I’m pretty much done with certain tropes because I feel they’ve been overdone by authors recently in many genres. It’s the academy or trial settings or trials taking place in academia settings, throw in a romance, shifters , vampires and magic and you can probably find or name over 50 books that fit that category alone, maybe more if you consider series.
But I adore Breene and while I am waiting for her next book (Magical Midlife series) to be released, I thought I’d give this one a try.
The setup is compelling. A farm family that’s worn down by its losses of their mother and older brother, a broken father barely making it, with debts piling up and plenty of mouths to feed.
We meet the oldest daughter, Wild, who’s really running the farm as her father is physically in a bad state and her siblings are much younger. Her mother is dead as is her oldest brother, Tommy, who left for an academy but was killed in a mysterious accident there.
Now that same academy is demanding that her younger brother attend and Wild is equally determined that they not lose any more children to a school they don’t know about.
Of course, it’s never that simple. There’s plenty of secrets and things that have been hidden from her.
I absolutely adore the character of Wild, a brave and intelligent young woman, determined to save her family from another loss.
The found family aspect of the academic life and group that’s formed isn’t anything new but still very interesting and entertaining.
It’s the first book. She’s hiding her gender and lack of knowledge in a group of misfits. And the authors don’t seem to draw this out very far with a cliffhanger ending.
It’s got a terrific main character, predictable elements and an entertaining plot.
Recommended for those who love the authors and this type of storytelling. It’s a good read.
You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.
I had no idea how those words would change my life. Or how they’d changed my life already…
Until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.
In an invitation.
My younger brother has been chosen for the prestigious, secret magical school hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place so dangerous, they don’t guarantee you’ll make it out alive.If he doesn’t go our entire family will be killed.
It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—the same place he mysteriously died.
The academy has already killed one sibling. I’ll be damned if they take another.
The fabulous bloody high action hijinks of Bethany Anne continue as she earns her title of Queen Bitch and starts to gather up a multi-species team around her.
Need a helicopter? Check! Gorgeous mansion? Check! Smack down the werewolves and gain some allies? Check and check!
Bethany Anne is rewriting the rules and those that have an issue with that are finding out how much trouble they might be in.
Another high action story with new characters, added locations and new developments that just make this even better.
America has been losing good men since their teams don’t have a Vampire to help them and Frank is hoping Bethany Anne can, and will, help.
Further, the American Pack Council is having internal problems with their own “young and dumb” Were’s who want to ignore Michael’s strictures.
With no one seeing Michael, the fear of the ‘Boogeyman’ is starting to recede.
That’s ok with Bethany Anne, it means she will personally deliver the message there is a new vampire in town.
Immediately following the story of Bethany Anne from ‘Death Becomes Her’, Queen Bitch rides a rollercoaster of action and a heavy dose of creative cussing. Bethany Anne starts to get a team in place to help her affect change.
Because, whether the UnknownWorld wants it or not, change is coming.
Well, this was unexpected. Picked this up when looking for another series and found an awesome series that I’m binging.
Honestly, it’s the best, like discovering a new favorite bag of popcorn or chips for that late night snack. One you can’t stop eating when you’ve opened the bag.
Yes, I’m way past this book.
This series is great for those who love action movies and paranormal stories. All that mixed in with military stuff, helicopters, things that go boom, vampires and werewolves and even science fiction space travel. And it’s awesome.
No I don’t take any of this seriously but what fabulous fun.
“Bethany Anne Reynolds is dying”
That’s the hook. She’s a very smart, beautiful and highly qualified woman in Intelligence. Her father? A general.
Turns out all through the history of the USA, a very powerful “family” has been helping the country succeed in turn for a certain favor. Now it’s time for that favor to be paid back again.
This is a really interesting take on vampires, their origins and how they reproduce.
The first novel sets the stage, the characters and Bethany Anne’s first steps in taking the role that will define her character. And give her a team.
The story is a quick read and it’s over before you know it.
Luckily it’s a complete series and you can swiftly move on to the next one. Which I did. And then the next.
It absolutely wrecked my sleep and my dog’s I can tell you.
It’s a bloody, high action, foul mouthed, blast! Loved every minute of it and Bethany Anne too!
Bethany Anne Reynolds is dying. The monsters should be relieved she’s running out of time.
A vampire with secrets older than the legends offers her one way out: pain, power, and a place in a hidden war the government pretends doesn’t exist. Bethany Anne takes the deal with both hands and a loaded weapon. The transformation kills most who attempt it. She survives it—and wakes up with fangs, superhuman strength, and an alien consciousness living rent-free in her head.
Once she steps through the door, werewolves, black ops, alien tech, and bloodlines that rewrite the dark start crawling out of the shadows. These aren’t the vampires of legend. And Bethany Anne isn’t here to whimper, bargain, or behave. If the monsters want to run the world, they’ll have to get through the woman Death couldn’t keep—the one her enemies will learn to call the Queen Bitch.
Profane, violent, and funny as hell—the first shot in a sprawling urban fantasy / military sci-fi universe readers tear through in batches.
Scroll up and one-click to meet the Queen Bitch herself
I don’t read much romance books lately but this one totally grabbed my attention, starting with the description.
By the way, there’s a long list of trigger warnings by the author who put them at the beginning of the book and I’ve listed them below for you to read. This is a dark fantasy novel, FYI.
Every part of me wants to say “In fair Verona there lived two families…”. So close.
Masterson’s world is narrowed down to two small completely walled-in towns, twenty miles away from each other. Separated by a grim woods and landscape. Those woods are filled with monsters, the Drained, who attack the city walls with increasing frequency.
Each city/town is ruled by one family. The city of Lunameade is ruled by the Carrenwells, of which Harlow Carrenwell is the youngest of nine siblings in powerful political magical family.
The other, Mountain Haven, is ruled by the Havenwood family. Its surviving heir, after a Drained massacre nearly destroyed everything and everyone, is Henry Havenwood. Now they’ve rebuilt. And they have new goals.
When the story opens, Harlow is already a widow, having poisoned her husband, per her family’s request, and has been ordered to attend the family’s dinner.
Each family member has its own personal power, but they act as a team unit, ordered by their father. For the “good” of the town. Harlow also has her own plans she’s been acting on.
Of all her siblings, only one does she care about, her sister Aidia. The one who is almost her twin, and as we learn, is in a severely abusive DV relationship with her mayor husband. That no one is doing anything about in the family.
Violence, stark physical horrific abuse is a constant thread here. And there is a real danger of mental abuse/non consensual abuse as well, as one of the powers is the ability to control people against their will.
Harlow uses her poisonous powers against those who she sees as abusive, especially when she feels helpless to aid her sister.
This narrative starts dark and then turns violently darker as Masterson introduces Henry with his competing abilities and agendas to Harlow, who has her own secret plans and aspirations. Two houses, a forced political marriage with so many hidden agendas.
It’s instant hate, passion, murderous rages, and the start of the author’s taking Harlow and Henry on a journey through a complexity of storylines of about heinous abuse, abject pain, deep loss , despair and suffering.
And yes, lots of blood and death. And sex. With a wolf thrown in. If that feels random, it feels like it in the story too.
There’s so much I feel is fantastic here and well done. The religious and magical system is entwined with the city’s history and culture in a powerful role.
The Seven Divine, their gods of Pleasure, Fortune, Stars & Darkness, Endings, Malice, Protection, and Strength, are the ones that provide the families and others with their magical powers. How that’s achieved is a defining feature of the story, and an extremely dark element. If you look at the maps, and really you should, you will see that Blood Well in the middle of the city of Lunameade and realize things aren’t quite right there. Take a clue.
Still won’t prepare you for what’s coming.
And that’s the other thing, the author has some wonderful/shocking revelations towards the end of the book, twists that come out of nowhere. Perfect! One especially outstanding!
What keeps me from raising my rating is the lack of foundation for certain plot lines in the last quarter of the book, that mostly centered around Henry and his actions.
One is that I don’t believe that the author allowed her story enough time to explain the Drained history and recent events to develop it into the aspect that emerged. That needs further exploration. Trying hard for zero spoilers here.
The other thing that bothers me is about Gaven. I won’t go into detail. I just thought it was handled in a way that was unnecessary in the story (for me at least) or underwhelming, especially for Harlow.
My overall experience with this story is that it’s fantastic. I love the dark atmosphere, Harlow is a memorable character and the magical system is so well crafted that I wanted to explore it further. The weaker, lesser known elements are the Havenwoods. They don’t have enough page time or orcas well defined.
The stronger, best defined elements are the most heinous , the Carrenwells. We get to know them and see how they operate together. Usually for the worst.
I recommend spending time with them both. But definitely read the trigger warnings first.
Cover: Charlotte Sloggers
Case Cover: Alice Blake
Maps: Shepengul . Great maps!
From the author:
THE POISON DAUGHTER deals with some difficult subjects including ableism, violence, murder, blood, references to sexual assault, poisoning, death, references to domestic violence, child abuse and neglect (historical), grief, depression, PTSD, brief suicide ideation (historical), primal play, voyeurism, and explicit consensual sex. I’ve attempted to treat all sensitive topics with the utmost care, but this content might still be challenging for some readers. Please take care of yourself.
Every person Harlow Carrenwell kisses dies immediately, and that’s the way she likes it. The poison-lipped youngest daughter of Lunameade’s magical founding family has used her power to annihilate their opposition.
Her first husband is in the ground. Her new betrothed is next.
But the merry widow has a secret. When she’s not acting as an assassin at her parents’ whims, she moonlights as a vigilante for abused women in their walled-off city.
Meet a man. Lure him in. Kill him with a kiss. Until one night Harlow kisses a mark and he doesn’t die.
Worse, her invincible partner in passion is her new betrothed, Henry Havenwood, and now he knows about her double life. Instead of selling her out and bringing the rival families to blows, he does something much more sinister—whisks her away to wed in his wild mountain fort.
Harlow doesn’t trust Henry, but the only way to protect her family and the city of Lunameade is to figure out what his family is planning.
Cursed with a husband she can’t kill and trapped in a fort miles of vampire-infested woods from home, Harlow’s survival requires her to do the impossible: Make the man who knows she’s a killer fall in love with her anyway.
The Poison Daughter is a standalone dark fantasy romance that combines the vigilante justice for abusive men of Promising Young Woman with a romantasy arranged marriage and a dash of vampires.
The author sets many different plots in motion with Bear Many Hats, the fifth book in the fantastic Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow series.
One storyline, the main plot that centers around the wandering bear in the town, is the one that carries the most interesting elements while also being the most easily solved mysteries of the story. It’s a carryover from the previous book and you could pretty much see it even then.
What keeps the reader engaged is the new characters, the dry, layered dialogue between Blythe Fairfield and her familiar, Pippin, either when commenting on customers in her shop or events in their community. It’s warm, well written, and even the smallest interaction is beautifully executed.
The mystery, who shot the sheriff, is more emotional than much of a mystery. The author introduces a ex-girlfriend who I expect to add further drama and the ending is a bit of a shock for all. A definite cliffhanger of sorts. That’s extremely well done.
Love the author and series. Can’t wait to read the next book.
She has a tea shop on Main Street. A talking cat who critiques her blends. A boyfriend who runs a fever nobody can explain but kisses her like he means it. And a town that’s almost stopped whispering about her.
Then someone shoots the sheriff.
Paine is found on the side of a country road with a bullet wound and no explanation for how he got there. The town is terrified. Deputy Dewey is in over his head. And Blythe is not going to sit in a hospital waiting room while whoever did this walks free.
Between an ex-girlfriend who keeps calling the hospital, a parolee who won’t explain where he was that night, and an elderly woman loudly telling everyone at the post office that the sheriff had it coming, Blythe has too many suspects and not enough answers.
But something about the case doesn’t fit. The evidence points in too many directions. And Paine, when he’s awake long enough to talk, keeps mentioning dreams he’s been having. Vivid ones. The kind that feel real.
Pippin says the dreams mean something. Pippin says a lot of things. And Baba Grimm has started showing up with gifts that aren’t entirely safe and advice that isn’t entirely free.
Some mysteries are about who did it. Some are about what’s been hiding in plain sight. And some answers change everything, including the person you thought you knew best.
Night Maze was excellent. And it builds around the plot from connected series /story, Squib (The Coldstream Chronicles Book 1). It’s not necessary to read that book but it’s fun and adds layers to this story.
Kit McCafferty is sent out on a mission to discover what happened to the Vampires missing giant worms who travel the Understream, the worms being a vital part of their undead community.
One aspect of Night Maze that makes this so special and well written is that the vampires up until now have been a lesser known or even a one-dimensional entity. And the Understream, an entire city and mysterious community that exists behind secretive entrances has been an enigma. Only briefly in previous stories has Kit and others journeyed into it and then swiftly out noting the dangers and hidden tunnels.
Harper shines a narrative light, if you’ll excuse me, on the emotional depths and hidden history of the vampires and their communities in the Understream, including the fabulous giant worms. Really, I wanted so badly to have more of them once I got to see intriguing glimpses of their personalities.
And the vampires too, especially one. She’s magnificent.
The investigation is terrific, dark and fascinating. And gives us a new feline character to mull over and know that he’s going to pop up in the oncoming novels.
But we get to see Kit flex her skills in multiple ways and in different challenges. She’s a powerful paranormal being and she plays a role, “cat lady persona” , most of the time. Only occasionally does she really her “true self” out in these situations. It’s fantastic here to see her being able to be that type of shifter that none suspects she is.
The relationship between Kat and Thane Barrow, the lone werewolf, is admirable. They understand each other, their need for individual lives and space while also supporting each other, insuring separate territories within Coldstream. It’s a great element here.
I love Night Maze and Kit. The next novel threatens to shatter the stability that Kit has built so hard for herself. I can’t wait. What an incredible character and series.
Highly recommended! A winner and one for those who love urban fantasy series.
It’s one thing to be dealing death. It’s quite another to deal with the undead.
Kit McCafferty has never been fond of vampires but she can’t refuse the opportunity to learn more about their kind. When she is invited into the clandestine underground world of the Understream to investigate the mysterious disappearance of some giant worms, she soon discovers there is far more to the fanged creatures than she’d ever realised.
Danger, secrets and mysteries abound in every dark, twisting tunnel. Is there anyone in the depths who Kit can trust? Or will she have to rely on her wits – and her cats – alone?
This is the fourth book in the thrilling urban fantasy series The Cat Lady Chronicles.
Only the brevity of the story kept the rating from being higher. There’s a second book and they could have been put together for one outstanding story.
Magic Tides charts the journey of Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan after leaving Atlanta and winning the battles between her father and the clans there for territory and more.
Now trying to keep a low profile in the Carolinas, it’s not easy for Kate or Curran or their son, given their powers and history.
A kidnapped boy is the catalyst for a new path for the family and Kate.
I was so excited for this. I love Kate Daniels, she remains one of my favorite characters and her we see her development as well as the accompanying acceptance of her abilities.
It’s a quick read and best if you want to read through to the next book, Magic Claim as if it’s one story.
Love it and it makes me want to return to the beginning and start reading the series over again.
And it fills in some plot gaps and answers to questions that previous books asked.
Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years :
Magic Tides #1
Magic Claims #2
Kate Daniels (10 book series)
As well as:
Magic Mourns: A Novella in the World of Kate Daniels
Magic Dreams: A Novella in the World of Kate Daniels
Gunmetal Magic: A Novel in the World of Kate Daniels
Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan have left Atlanta, vowing to keep a low profile, and are settling into a new city and new house…but some things never change! Magical mayhem is about to erupt when Kate undertakes the rescue of a kidnapped youth, while Curran guards the homefront.
It should be a simple retrieval, but with monsters on land and sea, Kate’s got her work cut out for her. Still, she’s never let her blade dull or her purpose falter. And that low profile? It’s about to wash away with the raging tides!
The deeper into this series I dive, the deeper the characters manage to get into my head and affections. It makes me appreciate the writing and craftsmanship of K. F. Breene that much more.
This is one of those series where the revelations continue to get bigger and more intense, interesting in their elements and complexity. The reveals not just about the expected characters but those we had previously known. And plotting that takes us to new areas.
This story showcases how to manage a complex duo of characters, with a dubious beginning, and absolutely make the reader think about what drives them, their past lives and motivations.
And how they might fill new roles going forward with our developing found family of paranormal characters, with Jessie and Austin at the helm.
Of course, both of them are still very new in their own mate relationships and powers. That’s presenting its own challenges.
It’s a a fabulous tale and left me running quickly to the next. I love this series.
I’m so enjoying this series and growing group of paranormal characters. And each story just keeps getting better and better, the characters evolving their roles into a deeper dynamic and the storyline developing into something richer and more complex.
Magical Midlife Love was fantastic because of its many great elements. Jessie and Austin, who have been dancing around each other, finally get their relationship. It’s two complicated people with tough personal relationships in their pasts and who are in the middle of negotiating tricky current situations who finally realize they can make it through as loving equals .
Then we get Austin’s brother and a further understanding of Austin’s past that drove him to where he is emotionally and physically. This is also a huge part of the series arc going forward.
Plus Jessie made a magical request for a mage to help her with her magic. And that request was answered. And leads to an incredible shocking climax in the story.
Just amazing!
Love, love the author’s plotting and characterizations here. Fabulous work that keeps me engaged throughout the story but scrambling for the next book!
The fourth book in the Wall Street Journal bestselling Leveling Up series.
The Ivy House team is shaping up, but there are still holes to be filled, and a magical summons outstanding. Jessie needs a teacher. Someone who can fit in with the whacky Ivy House crew.
And that was going just fine…until she gets a request to host a powerful, neighboring mage. A teacher isn’t going to be enough.
She needs more power in her crew. She needs some might. This time, Austin Steele might not be able to dominate what she calls in, creatures no shifter has ever dominated before.
But that isn’t all Austin has to worry about.
After a skirmish in the bar, suddenly his whole world is turned upside down. He can no longer ignore the feelings that have been growing for Jess. He also can’t ignore the town’s complete lack of readiness for the neighboring mage’s visit.
He must call in his brother to help lock down the town. And when his brother arrives, he must finally hash out the past that has split them apart so that he can claim his future.
Incredible. Just a stunningly fabulous way to end Evie’s storyline! With a heartbreaking twist and then fantastic finish for her and family.
Sort of.
Babin has 11 books planned for the series but it looks as though the final 2 novels will be about Moira, the fae/ vampire and her journey through her new powers and to her own HEA.
This finishes up Evie’s journey. And I’ll say I wasn’t expecting how the author would bring this journey to the conclusion. Brilliant and heart stopping.
It’s always been about Evie using her powers. And here she absolutely does in a way that’s shocking!
This is a final battle between Queen Evie and King Rowan, the Lords, those who, including Caelan who has made peace with Evie, and a group of Fae who believe that they are entitled to the land and rights to all . And have been using poison and other means to obtain it.
It’s ferocious, terrifying, there’s losses, and the ultimate battle is one I wasn’t prepared for.
The end of the story, includes the ramifications of this war. Some people are still “missing “ from the story, alive but not heard from. The trauma of that final scene still lingers.
I’ll be interested in seeing how this series plays forward. Moira is seriously changed and the next section is hers.
Again, amazing writing and excellent storytelling. This was edge of my seat, white knuckle scenario stuff and I loved every minute of it.
I loved Evie’s journey and I’ll be so sad when the series eventually ends . But this one was an incredible ride! Highly recommended.
Caelan, the Shifter Lord of Texas, is living on borrowed time.
As the fae seek to spread their influence, Caelan’s land and his people are suffering. Stubbornly refusing to accept Evie’s help, Caelan doubles down to continue fighting a battle he cannot hope to win.
As the other Lords unite, Evie is torn between her duty to her people and doing what is right. But Evie is a child born of gods, raised by humans, and changed by fate. If there is ever a hope to unite everyone, she will have to stand up and command it.
This time, the entire world’s fate hangs in the balance, and Evie can no longer deny who she is.
As she rises to power for one final, cataclysmic battle, one of her found family will rise with her and become either a threat no one saw coming or the hope that will unite them all.
Evie’s journey of heartache and hope finally comes to an end. But the question remains, will she go out with a world-rattling roar or will she succumb to the force that threatens them all?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 