Category: M/M Supernatural Fiction

Review: Wrecking Havoc (Demon Bound Book 1) by Grae Bryan

Rating: 4.5🌈

It’s the cover the drew me to Wrecking Havoc by Grae Bryan, the first in the new Demon Bound series, but it’s the story and characters that make me want to continue reading the entire series. I absolutely found myself invested in this universe and couple.

I love that Bryan created various types of demons here, instead of one type. It’s fascinating as well as that they are bound together by an ancient connection between them, a number of contracts that they had to complete in order to be free. Each book is a different demon.

However, there’s also another connection between the characters. A Russian mob family that’s now down to a group of brothers, each traumatized by their (now deceased) father in their own way. The middle brother, Alexei, got his romance in this author’s series, Vampire’s Mate. I listed it below as I hadn’t read it and put it immediately on my TBR list after reading this one.

The well defined characters, the quick moving storylines, the wonderful chemistry between the characters, everything had me engaged in this universe and the relationships being built.

Sascha Koslov , the youngest son of the American raised Russian crime mob family, is at the center of Wrecking Havoc. Superficially, a spoiled, coddled young man who has , mostly, been kept away from his family’s , as the story reveals, Sascha has been traumatized by his adolescent and upbringing, rather than shielded as his brothers assumed. Sascha is a endearing personality, and the manner in which he accidentally summons a demon is perhaps perfect!

Kai, the warrior demon on his last contract, is another layered character. The world he arrives into, the person who inadvertently summons him, everything surprises him. It’s a fascinating take on this aspect of the story, and these characters just work so well together.

There’s no fated mate bond but one that builds between them, one that makes sense for us the reader and them emotionally as they connect and grow stronger together.

By the end of the book, it’s amazing how much we love them as a couple, and the future we see going forward.

Ivan and Matteo’s books are coming, with Ivan’s book up next. It should be outstanding considering who he’s going to be bonded with. Can’t wait!

I’m highly recommending this. That cover is amazing and drew me right in.

Demon Bound:

✓ Wrecking Havoc #1 – Sascha and Kai

Vampire’s Mate:

◦ Roman #1

◦ Soran #2

◦ Lucian #3

✓ Johann #4 (Jay and Alexei Koslov from here, Demon Bound 🔷)

◦ Wolfgang #5

◦ Colin #6

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Wreaking Havoc (Demon Bound Book 1)

Blurb

Sascha has always felt powerless, the weak baby of a cruel family. But that’s fine. He has his looks, his ample allowance, and a smattering of one-night stands to keep him busy. But when Sascha’s oldest brother offends the wrong people, Sascha finds himself in hiding with a target on his back. And when poking around in his temporary home leads to accidentally summoning the hottest demon Sascha could ever imagine, he has to ask himself: does he want to feel powerless anymore?

Kai has been waiting centuries for a summons. When he’s at long last brought to the human realm for his final contract, he expects to find another warrior hungry for battle and bloodshed. Instead, he finds himself bound to a saucy, scared mobster princeling who can’t stop looking at Kai like he’s dinner. It isn’t long before Kai decides that—for once—he wouldn’t mind staying exactly where he is, with a certain human for his mate.

But Sascha isn’t used to anyone sticking around, let alone caring for him in any real way. It’s up to Kai to convince Sascha he can give him so much more than protection. He just has to deal with those pesky enemies—and Sascha’s own meddling family—first.

WREAKING HAVOC IS A HEATED MM PARANORMAL ROMANCE WITH A HEA AND NO CLIFFHANGER. IT CONTAINS A SPOILED (OR IS IT TRAUMATIZED?) MAFIA PRINCE WITH TRUST ISSUES, THE COCKY WARRIOR DEMON WHO WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO PAMPER HIM FOR ETERNITY, A STIFLING FAMILY, ELUSIVE ENEMIES, AND THE FRUSTRATION OF NEVER GETTING TO FINISH A MANICURE.

• Publication date: June 18, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 255 pages

Review: SOS HOTEL: Sleep With Us #3 by Adam Vex ( Ariana Nash)

Rating: 5🌈

Here we are at the penultimate story in the life of Adam Vex , his companions , ex porn star incubus Zee, and wealthy businessman vampire Reynard. All of them living in their struggling SOS Hotel, with their gremlin filled walls, weirdly scary but wonderful AI bartender Tom Collins, and some personal secrets about to come busting out!

But first, something is wrong with Tom Collins! He’s too nice, his cocktails too boring, he’s not himself.

In this story, sooo many things are happening. In a race to find and bring back their beloved bartender, secrets start to come out. And not in happy moments.

But this is a series on its way to its climactic conclusion and it’s building up to that point by challenging the characters to expose themselves (yes that too), emotionally and on personal terms, revealing their histories they hadn’t before.

So yes, there’s wild rescues, more than a few fight scenes. And one ginormous cliffhanger.

It’s fantastic. I need that final book! If you’re not into cliffhangers, wait until the entire series is out and binge read. Otherwise, read it in order and wait until it’s released in August. I’m highly recommending this book and series. Well thought out and fabulous characters!

SOS Hotel:

✓ For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1

✓ Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2

✓ Sleep with Us #3

✓ Great Service from Top to Bottom #4

◦ No Rest for the Wicked #5 – August 16, 2024 (finale)

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SOS HOTEL: Great Service from Top to Bottom

Blurb

Something is wrong with Tom Collins. More wrong than usual.

Tom’s being nice.

I should have known trouble was right around the corner. One attempted murder later, and Reynard is forced to disarm Tom (literally).

No bartender, means no bar. Zee is grumpy and avoiding me, and the hotel’s measly profits are dwindling by the day.

Things are not going well. We need our broken, foul-mouthed Tom Collins back.

But don’t worry. Zee says saving Tom should be a walk in the park for us.

Turns out, that walk in the park is more like a road to hell. But I’ve got this…

My name is Adam Vex. I’m your average and mundane, human host. Welcome to another crazy day at the SOS Hotel.

*

Warning: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable. For full warnings, please see the author’s website or the paperback “look inside sample”.

• Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing (June 19, 2024)

• Publication date: June 19, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 214 pages

Review: Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3) by Shelby Rhodes

Rating: 5🌈

Unusual Emotions is the third book in Shelby Rhodes’ amazing paranormal romance series, The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx, so a couple of things right away. If you’re reading this series, you are already familiar with the trigger warnings, so I’m not going to repeat them.

Secondly, if you’re familiar with Shelby Rhodes writing, either here or any of this author’s work, then again, see my sentence above about triggers. Rhodes’ writing just comes with a certain amount of warnings, primarily because of the various types of themes and content that are present in this author’s work. If you know, you know.

As this is the third book in this remarkable series, one that has to be read in order, then a reader knows what is in store for them and the characters here. Proceed forward with knowledge!

Unusual Emotions tells us exactly what our characters are dealing with. After the traumatic events and deepest horrors of the past revisited that Taste of Fear put Foxx and Harlow through, now the impact of those events and its consequences, emotionally are seen here on the partners.

Unsurprisingly, Foxx is having nightmares, the burning marks upon his body still visible, his emotional state is shattered as much as his damaged threads. Hes not in good shape as the book opens. But just as shocking, neither is his partner Harlow. He’s having feelings, anger , fear, and more, which he’s trying not to identify. He’s a psychopath and , in his own words and mind, he’s not supposed to be having feelings.

Rhodes weaves an intimate, increasingly confused relationship between two characters that always thought they knew what their relationship was about. Until recently, and Foxx’s recent traumatic experiences have upset him and their dynamic. Both sides are stumbling around, dealing with their own issues, their partner’s unspoken difficulties with the current situation, and a multitude of new cases involving them and weird elements.

It’s Foxx and Harlow trying to figure out how to make their relationship work but it’s changing in ways neither understands. The author lays this out , all the fears, the misguided ways their friends and bosses interfere in the process, all the challenges that realistically make them not trusting of anything deeper than a work relationship, it’s complicated journey that makes them feel more real and broken. Incredible stuff here.

Threaded through this slow burn journey over broken glass pathways is the cases Tony is throwing their way. Unusually big numbers, scary details, weird situations. Each one coming with some defining features and scenarios that will, I’m sure, add up to something even more terrifying to the partners later on.

And I’m not just talking about the cliffhanger of that ending!

Yes, it does have a wowzer of a cliffhanger here. We also knew that would happen.

Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3) by Shelby Rhodes is one incredibly powerful and heart stopping book. Our connection with Foxx and Harlow is made stronger, and we are all so happy that they have made a new step forward in their journey. Now about that cliffhanger!

Highly recommended! Read them in order. Not one is a standalone.

Love the covers.

The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx:

✓ At First Irritation #1

✓ Taste of Fear #2

✓ Unusual Emotions #3

◦ Thirst Quenched #4 – August 24,2024

◦ False Morality #5 – TBD

Buy link

Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3)

Blurb

Foxx Honeywell here… Have you ever wanted something, but then when it finally happens, you panic and think of all the things that could go wrong, because things have always gone wrong? No? Just me? Well, let’s backtrack.

We pick up where we last left off…after the hypocritical murdery priests. Yeah, I’m still dealing with all that. Cases come and go, and things are normal…but then normal flies out of the window. All because my mind decided to focus on things it shouldn’t. Because, as is often the case, emotions and feelings don’t give a shit about timing, place, or the sanity of those involved!

Speaking of sanity. My annoyingly insane partner, HARLOW, decided that he wants to make it all the more complicated by feeling ‘something’ as well.

Long story short, more cases, more confusion, and just the urge to burn the world down in a fit of anger…because why the bloody hell not? Things are decidedly not okay.

CONTENT WARNING: This is a slow burn M/M paranormal romance book, that ends in a cliffhanger. Please see inside or my website for full content warning!

• Publisher: (June 11, 2024)

• Publication date: June 11, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 343 pages

Review: The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 4) by Jennifer Cody

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger is another absolutely wild unhinged story in Jennifer Cody’s Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees series and I’m loving every single bit of this.

No, it’s not over yet. This is the penultimate tale of battles, families, universal balance and gods, shopping, engagements, ginormous rings, new adoptions, and just outright chaos in the best way possible. With blood and swords and lots of sex.

Cody does give Romily (and the reader) a further explanation into his muteness and past trauma. It’s typical of Cody’s writing that this aspect of the story, while it offers Romily an explanation for his tragic past and mutism, it won’t resolve it. Instead this storyline gives him a new perspective about this part of himself as well as sees another intriguing being added to the family.

Cody’s characters are so well written, grounded in their emotions and respected relationships that we stay connected with them no matter what happens to the world around them. Here, with the incredible imagery and imagination that’s been brought by Cody to this moment, it’s a very wild ride!

That’s why I just love this entire series and story. Even the smallest scene can contain ramifications for the larger plot, or even for a character’s story later on in the series. Cody’s plot is complex even when appearing at its most simplistic stage. It’s never one dimensional. Crazy, zooming off into the wilderness of the universe and who knows what else could possibly happen next but that’s what makes this work. Characters that love each other deeply amidst chaos and way too many tables.

Gotta love this. I do and can’t wait for the next one to come out. Plus I heard that there will be a new sequel series to follow. Highly recommended!

Stay tuned.

Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees :

✓ The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1

✓ The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin #2

✓ The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion #3

✓ The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger #4

✓ The Adventure of Sterling Jones: A Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Sidequest

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The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 4)

Blurb:

Romily:

Welcome back to Will-They-Won’t-They? The Engagement: The Foxily Edition. That’s the name of the show that I’m planning to pitch to a producer that’s based on my life. Will Fox ever give me a ring? Who knows! I don’t, and I don’t think Fox does either. If the rock currently sitting not-on-my-finger is any indication, we might be doomed.

In the meantime, let me introduce to you my new best friend: a cherub. (Are we surprised by this turn of events? No. I flipping love cherubs.) Akile Aristide walks into my life, declares that I’m his bestie, and then flips the world on its three way axis. What’s a Harbinger to do except announce, “Incoming!” and hope everyone’s buckled in?

The Trouble with Trying to Hook a Harbinger is a 63k MM Paranormal Romedy with a Harbinger who gets to change his title to The Chosen One, a slightly manic Reaper who’s out for a little blood, and the family that they’re building one adoption at a time.

• Publication date: June 7, 2024

• Language: English

• File size: 1483 KB

• Print length: 237 pages

Review: Black & White: An MM Shifter Romantic Suspense Novel (ORCA Book 1) by Vinni George

Rating: 4.25🌈

Vinni George dives into the fated mates shifter trope with a new action adventure romance series, ORCA, or the Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets . That it’s centered around a family or pod of killer whale brothers as they find their fated mates while they’re hunting stolen artifacts or just on wild uncover missions is spot on. How that all happens is also a part of the storyline of this book.

George has a lot to lay out in this first book. We get the foundation for the universe, the culture of our shifter species, the various shifter family structures , especially in case of the two types of species of our main characters, a orca killer whale and an otter.

Felix White is a highly talented hacker and otter shifter, one who’s also in a load of trouble. That will bring his fated mate to him in the form of a bodyguard, Nero Black, bondsman now bodyguard, and orca shifter, one of a family of brothers that live together.

This is an instant recognition of the mate storyline. While I’m not always a fan of this approach, it works well with Nero and Felix due to their situation and the chemistry the author builds between them.

Because the series is going to be based on the rest of the family, they are quickly introduced and their personalities defined by jobs and appearance. Species characteristics are also very well represented here which I think makes them better realized as shifters. The holding hands by Felix as an otter is just adorable.

I had a few issues with the story in the I wish the actual villain was better executed and explored. This person sort of popped up out of nowhere. And was done equally as quickly. With all the buildup, this potion of the story doesn’t have the same kind of fulfillment as the other aspects. It’s over with in a blink.

My other quibble isn’t by the author but should have been caught. Things like this.

““You didn’t answer my question.” Quin looked at me with shred eyes.”

I’m guessing it should be shrewd eyes. I’m betting autocorrect struck again. But in a book you paid for , it’s annoying and a line editor should have caught it.

I’m seeing too many errors like that in books these days.

Quibbling aside, I found Black & White: An MM Shifter Romantic Suspense Novel (ORCA Book 1) by Vinni George is very entertaining and a terrific start to a new series .

ORCA :

✓ Black & White #1

◦ Grayscale #2 – Dec 31,2024

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Black & White: An MM Shifter Romantic Suspense Novel (ORCA Book 1)

Blurb

Nero Hunter is tired. He’s tired of early mornings chasing down skips. He’s tired of Shamu jokes and dealing with idiots. He’s tired of being alone. But agreeing to do one little favor for a friend turns the tide and brings Nero face-to-face with his destiny.

Felix White is unlucky. When his life is threatened and he’s hauled into police custody for safekeeping, the last thing he expects is to meet his fated mate. Especially when his mate is a giant killer whale shifter, who is also his new bodyguard.

But there is more to the plot against Felix than meets the eye, and Nero and his brothers have to work together to figure out who is after Felix before it’s too late…before Nero loses the mate he just found.

Black & White is book one in the Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets (ORCA) series featuring an orca shifter art thief turned bounty hunter, a sea otter shifter hacker who might have pissed off the wrong people, and a group of orca brothers who will do anything—even if it’s not quite legal—to save the newest member of their family.

• Publication date: June 6, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 212 pages

Review: The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae (a Fortune Favors the Fae story) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Well this is an absolutely splendid addition to the Fortune Favors the Fae series. I loved how Michele Notaro adapted her Brinnswick universe into this series, by means of that mischievous wayward fae coin.

While its personality doesn’t really come into play as it has in a prior tale, that coin is still the means through which unlucky fae Belryn Bizidor meets wolf shifter Remington “ Remi” Ellwood, newly arrived with some of the members of his family to start a family security company on Gauhala.

Its meet cute, and mate recognition, sort of . Mostly both feel a very special unusual attraction, which I find interesting because it takes time for this relationship to develop. For Bel, his situation is fragile. His city views Fae as the lowest form of life, discrimination is common, he’s homeless, and trying to protect what’s left of his family.

The more the reader learns about his character and how perilous the situation he’s in, the more we connect with him. Bel is the type of character Notaro crafts so well. Layered, emotional, and warmhearted. And desperate. In this case, to save his family.

Remi the wolf shifter who finds his viramore and is determined to hold him, no matter what, is kind and loving. Just by his own history he’s not as vividly drawn as a wounded Bel. It’s just the nature of the difference in the drama between them. They do have a gentle charm and connection that works well here.

Notaro has created a number of fascinating characters that support the main couple, ones that almost prove more compelling. Whether it’s Tan, Remi’s friend and business partner who’s in a frenemies attraction thing with the Dragon King, or Bel’s cousin Ker and the vampire bookstore owner, Anton Orsova, those are stories that beg to be told and look to come in a new sequel series soon to be released.

I hope we see these characters as well.

The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae (a Fortune Favors the Fae story) by Michele Notaro is a highly entertaining read and one I’m happy to recommend!

Be on the lookout for the new series below.

New connected series that continues a couple’s developing romance:

The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 1) – Oct 25,2024

Look at what’s coming up next!

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

✓ A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1

✓ The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2

◦ Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13

◦ The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 – June 20, 2024

◦ The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 – June 27,2024

◦ Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 – July 4,2024

◦ Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 – July 11,2024

◦ Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 – July 18,2024

◦ Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – July 23,2024

◦ Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 – August 1,2024

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 – August 8, 2024

◦ Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024

◦ I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024

◦ A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024

◦ Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae

Blurb:

Call it fate, call it luck, but when a powerful wolf shifter walks into my life, everything changes.

Bel

I’ve made some stupid decisions in my life, and one in particular keeps coming back to haunt me. When I keep running into a handsome stranger, I know I should push him away, if only to keep him safe from my mess, keep him safe from me. But something inside of me—my heart, my magic, or my soul—keeps pushing me toward him, offering to make all my secret dreams come true. And I don’t know how to stay away.

Remi

When I travel across the world to open a new business—and get away from my overbearing family—the last thing I ever expect is to find the most beautiful and alluring fae I’ve ever met. I’m drawn to him, and I’m pretty sure if he lets his guard down, he’ll admit he’s drawn to me too. All I want to do is pull Bel into my arms and protect him from whatever he’s hiding. But he’s skittish and suspicious, and I just want to prove to him that he can trust me.

Fate, and a bit of luck, brought us together, and I’m not going to let it or anything else tear us apart.

The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

• Publication date: June 6, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 340 pages

Review: Darkness by Eden Winters

Rating: 4.75🌈

Eden Winters new release, Darkness, is a superb supernatural thriller. Winters’ beautifully written narrative combines elements of horror, murder mystery, political conspiracy, as well as a deeply intriguing romance to create a dark, suspenseful, and gripping story.

It starts with Atlanta PD Det. Morrisey James. He’s a wounded, broken man, with a disturbing talent that allows him to sense what the newly deceased felt, a gift he keeps hidden in his job investigating violent crimes.

That’s where Winters drops the reader into the narrative. James and his partner have just arrived at the scene of a truly horrific crime, one that will have ramifications for the rest of the story. We immediately get a feel for Morrisey’s battered emotional state, the close dynamic between himself and his deeply depressed partner. And the author is able to portray, just from the remarks of the other crime scene officers, a city under siege as waves of high crime just overwhelm the police and all departments.

When tragedy strikes again and loss hits Morrisey, its help from Farren Austin that turns his life upside down.

The characters of Morrisey and Farren, the darkness and the light, are so thoughtfully and beautifully crafted. Winters builds believable people who we have real empathy for , but leaves them with so much more room to expand their characters into increasingly larger and complex roles.

I couldn’t stop reading. I was so caught up in Morrisey’s story, Farren’s role in it, each new revelation about all the various travelers and their tumultuous journeys from a dying world. Winters has enough elements for a series should she want to continue exploring the world and characters she has created and set in motion.

I wasn’t really ready for Darkness to be over as I felt the characters were just getting started with their own new beginning. There were also other characters I had grown fond of and needed to see more of them.

Whether this is a standalone or the beginning of an extraordinary series, it’s a great story and one I’m excited to share.

Buy link

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY9ZJR45

Blurb

Darkness follows Lieutenant Morrisey James.

As an Atlanta PD detective, Morrisey understands the worst atrocities the city has to offer—or believes he does. His recent cases present something new: a killer who unleashes unbridled terror in victims before moving in for the kill. Morrisey has an edge, though, the terrifying ability to gain flashes of insight from each victim.

Most people assume Farren Austin is a shallow, pretty boy, but he’s so much more. Agent Austin keeps secrets as part of the FBI’s Alternate Entities Task Force, a unit created to monitor travelers from another realm. Although they might look human, they’re anything but.

And they’ve taken a special interest in Morrisey.

Partnered with Farren, Morrisey finds himself in the middle of demons trying to possess his body, a succubus sidekick who wants to cook him breakfast, accusations of being a powerful destructive force, and a growing number of people calling him “Darkness.” Not to mention a sudden overwhelming attraction to his new partner.

It’s going to take the mysterious Farren’s help to keep the latest case from being Morrisey’s last.

• Publication date: June 1, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 442 pages

Review: The Soul of an Angel (Supernatural Affairs Book 5) by F. N. Manning

Rating: 4🌈

F. N. Manning’s urban fantasy series. Supernatural Affairs, draws to a close with The Soul of an Angel.

Manning’s story is a good finale in that the reader has some important questions answered about the main characters and their relationships. The author also supplies further exploration of the universe and adds on to the series world building/mythology already established.

Does everyone get a HEA? No. A HFN , which is more in keeping with the storylines and newness of the main couple’s relationship. That actually makes sense, but for a finale novel some people might not be satisfied.

Manning has a number of larger series elements that need in-depth exploration and themes that require more heavy lifting, narratively speaking, than a book 195 pages long can provide.

Frost, a Angel hiding from Heaven, revelations about the true nature of the inhabitants of Heaven and Hell, their relationship with Earth, the past and current history between the three realms, a hidden political conspiracy, complete with battle and that’s just what is basically happening.

Let’s then throw in internecine family dynamics, and a main character in danger who’s the fated mate of Frost. Nathan Clinton is someone who is being hunted down and that’s what brings him to the attention of Frost because of what is hunting him.

I liked Manning’s characterizations of both Frost, who we’ve seen before, and Nathan, a very frightened man on the run from demons and a supernatural world just revealing itself to him.

I think that my issues here are that there’s little time for any real development in this relationship because there’s so much more that Manning needs to pay narrative attention to and does. To the detriment of this couple.

A fight for Earth. Yes, super important and that would necessitate a lot of new information and elements to be added. Which they are. Aliens who aren’t what they appear? Yes, more exploration and more details required. So much more.

Probably see where this is going.

There’s really not enough time within the pages to lay out all the really interesting and imaginative content that Manning has written for this story and series. So in trying to get it all done, it all feels as though the author has made sacrifices and nothing has the layers and dimensions expected in a finale or book with this many storylines.

It’s got a lot of potential. I enjoyed the characters, and some of the relationship dynamics. I just wish there had been more length or another book to make that work.

The author does mention the idea of another sequel series which perhaps would tie up some of the many loose ends left behind here. And let us see what happens next to those characters without partners or just getting a start with theirs. That would be lovely.

If you’re interested in paranormal romance or urban fantasy stories, here is a series for you.

Supernatural Affairs series:

The Werewolf’s Heart #1

Shifter for Brains #2

Crazy Like a Fox #3

Body By Mage #4

The Soul of a Angel #5

Buy link

The Soul of an Angel: Gay Urban Fantasy (Supernatural Affairs)

Blurb

In a battle between Heaven and Hell, two lovers must fight to stay together and save the world.

Frost the angel takes pride in protecting others as an agent with the Department of Supernatural Affairs. But his days on Earth are numbered when his family intends to drag him back to Heaven. After centuries of precious freedom, wishing for more time feels greedy. It’s just a shame that Nathan enters the picture right when his time as a free man is up.

Being a high school music teacher isn’t exactly glamorous, but Nathan Clinton is happy with his life. He already did the impossible once by escaping toxic, controlling parents and starting over, so stopping the demons after his immortal soul should be a piece of cake… right? Good thing a beautiful angel has offered his assistance.

When angels and demons start taking an interest in Earth and the world is threatened, Frost and Nathan find themselves in the middle of a brewing war between worlds. With the angel being pulled to Heaven and Nathan being dragged to Hell, is there any hope of them being together on this world—and also saving the Earth?

• Publication date: September 24, 2023

• Language: English

• Print length: 195 pages

Review: Two Thousand Blades (Kings of Chaos Book 3) by Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 5🌈

Never has Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic fantasy series, Kings of Chaos, leaned so heavily and culturally into its Chinese mythological roots as it does beautifully in Two Thousand Blades.

When Two Thousand Tears dramatically ended, so many major traumatic events had happened. The Elf King had been ended. But the invasion, lead by the Elf Queen, was successful and the East Coast was falling fast as the otherworldly forest spread. But more devastating, the Clan lost a brother as a dragon sank down into the battle and stole Xiang away from his family and those fighting against the Fae.

Drake’s clear love of Chinese mythology and culture has always been used beautifully against the various otherworldly themes and mythologies at play in this series. But in Two Thousand Blades, she allows them full rein.

This tale becomes a vivid tapestry of ancient history, gods come to life, otherworldly internecine war, magical blades, and forever love. Memorable, emotional and immensely powerful.

It’s Xiang’s background. His family and past so cemented in their original home so far away and Kai, the one who becomes everything to him. The swirling mythology of which is well known today and is attached via footnotes and addendums here by the author.

It’s how Drake builds their relationship, the slow reveal of identity, and the meshing of the two ongoing conflicts/locations that work together so seamlessly here. We see the Clan of 2,000 Chinese vampires, their mates, friends and allies in Hartford fighting the Fae and desperately seeking a way to find their brother Xiang. And we have Xiang and Kai in the Dragon’s cave with Xiang equally seeking passage home, answers about their location, and the dragon.

The relationship between Xiang and Kai is revelatory personally and historically. It’s a great way, narratively, for Drake to bring the history of the Clan’s history, their horrific transformation into vampires, and their defeat of their master.

Without venturing into spoiler territory, this is an exciting, high stakes, action packed storyline where even if you think the Clan has come out ahead, nothing is as it seems. The clan and its family will have its major brutal challenges ahead and angst filled romances to come.

We know who is next as the ending is a bit of a stunner and cliffhanger, both in the best way possible. So now it’s waiting until Two Thousand Shadows comes out in December.

Until then, I’m highly recommending all the books in this series. Read them in the order they are written for character and plot development. Just a superb series in every aspect.

Love the covers, the concept. Fantastic.

The Kings of Chaos :

✓ Two Thousand Dreams #1

✓ Two Thousand Tears #2

✓ Two Thousand Blades #3

◦ Two Thousand Shadows #4 – Dec 13, 2024

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Two Thousand Blades (Kings of Chaos Book 3)

Blurb

There’s no escape from a dragon’s hoard.

Xiang thought his biggest problem was going to be defeating the fae.

Nope.

Right now, it’s escaping this dragon’s hoard.

The dragon, who tried to eat his clanmate, grabbed Xiang instead, and now Xiang is trapped.

And he’s not the only one who needs to escape the dragon’s lair.

Kai is serving as the dragon’s assistant and helping to keep Xiang from going crazy with boredom.

Xiang is sure there’s more to this sexy man beyond his sad eyes and stuffy personality, but learning all of Kai’s secrets is going to take time.

First, Xiang needs to steal Kai from the hoard, and hopefully win his heart in the process.

But will they be able to escape the reach of a very possessive dragon?

Two Thousand Blades is the third novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a stubborn vampire falling in love with someone who isn’t quite who he claims to be, shifters, vampires, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, treasure, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, pouting, cuddles, one very possessive dragon, and an endless love that crosses lines drawn by war

• Publication date: May 31, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 360 pages

Fantasy Asian Mythology

The Kings of Chaos is a spin-off series from the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series.

Lords of Discord :

Claiming Marcus

Saving Rafe

Waking Bel

Embracing Winter

Healing Aiden

Visiting the Variks: A Short Story Collection

Princes of Mayhem

How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Ruined Saved My Life :

Disaster #1: Fun with Family

Disaster #2: Pet Problems

Disaster #3: Date Night

Disaster #4: Who Woke the Dead?”