Review: Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5) by Sam Burns

A fun, quick read.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 66 pages. Published May 10th 2018

Blurb:

*Small-town succubus meets snow white and they prove that all you need really is love.*

All his life, Sebastian has wanted to live in New York. Now he’s there, and it’s . . . underwhelming. He has no family, friends, or even close acquaintances there, and a personal tragedy has left him feeling more isolated than ever before. Maybe he’s a small-town succubus after all. He’s ready to throw in the towel when Finn Marshall crashes into in his life. The raven-haired enigma’s pick-up line is tantamount to a carjacking, and the night only spirals further out of control from there. Finn is on the run from his wicked stepmother, who wants to kill him so she doesn’t have to share his dead father’s fortune and power. Can he and Sebastian escape her huntsman and set things right? 

Likes:

  • Short and sweet.
  • Good hook.
  • Little bit of smut.
  • Simple but interesting story.
  • Sebastian’s succubus abilities.

Dislikes:

  • Had to sign up for Sam Burns’ email list to get the story.
  • Took me a while to figure out that I had to sign up for the email list.

I’m always impressed when authors can write a full, compelling story in a relatively small number of pages. Succubus and the City had a bit of a cliché storyline, what with Finn’s stepmother trying to murder him, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. If anything, the familiar story allowed the romance to shine.

Both Sebastian and Finn were fun characters. Neither of them got too much character development, but there was enough information about them to make them interesting to read about. Sebastian was especially sympathetic, given that he felt lonely even when living in New York City.

I liked the characterization of how Sebastian’s succubus powers worked. Like the rest of the story, there was enough information to satisfy my curiosity. I actually feel like this story explained more about how a succubus’s powers work than Stag and Ash, but that could also be because Sebastian was the main character and his brother, Sean, is a side character in Jesse’s story.

I have to give a shoutout to the beginning of the book, where Sebastian used the pronoun ‘they’ to describe Finn before he knew Finn’s gender. This was in part due to Finn’s attire, which included four-inch heels. The inclusivity was nice, as was the fact that Sebastian is pansexual.

My one complaint about this story was that I did have to sign up for Sam Burns’ email list to get it. I’m not against author email lists, but I tend to forget about side stories like this one, and don’t always read them. Plus, I had a hard time figuring out where to go to get the story. It wasn’t explained in the blurb that the story is a bonus for joining the email list. I actually had to turn to Google.

Overall, while I don’t think this story needs to be read to enjoy the rest of the series, it was a fun, quick, easy read. A little bit of tension, drama, and smut all rolled into one. All for the low low price of free.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5) by Sam Burns

Another great book in the series. Glad to get Jesse’s second book.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 158 pages. Published June 28th 2018

Blurb:

Jesse Hunter is finally trying to be an adult, but still feels like an act. His place on the town council is a sham. He’s rarely called on to do anything. His boyfriend is grieving the loss of his mother, and while everyone seems to think he’s doing a great job caring for Sean, Jesse feels like he’s more of a distraction than a real help.

March is shaping up to be a bad month. First, random chance leads him to the realization that the town’s recent trouble is his fault. Then new werewolves come into town, and it turns out they’re also Jesse’s responsibility. He feels like he may be at his breaking point, and he doesn’t want to drag his friends and loved ones down with him. But how will he handle it alone? 

Likes:

  • Jesse still isn’t confident in himself.
  • A lot is going on.
  • Great hook.
  • How both Jesse and Sean act.
  • Both are okay with taking their romance slowly.
  • Jesse is really coming into his own.
  • Mystery, tension, and drama.
  • More great side characters.
  • The ending.

Dislikes:

  • Jesse was more than willing to get hurt or killed.
  • I wish Sean knew more about being a succubus.

Jesse is my favorite of the three main characters. He’s got self-esteem issues, but he’s also willing to step up and do what’s needed. If he saw himself the way the townsfolk see him, he’d know that he was more capable than he gives himself credit for. And he proved that again in this book.

Sean is depressed because of his mother’s death, and Jesse feels out of his depth. Understandable, as is his frustration and the fact that he feels bad for being frustrated at Sean. In fact, I feel like both Sean and Jesse acted in completely understandable ways. I again appreciated that both men were willing to take their time with sex and romance, and spoke up about what they wanted.

I felt bad for Sean. Not only did he lose his mother, but he didn’t know much about being a succubus. His newfound powers were both bothersome and funny to read about.

 A lot happened in the book, most of it focused on the arrival of three new wolves seeking sanctuary in Rowan Harbor. There was a lot of tension and mystery surrounding them and whether they would hurt the town or someone in it. But at the same time, I hoped they weren’t plotting against anyone.

Jesse’s past caught up with him, and it was painful to watch him blame himself. I’m glad he didn’t try to do everything himself, but I do wish he hadn’t been so eager to get hurt or killed while defending the town. It fit with his personality, but it’s always hard to watch a character you like get hurt. And Jesse did get hurt. A lot.

Ultimately, it was worth it. One threat was eliminated, and the town gained new members. The ending with Sean and Jesse was sweet, as well as the planting of little oak sapling.

As with Devon and Wade, Jesse and Sean’s relationship isn’t perfect yet. But they took meaningful steps towards a happy ending. It was heartwarming to see. And Jesse is finally beginning to realize that he can be the defender the town needs.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4) by Sam Burns

Lacking in tension, but still a good read.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 158 pages. Published May 3rd 2018

Blurb:

Devon Murphy has been back in Rowan Harbor for three months. He’s taken on a host of new responsibilities, and is in a serious relationship for the first time in his life. He loves the town and its inhabitants, but it’s starting to feel like too much for the former drifter.

Now there’s a storm on the horizon, and it doesn’t seem like things are going to slow down and let him catch his breath. A blizzard is brewing, and three people have gone missing in the woods south of town. Devon needs to find them before time runs out.

This book is the fourth of nine in The Rowan Harbor Cycle, not a standalone. Devon and Wade will return in book seven for their HEA. 

Likes:

  • Good smut.
  • Not everything is perfect.
  • Good hook.
  • Set up future books well.
  • More supernatural creatures.
  • Some surprises.
  • Great side characters.

Dislikes:

  • Started slow.
  • Tension faded.
  • Not as interesting as the others.

There was a lot to like about this book. But strangely, it wasn’t as interesting as the previous three. I think a big part of that was because this book was trying really hard to set up the next few books. Devon might have been dealing with his own troubles, but those troubles were sent by the next bad guy.

The other thing that I think made the story drag a little was Devon’s waffling about his feelings. He’s not used to staying put in one place, especially when he knows bad things are coming. The urge to just pack up and drive away makes him question what he wants. Not to mention his freak-out when Wade says the L word.

Despite the fact that I think Devon’s inner turmoil slowed the story down a bit, I liked that he was worried. The situation he’s in is completely new to him. It’s natural to be unsure. It showed maturity, both that he was facing his feelings and that he stayed. Devon isn’t perfect, and his life isn’t all sunshine and roses just because he’s finally found a place he can call home. That’s realistic, and it was nice to see.

I was glad to get more smut in this story. In fact, there was smut right in the first chapter. That did mean that the hook came a little later, but I liked the hook. The fact that Devon had been seeing threatening clouds for a week when everyone else had been seeing blue skies was unnerving.

This book had several surprises in it. I didn’t expect there to be a whole new villain and threat to the town. But it makes sense, what with the series broken up into trilogies. I also didn’t expect the death of a resident. And it was someone whose absence will have an impact in later books.

As always, the side characters are amazing. Vera was awesome, and I liked that she didn’t feel like she was broken and needed fixing, despite not having a perfect life. She was a new type of supernatural creature, and her backstory was both tragic and unique. Akiyama also gets a shout out.

Out of the three main characters, Devon is the least capable of doing physical things. He’s not a fighter. That’s not to say that his fey abilities are useless. They definitely saved lives in this book. But they’re not as flashy. The time spent stuck in the cave, while necessary to the story, let the tension fade.

I am looking forward to the next book. Especially when the events of this books will definitely have an impact.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3) by Sam Burns

Another 5 star book in an amazing series!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 184 pages. Published March 8th 2018

Blurb:

Fletcher Lane wants to protect people. It was why he became a deputy. A month ago, it was why he killed a vampire who kidnapped one of his friends. Now, that death has started a cascade effect that’s tearing his life apart, leaving him possessed by magic that whispers to him in ancient Gothic.

While he’s already fighting for control of his own mind, he has to hold it together when strangers come into town looking for the dead vampire. They say they’re bounty hunters, but Fletcher knows that’s a lie. They’re the same kind of murderers who killed Fletcher’s mother. When one of them puts up a kind front, Fletcher knows that people who hunt the supernatural can’t be trusted. However nice Conner Mason seems, the worst thing Fletcher could do is fall for his act. 

Likes:

  • Instant hook.
  • So much going on in the first chapter.
  • Fletcher is a good guy.
  • Connor was so much nicer than I expected.
  • Didn’t expect Fletcher to get possessed by the book.
  • Heartwarming.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • Oak.
  • Did not expect the twist at the end.

Dislikes:

  • I was disappointed about what happened with Aldric.
  • I wish Fletcher had had more closure with his mother’s murderer.

Another fantastic book in the series. Unlike with Jesse and Devon, Fletcher’s emotional wound is already known to the reader when the book starts. That allows the story to take off like a rocket from page one. Seriously, so much happens in chapter one. It’s not too much, but the hook is definitely there.

I’ve liked Fletcher since Wolf and the Holly, when Jesse realized how lonely he was. He’s instantly sympathetic, what with his mother having been killed by people who hunt supernatural beings. And to come face to face with one of those men? Let’s just say that Fletcher handled it better than I would have.

I was really hesitant when I realized that Fletcher’s love interest was in league with the hunters. I expected Connor to be at least a little unlikeable. Instead, he was adorably awkward and completely sincere. I liked that he didn’t help the other men hunt someone down unless that person was a murderer, like Sol White. Connor’s transition from part of the hunting group to sympathetic towards Fletcher and the entire town of Rowan Harbor was surprisingly smooth.

What wasn’t so smooth was Fletcher’s personal journey. Like the previous two books in the series, this book focused much more on the non-romantic plot. For Fox and Birch, a lot of that was Fletcher coming into his own. It was heartwarming to see how much he cared for the town, and how much they cared for him in return.

One surprise for me was that Fletcher got possessed by the book that was burned at the end of Wolf and the Holly. It’s mentioned in the blurb, but I didn’t bother reading the blurb, just jumped straight into the story. Fletcher’s possession actually gave him the nudge he needed to learn more about his shifting abilities, something he hadn’t done since his mother was killed.

I was a little disappointed that Aldric didn’t get a happy ending, although the choice he made was the first time he’d been in control of his life in centuries. I was also a little disappointed that Fletcher didn’t seem to get more closure with his mother’s murderer. It was a satisfying ending, but lacked any big impact.

As with the previous two books, the friendship and community spirit really made this story work. Oak gets a special shout out for their steadfast belief that Fletcher was one of them. I’m looking forward to seeing how Connor adjusts to the town in later books. I’m also looking forward to watching Fletcher fall in love.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2) by Sam Burns

A great second book, which was just as good as the first.

5 out of 5 stars

 E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 222 pages. Published February 8th 2018

Blurb:

Five years ago, Jesse dropped out of college and came home to Rowan Harbor to find safety with his pack. A broken man, he’s been living as though the world is ending—allergic to responsibility and spending most of his nights at the local bar.

But he can’t avoid growing up forever. On the night of his thirtieth birthday party, he finds his childhood friend Isla unconscious, attacked in the middle of their peaceful hometown. The wolf inside him wants to protect its people from the slick-haired, smooth-talking vampire who’s brought trouble to town, and Jesse can’t run from his instincts any longer.

Now that his inner wolf is out of its cage, it’s picked the most inconvenient moment to find its mate. Sean Anderson—recently back from college and much changed from the skinny preteen Jesse once knew—is just what he never knew he needed. 

Likes:

  • Both Jesse and Sean.
  • Jesse is sympathetic.
  • The mention of alpha wolves being a product of a faulty scientific study.
  • Instant attraction between Sean and Jesse, but not insta-love.
  • How everyone in town implicitly trusts Jesse to be able to step up when needed.
  • The friendship.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • That Sean was happy to take things slow.

Dislikes:

  • Sean doesn’t show up until 31%.
  • Not much smut, and the romance doesn’t get far.

I am loving this series so far. I am glad that, at the end of this book, the author described how the entire series would be laid out. Three trilogies, with each couple getting one book in each trilogy. It made me feel better about the slowness of the romance both in this book and in Blackbird in the Reeds.

It is a little strange to read a romance book that is light on the romance. I understand that there will be more about Jesse and Sean in future books, but Sean didn’t show up until 31% of the way in. They didn’t even go on a date, though there was a little bit of smut. I did love that Jesse was not ready to move in with Sean, though people expected him to. I also appreciated that Sean understood and respected Jesse’s need to take things slow.

Jesse is a great character. He’s incredibly sympathetic, and it was easy to feel for him. The guy has low self-esteem, and feels like he’s never measured up to the responsibilities other people have placed upon him. He severely undervalues himself, and watching him come to realize that he is worthy and that people were right to believe in him was heartwarming.

Like Devon, Jesse is a little damaged. In a way, that makes him better. He’s able to understand others who are also damaged. He doesn’t want to push Cassidy about her past, and when he realized how lonely Fletcher was, he made sure to include him in the friend group.

The reason Jesse never finished college was basically what I expected. What I didn’t expect was that Jesse had stopped touching most people because he didn’t want to experience the spark. He didn’t want anyone to be stuck with him because he didn’t think he was worthy.

The non-romantic plot was the main focus of this book. It had a little bit of everything. There was drama, mystery, fighting, worry about friends and family. It hooked me and kept me on the edge of my seat. Like Blackbird in the Reeds, I finished this book in a single day.

In addition to the big things I liked about this book, there were tons of little things as well. The mention that a faulty scientific study was responsible for the idea of alpha wolves, and that real wolf packs are a family group. The friendship between Jesse, Devon, Isla, and Fletcher. The way the townsfolk look after each other. The gossip. The squirrels.

Jesse isn’t perfect by the end of the book. He’s only just started his journey. But I am looking forward to seeing more of him, both in the books where he’s the main character and as a side character in the other books. And I’m incredibly excited to get started on Fletcher’s book next.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1) by Sam Burns

A great start to the series!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 188 pages. Published January 4th 2018

Blurb:

Devon Murphy has never believed that there were fairies at the bottom of the garden, but when he’s in an accident on his way to his grandmother’s house and comes face to face with the biggest, baddest wolf he’s ever seen, he’s forced to reconsider.

When his grandmother asks him to look into a string of suspicious accidents, he finds a much bigger mystery to unravel. From his childhood best friend to the too-attractive Deputy Wade Hunter, everyone in Rowan Harbor seems to have something to hide. Devon has to get to the bottom of it all before the accidents turn deadly.

This novel is intended for adult audiences, and contains swearing and sex scenes.

Likes:

  • First chapter hooked me.
  • Cute and fluffy, but with some mystery and tension.
  • Devon, immediately.
  • Wade, eventually.
  • The romance was sweet.
  • All kinds of side characters.
  • Siobhan’s easy acceptance of Devon’s sexuality.
  • Great introduction to the series.
  • Devon sees how hard it is for outsiders in Rowan Harbor.
  • Read it in a day.

Dislikes:

  • Would have liked more smut.
  • Have to wait until book 4 to get more about Devon and Wade.
  • Wish Devon had learned more about his abilities.

The single best compliment I can give a book is to say that it was hard to put down. As in, I finished it in a day. Blackbird in the Reeds had a great blend of mystery, cute fluff, and low angst romance that was exactly what I needed.

The first chapter hooked me fast. Devon was easy to like. I tend to gravitate towards family-oriented characters, and a guy who drops everything to visit his grandmother when she calls definitely goes on my good-guy list. He’s got his demons, but was searching for a place to belong.

I especially liked that, while Devon was welcomed back by the townsfolk with open arms, he sympathized with ‘outsiders’ like Maria because he knows what that’s likes. His decision to make sure Maria was included in his friend group was incredibly nice.

Wade took a little more time to warm up to, but that was intentional. Even Devin came away with a bad impression of him the first time they met. But Wade quickly showed that he had a good heart.

Their romance was sweet, but is far from over at the end of the book. They’re only starting to date, which is why I was a little disappointed that I’ll have to wait until book 4 to get more of their story. Not to mention more smut. Only one quick sex scene in the entire book! Despite that, the little hints that were dropped about Jesse, who’s the main character of the next book, make me excited to read his story.

There were all kinds of great side characters, including people of color. And Devon’s Gran, Siobhan, deserves a shout out for her easy acceptance of Devon’s sexuality.

The various mysteries, both personal and town-related added a lot to the book. There was always something new and interesting for Devon to do and discover. I do wish Devon had learned a little more about himself and his mysterious abilities, but I have hopes for his next book.

Overall, I think Blackbird in the Reeds is a great introduction to the series. Devon only scratched the surface of the town’s uniqueness. I’m sure there’s a whole lot more yet to be discovered.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Forbidden Magic (Magic and Claws #1) by Liam Kingsley and Jill Haven

DNF 46%. The enemies-to-lovers idea was all enemies no lovers. Literally no romance at all.

2.5 out of 5 stars

DNF 46%

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 230 pages. Published April 15th 2020

Blurb:

How can my enemy want me when no one else ever has?

Oil and water. Shifters and mages. There are certain things that just don’t mix. But I’m in Porter’s Peak for a reason, and I’m not about to let a pack of wolves drive me away. And I’m certainly not going to fall into bed with the alpha … not even if he says we’re fated mates.

But evil magic is swirling around town, and the only way to keep my new home safe is to team up with the alluring older shifter and try to find the cause of the problems. As we grow closer, my resolve to stay out of his arms is slipping. No one has cared about me enough to stick around before … why should I trust an old enemy to be any different?

But evil magic is not the only problem, and when secrets threaten to tear us apart, we might bring the whole town down with us. Can we put aside ancient hatred and forge a new path? Or is our bond doomed from the start? 

Likes:

  • The reason shifters and mages don’t like each other.

Dislikes:

  • Unnecessary prologue.
  • Little world building.
  • Writing doesn’t flow well.
  • Leo has the emotional maturity of a teenager.
  • Leo’s inconsistency.
  • No romance or building to romance.
  • Blind belief that an entire group of people are evil.

DNF 46%

This book’s basic premise had potential. I liked the idea that shifters and mages had been at war. I also liked the reason why, as well as how the world turned out after the war ended. It was different and unique. I was excited to read how a shifter and a mage would fall in love. It definitely had hints of Romeo and Juliet.

Except there was no romance. No romantic feelings. Just Leo and Zac hating each other for what they were. Obviously the romance would have shown up if I continued reading, but I got to 46%. It’s not like I stopped early. And there was literally nothing romantic at all. No flirting, no trying to get to know each other, no tender moments.

The blame falls squarely on Leo. He’s got the emotional maturity of a teenager. He knows Zac is his fated mate, but he doesn’t want to admit it. Instead, he’s a douchebag. He acts like he can barely tolerate Zac’s presence, and does nothing but glare and threaten Zac whenever they’re together. Take this quote from Leo, who remember, is the pack alpha and a father.

“Zac didn’t say another word. And just like that, we were right back to our usual attitudes. I sat down and crossed my arms, and Zac didn’t spare me another glance. I gritted my teeth. Fine. It wasn’t like I wanted to get to along with him anyway. I was only being nice because he’d been hurt.”

I get that the romance is supposed to be enemies to lovers, but it didn’t work. Add in the fact that Leo keeps oscillating between wanting Zac to leave and knowing its his duty to protect him. It would be one thing if Leo had conflicting feelings but was a mature, responsible adult who did what he was supposed to. But no. Leo is unable to stop himself from voicing exactly what he’s thinking. He has no diplomacy and no patience. Several times, when his wolf’s instinct to mate Zac gets out of control, he calls himself a Neanderthal. I disagree. He’s just immature. The only reason he’s pack leader is because it was passed down to him by his father.

Blame where it’s due, Zac isn’t exactly a scintillating character either. He’s a mage who doesn’t use magic much, works as a mechanic, and was a foster kid. The book’s prologue, which was unnecessary, shows him at sixteen, right before he’s taken in by the mysterious Dylan. Then there’s no real talk about what he’s been up to for the past decade. He finished high school, learned magic and mechanics, and has been moving around from place to place. That’s about it.

The whole book has a very surface level feel to it. There’s no real world building. The magic isn’t explained, the fact that the human townspeople know about shifters is revealed like it should have been obvious which it totally wasn’t, and the shifted werewolves are somehow bigger than people. There aren’t even any physical descriptions given, aside from Leo and Zac.

This book would have problems even if the romance and main characters were well written. The writing doesn’t flow well. Its not terrible, but it’s not as polished as I’m used to. I also didn’t like that both Leo and Zac blindly believed what they were taught about their enemies, and had no problem thinking that an entire group of people were pure evil. I know neither of them have interacted with people from the other group. It’s the fact they believed it without question that annoys me.

I feel kind of bad for not having much good to say about this book. I usually try not to focus solely on the bad things, but all of my notes are complaints.

Review: Witchblood (Kitsune Chronicles #1) by Lissa Kasey

Some interesting concepts, and well written, but not a series I will continue.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 1st edition, 350 pages. Published March 8th 2019 by Self-Published

Blurb:

Sebastion survived as a fox among wolves by running from everything he ever loved.

Sebastian is an omega who has never even dreamed of finding his alpha. A fox raised among werewolves, Seb has spent his entire life fighting to survive, until Liam rescues him from a demon from his past.

As an alpha werewolf, Liam is everything Sebastian has spent the last year, and his entire life, avoiding. Except that when they are together everything makes sense, the stars align, and fated mates becomes Seb’s reality rather than fiction.

When Seb’s past catches up with them, he and Liam will need to accept the bond or die fighting the darkness that is determined to tear them apart.

This MM romance features fated mates, an alpha and omega, a ghost cat, a snarky kitsune, a lot of action, and some super hot romance. 

Likes:

  • Some interesting concepts.
  • Liam’s pack was different from the traditional structure.
  • Sebastian wasn’t a pushover.
  • Omegas weren’t weak or submissive.
  • Good fight scenes.
  • Liam and Sebastian were both interesting characters.
  • Full Metal Alchemist reference.

Dislikes:

  • The prologue was dark as fuck.
  • Most of the werewolves were too ‘dominant assholes’ for my tastes.
  • Sebastian made some TSTL decisions.
  • Liam was too perfect.
  • Rape.
  • The Underhill chapters had me confused.

I picked up this book because I wanted something angsty. And, yes, it was angsty. The entire book was absolutely saturated in angst. Which was what I was expecting.

What I wasn’t expecting was how dark the first chapter was. The book literally starts with Sebastian having been beaten, raped, and left for dead in a pool of his own blood. It was darker than I wanted, and I put the book down. But I was lazy, and didn’t want to go searching for another book to scratch my angst itch, so I ended up picking it up again.

Credit where it’s due, I was interested enough to finish the book. But it’s not the kind of story I usually gravitate to, and I won’t continue on with the series. The werewolves were a little too ‘macho dominant assholes’ for my tastes. Misogyny, homophobia, and bullying are huge factors in the Volkov’s pack.

On the other hand, Liam’s pack was different. He had high ranking women and was open about his relationship with Sebastian. It was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise oppressive culture, and it made the book readable for me. Liam was a genuinely nice guy. In fact, I’d say that he’s perfect. It almost felt like he couldn’t have any problems of his own because Sebastian had enough for the both of them.

Obviously, Sebastian had a whole heap of problems, and not just because of the situation he was in at the beginning of the book. His problems were almost a character in and of itself. But I liked that he was trying. Trying to live, trying to find a place where he could be happy. Most of Sebastian’s actions and decisions made sense given what he’s endured. However, there were a few TSTL – too stupid to live – moments that really pissed me off. Still, for all his faults, Sebastian wasn’t a weaking, despite the fact that he was an omega.

In fact, one of the things I liked most about the world building was that omegas weren’t actually submissive, despite what people thought. Sebastian described them as “They were other. Neither dominant nor submissive.” Omegas settled a pack and made it better.

There was more to Sebastian than just his omega status. It was obvious what it was since it’s in the series title, even though Sebastian himself didn’t know until later in the book. When it was revealed, it gave me Naruto vibes, and I can’t help but wonder if Naruto was an inspiration for the story, since the author clearly knows at least a little about anime given the Full Metal Alchemist reference. But whereas Naruto is an upbeat guy, Sebastian felt like a combination of Naruto’s situation and Sasuke’s issues.

I did get confused during the Underhill chapters. I wasn’t sure if they were real or a dream. This book definitely had a lot in it, and I got the feeling that the author was trying hard to build a world that could easily contain several books, and that the foundation was being laid. It made the story take some unnecessary detours that I wish had been cut out.

This book definitely had some interesting concepts. The fight scenes were well written, and the romance was fine. Despite that, I have no desire to continue on with the series.

Series Review: Blackstone Manor by Kassandra Lea

An interesting series, but it needed more development.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Likes:

  • Unique premise.
  • Gargoyles.
  • Both Io and Cinder are nice.
  • Sweet romance.
  • Short, quick reads.
  • Everything was wrapped up nicely.

Dislikes:

  • Needed more world building.
  • Minor errors in every story.
  • ‘I don’t know how things really work’ style lazy writing.
  • The villain was cliché.
  • Didn’t feel like the author had sketched out the characters well.
  • Wanted more character development.

I am a child of the 90s, and as such I have fond memories of the Gargoyles cartoon show. So when I saw that there was an MM romance short story series featuring gargoyles, I knew I had to read it. Gargoyles are underrepresented in romance, which makes this series really stand out.

Aside from the gargoyle aspect, the series has another unique aspect. Masonry gargoyles protect important old buildings, which keeps the balance between the worlds of the living and the dead. Unfortunately, this aspect isn’t developed. Not only that, but you can be forgiven for forgetting that it’s part of Io’s life at all, since he doesn’t protect any building other than Blackstone Manor, and even that was only to win Cinder’s favor.

My biggest disappointment about this series was the lack of world building. Lots of interesting things were hinted at but never expanded on. A little bit of extra information would have brought the stories up to the next level. I suspect the lack of world building was due to lazy writing. Neither main character knew how or why the old buildings they protected were capable of keeping the balance between worlds. Not only that, but neither man was interested in finding out. I accepted that with Io, but it didn’t fit Cinder’s personality.

Luckily, both Io and Cinder were nice characters. They weren’t perfect, with Io being a little too immature for my tastes, but he had a good heart. Again, I wanted more from the stories, this time in terms of character development. I wanted Io to mature a little. Cinder does relax and learn to let loose at the end, which was nice to see.

Their romance, while quick, was sweet. I was a little worried about their compatibility at first, but it turned out all right in the end. There was some nice smut in the first two stories, but the last two were completely devoid of on-page smut.

The non-romantic plot stretched over all four stories. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t think it was strictly necessary. I would have preferred more depth to the characters or the world building. As it was, the villain was cliché, I never worried that Io was really in danger, and the way everything was wrapped up at the end of story three was really underwhelming. I was glad for the fourth story, which tied up the final loose threads, and ended everything on an upbeat note.

I don’t have much interest in reading anything else by Kassandra Lea. She’s clearly got the imagination and the writing skill, but I felt like she didn’t have a great grasp on the characters. A few times, developments came from left field, making it seem like they were thrown into the story just because.

Review: Captive Mate (Mismatched Mates #2) by Eliot Grayson

Not as good as book one, but still a good read.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 207 pages. Published August 25th 2020 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Captured, imprisoned, and…falling in love?

Arik is many things. Shaman, necromancer, a little on the snarky side…no one could ever accuse him of being boring. But one thing he never intended to be was imprisoned by angry werewolves. Maybe casting that love spell on the sexy alpha pack leader wasn’t such a great idea after all.

Matthew Armitage has a problem. Several of them, actually. And the biggest one is Arik. The shaman can’t be trusted. He’s dangerous enough to get the entire pack killed. Matthew knows that. But knowing doesn’t make it any easier to keep his mind (and hands) off Arik. Surely everything he’s feeling is a side effect of the spell…right?

It’s not long before enemies of the pack start circling—including one intent on claiming Arik as his unwilling mate. If they have any hope of surviving, Arik and Matthew will need to work together. And if they want a shot at happily ever after…well, they’ll just have to cross that bridge when they get to it.

If they get to it…

Captive Mate can (sort of) be read as a standalone, but works best when read in order as part of the Mismatched Mates series, beginning with The Alpha’s Warlock. This book contains a vivid memory of a sexual assault, but the assault occurs in the past and off-page and is not between the main characters. 

Likes:

  • Interesting non-romantic plot.
  • Matthew was a good guy.
  • Still like Nate and Ian.
  • Arik’s shifted form.
  • Happy ending.

Dislikes:

  • The past sexual abuse was an inescapable part of Arik’s past.
  • I had trouble warming up to Arik.
  • Arik was oblivious to his own feelings.
  • Not as good as book one.

I was excited when I saw this book was out. The Alpha’s Warlock was the book that first introduced me to Eliot Grayson, and I loved it (it got a 4.5 star rating). But when I saw the note at the end of Captive Mate‘sblurb saying it should be read as part of a series, I knew I had to reread The Alpha’s Warlock. It was a little embarrassing to admit that I couldn’t remember more than the main plot points of The Alpha’s Warlock a mere eight months after reading it, but 2020 has been like five years long, so whatever.

I do think rereading The Alpha’s Warlock was a good decision. Captive Mate picks up right after it, and the events flow seamlessly from one book to the next. But there was a downside to my choice. I really enjoyed Nate and Ian. And Arik and Matthew simply weren’t as captivating.

The blame lies a bit with both men. Matthew is a little bland. He’s a nice guy, does the right thing most of the time. But he doesn’t get any point of view sections, and isn’t shown to have hobbies or a job outside of running the pack.

Arik can be described by any synonym of aloof. He deliberately keeps people at a distance, trusting no one but himself. It was hard for me to warm up to him. Arik wasn’t given the chance to do anything to make me care for him.

The way Arik was supposed to be sympathetic was mainly because he was captured by Matthew and his pack. Especially after reading The Alpha’s Warlock right before starting Captive Mate, I didn’t have a ton of sympathy for Arik. Yes, being captured sucked for Arik, but he was massively uncooperative.

This was because Arik expected the worst in people. It was how he’d been treated his whole life. Which brings me to what I disliked most about the book. It’s true that there’s no on-page rape. But it’s mentioned constantly. The sexual abuse Arik suffered left a permanent mark on him, one that’s inescapable.

When I wrote my review for The Alpha’s Warlock, there was a preview of Captive Mate. My comment from that review was “the sneak peek for the next book made me a little hesitant. I thought Nate had a bad life, but Arik definitely had it worse. I’m okay with angst and traumatic pasts, but expecting to be raped because it had happened before is a little too intense for me. I’ll give the next book a shot when it comes out, and hope that Arik gets to spend most of it healing.”

Ultimately, Arik was able to heal. He got his happy ending, with Matthew and with the pack. But he still had to go through a lot of shit to get there. Including facing his most recent rapist. I don’t consider myself a squeamish person, but Arik had a lot of trauma. He was damaged. And it got a little hard to read at times.

Arik’s resilience and determination was what ultimately made me warm up to him. His distance was for self-protection. It made him oblivious to his own feelings, which made things between him and Matthew draw out longer than they otherwise would have.

The non-romantic plot was just as good as in The Alpha’s Warlock. A lot happened, which tied in with book one and set up a lot of potential trouble in the future. No other members of Matthew’s pack were introduced, but Colin Kimball from the neighboring pack got some page time, so I’m assuming he’ll be the focus of the next book.

I’ll definitely keep reading the series. I enjoy Grayson’s writing, and I love seeing previous couples pop back into the story. It was great to see Ian and Nate during this book, and I hope that in the next book, Arik will be shown to have healed and settled into the pack even more.