Short, adorable and great way to mesh these three series and zany group of characters.
Will you be lost if you donât know the characters or their respective relationships? Pretty much. Itâs still an entertaining read but having all the background information on whoâs who and what series they came from makes those scenes and characters more enjoyable.
Definitely a gift to the authors fans. And I love every sentence.
Cover by Katie Griffin
Series and Characters Involved:
The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernat PA (multiple shorts/crossovers)
Turns out bath bombs are actually magical portals. Or at least, in the hands of Master Mage Declan, they became portals. Even heâs not sure why.
Said magical portal connects to Rossâs bath tub.
Which means this is also now the Unholy Trifectaâs problem because Ross absolutely refuses to deal with portal magic by himself. Thanks muchly.
Tags:
Crossover time!, Unholy Trifecta, Supernat PA, Insanity of Reincarnated Mages, bath bombs gone wild, lots of bath tub hopping, I treat Canon like a Buffet but in a Gentle Way, Canon-Typical Poor Decision-Making, brain cells assemble, itâs just mindless fluff and shenanigans, Declan use your brain challenge: failed, crack treated like crack, neither author is sorry.
In the series penultimate story, author Deborah Wilde really kicks things up into the anticipated narrative high gear as the characters and storylines head towards the end.
Yes, this finishes on an agonizing climax and cliffhanger. Just a FYI.
Wilde does excellent work in continuing to make the Jewish faith, culture and religion, as well as history a major factor and foundation for the world building and characters. Itâs seamless storytelling while still being able to create a compelling paranormal universe that has vampires and demons, half demons and other otherworldly beings as a part of the plot and as citizens.
This is a rich tapestry of beings that inhabit a complex layered universe of political magical powers, scheming, racial dynamics, and horrors. To go along with the typical vices of greed, overwhelming need for power and revenge.
Agent Aviva, her Maccabee director mother, Michael, hopefully bf Vampire Crimson Prince Ezra, and team are fighting multiple battles and investigating each crimes. Her demon father and his vampire mob boss father are both threatening each of them in various ways.
And a new , more complicated villain has appeared.
Aviva has yet to totally accept her demon self, still referring to herself as Cherry Bomb, a separate entity rather than herself. Hiding her true nature is getting to be a bigger part of her story and the overall theme here. Itâs so important and well done.
Each character has depth and damage in their background. Issues they are very much still working through as events unfold. Itâs challenging and a realistic growth in a paranormal world.
Welcome to Vancouver, where the coffee’s strong, the magic’s stronger, and the murders are getting personal.
With tensions between the magic and non-magic communities already at a breaking point, Aviva goes undercover on a murder case that could shatter the cityâs fragile peace. As if that werenât enough pressure, she uncovers a deadly connection to demonsâand her own past.
But why have one code red crisis when you could have two? Enter the Ashbishop: a shadowy figure convinced a vampire breeding ritual is a good idea.
Spoiler alert: itâs not.
And forget juggling stolen moments with Ezra between supernatural smackdowns. Fed up with her work-life chaos, Aviva realizes that sometimes, the best disguise is no disguise at all.
Cherry Bomb is ready for her close-up.
Featuring a smart, funny heroine and a banter-fueled vampire romance, this wickedly addictive urban fantasy will keep you reading way past bedtime.
I love Death Over the Garden Wall because itâs a bit different from the other cases Jamie and Henri have investigated. And it goes in a different direction than what I had originally imagined.
Thereâs peril, plenty of magic, suspense and suspects to explore when the body of an old friend of Queen Reginaâs is found washed up on shore after a tumultuous night with angry guests. At her cliffhanger of a house.
Jamie, Henri, some of her Kingsmen âducklings â and the Felix trio along with her other close associates/friends are there to help them investigate and solve the mystery.
The chapter titles and handwritten ânoteâ by different characters never fail to entertain me. I love how this is framed out by the author.
While this might not be the most compelling or difficult mystery to figure out, itâs engaging and totally one I was invested in.
Another winner in a series full of outstanding writing.
Highly recommended. Highly addictive.
Love the covers.
Cover by Katie Griffin
The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):
Three modus operandi to die. Four employees, six house guests, and not a single witness.
Confusing clues and no helpful leads cloud the death of Countess Giada Barese, who washed up on shore two weeks after her mysterious disappearance. Henri and Jamie have no idea if her death is a homicide, suicide, or accidental death, for nothing adds up.
There is something strange going on, though, Jamieâs sure of that. The countess was found wearing mismatched slippers, her lover disappeared the next day, and everyone is acting shifty.
Jamie feels like sheâs playing a game of Clue, one sheâs determined to win. Whereâs a candlestick when you need one?
Talk about catastrophe magic! And it starts at a book faire! I loved the mystery and layers of Grimoires and Where to Find Them.
Itâs got books thefts galore, book lovers and collectors everywhere, Reaper grimoires going missing, and Henri has friends we didnât know about!
This has moved further into the future with Jamie being here several years later her kidnapping and more than settled down in her own life and relationships. She can, through the efforts of Henri and Seaton, at least communicate with her family, and sheâs happy.
So is Henri, enough that heâs ready for another step in his life and career. Itâs an exciting and very wonderful element here.
The three Felixâs are very much a part of this story and the group. And new characters are introduced as their roles are integral elements of the story and mystery.
We see new âinventionsâ that Jamie with Ellieâs manufacturing magic and creativity has introduced to the world and the lists at the end continue to grow.
A fabulous addition to a fantastic series. Itâs slow burn, no sex, all delightful G content. Creative, well written, beautifully plotted and executed.
A must read for me to share. Iâll be so sad whenever this series ends.
Highly recommended. Highly addictive.
Love the covers.
Cover by Katie Griffin
The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):
There is nothing more delightful than a bookfaire with his lady love. At least, until Henri learns that a grimoire belonging to the dangerous Reaperâs Set has been stolen without its protective box. When Henri and Jamie go looking for answers, they are horrified to discover more than one volume has been stolen without its protective box.
Jamie has never seen Henri so livid or frightened. The spells in the grimoires, unchecked, are powerful enough to make a building melt. Literally. Melt. They need to find them quickly, for the war-era grimoires could tear the city apart–and have already gotten a head start.
With the thief nowhere to be found and still stealing grimoires, Jamie, Henri, and Seaton are more than ready to catch him.
This was a well written and imaginative fantasy story. The first in a new series , The Unconventional Heroes by L. G. Estrella, Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf at first glance sounds more like a bar joke than a plot of a story.
But thatâs exactly what it is. The beginning of a formation of the group of Unconventional Heroes, starting with an infamous Necromancer and his very young, very capable intern, who have decided that the life they are living needs a total change. But to do that they need the approval of their Kingdomâs council.
Luckily, a war approaches. And a special army of highly skilled criminals is required by the Kingdom. Pardons, getting to keep their own castles and goodies if they work together for the Kingdom? A definite plus.
This novel launches the series so we meet Timmy, the world renowned infamous Necromancer and his scarily powerful but adorable preteen intern, Katie, and her squad of Ninja rats. Then itâs the intriguing bureaucrat, Gerald, with amazing bureaucratic skills and powers who go on a quest to get the very terrifying elf witch Avraniel (and enemy of Timmy) to join them. And kill a dragon along the way.
At only 81 pages, this has the feel of a much larger and wider range story. The characters and world is well written and the challenges as well as battles are exciting and vividly detailed.
This series is a great read. One Iâm excited to share and recommend. High adventure! Fun, and great storytelling. A complete series.
Love the covers, simple and eye catching.
Cover by L. G. Estrella.
The Unconventional Heroes Series (5 book series)
Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf #1
Two Necromancers, an Army of Golems, and a Demon Lord #2
Two Necromancers, a Dragon, and a Vampire #3
Two Necromancers, a Dwarf Kingdom, and a Sky City #4
Two necromancers, a bureaucrat, and an elf â it sounds like the start of a bad joke, only the joke is on Timmy.
Timothy Walter Bolton â better known as Timmy â has spent most of his life as a necromancer. When he isnât terrorising his enemies, heâs plotting inside his castle, which is built on top of lightless chasms filled with nameless horrors and beings of a generally malevolent and megalomaniacal nature. But after one of his latest creations, a zombie hydra-dragon-bear, tries to eat him, he decides that maybe itâs time to find a new, less dangerous, career.
But thatâs easier said than done. Heâs a wanted criminal with no shortage of powerful (and crazy) enemies, and he has a bone or two to pick with the Everton Council of Mages.
Hope arrives in the form of a new law. War is coming to Everton, and the Council is desperate. In exchange for providing some help, Timmy might just earn that pardon heâs been looking for. Of course, just because itâs possible to earn a pardon doesnât mean that itâs going to be easy.
To earn his pardon, Timmy is going to have to take down some of Evertonâs most dangerous enemies and put together a quirky group of unconventional heroes, most of whom want nothing more than to mangle him and/or the Council in as vicious a way as possible. Itâs a good thing that heâs got some help: an obnoxious ten-year-old apprentice who thinks that pink glasses are appropriate for a budding necromancer and a bumbling bureaucrat who may or may not make it through their first real fight without puking his guts up.
Wonderful.
Still, Timmyâs never been one to back down from a challenge even if their first recruit is basically the elf version of the bogeyman.
Set in the same universe as the marvelous Fantastic Fluke series, Sam Burns has a new fantastic paranormal series out, Knight and Daywalker.
The first book, Smokescreen, which ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, is an excellent read and start up.
Itâs got murder mysteries, a paranormal universe with magical characters, including two main characters who are somewhat enigmatic in their precise nature and history as well as a black kitten with a bottomless appetite. Itâs also just as intriguing as the other main characters.
Flynn Knight, has a very scary ,Morticia coded in looks, mother who rules the vampires of their city. Is Flynn a vampire? No, he talks to animals. Thatâs one of the puzzles in the story. What is Flynn? Other than absolutely engaging.
Then thereâs Davin, the Irish vampire who, courtesy of Flynnâs mother, ends up being Flynnâs business partner. But the idea of another agenda seems possible. Heâs got his own troubles and backstory to revealed.
The pace is quick. We meet many new and exciting characters. All incredible and with their own stories to explore.
And Smokescreen finishes with a startling dramatic flourish and cliffhanger. Which Iâm not unhappy about.
Iâm excited about the next story, even if itâs months away from release.
Sam Burns is an auto buy for this very reason. Definitely recommend this book.
Flynn Knight is the only (and frankly, impossible) child of the leader of the vampires in Los Angeles. He’s also a bit of a scatterbrain, a thirty-something manchild, and a private investigator. When one of his mother’s political frenemies gets killed and she asks him to investigate, he’s put between a rockâherâand a hard placeâthe fact that not a single vampire in the city will believe the answers he finds without impressive proof to back him up.
Combine that with an eighty-thousand-dollar bill he has no idea how he’s going to pay, a hit and run that has landed him a victim of the cat distribution system, and his mother trying to foist a new business partner off on him, and his life is way more complicated than he likes.
At least his new partner is nice to look at, even if he’s the weirdest vampire ever, who doesn’t seem to follow any of the usual vampire rules.
Also, why won’t this kitten stop eating?
Smokescreen is set in the Fantastic Fluke universe, starring never before seen characters and a new setting. It begins to explore Flynn Knightâs relationships, and while it contains a complete story, it does not reach the slow burn romance plot, and the main overarching plot will continue in book two, Façade.
Just no. Couldnât get past a preposterous female lead character. The more I read the worse this characterization got.
Elodie Evergreen is a newly turned vampire, a former investigative reporter back in London, now forced to start over in a new job and paranormal community in the USA. Sheâs severely unprepared for everything that she does, although the author both lets the reader know that and yet thinks that Elodieâs approach is one weâll find engaging.
Sheâs an investigative journalist. Does she research her new life? What paranormal species there are, and their lives or culture? No. Her mystery friend, Donna, helped obtain her the new job and move. But does she go with any kind of knowledge or groundwork? No. Instead she holds up the plane in an act of amazing stupidity.
Then once, before sheâs even settled, she forces herself on the editor to go against his wishes before knowing the community or townsfolk. Makes quick decisions/judgements about everything without having any sort of understanding or knowledge of the community or situation or paranormal anything. And has an immediate argument with the Sheriff while announcing she has a hidden, or not so hidden mission .
Honestly? TSTL rides high here.
Sheâs not very likable. The idea that she was ever a respectable professional journalist isnât realistic or credible either. But the author is trying hard to get the reader to believe that. Actions to the contrary.
Nor do we get any world building.
I was done. Thereâs far better similar novels and female characters than this.
Is this the scoop of a lifetime, or something far deadlier?
Starting over in Ravens Hollow was meant to be simple – a chance to adjust to my new, nocturnal existence. No men. No complications. Just a bit of light investigative journalism in a quaint magical town by the sea.
Then Pongo the pup trotted into my life, and normalcy bled away faster than my resistance to a fresh pint of blood. Iâd barely set up my desk at the Ravens Hollow Oracle before a renowned sculptor turned up dead at the townâs annual art exhibition.
What better way to get to know a place than by investigating its most suspicious residents? The only snag was Chief Whip – the infuriatingly handsome local lawman whoâd rather I kept my fangs and my nose out of his murder investigation.
Too bad. The body count is rising, and whether he likes it or not, he needs meâElodie Evergreen, investigative reporter. My instincts are razor-sharp. My fangs? Even sharper.
Perfect for fans of resourceful heroines, cute animal sidekicks, and exhilarating urban fantasy, Fangs and Front Pages delivers action, mystery, and supernatural surprises. Series includes: stand-alone mysteries, snarky humour, and a slow-burn romance.
Ravens Hollow Investigations Series: Bylines and Bloodsuckers – Prequel Fangs and Front Pages – Book 1 Hexes and Headlines – Book 2 Demons and Deadlines – Book 3
I enjoyed Wooing the Wiccan (Elf Magic Book 1) by Louisa Masters, another new book and series in this authorâs multi-series Hidden Species/Community of Species universe.
It was wonderful seeing King RaĂ°ulf, the head of the elves who has appeared throughout this universe in many novels, find a new love and get his own HEA, with a human Wiccan elementary schoolteacher, Jared. And his cat.
Equally wonderful? And true highlights? Having hilarious moments with dragonshifter Wing Leader Brandt, his Consort Percy, and their adorable daughter. Also Sam, Alastair, and many other great characters.
If anything, with the main issues and the characters involved, this relationship would have felt more natural and more well developed if , either the book itself had been longer or divided into two parts.
Thereâs so much that both characters have to immediately deal with, some of which is brushed over quickly here while still noting how deeply the changes impact on their lives and their relationships. Jared is unaware of the fact that otherworldly species exist, including the one heâs involved with.
RaĂ°ulfr has the safety of his people, the fact of his being the King with all that entails, and how much of his courtly life will be impacted by his Consort. And the fact that he is human.
Plus they donât know each other well. They just started talking and dating.
So when Masters narrative begins to speed up once Jared is introduced to the Community of Species and all the other paranormals who exist on earth with the human community and the magic, other elements lose their depth of development and exploration.
How does Jared fit his new life into his old one? We donât know. Does he change careers? No idea. Itâs meeting and quickly developing affection between the two while hiding exactly who and what RaĂ°ulfr is. Followed by a huge argument, a shocking revelation, and then another rather quick, for this situation, resolution. And an immediate exchange of âI love youâsâ.
Sigh. I was fine right up until that instant love came in. Adult conversation and working through their various issues? Fantastic. But itâs been weeks. Mere weeks.
A two part relationship development, along with further growth of magical abilities and time to explore this new aspect of the magical universe? That wouldâve made this a far more interesting and believable journey.
Did I find it entertaining? Yes. It made me want to reread Brandt and Percyâs series once again. Itâs a good read and gives the elf King a lovely HEA.
Iâm surrounded by two hundred thousand elves, yet somehow, Iâm still lonely.
After a rough few millennia, the past decade has finally brought us peace and securityâand justified my choices as our leader. But as chaos gives way to calm, I have more time for myself⌠yet itâs not what I want it to be. Iâve been alone for a long time, but before my people and work needed me more. Now the lonely hours stretch into eternity.
Until I meet Jared.
Heâs my perfect match in every way; a teacher, a gardener, a cat dad. He loves books, nature, and interacting with others. Heâs sweet, funny, kind, and weâre fire in the bedroom. The only hiccup? Heâs human, and he doesnât know other species exist.
Legally, we havenât been together long enough for me to tell him Iâm not human, and itâs getting harder and harder to keep this secret. To keep part of myself from him⌠to lie. But what if he learns the truthâa truth that will shatter the core of his beliefsâand canât handle it?
Intriguing murder mystery, new adorable Felixâs, and a terrific insight into Henriâs thoughts and emotions on why he has been so thoughtful and slow in his courtship of Jamie. And hers in return on why it was important for her to have the time to establish herself and continue to work on her trauma and transition before anything personal could occur.
Depth of evolution of the characters and a highly intelligent investigation of this unusual, and for Henri, emotional case, make Three Charms for Murder a fantastic read and engaging narrative full of action, magic, and fast paced storytelling.
I love this so much!
Highly recommended. Highly addictive.
Love the covers.
Cover by Katie Griffin
The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):
When an old childhood friend comes to Henri asking for help in solving his parentsâ murders, Henri agrees immediately. He knows this case is not going to be easy. Mr. and Mrs. Atwoodâs bodies had been found magically posed to mimic a statue, and the investigator in charge ruled it a murder-suicide. Which is simply not feasible according to the Atwood children.
Aware this is a high society case and all attention will be on them, the team makes their way out to the Atwoodsâ vacation home. Upon arrival, Jamie and Henri are horrified to find most of the trace evidence destroyed by incompetence, the bodies unpreserved, and the case file a single page of notes. To top it all off, the local police force wants nothing more than to see them fail.
Add in a string of suspicious burglaries, compromised wards, arson, and a suspect who will do anything to keep the truth under wraps, and Jamie and Henri are ready to commit murder themselves.
I really enjoyed Breaking and Entering 101 for a number of reasons. Obviously because I love the characters and series, they continue to develop and evolve in their respective roles, professionally as we see here as Kingsmen consultants, and personally as Jamie has consistently shown that sheâs dedicated to her new world and found family. And they to her.
Thereâs two distinct mysteries to solve here, both extremely important to undertake and each has its own unique quirks and skills required to succeed in understanding and investigating it.
One is the theft of heavy gold ingots from a train car thatâs locked and warded. Another, which introduces a favorite new character of mine, is a mystery of how the Royal palace (and its many incredible wards) is being constantly being surpassed by a trespasser who doesnât do anything much but look around, sampling food and drinks.
This brings in the wonderfully crafted Queen, the many Kingsmen familiar with Jamie, and those slowly becoming a part of Jamie and Henriâs (and RM Seaton as well as Felix Clint) inner circle.
The time frame has moved by 2 years. That includes new âdiscoveries and inventionsâ Jamie has introduced via Ellie to this world.
Donât miss out on the additions by Jamie of her knowledge and comparisons at the end. It grows by each novel.
Another must read in a must have series.
Highly recommended. Highly addictive.
Love the covers.
Cover by Katie Griffin
The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):
Since Jamie and Henri agreed to be Kingsmen consultants, theyâd not had much call to actually consult. Which is a fortuitous thing, as Henri is up to his neck in labwork and interviews for a new Magical Examiner due to Sandersonâs departing. He is hardly in any position to add more tasks onto his shoulders.
Which, naturally, means two disasters strike at once.
In a brilliant coup, a group of thieves have struck the railroad and stolen a breathtaking three hundred thousand crowns in gold. No one has any idea how, who, or where the ingots have gotten to. The Kingsmen on the case are baffled, as this is hardly their normal purview. They naturally reach out to their Kingsmen consultants, which mean Jamie and Henri are now on the week-old case.
To spice things up further, someone is routinely sneaking through the palace wards and lurking about the grounds, and no one has any idea how the breach is occurring. Seatonâs beside himself trying to figure it out and Henri has been drawn in to assist him.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 