Tag: urban fantasy

Review:  Night Maze (The Cat Lady Chronicles Book 4) by Helen Harper

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Night Maze was excellent. And it builds around the plot from connected series /story, Squib (The Coldstream Chronicles Book 1). It’s not necessary to read that book but it’s fun and adds layers to this story.

Kit McCafferty is sent out on a mission to discover what happened to the Vampires missing giant worms who travel the Understream, the worms being a vital part of their undead community. 

One aspect of Night Maze that makes this so special and well written is that the vampires up until now have been a lesser known or even a one-dimensional entity. And the Understream, an entire city and mysterious community that exists behind secretive entrances has been an enigma. Only briefly in previous stories has Kit and others journeyed into it and then swiftly out noting the dangers and hidden tunnels. 

Harper shines a narrative light, if you’ll excuse me, on the emotional depths and hidden history of the vampires and their communities in the Understream, including the fabulous giant worms. Really, I wanted so badly to have more of them once I got to see intriguing glimpses of their personalities. 

And the vampires too, especially one. She’s magnificent.

The investigation is terrific, dark and fascinating. And gives us a new feline character to mull over and know that he’s going to pop up in the oncoming novels. 

But we get to see Kit flex her skills in multiple ways and in different challenges. She’s a powerful paranormal being and she plays a role,  “cat lady persona” , most of the time. Only occasionally does she really her “true self” out in these situations. It’s fantastic here to see her being able to be that type of shifter that none suspects she is. 

The relationship between Kat and  Thane Barrow, the lone werewolf, is admirable. They understand each other, their need for individual lives and space while also supporting each other,  insuring separate territories within Coldstream.  It’s a great element here. 

I love Night Maze and Kit. The next novel threatens to shatter the stability that Kit has built so hard for herself. I can’t wait. What an incredible character and series. 

Highly recommended! A winner and one for those who love urban fantasy series. 

Book Cover created by Covers By Juan

The Cat Lady Chronicles (5 book series):

Waifs And Strays #1

The Dark Hiss of Magic #2

A Skirl of Sorcery #3

Night Maze #4

A Killer Heart #5 – Sept 18, 2026

Related series:

Squib (The Coldstream Chronicles Book 1)

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 Book 4 of 5: The Cat Lady Chronicles 

Blurb 

It’s one thing to be dealing death. It’s quite another to deal with the undead.

Kit McCafferty has never been fond of vampires but she can’t refuse the opportunity to learn more about their kind. When she is invited into the clandestine underground world of the Understream to investigate the mysterious disappearance of some giant worms, she soon discovers there is far more to the fanged creatures than she’d ever realised.

Danger, secrets and mysteries abound in every dark, twisting tunnel. Is there anyone in the depths who Kit can trust? Or will she have to rely on her wits – and her cats – alone?

This is the fourth book in the thrilling urban fantasy series The Cat Lady Chronicles.

May 29, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

286 pages

Book 4 of 5

The Cat Lady Chronicles

Review: Night Owl Bridge (A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche #2) by Seanna Kelly 

Rating:  4⭐️

Another urban fantasy short story that fits in the Sea Wicche universe, it’s a sequel to Night Owl Books, a introduction to Orla, a Eurasian Eagle Owl shifter who owns Night Owl Books, a late night bookstore she runs out of her house on the outskirts of Monterey. 

Less bookstore, more Orla’s personal enormous library where she occasionally sells a book or two, but mostly reads according to her owl’s nature, from 6 pm to 8 am every night. 

A mystery and a woman in need of help intruded into her territory and brought a shifter sheriff and his group of paranormal investigators to her bookstore.  

Now another mystery and missing dog brings the sheriff and the paranormal investigation team back into Orla’s life. The missing dog belongs to an elderly longtime customer she’s grown fond of and the hunt leads her to a greater sense of danger.

This is another very short story but beautifully written and each scene and character is so well defined and crafted.

I haven’t had any time yet to seek out the Sea Wicche series this miniseries fits into but it’s absolutely on my radar and TBR list. 

A definite winner. 

Love the covers. 

Interconnected series:

Beginning with:

Sea Wicche (5 book series)

A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche (2 book series)

Night Owl Books #1

Night Owl Bridge #2

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        Night Owl Bridge (A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Owl shifter Orla’s quiet life of reading is once again disturbed. This time, Nick—bear-shifter, cop, and possible boyfriend—asks her to help him investigate an odd disappearance at a local bridge. Orla can’t see anything amiss, but she definitely feels something off. The bones she spies under the bridge lead her to believe they’re dealing with a bigger problem than Nick suspects. Orla must once again put down her book and help save her little corner of the world.

NYLA

Publication date

February 27, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

61 pages

Book 2 of 2

A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche

Review:  Skulls and Sunlit Secrets (The Haunted Ranch Mysteries Book 7) by Sara Bourgeois 

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries is my first dive into the writings of Sara Bourgeois but I just love what she’s accomplishing here with her characters, location and overall mystical aesthetic.

Skulls and Sunset is one of the best books in the series so far, combining the all the great elements of the series and the haunting emotional aspects of the story into one beautifully crafted tale of motherhood and obsessive love. 

This novel moves Claire’s powers and abilities forward as well as resolves a previous storyline about that huge dark mysterious creature that’s seen flying over the desert in the past story.

But the anchor of this tale is the human being who has lost her life. One we meet briefly and yet immediately becomes someone we know and identify with. Amelia Sanders, so happy and bright. 

That’s what is so impressive about this author is her capacity to make a character have such impact on the reader and story in such a short time. Like Amelia does. We are heavily invested in Claire’s investigation and want to know what happened.

 

It’s a heartbreaking mystery, with absorbing side stories to go along with it. And the ending is just as it should be, poignant and moving. 

I love this series and story. It’s not a standalone. Each builds upon the previous one .

Highly recommended! Excellent read!

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries (8 book series)

Death Rides The Desert #1

Bones and Cactus Blooms #2

Spirits of the Saguaro #3

Tombstones with a View #4

Body Beneath the Wither #5

Death Waits at Dead Rock #6

Skulls and Sunlit Secrets #7

The Bone Charm #8

Buy link

 Book 7 of 8: The Haunted Ranch Mysteries 

Blurb 

Everyone in Perdido Springs was looking up when Amelia Sanders died.

A total solar eclipse has turned the little desert town into a tourist destination, and Claire Caldwell just wants to survive the weekend without someone asking if her ranch does birthday parties. But when the moon covers the sun, Claire sees things the darkness reveals… creatures, pathways, and the outline of something vast moving through a world layered on top of her own.

Then the light returns. Amelia is dead outside the bar. The sheriff calls it a scorpion sting. Her friends call it impossible. A massive owl that shouldn’t exist keeps circling a house on the edge of town. And Claire is starting to realize that the murder and the owl might have nothing to do with each other, which means she has two problems, not one.

April 20, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

198 pages

Book 7 of 8

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries

Review:  Death’s Rival (Jane Yellowrock Book 5) by Faith Hunter 

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Death’s Rival was a fantastic read! It’s a chilling thrill a minute, a plague that threatens vampires, a powerful enemy with old ties to Jane’s history, and new characters who I absolutely adore. 

Did I mention I love this book? And there’s traumatizing moments and betrayal too! I mean, it’s got everything. 

One thing I really love is the addition of the Younger brothers, who form not only Jane’s first personal team but her own second foundation of a “family” outside of Molly. They start to act as a her needed buffer at times,when possible, between her, and the paranormal power struggles constantly present. 

This also is the beginning of a long process of series reveals about the overall story threads and major plots being uncovered that center around Jane, MOC Leo, and the New Orleans territory. 

Incredible storytelling, so exciting and satisfying. Highly recommended! Read them in the order they are written. 

I wish I knew more about the artist who created the series covers because I really love them. Consistently great.

Jane Yellowrock (15 book series): 

Skinwalker #1

Blood Cross #2

Mercy Blade #3

Raven Cursed #4

Death’s Rival #5

Blood Trade #6

Black Arts #7

Broken Soul #8

Dark Heir 9

Shadow Rites #10

Cold Reign #11

Dark Queen #12

Shattered Bonds #13

True Dead #14

Final Heir #15

Buy link

        Death’s Rival (Jane Yellowrock Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…

For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey.

Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.

Review:  Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock Book 4) by Faith Hunter 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Raven Cursed brings both aspects of Jane’s background and cultural heritage together in a truly momentous and compelling story. It sets in motion important elements that won’t surface in the series and for certain characters until books further on in this series. Yes, I’m farther ahead now. Just behind in my reviews. Binging will do that. 

Jane continues to develop her skills and abilities, while exploring her Cherokee roots and lost memories, ones that are extremely traumatic for her. 

Each book is so layered and complex with Hunter weaving patterns of multiple stories together that she’s building towards an even more powerful dark whole picture. There’s witch Molly, and Molly’s sister Evie’s unhinged behavior, and Molly’s important family members each with magical abilities and roles to play. 

Plus there’s also the ongoing Rick/Bruiser potential for romance and intriguing aspects because Beast has her own perspective on mating that’s not always aligned with Jane’s. She has no use for monogamy and is basically a creature of solitude. 

There’s new African weres as well.

Jane’s constant struggle with guilt and issues with her own role is my biggest issue here, other than the waffling over Ricky, who I’m not a fan of. Even in areas where she is obviously not the fault of the problem but assuming the burden anyway. 

This does get old. But I will say this odd behavior is given an explanation further in the series as well as other aspects of her personality. The author pulls it all together. 

Each book serves as a reference and meaningful building block for the series and character. Leo’s planning in depth, and there are many other things involved that can be overlooked here. I’ve double backed a couple of times already. FYI. 

Enjoy the fantastic battle scenes, the weapons, the paranormal elements and creatures. The characters are developing and evolving. 

Love this so much!

I wish I knew more about the artist who created the series covers because I really love them. Consistently great.

Jane Yellowrock (15 book series): 

Skinwalker #1

Blood Cross #2

Mercy Blade #3

Raven Cursed #4

Death’s Rival #5

Blood Trade #6

Black Arts #7

Broken Soul #8

Dark Heir 9

Shadow Rites #10

Cold Reign #11

Dark Queen #12

Shattered Bonds #13

True Dead #14

Final Heir #15

Buy link

        Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock Book 4)

    

Blurb 

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Unless she wants to face a very angry mast vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It’s a good thing she’s worth every penny.

Publisher

Ace

Publication date

January 3, 2012

Language

‎English

Print length

377 pages

Book 4 of 15

Jane Yellowrock

Review:  Mercy Blade: A Jane Yellowrock Novel Book 3 by Faith Hunter 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Mercy Blade is a book whose description is one I think was deliberately kept succinct and vague for a reason. And that was to keep the readers from any plot spoilers that might have been picked up from a longer blurb.

Mercy Blade itself opens up an entire introduction to new characters, paranormal species, and several areas of ways that the various beings govern themselves, or have the ability to. 

Hunter has really constructed a complex universe that is just starting to emerge here. And it’s going to spread throughout the course of the series and over the country.

The few things I will say is that Mercy Blade sees the official emergence of a African black were-leopard group, in New Orleans to meet with Leo, a tumultuous revelation that includes Rick, and yet several more paranormal species that will have ongoing conflicts and roles for the future. 

Jane’s life will be more heartbreaking, dangerous and in an unstable state where she’s scrambling for trust and support.

It’s a danger greater than anything before and makes for a fantastic story.

I’m so hooked into this character and universe. 

Jane Yellowrock (15 book series): 

Skinwalker #1

Blood Cross #2

Mercy Blade #3

Raven Cursed #4

Death’s Rival #5

Blood Trade #6

Black Arts #7

Broken Soul #8

Dark Heir 9

Shadow Rites #10

Cold Reign #11

Dark Queen #12

Shattered Bonds #13

True Dead #14

Final Heir #15

Buy link

        Mercy Blade: A Jane Yellowrock Novel

    

Blurb 

Jane, a shapeshifting vampire-hunter-for-hire, crosses paths with a stranger who has arrived in New Orleans, enlisted to hunt vampires who have gone insane-or so he says…

Publisher

Ace

Publication date

January 4, 2011

Language

‎English

Print length

322 pages

Book 3 of 15

Jane Yellowrock

Review:  Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock Book 2) by Faith Hunter 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Jane Yellowrock quickly became my favorite main character from her introductory story and Blood Cross just continues my love for her complex paranormal if not completely known being. Her past traumatic history is slowly being rolled out by flashes of ancient memories returning and others sharing their knowledge of gods and mythology.

The enigma of Jane’s past is threaded throughout her current life of a rogue vampire hunter now temporarily living in New Orleans. 

As a hidden skinwalker, she’s both Jane and Beast, the big mountain lion is now an integral part of Jane, despite continuing as a separate entity that Jane can change into, the main animal, although there’s others. 

Blood Cross continues the plots laid out in the first book with Jane continuing to deal with the ramifications of those events.  Leo, the Vampire Master of the City is still deeply grieving the loss of his son. He’s borderline insane and blames Jane for the death and is coming for her, even though she’s blameless.

There’s a rogue to catch and dispatch, multiple mysteries to investigate and resolve, and Jane’s traumatic past continues to haunt her in dreams and shattered memories. 

The character development and complexity of series storytelling is incredible. The dynamic history and relationships between the different paranormal beings, the mythology, and cultural influences is amazing. 

My only concern or issue is how Jane shoulders too much of the guilt of others due primarily to her being torn by her cultural identity. Her Christian beliefs and her lost memories of her Cherokee family and heritage. 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in future books. 

Highly recommended. 

Jane Yellowrock (15 book series): 

Skinwalker #1

Blood Cross #2

Mercy Blade #3

Raven Cursed #4

Death’s Rival #5

Blood Trade #6

Black Arts #7

Broken Soul #8

Dark Heir 9

Shadow Rites #10

Cold Reign #11

Dark Queen #12

Shattered Bonds #13

True Dead #14

Final Heir #15

Buy link

 Book 2 of 15: Jane Yellowrock 

Blurb 

One of paranormal fantasy’s toughest heroines is back on the prowl in this second installment of Faith Hunter’s New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock series

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire. But lately, instead of just slaying vampires, she’s been working for them.

The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules-but Jane quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep…

Publisher

Ace

Publication date

December 22, 2009

Language

‎English

Print length

338 pages

Book 2 of 15

Jane Yellowrock

Urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy fiction, shifter/witch action thrille

Review: Practical Boots (Book 1) by C.E. Murphy

Rating: 4.5⭐️

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.

Cover Artist: Indigo Chick Design

The Torn:

Practical Boots #1

Buy link

 Book 1 of 1: The Torn 

Blurb 

These boots are made for walking…

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….

Miz Kit Productions

Publication date

June 4, 2021

Language

‎English

Print length

108 pages

Book 1 of 1

The Torn

Review:  Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock Book 1) by Faith Hunter 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

It only took 2 books but Faith Hunter has become not just a autobuy but an author I have to have and binge all of her series and books.  And right now. She’s made my TBR pile so much longer! As if it wasn’t already out of control. 

Did I tell you that she’s prolific and writes under two different names? Yep. And I’m just exploring one at the moment. 

Hunter’s Urban fantasy series about a Cherokee skinwalker, Jane Yellowstone, who’s a traveling rogue vampire hunter is fantastic.  A complete series, the first book was released in 2009, however, with the exception of some references to politicians and musicians from the same period, it’s still pretty current. 

Jane Yellowstone’s past and her true nature is a fragmented history that will continue to be revealed over the series. It makes for a fascinating aspect of her story and adds more mystery to her character and series. 

Her latest commission brings her to New Orleans, where she has been hired by the madam of Katies’s Ladies, a powerful woman vampire herself, to hunt down a rogue vampire who is killing other vampires in the city.

But nothing is that simple. And this turns into something layered with the mythology and magic of multiple mythologies and cultures. Foremost is the Cherokee skinwalker and other skin walker legends of various native tribes because it differs from tribal cultures. And Jane’s fractured memories leaves her trying to figure out where she falls in the spiritual spectrum. Is her skinwalker side dark or light?

And her enormous cat, the Beast that’s the main animal she can become, is a separate entity. Strong and entirely that of a creature that hunts and isn’t human in any sense of the way.  The history behind the two of them is also a very strong part of her story.

New Orleans is beautifully portrayed, clearly by someone who loves and knows the city. Its locations are very well written and feel real. 

The other characters here, from the wonderful women in Katies’s Ladies who make an indelible impression, to the various Vampire masters and their assistants who Jane gives nicknames, yes I love Troll so much, they made this a universe to sink into.

There’s potential romantic leads, each with their own secrets and unique personalities and agendas that make them poor choices. And the top Master Leo who’s obsessed with Jane’s ability and what type of unknown supernatural being she is. 

Hunter is leaving much of Jane’s true identity and past unknown so it can slowly be revealed throughout the series. And the growth and development is something I really look forward to. 

Fantastic all around. And highly recommended. 

Jane Yellowrock (15 book series): 

Skinwalker #1

Blood Cross #2

Mercy Blade #3

Raven Cursed #4

Death’s Rival #5

Blood Trade #6

Black Arts #7

Broken Soul #8

Dark Heir 9

Shadow Rites #10

Cold Reign #11

Dark Queen #12

Shattered Bonds #13

True Dead #14

Final Heir #15

Buy link

 Book 1 of 15: Jane Yellowrock 

 Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, Book 1) by Faith Hunter

Blurb 

Meet shapeshifting skinwalker Jane Yellowrock in the first novel in the New York Times bestselling series that captures “the essence of urban fantasy” (SF Site).

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katies’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.

Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission—or else the next skin she’ll need to save just may be her own…

Publisher

Ace

Publication date

July 7, 2009

Edition

Original

Language

‎English

Print length

336 pages

Book 1 of 15

Jane Yellowrock

Review:  Witch At Heart: A Cozy Witch Mystery (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 1) by Juliette Harper 

Rating: 4.25 ⭐️

I thought Witch At Heart: A Cozy Witch Mystery (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 1) by Juliette Harper a step above the rest of the stories I’ve read in this trope of books.

There’s an entire genre of books and series based around a woman who inherits a store from a relative, usually an aunt who turns out to be magical. There’s a mysterious animal included, hers, the relative’s or the store’s, normally a cat. And it’s a cozy mystery. 

On the whole, they are pretty good. Similar but each different enough in their elements to be entertaining. 

But the ending here, elevates this one into something more interesting. Takes the characters, their pasts, and the entire community and suddenly gives it an edge, an entire new layer.

Wasn’t expecting that. 

For 3/4 of the story, we get the typical plot of small town, Jinx Hamilton quits her waitressing job when her beloved crazy aunt dies the next town over and leaves her with her shop and belongings.

She also bequeaths Jinx her magic and a mysterious death to investigate.

The shop, its contents are slowly revealed as is the community of the small town that Jinx is now a part of. It’s a small village where Jinx has been a member of, along with her childhood friend, who quickly becomes a part of the story.

There’s ghosts, an adorable rat named Roderick, and a killer to find and murders to solve. And a new magical role to accept.

It’s charming, the characters are engaging and interesting. And the potential for a very intriguing world is just getting started.

It’s a quick read and the series is complete. Another win! 

I love a terrific cozy story and mystery. No romance, although there’s a slight attraction between Jinx and the cobbler. 

I’m recommending this one!

The Jinx Hamilton Series (16 book series): complete and all released. 

Witch At Heart #1

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 16: The Jinx Hamilton Series 

Blurb 

Magic begins in the heart.

Jinx Hamilton is ready to trade in waitressing for becoming her own boss. The shop she inherits from her eccentric aunt in Briar Hollow, North Carolina, seems like the perfect fit. As Jinx handles the enchanted inventory and the unruly clientele, she discovers her aunt also willed her magical powers without an instruction manual.

As if that weren’t enough, she’s forced to deal with four cats, several homeless ghosts, and a potential serial killer.

With a little help from her best friend and a dreamy new neighbor, Jinx must keep the business afloat and the murderer at bay. And it’ll take more than clever bookkeeping and spellcasting to keep the store…and herself…from going under.

*Note: This is a republished version of Witch At Heart

Publisher

Cabot Publishing Group

Publication date

September 4, 2025

Edition

2nd

Language

‎English

Print length

227 pages

Book 1 of 16

The Jinx Hamilton Series