Practical Boots is a terrific read, the first novella in C.E. Murphy’s series, The Torn. It’s short but full of interesting takes on the fae, magic, and a in-between realm, The Waste.
Because of its short length, much of the main character’s story is missing. Especially her early years spent in the Torn (that’s the Fae realm) and then the Waste where she was dumped by her father essentially to survive or die.
The magical element is something I really want to explore more because it’s so fascinating and inherently terrifying. It extracts a price but we don’t know what. That’s left for future books.
Fae are the complicated conniving, backstabbing beings who are constantly manipulating and maneuvering for power. Her father is a very powerful player here. And how he intends to use Cat Sharp, the daughter he discarded is the main plot line.
Cat Sharp herself is a fabulous character. Tough, loyal, intelligent and persistent in her goals, especially when it comes to defeating her father.
I wanted to see where the story would go after the events of the day. She so ingenious that the plans she’s set in place are ones I can’t wait to see happen. In book 2 that’s not been written unfortunately.
Murphy is an author now on my auto read list and this story is just one more example why. Another winner.
The disappointing daughter of a Lord of the Torn, Cat Sharp was dumped in the shapeless Waste to prove herself or die. Seven years later, she’s honed the Artificer magic that saved her in the Waste, and her courier business is booming: after all, no one else can step from one location to another almost instantaneously, as Cat can with her seven league boots.
Each passage through the Waste takes her one step closer to the only thing she’s ever wanted to find…but even the Torn-born become careless at times. When Cat’s father catches up with her again, Cat must make a choice between her own dreams and an innocent’s future…or try once more to forge her own way through two worlds, neither of which she quite belongs in….
I enjoyed this book, picking it up first because of its author and then reading the description of an urban fantasy trio of magical grownups siblings caught up in their adventures.
It has imaginative world building, multiple worlds and intriguing characters that meet the main characters who, as adults, have built and life enormously successful and varied lives from each other. And from their beloved parents too. This isn’t a dysfunctional family, an element I enjoyed.
The main characters, Diana Smith is a half-fae elf and sword smith who has a shop in the stalls in the Marketplace in the World of Irilor. She’s a Walker, one who can walk the roads between worlds and the Marketplace is at the center of the hub where the intergalactic roads lead to.
Diana is the oldest of triplets, born to a father with a Smith’s magic and a mother of fae royalty. Once Diana saw the Great Marketplace at the Crossroads of the Worlds that’s where she decided she wanted to be. Her siblings had other plans. Her mirror image sister, Karina, became a scholar in an isolated place devoted to knowledge, while her brother, Bjorn, married a Queen.
When all three are attacked by assassins, Diana and Bjorn set off to their mother’s Fae realm for answers and a visit to the “family “.
This is entertaining but a little too lacking in any emotional connection. Either between the characters or within the storyline. It’s packed with fae intrigue and political treachery within the fae itself court. Plenty of murders, mystery, and bloodshed to go around. But any feeling of actual caring is lost or not looked for. Indeed, some very disturbing types of inter family relationships are noted here as examples of common practice or consenting behavior within the Fae community and culture.
It’s briefly mentioned and then onto other topics. I think that this is an issue here where there’s so much overlap of important information and too little exploration of the history behind all the regions and politics that the reader really has nothing to connect with.
We get briefly acquainted with Bjorn’s family and wife, the Queen. But again, no background on him other than one mention by Diana that he’s the most dangerous person she knows. But she says that at the beginning of their journey and we actually never see this side of him. He’s extraordinarily handsome and the fae women at court are all enamored with him, but the most dangerous man? Where’s he?
It’s too much “as told to”. And the actual action is fast paced but without any narrative context. Their journey and this entire aspect of the story is wrapped up way too quickly and the resolution happens “off page”.
The ending of the book returns to an entirely different aspect of Diana’s life. And it doesn’t really ring true.
I feel this was a fun read but I have found others that she has written more enjoyable. I may return to this series later on.
Sometimes family is there to love you, and sometimes family is there to kill you…
When a man came into my shop in the Great Marketplace at the Crossroads of the Worlds and tried to kill me, it completely ruined my day. Not only did I have to clean up the blood, but disposing of his body made me late to meet my friends for drinks.
A nagging little detail kept bugging me, though. As he died, he said he was hired by my mother’s family—people I hadn’t seen for more than a decade. Then I discovered that assassins had made attempts on my brother and sister as well. As much as I didn’t want to, I decided I should find out who wanted us dead, and put a stop to it.
This was an excellent read. The fourth book in what I believe is a seven book series, Babin packs so many important series elements and shocking moments into this book, jamming a multitude of various character’s storylines, relationship dynamics, and unexpected events together to make this story a memorable, explosive dramatic and extremely compelling book.
Evie and Caelin’s relationship is one that still stands out as one of powerfully compelling fragility. Each of them has their own unique powers as well as responsibilities and deeply rooted secrets that make any type of permanent connection between them almost untenable. Never more is this made clear than here as events escalate.
But Evie’s friends are ongoing challenges and their own personal relationship issues. Ones that her choices are making an impact.
It’s one thing after another. One dramatic moment that arises when you least expect it. And the author folds every single piece of information and plot effortlessly into the whole, using mythology and fantasy and the richness of the location to bring the characters and wildness of this story to life.
That ending was so satisfying and intense. Which makes me want more immediately!
There’s a bit of a mystery left unanswered that will be carried over to the next book. I can wait for it to be released.
Highly recommended. Grab them up and read in the order they were written.
This is a series that I find absolutely amazing. A winner!
Everything’s a mess. The gods won’t stay out of her business. And Evie? All she wants is a little peace or drowning by bottomless margaritas.
Evie should be basking in the afterglow after her romp with the Shifter Lord. Instead, she’s dodging his increasingly aggressive courtship rituals like a runaway bride carrying dynamite. Not because she doesn’t care about him, but because she’s keeping big secrets.
Cernunnos has decided to retire. On the surface, totally fine. Except … Daddy Dearest wants to hand Evie the keys to the fae kingdom, and he’s been dropping in with divine homework and cryptic warnings about the future.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Caelan is hinting at forever, the Council is sniffing around, searching for answers about Donovan’s untimely demise, and Cliona keeps dropping by, hinting she wants a mother-daughter relationship, while conveniently forgetting she tried to kill Evie a few months ago.
The cherry on top? After a split-second decision to swallow the World Tree seed to keep it out of Chimera hands, Evie is now a bridge to other worlds—a power she has no idea how to use, but one that everyone covets, leaving her to ask the most important question of all…
Autumn Dawn and her series, The Convergence, starting with Bramble Burn, was a top recommendation on a fantasy list so I picked it up based on similar themes and recommendations.
What I found both delighted and disappointed me in terms of character development and plot design.
Let’s start with the positive aspects of this story. Which are primarily related to the design and detail of Bramble Burn Park itself.
The premise is that at some point in time our world and that of the Fae Underhill world merged, violently. From the geological landscape to actual buildings, there was an explosion of activity as physical changes, actual melding or melting of structures, happened, leaving our world forever changed.
One mage leaves her family and farm to go buy a cheap abandoned city park from the mayor and officials, the Bramble Burn Park. A park so dangerous, so overrun, and inhabited by unknown creatures that evolved from the merge that no one enters in. One she intends to remake and make her own.
That gorgeous, mystical cover is the tree home that tree mage, Juniper, first makes in the forest. And mysterious, eerie, Bramble Burn, with all its distinctive features, wilding areas, and imaginative creatures, is a highlight of the story.
Too bad the author leaves it behind and tosses it away for another storyline altogether. Anyway, the park and Juniper’s resolve to make it her own, is the best part of the story.
This includes her magic and the obstacles that come as she slowly builds up the frame around the park. And her living structures made from trees.
The author really does an excellent job in making this park as intriguing, horrifying, and beautifully alive right from the beginning. And Juniper as well. From her perspective, she’s revealed to be increasingly powerful, someone who chooses to be alone in her woods, territorial and masterful in her pursuit of her goals.
That’s where the author had me. Until she didn’t.
The not so great aspects of the story.
The romantic aspects of the book and the relationships.
Bring on the dragons and werewolves.
Spoilers ahead.
The plot turns from Juniper needing to make Bramble Burn hers within a time frame to dragon father, dragon sister, bratty brother who might be dangerous, and a human, enabling suffocating mother full of flags.
It gets so much worse.
Author Autumn Dawn reveals that Juniper is a “fertile female “ half dragon, therefore she is a catch or highly regarded female for both werewolves and dragons for her abilities to breed.
Her werewolf, blink and he’s in love with her and asserting his mate bond over her, to a newly arrived dragon, both thrilled with Juniper’s fertility.
At this point I’m wondering what happened to the character I was reading at the beginning of the story. That strong woman is reduced to a breeder, complaining about a brother who is attacking her ( mom is excusing him) and complies with accepting the werewolf because he’s nice.
There’s a strange new plot that introduces a bunch of characters that has nothing to do with the original story. Takes them away from the park. The author decides to immediately wrap up what was originally a complex issue, leaving huge threads unexplained or just left out.
Juniper, the powerful tree mage who wanted to just work with her Forrest now ends up mated, marriages, with twins.
What?
So once again, I’m floored that an author went totally south with her character, world and plot development.
It was if she decided halfway to change everything but without any notice, explanation , or foundation.
So I’m not proceeding with either author or the series.
Cool cover though.
COVER DESIGN: Autumn Dawn
The Convergence:
Bramble Burn #1
And a bunch more books each with a different character apparently.
It’s been thirty years since the Convergence, when the dimensions aligned and combined Earth and the world of Gwyllon, known in human mythology as “Underhill”. Elven castles and ancient ruins sprouted on vacant lots and merged with existing buildings, twisting into new structures. Roads and rail systems reformed, and after the rioting, starvation and death, agriculture sorted itself and food began to flow. A new government formed of elves and men arose, a society of human tech and elven magic. Cell phones and frost giants, race cars and elven steeds, dungeons and dragons…
And everywhere, monsters.
Tree mage Juniper was twenty-three, a child of the new generation. When she found a source of magic buried in an abandoned park, she made a deal with the city. If she can stabilize the park’s wild magic, she’ll own it…if she can survive. Now she has to clear out magic spawned monsters, deal with a werewolf suitor and survive her bloodthirsty dragon uncle. She’s going to have to dig deep to subdue Bramble Burn Park.
Hot but sweet romance. Does not contain explicit sex scenes.
[Amazon notes it’s similar to the Kate Daniels series. No. Absolutely not. Amazon needs to stop making comparisons. ]
If I thought I loved the first series, this is the one that made me laugh out louder, read passages multiple times, snort giggles, and decide , yup chef’s kiss.
I’m keeping it.
Truthfully, I’m binging all the trilogies that Shea has written for the Magiford Supernatural City Universe and while all are fantastic, this remains my all time favorite.
In fact, when the hilarious characters from this Night Court make their unforgettable appearances in the other series, it’s in scenes that make me laugh out loud and want to immediately start reading this trilogy all over again.
Leila, half human, half fae, is the gift that keeps on giving. Her voice and character development here is exceptional. And every single element that I thought I’d was waffling about turns into something marvelous and magical here in her journey towards finding her own way in the supernatural realm.
That means turning the Night Court into something totally new, eventually.
Hall of Blood and Mercy is full of memorable characters, exploring new magical creatures and areas where this Universe has a mysterious darkness that’s threatening all magic and those who are associated with it.
Honestly, I’m so in love with K.M. Shea and her Magiford Supernatural City Universe, this great number of trilogies that I hope will have future episodes to bring to life all the areas we haven’t explored yet.
Highly recommended for all lovers of urban fantasy stories.
This series:
Crown of Shadows
Crown of Moonlight
The Queen’s Crown
The series in order of reading: All Magiford Supernatural City Universe.
Hall of Blood and Mercy: The Complete Trilogy ❤️
Court of Midnight and Deception: The Complete Trilogy (Magiford Supernatural City)❤️5
Pack of Dawn and Destiny: The Complete Trilogy
Gate of Myth and Power: The Complete Trilogy (Magiford Supernatural City)
Magic on Main Street: The Complete Trilogy (Magiford Supernatural City)
Cover Art by Covers by Christian
Magiford Supernatural City is a registered trademark of K. M. Shea LLC.
The fae of the Night Court are desperate to find and crown their new monarch before the Court collapses.
I couldn’t care less.
I’ve done everything I can to bury my fae blood and embrace my human half. That changes when some fae nobles show up on my doorstep and announce that I’m the next Queen of the Night Court.
Becoming an unwilling fae queen? Check. Inheriting a terrible mess? Double check.
The Court is almost bankrupt, my citizens’ favorite hobby is backstabbing one another, and I don’t know who I can trust since someone keeps trying to assassinate me.
Speaking of assassins, I get introduced to the best in the business—a fae lord nicknamed the Wraith. His deadly profession means he fears No. One.
The only reason he doesn’t kill me on the spot is he’s a member of the Night Court and the Court’s magic protects me. But that doesn’t prevent him from trading verbal barbs with me whenever we meet.
And if cat herding uncooperative fae while chatting with assassins wasn’t enough, I’m required to get married as part of some archaic Court law. This “queen” gig is the worst!
Supposedly I can choose anyone to marry, but with all the infighting I need someone who is unaffiliated and won’t cause political power struggles.
So, why do I keep thinking of a certain assassin?
Court of Midnight and Deception is a completed urban fantasy trilogy that takes place in the Magiford Supernatural City universe. It features fae, werewolves, vampires, and wizards!
With over 28,000 ratings on Amazon and Goodreads, and millions of pages read this trilogy is packed with humor, adventure, and a sweet, slow burn romance between a reluctant fae queen and the assassin who tried to kill her.
This bundle includes all three books in the series: Crown of Shadows, Crown of Moonlight, and the Queen’s Crown.
Riftbourne represents new authors and a new fantasy trilogy to explore in the first of the Esprithean trilogy novels.
Authors Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox include maps of the territories (be still my heart) and dictionaries of terminology and pronunciation to help readers understand the world building and character foundations.
I was involved in the storyline of Fia Riftbourne, an adopted orphan of uncontrollable powers who is conscripted into the formidable Sidhe Guard, to be trained by the General and be used as a new weapon against their enemies.
There’s a lot of world foundational structure and elements such as history and current events that the authors have to lay out in the novel as well as build Fia’s narrative and the magical elements and systems here.
With all that to pack in one book , unless absolutely brilliantly written, some aspects have to feel less than complete, and that’s a bit of everything.
We don’t exactly know what the magical elements are and how it works. Fia’s adopted mother seems to have some kind of powers, but those aren’t really ever mentioned or defined. Nor is Fia’s adolescence fully understood. We arrive at her life pretty much as the tale begins with only the barest hints of her background.
The conflicts, the war that destroyed her country and caused her and her countrymen to lose everything, become branded, isn’t really defined either except in an paragraph at the beginning.
So it’s emotionally not as strong a factor it could be but more a ‘as a told to’ element. That weakens much of the other characters perspective’s of the story. We get fanatical bigotry but no real emotional connection to its foundation.
The romance or in reality the relationship that develops between the characters , Fia and Laryk, here feels genuine, the uneven power balance and unexplored power dynamics add to the tension between them. It’s hot, tense, and unpredictable.
I felt that, Fia and Sidhe General, Laryk Ashford, were possibly the best elements here.
Too many other things were left undefined or hidden, most likely due to the coming second novel’s storyline, that it felt underwhelming or less convincing in the plot, than some of the other better written aspects of the novel.
Most have to do with Fia’s character and powers, hinted at and described. But her muddy beginnings are a factor too.
So I’m left with a book and characters I feel are good, a universe that the authors are clearly expanding with a second novel, and a large amount of unresolved and undefined aspects of the various storylines.
It ends on a cliffhanger. But it’s not exactly an unexpected one.
He was striking in a cold-blooded kind of way, like his beauty was tinged with poison. Unassuming, alluring even.
I brought my eyes up to meet his.
“Fia Riftborne?” The words dripped from his lips like blood from a dagger.
Twenty years after a rebellion branded her an outcast, Fia Riftborne navigates a city rife with prejudice so deep, it’s often deadly. But she harbors a secret, one that would paint an even larger target on her back. A hidden power within her is growing, threatening to destroy everything she’s built for herself.
Enter the elusive Sidhe General, Laryk Ashford, who is building a unit of powerful wielders within the Guard to face a growing threat. Wraiths of darkness devour the Western border, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.
When Fia’s power erupts, and two daughters of Nobility are seemingly dead, General Ashford offers her a chilling choice: join the Sidhe Guard or face execution.
Because Fia might be the only hope for the Isle’s survival.
Torn between surrendering to the chaos or becoming a weapon for those who took everything from her, Fia must confront her growing feelings for the General and face a dark truth that could shatter everything she’s ever known.
Back in the universe of academy training , trials, the Fae and saving the world. But this time the twist is the Tales of the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur, Lady of the Lake, and every one of the hugely magical characters who are part of that mythology. Yes, Merlin too.
But all updated to current times with interesting interpretations and weaving of modern history and the author’s dystopian narrative. Again, Fae bad and mad at humanity. And the magical system is still being developed here.
Nia is kidnapped while on vacation in Europe and taken to Avalon Academy to become a spy against the Fae. That’s a very bare minimum outline.
She, naturally, has strict training to undergo, much of her classmates are against her, and there are dangerous trials to pass for her to say that she’s graduated and a spy. Plus a ex boyfriend to contend with.
Elements I thought made the story stronger were Nia’s asthma, a contributing factor to her personality and less than stellar physical condition. Her mother is alcoholic whose dependence upon Nia makes any separation, even a hard won vacation, one of emotional distress and anxiety. This is a very well written aspect of the book and her character, and it’s used perfectly.
The magical powers and systems are slowly developed, brought along or revealed as Nia’s own character changes and grows during her time in the Academy and her missions there.
This ends in a cliffhanger, two to be exact. Both made me want to continue further into the series and Nia’s journey.
A definite recommendation for fantasy lovers and those who read this trope. Last book to be released this Spring.
Avalon Academy rules: spy on your enemies, resist temptation, and try not to die in the process.
As a bookseller, Nia saved up for years for her dream vacation—drinking champagne on a beach with her favorite books. But her dream turns into a nightmare when she’s kidnapped by a muscular, tattooed jerk of a fey named Raphael.
Yes, kidnapped.
It turns out Nia has a magic power, and Raphael demands that she train at Camelot’s elite academy for spies. Raphael is hellbent on revenge against an evil Fey king, certain that Nia’s powers can help. But Nia is in way over her head–asthmatic and out of shape. She’ll be lucky to get out of there alive.
Still, there’s no escape when Raphael is watching her every move. He’s lethal, dangerous, and hot as hell. When they’re sent on a dangerous missions together, he becomes harder to resist. Touching him is playing with fire. Is she ready to get burned?
Never has Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic fantasy series, Kings of Chaos, leaned so heavily and culturally into its Chinese mythological roots as it does beautifully in Two Thousand Blades.
When Two Thousand Tears dramatically ended, so many major traumatic events had happened. The Elf King had been ended. But the invasion, lead by the Elf Queen, was successful and the East Coast was falling fast as the otherworldly forest spread. But more devastating, the Clan lost a brother as a dragon sank down into the battle and stole Xiang away from his family and those fighting against the Fae.
Drake’s clear love of Chinese mythology and culture has always been used beautifully against the various otherworldly themes and mythologies at play in this series. But in Two Thousand Blades, she allows them full rein.
This tale becomes a vivid tapestry of ancient history, gods come to life, otherworldly internecine war, magical blades, and forever love. Memorable, emotional and immensely powerful.
It’s Xiang’s background. His family and past so cemented in their original home so far away and Kai, the one who becomes everything to him. The swirling mythology of which is well known today and is attached via footnotes and addendums here by the author.
It’s how Drake builds their relationship, the slow reveal of identity, and the meshing of the two ongoing conflicts/locations that work together so seamlessly here. We see the Clan of 2,000 Chinese vampires, their mates, friends and allies in Hartford fighting the Fae and desperately seeking a way to find their brother Xiang. And we have Xiang and Kai in the Dragon’s cave with Xiang equally seeking passage home, answers about their location, and the dragon.
The relationship between Xiang and Kai is revelatory personally and historically. It’s a great way, narratively, for Drake to bring the history of the Clan’s history, their horrific transformation into vampires, and their defeat of their master.
Without venturing into spoiler territory, this is an exciting, high stakes, action packed storyline where even if you think the Clan has come out ahead, nothing is as it seems. The clan and its family will have its major brutal challenges ahead and angst filled romances to come.
We know who is next as the ending is a bit of a stunner and cliffhanger, both in the best way possible. So now it’s waiting until Two Thousand Shadows comes out in December.
Until then, I’m highly recommending all the books in this series. Read them in the order they are written for character and plot development. Just a superb series in every aspect.
Xiang thought his biggest problem was going to be defeating the fae.
Nope.
Right now, it’s escaping this dragon’s hoard.
The dragon, who tried to eat his clanmate, grabbed Xiang instead, and now Xiang is trapped.
And he’s not the only one who needs to escape the dragon’s lair.
Kai is serving as the dragon’s assistant and helping to keep Xiang from going crazy with boredom.
Xiang is sure there’s more to this sexy man beyond his sad eyes and stuffy personality, but learning all of Kai’s secrets is going to take time.
First, Xiang needs to steal Kai from the hoard, and hopefully win his heart in the process.
But will they be able to escape the reach of a very possessive dragon?
Two Thousand Blades is the third novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a stubborn vampire falling in love with someone who isn’t quite who he claims to be, shifters, vampires, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, treasure, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, pouting, cuddles, one very possessive dragon, and an endless love that crosses lines drawn by war
• Publication date: May 31, 2024
• Language: English
• Print length: 360 pages
Fantasy Asian Mythology
The Kings of Chaos is a spin-off series from the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series.
Lords of Discord :
Claiming Marcus
Saving Rafe
Waking Bel
Embracing Winter
Healing Aiden
Visiting the Variks: A Short Story Collection
Princes of Mayhem
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Ruined Saved My Life :
This is exactly the type of story and series I emotionally want as a reader. I absolutely wallow in it, appreciating what Jocelynn Drake is accomplishing narratively, while also still being totally immersed in the universe and the characters storylines as they are unfolding.
If I adored the first book, Two Thousand Dreams, then my deep love for this novel is for all the beautiful creativity and passion that Drake pours into this second story.
None of these are standalone novels, but intricate layered parts of an epic that’s yet to reach its climax. It’s pulling together characters from other series that form important political and mystical factions, while simultaneously creating new characters and expanding the existing world in ways we hadn’t anticipated.
It’s ancient China, the Fae, the current human world imperiled, witchcraft, necromancy, vampires and their mates . Even the Underworld and demons play an important role here. There’s skeletons on the march with varying eras making retain a piece of their long gone personality. Such an amazing foundation for the main storylines to be threaded into.
After Blood Witch Moon Mullins and 2000 year old Chinese vampire Chen and the rest of their clan of ancient Chinese vampires found the Gate the Fae were arriving through, they arrived early to rescue their family member, Yichen, who had been kidnapped 100 years earlier and disappeared into the Fae realm.
Here Yichen reappears with the Fae Prince Rei, in tow. Their 100 year old relationship clearly has been one of pain, trauma, and more brought on by the Fae King and Queen . What they’ve done and gone through is never explicitly stated but implied. But as they work together to keep themselves safe, understanding the new implications of their status, it’s the emotional state of their shaky bond that affects them and their family the most.
Imprisonment doesn’t allow for any thought beyond that of escaping. Then it’s one more goal. But Drake starts to allow the reality of their new safety to let other possibilities open up for them. It’s a story that pulls the reader into their dynamic and won’t turn us loose. Not even at the end.
Additionally, into this found family are so many fantastic characters. A Huli and its attachment to a member of the family. The other members that are extraordinary in their powers and personality.
Including the one that is the heart of the next book and the dramatic ending here. For while they have been successful in achieving their goals at the end another shattering climax awaits them .
I will undoubtedly read this again before the next book arrives. Just for the sheer pleasure and satisfaction I received from the author’s words.
I’m highly recommending this series and novels . Pls read them in the order they are written.
The Kings of Chaos :
✓ Two Thousand Dreams #1
✓ Two Thousand Tears #2
◦ Two Thousand Blades #3 – May 24,2024
The Kings of Chaos is the third series to the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series. See both below and the order to read them in.
Lords of Discord series:
✓ Claiming Marcus
◦ Saving Rafe
◦ Waking Bel
◦ Embracing Winter
◦ Healing Aiden
◦ Visiting the Variks: A Short Story Collection
Princes of Mayhem :
✓ How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Ruined Saved My Life Disaster #1:
He has escaped his imprisonment, but he’s still blood bound to the crown prince of the fae.
Oh gods, how is he going to explain that to his clan?
Finding a way to break the bond might not be too hard. Killing the king of the fae even seems possible.
But there’s no way he can let go of the elf who protected him, risked everything for him for a hundred years?
Rei is the breath in his lungs, the blood in his veins, and the beat of his heart. Somehow, he has to find a way to keep him.
An elf can fall in love with a vampire, right?
Two Thousand Tears is the second novel in the Kings of Chaos series, which is a spin-off from the Lords of Discord series. This book contains a somewhat broken vampire falling in love with an elf who should be his enemy but is actually his everything, shifters, meddling witches, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, car surfing, found family, brotherly bickering, magic, chaos, pouting, vampire cuddles, and an endless love that crosses lines drawn by war.
This is exactly the type of story and series I emotionally want as a reader. I absolutely wallow in it, appreciating what Jocelynn Drake is accomplishing narratively, while also still being totally immersed in the universe and the characters storylines as they are unfolding.
If I adored the first book, Two Thousand Dreams, then my deep love for this novel is for all the beautiful creativity and passion that Drake pours into this second story.
None of these are standalone novels, but intricate layered parts of an epic that’s yet to reach its climax. It’s pulling together characters from other series that form important political and mystical factions, while simultaneously creating new characters and expanding the existing world in ways we hadn’t anticipated.
It’s ancient China, the Fae, the current human world imperiled, witchcraft, necromancy, vampires and their mates . Even the Underworld and demons play an important role here. There’s skeletons on the march with varying eras making retain a piece of their long gone personality. Such an amazing foundation for the main storylines to be threaded into.
After Blood Witch Moon Mullins and 2000 year old Chinese vampire Chen and the rest of their clan of ancient Chinese vampires found the Gate the Fae were arriving through, they arrived early to rescue their family member, Yichen, who had been kidnapped 100 years earlier and disappeared into the Fae realm.
Here Yichen reappears with the Fae Prince Rei, in tow. Their 100 year old relationship clearly has been one of pain, trauma, and more brought on by the Fae King and Queen . What they’ve done and gone through is never explicitly stated but implied. But as they work together to keep themselves safe, understanding the new implications of their status, it’s the emotional state of their shaky bond that affects them and their family the most.
Imprisonment doesn’t allow for any thought beyond that of escaping. Then it’s one more goal. But Drake starts to allow the reality of their new safety to let other possibilities open up for them. It’s a story that pulls the reader into their dynamic and won’t turn us loose. Not even at the end.
Additionally, into this found family are so many fantastic characters. A Huli and its attachment to a member of the family. The other members that are extraordinary in their powers and personality.
Including the one that is the heart of the next book and the dramatic ending here. For while they have been successful in achieving their goals at the end another shattering climax awaits them .
I will undoubtedly read this again before the next book arrives. Just for the sheer pleasure and satisfaction I received from the author’s words.
I’m highly recommending this series and novels . Pls read them in the order they are written.
The Kings of Chaos :
✓ Two Thousand Dreams #1
✓ Two Thousand Tears #2
◦ Two Thousand Blades #3 – May 24,2024
The Kings of Chaos is the third series to the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series. See both below and the order to read them in.
Lords of Discord series:
✓ Claiming Marcus
◦ Saving Rafe
◦ Waking Bel
◦ Embracing Winter
◦ Healing Aiden
◦ Visiting the Variks: A Short Story Collection
Princes of Mayhem :
✓ How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Ruined Saved My Life Disaster #1:
He has escaped his imprisonment, but he’s still blood bound to the crown prince of the fae.
Oh gods, how is he going to explain that to his clan?
Finding a way to break the bond might not be too hard. Killing the king of the fae even seems possible.
But there’s no way he can let go of the elf who protected him, risked everything for him for a hundred years?
Rei is the breath in his lungs, the blood in his veins, and the beat of his heart. Somehow, he has to find a way to keep him.
An elf can fall in love with a vampire, right?
Two Thousand Tears is the second novel in the Kings of Chaos series, which is a spin-off from the Lords of Discord series. This book contains a somewhat broken vampire falling in love with an elf who should be his enemy but is actually his everything, shifters, meddling witches, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, car surfing, found family, brotherly bickering, magic, chaos, pouting, vampire cuddles, and an endless love that crosses lines drawn by war.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 