Review:  Midnight Storm (The Witch’s Bestiary #2)  by Evangeline Hunter

Rating:  3⭐️

After enjoying Hidden Storm, the first book in The Witch’s Bestiary  by Evangeline Hunter, unfortunately, I found Midnight Storm suffering from second story syndrome.

It just doesn’t carry through on the potential from the original story.  Many of the interesting elements, the Bestiary itself are relegated to just barest scenes and the fact that Alicia Stormwell is a powerful rescuer and ally of exotic species is an inconsistent aspect of this story. 

The werewolf shifter she helped and is now her assistant, Kyle Matthews, is the most problematic character here. He’s still in search of his missing sister and wants Alicia to continue to help him find her. No issue here. 

However, his behavior is extremely immature. For a grown adult. When they run into dead ends and Alicia, reasonably wants to enlist all the assistance they can get, police aid included, he objects. Whining, throwing tantrums. 

As a reader, I both want to stop reading or put that character in a timeout.  He’s that childish. 

Only the author wants us to continue to connect with him and accept that this intelligent,highly powerful woman is attracted to this toddler? Just no.

And the storyline is further proof that the series has lost its original path when during the last section where the sister, just as irritating as her brother, has been located, it’s among the very abused exotics Alicia’s life is focused around. 

But that’s hardly mentioned except for a sentence at the end of the story.

It should be a huge deal but it’s not. And even the sister doesn’t mention her role in their damage. It’s all about her.

I’m surprised I finished this. And I’m debating going forward. The only reason why I would is that wolf boy isn’t in the next book . A plus.

No recommendation here.

The Witch’s Bestiary (5 book series):

Hidden Storm #1

Midnight Storm #2

Island Storm #3

Dragon Storm #4

Rising Storm #5

Buy link

        Midnight Storm: A Fast-paced Humorous Urban Fantasy Book (The Witch’s Bestiary Book 2)

    

Blurb 

A brutal tournament, a missing sister, and a witch with nothing left to lose.

I’m Alicia Stormwell, a witch who spends her days rescuing fantastic creatures and my nights battling the dark underworld of magical animal trafficking. But nothing prepares me for the mess I’m about to walk into.

When my hunky werewolf friend, Kyle Matthews, asks for my help in finding his missing sister, Sabrina, I’m all in. Our search leads us to the Velvet Claw, a shadowy organization running a supernatural fight ring where lives are currency and losing isn’t an option.

As the tournament reaches its sinister climax, I must race against time and use every ounce of my magical skill to rescue Sabrina before the Velvet Claw gets its claws deeper into her life, Kyle’s, and mine.

The Witch’s Bestiary includes:

· Witches, Werewolves, and Vampires

· Hidden magic and a magical underworld

A slow-burn / RH romance

· Fantastic creatures

· A badass female main character with snark and humor

Review: Bound By Fate (Blind Fury Book 1) by Annabel Chase 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Bound By Fate (Blind Fury Book 1) is a new series by Annabel Chase and the first book is a terrific one.

I absolutely love the premise of a paranormal retirement community, along with the attendant issues of its otherworldly residents in their “later, much much later years “ of existence. Witches, vampires who have lived extremely long and rich lives and now live out their lives together. Some lively souls, enjoying their ancient lives while others exhibit significant signs of dementia. 

It’s a familiar setting and group made fantastical in a complex and intimate story. One that will flow together with a weekly meeting of cardsharp players and fanatical cliques of pickleball teams. All beautifully written and believable. 

Chase treats them with kindness, respect and compassion. These people are layered with degrees of history and poignancy of life at its for some.

The assistant head of their security team is an enigma, Maya August, an intriguing figure herself. She’s in hiding on this retirement island off of Savannah,Georgia. She’s been personally isolating herself from everyone.  And that gives Chase ample room for her to develop Maya’s personality and reveal bits about her background as events happen.

And, wonderfully, Chase does this by bringing Maya into the community. She finally fully acknowledges her role as protector and part of them. We are enveloped by their presence as well as Maya’s ability to make her own choices for herself.

But there’s also mystery, murders, and outside forces of power here. One of those includes a person called Zale, someone who will figure into the series. 

I love everything about this. The many characters, types of beings, the various mythology the author is introducing (she’s excellent at it), but above all, this realistic yet not retirement community of powerful paranormal beings. All who have issues we can identify with but on extraordinary levels. 

I really can’t wait for the next story to arrive. 

Btw, HOA’s are still awful no matter what the setting. FYI. 

A winner and so happy to share with you. 

Cover design by Trif

Blind Fury:

Bound By Fate #1

Bargain With Fate #2 – May 26,2026

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 2: Blind Fury 

Blurb 

 Most people move to a magical retirement island for peace and quiet—and pickleball.

Maya August moved there to disappear.

As the assistant director of security for Evermore Island—a secret community where elderly paranormals fade into obscurity—Maya has built the perfect hiding place. Her days consist of magical mishaps, avoiding the clothing-optional tennis courts, and definitely not getting attached to the island’s strays (feline or otherwise).

Then her boss vanishes. A resident turns up dead. And Maya’s carefully constructed refuge begins to crumble.

She could handle a murder investigation. She’s handled much, much worse. What she can’t handle is the HOA president forcing her back to the mainland after five years in self-imposed exile to meet Vale, the mysterious and powerful figure who’s claimed jurisdiction over her case.

But Maya isn’t interested in playing by his rules or anyone else’s.

Because if Maya can’t solve this case and keep her past buried, there are fates far worse than letting a killer walk free.

Perfect for fans of morally gray heroines, slow-burn tension, and retirement home chaos meets magical noir, Bound By Fate is the first book in the new Blind Fury-urban fantasy series.

Publisher

Red Palm Press LLC

Publication date

February 12, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

276 pages

Book 1 of 2

Blind Fury

Review:  Hidden Storm (The Witch’s Bestiary #1) by Evangeline Hunter

Rating:  4.5⭐️

Hidden Storm is a great start to this complete series about Alicia Stormwell , a powerful witch who runs The Bestiary, a paranormal animal rescue for all types of supernatural creatures. She also goes out at night undercover to save those who need her help from exotic fantasy animal trafficking or worse. 

A murder and a vampire detective set off the mystery of the story which brings Alicia into the investigation of the death of a local girl and the wolf lying beside her.

The paranormal animals that live with her and how her Bestiary is set up is imaginative and intriguing. I could have spent so much more narrative time in there just exploring the spaces and creatures she’s saved. 

The mystery is excellent although the resolution is a bit too quickly resolved. 

Neither male character is particularly well developed but I hope future stories will show them as more defined and fleshed out. They both have so much potential. 

The setting is atmospheric and believable. It’s in the small details, the barest of memorable elements that make this world real, sad and heartbreaking at times. 

I’m looking forward to seeing more of the characters and their stories. 

A winner for those who love paranormal mystery and fantasy fiction. 

The Witch’s Bestiary (5 book series):

Hidden Storm #1

Midnight Storm #2

Island Storm #3

Dragon Storm #4

Rising Storm #5

Buy link

 Book 1 of 5: The Witch’s Bestiary 

Blurb 

**COMPLETE SERIES**

Rescuing fantastic beasts is child’s play. Clearing the name of a ridiculously handsome werewolf? Hold my broomstick. 

My name is Alicia Stormwell. By day, I run The Bestiary, a nonprofit that saves and rehabilitates legendary critters. By night, I don my witch’s hat and battle the dark underworld of supernatural animal traffickers.

When a witch is found dead and a wolf is accused of murder, a vampire detective from the NYPD’s Magical Crimes Division hires me as a consultant. I take in the suspected hound only to discover he’s not just any fabled creature, but a werewolf. And he’s been framed.

Now, with a murderer on the loose and a hunky shifter in my care, I’ve got to use every bit of my powers and questionable instincts to uncover the truth before the killer turns his sights on me, and I end up the next witch in a body bag.

The Witch’s Bestiary includes:

· Witches, Werewolves, and Vampires

· Hidden magic and a magical underworld

· A slow-burn / RH romance

· Fantastic creatures

· A badass female main character with snark and humor

Bouquets and Blades Press

Publication date

August 26, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

184 pages

Book 1 of 5

The Witch’s Bestiary

Review: Virtual Games (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 5) by P.L. Matthews 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Although it’s not specifically mentioned, Virtual Games brings The Digital Detective Mystery Series to a happy ending where all the characters have moved forward in their lives, growing up in some ways and developing new relationships and friendships, finding new powers and potential partners. 

And it happens in a very surprising way. With Vampire Games and visits from characters from an another Matthews series, the Green Witch. Those who have read this series will love this crossover element. I haven’t and it will likely send me there to see what it is about. 

But the story here has more than enough to keep a reader engaged. Several plots, an interesting murder mystery included that brings back part of Skye’s past and an old college painful memory. 

Matthews balances the needs of Skye and Seb’s relationship to move forward along with those of the other characters, as well as the individual characters whose personalities and powers continue to be developed by the events and storyline.

It’s a dynamic narrative, one that’s so powerful and jammed with interesting elements and characters that it leaves room for additional drama and stories even though it’s a satisfying finale as well. We want more but are happy with this too. 

Perhaps Matthews will pick up this universe with the sister, Zephyra’s story. That would make sense and for great storytelling.

Very entertaining and engaging. I even liked Bob finally!

The Digital Detective Mystery Series (5 book series):

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Virtual Games: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Level up… or get eliminated. Permanently.

Skye Sanders, tech mage extraordinaire, is on the trail of a hit-and-run—only to discover it’s tangled up with the infamous Vampire Games.

Her boyfriend Seb’s invitation to “help from the sidelines” quickly becomes a front-row seat to sabotage. The Games test skill, strength, and cunning. Physical gauntlets, brain-bending riddles, and the occasional death-defying stunt are fair play.

With rival teams closing in and tensions simmering hotter than Sydney in January, Skye must unravel a sabotage trail before it claims its next victim. But in a contest where every competitor guards secrets like treasure and alliances shift faster than a server crash, even her sharpest code might not be enough to keep everyone alive—least of all Seb, who’s squarely in the crosshairs.

The stakes are literal. And losing? Not an option.

If you enjoy urban-fantasy mysteries with magic, humour, and a clever heroine—think books by Patricia Briggs, Hailey Edwards, Heather G. Harris, Annette Marie, or Kim Harrison—Virtual Games should be right up your alley.

Publication date

December 17, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

358 pages

Book 5 of 5

The Digital Detective Mystery Series

Review: Storm Signal (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 4) by P.L. Matthews 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Storm Signal is the book where it all starts to come together. Characters that I wasn’t crazy about get their redemption, main characters get deeper background information and more importantly, they are more detailed in their powers and emotional development.

A growth for the series and characters that will continue through the next novel. 

As with all the novels of this series, Storm Signal picks up on the cliffhanger of the last story with the entrance of Skye’s older sister, Zephyra, back into her life and city of Sydney. Of course, bringing with her chaos, mystery, murder, and old family painful memories for Skye.

Storm Signal weaves multiple storylines with great success. Matthews gives us insight into the Fae political system along with some very important revelations about main characters. By the end of the book, several characters have made progress in their respective relationships, like Seb and Skye whose journey together is a major part of the book.  New ones are also being established also alongside others already underway.

I throughly enjoyed this book. The plots were highly entertaining, the characters were great and the relationships between each other engaging and believable.

A real winner. 

The Digital Detective Mystery:

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Storm Signal: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 4)

    

Blurb 

Trouble runs in the family

Skye hasn’t seen her sister Zephyra since she left Fairyland to live on Earth with Grandma and Grandpa. But now Zephyra’s back—blowing into town like a cyclone on a mission. Literally.

The police are on her trail, there’s a murder, and sibling rivalry? Yeah, that’s about to reach new heights. 

Skye’s tech magic and Zephyra’s wild air magic don’t exactly blend.

Enter Skye’s vampire boyfriend, Seb—brooding, mysterious—and Fred, her charming, sarcastic best friend with a knack for trouble. The two don’t see eye to eye. Not that they’re jealous of each other over Skye… right?

With the storm building—both magical and emotional—the sisters will have to figure out how to work together to clear Zephyra’s name. But as tech and air collide in a whirlwind of trouble, the real question is: can they solve the case before they throttle each other first?

date

September 9, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

368 pages

Book 4 of 5

The Digital Detective Mystery Series

Humorous fantasy, amateur sleuth mystery, urban fantasy mystery , women sleuths, no spi

Review: Kill Switch (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 3) by P.L. Matthews

 

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Kill Switch brings in new players and adds depth of knowledge to those who are already familiar to the reader. In this case, the focus is on Dina. 

From the formula Matthews has set up for her series, each novel ends with a cliffhanger that starts off the following storyline. We know from Fatal Error that Dina’s gone missing when her younger sister shows up at Skye’s townhouse asking for help. 

This event sets up multiple scenarios and plots, several interesting investigations, new characters are introduced and reveals of potential relationships as well.

Matthews packs a lot into the book. 

I wish she’d give us more details about the social structure and hierarchies of naiad culture because that’s pertinent information here. It feels glossed over. 

Other things that take away from a higher rating are discussion of the power of the mages. Whether it’s a tech mage or metal mage, what Skye or Jimmy are capable of or where they pull their power from isn’t entirely clear. That’s frustrating. 

The circle of found friends is an engaging group, however one like Fred keeps being a red flag with his jealousy, unexplained bigotry towards vampires and overall “smarmy” behavior. Perhaps the author has some sort of storyline in mind for this. Next to Bob, he remains the least connectable personality here. 

Kill Switch is a terrific urban fantasy mystery, one that is suspense filled and packed with action and great characters. 

Easy to binge read too. 

No spice romance.

I really like the changeup in cover. Terrific work. More suitable for the character in every aspect of her life.

The Digital Detective Mystery:

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Kill Switch: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 3)

    

Blurb 

72 Hours. Time is running out.

Skye Sanders, tech mage extraordinaire, can debug a corrupted hard drive in her sleep, but flipping pancakes? Total catastrophe. And as for people stuff? Let’s not even go there.

When her friend’s sister turns up announcing Dina’s missing, Skye drops everything to help.

Something’s not right at the hospital where Dina works, and the clues are as scarce as a working printer when you need one. Armed with two bickering teens, a sarcastic magpie and her parkour crew, Skye is determined to find Dina before it’s too late.

But when her vampire boyfriend (or beau, as Seb insists) shows up, tensions rise—especially with her best friend Fred.

Skye needs a mediator and a dose of luck. The clock is ticking.

Note: While part of a series, Kill Switch can be read as a standalone mystery — written in Australian English and set in the magic city of Sydney.

If you enjoy books by K M Shea, Heather G. Harris and Kim Harrison, then you’ll love this riveting urban fantasy story with a touch of humour and romance.

date

June 11, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

356 pages

Book 3 of 5

The Digital Detective Mystery Series

Review: Fatal Error (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 2) by P.L. Matthews

 

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Fatal Error, the second in The Digital Detective Mystery series about a neurodivergent fae tech mage and her magpie familiar, filled in more of Skye Sanders back history and her family dysfunction.

And how she and magpie Bob ended up together. 

Fatal Error picks up after the cliffhanger of the first book, where it was announced that their friend,Fred, was in jail, suspected of murder. 

This will bring the burgeoning “Scooby squad “ of new friends together to solve the mystery and clear Fred’s reputation. 

Matthews lets the reader start to know each of the small group better, Luna the introverted werewolf, Dina the nurse and hiding the fact she’s a naiad, Josh the young street savvy intern from Seb’ Bellmont House, Jimmy the mechanic and metal mage,with Fred being the successful trader and only human of the group. 

Most are still character outlines at best but each story fills in a little more detail on each of them.

The mystery created along with the suspense is excellent. Following the investigation right to the aha moment is highly satisfying. 

Bob remains annoying and Fred is creeping up there as an irritating personality with his jealousy, and actions. 

The rest are really entertaining and I’m loving where the series is going.

The Digital Detective Mystery:

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Fatal Error: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Sometimes the rules can take a hike.

Tech mage Skye Sanders is a stickler for the truth—and for rules. That is, until her friend Fred is accused of murder.

Skye’s 98.5% sure Fred didn’t do it, though his public blowout with the victim doesn’t look great. With the only other suspect boasting an airtight alibi, the police seem all too eager to pin it on Fred.

Enter Seb, a vampire with beautiful brown eyes, and secrets of his own. Skye isn’t sure she can trust him, but with sparks flying and time running out, she may have to risk letting him get closer… even if it means diving into dangerous vampire politics.

Can Skye uncover the truth before she lands in the crosshairs herself?

★★★
If you enjoy books by K M Shea, Heather G. Harris and Kim Harrison, then you’ll love this riveting urban fantasy story with a touch of humour and romance.

Publication date

March 11, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

344 pages

Review: Shift of Rule (Shifter Lords Book 6) by S.E. Babin

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Babin really decided to triple down on the narrative twists and shocks in the series here and it’s wonderful.  The author takes her character of Evie into deeper development in about every aspect of her life, pulling her close friends along with her. 

Her complicated relationship dynamics with her father and mother, both gods in their own rights, are a huge part of the story. Not surprisingly.  But with the fae and the devious nature of his relationship with his daughter, her own growth is perhaps the biggest challenge and factor here. 

Among Babin’s many plot lines and characters effectively adding obstacles to Evie’s path, the main character is Caelan, Lord of the Shifters and perhaps my least favorite character. He’s everything I dislike in a MC, and explanations withstanding, he remains one among many better characters.

This book hasn’t changed my opinion on this character. 

The surprising twists and new developments, including bringing in more mythology, just heightened the tension and depth of excitement that Babin is already building for Evie’s character and her growing found family.

I’m so excited for the next book and chapter in Evie’s life. The hints given here are thrilling. Especially if Babin continues on with some old better avenues for romance for Evie. 

Highly recommended!

So well written and beautifully executed. 

Cover design by Covers by Christian

Shifter Lords (11 book series):

Shift of Heart #1

Shift of Morals #2

Power Shift #3

Shifting Winds #4

Shifting Resolve #5

Shift of Rule #6

Shift of the Wild #7 – March 3,2026

Goddess Shifting #8 – Aug 26, 2026

Final Shift #9 – tbd

Buy link 

        Shift of Rule (Shifter Lords Book 6)

    

Blurb 

Evie finally said yes.

That’s when the universe decided to laugh in her face. 

After finally accepting Caelan’s proposal, Evie was ready to put down true roots and start a life with the Shifter Lord. But nothing in Evie’s life stays peaceful for too long.

When a beautiful and seductive female shifter from her fiancé’s past slinks into town, she comes bearing grim tidings, splintering Evie’s happily ever after at the seams. Furious and heartbroken, Evie throws herself into training with her father to finally claim the fae crown and forget the shifter who shattered her heart.

Meanwhile, Moira’s chaotic new powers are becoming a real problem. Between magical flare-ups in the shop and the accidental summoning of interdimensional beings, Evie has her hands full dealing with everything being dropped into her lap. Then her banshee disappears, and her mother shows up to declare open war, claiming Evie does not belong to the fae, the shifters, or the Chimeras. She belongs to her.

Once the ancient gods smell blood in the water, they come sniffing around seeking to ally with Evie during her darkest moments, but things are about to get so much worse. After all this time, Evie’s darkest secret explodes into the light, and the fallout might destroy everything she’s fought so hard to protect.

Publisher

Oliver Heber Books

Publication date

January 27, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

272 pages

Book 6 of 11

Shifter Lords

Review:  Bookwyrm Acquisitions (The Book Hoard Collective 1) by Constance Lopez

Rating:4.5⭐️

Bookwyrm Acquisitions, the first in The Book Hoard Collective urban fantasy series by Constance Lopez, is an absolute delight of a story.  

Lopez is new to me as an author. However , I need to learn more about her because this book clearly establishes her characters, setting up her mysteries and connected multiple family tensions and challenges. It’s a terrific read!

Here be dragons. And vampires. And merfolk bodyguards and so many intriguing fantastical beings.  

The first met is Camila “Cammie”Zeleny, the younger daughter of a broken dragon clan.  Since the death of her father at the hands of another dragon clan, she’s avoided all other dragons, clan politics and even what is left of her own family. 

A brilliant booklover, Cammie, works at a local bookstore, sourcing rare books for clients. Which brings her to a new chapter of her life when mysterious wealthy client Nic purchases the very same book she’s been looking for herself.

The story that follows is full of fabulous characters, mystery, and action. I could see where part of the story was headed but I enjoyed every single step of the journey that Cammie is being taken on. 

She’s powerless at the start but as events happen, she starts to change. Lopez is creating a believable character whose traumatic past and pain has contributed to her character’s lack of development. And finally she’s moving forward. 

I can’t wait to see her continue in this series and the growth she’s achieving. Plus the author left us some tantalizing hints and details about her and the future of all of her characters to come.

Highly recommended.

Cover and title art by Moorbooks Design

The Book Hoard Collective :

  • Bookwyrm Acquisitions #1
  • Bookwyrm Deceptions #2 – coming sometime in 2026

Buy link

 Book 1 of 1: The Book Hoard Collective 

Blurb 

How far would you go to get something you really wanted? Like, this-is-the-key-to-achieving-your-ultimate-happiness wanted?

Hi, I’m Cammie. I work at a bookshop, I love a quiet night in, and I’m a dragonshifter with no magic to speak of. Which means unless I can grow my hoard—and by extension, my magic—I’m not much different than a human.

But then the perfect book—the exact book I need to kickstart my book hoard—practically drops into my lap, only to be snatched away when a filthy rich, ridiculously hot guy sweeps in and claims it before I can.

Rude.

Now I’m desperate to get it back, and I’m willing to resort to extreme measures if necessary—measures like bribery, mild stalking, or… taking a job offer?

When the gorgeous book thief offers me the book of my dreams and a huge salary just to find him more books, how can I say no?

Except there’s a catch: the offer comes with a non-negotiable temporary relocation. If I want my book, I have to live in the hot, mysterious billionaire’s castle while I work for him. And living with him means inevitably getting mixed up in his business—some of which might be far more dangerous than I’ve bargained for.

I’m not that desperate… am I?

Bookwyrm Acquisitions is the first book in a new urban fantasy trilogy for fans of Shari Tapscott, KM Shea, and Kenley Davidson. If you love found family, animal companions, and clean romance, dive in today!

date

October 28, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

313 pages

Book 1 of 1

The Book Hoard Collective

Review: The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1 The Music Box – Part 1. (Crawshanks Guide to the Occult) by Vawn Cassidy) 

Rating: 4🌈

With this crossover series in the The Dead Serious Universe, two previously supporting characters are finally getting their own story and relationship series.  

That’s which Harrison Ames, recently relocated to town to look for his mother. And former DI, now PI Sam Stone, with his own connections to Danny and Tris, and magical powers of his own. 

Both characters have figured largely in prior stories, and author Cassidy takes many of these impactful moments and dramatic events from these novels and repurposes them here.  The reader gets to see certain scenes again, only this time from either Harrison’s or Sam’s perspective. 

I have to admit I loved (spoiler alert) seeing Chan meet Death all over again. I can’t get enough of this couple, so this was an enormous surprise and plus for me. 

I think Sam turned out to be my favorite character, more mature and better defined character of the pair. 

Or maybe it’s because Harrison spends the entire story lying to everyone around him. Sam, Tristan, Danny. Even as the mystery and investigation surrounding the magical bookstore, the portal, and other aspects of that storyline, Harrison, knowing full well he had important information and details about the events surrounding the ongoing crisis, kept quiet. 

He’s not a teenager. He’s in his thirties. Not communicating highly needed information to people who consider him a friend in a time of crisis. 

No, I long ago learned that I’d had enough of this type of character. Whether the author needed him to be incommunicative due too plot purposes or considered it a necessary part of his personality, either way it led to a disconnect for me. 

Yes to Sam, no to Harrison. And there are things I do like about him. Like his dynamic with his dads. So funny. But everything else? No. 

I’ll continue to read because all the wonderful crossover characters and scenes.  Maybe Harrison will win me back over. Who knows. 

A definite winner otherwise. 

Cover design by Natasha Snow

Crawshanks Guide to the Occult:

The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1 The Music Box

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

 Book 1 of 1: Crawshanks Guide to the Occult 

Blurb 

The Music Box – Part 1.

Despite being raised and well loved by his two adoptive fathers Harrison Ames has always felt alone. As an incredibly powerful witch he’s never come across anyone else who can do the things he can. Moving to London from Devon, he’d hoped that if he finally gathered the courage to confront the biological mother who’d given him up as a baby, he might finally have some answers.

Sam Stone, carries scars of his own, both physical and otherwise, but he’s determined to ignore them and get on with his life. But when fate drops a gorgeous prickly red haired witch in his life, he figures his luck is finally changing.

With mediums, dead drag queens, and supernatural beings as his new friends Harrison finds himself drawn into a world of magic and chaos. But amidst all the insanity that is his life, there’s Sam, his anchor when the secrets of his biological family begin to tear his life apart…

Underside Press

Publication date

December 25, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

320 pages

Book 1 of 1

Crawshanks Guide to the Occult

 Book 1 of 1: Crawshanks Guide to the Occult