What a lot of fun Jennifer Cody must have had writing this story. Specifically, the character of Sterling Jones and his seemingly endless highly playful, exaggerating teenage ish propensity purple prose for names for the his sexual organs and his partners, plus the physical reactions that their bodies make during their sexual encounters. Sterling is also a murderous, incredibly kinky, one-armed, adventurous adorable menace with a propensity for kidnapping people to add to his growing found family.
With the exception of a middle chapter or two, this story is narrated by the wildly âout there â Sterling. Honestly, this is an addictive voice. it just invites the reader calmly into the madness, where we happily stay for the roller coaster ride.
Especially when we start adding Sterlingâs best friend and then new addition (aka Hennessey and Re) as the journey rolls along, like some murderous Toadâs Wild Ride but on a perverted sentient motorcycle and a fated mate ghost hunter werewolf, Jethro, at the helm.
Jethro is amazing. So is that perverted sentient bike. They need their own review. Heart eyes.
Itâs all a âpowâ and âKazaamâ but with kinky sex , occasionally tentacles, kidnapping, and always paranormal wildly weird stuff happening.
Iâm definitely down for that.
And at the very end, like a very long joke youâve been waiting for a punch line for but didnât was coming, we get a series tie in to another previous book. Which will send me running back to read that all over again.
Honestly, Iâm not sure this is everybodyâs jam. But itâs definitely mine. Hilarious, over the top madness.
Yes please. More.
Related Series:
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees (3 book series)
â The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
â The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin #2
My life has been full of danger and fun since the day I realized what widening my big, blue eyes a bit could do for a boy like me. Guys the world over have fallen into that look-at-me-Iâm-so-innocent trap, and Iâve never regretted it, even when I was staring down the muzzle of some poor straight boyâs weapon after confusing him with the best bj of his life (they donât usually try to murder me, and he didnât succeed, so obviously Iâve never learned my lesson). I love a good adventure, and now Iâm looking at the greatest one Iâve ever seen.
Jethro Jones knows exactly what hits him the moment I sidle into his personal space, and itâs not because I only have one arm and an off-putting manic grin (Iâm very cute, even with the psycho smile). Itâs definitely the boner Iâm rocking. The ride I offer him after his motorcycleâs been stolen? Well, thatâs just the beginning, isnât it? Besides, Iâm adorable, fun, and only inclined to kidnap people I like.
The Adventure of Sterling Jones is a 32k word, insta-love/insta-lust MM paranormal romance, Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees sidequest featuring a thrill-seeking trouble magnet and his dangerous werewolf mate with more heat than is probably advisable for how combustible these two are and a stolen engagement ring.
Before getting into the review, two things. One, these books definitely need to be read in the order they are written in. Secondly, heed the authorâs trigger warnings. If youâre familiar with the series or author, then as a reader the content wonât necessarily be as much of a surprise but emotionally itâs still powerful and moving. Especially as itâs got extreme torture, mental, physical and traumatic moments at its core. On page scenes. So read the notes.
This isnât to dissuade a reader from diving into the story but to inform those who will have issues with those elements in advance so informed choices can be made.
Now as to Taste of Fear. Its excellent. Heartbreaking and a stunning story that will stick with you for some time after you have finished reading it.
Possibly because the manner in which Rhodes does two things simultaneously. The relationship between vampire Foxx Honeywell and scarred human hunter Harlow is progressing uniquely, given each of their respective personalities and histories. Harlow is the one thatâs the most perplexed about his odd behavior and feelings towards his vampire partner. Foxx represents so many new aspects to his life he never thought he would have. First sexual encounter with a man, then lots of sexual encounters. Now heâs living with him. And thinking about the vampire, a lot. A stunning reversal of his previous life. The growth and development of the dynamic of this weirdly complex duo is compelling and powerful.
While Rhodes, through scenes both humorous and murderous, give the reader a sense of deepening affection between Foxx and Harlow, a case arises that, adjacent to everything else that has been going on, starts to build a sense of high anxiety and suspense. That something truly horrific is coming.
And itâs target is Foxx.
I canât begin to tell you how effective Rhodes narrative is here, as chapter by chapter, like a disastrous tragedy we see coming but are unable to stop, the horror slowly creeps in, deathly clues dropping. The reader is deeply apprehensive but still needing to read onward.
I wonât go further into the story line or the reasons for the trigger warnings. Yes, they are necessary for the situation, the plot, and for readers because itâs so real, the emotional connection between us and the characters are very impactful and profound. It will hurt.
I wonât say I enjoyed this. But I did love it on another level. Such outstanding work. It changes the characters fundamentally. Itâs shattering. And now Iâll have to wait for the next one for the ramifications to set in.
If you love Shelby Rhodes, dark paranormal fiction. This is the series and story for you. Iâm highly recommending this.
If you love paranormal romance but in a lighter vein ( real pun intended), there are other equally terrific books to explore.
Foxx Honeywell here. You know those fun stories where nothing goes wrong and everything is happy and joyfulâŚyeah, that is not this book. This book is where everything goes wrongâmultiple times. Horribly wrong. Because sadly, there are people out there who hate others simply for existing. But Iâm getting ahead of myself.
Our story picks up a few months after the whole crazy cult thing, right before the horrible, terrifyingly awful holiday calledâŚChristmas. Because, of course, why wouldnât we end up back on the job right when not only is it bloody cold outside, but when the ho-ho-hoing menace is plaguing poor innocent vampires everywhere?
Anyway, we go on one hunt, and things are relatively normal-ish. It’s not until the next one whereâŚwell, I maybe almost die. What follows is some resurfacing traumaâŚand a fair few meltdowns. No doubt terrifying my psycho of a partner, Harlow. Who, by the way, through all this seems okayâŚmaybe. A big maybe. So, yeah, that happens. And you know, if that was all that happened, it would have been fine. Really, it wouldâmostly. Itâs just that what followedâŚreally drove home all those years of no therapy. Like a blast in the face from my past nightmare-inducing trauma. Iâm sure it will be fine?
CONTENT WARNING: This is a slow burn M/M paranormal romance series with heat. This book ends on a soft cliffhanger. There will be blood, violence, death, trauma induced panic attacks, and mentions of SA (no on page details). PLEASE SEE INSIDE OR CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR THE FULL CONTENT WARNING!
E J Russellâs latest release is a book that should have worked for me. It doesnât. Spoilers ahead. Itâs 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 itâs handled by the author and the framework for the redemption process. Thatâs 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 Iâm writing about some spoilers. If you donât want to know, stop reading.
If youâre 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 didnât 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, Russellâs given Ganymede a new life as a young âhumanâ baker, released from Mt Olympus when the Fates handed down their verdict. Russellâs 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 Russellâs 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. Thereâs no page time to discuss the topic, and the tone of the taleâs too light.
Russellâs story has elements of real darkness that arenât 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. Heâs happy. Heâs got a crush on a werewolf (the other main character, and a great one). Heâs ignorant about the supernatural world around him. Ok, for me that absolutely an odd thing about this world. Heâs from Olympus but they donât 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 arenât getting, the sweet romance story between a werewolf trying to recover from his own personal redemption arc (best part of the story). Thereâs 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. Thatâs 80 percent. But what is more frustrating is that Gany has an outlet to stop his harassment and doesnât 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 doesnât 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, itâs a sort of juvenile âIâm gonna tell them if you donât stop, no, really this time, gonna tell.â 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, thatâs 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 doesnât 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. Thatâs 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. Heâs 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, itâs entirely possible heâll be turned down flat or banished forever when he makes that call tomorrow. So today heâs blowing his last dollar at Nectar & Ambrosiaâhe needs one more smile from the bakeryâs 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. Heâs finally free of the Olympians and their extremely tedious menu options. Finn, the cute customer whoâs 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, Ganyâs new livelihood isnât the only thing at stakeâFinnâs 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 heâs carrying from his past, that idea just might be only half-bakedâŚ
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.
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. Thereâs 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 canât be overlooked.
So while I was excited to read Exiled Heir, I was apprehensive about approaching a narrative that wasnât 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.
Iâm 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 Butlerâs 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. Itâs 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, whatâs 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. Heâs 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 itâs also intriguing to compile a portrait of this mage from Milesâ observations alone.
Iâm a bit fuzzy on the world building here, especially the mage/werewolves dynamics. Thatâs probably intentional. Thereâs an âold school â version thatâs been outlawed and a new shiny one thatâs got some flaws. The entire werewolf community/werewolf aspect of this story feels like a driving force of the narrative. Itâs where many of the most powerful and the mysterious plot twists emerge from.
Thereâs 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 didnât have to wait as long for the next book to be released.
Iâm highly recommending Exiled Heir (Empty Throne Trilogy Book 1) by Kai Butler . Itâs going to be a fabulous trilogy as this is an amazing read. Itâs 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, Iâm 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. Heâs 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 doesnât realize who Miles is.
The icy prince has a job for Miles, one that will keep Milesâs head on his shoulders: become Prince Cadeâs consort and find out who is trying to kill him.
As Miles delves deeper into Cadeâs court, he begins seeing the truth beneath Cadeâs chilly exterior. The more the prince trusts him, the closer he gets to seeing under Milesâs mask as well.
What will happen when Cade realizes the secret Miles holds puts both of their lives at risk?
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 isnât aware of the paranormal world or his bestieâs real identity. Instead, heâs a wannabe writer trying to finish his first M/M book, keep a job, and try not to feel like a failure. Heâs adorable and the person who draws the reader immediately into the storyline and his perspective on the events as they happen.
Currently, heâs 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.
Jeremyâs Etch a Sketch sort of mind is a wonderful place to be. Curious, self deprecating, full of book plots heâs jotting notes for, every moment the reader spends with him just makes connect to him even more fully.
While Jeremyâs life is becoming more complicated, Ames introduces a new group of beings that includes the other main character. Itâs a traveling supernatural police force thatâs 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 heâs going to write MM PNR romances !
Ames does a great job of weaving poignancy along with the humor into her narrative. So thereâs Adrianâs 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 thereâs a quibble, itâs in the âbargainâ aspect between Adrian and his boss, demon Gage. While thereâs a built in consent clause to the contract, itâs 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.
Thatâs 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. Canât wait. Iâm highly recommending this book and series. Itâs exciting, hilarious, and quirky. A definite winner.
Whatâs 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 all⌠Or he would be if he ever got to âThe Endâ 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 thatâs 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 isnât 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 â80s 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 theyâve been through to get to this point in their undead lives. Does it come together? Absolutely, in a well written and exciting manner!
Itâs 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. Itâs an extravaganza of glitter, exuberance and shocking horror. Not surprisingly, and to Octaviusâ dismay, most of his crew isnât happy about the results. That includes Turney.
Imagine a toddler on about a 18-wheelerâs worth of sugar high, and thatâs a realistic description of Rhodesâ 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. Itâs his way of dealing with that trauma and part of his life thatâs 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 heâs 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, itâs so much emotionally and physically for Turney at the moment. And Octavius isnât aware of his issues.
I think if I do have any quibbles about this, itâs Octaviusâ lack of awareness about Turneyâ feelings. Whether itâs 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 heâs doing or not noticing about Turney. That wasnât a satisfying aspect of this relationship for me. Itâs their own type of relationship thatâs 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 whoâs been through so much and whoâs 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. Iâm 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. Itâs one wild and wonderful adventure.
Octavius Evander here. I suppose you have come to see how it all ends. Well, âendsâ, as in, weâve reached the end of this part of my story. It wouldnât 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 was⌠Costumes, decorations, family, frenemies, scares, Turney screaming and clinging on to meâfun times! Not so fun was the interruption to said party. It really was unfair to me. I was on vacation from real murder and mayhemâcase related mayhem onlyâyet somehow, someone had the audacity to be murdered. Inconsiderate people all around!
But you didnât all come here just for the Halloween party. I know that. There is a certain someone you are waiting to hear about, Iâm sure. A certain horrible, maggot of a person. WellâŚyou wonât 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 Iâm willing to say is, it happened in an unusual and extremely unprepared way. While, you shouldnât worry too much, as my story, my precious Turneyâs story, has a happy endingâŚit 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.
Arden Steeleâs 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. Heâs 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 heâs going to do next.
Two totally different personalities, one coffee shop, and one unassailable attraction. And several horrific murders to solve.
Steeleâs narrative once again brings dramatic storylines to the fated mate trope. Dylan made an impression in Braedenâs 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.
Rogueâs backstory is not as fully explored but heâs a powerful character in the present. Especially as it pertains to his quickly evolving feelings towards Dylan.
Dylanâs 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 canât wait to see what and for who the next book is for. Iâm sort of rooting for the new head elf Bastille. You never know. Steele keeps surprising me.
In the meantime, if youâre 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, doesnât think the case is all that open and shut. As a special agent for the MOA Intelligence Division, itâs his job to find the truth. To do that, the last thing he needs is distractions.
So, of course, the most tempting distraction heâs 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. Itâs 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 heâs 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. Itâs a team that doesnât always function well together with the different pack dynamics in play.
Gränd is able to bring a more complex picture of the personalities and the squad into the storyline here than was previously shown. Maybe thatâs 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. Itâs a great window into into both individuals.
The author opens up her universe and storytelling by enlarging her perspectives even as we meet Eloraâs empath brother, Elijah.
Heâs 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. Heâs 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 couldnât just fall immediately into an instant intimate relationship with Kol after the horrible abuse heâs endured under the ex heâs 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 dramaâs sake. That (spoiler alert) second kidnapping was a bit of an eye roll in every way.
And for a group thatâs 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 Gränd going to follow up on these elements with another book? I donât know and thatâs 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 thereâs 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:
â Soul Eater
â Ghost Dater
â Mind Scrambler
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Blurb:
Years ago, empath Elijah Long made a bad decision, and he is still paying for it. Heâs kept hidden from his abusive werewolf ex for years, but when he wakes in a dark room, cuffed to a wall, he knows heâs 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 Rockshadeâs Paranormal Investigations Department detests slow times at work, so when Elora wants time off to search for her brother, Kol treats it as if itâs 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 peopleâs emotions so strongly, it prohibits him from living a normal life. Spending time in the city is out of the question, yet itâs 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 heâs his mate, but how to get close to someone who doesnât 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 canât be around people? And how will Kol stay sane if he canât touch his mate?
Ghost Dater has the feel of an addendum short story to the wonderful Soul Eater. It reads like a cute afterthought to that tale. Turns out Iâm not far off.
The authorâs publisher put out a call for Halloween shorts and Ofelia Gränd thought her readers would like to see what the couple was up to.
Having problems, apparently.
At Halloween, the anniversary of Sandyâs untimely death.
A reader needs to have read Soul Eater before this to understand the characters, their history, and what they are going through to have their relationship. Sandyâs feelings at his new status are understandable but the lack of communication about those thoughts between the partners is not.
As the ghostly aspects of his new life are still in a learning phase, the frustrations Sandy is experiencing are emotions that the reader can relate to. The author is so very good at expressing these emotions and thoughts through scenes and dialogue.
The story is very short, only 38 pages long. I felt that the balance of voices between Sandy and his sorcerer mate, Thad , was a bit off, with Sandy the dominant POV. Perhaps thatâs on purpose so when we get into the story and see Thadâs part of the plot, itâs a bit of a surprise.
For me, I missed the surrounding characters and more of these charactersâ current lives as they just didnât seem to fit as well into a short story format given their complexity in terms of relationship and developing mate bond. It ends with them called off to a new case. Iâd love to see that happen.
Hereâs to another case and another novel. This is a wonderful bridge between the two. Happy Halloween đ.
Thaddeus Esax has a grumpy werewolf problem. For a year, heâs been mated to Sandulf Hunter, a ghost werewolf he brought back from the dead without meaning to. Itâs been great. Thadâs been happy, and he believed Sandy was too. But Sandy has been sulking for more than a week, and Thad fears their relationship isnât going as well as he believed.
The problem with being mated to a ghost is that said ghost never can leave your side, and therefore itâs extremely hard to keep secrets. Thaddeus wants to surprise Sandy, to cheer him up, but to do that, he has to trick him into believing theyâre doing something theyâre not.
Telling Sandy theyâre having a Halloween party doesnât go over well, but how do you trick a ghost? By making him believe heâll be dressed up as a pirate for an evening, of course.
Swedish author, Ofelia Grändâs latest novel reminds me that I really need to put her on my auto buy list.
Soul Eaterâs wonderful universe drew me in completely and the storylines kept me invested in the characters and the potential for more tales to come.
She begins the story with a Paranormal Investigations Department that employs a number of different beings, from a psychic to a witch with detectives of various shifter species, including a jaguar Captain.
We get a glimpse into a squad out of sorts with each other and the cases several missing women to solve.
The individuals within the squad are divided into two groups, the magical humans and the shifters, as personalities and deep feelings have contributed to conflict between the members. Grändâs believable well defined characters help the reader understand the differences that now exist between them as the case investigation gets underway.
Iâm not sure exactly what it is about this authorâs work that adds that extra dimension to it. That touch of subtle horror or oddity that overlies the most mundane of actions.
Not that thereâs much of those here in a paranormal mystery murder thriller where shifters, sorcery, a ghost, and Halloween overlap .
Especially a wereghost. I found that aspect of the story so satisfying as it develops on multiple levels.
The authorâs world building expands as the story goes along, our knowledge of the magical universe coming to include a division of human witchcraft into wizards, mages, sorcerers and warlocks, an distinction thatâs been hidden from the human population and paranormal one alike. This has implications for a major part of the storyline and not one I would spoil. Itâs just one more thing I found entertaining and added more to the characters.
Itâs elements like this that will keep me returning to Grändâs books and hopefully more in this universe.
I found the narrative fascinating, the elements marvelous, the characters well developed, and all of it thrilling and suspenseful.
A definite recommendation for this author and book! Love it!
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Blurb:
Detective Thaddeus Ezax is in over his head. Heâs the only wizard in Rockshadeâs Paranormal Investigations Department, and it was his name that got him the job. The Ezaxs are known as some of the most powerful wizards in the world, but Thaddeus isnât your average Ezaxs. Is it any wonder his family shuns him?
When a kidnapping case is dropped into his lap, Thaddeus must act fast. While most five-year-olds can cast a location spell, Thaddeus can’t and is forced to get creative. When he finds himself in possession of a black market werewolf skull with a ghost trapped inside, accidentally releases the spirit, and somehow forms a connection with it, things get even crazier.
Sandulf Hunter doesnât remember dying, but he remembers the last thing he saw before everything went black — a wizard. All wizards must die! The only problem is, the wizard standing next to him smells too damned good, so good Sandy thinks he might have to keep him.
And since wherever Thaddeus goes, Sandulf finds himself yanked along, he might not have a choice in the matter anyway.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 