What a fully immersive and jammed packed story The Wolf Vs The Monster turned out to be. I was thinking this might be the last book but instead Hignett ramped up the suspense, the plot lines, gave us high action, white knuckle anxiety for our main characters, including multiple anonymous villains, unforeseen events and situations, magical powers and creatures, and a new teenage vampire I absolutely fell in love with.
This book is a fantasy Toad’s wildest adventure ride with a cliffhanger ending and every single part of the story is fabulous.
Plus a certain character gets a long overdue comeuppance.
And other things, huge plot points are revealed here too.
So it’s absolutely satisfying and that cliffhanger will lead to an amazing story. So I’m excited to read this next book.
The Wolf Vs The Monster: The Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth by Lauretta Hignett might be my favorite story of the series so far. It’s extremely well written, the characters and tightly packed narrative is perfectly balanced, and that ending really adds to the overall momentum here.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell who the real monsters are…
A strange creature attacked Romeo last night. A huge beast unlike anything anyone has ever seen in Philly before – an alien monster with natural armor, organic high-tech weaponry, and poison dripping from its limbs.
My intuition is screaming at me. It’s telling me the monster is not here for Romeo.
It’s here for me.
The Wolf Vs The Monster is book five in the Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth, a hot new Urban Fantasy series by bestselling author Lauretta Hignett.
And with a literal turn of the page, Mae has landed us in the fairy tale world of Peter Pan, Tinkerbelle, and Captain Hook with this second book as Harmony Fallowell, best friend Molly, and falcon Fetch leaping out over the edge of the page of the Kingdom of Alabaster just as the darkness was closing in.
It’s a splashdown into some familiar territory with wonderful creatures and fantastic twists!
Mae keeps moving the overall theme of getting Harmony back to her original kingdom in time to save it from the evil sorceress, letting her required knowledge and skills return as this journey continues. She is getting magically more powerful as she gathers the necessary items to complete her quest. ,As is Molly who’s undergone devastating events and is emerging from them a different, stronger woman, shifting into her own style and strengths. And there’s Fetch,Harmony’s feathered companion to add excitement to each adventure and adversarial moments.
It’s hard to say anything more about the characters due to their unique roles in this book. And the many twists in this storyline.
Onyx: A Twisted Fairy Tale (Inkbound Book 2) by Shannon Mae is the middle book in this trilogy so the author starts tying up a few of the characters stories. This aspect of Onyx makes for a really satisfying read and leaves one feeling great for several reasons, while still leaving the reader with the impression of suspense and excitement as Harmony is left with a companion tumbling off another page into the next kingdom and trilogy finale.
If you are a fan of these amazing covers like I am, you will have peaked at the last one, Inked in Emerald, and know exactly where she’s landed! Absolutely perfect.
I can hardly wait for this one to be released!
See you there. Clicking my heels.
Highly recommended. But they must be read in the order they are written.
One fairytale down, one pirate-infested nightmare to go…
Molly, my ever-loyal falcon, Fetch, and I barely survived evil wizard Relyk and escaped Alabaster, only to get cannon-bombed into our next story.
Literally. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell swoop in with a rescue, whisking us off to Neverland. At first, it’s all glitter and good times on an island straight out of a daydream…until they mention a magical clock they’ve been hunting.
The same clock I need to fulfill my destiny.
So we do what any desperate main characters would do—we steal their boat and vanish into the night to get a jump on finding the clock. Too bad we sail straight into the hands of pirates.
And here’s the real kicker: Their captain is the man I’ve been dreaming of since childhood.
The twist? He’s not charming. He’s not kind. He’s not even remotely sane.
He’s the most dreaded pirate of all time.
And he thinks I’m a boy.
Now we’re tangled in secrets, trying to blend in, plotting yet another escape—until I find out the man of my dreams is after the same enchanted clock. The one he stole from Peter Pan a decade ago and lost to a massive, man-eating crocodile…along with his hand.
With reluctant alliances, sea monsters, and an unholy attraction to an even unholier pirate, this story might end with a bang or me walking the plank.
Magical Midlife Mom series is a low heat, high action urban fantasy series that has the first four novels available in a box set for a great binge read. Which, of course, I did, after having given book 1 a try.
A middle aged single mom of a teenage girl, living in the Pacific Northwest, is just trying to get by. Melissa Hartley has worked her way up to become the respected office manager of a IT company, her daughter is doing well in high school, and she owns her own home, small as it is. Then everything changes.
The author, DM Fike, has a great ear for mother/daughter dynamics as well as the ability to create that same energy in a relatable, engaging dialogue that feels realistic.
Listening to Melissa and her daughter, Regan,banter and argue, whether it’s about school or the magic that’s happening in their lives, it’s exactly what you’d expect from that relationship.
Even if in parts I absolutely was frustrated by the choices that Melissa made or how she, as a character, wasn’t ruthless enough, I had to think about if it was the writer or the actions. And I believe it’s the character’s actions, in which makes Melissa real enough but a puts me a little disconnected from her because I’m getting frustrated with her and her character “flaws”.
The otherworldly characters are good but because they’re less well known, they don’t have the same level of character development that Melissa, Regan, their friends and Melissa’s mother have. All those characters? Feel drive by their emotions and life choices.
Very little of the fantasy world does with the exception of the sirens does.
So the Magical Midlife Mom series has 5 books out with what I believe is the finale novel due out shortly, Mom Seals Her Fate.
If you’re looking for a fast paced, humorous, low heat fantasy series, this is one to check out. The main characters are out of the typical fantasy series, the feel believable in their mother/daughter dynamic and their journey together is one to cheer for.
What would a single mom do to protect her only daughter from a hidden world of dangerous, magical fae?
I love my smart, kind, and funny daughter. We may not have much, but we get along without any of the normal teenage drama.
Or at least we did, until my daughter got curious about her biological father.
Now our world is falling apart. A handsome client threatens my employment. A monstrous black wolf shows up on our doorstep. A mysterious masked woman begins stalking us.
And that’s not mentioning the fae.
I didn’t expect to have a midlife crisis involving magic, but it doesn’t matter. I may be just a single mom, but I’ll do anything to protect my daughter.
Even if it kills me.
Join Melissa Hartley as she goes on a magical journey only a mother could take. For readers of Paranormal Women’s Fiction who like strong female protagonists, witty banter, and a hint of romance.
The Magical Midlife Mom Boxed Set contains the following 4 books:
I’m absolutely entranced by Annabel Chase’s completed witchy series Starry Hollow about a widowed woman with a young daughter, struggling to keep them afloat in New Jersey whose life changes forever when her repo job goes wrong.
I’ve read multiple books by Chase but after reading, ok binging ten books here, I can say that no voice is as memorable, as regionally vibrant and hilariously true as this Jersey mom, Ember Rose. And of course, that holds true as well for her anxiety prone, hyper aware and uber intelligent 10 year old daughter, Marley, and her ancient irascible Yorkie , PP3 , the three of them who are make up the small family that’s transported magically into the hidden SC town of Starry Hollow, their new home and future.
Each book is a quick, highly entertaining grand tale! From meeting this widowed New Jersey mom grappling with her mounting bills and a daughter too smart for her public school, a aging terrier and a job that has a lot of risk associated with it as a repo person, we immediately connect with her. And if I could hear that Jersey accent and imagine a bit a Marisa Tomei. The colloquial voice is pretty great as is her sense of humor and physicality.
Can you tell I fell in love here?
Then Chase contrasts this “fish out of water “ Jersey family in every aspect with their new found relatives that are powerfully magical, wealthy and look like the American version of the Targaryens, with all their various dynamics and layers of love and relationships.
The town itself, which expands in every book with new shops, fantastic areas and community citizens, is a fully developed and unique character in its own right.
Ember herself is a woman who has suffered great loss in her life. While she never knew her mother, her father raised her and she was devastated by his death. Then by her husband’s death in a car accident 5 years ago, a man she’d known for her entire life.
These losses are a huge part of her personality and as the story is from her perspective, Chase uses the conversations and insights from other characters to show the readers how much hard it is for Ember to move forward from the tragedy of her past, that she herself isn’t dealing with it.
These losses and Ember’s journey through her new world, that of navigating the new one of magic (often with hilarious moments) and that complex world of coming together with an extended powerful family of expectations and responsibilities you never knew or imagined existed.
These storylines are both light and powerful, funny and poignant. They are full of surprises and unexpected scenes that, while fleeting, make quite the emotional impact and connection.
And they make you think and feel good, especially before going to sleep.
Nothing comes easy, relationships, magic lessons, cooking. It takes time, work and patience.
Turns out 19 books might not be enough for me. Ten definitely was not
Some relationship but not real spicy as they say. More emotional towards working things together.
Highly recommended. I love them , this universe. And read them any way you want. As singular books or as I did , one reading through the box set books 1-10.
Covers are very cute.
This collection includes the first 10 books in the 19-book cozy fantasy series:
Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being whisked away to a charming town where the stakes are low and the magic is high, this enchanting series is for you.
Ember Rose is a feisty young widow who’s transported to Starry Hollow, along with her teen daughter and ancient Yorkshire terrier, and discovers she’s descended from a long line of powerful witches. She also lands smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation, and the sexy werewolf sheriff isn’t falling for her charms…yet.
This collection includes the first 10 books in the 19-book cozy fantasy series:
What Blooms From Death by S.M. Gaither is an excellent read. The description doesn’t really do justice to the incredible story and imagery that Gaither brings to the plot of a traumatized necromancer Princess ready to walk into hell to find a weapon that will get revenge on those who wronged her.
The magical elements and symbols that make the world here are thoughtfully crafted ,with layers of natural elements, characters history, threads of emotional details built into each part of this fantastic piece of the story. It’s in the beads of Nova’s bracelets and her dog, Phantom. It’s even in the leaves of the trees.
Nova, her history, magic and journey through the underworld is just incredible. Especially as she’s accompanied by her dog, Phantom, a remarkable character on his own.
Aleks, the Light King, and company are well drawn. Aleks is a compelling character with trauma of his own, and his story matches with that of Nova’s.
Gaither storytelling includes some dynamic relationship twists and great action sequences. And an ending that borders on a cliffhanger. It will certainly make you want that next book due out in December.
Another terrific read in the fantasy fiction genre. A winner for lovers of the romance fantasy novel.
Princess Bellanova has survived in the shadows for years.
An exile haunted by a curse that plunged her family into a deathless sleep and left her home rotting, Nova has spent seven years trying to endure, to make sense of her torturous past, all while honing her gifts with necromancy magic—
And now she will use those gifts to walk willingly into death.
For rumor has it that Luminor, the Blade of Light—the cursed weapon that felled her family—is buried deep in the heart of the underworld. If Nova can steal it back from the realm of the dead, she might break the spell that shattered her life and reclaim the kingdom that once was hers.
The only things standing in her way are the endless twists and turns of the underworld, its terrifying monsters, unpredictable magic…and Aleksander, the infamous Light King himself—keeper of the blade, and the one who wielded it on the night of her family’s ruin.
King Aleks has spent nearly a decade trapped in the below, a phantom of his former self, unable to truly die. When Nova crash lands into his purgatory—an inexplicably bright and lively being in a sea of endless dead things—he begins to dream of the world above for the first time in ages.
He needs her to get him back to that world above. She needs him to undo the curse. But as the two form a reluctant alliance that soon blooms into something dangerously deeper, they find themselves unraveling ancient magic and dark secrets that will have greater consequences than either of them could have ever imagined…
The is the prequel to the new urban fantasy series that takes place in Heather G. Harris’ Other World universe. We’ve seen its beginnings in The Other Witch series when the Ogre King meets with the witch Crone Amber DeLea and circumstances from that meeting leads here.
I’ve been eagerly anticipating this series and this is a delightful taste of what’s to come. It introduces the character and situations of the series.
It definitely helps to have a firm knowledge of the overall universe and magical world that this series is slotted into as other events and characters from crossover series will feature prominently, I’m sure.
The smutty talking dove is a great new character, especially as I think it will lead into a deeper dive into the mythology and magical world.
Another winner.
The Other Detective Series
Frustrated Justice, a prequel story, Veiled Justice-Book 1
Murder, magic, and a talking bird with an attitude—justice has never been this complicated!
When a body is found pulverised beyond recognition, I’m called to investigate. As Chester’s only magical Detective Inspector, it’s my job to handle the cases the Common police can’t. This one has all the hallmarks of the Other Realm—especially when I find a talking bird caged at the scene.
The avian is a cheeky, foul-mouthed creature with a knack for insults and an alarming amount of information about the murder. His claims are as dubious as his vocabulary, but he might just be the key to solving the case.
Things get even messier when Krieg, the King of Ogres, strides into the investigation. He’s imposing, infuriating, and entirely too distracting for my peace of mind. With magical factions on edge, a murderer on the loose, and a bird who won’t stop talking, I’ll need all my wits—and my rare magical gifts—to stay ahead of the chaos.
Justice might be my job, but staying alive—and keeping my heart intact—is personal.
Please note that this story was previously published as part of the Magically Wild anthology.
Immerse yourself in The Other Detective Series—perfect for fans of fast-paced, witty paranormal police procedurals, complete with a fierce heroine, gripping murder mysteries, and a slow-burn fated-mates romance.
This book is my first experience with this author and I’m so very excited to have found Mel Todd. What an incredible immersive experience and magnificent tale Lady is.
Set in the Ternion Universe, same world as Todd’s Twisted Luck series (which I haven’t read and this is a prequel to), it’s an alternate timeline in Victorian England. Magic has just started to appear, Prince Albert never dies, Disraeli stays in office longer. And Victoria never retires because she never falls into grief and mourning, but remains a strong monarch.
So much feels believable and powerful in its depth of detail because of the incredible characters, the emotion and pull of the storylines, and the magical power that is being created.
Especially when it comes to the Lucks. Each of these is focusing on a specific Luck sibling. The stories run concurrently with each other so we see many of the same events from different perspectives and where they were, if missing from the other person’s narrative at the time.
Miss Emmeline Luck, the youngest of the Earl’s children and the one the Earl favors the least, gets the first story.
Emmeline’s journey from a powerless object to be bartered by her father to a striking woman who has magical abilities and a sense of her own power to direct her life is gripping and incredibly satisfying.
It’s wound through with the political drama of that day, court proceedings and battles that mark the disparity between races, status and gender of Victorian times.
Emmeline’s development, however, includes her own family as well as new members who have the power to train her magic and influence her own destiny.
As she says herself:
“I wanted to be Emmeline Luck, someone that was irreplaceable and in control of her own destiny, not pawned off or used to further someone else’s.”
I started rooting for her and remained so inspired and invested in her life that the pages flew by.
There’s no romance but very stirring moments as she fights for her control over her destiny.
Fantastic side characters that I would love to see more of, including her dress designer, Diante, a fascinating person whose history I’m dying to read.
I’m quickly heading to Lord which is Duncan’s book.
What a fantastic book and find. It’s one I’m highly recommending!
I adore the covers. Each and every one. Detailed to fit the character.
Miss Emmeline Luck has always strived to be a dutiful daughter, but thinking for herself has never won her favor with society—or her domineering father.
When Earl Luck announces her engagement to a slimy man unfit to be left with a scullery maid, she tries to comply. But the reality of the despicable nature of her fiancé reveals a power buried deep within her: Emmeline is a mage.
Magic is a new and controversial force in Victorian England; its emergence stirring unease while the Queen remains silent. Desperate for training, Emmeline turns to Miss Antoinette Carlton and her mentor, the Bengali mage Rohan, who has a familiar. As Emmeline delves into her training, she realizes magic could upend her family—and threaten the security of Britain itself.
When her father kicks her out, Emmeline faces an impossible choice: conform to a life without freedom or carve a path on her own terms in a society that deems a woman without a man worthless. Armed with magic, intelligence, and the law, she sets out to challenge her father’s tyranny. But with powerful forces seeking to use her as a pawn, Emmeline must summon all her strength and cunning to claim her own destiny.
In a world where magic is both feared and coveted, can she rewrite the rules—or will she remain at the mercy of others?
This is the way I’m reading my series when at all possible, omnibus or boxed sets. Binge reading right through every single book to the end. Fabulous.
With the exception of Lucy, the Other Wolf, who I’ll never ever buy as a convincing or plausible character, I’ve loved every single other series in the Other World universe that Heather G. Harris is still creating.
Witch Amber DeLea has consistently been a powerful if secondary character in all the other series, a solitary character with a serious grudge against the griffin assassin, Bastion, who features strongly in most of the other characters series and magical paths towards power and romance.
Harris has let fall hints and bits of knowledge of each of these characters history, individually and what has made them such enemies, in previous stories, but here the devastating backstory is finally revealed.
I’m the first to admit I was finding Amber’s continual struggle with Bastion exhausting, especially as Harris’ empathetic scenes are able to show exactly what has been the real result of the events as well. The reader, if not Amber, is able to see both sides of the story.
This excellent storytelling continues throughout the series, the balance between the characters, the personalities and perspectives. Even when the drama and suspense is extraordinary and the thrills are completely out of control, the thoughtful plotting is right there with the magical moments and characters.
There are elements that stem from the last moments of The Other Wolf series that have enormous impact on the events here. But I have tried twice, in 2 different ways to get through that series to no avail.
So they remain cobbled together in my mind from various conversations said in the other series and that is more than enough.
I ended up loving Amber DeLea, the long journey she takes from a self contained existence to one that starts embracing her small group of friends and relationships. The character development and world growth of the series is amazing.
And Harris has yet another addition planned, The Other Detective, which has its beginning here.
I’m loving this. And highly recommending it. Binge it all the way in the box set!
A deadly assassin. A desperate witch. A past that won’t stay buried.
I’m Amber DeLea—ambitious witch, potion mistress extraordinaire, and daughter to a woman slipping further away each day. My life is a constant battle, whether it’s cursed runes, treacherous coven politics, or dark forces closing in. But nothing haunts me more than my mother’s unravelling mind, and I’m running out of time to find a cure.
The last thing I need is Bastion—the deadly griffin assassin who shattered my world—being ordered to protect me. And yet, here he is, my reluctant bodyguard, bound to keep me alive even as old wounds fester between us.
Every whispered incantation could be my undoing. Every shadow hides a threat. And every moment with Bastion blurs the line between hatred and something far more dangerous. I’ll do whatever it takes to save my mother—even if it means risking my heart to the one man I swore to despise until my dying breath.
Devour this witchy series if you love humour, heart, and a strong heroine tangled in a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers fade-to-black romance.
This box sex collects from The Other Witch Series and includes the whole series: Rune of the Witch, prequel Hex of the Witch, Book 1 Coven of the Witch, Book 2 Familiar of the Witch, Book 3; and Destiny of the Witch, Book 4.
Don’t miss all the books set in the Other Realm! New connected series coming soon.
The Other Realm Series
Glimmer of the Other
Glimmer of Dragons
Glimmer of Hope
Glimmer of Christmas
Glimmer of Death
Glimmer of Deception
Challenge of the Court
Betrayal of the Court
Revival of the Court
The Other Wolf Series
Protection of the Pack
Guardians of the Pack
Saviour of the Pack
The Other Witch Series
Rune of the Witch
Hex of the Witch
Coven of the Witch
Familiar of the Witch
Destiny of the Witch
Written in British English.
For the maximal reader experience, it is recommended that you read The Other Wolf series before you read The Court series, though the events in The Other Wolf series are explained if you prefer to dive right in.
I love stories where the author has twisted known fairy tales into their own interpretations of these beloved characters and takes on their universes and themes.
Inked in Ashes is author Shannon Mayer’s first novel in her new Inkbound series about a princess hidden in a book of Fairy Tales until the time is finally come for her to make her way back home and save her kingdom.
From such a simple sounding premise comes an incredible story, starting with a devastating scene of sacrifice, death , and the magic that sends a toddler princess into a book of fairy tales just as her father’s enemy destroys everything around her. It’s heartbreaking and terrifying as any a prologue.
Harmony Fallowell is the young woman we meet in a slum town, Hollow, along with her best friend, Moll, trying to get her friend out of going to the ball. Harmony’s got a stepfather, stepmother, and her kids. Yes, she’s not been treated well as an extra mouth or adopted sibling.
Things go badly at the ball for Moll and then Harmony who is there for her.
Mayer beautifully pulls in many of the familiar themes and fairy tale staples here, ones that will make the reader nod in acknowledgment. But those are just a fantastic framework for a deeper story.
One that has inspired characters, including falcons, violence, gore in action scenes, and some detailed deaths. There’s also an off the page mention of a SA.
So think Grimm’s instead of Disney and you would be more prepared for the type of characters and scenarios found here.
The journey that propels Harmony throughout this book is so well written. It combines a number of different elements, all perfectly executed to give the feeling of multiple layers being utilized at the same time to help her develop and become the person needed at the end of her journey. The one needed to save her kingdom.
How I love this book and characters. Absolutely amazing.
I’ve spent twenty-five years in the Hollow, poor as dirt, cursed with a stepmother who hates me, and dreaming about a faraway land that I don’t understand. Only two things that make life worth living are my falcon, Fetch, and my best friend, Molly.
But when Moll’s plot to land a royal husband at the palace ball goes horribly wrong, I find myself staring at a king with a glass stiletto buried in his chest and a blood-covered Molly standing over him. We’ve got to move…and fast, or we’ll both wind up swinging from the hangman’s noose.
Worse? The palace sorcerer is using everything he can to find the culprit including raising the dead.
More complicated? Duncan…brother to the King, whose eye I’ve unintentionally caught, a man whose secrets might be deadlier than the undead soldiers breathing down our necks, is making me second-guess everything I’ve ever known.
With revolution brewing and a mysterious man calling to me from my dreams, I have no choice but to embrace my fate…
But what if my fate is beyond anything I could ever imagine? What if the only land I’ve ever known isn’t home at all?
What if I’m trapped inside a fairytale, and the only way out…is through?
I really thought this was the series finale but was so thrilled to see I was wrong. There’s at least one, perhaps more to this fantastic, compelling series coming before it finished.
This picks up shortly after the cliffhanger ending of Midnight Auto Parts, where Frankie and friends found that Matty’s soul is missing from his body. To discover what happened to his soul, Frankie, boyfriend Kierse, and several otherworldly traveling companions head to New Orleans where souls are going missing too, including another one who is incredibly close to Frankie.
Edwards absolutely brings it here in here narrative. The characters are, throughout this story and events that occur, grow their magical powers, in storylines that build a new depth of emotion as well as a connection to each other. Edwards moves from really complex, stressful situations to hilarious moments and back to heartbreak with each new scenario and often frightening suspense filled scenes.
Yes, there’s another cliffhanger. And all the characters are pulling together, just as the mythology and world building is expanding even further. Totally amazing and highly imaginative elements that grab you!
This is one of my must read series. It’s a series low on sexual content but highly recommended for excellent writing, great characters and fantastic world building.
Matty has lost his soul, and it’s up to Frankie to find it before his body gives up the fight for survival. But soon his isn’t the only life at risk from the soulless condition. The affliction is spreading from Thunderbolt, Georgia, into the beating heart of the French Quarter and right up to Madam Vionette Fontenot’s front door.
When Frankie returns to New Orleans in search of answers, she finds herself at the mercy of a god who covets her newfound powers as the guardian of the Alcheyvāhā. He makes it clear he’s willing to do whatever it takes to wield her for his own benefit. Even if it costs Frankie everyone she loves.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 