FORBIDDEN MAGIC
Forbidden Magic by Stephanie Foxe
Book 4 in the Witch’s Bite series
Narrated by Laurel Schroeder
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
About Forbidden Magic:
Join Olivia Carter one last time in the final installment of the Witch’s Bite series.
Loyalties tested. Prophecies fulfilled. And magic’s final price.
After being kidnapped, shot at, blown up, and barely escaping a collapsing building…I’m done following orders; and the threats don’t scare me anymore.
My trust in Reilly has grown since the attack on the Summit and meeting his clan. But when he suggests the unthinkable, I realize I must find my own way to kill this God.
Source: Info in the About Forbidden Magic was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39809577-forbidden-magic on 24/10/2019.
My Thoughts:
Like all the books in this series, this one is also short and sweet with 252 pages long. This is the finale of the series and I liked it! However it was not the big bang that I expected. That may only be because my expectation bar was a little higher than it ought to be. My bad! Furthermore, the ending although not a cliffhanger, but also hints of possibilities that there might be more stories coming of the Olivia Carter world. And like the previous book, I read this ebook more than I listened to it. Still not a fan of Laurel Schroeder‘s singsong reading. At the end of it, I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to all urban fantasy readers! However, to get here, you need to read the previous books in the series!
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 5
Plot = 3.5
Narration = (N/A)
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries
Books In The Witch’s Bite Series:
About Stephanie Foxe:
Stephanie Foxe was born and raised near Houston, TX. She grew up playing in the pond and woods in her backyard, and devouring every book she could get her hands on.
Her teen years were spent transitioning slowly from reader, to writer. She spent most evenings on the phone with her cousin writing the first few pages to many books that would never be finished.
Her adult years were spent toiling away at a corporate job until one fateful day when she heard about a little writing project called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). From there, the idea of writing a book went from a fanciful dream to a finished manuscript. The first book in the Witch’s Bite series was written, and Stephanie was addicted.
Now, she has plans to publish everything from paranormal fantasy to science fiction.
One book at a time.
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About Laurel Schroeder:
Laurel Schroeder is a classically trained actor who received her MFA in acting from the University of Houston. She’s narrated over 100 audiobooks, and although her genres vary widely, she’s particularly fond of narrating young adult and mystery novels. When not in the booth working on her latest project, she can sometimes be seen in film or on stage, most recently in the world premiere of Good for Otto, by Tony Award–winning playwright David Rabe. A Colorado native, she now lives in Chicago with her boyfriend and their dog, the cutest little troublemaker you ever did see.
The different formats of this book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.
HOPELESS
Hopeless by Melissa Haag
Book 1 of the Judgement of the Six series
Narrated by Julie McKay
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
About Hopeless:
Gabby’s brain is like a human fish finder. It comes in handy when she wants to avoid people. Mostly men. They seem to like her a bit too much. It’s lonely being different, but she’s adapted to it. Really. She just wishes she knew why she is different, though.
In her search for answers, she discovers a hidden community of werewolves. She immerses herself in their culture, learning about their world until she meets Clay. He’s unkempt, prone to mood swings, intense without saying a word, and he thinks Gabby is his.
It’s going to take every trick she knows to convince Clay to go away, and every bit of willpower not to fall for him when she discovers the man beneath the rough exterior.
Judgement has begun…
Source: Info in the About Hopeless was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20985371-hope-less on 19/08/2019.
My Thoughts:
I first met this author with the Of Fates and Furies series and I liked the way she tells a story. So I thought I’d seek out her other works… Thus this book got bought and read. Like the other series, the books in this one also has multiple cover arts. For this particular book, the cover arts are apropos to the story but not high up in the “grab-me-now-and buy-me” scale.
I like the way Julie McKay reads. She sounds so much like Therese Plummer, another favourite narrator. Kudos to the narration! However, even with the convenience of the audiobook format, I would still say that this book is not a fast “read”. I find myself needing breaks from it from time to time. I contribute this to the tstl (too stupid to live) and whiny-ness of the heroine which I find royally annoying! However, the premise of the story is intriguing enough to keep me reading until the next book.
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 3
Writing Style = 3.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = (10 hrs and 55 mins)
Plot = 2
Narration = 4.5
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries
Books In The Judgement of the Six Series:
About Melissa Haag:
I love to write! Sharing the worlds I’ve created is beyond amazing . Want to read a book for free? Check out my website at:
http://melissahaag.com/free-ebookConnect with me on:
https://www.facebook.com/author.MelissaHaag
I also write adult books under the pen name M.J. Haag. Happy reading!
About Julie McKay:
Julie is an Audie-nominated audiobook narrator of nearly 300 audiobooks. Her work has also been favorably reviewed in the industry magazine Audiofile.
The ebook and audiobook copies of the book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.
SAINT JUSTICE
Book 1 in the Christopher Wren series
Narrated by Jeff Harding
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
THEY TRIED TO PUT HIM IN A CAGE. BIG MISTAKE.
Chris Wren was the ultimate black-ops warrior — a relentless killer highly skilled in psychological warfare. As an elite Marine then CIA assassin, he infiltrated and destroyed the world’s darkest terror cells, jihadi threats and criminal cartels — all to keep the homeland safe.
But the darkness took a toll on his family. When his wife takes the kids and runs, fearing Wren’s enemies, he goes AWOL to keep them safe — until a biker gang in Utah tries to put him in a cage.
Big mistake.
Now Wren’s out for payback in the desert. But as the body count rises and the heat soars, a stunning national conspiracy unravels, with the clock ticking on a devastating attack. To save his country, Wren must plunge deeper into the darkness than ever before — and risk losing his family for good.
But justice must be done, and soon…
This is my first Mike Grist read and I like the way he tells a story.
I do not understand the psychology, the basis, nor the system of Wren‘s Foundation. Or why it works. It is so much simpler to just accept that it does, whether it is realistic or not.
While the ending resolved the current dilemma in the book it is also a cliffhanger that points to the next book at the same time. An incentive to encourage readers to buy book 2. While a very good marketing ploy, I do not like it. I do not like cliffhangers.
I’ve been listening to Jeff Harding as Charlie Parker by John Connolly for more than ten years now. Every time I hear him it is like hearing Charlie Parker talking. It takes a lot of adjusting to hear him as Christopher Wren.
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 3
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 49 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Mike Grist writes the bestselling Christopher Wren and Girl Zero thriller series.
He was born in the UK to a British father and American mother, and spent his childhood winging between the family farm in Kentucky and a terraced house in Manchester. At 18 he finished his last year of high school in Indiana, took Greyhounds across the US coast-to-coast then worked at a summer camp in Massachusetts.
Fascinated by the extremes of human behavior, Mike got his undergraduate degree in Psychology then followed up with a Masters in motivation theory. After backpacking through India, he taught English in Tokyo, Japan for 11 years, also documenting the dark side of the country’s gangs, cults and abandoned places. His photography and articles about urban exploration have been featured in the Guardian and the Daily Mail.
Now based in London, UK, Mike enjoys working out, eating out, running his local writers’ group, playing ultimate frisbee and spending time with his wife and two cats.
| About Jeff Harding | |
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The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
TOE THE LINE
Book 1 in the DC Jake Tanner series
Narrated by Aubrey Parsons
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
The owner of a jewellery store has been kidnapped.
The people responsible are known as The Crimsons, an organised crime group the police have been hunting for years.
A deadly collar bomb has been attached to her neck.
To save her, DC Jake Tanner, on the first day of secondment from the Met, must answer a series of riddles and clues to defuse the device.
The countdown to save her has begun…
But as the investigation develops, two things become clear: this is The Crimsons’ last height, and they’re willing to do anything to ensure their survival; and two, not everyone is on Jake’s side. A knot of corruption operating deep within the heart of Surrey Police is working against him every step of the way.
Without knowing who to trust, Jake must decide whether to toe the line of duty or turn against his colleagues and solve the case that could cost him his life…
When I bought this book, I did not realise that this book has been sold before under a different title. That made me a bit apprehensive going into this story. Like there might be something dodgy. Or perhaps the author upgraded the story so it changed title?…
Besides, what does “Toe The Line” got to do with the story?! I could stretch my imagination to make a pretty good guess. But, it would be a stretch!
I got confused with Mark/Murphy. The narration is confused too. I read Murphy in the ebook but I hear Mark. Or I read Mark in the ebook but I hear Murphy. Only to find out that his name is Mark Murphy in chapter 15. The script that the narrator was reading is obviously not the same one as the kindle ebook that amazon is selling. I hate it when that happens!
I like the twisty plot. That one was a pleasure to read! Even though there are plot holes in there. Like, if a character is involved in the plot/scheme, it shouldn’t make her faint in fright because she knows what is going on already. Holes…
The story telling quality though… I find myself needing frequent little breaks in between. This made the pace a little slow despite the convenience of the audiobook format.
Aubrey Parsons narrated this book and that is what made me buy this book to begin with. Obviously I am an old Aubrey Parsons fan.
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (10 hrs and 15 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Jack Probyn hasn’t experienced the world. He’s never even owned a pet. But he’d like to; there’s still time. His twenty-two years on the planet have been spent in the United Kingdom, with a few excursions overseas — a particular favourite of his was Amsterdam. Or Norway. Both of which were lovely.
But what Jack lacks in life-experience, he more than makes up for in creative ingenuity. His Jake Tanner series is the birth child of a sinister and twisted mind, and a propensity to assume the worst will happen in even the most mediocre situation.
Finding himself pigeon-holed as a millennial, Jack decided to stick with the stereotype and do things his own way. After all, he felt entitled and he wanted to destroy industries.
Enter: writing.
The love of writing was rekindled in Jack’s life when he (briefly) entered the corporate world, and the passion snowballed from there. No more will the millennial writer find himself working 9-5, indulging in the complexities of business life, or wearing a M&S suit.
He will take the world by storm with his pen(keyboard) and his ability to entertain and enthral readers.
Professional voice over artist and singer for over 20 years. Based in the UK, I have a very neutral British accent. However, I can mimic most UK & Irish accents along with General American and various U.S. regional accents. In addition to voiceover work I am a professional singer.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
TAKEN TO THE HILLS
Book 1 in the Luke Sackville Crime Thrillers series
Narrated by Aubrey Parsons
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
Abductions and murder are not what ex-DCI Luke Sackville expected when he left the police after tragedy struck his family.
Luke’s return to the workplace was meant to be a soft landing but when a woman vanishes after being accused of taking bribes, he is assigned a disparate team and tasked with tracking her down.
Their search becomes more urgent when her disappearance is linked to the death of a second woman. When a third goes missing the hunt becomes a race against time. Luke’s return to work presents him with the most challenging case of his career as the murder victims mount.
Promising start to a new-to-me series!
Luke’s world is chuck full of bad guys! If I say anymore it would be spoilery-ish. So, I’ll stop there. I am definitely a fan of this series now!
This is my first S J Richards book and I would definitely look out for more works by this author.
Interesting perspective for a story from a, sort of, outside point of view. Luke is no longer police. So that is an added challenge to his investigation. He no longer have access to things he usually had as police and he has to get used to that.
I’m an old Aubrey Parsons fan. So, of course, his narration was wonderful!!
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 30 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Let’s get one thing straight: my name’s Steve. I’ve never been called ‘SJ’ but Steve Richards is a political writer hence the pen name.
I was born in Bath and have lived at various times on an irregular clockwise circle around England. After university in Manchester my wife and I settled in Macclesfield before moving to Bedfordshire then a few years ago back to Somerset. We now live in Croscombe, a lovely village just outside Wells, with our 2 sprightly cocker spaniels.
I’ve always loved writing but have only really had the time to indulge myself since taking early retirement. My daughter is a brilliant author (I’m not biased of course) which is both an inspiration and – because she’s so good – a challenge. After a few experiments, and a couple of completed but unsatisfactory and never published novels, I decided to write a crime fiction series as it’s one of the genres I most enjoy.
Professional voice over artist and singer for over 20 years. Based in the UK, I have a very neutral British accent. However, I can mimic most UK & Irish accents along with General American and various U.S. regional accents. In addition to voiceover work I am a professional singer.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
DRAGON’S REACH
Book 1 in the The Keeper Origins series
Narrated by Kate Reading
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
Sable would do anything to protect her younger sister Talia from Kiva, the ruthless gang boss — including keeping secrets: a money stash, a family secret, and her own magical ability to sense the truth in people’s words.
But when Sable disobeys Kiva and he begins to unravel her secrets, her entire world unravels with them.
With Talia torn from her and Kiva’s henchmen at every corner, Sable stumbles into the most unexpected help — a traveling theater troupe. Far more than a means of escape, the mismatched band of actors quickly becomes the family Sable so desperately needs.
And with their help, the true power in her magic begins to awaken.
When Sable and the troupe come face to face with a looming danger that threatens the entire land, they risk everything to return and warn the city. Against time and her own self-doubts, Sable must perform the lead role in a play powerful enough to gain the attention of the entire city — including Kiva, who’s still hungry for her blood.
At the first sign of too stupid to live (tstl) element in the story, I was very apprehensive! But, I continued on reading in the hopes that it won’t appear again…
Unfortunately that is not to be…
The story telling quality is good enough for me to keep reading. However, I also needed frequent breaks from it. Some breaks are longer than others. When I have forgotten my annoyance, I’d pick this book up again. Because the world building is beautiful!
And then there is Purnicious. The best way to describe her is Harry Potter‘s Dobbie. Same character. Only this time Purn is a kobold instead of a house-elf.
PurniciousMight not be the most original of ideas. Might be a Harry Potter rip-off. However, Purn is still loveable as all get-out!
Then the ending is a cliffhanger. I don’t like cliffhangers!
I am an old Kate Reading fan and she gave a wonderful performance with this book!
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3
Writing Style = 3
Ending = 3
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 3
Plot = 3
Narration = 5
A Andrews is a writer, wife, mother, and unemployed rocket scientist. She doesn’t regret the rocket science degree, but finds it generally inapplicable in daily life. Except for the rare occurrence of her being able to definitively state, “That’s not rocket science.” She does, however, love the stars.
She began writing stories and creating coloring books because these sorts of things need an outlet. And now good markers are a deductible business expense.
She spends an inordinate amount of time at home, with her family, who she adores, and lives deep in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, where she can see more stars than she ever imagined.
Kate Reading is an Audie Award–winning narrator who has recorded hundreds of titles in many genres. She has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, in addition to being named Narrator of the Year and Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy. She has been recognized as Reader of the Year by Publishers Weekly and has appeared on Booklist’s 2019 Top of the List for the American Library Association. She and her husband, narrator Michael Kramer, record at their home studio in Maryland, Madison Productions.
Born: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Spouse: Michael Kramer
Children: Vivian Kramer, Henry KramerOur home studio, Madison Productions, is located in Maryland.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
OWL’S FAIR
Owl’s Fair by Leanne Leeds
Book 2 in the Owl Star Witch Mysteries
Narrated by Naomi Rose-Mock
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
About Owl’s Fair:
I get the divine talking owl bit. I understand the part about star magic. But if the “goddess” knows someone’s going to die, couldn’t she send a file with information on how to stop it instead of a sparkly card?
As a witch who was used to being told where to go and what to do for the greater good — after all, that’s how the witch military worked — being told what to do with the rest of my life by a goddess I didn’t believe in and a talking owl with a chip on his shoulder wasn’t all that far-fetched. The military prepared me to accept all sorts of things that make no sense.
But at least in the military, I had a manual.
During Alice Windrow’s card reading with my sister Ami, the glowing star card announces she is marked for death by someone and marked for rescue by the “goddess Athena.” Mom tells me the cheerful girl is known throughout Forkbridge for her philanthropy (funded by a distant relative’s substantial inheritance.) Alice claims she only wanted assurance that the marathon she sponsored will come off without a hitch. Nothing crazy going on in her life.
And yet someone wants her dead.
Can we unravel the plot in time to stop Alice’s murder? Or will the generous girl find that her marathon is officially over — for good?
Source: Info in the “About Owl’s Fair“ was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60560022-owl-s-fair on 14/05/2022.
Buy Link(s):
My Thoughts:
Like the first book, this one has more than just from A to B plot. For an urban fantasy, this series sure is good in the plot department! It is also good in the character development department. None of that “too stupid to live” (TSTL) nonsense where the protagonist acts out of character to create a dilemma in the story to the point of unrecognizability. Take Pistachio for example… beautifully crafted character! I recommend this book to all urban fantasy readers!
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (6 hrs and 24 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 4.5
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries
Books In Owl Star Witch Mysteries:
About Leanne Leeds:
Leanne Leeds writes witty, funny, and exciting paranormal cozy mysteries that are light-hearted explorations of offbeat small-town America. With a cast of quirky characters inhabiting her fictional world, Leanne provides a unique blend of comedy, clues, and twisty action — all with a touch of magic that keeps readers turning pages.
You can also visit her at leanneleeds.com for free stories, to join her newsletter.
About Naomi Rose-Mock:
Hi! I have recorded 100 plus audiobooks, I specialize in fiction with large casts of distinct characters. I am also an acting/dialect coach with over a decade of professional experience.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
HEARTWOOD MAGE
Narrated by Daniel Wisniewski
Book 1 in the Heart Mage series
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
When they hanged mage Baron Homburg and his family for treason, they missed one of his sons. The fourth son, ten-year-old Dale, witnessed the execution of his family, and something inside him broke. Two things happened that day: one, Dale became a borderline sociopath, and two, his mage abilities manifested at almost full strength, especially his wood or forest magic. That night he used his new wood magic to hang the earl who ordered the killing of his family.
Now he has only one thing on his mind, killing all those involved in killing his family or seeing them brought to justice. But he also wants the inheritance of his father’s title and lands. The only person who can give him that is the king, so he must petition the king for restitution.
Before he can petition the king, he finds out that the king plans to kill him. Because if the kingdom finds out who’s responsible for the murder of the Homburg family, the minor nobles and landowners would revolt against the crown screaming for justice. Those guilty are the king’s greatest supporters, which he would have to hang. The king cannot allow that to happen.
Seeing that the nobility is against him, Dale goes into hiding and changes his name to Eric Heartwood. Eric begins killing his enemies rather than negotiating a peaceful settlement. Eric decides that since nobility doesn’t play by the rules or laws, neither will he.
But Eric has a lot to learn about people and their motives. It seems almost everyone will lie, cheat, steal, and even kill to get ahead in the world. So Eric follows suit, killing those who oppose him, until he meets a kindly merchant and his wife. They show him kindness, which tempers his blood lust, but not by much.
Follow mage Eric Heartwood as his powers grow and he is confronted by enemies at every turn. He tries to reconcile what he feels is just and what society says is just. He finds that most times, it’s just easier to kill your enemies.
I like the story. I like the premise. And the story telling quality is compelling. I know the story is a bit blasé. But this is a fiction book. I’m an escapist reader. I like my reads to take me away from reality. So they do not have to be totally truthful.
There are little plots and resolutions along the story. It follows our main protagonist as he adventures on to find love and betrayal. Happiness and pain. I think that the author is wrong in calling him a psychopath because he is capable of empathy. He is just neurodivergent.
Louise in A Game Of Ghosts by John Connolly is a sociopath. Bill in Tuesday’s Child by Dale Mayer is a psychopath. And I think our hero is none of those.
Daniel Wisniewski has a deep bass of a voice and it suits our hero.
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (8 hrs and 17 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
My first career was as a Warrant Officer in the US Army, I am now retired with 22 years of service under my belt. Moving into the next phase of my life, I am a full-time author and RV’er. After seeing everyone else’s Country during my first career, we decided to see our own. My wife and I enjoy traveling to see the wonders of America.
I love reading and watching Sci-Fi books, television shows, and movies. To think, “what if” and “why not.” I am a pantser writer, I’ll get an idea, or see a photo and think, “that would make a great story!”. Writing as a pantser, to me, is like reading a new story. I have no idea where the story is going to end up. Writing the way gets me excited to pick up a pen; I look forward to writing each time, and can’t wait to write many more.
Audio book Narrator, Character Voices, Baritone, Bass, Tenor, Heroes, Villains, Dark, Bright, Young, Old, Comedy, Tragedy, Accents, Dialects.
I am a New York based actor who has performed across a variety of platforms both domestically and internationally. I am also a graduate of Ithaca College with a BFA in Musical Theatre, have studied and worked as a dialect coach, have access to a professional grade studio, and am an experienced editor. When not performing, I can usually be found either leading my friends on a DnD campaign or playing in one myself (usually as a dashing Half-Elf bard or brazen Half-Orc fighter).
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
MAGIC SIGHT
Magic Sight by Leia Stone and Lucía Ashta
Book 2 of the Supernatural Bounty Hunter series
Narrated by Kate Marcin
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
About Magic Sight:
When Evie found out she was knocked up with the alpha’s baby and a rare Kitsune with untold power, she thought life couldn’t get anymore complicated.
Then she was told she was also the guardian of the gate to the underworld and that her dad was still alive. Now she has 48 hours to bring in the Siren who started this whole fiasco in the first place.
What could go wrong?
*18 and up recommended reading age. Sexy times and cussing are sure to be found in this series.
Source: Info in the About Magic Sight was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43384275-magic-sight on 14/08/2019.
Buy Link(s):
My Thoughts:
The story started right where the first book left off and ended right in the middle of the story. So this one is more like a chapter of a bigger book. The start was began in Maigc Bite and the continuation will be in the subsequent installments in the series. Therefore, plot-wise this book hasn’t got much. In fact, if one reads Magic Sight on its own, the reader will be mightily confused because a lot of the explanations are in the previous book. I really like the premise of this book so the poor plot building and the cliffhanger ending is really a downer! And I don’t like cliffhangers, so I probably wouldn’t be reading further into this series…
Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 1.5
Writing Style = 3
Ending = 1
World building = 4
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 2
Plot = 1
Narration = 4
Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5 cherries
Books In The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Series:
About Leia Stone:
Leia Stone is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Matefinder series which is optioned for flim, and the Hive Trilogy. She lives in Arizona with her husband, two kids and her dog. When she is not chasing around her twin son and daughter, or writing, she has her nose shoved in a book. She wrote her first book when she was 23 years old. Keep reading and live with purpose.
About Lucía Ashta:
I’m Lucía Ashta, creator of alternate realities and the kind of stories I like to get lost in as a reader. I love magical adventures (the more magical, the better!) that fascinate me with their twists, turns, and wild characters, both human and otherwise, so that’s what I write. Fresh stories that move beyond the ordinary to explore what’s possible when we suspend disbelief.
A former architect and attorney, I now get to dedicate myself full-time to bringing life to worlds I wish existed. Since I get to live in these other worlds through my writing much of the time, i consider myself pretty lucky.
Sign up for my newsletter to find out about new releases, giveaways, and sales and to receive a free book at: http://luciaashta.com/newsletter.
About Kate Marcin:
I do voiceover so that I can help bring my client’s projects to life with a voice that sounds real and relatable. I absolutely love it. Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated with the performing arts. Now working for clients like Google, Dell and Skechers, I feel most comfortable embodying that relaxed, conversational, down-to-earth millennial spirit. Why am I telling you all this? Because I want to make your choice of who you hire as easy as possible so that your boss gives you the keys to her brand new Tesla and let’s you take over her corner office on the same day she’s come down with measles and has almost been pecked to death by a pigeon. Seriously, I’m here to help.
The different formats of this book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.
HOUSE OF ASH AND SHADOW
Book 1 in the Gilded City series
Narrated by Vanessa Moyen
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook
“And what if I go dark?” I whimpered.
His face sobered. “Then I will jump into the shadows and pull you back to the Light.”Seventeen-year-old Fallon Bane was born with a a single touch from another person will always cause her excruciating pain. Thus, she has accepted that she will die without ever being kissed, without even hugging her own father.
But when her beloved father falls ill, she breaks into the magical Gilded City to find a healer fae that can save him. When handsome healer Ariyon Madden agrees to help, everything she knows about herself and her curse changes. Because during her father’s healing, Ariyon reaches out and touches her bare skin. She waits for the agony… but it never comes.
For the first time in her life, she imagines a new future for herself. However, that fantasy is short-lived, because not only does Ariyon flee from her in disgust when he learns of her curse; he also reveals her existence to powerful fae who want to hurt her.
Fallon is then swept away to a magical academy, there she learns the terrifying truth about her family history and her dark magic. Her life and the future of fae everywhere hang in the balance, and all the while Fallon is dreaming of being touched by Ariyon Madden one more time before she dies…
I like the premise! It appeals to the fantasy geek in me. However, I was not fond of the cliffhanger ending. Authors with a tendency for cliffhagners tend to be avoided. I bought the second book because I wanted to know what happens after the cliffhagner, but, I have only read about a quarter through it and I am not sure if I am going to finish reading it…
There isn’t much of a plot. The entire book is about Fallon going to school and finding romance and that is it! And yes, there is the usual teen angst, too.
This is my second series with Vanessa Moyen narrating and I still like the way she reads!
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 1.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (8 hrs and 20 mins listening time)
Plot = 2
Narration = 4.5
About Leia Stone:
Leia Stone is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Matefinder series which is optioned for flim, and the Hive Trilogy. She lives in Arizona with her husband, two kids and her dog. When she is not chasing around her twin son and daughter, or writing, she has her nose shoved in a book. She wrote her first book when she was 23 years old. Keep reading and live with purpose.
About Vanessa Moyen:
Vanessa is a voiceover actor living in New York City with her husband, baby boy, and fat pug princess, Olive. Her voice can be heard on national network TV, radio and video games for companies such as NBC, Nickelodeon, MTV, Noggin, Travel Channel, HGTV, and most recently for the MTV VMAs and 2021 Olympics! She’s narrated over 250 audiobooks, most of which fall in the young adult fantasy genre. A California native, Vanessa grew up tapping her toes in the theatre world and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College in Boston. She’s a fangirl of new adventures, DIY’ing, Mother Nature, and all things chocolate.
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.
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Cherry Mischievous (CM) started out as a personal blog of Cherry. It still is, sort of, among other things. But now, we have evolved into a kind of blog where friends who share the same love of books also blog… to know more about us, click on our names to go to our profiles:
Please note that not all reviews here are positive, but then we do not expect the entire wide world to agree and have the same tastes as us. It would be an incredibly boring and monotonous world! Besides, even among ourselves we don’t agree! One would rate a book 4.5 while the other would rate the same exact book with only 3 or less… So have a look and see, especially if it is your genre of books, even though it garnered a low rating with us, you might find it interesting 🙂
Now, let me tell you about Cherry… I am an avid reader of SciFi/Fantasy/Romance books and always on the look out for a good book to read. I dabble in the black arts of light and shadow… err mmm… photography, I mean. I am also in great excess of 18 years old. I am a nurse and constantly getting in trouble because I refuse to live in a box of preconceptions of other people of how things are suppose to be. And let me tell you, nursing is dominated with “tradition” and “sacred cows“, as any nurse and nursing student will tell you. I love spaghetti, chocolate ice cream, coffee and of course, books! I positively abhor stories with cliffhanger endings and driving in London! I am slightly insane, sometimes sarcastic, can be obnoxious, and totally honest. And oh yeah, people call me tactless too 🙂 Welcome to my corner of the world!
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