Bookwyrm Acquisitions, the first in The Book Hoard Collective urban fantasy series by Constance Lopez, is an absolute delight of a story.
Lopez is new to me as an author. However , I need to learn more about her because this book clearly establishes her characters, setting up her mysteries and connected multiple family tensions and challenges. It’s a terrific read!
Here be dragons. And vampires. And merfolk bodyguards and so many intriguing fantastical beings.
The first met is Camila “Cammie”Zeleny, the younger daughter of a broken dragon clan. Since the death of her father at the hands of another dragon clan, she’s avoided all other dragons, clan politics and even what is left of her own family.
A brilliant booklover, Cammie, works at a local bookstore, sourcing rare books for clients. Which brings her to a new chapter of her life when mysterious wealthy client Nic purchases the very same book she’s been looking for herself.
The story that follows is full of fabulous characters, mystery, and action. I could see where part of the story was headed but I enjoyed every single step of the journey that Cammie is being taken on.
She’s powerless at the start but as events happen, she starts to change. Lopez is creating a believable character whose traumatic past and pain has contributed to her character’s lack of development. And finally she’s moving forward.
I can’t wait to see her continue in this series and the growth she’s achieving. Plus the author left us some tantalizing hints and details about her and the future of all of her characters to come.
How far would you go to get something you really wanted? Like, this-is-the-key-to-achieving-your-ultimate-happiness wanted?
Hi, I’m Cammie. I work at a bookshop, I love a quiet night in, and I’m a dragonshifter with no magic to speak of. Which means unless I can grow my hoard—and by extension, my magic—I’m not much different than a human.
But then the perfect book—the exact book I need to kickstart my book hoard—practically drops into my lap, only to be snatched away when a filthy rich, ridiculously hot guy sweeps in and claims it before I can.
Rude.
Now I’m desperate to get it back, and I’m willing to resort to extreme measures if necessary—measures like bribery, mild stalking, or… taking a job offer?
When the gorgeous book thief offers me the book of my dreams and a huge salary just to find him more books, how can I say no?
Except there’s a catch: the offer comes with a non-negotiable temporary relocation. If I want my book, I have to live in the hot, mysterious billionaire’s castle while I work for him. And living with him means inevitably getting mixed up in his business—some of which might be far more dangerous than I’ve bargained for.
I’m not that desperate… am I?
Bookwyrm Acquisitions is the first book in a new urban fantasy trilogy for fans of Shari Tapscott, KM Shea, and Kenley Davidson. If you love found family, animal companions, and clean romance, dive in today!
“Allow the fire that drives you to burn brighter than any flames around you. Many fear getting their wings for the first time. But consider the butterfly. If it had remained a caterpillar, would it not grieve when all its peers flew away, so free and elegant? The struggle is brief, but your rewards are infinite. “
-Finding your Inner Fire: How to Claim your True Self by Peggy Hwybon (Warmly recommended by His Majesty Mabon ap Modron)
I’ve been remiss in forgetting to include memorable passages from the all important “texts” that drive each new book and characters as they journey into new areas of growth, revelation, and new relationships.
Seeing Red , naturally we’re diving into the Red Celt realm and dragons, is such an important and compelling story.
It starts off with Niki going to visit Dai, Prince Dafydd ap Modron, heir to Mabon, the king of the Red Celts, a man who was once her childhood friend.
I won’t say anything more. Only that the events of this story have ramifications for the rest of the series and the characters. Ones that continue to play out.
Day’s plots are labyrinthine. They hold the keys to the fabric of each character’s lives and personalities, their back histories and the damage that’s been inflicted on them. And how all of that has come together to create the situation and events that are in place now.
It’s an ever changing narrative masterpiece, subtly designed, beautifully crafted, heartfelt and deeply emotional.
And we’re engaged with every single character as they are hurt, involved in the process of growing into their own power, and potentially something stronger.
I want to spoil this so badly. But I’ll leave you with the pleasure of reading it and then wanting to reread this book again.
Highly recommended. It’s a must read! And it does end on a heavy cliffhanger. But no worries. The next book is ready to read! It only gets better.
Gorgeous Covers that absolutely drew me in. With the ever changing Recorder Star and Gateway in the center that’s pertinent to each book
Have you ever agreed to something and, when the time came, wondered what planet your mouth had been on when it accepted the invitation?
Welcome to my freaking world.
A warning from a Fae seer didn’t help Tilly and me get into the right mood for our break in Prince Dai ap Modron’s ‘lovely mountain home’ for the St. David’s Day festival.
What was supposed to be a well-earned holiday quickly turned into a nightmare.
Did I mention the unbelievable cold? The snowstorm? The complete absence of drinkable coffee?
As if that wasn’t enough, King Troels of the Vikings launched a surprise attack on the Gateway, leaving us scrambling to fend off the invaders. But then the power took a liking to Prince Rollo … nope, enough. No spoilers!
You just need to read the book.
“The best new series I’ve read this year.”
Revisit the bizarre mix of Celtic realms trapped in history when Niki—with the help of her sentient house, Dola—discovers not everyone can be trusted. Join all your favourite characters as they reunite in the Red Celt realm for a gruesome and hilarious sentencing hearing. And Niki learns more about dragon politics than she ever wanted to know.
Seeing Red introduces new faces while rekindling the magic and humour with old favourites. This cosy contemporary fantasy novel will keep you enthralled, laughing, and craving doughnuts from beginning to end.
Don’t miss out on this fun new adventure with the Midlife Recorder – grab your copy today!
“Allow the fire that drives you to burn brighter than any flames around you. Many fear getting their wings for the first time. But consider the butterfly. If it had remained a caterpillar, would it not grieve when all its peers flew away, so free and elegant? The struggle is brief, but your rewards are infinite. “
-Finding your Inner Fire: How to Claim your True Self by Peggy Hwybon (Warmly recommended by His Majesty Mabon ap Modron)
I’ve been remiss in forgetting to include memorable passages from the all important “texts” that drive each new book and characters as they journey into new areas of growth, revelation, and new relationships.
Seeing Red , naturally we’re diving into the Red Celt realm and dragons, is such an important and compelling story.
It starts off with Niki going to visit Dai, Prince Dafydd ap Modron, heir to Mabon, the king of the Red Celts, a man who was once her childhood friend.
I won’t say anything more. Only that the events of this story have ramifications for the rest of the series and the characters. Ones that continue to play out.
Day’s plots are labyrinthine. They hold the keys to the fabric of each character’s lives and personalities, their back histories and the damage that’s been inflicted on them. And how all of that has come together to create the situation and events that are in place now.
It’s an ever changing narrative masterpiece, subtly designed, beautifully crafted, heartfelt and deeply emotional.
And we’re engaged with every single character as they are hurt, involved in the process of growing into their own power, and potentially something stronger.
I want to spoil this so badly. But I’ll leave you with the pleasure of reading it and then wanting to reread this book again.
Highly recommended.
Gorgeous Covers that absolutely drew me in. With the ever changing Recorder Star and Gateway in the center that’s pertinent to each book
Have you ever agreed to something and, when the time came, wondered what planet your mouth had been on when it accepted the invitation?
Welcome to my freaking world.
A warning from a Fae seer didn’t help Tilly and me get into the right mood for our break in Prince Dai ap Modron’s ‘lovely mountain home’ for the St. David’s Day festival.
What was supposed to be a well-earned holiday quickly turned into a nightmare.
Did I mention the unbelievable cold? The snowstorm? The complete absence of drinkable coffee?
As if that wasn’t enough, King Troels of the Vikings launched a surprise attack on the Gateway, leaving us scrambling to fend off the invaders. But then the power took a liking to Prince Rollo … nope, enough. No spoilers!
You just need to read the book.
“The best new series I’ve read this year.”
Revisit the bizarre mix of Celtic realms trapped in history when Niki—with the help of her sentient house, Dola—discovers not everyone can be trusted. Join all your favourite characters as they reunite in the Red Celt realm for a gruesome and hilarious sentencing hearing. And Niki learns more about dragon politics than she ever wanted to know.
Seeing Red introduces new faces while rekindling the magic and humour with old favourites. This cosy contemporary fantasy novel will keep you enthralled, laughing, and craving doughnuts from beginning to end.
Don’t miss out on this fun new adventure with the Midlife Recorder – grab your copy today!
I enjoyed this book, picking it up first because of its author and then reading the description of an urban fantasy trio of magical grownups siblings caught up in their adventures.
It has imaginative world building, multiple worlds and intriguing characters that meet the main characters who, as adults, have built and life enormously successful and varied lives from each other. And from their beloved parents too. This isn’t a dysfunctional family, an element I enjoyed.
The main characters, Diana Smith is a half-fae elf and sword smith who has a shop in the stalls in the Marketplace in the World of Irilor. She’s a Walker, one who can walk the roads between worlds and the Marketplace is at the center of the hub where the intergalactic roads lead to.
Diana is the oldest of triplets, born to a father with a Smith’s magic and a mother of fae royalty. Once Diana saw the Great Marketplace at the Crossroads of the Worlds that’s where she decided she wanted to be. Her siblings had other plans. Her mirror image sister, Karina, became a scholar in an isolated place devoted to knowledge, while her brother, Bjorn, married a Queen.
When all three are attacked by assassins, Diana and Bjorn set off to their mother’s Fae realm for answers and a visit to the “family “.
This is entertaining but a little too lacking in any emotional connection. Either between the characters or within the storyline. It’s packed with fae intrigue and political treachery within the fae itself court. Plenty of murders, mystery, and bloodshed to go around. But any feeling of actual caring is lost or not looked for. Indeed, some very disturbing types of inter family relationships are noted here as examples of common practice or consenting behavior within the Fae community and culture.
It’s briefly mentioned and then onto other topics. I think that this is an issue here where there’s so much overlap of important information and too little exploration of the history behind all the regions and politics that the reader really has nothing to connect with.
We get briefly acquainted with Bjorn’s family and wife, the Queen. But again, no background on him other than one mention by Diana that he’s the most dangerous person she knows. But she says that at the beginning of their journey and we actually never see this side of him. He’s extraordinarily handsome and the fae women at court are all enamored with him, but the most dangerous man? Where’s he?
It’s too much “as told to”. And the actual action is fast paced but without any narrative context. Their journey and this entire aspect of the story is wrapped up way too quickly and the resolution happens “off page”.
The ending of the book returns to an entirely different aspect of Diana’s life. And it doesn’t really ring true.
I feel this was a fun read but I have found others that she has written more enjoyable. I may return to this series later on.
Sometimes family is there to love you, and sometimes family is there to kill you…
When a man came into my shop in the Great Marketplace at the Crossroads of the Worlds and tried to kill me, it completely ruined my day. Not only did I have to clean up the blood, but disposing of his body made me late to meet my friends for drinks.
A nagging little detail kept bugging me, though. As he died, he said he was hired by my mother’s family—people I hadn’t seen for more than a decade. Then I discovered that assassins had made attempts on my brother and sister as well. As much as I didn’t want to, I decided I should find out who wanted us dead, and put a stop to it.
Now Linzi Day has done it! I’m book immobilized. Her fabulous urban fantasy series and cast of beautifully crafted characters has me so hooked that all I can do is binge read these books until I have no more of them available for devouring! Onwards!
“With the eyes of your realm upon you, it can be too easy to revert to tradition in an effort to avoid an embarrassing mistake. Change is often feared, but a rare person can choose to innovate. Why not you? Demonstrate to your subjects that times change and so must we. Or would you prefer to return to the days of forced marriage, high infant mortality and syphilis and wait patiently for someone to invent coffee?”
-Ruling Regally: A Monarch’s Guide to the 21st Century by Margot Hobart-Smythe
Just one of the many reasons why I love this series is that each novel starts with a quote from a different, albeit totally fictional tome, one that will make a impact on the various rulings factions, including the Recorder herself. Ruling Regally is quoted often and with great precision throughout this story, to my delight and absolute joy in how Day has written and layered her series and world building.
Painting the Blues in Gretna Green brings Niki, the new team that she’s assembling to support her role as Recorder, and Dola, the sentient being that’s the gateway house, new dangerous challenges, major events that offer revelations, bringing growth and powerful development to Niki and those around her.
Author Day has created Kingdoms and cultures of Fae, Viking, Celtic and other mythological figures that will be seen throughout the series and gates in the Recorder’s house. Each being richly detailed, deep in its own history, and culturally distinct from the others.
And the characters from each of them are as intriguing as the realm they originate from. There’s past and current warfare, pain and suffering, loss and love.
It’s what makes them and the series so extraordinary.
In this case there are several ancient injustices that Niki must face and find a way to heal or a way to begin healing a long term damage. And some of it rests with the inaction of past Recorders.
Niki’s own personal trauma and tragedy is tangled with current events and its handling of her emotions and struggles feels every bit as important and meaningful as the other situations that require her attention.
Day has layers upon layers of intricately connected, subtly written storylines, ones that will only emerge to “ping” a aha moment a book later. Just an amazing piece of narrative writing.
As you can imagine, I’m merrily ahead here. But this series will find itself as hardback’s groaning on my shelves.
My powers are growing, and my tolerance is low. My second week in my new role as the Gretna Green Recorder is making the first week look relaxing.
I have quite the to-do list.
✅ Fix a thousand-year-old injustice that threatens the future of the Pictish royal family and their realm? Check.
✅ Test my new Knight Adjutant candidates? Check.
✅ Discover one of those candidates is the guy I had a huge crush on when I was twelve? Oh yeah. Check.
❌ Feed the cat? No, she’s not hungry—which is worrying, very worrying.
❓ Prevent a bloodbath? Let’s freaking hope so.
Niki McKnight is settling in as the new Recorder in the Gretna Gateway in Scotland. She’s joined by the usual colourful cast of magical beings.
Celtic, Fae and Viking royalty all have their own agendas, but none more so than the Pictish royal family.
Magic, psychic powers, a stroppy, condescending cat goddess, and lots of coffee smooth the way.
Niki plans to make her gran proud by reminding everyone that kings and queens are ten-a-penny in the seven realms, but there is ONLY one Recorder, and now she has more power than anyone expected.
Painting the Blues in Gretna Green is perfect for readers who’d enjoy an uplifting story with cozy paranormal fantasy elements. Set in a sentient Scottish house with a woman who needs to learn to wield her increased powers before lives are lost.
Linzi Day and her fantastic series Midlife Recorder are both new to me. And I’m so very excited and thrilled about this new author and urban fantasy adventure she’s sending me on.
It’s got everything I look for and love in main characters and world building. Both are complex and realistic in their respective forms and have so much potential for deeper exploration and growth.
It begins with Niki McKnight, an older woman who has just been widowed and is now mired down in loss. She’s cut herself off from her small group of friends, and she’s bullied by her boss at work. Only her small Maltese dog, Tilly, is keeping her grounded.
Day paints such a raw, painful portrait of a woman who is so despairing, so lost, unable to breathe, she’s incapable of movement. And at this point, she’s hit with one more awful event. A letter from a lawyer with a notice about her grandmother’s death and estate.
Niki is forced into a reluctant journey that becomes an emotional roller coaster of revelations, magical moments,and intense memories as everything Niki is forced to understand that she’s been living with a faded life.
Such a richly crafted, intelligent and inspiring story. Time after time, Nike comes to a point where she’s got to make new connections and decisions about her life, where old perceptions have to change and new ones formed. It’s a remarkable journey and the relationships she forges as she grows are ones the reader engages with as well.
So many amazing characters here to connect with and love. That’s including a sentient house whose storyline is as powerful as Niki’s. What I love is I think the author is giving the readers so many subtle details and elements to think about alongside the amazing storylines that are happening. Tiny little things I puzzle with as scenarios work themselves out. Love that.
The magical moments and systems are intriguing and I can’t wait to see how they expand as her powers as a Recorder grow.
This will definitely be a great favorite of mine. And Niki? She’s right there too!
There is a potential for romance but she’s a widow and the relationship was abusive. She’s in no hurry to go into another relationship.
She’s building something new here. That’s her focus. And I’m here for every single step of her journey.
It’s never too late to learn how to stand up for yourself
Niki McKnight has spent her entire adult life being bullied—first by her husband and then by her boss.
Recently widowed, she’s in dire need of an extreme life makeover. But she never expected it to come in the form of her beloved Gran leaving her a magical Celtic estate and a mysterious new job as a Recorder—whatever the hell that is!
She and Tilly, her adorable Bichon Frise, head to Scotland to claim her inheritance with no freaking clue what’s in store for them.
In Gretna Green, they meet a colourful cast of characters, including a sentient house, talking cat, Celtic god, Fae king and a sketchy lawyer.
Can the woman who wouldn’t stand up to her husband and was bullied by her boss find and wield the authority required to keep Vikings, Pict and Fae royalty in line?
With the help of her family’s psychic gift and some magic – she just might!
MidLife in Gretna Green is perfect for readers who’d enjoy an uplifting story of found family with cozy paranormal fantasy elements. Set in a magical house with a woman who wants to find and use her own voice and finally claim her power.
The Snow Yeti’s Grouchy Werewolf (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 3) by Michele Notaro is a perfect example why I’m finding it hard to continue reading this series. I enjoyed the first book but it’s gotten more difficult to stay connected with each new release.
The Tales From Gauhala series is a crossover from the Brinnswick series and is deeply rooted in the universe. It’s characters and their relationships are intertwining with each other’s relationships in each other stories, so it’s often hard to remember these complex family dynamics. Thousand year old mates claiming hundreds (or more, I can’t keep track) of children and their children’s children lend towards a seriously over populated universe.
Yes, many outlying characters from other the series show up here in ways that add nothing to the plot. They are just references for the reader. Look, so and so, the ancient powerful mages are here. I’m not that invested in them here. That’s part of the issue as I see it.
The story, about fated mates werewolf Dain, and shy Yeti Avalanche “Lanche” has its own issues. The characters are cute. But the author has included a dramatic storyline that’s seems underwhelming, or not well written. After all the work going into the suspense of the climax and drama behind the villain, there’s a huge letdown and considerable lack of foundation laid down for this aspect of the story. Makes little sense because there’s no solid narrative behind it.
That whole icicle thing itself was problematic.
Every other element feels hastily assembled. Let’s give the Yeti family cute names and throw them together in an ice palace. Ok, but where’s the natural history? Any real grounding? Absent.
When a reader is distracted from the story, even the smallest detail or aspect in a scene can make the reader look again at the story a different way.
Example:
“I didn’t blame him for it. It wasn’t his fault that the people under him who were supposed to carry out his will had been lying to him for so long.”
Talking about the King here who while grieving, abdicated all responsibility for his Kingdom and ruling to those below him, not checking for decades, to see what monstrous things were going on. Up in his tower, while horrifying acts and events were being carried out in his name.
Whose responsibility? It’s his. The fault is his.
Something even the author isn’t saying. SMH.
So this clearly isn’t the book for me. Cute . But too many things I find problematic.
Being shy sucks. Being shy and having a crush sucks even more. But I can’t get the grouchy werewolf out of my head, so I need to do something… as long as it doesn’t include talking…
Step One: Leave my crush a gift. Check.
Step Two: Wait for him to open it. Check.
Step Three: Try to convince him we’re meant to be. Ugh, I definitely have my work cut out for me.
Dain caught my attention the moment I walked into the bookstore. Tall. Broody. Growly in that definitely-a-werewolf way. The more time I spend near him, the more certain I become of one impossible truth:
He’s my viramore. My soulmate.
Too bad I can barely string two words together in his presence.
When I finally tell him about our connection, he doesn’t believe me. But he does agree to a date. Hopefully I can turn one date into two, then three, and then maybe, just maybe, he’ll see that I’m right. We’re viramores, and no matter what trouble comes our way, nothing will change that.
The Snow Yeti’s Grouchy Werewolf is Book 3 in Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala, an MM urban fantasy romance filled with grumpy/sweet energy, fated mates, gentle humor, and cozy found-family vibes. The series follows a new couple in each book with a guaranteed HEA. It takes place in the Brinnswick world, but you don’t need to read the other series first, although there will be familiar faces along the w
What an unexpected thrilling experience! And why aren’t more readers talking about this book?
I’m actually surprised by the lack of media attention to given to this fabulous epic fantasy romance . As it’s a romantasy much in the same vein as many of the other highly successful/popular novels like the Fourth Wing series (I do like those) , I don’t understand why this hasn’t found its audience.
Rogan’s universe and characters are ones I actually find more compelling. Unlike almost every other series and novel these days, there’s no dragon involved.
However! Here there is a highly dangerous and sentient flying war horse/animal to bond with, one that’s emerges from the void and is equally terrifying as any dragon of recent stories. Honestly, they’re fabulous and here we’re just getting started with their history and powerful abilities.
It’s the female main character that sealed the deal for me. Leina is an incredible character, compelling from the tragic moment we meet her. She’s fierce, rage personified, full of secrets, damaged by her past yet empowered by them as well.
And unlike other FMC’s when assisted by the MMC, in this case, Ryot, one of a special group of “gods-blessed warrior” who decides to be her protector, doesn’t need him to be. She’s got a different agenda, perhaps several. And she’s not going to wait for him to go off and save the Kingdom or even go to war.
That’s on her. And how Rogan develops Leina’s character and powers within the many layers of the story is complicated and believable. In fact, there are many other characters whose growth charts new areas of exploration in this series that’s just as interesting and exciting as those that we started with.
Ryot’s storyline is partially why this story didn’t get a 5 ⭐️ rating. How the novel ended, with a cliffhanger, wasn’t surprising. And it contains two elements meant to be shocking but are easily guessed at from the events mentioned during over the course of the story.
Did it bother me? Not a bit. In fact, it made any forthcoming book and relationship dynamics that more fascinating. I can’t wait.
I’m just upset that there’s no mention of a sequel yet. I adore this book, its universe and especially its main character of Leina.
More, more as soon as possible.
Highly recommended. Just amazing work here. And love the flying war horses. What scary sentient creatures!
She might be deadly, but she is not their weapon. Fourth Wing meets Dire Bound in this captivating romantasy, brimming with romance, deadly stakes, and unforgettable magic.
Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.
Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king, standing by while his men crush her loved ones. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre.
She expects to be executed for her crimes—her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior born to privilege, delivers her to a military fortress renowned for its brutality.
There, a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war, where her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse.
As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart. Each lesson, every touch, binds them tighter—but love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.
Soon, Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found…and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.
With immersive lush writing, an unflinching heroine, and an inventive fantasy world, Kissed by the Gods is the gripping fantasy debut you won’t want to miss.
With this crossover series in the The Dead Serious Universe, two previously supporting characters are finally getting their own story and relationship series.
That’s which Harrison Ames, recently relocated to town to look for his mother. And former DI, now PI Sam Stone, with his own connections to Danny and Tris, and magical powers of his own.
Both characters have figured largely in prior stories, and author Cassidy takes many of these impactful moments and dramatic events from these novels and repurposes them here. The reader gets to see certain scenes again, only this time from either Harrison’s or Sam’s perspective.
I have to admit I loved (spoiler alert) seeing Chan meet Death all over again. I can’t get enough of this couple, so this was an enormous surprise and plus for me.
I think Sam turned out to be my favorite character, more mature and better defined character of the pair.
Or maybe it’s because Harrison spends the entire story lying to everyone around him. Sam, Tristan, Danny. Even as the mystery and investigation surrounding the magical bookstore, the portal, and other aspects of that storyline, Harrison, knowing full well he had important information and details about the events surrounding the ongoing crisis, kept quiet.
He’s not a teenager. He’s in his thirties. Not communicating highly needed information to people who consider him a friend in a time of crisis.
No, I long ago learned that I’d had enough of this type of character. Whether the author needed him to be incommunicative due too plot purposes or considered it a necessary part of his personality, either way it led to a disconnect for me.
Yes to Sam, no to Harrison. And there are things I do like about him. Like his dynamic with his dads. So funny. But everything else? No.
I’ll continue to read because all the wonderful crossover characters and scenes. Maybe Harrison will win me back over. Who knows.
A definite winner otherwise.
Cover design by Natasha Snow
Crawshanks Guide to the Occult:
The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1 The Music Box
Connected series:
The Dead Serious Universe,
Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed (6 book series)
Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits(2 book series)
The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan Vol 1-3 (on the author’s website)
Despite being raised and well loved by his two adoptive fathers Harrison Ames has always felt alone. As an incredibly powerful witch he’s never come across anyone else who can do the things he can. Moving to London from Devon, he’d hoped that if he finally gathered the courage to confront the biological mother who’d given him up as a baby, he might finally have some answers.
Sam Stone, carries scars of his own, both physical and otherwise, but he’s determined to ignore them and get on with his life. But when fate drops a gorgeous prickly red haired witch in his life, he figures his luck is finally changing.
With mediums, dead drag queens, and supernatural beings as his new friends Harrison finds himself drawn into a world of magic and chaos. But amidst all the insanity that is his life, there’s Sam, his anchor when the secrets of his biological family begin to tear his life apart…
Monster Mayhem (A Luna Thorn Witchy Mystery Book 1) by Amanda M. Lee was an interesting read for me. The first book in Lee’s Luna Thorn Witchy Mystery series, I wasn’t aware when I picked it up that it was a part of an interconnected universe of series. Sometimes that’s not an issue but here the characters and recent impactful events come from those series and not having the knowledge of them leaves serious gaps for the new reader here.
A Pan (god) led invasion and huge battles?Not a clue but many references are made here to this. Same for the Grimlocks, the Reaper family the main character was “adopted” by. They too have a series. See below.
Here we have no idea what their full abilities or duties are. It’s an incomplete picture while putting this family in a huge position in the narrative and MFC’s life.
Author Lee has created many terrific elements for this character of Luna Thorn and the mystery that is her life’s story. Her shocking arrival in a blast of pink explosive power, as a tiny teenager-looking being. Her enigmatic one sentence statement and then complete amnesia. For five years.
I enjoyed the found family aspect of the story, the surrounding personalities were a lively group of not fully developed characters. Each either had a history I wasn’t aware of or required further foundation here to be fully fleshed out.
The Greek mythology included involving some different aspects of the pantheon that other similar fantasy stories haven’t explored so that’s a plus here. And that battle was fast paced and entertaining. But over way too quickly for all its buildup.
If you’re hearing a “but” or hesitation coming about an element here, you’re correct. I think that the lack of foundation is a real stumble here but can certainly be dealt with by a note saying this is not a standalone and part of a connected narrative.
My main issue is with Luna. In many aspects of her character. She’s “tiny” to the extent of often being mistaken for someone minor in age. 🚩. A abnormal hair color (bright white) made her decide to dye her hair pink. Which also makes her look younger in appearance. Despite being a building owner and running a lifestyle commune. Too many dichotomies have been written into her to maintain a believable/credible character.
“I think I’m a little old to be chastised like a teenager,” I complained when we were alone. “Can you not do that?” Reid looked caught between annoyance and embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” he said after several seconds. “I wasn’t trying to infantilize you.”
Immediately after, she’s treated like a child. As well as accepting that she’s been acting less responsibly. Then does an about face.
She’s surrounded by people who treat her like a child or at least like a younger teenager while she’s constantly insisting that she’s an adult. A repetitive behavior that gets old quickly.
Although, and this is a issue I have with the author’s crafting of the character, she’s a magical badass then someone who’s crying before her “adoptive father “ then proceeds to go in a different direction altogether script wise in the next scenario with a different pair of characters. She’s consistently inconsistent. And the dynamic carries over into every aspect here and all relationships. I just couldn’t connect.
Again, this seems to be a very popular connected universe. Just not one I’m familiar with. Perhaps if I’d started with another series I’d have a different opinion and reading experience.
Maybe I’ll try again with another series and circle back to this.
Connected series:
A Death Gate Grim Reapers Thriller (9 book series)
Aisling Grimlock (9 book series)
An Elemental Witches of Eternal Springs Cozy Mystery (4 book series)
She arrived in Detroit amidst a swirl of lights and magic. She had no memory of where she came from. No idea why she was there.
Years later, she’s established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the Detroit magical scene. She ingratiated herself with the local reapers. She set up a community called the Cathedral to help those who had been displaced from their homes and families, declaring that nobody would fall through the cracks.
Still, doubt remains. Luna is determined to figure out why she’s in Detroit. She needs to know what she’s supposed to accomplish within the city’s crumbling boundaries. Her story is nowhere near finished.
When a body shows up on the grounds of the Cathedral, her quest kicks into overdrive. Ritual murders aren’t her forte, but this one is going to haunt Luna. Also haunting her is Jesse Wilder, a young detective who has been paired with an old friend. He has specific beliefs about what’s happening. Luna’s opinion doesn’t match up in the least.
He’s a “by the rules” guy. Luna likes to fly by the seat of her pants. She’s never met a problem she didn’t want to improvise.
It’s going to take both of them to solve this case. Even then, it will only be the beginning of their tale.
Settle in for excitement. Luna Thorn is about to change everything you know about the magical world.
Of the many interconnected series in The Other Realm Universe, The Other Detective has definitely become my favorite, which is amazing because this is a great universe full of complex characters and richly crafted storylines.
Arcane Justice is the penultimate book, which sort of breaks my heart, in the story of magical Inspector Stacy Wise and her ongoing romance with Robbie Krieg, the Ogre King.
I’m really not ready for this series to come to an end.
Harris uses Arcane Justice to cement and celebrate certain bonds and relationships. Loki the caladrius has an important storyline as well as a resolution to his previous issues. Robbie and Stacy’s relationship is deeply affected by the events of this story. And a bigger villainous plot is revealed behind the many of the horrific incidents and murders that have happened.
Amber and Bastion appear to add additional drama and weight to the new development of the overall storyline. And tie it into previous series.
And while the main plot of the book ends happily. There’s an ominous epilogue that follows.
So Harris manages to make me as a reader incredibly happy then crushing me simultaneously with that epilogue. Got it.
Arcane Justice (The Other Detective Series Book 1) by Heather G Harris is superb. Highly suspenseful, full of action packed scenes, beautifully crafted characters, emotionally laden moments and satisfying scenes.
I do not want this series to end.
I’ve listed all the connected series below. It’s an absolute wealth of entertainment and reading enjoyment.
All recommended.
Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.
The Other Realm Universe: Should be read in order to understand the world and characters .Events and relationships build upon each other.
The Other Realm series
⭐️Glimmer of Dragons- Book 0.5 (a prequel story),
Glimmer of The Other- Book 1, Glimmer of Hope- Book 2,
Glimmer of Christmas – Book 2.5 (a Christmas tale),
Glimmer of Death – Book 3,
Glimmer of Deception – Book 4,
*It is recommended that you read The Other Wolf books 1 to 3 before continuing with
Challenge of the Court– Book 5,
Betrayal of the Court– Book 6
Revival of the Court– Book 7.
⭐️The Other Wolf Series
Defender of The Pack– Book 0.5 (a prequel story),
Protection of the Pack– Book 1, Guardians of the Pack– Book 2, Saviour of The Pack– Book 3, Awakening of the Pack – Book 4, Resurgence of the Pack – Book 5; and Ascension of the Pack – Book 6.
⭐️The Other Witch Series
Rune of the Witch – Book 0.5 (a prequel story),
Hex of the Witch– Book 1,
Coven of the Witch;– Book 2,
Familiar of the Witch– Book 3; and Destiny of the Witch – Book 4.
When I find a powerful political figure dead in his home, I know the pressure is going to be on. His death was brutal, and anything but swift. The brass want answers yesterday, so it’s going to take the combined might of Unit 13 to bring the killer to justice.
In the meantime, things are heating up with Robbie Krieg, King of the Ogres, my fated mate, and general pain in my ass. He’s been keeping secrets, and they may be inextricably linked to the corpse I’ve just found.
And what the hell is up with my damned bird?
Some days, it’s better just to stay in bed.
Immerse yourself in The Other Detective Series – perfect for fans of supernatural crime, complete with a fierce heroine, gritty murder investigations, and a slow-burn romance.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 