The Fated Mates duology (at the moment) is a weird one. Primarily due to the fact that the books were written and released out of order. So book two, Fated Mates and Where to Find Them , Zander and Maxās romance, preceded this one. And it felt like we were missing out on important things, like foundation history and grounding within a universe framework.
While not complete, Sherwood delivers more of the detailed layering about the VSP, true mates, and a certain matchmaker that was absent from book two. It helps make the story. This and really delightful characters who have wonderful chemistry with each other.
I actually enjoyed them and their story better because I got who they were, their backgrounds, and Sherwood made me believe in their instant connection and hot chemistry.
Chase, the overly extended, pushed to his physical and mental limits grad student, is so well defined. He is over scheduled, too many responsibilities, isnāt sleeping, and heās exhausted. He may come across as young, and naive but always kind. Definitely not an āair headā, a term that has always carried a note of derision along with it. Tbh, I was surprised to see it in the tags/description.
Ronan, a vampire of many interests and talents, is a perfect choice for Chase. I enjoyed his pursuit of Chase and Ronanās twin brother, who clearly needs his own story. Ronan is a great character all his own, from his interests in mechanics and racing to his interactions with Father, he has layers to go with Chaseās.
Their story is 153 pages but it could easily have been much longer or even have a sequel of their own.
Iām definitely recommending Fated Mates and How to Woo Them (Fated Mates #1) by A. J. Sherwood . Itās a delightful paranormal romance and has a wonderful couple of fated mates at its heart.
Chase is crazy busy behind the scenes at the fraternity get together, so when an alumni comes in, he just notes a hot man in his vicinity and goes right back to work.
When Ronan gets hurt, and Chase feeds him, Chaseās reaction opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Ones that Ronan wants to explore.
Is Chase compatible with vampires? Or could he possibly be something more?
Tags:
Vampire story, same universe as Max and Zander, because yes the plot bunnies absolutely ran wild with this one, I am not in charge of this trainwreck, just along for the ride like you are, Chase has his airheaded moments, there is absolutely no chill where Ronan is concerned, bad guys have human sacrifice written all over them, whole story is mindless violence and fluff, sorry not sorry for this
E J Russellās latest release is a book that should have worked for me. It doesnāt. Spoilers ahead. Itās all about a certain element, folks. Consent.
I love both of the series it mashes up, the Mythmatched and Purgatory Playhouse series, two hugely popular and entertaining universes. The theme of redemption and starting over is a great trope, full of emotionally charged elements for all characters.
But it depends on how itās handled by the author and the framework for the redemption process. Thatās part of why I feel that this book should come with a trigger warning.
At Odds with the Gods storyline deals with a previous tale where the gods from Mount Olympus are cast down and have to pay for their many crimes. One main trait of all the Gods is their inability to understand consent.
Note: In talking about my issues with the book Iām writing about some spoilers. If you donāt want to know, stop reading.
If youāre familiar with Greek mythology, and the Greek pantheon in particular, then you know how horrific their stories were. Abductions, forced marriages, rape, death, suicides, murder. Many coming out of arrogance or spontaneous decision making on the Gods end. Even Eros didnāt give people consent as is mentioned in the narrative. Just shot the arrows.
Ganymede, the son of the King of Troy, is a well known legend and figure in Greek mythology. A beautiful man who was abducted and sexually assaulted by Zeus who then carried Ganymede off to be his cup bearer/unwilling lover in Mount Olympus. For thousands of years.
Here, Russellās given Ganymede a new life as a young āhumanā baker, released from Mt Olympus when the Fates handed down their verdict. Russellās portrayal of Ganymede is that of a young man who is struggling with his years of captivity as a victim of sexual abuse/assault. But Russellās treatment of this aspect of the character is flawed, imo, for many reasons. Ganymede is a tragic figure. Only strange tidbits of his time with the Gods is shared, certainly not the traumatic events or experiences he must have endured or seen during his time there. Thereās no page time to discuss the topic, and the tone of the taleās too light.
Russellās story has elements of real darkness that arenāt being throughly explored or examined for what they are. The biggest issue being that of control/consent/non-consensual actions.
Ganymede has opened a bakery he loves. Heās happy. Heās got a crush on a werewolf (the other main character, and a great one). Heās ignorant about the supernatural world around him. Ok, for me that absolutely an odd thing about this world. Heās from Olympus but they donāt know about Supes? Anyway, who starts meddling in truly awful ways with his new life, his bakery, and trying to abduct him? A terrifying prospect, over and over. The Olympic Gods. Still not on board with the concept of consent, and ruining his life is ok if they win a game. On a get back to Mount Olympus app with quests. Red flags dropped for triggering elements.
We need more of what we arenāt getting, the sweet romance story between a werewolf trying to recover from his own personal redemption arc (best part of the story). Thereās sweet Gany , trying to get the courage to kiss Finn after his abusive history, true. However , for 80 percent of the narrative , the rest is the Gods trying to abduct Gany with no remorse to the ramifications on his life. Thatās 80 percent. But what is more frustrating is that Gany has an outlet to stop his harassment and doesnāt use it.
A horrible message to send in a narrative. Someone who has been through a horrible experience, is undergoing it again, has a method to make it stop, and doesnāt use it.
All Gany has to do is call the Fates. Let them know the Gods have been at his house, have harassed him, broken the rules, and let them handle it. Instead, itās a sort of juvenile āIām gonna tell them if you donāt stop, no, really this time, gonna tell.ā Which in tone and manner of that response negates the atmosphere, crime, the levels of seriousness, and basically everything else that Russell has established about the situation.
The author could have had her story continue on as planned, which had many people from the series showing up, and a moment from another series being viewed from a different perspective. Which was all very neat and entertaining.
But that whole situation about the Gods and Gany and consent? I just feel it went narratively sideways. Either use a totally different character, one not as tragic, although, yes, thatās tough given the Greek pantheon. Or maybe leave a game element out of it. Or Zeus. Because no one ever believes in Zeus and consent. It just doesnāt work.
The romance was sidelined and I thought they were terrific, along with the dogs. Too many ingredients did ruin the storytelling here. Too bad.
Trigger warnings for those who have issues with consent, non-consent, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and abduction.
Honestly, no recommendation. Thatās the biggest surprise for me.
The road to redemption is long, rough, and steep. Bring snacks.
Finn Lassiter is a werewolf without a pack. Or a roof over his head. Or more than five bucks to his name. Heās exhausted every lifeline except the one that makes him want to howl: begging his cousin, the supreme alpha, for charity. After the way Finn behaved for their entire lives, itās entirely possible heāll be turned down flat or banished forever when he makes that call tomorrow. So today heās blowing his last dollar at Nectar & Ambrosiaāhe needs one more smile from the bakeryās beautiful owner to weather the bleak years ahead.
Ganymede, former cup bearer to the Greek gods, is reveling in his new life as a restaurateur in Portland, Oregon. Heās finally free of the Olympians and their extremely tedious menu options. Finn, the cute customer whoās haunted the corner table in his bakery since opening day, is just icing on the cake.
When the gods stage an encore, however, attempting to weasel out of their Fates-mandated atonement labors, Ganyās new livelihood isnāt the only thing at stakeāFinnās safety and freedom are at risk, too. Of course Gany invites Finn to stay with him until the danger passes! It would be irresponsible not to. Right?
Although with all the baggage heās carrying from his past, that idea just might be only half-bakedā¦
At Odds with the Gods is a friends-to-lovers Mythmatched/Purgatory Playhouse crossover featuring secrets on all sides, empowered former victims, misbehaving deities, three large, rambunctious pups, and cake. Lots and lots of cake.
Two Thousand Dreams Is the first in Jocelynn Drakeās new Kings of Chaos series. This is the third connected series with overlapping characters within the same universe.
The main character, Moon Mullins, is a blood witch, a rarity among all witches. Moon is a member of a small all male coven that consists of two earth witches and a necromancer. Readers following the author met this coven in the series, Princes of Mayhem, which focuses on the powerful necromancerās adventures in love and the groupās support. They are best friends after all.
Now itās Moonās turn and, much like the other series, a major crossover event is coming. Once every 100 years, a portal opens up between the Fae realm and the earthly kingdom, and the Fae come through. The consequences of Coming Day are never good, especially for earth witches.
But itās the new characters Drake is introducing thatās going to bring the biggest impact on the universe in expanding it beyond its current form.
Itās a clan of two thousand year old Chinese vampires whoāve come from their native homeland on a rescue mission. Both their backstory and current lives are threaded through with loss and grief. Itās a fantastic new element and I canāt wait for more of their stories to come forward.
The first book combines Moon with the frustrated, tense Chen, whose character is searching wildly for answers in an unfamiliar setting. Moon and Chen are a great example of chemistry in an opposites attract trope. The way in which Moon maneuvers himself through the inner circle of the clan, assessing the situation, and his new emotions about Chen just kept this reader connected at all times.
Also that, as we stayed focused on the core group of Moon and Chen and the clan, all the other important characters, like Moonās best friends/coven werenāt forgotten. Instead, they were brought into the narrative as needed as well as in dramatic moments that highlighted their role in Moonās life.
If I had a small quibble, it would have been that Drake allow more of Moonās extraordinary powers as a blood witch to be evident throughout the story as opposed to sacrificing them to Chenās role.
The end of the story is as dramatic and heartbreaking as any one could imagine. And it sets up the next book perfectly. No cliffhanger. Just the frustration of having to wait until next March for the release date.
Until then, Iām highly recommending Two Thousand Dreams (Kings of Chaos Book 1) by Jocelynn Drake. Itās a fast paced, incredibly detailed, fabulous read.
And if youāre not familiar with the other series, Iāve listed them for you below. Check them out!
Chen traveled to the US with his clan, hoping to rescue his kidnapped brother from the fae.
They just need a witch to find the exact location of where the door between the human world and the fae world will open.
The one thing Moon canāt do.
Chen grabbed the wrong type of witch.
Thatās not stopping Moon from clinging to Chen as he guides them through a new territory, introducing them to the witches, shifters, and vampires who can help them.
The longer Moon remains at Chenās side, the more he hopes the witch might consider staying with him always.
Except that the king of the fae might have other deadly plans for Chen.
Two Thousand Dreams is the first novel in the Kings of Chaos series, which is a spin-off from the Lords of Discord series. This book contains one very grumpy vampire falling in love with a very perky blood witch, shifters, overprotective witches, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, found family, brotherly bickering, magic, chaos, vampire cuddles, and an endless love that grows stronger with each kiss.
āāāāā
The Kings of Chaos is a spin-off series from the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series. Binge both series and get your fill of vampires, witches, and the adorable men they love!
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?ā
The Kings of Chaos:
Two Thousand Dreams #1
Two Thousand Tears #2
ā Two Thousand Dreams (Kings of Chaos Book 1) by Jocelynn Drake
After finishing the absolutely stunning San Amara Investigations series by Butler, I was almost hesitant to start with this because that other series set the bar so high in every aspect. Thereās other factors too. San Amaro, a complex, almost labyrinthine tapestry of fantasy storytelling ended up involving ten books total, including prequels and a few adjacent/side stories. That depth of storytelling in terms of themes explored, and overall development (characters, plots, elements) that the larger story narrative gives an author versus a three book trilogy canāt be overlooked.
So while I was excited to read Exiled Heir, I was apprehensive about approaching a narrative that wasnāt going to have the time and length for the exploration and expansion I was used to from a Butler experience.
This is a first person perspective, told from the POV of werewolf Miles Castillo, who is a great emotional pathway into the deadly situation the story opens up with . Miles is a believable, damaged character who becomes even stronger as the story develops.
Iām a definite fan of a two person pov because having both characters thoughts on the events that occur and foundation of the narrative often supplies the reader with a greater sense of the world building of the story/series. But this format is certainly a familiar one to readers of Butlerās novels.
It a dire situation for Miles that opens up the story. The reader only gets a partial picture and explanation for Miles situation, how he arrived in such a state. Itās instant high drama, magical suspense, other main character introduced , and the game is on!
In a way , the reader, along with Miles, is being given the Cliff Notes version of why he is wanted, whatās happening, by Cade Bartlett, the
mage prince. The fuller details slowly emerge as they tentatively set parameters within the contract , and the strained dynamics when they enter the Bartlett Estate.
Cade is a lot to unpack. Heās a morass of emotions and magic. A tattooed mage swamped by feelings of survivor guilt, PTSD, grief, fear, trauma, anger, and dealing with a host of damaging family issues, it would have been interesting to have heard his voice but itās also intriguing to compile a portrait of this mage from Milesā observations alone.
Iām a bit fuzzy on the world building here, especially the mage/werewolves dynamics. Thatās probably intentional. Thereās an āold school ā version thatās been outlawed and a new shiny one thatās got some flaws. The entire werewolf community/werewolf aspect of this story feels like a driving force of the narrative. Itās where many of the most powerful and the mysterious plot twists emerge from.
Thereās quite a lot of characters to explore as shifting pack and family loyalties set off the swiftly changing dramatic events of this novel. I love how Butler keeps the suspense high and the emotional tension between the all the characters stretched tight because of the many different storylines, hidden and known.
The mysteries continue to change in complexity , evolving with the narrative and relationships, for good and bad.
I throughly entertained and absolutely invested in these characters and this world they are fighting for. I only wish I didnāt have to wait as long for the next book to be released.
Iām highly recommending Exiled Heir (Empty Throne Trilogy Book 1) by Kai Butler . Itās going to be a fabulous trilogy as this is an amazing read. Itās up to you whether you want to read it now or wait and binge all three together. They are listed below with release dates.
Without him, Iām a dead man, but if he knew who I was, he would kill me himself.
Miles Castillo has spent his entire life running from the crime his parents committed. Heās an alpha without a pack, and a son whose very name is poisoned. When two werewolf hunters catch him, he has to choose between a man who wants his head mounted on a wall and Cade Bartlett, the mage prince who doesnāt realize who Miles is.
The icy prince has a job for Miles, one that will keep Milesās head on his shoulders: become Prince Cadeās consort and find out who is trying to kill him.
As Miles delves deeper into Cadeās court, he begins seeing the truth beneath Cadeās chilly exterior. The more the prince trusts him, the closer he gets to seeing under Milesās mask as well.
What will happen when Cade realizes the secret Miles holds puts both of their lives at risk?
Fated Mates and Where to Find Them is sort of odd to begin with in that itās book two of Sherwoodās Fated Mates series but book one hasnāt been released yet. And we get the couple from that first book in this novel in an interesting manner but what it does is highlight how much of the series world building is actually missing.
I did enjoy Fated Mates and Where to Find Them. I liked the couple, several of the secondary characters, and how fast paced the plot was. This story just flew by.
But it wasnāt supported by a strong foundation. I didnāt get anything as to the world structure. Vampire ruling class system? Human secondary status? Blood slaves? Whereād that come from? Iād have wanted more an idea of an overall portrait of the world in terms of paranormal development. I even knew who the villain was and what the dramatic event would be. How it would play out, no. But the general idea? Yes.
So really a just a tighter overall plan. Maybe thatās coming in the next book, which is book one. Normally itās where we get a series foundation. Iām looking forward to seeing what Sherwood has in store for the characters weāve already seen and how the author is going to handle a world where weāve already been a visitor to.
Live fated mates, and vampires and humans as couples, this is a series you should check out.
Fated Mates:
ā¦ Fated Mates and How to Woo Them #1 – Dec 8,2023
Zander is in an auction house for the sole purpose of getting someone to sign a contract. He doesnāt have any interest in owning a blood slaveāuntil he lays eyes on Max. That, he must have.
Max is there for reasons of his own, mostly desperate reasons, and heās braced himself for a year of hell. Which doesnāt seem to be forthcoming.
Someone needs to explain to this vampire that heās supposed to use Max, not spoil him. Zander doesnāt seem to get it.
Tags:
Paranormal romance, blood slave contract thing, except Zander doesnāt actually know how to own someone, Iām pretty sure heād break out into hives if he couldnāt spoil Max, Max has no idea what just hit him, he just knows heās somehow the responsible one, itās definitely not Zander, sexy times incoming!, Zander is a walking green flag, sass, so much sass incoming, light angst, mostly as an excuse for cuddles, stubborn to lovers, part time soulmates, full time problem, whole story is just mindless violence and fluff, the summary really doesnāt get across how much sex is in this but itās also not wrong, cinnamon protection squad, assemble!
Lori Ames has a definite hit with her Willow Lake Supernaturals, a series that just got better with the release of the second novel, Wolves Always Bite.
Most of the winsome nature and endearing qualities of this story are embedded in the character of human Jeremy. BFF to fire mage Ash of Hellhounds Never Lie, Jeremy isnāt aware of the paranormal world or his bestieās real identity. Instead, heās a wannabe writer trying to finish his first M/M book, keep a job, and try not to feel like a failure. Heās adorable and the person who draws the reader immediately into the storyline and his perspective on the events as they happen.
Currently, heās an assistant to a grumbling ill-tempered owner of an antiques/odds and ends shop that mostly sells at open markets. That new job is where we find him at the start of the book. An oblivious human surrounded by supernatural beings, including his shady goblin boss.
Jeremyās Etch a Sketch sort of mind is a wonderful place to be. Curious, self deprecating, full of book plots heās jotting notes for, every moment the reader spends with him just makes connect to him even more fully.
While Jeremyās life is becoming more complicated, Ames introduces a new group of beings that includes the other main character. Itās a traveling supernatural police force thatās got a hot werewolf, Adrian, on the trail of lost artifacts.
This is why reading the books in a series in the order that they are written is so important. Because we know or have an inkling where these artifacts came from because of that introductory book that laid out the foundation for the series.
Now Ames starts her expansions of the series arc and mysteries as well as cast of characters. All roads continue to lead back into Willow Lake, that multi paranormal species town that oozes magical powers.
Jeremy is outright hilarious in his own introductory series of scenes with Adrian and his Supernatural Council law enforcement team of mixed beings that include a demon boss. Wannabe writer needs to know things if heās going to write MM PNR romances !
Ames does a great job of weaving poignancy along with the humor into her narrative. So thereās Adrianās traumatic family history to go along with the effervescent questioning and acceptance by Jeremy.
Wolves Always Bite has other wonderful elements. Fated mates, magical mysteries, high suspense, and a author who does a terrific job of continuing the overall arc themes and storytelling from one book to the next, weaving the plots together without necessarily lessening one for the other.
If thereās a quibble, itās in the ābargainā aspect between Adrian and his boss, demon Gage. While thereās a built in consent clause to the contract, itās not as valid I find when the person finds a mate. That means to some extent that the initial agreement or its parameters have been altered. At least to my mind.
Thatās not addressed in the plot. Maybe it will in the future storylines as Jeremy and Adrian are fully mated with a new path ahead, but uncertain as to what that will be.
The mystery is still evolving, the new group of characters is a great addition, and Willow Lake is looking better than ever.
On to Oracles Always Win in the start of next year. Canāt wait. Iām highly recommending this book and series. Itās exciting, hilarious, and quirky. A definite winner.
Whatās a simple human to do when he discovers supernatural beings are real?
Ask a lot of questions, take a lot of notes, and try to seduce a werewolf, of course.
Jeremy has always wanted to befriend mythical creatures, play with forbidden magic, and meet his fated mate. Okay, okay. He knows the difference between fiction and real life; he is an author after allā¦ Or he would be if he ever got to āThe Endā on one of his stories. So he realizes his desire to live inside a fantasy romance novel is a touch unrealistic, but where is the joy in living a life that is boring and predictable and overwhelmingly blah?
At least thatās what he thinks until a hot AF werewolf saves him from his freaky boss and turns his whole life upside down. And his boss? She isnāt the weird old lady he thought she was, but how could he have guessed she is a grumpy goblin with a reputation for selling black-market magical artifacts? Now Jeremy is determined to know everything about the supernatural world, and Adrian, his swoon-worthy werewolf hero, is willing to answer all his questions, even when they make the big guy blush.
But when his former goblin boss kidnaps his cat to convince Jeremy to return the items she thinks he stole, things get serious fast. Now in between plotting his next MM romance and seducing the beautiful werewolf (and not just for research purposes), he needs to stage a cat rescue. Life is definitely not boring now.
Tags: MM Paranormal Romance with Fated Mates! Jeremy has sooo many questions, Adrian tries to answer them even when they make him blush, no cats were hurt in the writing of this book, an obscene number of ā80s music references, his best friend is a lying liar who lies, his book bag is his weapon of choice, don’t touch the demon’s dimples, supernaturals have magical everything, small towns aren’t so bad, especially when they are full of supes.
Forever Together, the book in which Shelby Rhodes emotionally glitter bombs the readers with a roller coaster of a finale plot for vampire Octavius Evander and his now zombified hunny bunny love, Turney, and the rest of the Undead Detective Agency family.
I was wondering how Rhodes was going to pull all the wandering plot threads together and give this series and couple the finale they deserve. Especially after all theyāve been through to get to this point in their undead lives. Does it come together? Absolutely, in a well written and exciting manner!
Itās Halloween in the story (and date of release), so naturally Octavius has gone completely over-the-top batty in planning out his Halloween party for the house, his family and his love. Itās an extravaganza of glitter, exuberance and shocking horror. Not surprisingly, and to Octaviusā dismay, most of his crew isnāt happy about the results. That includes Turney.
Imagine a toddler on about a 18-wheelerās worth of sugar high, and thatās a realistic description of Rhodesā Octavius. It would be easy to get irritated by this character if not for his traumatic past history and death which is absolutely terrifying. That darkness and the psychopath who killed him has been a black thread throughout the narrative. That knowledge has balanced the childishness and chaos that Octavius sometimes brings to this storyline. Itās his way of dealing with that trauma and part of his life thatās never left him and what happened to parts of his family. And that aspect of his personality allows us a better understanding of him as a whole complex individual.
Turney, an excellent character, is still reeling from all the changes heās undergone as well as the guilt he feels about surviving when others have been lost. The trauma of his death, being brought back to life by Scarlett, adjusting to his new status, itās so much emotionally and physically for Turney at the moment. And Octavius isnāt aware of his issues.
I think if I do have any quibbles about this, itās Octaviusā lack of awareness about Turneyā feelings. Whether itās to his new status as a zombie or that he really dislikes being scared by the tricks laid out by his vampire partner, it takes someone else to make Octavius look at what heās doing or not noticing about Turney. That wasnāt a satisfying aspect of this relationship for me. Itās their own type of relationship thatās unchanged since the beginning but certain events here have highlighted that more.
The side relationships for Scarlett, Henry, and the others are just as important and well done. Especially Scarlett whoās been through so much and whoās independence means more to her than anything.
Honestly, Rhodes has written more than one heartbreaking scenes here, amidst some fast paced action packed sequences. With glitter!
Gots to have glitter.
Did I wish the villain , Dayan, had gotten an even better or say worse send off? Perhaps. Honestly, he was so awful Rhodes could have dedicated a page to his death scene to make it really gory.
But dead he is, happy we are.
And per Rhodes, there will be more stories for the side characters and Agency as well to come. Be still my heart.
So Forever Together (The Undead Detective Agency book 4) by Shelby Rhodes gives us a great finale and launching point for more stories to come. Iām extremely satisfied and looking forward for more mysteries and murderous glittering mayhem.
Not familiar with this series and characters? Start at the beginning and read all the way through for the complete journey of Octavius and Turney. Itās one wild and wonderful adventure.
Octavius Evander here. I suppose you have come to see how it all ends. Well, āendsā, as in, weāve reached the end of this part of my story. It wouldnāt be proper of me to move on until we finish it all off, right?
As this is the last book in this series, I feel it is my duty, to end things with a bang! A glittery bang. By bang, I mean, a giant, super cool, Halloween party. And what a party it wasā¦ Costumes, decorations, family, frenemies, scares, Turney screaming and clinging on to meāfun times! Not so fun was the interruption to said party. It really was unfair to me. I was on vacation from real murder and mayhemācase related mayhem onlyāyet somehow, someone had the audacity to be murdered. Inconsiderate people all around!
But you didnāt all come here just for the Halloween party. I know that. There is a certain someone you are waiting to hear about, Iām sure. A certain horrible, maggot of a person. Wellā¦you wonāt be disappointed. That issue will be solved, once and for all. The question you may be asking yourselves now is, how will it be solved? All Iām willing to say is, it happened in an unusual and extremely unprepared way. While, you shouldnāt worry too much, as my story, my precious Turneyās story, has a happy endingā¦it may be good to keep in mind that happiness sometimes shines brightest right after despair.
CONTENT WARNING: This is an M/M paranormal romance book. There will be blood, violence, gore, mention of SA (no on-page details), and death. Please do not read if you find any of the previous situations triggering.
Grandās affinity for writing quirky, offbeat characters is evident in her paranormal novella, Jaegerās Lost and Found. Itās in every main character and all the secondary characters as well. Their personalities are so different from the mainstream, even the paranormal ones.
What makes them so unusual is both easily understood and vaguely explained, a dichotomy of traits thatās a hallmark of Grandās. That quicksand of characterization, while making the beings interesting can also make them less connectable.
It starts with Archibald Jaeger, the last of the famed Jaegers. The bloodline has become so weakened in him as heās the last that the famous gift of the family, to be able to find anything, has become weakened as well. It no longer works as it should and his livelihood depends on it as does that of his partner.
Archieās got his own deep quirks outside of a gift gone wonky. He hates to leave his establishment but the author refuses to call it agoraphobia. Heās got a certain way heās got to dress and act (wonāt step on cracks in the pavement) but again thereās an outright decision on Grandās part not to label him as OCD or anything else behavior related. But those odd mannerisms add up, continuing to pile on top of one another. Plus heās otherworldly, just what we donāt know. Itās a constant lack of definition here and itās frustrating.
His partner is slightly better. Sheās a naga. Or considered part naga because of an inability to shift. This changes towards the end of the story. We get fangs and venom and the fact sheās an unwelcome species but not much else. Just that as outsiders, she and Archie have stuck together.
We really need so much more world building than we get here.
Thereās some really great stuff here. Like Archie needing to suddenly veer off and find lost things because they call to him. Love that aspect of the narrative.
But instead the main storyline goes to a vampire whoās behaved so poorly to his coven theyāve cut him loose. We get to meet the vampire equivalent of entitlement. Oh joy.
Gael Murray is another one of those characters that I canāt get invested in. His backstory for one isnāt that type of story that makes one immediately root for him. Yes heās dying. But, heās been living his life away from the coven, hasnāt stayed in touch with them, preferring the company of people. Now heās whining about lost contact. Hmmm, ok. Yes. Got it.
Thereās an actual romance that makes no sense and has no foundation laid down for it Or little chemistry between them. And the journey to find the coven is that of hardly going anywhere.
I think the solution for Gaelās problem the author came up with and the descriptions involved ,was again, one of the better elements here.
So, in the end, I found the story interesting and certain elements fascinating, but the romance made no sense, and many of the other things were absolutely frustrating.
Read this because youāre a fan of the author and genre. Itās short enough that the interesting aspects are worth it.
Jaegerās Lost and Found is the only finder shop to be had on the whole of the west coast. The problem is, Archibald Jaeger, the last of the Jaeger line, seems to be defective. A result of too many generations of crossbreeding with humans. But Jaegers are finders, and there’s nothing to be done about it.
Gael Murray has lost his connections. A vampire canāt survive without the energy exchange he has with the members of his coven through mental links. And, as of this morning, theyāve all vanished. Gael will die if he doesnāt reinstate his connections through a blood exchange. And his only hope to find the other members of his coven is to hire a finder.
Even a terrible finder is better than none at all.
Together Gael and Archie set out to save Gaelās life, but what was an already difficult task becomes nearly insurmountable. And Archie, who can never find what heās looking for, finds himself falling in love with a man heāll be hard pressed to save.
Arden Steeleās Hunter Hollow series continues with Beauty and Bad Blood. With some characters transplanted from the original series, Blackhaven Manor, we now have more paranormal stories about romance, mystery, and murder to get invested in.
This time, our new location is Hunters Hollow, owned by one of the Dragon siblings, and its township of mostly Otherlings. They tend to work for Ministry of Otherling Affairs in various fields. Now a new case has emerged and investigation team has been formed.
Among that team, newly arrived vampire, Agent Rogue. Heās among a team of MOA Otherlings agents assigned the task of finding what or who are killing young people , leaving them drained of blood.
Human Dylan Murray, true crime podcaster, is having a personal crisis. His best friend, Braeden, mate of nephillim Inspector Zarrik Cox, has been constantly telling him to come stay with them until he knows what heās going to do next.
Two totally different personalities, one coffee shop, and one unassailable attraction. And several horrific murders to solve.
Steeleās narrative once again brings dramatic storylines to the fated mate trope. Dylan made an impression in Braedenās book and he becomes an even more engaging, vulnerable character here. The author gives Dylan that layer of armor formed by parental negligence and emotional abuse that feels realistic along with a very real sense that he could still somehow get the love he wants.
Rogueās backstory is not as fully explored but heās a powerful character in the present. Especially as it pertains to his quickly evolving feelings towards Dylan.
Dylanās reaction to Rogue and his actions, and how each handled their dynamics in developing their relationship was a good touch. Each side was open to communicating with each other and with other people. Absolutely beats the no communication approach in other situations.
I thought the mysteries and the murders were interesting but could have used further context or explanation. But that dramatic scene? Heart breaking, emotionally. No way around it.
Nothing that came later could take away from the power of that moment. And frankly, from there, everything was anticlimactic. I enjoyed the rest, but it was already over.
I canāt wait to see what and for who the next book is for. Iām sort of rooting for the new head elf Bastille. You never know. Steele keeps surprising me.
In the meantime, if youāre not already familiar with this universe, you can catch up by reading these in order . See below. Or go all in and go way back to the original series, read all nine books and join in the migration to Hunters Hollow!
When a young woman turns up dead on the banks of the river with half her blood missing, vampires are the obvious suspects. Rogue Masters, however, doesnāt think the case is all that open and shut. As a special agent for the MOA Intelligence Division, itās his job to find the truth. To do that, the last thing he needs is distractions.
So, of course, the most tempting distraction heās ever seen strolls through the door of the local bakery, not just flipping the script, but rewriting it completely.
Stuck in a rut and drowning in his own insignificance, Dylan Murray needs a change. For starters, he needs to make a clean break from his selfish and demanding mother. Itās also probably a good time to swear off men, at least until he can get his life back on track. Spending some time in Hunters Hollow with his best friend is exactly what he needs to turn things around. The small town is quiet, a little boring, and completely free of the drama that plagued him in the city.
Now, if he can just stop thinking about a certain sexy vampire with penetrating eyes and a devilish smile, everything would be perfect.
Navigating the ups and downs of any new relationship is challenging. Doing so while searching for a killer will test more than just their commitment. When the worst happens, and Dylan joins the list of humans to mysteriously vanish from the French Quarter, Rogue will do whatever it takes to get his new mate back safely.
Even if that means becoming the very monster heās meant to be hunting.
Mind Scramber is in the same universe/series as the wonderful Soul Eater and Ghost Dater. Where the other books involved the fated mates couple of mage Detective Thaddeus Ezax and werewolf ghost Sandulf Hunter, Mind Scrambler focuses on the boss of the Rockshade Paranormal Investigators Department, panther shifter Kol Jaecar.
Kol Jaecar has always presented himself as a dominant, formidable figure in the mixed team of beings that includes a psychic, shifters of several species, a mage and his ghostly mate. Itās a team that doesnāt always function well together with the different pack dynamics in play.
GrƤnd is able to bring a more complex picture of the personalities and the squad into the storyline here than was previously shown. Maybe thatās because the author was laying out the foundation for the universe and the characters. Elora, the psychic, becomes a more interesting and fully explored character here . We understand her reluctance in using her powers and how the shifters see her interactions with them in regard to their own power dynamics. Itās a great window into into both individuals.
The author opens up her universe and storytelling by enlarging her perspectives even as we meet Eloraās empath brother, Elijah.
Heās already in enormous danger and physical pain.
Trigger warnings for readers should include that this character has undergone extreme domestic abuse and violence, physical and psychological. Heās kidnapped and the implications are unclear for his future. For those readers who are uncomfortable about these issues, please take note.
Elijah has been written as someone who is fundamentally different from everyone else, even his twin. His empathy makes it difficult to tolerate the constant company of beings and their emotions pressing against him. Then pack on a history of abuse and little education of the paranormal species around him, and he becomes a traumatized victim in more than one way.
I thought that the characters and the mate relationship between Kol and Elijah was sensitively handled. Elijah couldnāt just fall immediately into an instant intimate relationship with Kol after the horrible abuse heās endured under the ex heās been hiding from. That would negate so much of the trauma and damage. So having it slowly grow made sense.
But I had issues with some of the other things that the author wrote into the narrative. Some felt like drama for dramaās sake. That (spoiler alert) second kidnapping was a bit of an eye roll in every way.
And for a group thatās a part of the Rockshade Paranormal Investigators Department, aka Paranormal police, there felt like very little procedural work going on. Especially when they were trying to find a certain person at the end. Some things were too easy to figure out. Had it been a tv show, I would have been throwing popcorn and shouting out the answer.
The drama there was the showdown in the Interrogation room where Elijah and Kol could have their say with the villain. That is what it was there for, exposition and dramatic moments.
Then came the epilogue.
I really liked the story but came away feeling there were quite a few loose ends that needed some work and explanations.
We are left not knowing what happened to certain important characters and certain magical abilities that were employed by the villain.
Is Ofelia GrƤnd going to follow up on these elements with another book? I donāt know and thatās more than a little frustrating.
So while I thought this was a better written story In some ways, with more well rounded characters, there were also some narrative elements that were not fully explored or characters that were left without closure.
Hopefully thereās another book to come along that will pick up where this one left off to answer some of these questions.
This author writes some really interesting stories and this is one of them. Pick it up, read the warnings, and enjoy.
Stories in this series:
ā Soul Eater
ā Ghost Dater
ā Mind Scrambler
Buy Link:
Blurb:
Years ago, empath Elijah Long made a bad decision, and he is still paying for it. Heās kept hidden from his abusive werewolf ex for years, but when he wakes in a dark room, cuffed to a wall, he knows heās out of luck. Elora, his psychic sister, will come for him, he just has to endure long enough to give her a chance to find him.
Captain Kol Jaecar of Rockshadeās Paranormal Investigations Department detests slow times at work, so when Elora wants time off to search for her brother, Kol treats it as if itās a real case and starts an investigation. What he assumed was a brother not picking up when his sister called turns out to be something else.
Elijah experiences peopleās emotions so strongly, it prohibits him from living a normal life. Spending time in the city is out of the question, yet itās where Elora takes him once she finds him. Elijah does his best to keep his distance, especially from the growling man Elora brought to his rescue. Elijah will never make the mistake of getting close to a shifter again.
The moment Kol smells Elijah, he knows heās his mate, but how to get close to someone who doesnāt want to be near you? The man who abused Elijah is still on the loose, and Kol calls in the entire team to hunt him down. But how are they to keep Elijah safe when he canāt be around people? And how will Kol stay sane if he canāt touch his mate?
