabbed a bowl of popcorn, and happily read into the night, not stopping until the book was done.
Thereās a satisfying ending that sets up our guys and team with , if youāre like me who has a sneaking suspicion or three, a bad guy on the horizon and a new fight on their hands.
I canāt wait. They got this. It will be so much fun. And Grandpa has to bring back the hellhounds, right?
My happy anticipation is high!
Yes! You in need of something to make you laugh? Smile? Shake your head at characters antics and revel in their joyā¦ at kicking ass? Love spot on dialogue?
One mage, Bel Adams ā needs a familiar, gun shy about being rejected by one again.
One familiar, Nico di Rossi ā Army Ranger, needs a change of pace and a new purpose in life.
Plus one familiar, Garen Adan ā Secret Service, needs his ex-lover Nico back.
One second chance ā all for the taking.
Tags:
Mages, BOGO familiar, familiars as bodyguards, familiar bond, M/M/M, second chances, workplace romance, fated mates, magical shenanigans, Garen is part gargoyle, Bel part demon, Nico is a golden retriever in human form (though not literally), idiots in love, seriously I don’t know what to do with them, Bel loves Garen just because he wants to love him, possessive behavior, not a single degree of chill from any of them, Nico is not allowed caffeine, Nico loves swords, Wicky is his supplier, lightsaber sounds, competency kink, Garen cannot be moved, he moves when he wants to, evil cults strangely don’t clean up after themselves, absolutely no one’s surprised, Nico thinks a magically booby-trapped cave is a theme park, cuz he cray cray, Demon Grandpa is also cray cray and approve.
Iāve been thinking about this book, itās elements, and my review.
Why? Because it contains that one element guaranteed to bring me back to a basic argument I have, as a reviewer and for myself as a reader. Simply put, it is how do I feel about the cliffhanger?
Yes, Tide of Tricks, book 2 of Shadows of London, a fantastic tale of magic and mystery, has the most outrageous of all cliffhangers and THE key series/story revelation all at the same moment. Right at the end of the story! DO NOT READ the ending first. You wonāt even understand it anyway.
This is a heartbreaking, mindblast of a problem for several reasons, at least for me. I trust it will be for you all as well.
And I can tell you , if we were talking over tea or coffee? The expletives would be flying!
So let me dive into the why this cliffhanger is going to be so mind boggling awful.
It starts with Ariana Nashās character of John āDomā Domenici. His character, his personality and background is so densely layered, like a ābloom inā onionā as it were. The author has crafted Domās past with bagged filled hidden years that get revealed only through times of immense stress or threatened violence, that the reader and his associates never know whatās coming. Dom is a man whoās means of escaping his crime-filled East End childhood was to join the Army. That also turned out to be something far more torturous and disturbing (Iāll leave that to the book). Tragically from his start in Pretty Twisted Things , we now watch a man weāve come to greatly care about, slowly destabilize. With devastating results. And someone has planned this.
Nash has written a terrifying authentic example of a man being driven almost to the brink by forces unknown. We will feel every bit as helpless as Dom is to stop the events around him.
The people who work with him who we āthinkā care for him realize the dangers but thereās multiple targets. No one knows whoās the mastermind. And those who are acting on the mastermindās orders?
A shock or two there.
This is a veritable Minotaurās labyrinth of a plot and series arc. Bodies are falling, shadows are everywhere, magical objects of destruction of appearing all over London to destabilize people like Dom, and revelations about the primary characters start to pop like narrative gun fire. Nothing can be counted on except that everyone is in danger. And we have no real idea who everyone truly is.
Cliffhanger. In a beautifully written, outstandingly executed and almost flawless book.
Second stories are almost always a bridge book. They carry the plot and characters safely over from the foundation novel to the third book, which might be the end or even penultimate story in the series. Here Nash not only shoots out the lanterns our characters are carrying to light the way across the bridge but Nash is stranding them there before they reach the end. The bridge is going to break and all is darkness.
The third book in the series? Trial by Fire? Doesnāt come out until next May 2022. Ffs. Yup. Next year.
So back to my ongoing dilemma. When it comes to series and cliffhangers, do you (if given advance notice, clearly not here) wait until you have the entire series and read right through?
Or do what Iāve done, repeatedly, give in and read the book 1 in series after series, hopefully not to see a cliffhanger, and just go with it.
Knowing full well that come next May Iāll have to reread books 1 & 2 before diving back into this series, because the author has made it just that involved and convoluted. My mind will just not be able to hold onto all the details of this arc and plot and multiple characters until May 2022.
Sigh. Itās a old argument. Iāll probably still plow onwards. This author has me so hooked itās unreal.
So yesā¦ absolutely read this book and series. You decide when. If you want to wait until the series is complete, then read all the stories go for it. Read them as they come, waiting along with me? Ok weāll suffer together.
Either way, put it on your TBR list. Iām highly recommending it.
Shadows of London series:
ā¦ Twisted Pretty Things #1
ā¦ Tide of Tricks #2
ā¦ Trial by Fire #3- coming May 31st, 2022 argh! The wait will kill me!
Reeling from recent revelations and forced to lie for Kempthorne, the unthinkable happens: Dom fails the latent competency test. One more strike and heāll be deemed unstable, have his registration stripped, and the life he’s come to love at Kempthorne & Co will be over.
If that weren’t bad enough, someone is stalking him, taunting him. Someone who knows what Dom did all those years ago.
While Dom juggles Kempthorne’s lies and his own shady past, latents are being murdered. The police won’t help, so it’s up to Dom, Kempthorne & new-recruit Kage (Hollywood) to find the killer, before they strike too close to home.
Dom soon finds himself at the heart of it all with his control slipping, his trick breaking free, and the shadows rising.
He’s coming undone. And for unstable latents, there’s only one way outā¦..
Please note, this is an adult urban fantasy, so there are multiple swears, some darker themes and scenes, and on-page sex.
I have long needed another urban fantasy author (can never have too many) and now I have one. And a great new series to boot!
I stumbled upon Ariana Nash when I found this urban fantasy story, Twisted Pretty Things. Itās the first book in her Shadows of London series and itās a grand adventure and showstopper of a stage to a series.
It has a overall series arc of maze like proportions, continually looping back onto itself, then threading through the most obscure of narrative keyholes to keep the readerās mind throughly boggled and trying to see where this intriguing plot and deeply layered characters will lead us next.
Ah these insanely wonderful characters. All smoke and mirrors, deceptions laid upon deceptively clever and devious personalities. Just when you think you have one completely figured out, wham, thereās a complete turnaround in what you perceive in character.
I love that. Pull that emotional rug out from all of us repeatedly.
All it does is deepen our connection in an odd empathetic way to the people in front of us instead of pushing us away. We need to know more about these obviously tormented individuals and the paths that brought them here.
And the horrors that are about to come. For they are indeed coming.
All the main characters such as the cockney born John āDomā Domenici who now, through a convoluted journey, to his boss he works for , the elegant, wealthy Alexander Kempthorne , everyone here is fascinating and evolving.
The company, Kempthorne & Co, the main jobs revolve around retrieving magical objects imbued with dangerous powers. However, nothing is even that simple, as serious as it seems.
This story is steeped in British history and culture, including some of its most brutal and painful historical eras.
The authorās talent in using just a few phrases to telegraph something wordlessly barbaric is incredible. Itās used here to great emotional impact over and over.
The characters need to be read to be appreciated. Their growth, the revelations that are sprung on you as a reader cannot be put into a review yet itās so much a part of them and this increasingly fantastic urban fantasy tale of romance and a fight for survival.
But against what?
Thatās whatās coį¹ingā¦..
I was up late finishing this story and immediately grabbed up the next in the series. Itās plain addictive.
I can see several sleepless nights ahead.
Iām absolutely recommending this author and stories.
Start here! Itās a must read!
Synopsis:
Something wicked is moving in the shadows of Londonā¦
In the underground world of glitzy illegal auctions, fast cars, and stolen magical artifacts, John āDomā Domenici knows heās out of his depth. But he needs the job at Kempthorne & Co like he needs to breathe. The alternativeāgoing back to the organized crime gangs of Londonās East Endāis unthinkable.
So when Alexander Kempthorne, boss of Kempthorne & Co Artifact Retrieval Agency, wants him on a special case to track down an illegal artifact dealer, Dom canāt say no.
It shouldnāt matter that Kempthorneās world is full of deadly secrets. It shouldnāt matter that the billionaire is sexy as sin, and it really shouldnāt matter how thereās an American agent stalking Dom, an American who knows more than he should about Domās case, including the real reason Alexander Kempthorne hired Dom.
The only thing that really matters to Dom is solving the case and finding the artifact dealer. Because there are worse things in London than a conflicted billionaire and a trigger-happy American. Something wicked is stalking Londonās streets, and if Dom doesnāt stop it, its shadows will rise and consume them all.
***
Twisted Pretty Things is the first book in the all-new Shadows of London MM urban fantasy series. Action, mystery, and MM romance combine in this fast-paced adventure from the author who brought you the award-winning Silk & Steel series and the best-selling Prince’s Assassin series. Coming August 2021.
Triggering content: mention of past mental and physical abuse.
Please note the Shadows of London series is set in London and the characters are all British (so is the author). Although the series has been edited in US English for the larger US market, to include US spelling and grammar, many English slang words and spelling remain as part of the character of the work
Shadows of London series:
ā¦ Twisted Pretty Things #1
ā¦ Tide of Tricks #2
ā¦ Trial by Fire #3- coming May 31st, 2022 argh! The wait will kill me!
Corruption is a short story that begins a new series by Kim Fielding.
Itās supernatural with what hints to be the beginning of a complicated hurt/comfort relationship with one clearly in the Master side of a D/s Angel/demon relationship.
The characters, only loosely set here but enormously fascinating with tremendous chemistry, have most of their background still to fill in.
So does the nebulous Bureau we only see or hear pieces of.
Corruption is like receiving the tantalizing first chapter of a new novelā¦. And now you want more. More foundation, more of the characters history and current predicament. And future going forward.
Iāll follow the promise set down here and look forward to all the stories to come.
The Bureau series:
Corruption #1
Clay White #2
Creature #3
Chained #4
Convicted #5
Connect #6
Caroled#7
Camouflaged #8 out now
Synopsis:
Once a proud demon of the night sky who carried nightmares to humans, Tenrael has spent decades in captivity as the star attraction of a traveling carnival. He exists in miserable servitude to men who plunk down ten dollars to fulfill their dark desires.
Charles Grimes is half human, halfā¦ something else. For fifteen years heās worked for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, ridding the country of dangerous monsters. When his boss sends him to Kansas to chase a rumor about a captive demon, Charles figures itās just another assignment. Until he meets Tenrael
