Review: Call of the Blood (Everly Abbott #4) by K.N. Banet

Rating: 4.5⭐️

The fourth book in K.N. Banet’s new Everly Abbott series, I thought it was the best one where the characters are finding their rhythm and how their relationships are going to evolve.

I also found the author’s Tribunal Archives timeline for this and how it fits into the other series. So I have a better understanding of the overall storyline and what is happening with the Tribunal here. Yes, it really does make sense now.

Alexius and Everly head out to see her brother and encounter some surprises after the events of the last novel.

Isaiah has disappeared, dealing with the death of his longtime companion and lover, Jacob. Which leaves Everly and Alexius at loose ends and when a call comes in from the other coast from a Vampire Master requesting assistance from Alexius, they are traveling away from Savannah and home.

Banet packs so much into this terrific adventure. We meet Declan, Everly’s brother and his girlfriend. That’s a fantastic storyline.

Callahan is head of the Werewolves and on the Tribunal with his mate Carissa. The Tribunal Archives time line can be found on the author’s website. I have listed it on the longer version of this review on my website as well. The author is going to add to it as new releases come available.

But back to Call of the Blood because it packs a punch. Full of action, more than a few twists, and some extremely powerful drama here, including new relationship dynamics between the main characters.

I’m so thrilled to see this author writing again. Wonderful novel and great addition to the universe.

⭐️Series in the connected Tribunal Archives Universe (crossover characters and storylines);

Kaliya Sahni (6 book series)

Jacky Leon (12 book series to date-waiting for the 13th)

Everly Abbot – 4 books atm/9 books planned :

Servant of the Blood #1

Blood of the Wicked #2

Tainted Blood #3

Call of the Blood #4

Tribunal archive Timeline – to date for Everly Abbott series:

Jacky Leon book 1

Kaliya Sahni Book 1

Kaliya Sahni Book 2

Jacky Leon #2

Kaliya Sahni #3

KS #4

Jackie Leon #3

KS#5

KS#6

Jackie Leon #4

Ancient and Immortal Standalone story

Everly Abbott #1

Everly Abbott #2

Jackie Leon #5

Everly Abbott #3

Jackie Leon #6

Jackie Leon #7

Hearts & Wars/Tribunal Archives story

Jackie Leon #8

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Book 4 of 4: Everly Abbott

Blurb

Book overview

Madness lives at the edge of every vampire’s mind.

We’re driven by a need to hunt and feed on the blood of what we once were. Blood, though, is not the only thing that can drive us to madness.

Alexius and I are learning that firsthand, stuck together for months, unable to leave Savannah, trapped in tight corridors as the tension rises. Conversations grow difficult and need becomes a painful thing that we both avoid. So when the opportunity arises to escape the quasi house arrest Isaiah condemned us to, we take it. My brother, my last living family member, wants to see me and I can’t resist the call.

The call of the blood brought me here.

It is also the source of a madness that can break me.

And we’re not the only vampires who ran to escape madness.

August 28, 2026

Language

‎English

Print lengthz as

326 pages

Book 4 of 4

Everly Abbott

Review: Ink Witch (Arcane Magic #1) by Brogan Thomas

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I’ll be honest. I picked up this book because of the Belgian Malinois on the cover. Yes, I’m that person. But what I discovered was a well written, marvelous fantasy story about a woman unfairly deprived of her magic and her dangerous journey to reclaim her identity and find a new life.

Ink Witch has so much to recommend it. It’s a complete story within a larger universe so we will have a terrific ending here for our characters. The world building is intriguing and the complicated plot of Ink Witch is both foundational and helps further the magical expansion of further stories.

Thomas’ tale includes aspects of Hunger Games, a tribute to the Hunger Games with a game that includes chosen children of families of each district who enter into it at a certain age ,for glory and prestige, for their families. It’s ruthless and brutal with the survival left for the winner while the entire world is watching.

And Elenora “Elmo” Morris failed that day in her run and was cast out by her parents for it. The truth of behind her failure left to the end of the story.

Now 48, her magic drained away, Elmo and her Belgian Malinois, Mina, have become bounty hunters, killing those who have illegally used magic, including children. There’s a wonderful twist coming there.

Thomas does an excellent job in creating in the Ink District a dark,poor subsistence society, existing on the edges of the political system, where the people are scrabbling to exist in any way possible. Slums, minimal food sourced from problematic places, and an over-site government, The Immortal Zone above that rules everything.

It’s an enthralling tale that gets a chilling charge of energy when Mina is stolen and Elmo has to rescue her. And the entire storyline becomes immensely more complex.

I enjoyed the slow burn romance, no spice. Cael’s development, especially towards the end, isn’t as well executed as everything that comes before.

But I found Elmo, her sister, their relationship, Mina and their bond, incredibly engaging. And I was absolutely invested in their story. Loved it.

And I can’t wait to read the next standalone in this series, Bone Witch.

Cover design by Melony Paradise of Paradise Cover Design

Arcane Magic

Ink Witch #1

Bone Witch #2 – February 25, 2027

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Book 1 of 2: Arcane Magic

Blurb

Branded a failure. Buried in shame. Then they steal her dog.

Once, Elenora “Elmo” Morris was the pride of Ink District. Chosen as Champion for the Immortality Trials, she carried a city’s hopes on her shoulders — until it all went wrong and she crawled home in disgrace.

Now Elmo works as a bounty hunter in a city ruled by immortals. Her only friend is Mina, her beloved dog. When enforcers snatch Mina and drag her to the immortal commander’s compound, Elmo has only hours before her dog disappears for good.

Breaking in should be a death sentence. Instead, ink power flares back to life, and Elmo discovers the Trials weren’t just rigged — they were a lie.

To save her dog and face the family who cast her out, this ink witch must stop running from the past and become the spark that burns the lies down.

Ink Witch is the spellbinding first standalone in the Arcane Magic urban fantasy series. If you love fierce middle-aged heroines, slow-burn romance, loyal dogs, and magic-soaked suspense, you’ll adore this magical rollercoaster ride.

Buy Ink Witch today and witness a disgraced witch rewrite the rules.

Brogan Thomas Books

Publication date

August 27, 2026

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Arcane Magic

Review: The Little Shop of Curiosities The Music Box Part 2 (Crawshanks Guide to the Occult) by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 3🌈

I’m going to talk about some of the plot points so if you don’t want any spoilers, stop reading.

I will start with saying I love the origin series with Dusty and Tristan and that entire cast and journey. Thought it is fantastic, right down to the fabulous side stories with The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan. My favorites too.

So I was really excited for some of the other characters to get their stories as well. But while the story is pretty good, I just can’t with the character of Harrison. He’s everything that makes a DNF book for me.

Sam, the paranormal PI is well done. He’s a layered personality and a good reason for being connected to the storyline. However, he’s also plays a powerful role here along with the other members of the original group, to keep me from engaging with Harrison.

A major reason for me not to buy or read a book is for an author to have written a main character who has major communication issues. Someone who, like Harrison here, has a secret or knowledge about the main mystery/storyline that’s threatening him and everyone else and is knowingly lying about it or/or refusing to tell anyone about it.

His dads and grandfather know and tell Harrison to reveal it to those who need to know, his friends and boyfriend, Sam. At one point, he lies to his parents and says he has. But no, he doesn’t, endangering his “boyfriend” Sam and his friends by withholding his all “central to the case” knowledge. As well as himself.

And once you think he’s learned something, and it’s over. It’s not because, wait for it. There’s one more potentially dangerous secret and another awful event that Harrison is responsible for.

This happened for the entire book. FFS and SMH

If you think that got old fast, you’d be correct. And it ended up with a cliffhanger where at this point I really didn’t care what happened to him. That’s a what a TSTL character reads like. Too bad about Sam.

And for my final spoiler, the author brought in characters from an unrelated series to save the day. So if you’re not familiar with them, it’s a huh, who are these people moment.

So, no not continuing further with this side series. I just don’t care about the main character and Tristan is made out to be whiny and weak , a characterization different from the other series.

Disappointing.

Cover design by Natasha Snow

Crawshanks Guide to the Occult (2 book series):

The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1 The Music Box

The Little Shop of Curiosities The Music Box Part 2

Connected series:

The Dead Serious Universe,

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed (6 book series)

Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits(2 book series)

The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan Vol 1-3 (on the author’s website)

Buy link

The Little Shop of Curiosities The Music Box Part 2 (Crawshanks Guide to the Occult)

Blurb

The Music Box – Part 2.

Strange things are happening in London, with a murder investigation underway into his biological mother’s murder Harrison is trying to find answers about the mysterious and powerful bloodline he’s descended from. Plagued by terrifying dreams of one of his ancestors and trying to keep his friends from discovering his true identity is exhausting. But his growing feelings for Sam cannot be ignored and sooner or later Harrison knows he must tell him the truth.

Having returned to London after fulfilling his own family obligations Sam begins to realise the cases that he’s investigating as a PI are all paranormal in nature. As he delves deeper he begins to suspect they are connected to the Crawshanks family and somehow to Harrison, himself, the man he’s falling in love with.

But as the murder investigation comes to a frightening conclusion and the killer is revealed, Sam and Harrison begin to realise that this is only the beginning.

Now they find themselves facing their most terrifying challenge yet.

Underside Press

Publication date

August 19, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

314 pages

Book 2 of 2

Crawshanks Guide to the Occult

Review: Tides of Betrayal (Witches of Willow Cove Book 2) by Sara Bourgeois

Rating: 4⭐️

Tides of Betrayal, the second book in the Witches of Willow Cove, is another excellent read. It has a great magical mystery that involves the community, increasing nightmares and possible curses.

Rowan Page, her familiar, Moss and all the other Willow Cove inhabitants who are starting to become involved with Rowan in her inherited bookstore, Quill & Tide, are really developing their own roles and engaging personalities. With their unique backgrounds and their involvement in the community as each new disaster unfolds.

I enjoyed this mystery and most of the magical aspects surrounding it. There was a few twists and the villain, while being blatant, was truly cold about the ramifications of their actions, not a morally grey character. Unusual for this kind of story.

My slight issues are with the Cal, the Sheriff who, had a history with Rowan’s aunt. Now he still figures only minutely into cases that have a high impact on the community. Cal has a strong sense of something extraordinary going on but leaves it alone.

Then there’s the librarian, Jude, whose personality is as problematic as his name. I find Jude unlikable. He’s that person that makes you think, hmmm, he’s was voted the last person picked for just about everything. Justifiably so.

I thought leaving the story with an even bigger mystery was a great idea. Loved it and can’t wait for the next book to come.

Witches of Willow Cove (2 book series)

A Novel Death #1

Tides of Betrayal #2

Buy link

Tides of Betrayal (Witches of Willow Cove Book 2)

Blurb

Rowan Page would like to believe things at Quill & Tide are finally settling down, but the books have other plans. When a prominent local collector dies in what looks like a tragic sleepwalking accident, Rowan notices something the police can’t explain.

People all over town are having nightmares.

Moss wants nothing to do with the cursed books turning up across Willow Cove, Aunt Oona’s ghost is more cryptic than helpful, and the closer Rowan gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that some old betrayals were never buried.

They were shelved.

July 20, 2026

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‎English

File size

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Witches of Willow Cove

Review: The Spellshop (Spellshop #1) by Sarah Beth Durst

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I found this writer through a marvelous fantasy short story and shortly thereafter this incredible fantasy series.

Starting with the richly crafted universe of librarians fleeing a newly fallen Empire and the mythical creatures that either accompany them or welcome them into their new lives, The Spellshop begins our adventures with a revolution and librarian Kiela, her companion, the sentient spider plant Cas, and as many magical books as she can carry, fleeing the Capital.

For a cozy fantasy adventure, I love that the author has given us a main character who’s personality isn’t automatically endearing. Kiela has spent the last years of her life withdrawing into her job, her cubicle and all the books she’s in charge of in her sector, Cas being her only companion and daily interaction.

Then, in a horrifying moment, they have to flee for their lives.

I’ve often wondered what it must have been like for the great libraries of Alexandria to have burned and my heart hurts. It’s no less painful to feel what Kiela and Cas go through here.

Durst’s emotionally rendered scenes and vivid moments are so well done that I could visualize them myself.

Once Kiela decides that she and Cas will be safe on the faraway island that was once home, the character development grows stronger as she learns to deal and become part of the otherworldly community she originally came from.

It’s found family, magical creatures, slow burn romance and just a fantastic story about friendships, finding home and family if you let yourself.

I love the characters and story. The universe is one I’m thrilled to share and happily ready to continue with the next novel. It has to do with Cas, so it’s important that this book be read first.

Highly recommended.

And that beautiful cover. So incredibly well designed.

Richly gorgeous cover by artist Lulu Chen and designer Esther Kim

The Spellshop series

The Spellshop

The Enchanted Greenhouse

Sea of Charms

The Magical Cheese Emporium

Buy link

Book 1 of 4: The Spellshop

Blurb

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY AND INDIE BESTSELLER!

A #1 LibraryReads pick!

An Indie Next pick!

The Spellshop is the romantasy debut by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Join Kiela the librarian and her assistant, Caz the sentient spider plant, as they navigate the low stakes market of illegal spellmaking and the high risk business of starting over.

“Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world.” —Book Riot

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a magically sentient spider plant, have spent the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. But when a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz save as many books as they can carry and flee to a faraway island Kiela was sure she’d never return to: her childhood home. Kiela hopes to lay low in the overgrown and rundown cottage her late parents left her and figure out a way to survive without drawing the attention of either the empire or the revolutionaries. Much to her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town neglected and in a state of disrepair.

The empire, for all its magic and power, has been neglecting for years the people who depend on magical intervention to maintain healthy livestock and crops. Not only that, but the very magic that should be helping them has been creating destructive storms that have taken a toll on the island. Due to her past role at the library, Kiela feels partially responsible for this, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right: by opening the island’s first-ever secret spellshop.

Her plan comes with risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the kind and quirky townspeople of her former home, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must learn to break down the walls she has built up so high.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

Expect:

Standalone romance

Grumpy x sunshine

Magical creatures

Small town cozy

Bramble books by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop series

The Spellshop

The Enchanted Greenhouse

Sea of Charms

Review: A Novel Death (Witches of Willow Cove Book 1) by Sara Bourgeois

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I love Sara Bourgeois’s many different paranormal murder mystery series, whether it’s situated in the Arizona desert mountains or in a small NW Pacific coastal town. Whether a woman has inherited a ghost filled desert ranch or a seaside bookstore or witchy herb shop that’s accompanied by a cat familiar, whatever the location or inheritance, the characters and community are intriguing, plot and character development well written, and the series one that expands into a ever deeper layered narrative and leads to wonderful relationships and even more mysteries.

This is our introduction to Rowan Page, her inherited bookstore, Quill & Tide, the familiar, cat Moss, and the very interesting seaside town of Willow Cove, where things are brewing. Murder and plenty of mystery to go around with the charm and quirky community.

Her aunt’s presence is still there, and magic is winding its way into Rowan’s life.

Bourgeois has, through her other series, kept her characters layered, even the murder mysteries, from victims to villains, have dimensions that have a reader feeling about them from multiple perspectives. There’s a sense of realness in their behaviors that makes us able to understand them, if not condone their actions.

Even for a urban fantasy or paranormal murder mystery novel, having the author write characters that a reader would find engaging and relatable, even while we laugh at the “nosiness” make this a series I can’t wait to continue.

Plus I want to visit any bookstore with the name Quill & Tide. I’m sold.

Another winner I’m happy to share.

Witches of Willow Cove (2 book series)

A Novel Death #1

Tides of Betrayal #2

Buy link

Book 1 of 2: Witches of Willow Cove

Blurb

Rowan Page has a plan.

It is not a good plan, but it is technically a plan. She’ll come to Willow Cove, sort out the seaside bookshop her late aunt left behind, sell the property before the money runs out, and move on with her life.

Quill & Tide has other ideas.

The shelves are beautiful but impossible to navigate. The bathroom mirror keeps leaving messages in her dead aunt’s handwriting. And Moss, the sea-glass gray cat who came with the building, keeps glowing every time someone lies.

Rowan would love to pretend all of that is normal.

Unfortunately, denial gets harder when a bestselling thriller author drops dead at the town’s Masques & Manuscripts festival, right in front of half the waterfront.

The police have a suspect. The town has gossip. Moss has strong feelings about everyone involved, most of them unflattering. And Rowan has questions she really should stop asking, especially once they lead to a stolen grimoire and secrets Aunt Oona apparently took to the grave.

Willow Cove is charming, magical, and very bad at minding its own business.

Rowan was supposed to sell the bookshop and leave.

Instead, she may have inherited a murder mystery and one extremely judgmental cat.

Publication date

June 15, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

213 pages

Book 1 of 2

Witches of Willow Cove

Review: Twice Bitten (Fangs and Fur Book 1) by S.E. Babin

Rating : 4⭐️

I’m a fan of this author so I immediately picked up Twice Bitten, the beginning of S.E. Babin’s Fangs and Fur series. A paranormal tale about a hedge witch who gets mixed up with the politics of the vampire/werewolf conference by way of a traumatic encounter is off to a good start here.

Babin is excellent at establishing a complex plot that will keep expanding into ever greater detail and often wilder realms and storylines. I can definitely see this happening with Fangs and Fur and the main group of characters Babin is starting out with.

Hint. Thankfully, this author can take the main female character on quite the twisted path with regard to her final romantic partner, so just know it might not be one of the top two atm.

First there’s Alex, a hedge witch working as a barista with a black market apothecary business on the side. She’s an orphan with a “missing” mother and a father of unknown origin.

Alex becomes the object of an obsessive vampire, Beckett, and ends up in the middle of a mysterious species turf battle between vampire and wolf shifter. That brings in the next major characters and conflicts.

Alric, the Vampire Prime and Silas is the Wolf King, both working on an inter species conference. Until a traumatic event with Alex upsets everything.

I’m not a fan of Alric. He’s got major non consent issues, and frankly red flags plastered around him everywhere. And smacks heavily of another MMC in another series I despised.

Silas is running a close second.

Like Leo the chauffeur/bodyguard for Alric. He’s got great potential going forward.

And Babin, if she’s going to be as consistent as she has in her previous series, will make this an elaborate and exciting journey for Alex, magically and romantically.

So I’m not going to assume who it might be from the characters at the first story.

Very entertaining and a great start to this series.

Fangs and Fur:

Twice Bitten #1

Bite Club #2 – Jan 11,2027

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Book 1 of 2: Fangs and Fur

Blurb

I was bitten by a vampire AND a werewolf. Now everyone wants a piece of me.

I never wanted to be a powerful witch. I’m happiest pulling espresso shots at the Three Beans café and keeping my magic secret.

But trouble is brewing…

When a turf war between vampires and shifters erupts outside the café, I get caught between the irresistibly charming Vampire Prime and the ruggedly handsome Shifter King. As these two apex predators blindly tear into each other, I am bitten, clawed, and left for dead.

My magic flares just in time to save my life, but there are… side effects. Suddenly, I find myself staring at customers’ necks. And feeling suspiciously twitchy before the full moon.

It’s impossible but… am I transforming into a vampire and a werewolf?

The Vampire Prime finds me immediately. Captivated by my scent, he tempts me with danger and luxury. The Shifter King is equally obsessed, and determined to claim me for his pack.

I am caught between them once more—but this time it’s me that they’re fighting over. And since my new blood brings strange new powers, it won’t be long before I’m the most wanted prey in town…

Second Sky

Publication date

August 10, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

326 pages

Book 1 of 2

Fangs and Fur

Review: The Bone Charm (The Haunted Ranch Mysteries #8) by Sara Bourgeois

Rating: 4.75⭐️

The Bone Charm brings the beautifully written paranormal mystery series , The Haunted Ranch Mysteries by Sara Bourgeois to a heartwarming, richly satisfying conclusion.

Through 8 books, nine of you count the prequel, Claire’s development starting from a woman who has fled failures in her life back in Chicago, fired from her job and dumped by her fiancé to arrive in a small town in Arizona and a ranch left to her by a aunt.

Slowly she’s accepted that the dusty, weird town of Perdido Springs and her desert life out on Whispering Saguaro Ranch is where she belongs. The ranch becomes an animal sanctuary in odd scenarios, each a memorable character themselves and, the ranch is inhabited by ghosts, fully realized and completely a part of Claire’s life and the series.

Each book has a murder mystery, the casualty one that leaves a wound upon the community in multiple ways. Physically and emotionally and metaphysically damaging the magic that surrounds the desert and town.

That happens here.

The townspeople, like Buddy Kern feel incredibly real, as part of the landscape that the author describes so realistically and with such great detail. They’re believable in their crustiness and weariness from the everyday realities of ranch life in the heat of the desert.

And don’t get me started on how much I love Oso the livestock guardian dog lost in his grief while still watching his flock.

The thoughtful investigation, the way the case was resolved, both of them, because there was several aspects to this particular murder mystery that needed to be finalized.

And Sara Bourgeois brought Clair’s journey to a close with her role being tied to her land and town in a way that makes sense. She’s grown and become grounded, by her ranch, the animals, the land itself. And her magic has evolved as she has.

The end acknowledges her journey, her growth, and her future there. It’s all tied up together beautifully. And I’ve feel so thrilled and happy for this series to end like this.

One of my favorites. Highly recommended. As is the author.

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries (8 book series)

Last Call in Chicago #0.5 prequel

Death Rides The Desert #1

Bones and Cactus Blooms #2

Spirits of the Saguaro #3

Tombstones with a View #4

Body Beneath the Wither #5

Death Waits at Dead Rock #6

Skulls and Sunlit Secrets #7

The Bone Charm #8

Buy link

Book 8 of 8: The Haunted Ranch Mysteries

Blurb

Claire Caldwell’s life at Whispering Saguaro Ranch is never quiet. Between escape-artist goats, a rooster with a personal grudge against her wedding ring, and a spirit fox who disappears every night on business of his own, she’s learned to expect trouble in feathers, fur, or both.

Then Socorro Vega, the elderly herb seller from the farmers market, is found dead on a desert trail.

The county blames the heat. Claire might have believed them if she hadn’t gone to rescue Socorro’s goats and her grieving Great Pyrenees, Oso. One touch of a carved bone charm in Socorro’s kitchen shows Claire what really happened. A dark room. Hands pressed over an old woman’s face. A desperate voice begging her to sign a piece of paper.

Plenty of people wanted what Socorro owned. Her forty acres include one of the last live springs in a drying valley. Her handmade charms are worth a fortune to the right collector. Even her closest relative has debts he can’t outrun. Unfortunately, the sheriff has already closed the case, and visions from a dead woman’s necklace aren’t evidence.

While Claire and her friends search for something they can prove, Perdido Springs begins coming apart in ways no one can explain. Animals panic without cause. Lights wander through the cemetery. Ghostly cowboys flee into the desert. Socorro wasn’t simply gathering herbs all those years. She was tending a hidden boundary around the town, and her murder left part of it wide open.

Finding Socorro’s killer is only the beginning. If Claire can’t finish the work Socorro died protecting, whatever is pressing against that broken boundary may soon find its way through.

July 28, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

154 pages

Book 8 of 8

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries

Review: Neverthorn (Of Quirks and Curses Book 1) By Shannon Mayer

Rating: 4⭐️

Shannon Mayer is a hit or miss writer for me. Some stories I think she writes are just wonderful, well plotted with amazing characters. Then there’s those books I find have terrific points and elements but include one or two aspects of the story that make me put it down, permanently.

Neverthorn, the first book of Of Quirks and Curses series by Shannon Mayer, is a bit of both. Mayer’s previous dark urban fantasy academy thriller, Shadowspell (2021) is amazing. Now comes Neverthorn, Of Quirks and Curses, it’s not a YA novel although there’s some similarities.

It has some really interesting elements about it. Starting immediately with Harlow, a 29 year old magical thief, who, along with her younger non-magical sister, is dragged unwillingly back to Neverthorn Academy, a place she left and swore never to return to.

As with these urban fantasy academy mystery series, the main character gathers together a group of misfits around her. This time it’s another group of older people, thrown together into a magical House, who’ve come from a variety of normal lifestyles outside of the magical life because they sucked at magic.

This is a great element. A group of adults brought back to an academy for purposes unknown, most of them with “weak magic “, who were bullied when they were younger there.

I loved watching them gell as a group, definitely a “us vs them” atmosphere. But with such a fantastic plot element, Mayer has a hard time hanging onto the characters ages and writing them as credible adults of 29 and older. More and more, their personalities start to present as younger than they should be. They soon feel like early 20’s, if that. And an interesting plot idea is being lost.

The School is certainly harsh as is its situation. The scenes are laid out in rich detail and the darkness of the magic of the villain is spookily drawn into the narrative. Very well executed.

However for every nice twist that’s revealed, there’s a major plot or storyline that’s been easily telegraphed by Mayer’s execution so that the reader can see who is actually the villain (wink, wink) and how the entire series will play out without needing to read it. It’s just that heavy handed.

I’m going to because I’m sure there’s some interesting twists along the journey. But yes, I have to say I have a good idea of how it will go down. And if you have read enough of these books, you’ll see it too.

It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

And the second book is out so the reader can head immediately forward to the how it’s resolved.

I’m recommending it because it’s still enjoyable to read.

Of Quirks and Curses (2 book series)

Neverthorn #1

Heathermoor #2

Buy link

Book 1 of 2: Of Quirks and Curses

Blurb

In a realm where magic reigns, a legendary Hero once stood against the encroaching darkness. But with his death, hope dwindled, and the best the world can muster is Harlow Daygon—a thief, magic school dropout, and notorious troublemaker.

At nearly thirty, Harlow can’t even cast a simple rune without blundering it. So why does anyone think she can take up the mantle of Hero? Reluctantly, she’s dragged back to Neverthorn Academy with seven former classmates, tasked with training to confront and defeat the Villain of their world.

But the challenges are stacked against her:

Professor Hot-As-Sin makes it clear she’s a failure.

Professor Used-To-Be-A-Mean-Girl has a vendetta.

And lurking in her past is a secret so dark it could reveal she’s not the Hero the world needs—but the next Villain.

With fate hanging in the balance, can Harlow embrace her destiny before the shadows claim her?

Hijinks Ink Publishing

Publication date

July 22, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

529 pages

Review: A Witch’s Legacy (Drakethorn Legal Book 1) by Michael Anderle and Isabel Campbell

Rating: 3⭐️

Michael Anderle is an extremely prolific author who often co writes his books and series with several other authors, Isabel Campbell among them.

And I admit I often pick up a book by him because the premise is intriguing, offering something I haven’t seen before in a paranormal/fantasy or science fiction novel.

That happens with A Witch’s Legacy, the first book in the Drakethorn Legal series.

It has a really great storyline about a main female character who is a lawyer who turns out to be a dragon. There’s so much potential there for interesting character history, courtroom drama, and, well dragon related stuff.

Stacy Drake, a lawyer who has an eye for cases for the underdog, doesn’t know she’s a dragon until she starts blacking out . Turns out she’s a dragon or the offspring of a dragon and a witch.

It starts off entertaining and with all the drama and elements that drew me into this story. But then begins to lose me.

Anderle is very good at writing action and fantasy stories. He can build worlds and make them real. But here the bridges between Stacy’s character and storyline and how we get to her father and his past and the fantasy isn’t well established.

She’s mad at dad. He’s fabulously wealthy. Huge castle and estate. She sees him again and wonder of wonders, the servants are gone, estate is looking shabby, and our young lawyer says nothing about it. Her dad doesn’t look so hot either. Any chance of Stacy mentioning that? No.

She’s supposedly extremely intelligent, great attorney. Yet time after time, things slide right by her. Not just her father and the past. But SMH plot points that make a reader wonder about the character’s motivations and smarts.

Then there’s the entire she’s supposed to be a dragon but we get the magic of her mother, so there’s that. A bit disappointing and the magical system we do get is never explained but more on the poof, it’s magical thing. Not very exciting.

I finally finished it but nothing made me feel as though I had to go further.

Interesting. But the potential for more was what brought me here.

Cover by Mihaela Voicu

Drakethorn Legal (With Michael Anderle)

A Witch’s Legacy (Book 1)

Scales of Truth (Book 2)

Buy link

Book 1 of 6: Drakethorn Legal

Blurb

You don’t read books about lawyers.

Neither did she — until the lawyer turned out to be a dragon.

Stacy Drake champions the people no one else will fight for. Evicted single moms. Bullied shop owners. An entire nation the city wants to bulldoze. She buried her old-money family name so every courtroom win would be hers and hers alone — and she’s very, very good at making smug, powerful men squirm.

Then a masked man jumps her in an alley with a knife and a warning. She blacks out. She wakes up with no memory, a bloodied shirt, and a headline about three attackers found torn apart — “WITNESS CLAIMS SUPERHUMAN ATTACK.”

The truth is older than she could imagine. Her estranged father is the last Red Dragon. Her dead mother was a powerful witch. And Stacy is both — just as the rival she keeps beating in court hires something inhuman to bring him her head.

A snarky, big-hearted urban fantasy for readers of Annette Marie and Lindsay Buroker — dragon fire, witch magic, found family, and an underdog you’ll be c heering by page two. Clean read, no spice, all bite.

One-click A Witch’s Legacy and start the series readers binge in a weekend.

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