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Review: Hexbreaker (Hexworld #1) by Jordan L. Hawk
In other reviews, I’ve raved about the ways Hawk includes diversity in his fiction. For this series, I’ve found something else to adore — the effortless way that the reader is absorbed in the worldbuilding with no awkward breaks for exposition or the dreaded info-dump. Could there be a bit more explanation for some things?…
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Review: Bringer of Night (SPECTR #3.2) by Jordan L. Hawk
After all the shenanigans that have occurred over the course of this series, a run-of-the-mill murder mystery and case of mistaken identity are almost too boring for our heroes. Except nothing about this string of murders is normal, and John, Caleb, and Gray have friends (both old and new) along for the ride. There’s yet…
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Review: Stalker of Shadows (SPECTR #3.1) by Jordan L. Hawk
The first installment of the next SPECTR epic brings us something completely different — and all the best parts of exactly the same. John is now the character who must wait patiently while Caleb and Gray get to do what they do best (eat demons). They’re in a new setting, which is why everyone is…
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Review: SPECTR: The Complete Second Series by Jordan L. Hawk
Includes the titles: Mocker of Ravens Dancer of Death Drinker of Blood Breaker of Chains Shaker of Earth I read this collection even faster than I did the first one. It’s too bad I can’t give it an even higher rating than 5 stars. John, Caleb, and Gray are back to doing what they do…
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Review: SPECTR: The Complete First Series by Jordan L. Hawk
Includes the titles: Hunter of Demons Master of Ghouls Reaper of Souls Eater of Lives Destroyer of Worlds Summoner of Storms Honestly, my review can be boiled down like this: I purchased the series as a full set, but the books were so good that I didn’t want to pause in between to write individual…
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Review: Not Quite Beast (Not Quite #2) by Kaye Draper
This is a solid continuation to Sam’s story, action-packed and filled with answers to some questions while teasing even more questions that need answers. Draper also expands upon her world-building and introduces an intriguing political element to the plot line. I look forward to seeing how Sam and their “guild” play a role in Theo’s…
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Review: Not Quite Human (Not Quite #1) by Kaye Draper
Kaye Draper’s latest urban fantasy/romance series is going to be another hit for me, I think. This author includes a note in her book blurbs about being tired of tropes, and she puts her money where her mouth is — once again, the characters in this story were unique, fascinating, and flawed. As an added…
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Review: Charmed City by Michelle D. Sonnier
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased a hardcopy version of this collection for full price. I picked up this collection at one of the first conventions I ever attended, out near Pittsburgh, because I work in Baltimore proper and live near the city. Baltimore is a shared setting for these stories,…
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Review: Fates, Fins, and Fangs (Gods & Demons #1) by Kaye Draper
I tore through the Gesa’s Menagerie series while home sick a few months ago, so it seems appropriate that I would start this next series while working full-time from home during a pandemic. This novella was a wonderful afternoon of escape, full of intriguing characters and excitement. The author states that this can be read…
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Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 4 (Eburosi Chronicles #11) by R.A. Steffan
As is typical for me with the books in this series, I devoured this installment in a single evening. This story does an excellent job of tying up multiple story lines and plot points, beyond the obvious of the overall “get Rayth’s throne back from his evil brother.” Frella finally bonds with her dragon and…
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Review: A Furnace Sealed (Adventures of Bram Gold #1) by Keith R.A. DeCandido
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased a hardcopy version of this book for full price. Sometimes a book is really easy to review. I started it about an hour before I went out with friends for the night. I spent the entire evening wishing I was back home reading the book.…
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Review: Seasons (Tales of Valdemar #13) edited by Mercedes Lackey
Seasonal celebrations were the theme of this collection of tales set in the fantasy world of Valdemar, which acted less as glue holding the collection together and more as an awkward way to pretend all of these stories belonged together. Especially in the cases of the “continuing” stories that feature characters from previous collections. I…
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Review: The Armored Saint (Sacred Throne #1) by Myke Cole
I got pretty burned out on reading epic fantasy once I started paying attention to diversity within the pages, so I’m always thrilled to find an offering in the genre that bucks stereotype. Add a dash of steampunk and I’m hooked. Its easy to draw “Joan of Arc” comparisons to the character of Heloise on…
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Review: Thieves’ Honor (Wizards of London #1) by Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. I devoured this book so quickly, and with such enjoyment, that I forgot to take any notes for my review! Brinkley’s debut novel features romance, magic, and mystery set in historical London. She weaves together the tropes from multiple genres…
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Review: Deosil (Whyborne & Griffin #11) by Jordan L. Hawk
This series closes out in a maelstrom (pun intended) of heroism, madness, horror, love, triumph, and just a few tentacles. Everything comes full-circle (pun also intended) as Whyborne and Griffin join with new and old allies to defend their home of Widdershins from the extra-dimensional Masters who have returned to reclaim what is theirs. Because…
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Review: Vampromance (Reluctant Necromancer #2) by Kaye Draper
I don’t get to binge-read this series like I did Draper’s previous reverse harem epic, but I’m enjoying it all the same. Esper is an intriguing character, and I appreciate the set-up of her being lost from her family line as a way for the audience to learn about the greater magical world through her…
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Review: Ghostromance (Reluctant Necromancer #1) by Kaye Draper
I probably shouldn’t have read this so close on the heels of Draper’s previous reverse harem series, Gesa’s Menagerie. I prefer Gesa as a character to Esper, but that doesn’t mean anything is necessarily wrong with Esper. I got a bit tired of her “Woe is me, I’m so ugly” ruminations, but otherwise she’s a…
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Review: Gesa’s Menagerie #2-#9 by Kaye Draper
Usually when I read series, I try to break them up with other books so that I don’t get burned out. But sometimes a series is less of a series and more of a really long epic book broken up into eight separate novellas. And sometimes I get sick and need to spend the day…
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Review: Gryphon’s Pride (Gesa’s Menagerie #1) by Kaye Draper
The author warns in the book description that this is “not your typical reverse harem.” I would also happily argue that this is not a typical romance or typical urban fantasy. With that combination, I was immediately sucked into the world-building, the plot, and the characters. Gesa is the “strong female character” taken to the…
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Review: The Bartered Brides (Elemental Masters #13) by Mercedes Lackey
I’m not going to lie. I significantly prefer the fairy tale retellings in this fantasy series to the Sherlock Holmes pastiches featuring Nan and Sara. I didn’t dislike this book, but I found myself not as invested in the main characters as I could have been. Both women gain new skills and mastery over their…
