Tag: dark urban fantasy mystery

Review: Black Moon Rising (Riley Blackthorne #1) by J.L. Brannick

Rating:4⭐️

I enjoyed Black Moon Rising, the first in the Riley Blackthorne urban fantasy series by J. L. Brannick. Brannick’s another new urban fantasy author for me so I was excited about this book.

The character of Riley Blackthorne doesn’t disappoint here. She’s 24 I believe, trying to finish her degree in college while staying under the “radar “ of law enforcement agencies of all kinds due to her as yet unregistered powers. 

That’s about to end. 

Werewolf children are missing and the Alpha needs her help with the investigation. He won’t take no for an answer. 

I absolutely love Riley. Life has been tough for her, she’s been raised by her uncle. Her background is filled in more in the second novel than the bits the author allows here. But it’s tantalizing hints that give depth to Riley and strengthens her character. She’s independent, intelligent and with the ability to make decisions for herself. 

She’s absolutely the best thing about the book.

Now to the most problematic. That would be the Alpha. And their dynamic. Conall Segerson is the overbearing Alpha here. I’m sure in the trope he’s the powerful dominating male. But let’s be real.

In any other context, he’s toxic. He doesn’t let her make her own decisions. He withholds key information “because it’s for her own good “. He isolates her because it’s for “her own welfare “. And continues to ignore real issues within his pack that put her life at risk. 

And when things go south, as they do.

It’s all about what his “wolf” wants and what he wants. Not exactly what is good for her. 

Hint: This aspect of the series and the characters relationship is going to be even worse in book 2.

So for every character, Ash, or the hellhounds, that I found engaging, there was Conall sapping the joy right out of the narrative because I found his so offensive. 

Yes to her. Yes to the plot minus any aspect of the story about Conall. 

It ends on a cliffhanger. Which you know won’t end well for her. 

The other books are out. Read it for a terrific woman character, and an interesting plot. The author has spent some time defining her different types of Cognizant traits. Check out the beginning of this book.   Too bad she didn’t start with DARVO. 

Cover designer Maggie G. Jackson

Riley Blackthorne series:

Black Moon Rising #1

Cold Moon Burning #2

Crimson Moon Falling #3

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Riley Blackthorne Series 

Blurb 

The federal agents waiting outside my ecology classroom are here for me.

One of them is an enraged Alpha.

I’ve been dodging the agents for days, and Conall Segerson seethes with impatience. His Pack children are disappearing, but the wolf shifter has few clues and no leads.

He doesn’t care about exposing an unregistered, no-name Cognizant like me if it will help him find his missing cubs.

As we race to recover the children, I become an invaluable tool in his arsenal.

His wolf’s obsession.

And a target.

Conall pledges to protect my secrets, but enemies are closing in. And the most vicious betrayals are those we never see coming.

*The first book in the thriller urban fantasy romance series where a deadly investigation leads to seduction and betrayal.

Black Moon Rising is book one in the Riley Blackthorne Series. For fans of smart, STEM FMC’s and urban fantasy romance. This book ends on a cliffhanger and contains power imbalances, a slow-burn romance, spice, and violence.

Smart Mouth Publishing LLC

Publication date

February 12, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

346 pages

Book 1 of 3

Riley Blackthorne Series

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

Buy link

 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

Accessibility

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Language

‎English

File size

5.4 MB

Screen Reader

Supported

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X-Ray

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Word Wise

Enabled

Print length

368 pages

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Book 1 of 2

Arcane Magic

Review:  The Rut in the Road (Beyond the Veil #11) by K. M. Avery

Rating: 4.5🌈

Rayn’s journey has been one of the most haunting, and tormented of all of the characters to date in this immersive paranormal world where an Arcana virus swept across the world altering the human landscape forever. A large portion of the world’s population perished, others were left altered by the virus, becoming orcs, witches, weres of various species, zombies, vampires and other otherworldly beings. Quickly consigned to hospitals, or institutions or worse when society and families couldn’t accept them or the virus transitions were physically agonizing and long to take hold. 

By book 11, Humans only rights groups, not just the extremists, are fighting to remove the rights the Nids have gained. It sounds very familiar. And the fear and ugly hate groups, the crimes against the Nids going unpunished, is so well written that it feels lifted from events today. 

Rayn,older and working as a touch psychic in alongside Ward and Mason in BTV is still very much the under socialized, on the spectrum person he’s been even as he’s developed physically.  His childhood, and its accompanying deep trauma and abuse along with his lack of knowledge of his own powers, still makes Rayn an introverted, emotionally awkward person. He’s trying to get people to accept him as adult and not as a fragile little traumatized boy most who know his history see him as. 

Avery’s crafting of Rayn is immaculate, he is real in his skin, his efforts to navigate through the communication blocks and issues between Raj and himself are emotionally tough and difficult and feel absolutely credibly raw.  Hart plays a great supporting role here, once again revealing himself to be a fine, intelligent caring man. 

Raj has been a strong presence in the series and his involvement with Rayn starts in the previous book. But the issues between him and Rayn have been building and his extraordinary overprotective nature is a huge problem. 

It’s addressed and seems to be an aspect that he needs to work through. Do I believe that it’s resolved? Not sure. I never know with Avery, maybe it is or maybe it isn’t. There’s one more book in Rayn’s trilogy and the human only faction element has just gotten more complicated and suspenseful by the end of this very amazing story. 

I highly recommend reading it but it’s not something that you can read by itself. Each one should be read in the order that it was written for characters and overall plot development. 

Amazing series and fantastic characters. One of the best paranormal group of storylines I’ve read. Certainly one that has the most impact on current events.

Series couples to date (not standalone and have to be read in the order they are written):

Highly recommended. 

Beyond the Veil Series : 

💀Ward’s story (1-3): 

The Ghost in the Hall 

The Boy in the Locked Room 

The Skeleton Under the Stairs. 

💀Hart’s story (4-6): 

The Dog in the Alley 

The Bones in the Yard 

The Elf Beside Himself 

💀Seth’s story (7-9): 

The Turning of the Tables 

The Badger in his Burrow 

The Past in the Present 

💀Rayn’s Story (10-12) 

The Diamond in the Rough 

The Rut in the Road 

The Rock and the Hard Case (coming 2026) 

💀Dan’s Story (13-15) Coming 2026-2027

Buy link 

 Book 11 of 11: Beyond the Veil 

Blurb 

I was finally getting my life together—I had a job, a boyfriend, was working on my college degree, and was learning to control both my magic and my psychic abilities. I’d reconnected with my sister and I was starting to think that I might actually be able to have something approaching a healthy adult life, even if it wasn’t going to be an even remotely normal one.

And then I hit a rut in the road.

Or, rather, people started hitting other people. What started as a single hit-and-run had become several of them, all targeting Arcanids, and I was being asked to get into the mind of the killer… although I’m starting to think that maybe there’s more than one. Tracking one killer is hard enough, but when you think there might be several, things get a lot messier.

Especially when your boyfriend is a federal agent who just got called in to take over the case. It’s the first time we’ve worked together since we started dating, and it’s definitely taking a toll. I don’t want to have to choose between keeping him and solving the murders.

July 30, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

430 pages

Book 11 of 11

Beyond the Veil

Review: Shadowspell Academy : Year of the Chameleon Book 4 by Shannon Mayer

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Academy tropes aren’t really my favorite books but they’re hard to avoid as they’re so many out there. But Shadowspell Academy series written by by K. F. Breene and Shannon Mayer for the first mini-trilogy and now solely by Shannon Mayer for the final three stories, is an excellent read and why I’ll continue to pick up a great series. 

Yes, I’ve blown through the final trilogy and loved it.

Wild and her mixed crew of paranormals have been sorted into their “expected” Houses and now they are expected to spend their next years there, training with their own “magical” counterparts. 

But it doesn’t work out like that as events force everyone together in one place. A House of Wonder that seems to have it in for all of them, old and new enemies everywhere and Wild’s the target of her greatest enemy.

This is the start of a incredible journey, part horror story, outstanding paranormal adventure, that sees not only Wild but her small group of friends/family growing tighter, developing new powers and showing immense strength and resilience. 

Heartbreak, betrayal and high suspense. It’s all here. And it’s amazing. I love Wild so much. And everyone else in her group. 

Highly recommended! Fantastic work in every way by the author. 

Shadowspell Academy (6 book series)

The Culling Trials #1 through 3

Year of the Chameleon #4 through 6 written by Shannon Mayer

Buy link 

 Book 4 of 6: Shadowspell Academy 

Blurb 

You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.

“This book is Harry Potter meets the Hunger Games in a bold twist on a classic magical young adult adventure.”
Jaymin Eve, Bestselling Author of Supernatural Academy

I’ve made it through the Culling Trials, the test that proved my mettle against every possible challenge.

I assumed that meant things would settle down and I’d start truly learning.

MNo more danger.

No more death threats.

No more wondering who was out to get me.

Apparently, that was not to be.

I am what this supernatural world calls a Chameleon—a rarity even amongst all these monsters. And rare things are coveted and feared by the most powerful of all—The House Of Wonder.

It’s a good thing I have my crew at my back, because this Academy?

It’s about to get seriously ugly.

Which means this farm girl is ready to play by only one set of rules.

Her own.

Review: Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials (Book 2) by K. F. Breene and Shannon Mayer

Rating: 4.5⭐️

The third novel in this portion of this series is excellent. Divided into two trilogies, the three books of The Culling Trials are coauthored by K. F. Breene and Shannon Mayer while the last trilogy is written solely by Mayer. 

So this completes the co-authored mini series, The Culling Trials, and it’s exciting, full of intrigue, surprises, really excellent twists, and leaves our mixed found family of paranormal friends graduating into their respective Houses , ala Harry Potter, and ready for their next chapter as first years. 

Wild and her small crew are headed into the final trials before they are sorted out by their magical abilities into their Houses. If they survive because someone is trying to kill them or just Wild before they can finish. 

And the mystery of their disappearing companions hasn’t been solved yet as a few more teenagers vanish from campus and the authorities have no answers.

Wild and every other person in her group shows realistic personal development as they face growing dangers and a killer that has targeted them. 

I really enjoyed this book, even as I debate going forward without Breene as a coauthor. Her influence in the writing here is clear.

I recommend reading this book as part of the mini-trilogy. Read them in the order they are written. 

Shadowspell Academy (6 book series)

The Culling Trials #1 through 3

Year of the Chameleon #4 through 6 written by Shannon Mayer

Buy link 

        Shadowspell Academy: Culling Trials (Book 3)

    

Blurb 

You Don’t Choose The Academy. The Academy Chooses You.

Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught.

As if the gauntlet-type physical and mental tests aren’t enough, people are going missing.

People that are my friends.

In a dangerous world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. They think we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions.

They clearly think we’re idiots. I got this far by trusting my instincts, and I’m not going to back down now.

Those kids won’t be left to die.

Not on my watch.

Hijinks Ink Publishing

Publication date

June 11, 2019

Language

‎English

Print length

258 pages

Book 3 of 6

Shadowspell Academy

Review:  Shift Happens (Shifter Lords Book 10) by S. E. Babin

Rating: 5⭐️

Shift Happens takes S. E. Babin’s fantastic Shifter Lords urban fantasy series into its second section with Moira taking the lead as the main character for the last (I think) group of stories. 

And honestly, Moira’s journey looks to be dark, emotionally devastating and absolutely heartbreaking in many of its major elements. Things only hinted about in Evie’s storyline are peeled back, starting here. 

Dark, horrifying, damaging abuse done to Moira as a child by her mother. Mental, emotional and overwhelmingly physical trauma that made her who she is today. Then there’s the recent magical extras that being god touched has given her and the devastating events that occurred during Evie’s finale.

Moira’s development has been linked with Evie’s journey to Evie becoming the Queen of Fae. It’s folded in her complex relationship with Evan, one of the Lords that now plays a key role in her life.

Moira’s called on by the Lords, including Evan, to investigate a mysterious case of dark magic happening on the territory that is now being run by Soren, an ex of Moira’s .

Shift Happens is a dark and fabulous tale. It reveals much about the past of the main characters and sets in motion some terrifying storylines for the books going forward. 

I didn’t think anything would be able to top Evie’s finale but Moira’s arc might just do it. 

Amazing narrative storytelling and fabulous character development. Highly recommended. 

Cover design by Covers by Christian

Shifter Lords (14 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 

Goddess Shifting #8

Final Shift #9 – finale to Evie’s story 

Moira’s story begins 

Shift Happens #10 

Shifting Allegiance #11 – July 11,2026

Shift of Shadows #12 – Nov 17,2026

Karmic Shift #13 – Dec 15,2026

Shift of Fate #14 – March 2,2027

Buy link 

 Book 10 of 14: Shifter Lords 

Blurb 

Moira is a new power player in a world of hungry paranormals, but she’d rather be curled up with a blanket, ignoring the world.

Unfortunately, the Shifter Lords have other plans for her.

Moira still works at her best friend’s flower shop but also serves part-time as a magical consultant for both the fae and the Lords. Her cases run the gamut from investigating petty crimes all the way to working in close proximity to the Lords as they track down rogue shifters.

But when she’s asked to take a case working with Soren, an infuriating Lord she has history with, Moira refuses, only to find out the case they’re investigating involves someone from her past. Reluctantly, she accepts the gig, only to start sabotaging Soren around every corner.

She holds no loyalty to anyone these days, and certainly not to someone who’d stab her in the back with the least provocation. But when the case proves more difficult than she anticipated, and she and Soren get in way over their heads, they must find a way to work together or die.

When it turns out Soren is hiding a very unique talent—one that ensures they could survive what’s coming after them—Moira must learn to trust her enemy and hope he’s not still mad about that teeny tiny time she stabbed him in the back…

A slow-burn paranormal romance, with sharp banter, and high-stakes supernatural intrigue.

Oliver Heber Books

Publication date

June 23, 2026

Language

‎English

File size

3.7 MB

Print length

247 pages

Book 10 of 14

Shifter Lords

Review: Bear Many Hats (Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow Book 5) by Sara Bourgeois 

Rating: 4⭐️

The author sets many different plots in motion with Bear Many Hats, the fifth book in the fantastic Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow series.

One storyline, the main plot that centers around the wandering bear in the town, is the one that carries the most interesting elements while also being the most easily solved mysteries of the story.  It’s a carryover from the previous book and you could pretty much see it even then.

What keeps the reader engaged is the new characters, the dry, layered dialogue between Blythe Fairfield and her familiar, Pippin, either when commenting on customers in her shop or events in their community. It’s warm, well written, and even the smallest interaction is beautifully executed.

The mystery, who shot the sheriff, is more emotional than much of a mystery. The author introduces a ex-girlfriend who I expect to add further drama and the ending is a bit of a shock for all. A definite cliffhanger of sorts. That’s extremely well done.

Love the author and series. Can’t wait to read the next book.

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow (4 book series)

If the Hat Fits #1

Under The Hat #2

Hat Out of Spell #3

Hat Trick #4 

Bear Many Hats #5

Drop of a Hat #6 – Sept 22,2026

Buy link

        Bear Many Hats (Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Blythe Fairfield was just starting to settle in.

She has a tea shop on Main Street. A talking cat who critiques her blends. A boyfriend who runs a fever nobody can explain but kisses her like he means it. And a town that’s almost stopped whispering about her.

Then someone shoots the sheriff.

Paine is found on the side of a country road with a bullet wound and no explanation for how he got there. The town is terrified. Deputy Dewey is in over his head. And Blythe is not going to sit in a hospital waiting room while whoever did this walks free.

Between an ex-girlfriend who keeps calling the hospital, a parolee who won’t explain where he was that night, and an elderly woman loudly telling everyone at the post office that the sheriff had it coming, Blythe has too many suspects and not enough answers.

But something about the case doesn’t fit. The evidence points in too many directions. And Paine, when he’s awake long enough to talk, keeps mentioning dreams he’s been having. Vivid ones. The kind that feel real.

Pippin says the dreams mean something. Pippin says a lot of things. And Baba Grimm has started showing up with gifts that aren’t entirely safe and advice that isn’t entirely free.

Some mysteries are about who did it. Some are about what’s been hiding in plain sight. And some answers change everything, including the person you thought you knew best.

date

June 7, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

216 pages

Book 5 of 6

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow

Review:  Bayou Born (The Foundling Book 1) by Hailey Edwards 

Rating: 2.75⭐️

Hailey Edwards has written several books I’ve enjoyed but this isn’t one of them. Bayou Born frankly isn’t worth the $0.99 cents I paid for it, which surprised me.

Edwards has taken elements from every trope, and types of tropes themselves and mashed them together into Bayou Born, the first book in The Foundling series. 

Now while other writers have done this, here none of these elements and tropes are well defined or written. It’s a grab bag of ideas, details, plots and tropes loosely defined and stuck together. And that’s about how well it works. 

It’s a supernatural, paranormal, urban fantasy murder suspense demonic thriller. Probably romance, not sticking around to find out.

Edwards layers in with her initial wild swamp female child/now adopted police detective a weird story about demons and dragons and hellish shifters in a setting in a swamp like location. That’s just the beginning.

Luce Boudreau, a mud caked child who stumbled out of a Mississippi bayou without a memory, grew up with the police officer who found her. Luce is now a police officer herself. And here’s a major problem. She’s supposed to be a “badass”, however she’s in no way credible as a law enforcement officer. And starting immediately, in almost every scenario, she’s “saved” by the new imposing Alpha security guy who’s stalking her, her dad or “Uncle” , both officers. She needs a lot of help and saving. 

It’s one eye roll after another here. 

A rotary phone that rings on her birthday in the attic but it’s not connected. Wooooo.  Just silly little things. A voice on the phone that she never bothered to track down, even though she’s an officer. 

It’s almost like she has zero common sense or understanding of how to research anything. 

Really, things get worse with unbelievable animals in the swamp, missing people, and the absolute worst or most incompetent investigations ever conducted. 

Trust me when I say that if you stick around by 60 percent, you’ll be flipping pages to get through this. 

And that’s ending just calls for a villain standing around or up a tree rubbing his hands or claws together, and laughing maniacally. 

Do yourself a favor and say no. 

The Foundling (5 book series)

Buy link

 Book 1 of 5: The Foundling 

Blurb 

Her beginning may be our end . . . 

Deep in the humid Mississippi bayou, a half-wild child is dragged from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in mysterious markings. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Luce Boudreau follows him onto the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious.

However, there’s more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one – including Luce herself – could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny .

Piatkus

Publication date

October 17, 2017

Language

‎English

Print length

336 pages

Book 1 of 5

The Foundling

Review:  Final Shift (Shifter Lords Book 9) by S. E. Babin

Rating: 5⭐️

Incredible. Just a stunningly fabulous way to end Evie’s storyline!  With a heartbreaking twist and then fantastic finish for her and family. 

Sort of. 

Babin has 11 books planned for the series but it looks as though the final 2 novels will be about Moira, the fae/ vampire and her journey through her new powers and to her own HEA. 

This finishes up Evie’s journey. And I’ll say I wasn’t expecting how the author would bring this journey to the conclusion. Brilliant and heart stopping.

It’s always been about Evie using her powers.  And here she absolutely does in a way that’s shocking!

This is a final battle between Queen Evie and King Rowan, the Lords, those who, including Caelan who has made peace with Evie, and a group of Fae who believe that they are entitled to the land and rights to all . And have been using poison and other means to obtain it.

It’s ferocious, terrifying, there’s losses, and the ultimate battle is one I wasn’t prepared for. 

The end of the story, includes the ramifications of this war. Some people are still “missing “ from the story, alive but not heard from. The trauma of that final scene still lingers. 

I’ll be interested in seeing how this series plays forward. Moira is seriously changed and the next section is hers.

Again, amazing writing and excellent storytelling. This was edge of my seat, white knuckle scenario stuff and I loved every minute of it.

I loved Evie’s journey and I’ll be so sad when the series eventually ends . But this one was an incredible ride! Highly recommended.

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 

Goddess Shifting #8

Final Shift #9 – finale to Evie’s story 

Shift Happens #10 – 8/26

Shifting Allegiance #11 – Oct 6,2026

Buy link 

 Book 9 of 11: Shifter Lords 

Blurb 

Caelan, the Shifter Lord of Texas, is living on borrowed time. 

As the fae seek to spread their influence, Caelan’s land and his people are suffering. Stubbornly refusing to accept Evie’s help, Caelan doubles down to continue fighting a battle he cannot hope to win.

As the other Lords unite, Evie is torn between her duty to her people and doing what is right. But Evie is a child born of gods, raised by humans, and changed by fate. If there is ever a hope to unite everyone, she will have to stand up and command it.

This time, the entire world’s fate hangs in the balance, and Evie can no longer deny who she is.

As she rises to power for one final, cataclysmic battle, one of her found family will rise with her and become either a threat no one saw coming or the hope that will unite them all.

Evie’s journey of heartache and hope finally comes to an end. But the question remains, will she go out with a world-rattling roar or will she succumb to the force that threatens them all?

Review: Dead Witch Walking:(The Hollows Book 1) by Kim Harrison 

Rating:4⭐️

Author Kim Harrison started writing this series in 2009 beginning with this book, Dead Witch Walking which introduces the reader to the dark, messy life of Rachel Morgan and her companions, a vampire and pixie with his amazing family. 

And there’s a six year break in the series, then the author “brings” the character back after saving the world in the first part of the series. From book 14 on, new city and arc. FYI. The series isn’t complete. 

It’s a interesting concept about a virus (and tomatoes) that eliminates much of the world’s human population leaving behind the paranormal species to come out of hiding to run things.  The remaining humans when they recover, naturally, ban anything that smacks of scientific research and pharmaceutical technology. You have a disease? Not going to get any medicine other than aspirin for it. 

Law enforcement has been restructured accordingly as well to deal with the various crimes and villains that have arisen based on their specific races , human and nonhuman. 

That’s where Rachel and her companions come in, they work together in a paranormal agency as runners (bounty hunters) assigned otherworldly cases to bring in. The vampire species here has a different nature and it’s very unusual. It impacts her relationship with her roommate and co-worker, Ivy a living vampire. Ivy’s a fantastic character, rich in strength of personality and darkness. Both scary and vulnerable, I adore her. Then there’s Jenks, the pixie who loves his wife (a very capable and awesome female) and his many children. He’s not been treated well by others given his species so I enjoyed his developing relationship with Rachel here. 

That leaves Rachel, the overly emotional person who has huge impulse control issues and a tendency to never research anything before actually doing something. Basically she’s a grown woman who constantly acts like a toddler, putting herself and others through tons of violence events and totally preventable issues had she either communicated with them or given her sketchy behavior just a bit of thought. 

That gets exhausting and very old after a while. Then Rachel starts falling into the TSTL category. 

And there’s Trent the boss of a strange company who has committed multiple crimes and murders, put her in cages, subjected her to all sorts of abuse, but he’s so good looking. Sigh. 

We can see where the author is headed here. SMH. 

It’s interesting and I adore several of the side characters. But I’m not sure that the main character is enough to make me commit to even that second novel. A TSTL character is always a DNF aspect of a book for me. 

Perhaps I’ll circle back to this series later on when I’ve completed some of the other ones I’m working through at the moment.

Let me know what you think if you have read the series. 

The Hollows (19 book series):

Dead Witch Walking #1

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 19: The Hollows 

Blurb 

The first book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison’s Hollows series!

All the creatures of the night gather in “the Hollows” of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party . . . and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining—and it’s Rachel Morgan’s job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and a witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she’ll bring ’em back alive, dead . . . or undead.

Publisher

Harper Voyager

Publication date

October 13, 2009

Language

‎English

Print length

366 pages

Book 1 of 19

The Hollows