Review: A Gargoyle Christmas (Blackstone Manor #4) by Kassandra Lea

A fluffy, no angst ending to the series.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book.  43 pages. Published December 10th 2016 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Just like he did for Halloween, Io has decided to go all out for Christmas, a holiday not typically celebrated by the family. With the decorations up, the only thing he needs make it perfect is a blanket of fresh white snow. What’s Christmas without snowmen? There’s also the messy task of trying to, yet again, find the right gift for Cinder.

Meanwhile, Cinder has his plate full. Not only is he dealing with the sudden explosion of holiday decorations in Blackstone Manor, but the time has come for him to pick a new beta. Who is right for the position? If he doesn’t pick Io, will his beloved be hurt? 

Likes:

  • Quick, easy read.
  • Mostly fluff.
  • Wraps up the series well.
  • More information about the gargoyle pack.
  • Cinder shows his love for Io in many little ways.

Dislikes:

  • No substance.
  • No tension.
  • Cinder and Daisy are old friends.
  • Cinder doesn’t know why old buildings protect the balance.
  • No smut.
  • Minor editing mistakes.
  • Snowmen and snow angels at the same time.

All things considered, this was a good ending to the series. Despite what the blurb tries to push, no extra drama was introduced. Cinder never seriously considered Io for the position of beta, and once he brings it up, the whole conversation is over in a flash.

This story is more like a Christmas special, with Io desperate to make his first Christmas with Cinder perfect. In fact, he stresses out so much that he drags others into his orbit. Both Daisy and Cinder do things to make Io happy, things they know they shouldn’t do. But, because this is a short story and the consequences are never dire, everything turns out fine.

If I was going to put a good spin on this story, I would say that it’s a quick, easy read with lots of fluff. If I was harsher, I’d say it has no substance. There is one point that is serious and has the potential for character growth. It came out of the blue, and was over without much fanfare.

I did like that there was a little more shown about the gargoyle pack, as well as the mention of another supernatural species. A part of me wishes that all the stories had been written to be more focused on the characters and their actions like this story was. Actions speak louder than words, and the little ways Cinder shows his love for Io really made this story. It’s too bad there was no on-page smut.

The deep friendship between Daisy and Cinder felt like it came from left field. It made me feel like the author didn’t really have a good knowledge of the characters, and was just adding things in willy-nilly. Again, there were minor editing mistakes that really stood out. And I couldn’t help but notice something that went contrary to my personal experience. Io and Cinder enjoyed making both snow angels and snowmen in the same afternoon. But in my experience, you want light, fluffy snow to make snow angels, and wet, clumpy snow for snowmen. I’m sure it was just artistic license to make the afternoon fun, but it definitely caught my eye.

It also made me realize that Io doesn’t really do gargoyle work. He spends his nights baking, decorating, having fun with Cinder, or watching movies with Daisy. What about guarding the old buildings? And speaking of old buildings. The fact that even Cinder doesn’t know how the old buildings keep the balance between the worlds of the living and the dead was bullshit. I believe it if Io doesn’t know, but for Cinder not to know and not to care, struck me as lazy writing.

I definitely prefer this story to the last. It ends on good notes all around. Cinder and Io are happy, the pack has a new beta, all the drama is over. And in the end, my complaints about the story are overshadowed by the happy ending.

Review: Promised (Blackstone Manor #3) by Kassandra Lea

My least favorite of the series.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. 47 pages. Published October 8th 2016 by JMS Books LLC 

Blurb:

Blackstone Manor is complete, and what better way to celebrate than a Halloween party? At least, that’s how Io sees it. He’s already splurged on candy and decorations. Cinder isn’t entirely on board, however, hating the look of disappointment on Io’s face when he nixes the idea.

Yet somehow Io gets his way, and the party goes ahead as planned. It can’t be all that bad, right? But throw in couples’ costumes, Daisy acting weird, real ghosts, and the secret Cinder has been harboring from Io, and it’s sure to be a night none of them forget. 

Likes:

  • All the key plot points wrapped up.
  • Finally met other members of the pack.
  • A little more world building.
  • Daisy is asexual.

Dislikes:

  • My least favorite so far.
  • No character development.
  • No smut.
  • The way things were wrapped up was anticlimactic.
  • Classic ‘don’t know how/why things happened.’
  • Minor editing mistakes.
  • Cinder knows his actions are hurting Io and does nothing about it.

This is definitely my least favorite story so far. It does wrap up all the key points that have been brought up over the past two stories. But because that’s the main focus, there’s no character development.

This story is also low on romance. Chapter one opens with Io lamenting that things between him and Cinder have “fizzled.” The two aren’t communicating and haven’t been intimate in months. Io blames himself, but I blame Cinder. Cinder knows his lack of attention is hurting Io, but he doesn’t do anything about it. His excuse for not addressing the growing rift is lame. Honestly, this story made me feel like Cinder and Io simply aren’t a good match.

I’m not even happy with how things with Ran’imy were wrapped up. It was anticlimactic, with vague outside forces stepping in at the last minute. Add in the classic ‘don’t know how/why things happened’ non-answer when asked about those outside forces, and it wasn’t particularly satisfying.

I am happy that there was a little more world building this time around. We finally get to meet other members of the pack, as well as find out how many members the pack has. But my favorite thing about the book has to be that Daisy is asexual. I love when there’s more LGBTQ+ representation in mm romance books.

Once again, there are minor editing mistakes, that seem much more obvious because of the shortness of the story. There’s even multiple instances of the first letter in a sentence not being capitalized, which struck me as a very simple mistake to catch.

I’m glad this isn’t the last story in the series. Even though everything was wrapped up, I’m hoping for a better overall ending. One that sees Io and Cinder happy throughout most of the story. There wasn’t even any on-page smut this time around. Here’s hoping the final story will end on a high note!

Review: Heart’s Triumph (Blackstone Manor #2) by Kassandra Lea

A cute followup to the first story.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 38 pages. Published August 13th 2016 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Two months have passed since Masonry Gargoyle Io came clean with Cinder about his feelings. Of course, in the process, he broke a major rule. Cinder stood by him, at a price, as the Council planned to pay a visit to decide their fate. Io may still be thrown out of the pack, and there’s no telling what punishment would be bestowed on Cinder.

As if that isn’t bad enough, Ran’imy is mad, jealous, and no doubt cooking up some nefarious plan. After all, she had her sights set on Cinder, too. How could he pick Io, the bumbling fool, over her?

Io has to stand by Cinder’s side before the Council, but their relationship is still new. Will their love be strong enough to withstand the Council and Ran’imy’s revenge? 

Likes:

  • Not much time passed between the stories.
  • There are consequences of Io’s actions.
  • More from Cinder’s point of view.
  • Some action and drama.
  • Budding relationship.

Dislikes:

  • Io felt childish at times.
  • Continuity error.
  • Lots of minor editing mistakes.
  • Rain’imy is still a cliché villain.
  • Not much world building.

I really liked that this story takes place soon after the first. Cinder and Io have gotten closer, but their relationship is still growing. They both really like each other, but at the same time they’re still settling into a routine.

I also liked that there were consequences for Io’s actions in the last story. It would have felt wrong for Io to get away with summoning a Guardian without consequence. It was a nice touch that Cinder, as the family alpha, got dragged into things too, for not automatically banishing Io for breaking the rules.

While the resolution of the council meeting was simplistic, it fit with the style of the story. It also worked because the council meeting turned out not to be the main point of the story. Rain’imy returned, still a cliché villain, and her actions drove a significant portion of the plot.

I never really worried about Io getting seriously hurt. This series simply doesn’t give off a dark vibe. It’s a light, quick read with the focus on romance with a hint of smut. And I think it does well. It gave me the satisfaction of seeing Io and Cinder grow closer, while also navigating the fact that neither of them has ever been in a long-term serious relationship.

Cinder got the lion’s share of the point of view, which was a nice change from the first story. It did make Io feel a little childish, with Cinder commenting at once point that they were decades apart in age. I wish Cinder had been shown doing things that had more to do with the family of gargoyles in general. As in the last book, there’s not a ton of world building in this one.

I am usually willing to overlook minor editing errors in self-published or small press books. This time, however, there were a number of errors sprinkled throughout the story, as well as a glaring continuity error between chapters six and seven. It wasn’t enough for me to take points off my review, but it was noticeable.

I’m looking forward to the next story in the series. I like Io and Cinder more now, simply because I’ve spent more time with them. I think they’re both interesting characters and I’m looking forward to seeing their romance continue to grow.

Review: Blackstone Manor (Blackstone Manor #1) by Kassandra Lea

A quick read with an unusual spin on gargoyles.

3 out of 5 stars

 Ebook. 38 pages. Published June 4th 2016 by JMS Books LLC 

Blurb:

Io is a Masonry Gargoyle tasked with looking after old buildings to help maintain a balance, and he’s hopelessly in love with his alpha, Cinder. If only he wasn’t such a screw up. With Cinder’s birthday right around the corner, Io is convinced he has found the perfect gift — Blackstone Manor, an estate that has captivated Cinder for years. He just needs to find the deed before the house is demolished.

Of course, keeping the gift a secret from the bitter beta Ran’imy may prove easier said than done. She has her sights set on Cinder, too. But Io is willing to do whatever he has to, including crossing a line that could get him banished from the clan.

He’s about to make a stand for love.

Likes:

  • Gargoyles.
  • The idea of gargoyles as protectors of old buildings.
  • Cinder checked for consent.
  • Short and sweet.

Dislikes:

  • Ran’imy was a typical female mm romance villain.
  • Needed more world building.
  • Strangely dated fashion choices.
  • Is Cinder a good leader?

I both love and hate stories that are this short. They’re great when you want something short and sweet. But more often than not, they leave me wishing for more world building or character development. In this case, a little of both.

The story itself is unique. Gargoyles are a type of supernatural being that I don’t see a lot of in mm romance. I liked that they fit in with the main thing I think about gargoyles in popular culture – they turn to stone if exposed to sunlight. But the author also added her own spin. There are two types of gargoyles, Masonry and Guardian, and the masonry types are responsible for guarding old buildings as a way of keeping balance between the worlds of the living and the dead. Gargoyles live in groups, with an alpha leader, and all the other members are divided into betas and omegas.

I thought the basic setup was interesting, and the main character, Io, wasn’t bad either. He’s basically the lowest rung on the ladder, and is constantly bullied by the story’s main villain, Ran’imy. His single-minded determination to win the affection of the group alpha, Cinder, help make him likeable.

I almost thought I wasn’t going to like Cinder. There was a moment where he was really pushing the boundaries of abusing his position to get Io in bed. Then he redeemed himself by asking “Are you doing this because you want to or because you feel obligated?” That double check about consent made him likeable.

I wish both men had been fleshed out more. I have no idea why Ran’imy goes out of her way to bully Io so much, other than him being an easy target. I also don’t know what specifically it is about Cinder than Io likes so much. Cinder isn’t described physically, and we learn next to nothing about him. In fact, I have to wonder if he’s a good leader. He doesn’t like Ran’imy, despite the fact that she’s his second in command, and he spends a lot of time wondering if his actions will make him look weak.

I also wish the gargoyles had been physically described. They have wings, but otherwise seem human. They wear clothes, including Ran’imy’s bedazzled jeans, which are an unfortunate piece of dated pop culture.

Ran’imy is what I think of as a traditional female mm romance villain. The kind of woman who wants to sleep with one of the men, despite having been rebuffed. It’s not a trope I enjoy, because it lacks depth, and there’s a trend in mm romance to portray women as potential homewreckers.

When I reached the end of this story, I couldn’t help but wonder why it wasn’t a little longer. A few more paragraphs of description would have really fleshed it out. Not to mention that for a story that’s been published by a small publisher, there were a number of glaring errors, including some dialogue at a pivotal moment that was tagged wrong.

I’m glad there are more stories in this series. Hopefully we’ll get more world and character building. I’m also looking forward to seeing Cinder and Io get closer.

Review: Mastering the Flames (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #4) by S.J. Himes

The romance didn’t really take off until the second half of the book.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 394 pages. Published October 4th 2019 by SJ Himes

Blurb:

Guilt-ridden after the massacre of his family, Isaac Salvatore turned to binge drinking to escape the pain. Now twenty-four years old, Isaac is a recovering alcoholic woefully out of practice in the magical arts, leaving his fire affinity hanging on the edge of disaster. After a month of rehab, he returns to Beacon Hill and his family, determined to remain sober, learn to control his magic, and figure out a plan for his life that doesn’t involve drinking.

Constantine Batiste is the oldest, most powerful vampire in the city. Born in ancient Gaul, the bastard son of a Celtic king, his long life has been shrouded in tragedy and horrors. Recent mistakes have left him wary and determined to guard his clan from all foes. When two of his clan members fall victim to an ancient evil, he summons the Necromancer of Boston for aid. Accompanying his older brother to the Tower is the handsome young fire mage once wounded by Constantine’s arrogance, and their encounter reignites an attraction that burns within both Constantine and Isaac.

The answer to who is targeting the vampires of Boston is buried in the dark, early days of Constantine’s transition to an immortal life. Isaac finds himself saddled with a painful insight into the evil cutting a swath through the supernatural population of Boston. While his brother, Angel, takes over the hunt to find and stop the threat to the city, Isaac struggles to find a balance between helping his brother and finding his own purpose and place in the world, free from his brother’s shadow.

Falling in love wasn’t part of his plan, but mastering the flames that burn between him and Constantine soon becomes the most important thing in his life, even as an ancient evil seeks to destroy them.

Likes:

  • Isaac finally gets his own story.
  • How much Isaac struggled, even after he left rehab.
  • Interesting non-romantic plot.
  • Isaac is working to get himself better.
  • Constantine and Simeon are family now.
  • Good smut.
  • Isaac was allowed to be the hero.

Dislikes:

  • Isaac and Constantine didn’t interact until the 23% mark.
  • So many other things going on besides the romance.
  • Constantine’s backstory didn’t need to be so long or show up at the beginning of the book.
  • Romance feels rushed.
  • Angel is a douche.

I have been looking forward to this story ever since Batiste and Isaac kissed. I dove right into the book, eager to see the younger Salvatore brother and the sexy City Master meet again. Then I waited. And waited. Wondered why a part of Constantine’s backstory was placed so early in the book. Then waited some more.

Isaac and Constantine don’t interact until 23% into the book. That’s right. Almost a fourth of the book passes with no romance. And honestly, very little plot. It was mostly about Isaac getting out of rehab and trying to find his place in the world, which I appreciated since it was necessary to his character development, and part of Constantine’s backstory, which I thought was really boring.

Constantine’s personal history does end up being important to the non-romantic plot. But it didn’t need to be so long and it didn’t need to show up so early in the book. I came to this book for one thing – the romance between Isaac and Constantine. Being forced to wait for it wasn’t enjoyable.

And while I see the point in letting Isaac adjust to sober life before throwing him into a romance, especially since this adjustment made him realize that he was bored, it made me feel like Isaac would have been better served if Daniel’s book had come before his. Yes, that would have screwed up the timeline. I don’t care.

The romance between Isaac and Constantine felt rushed. There were so many other things going on in the book. The blood mage problem, Isaac’s recovery, the fight with Angel, making sure Daniel is safe with Rory, multiple attacks, Isaac relearning magic, therapy sessions, Constantine’s backstory. Oh, yeah, and romance that has to be squeezed in around all that.

Credit where it’s due, I enjoyed the book so much more after about the 50% mark. That was when Isaac asked Constantine on a real date and their romance really took off. I do think the men were super sweet together. I simply wanted more. More time for them to get to know each other. More time for their bond to form. As it is, how much time did they really spend together? It felt rushed, similar to werewolf stories where two people turn out to be mates and boom! Everything’s great and they love each other.

I think my favorite thing about the book was that Isaac was allowed to be the hero in the end. Seeing things from his point of view made me realize that Angel could be a huge douche. There were so many times he treated Isaac like a child who couldn’t take care of himself, and the fight they got into was entirely Angel’s fault.

Isaac was working hard to better himself, and this book really reflects that. I wish Isaac got another book or two, the way Angel did. Isaac is going to keep growing and evolving into the man he wants to be and I wish we got to see that. It would also help my feeling of being shortchanged with the romance. Honestly, Isaac should have gotten his own spinoff trilogy.

Simeon’s comment of “Our family” at the end gave me the feels. Constantine and Simeon are connected in many ways, but they’re family now, and I thought that was great. I was also glad that my prediction from A History of Trouble turned out to be true. Not sure how that will come into play in future books, but I’m sure it will.

Review: A History of Trouble (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #3.5) by S.J. Himes

A short, quick collection of stories.

4.5 out of 5 stars

 E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 96 pages. Published February 25th 2019 by SJ Himes

Blurb:

A collection of brand-new short stories, featuring characters from The Beacon Hill Sorcerer Series by bestselling author SJ Himes.

Red Wine and Blood
The Blood Wars raged for centuries across Boston. Witness a brief glimpse into the brutal history of the Wars with Ignacio Salvatore and the vampire he loves, Ashwin Metcalfe, in 1897.

A History of Trouble
Angel was joking when he asked O’Malley if someone resurrected a mammoth. Little did he know that was exactly what someone did. Experience the untold story of what happened that unfortunate night at the Boston Public Museum.

A Dragon in the City
What happens when Eroch goes adventuring in Beacon Hill without Angel? Chaos, pure chaos.

Fae’s Gold
Daniel is helping the newly-resurrected fae Ruairi Brennan become accustomed to modern-day living. A boring trip to the bank quickly escalates, and Daniel calls Angel for help. The day goes downhill from there but ends in a comfy meal in a pub for an ancient fae warrior and a necromancer’s apprentice.

This is a collection, featuring vignettes and short stories from the universe of The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series. For full enjoyment, the Beacon Hill Sorcerer Series Books 1 through 3 should be read before reading this collection.

Combined word count is 23.5k words.

It’s always hard to review a collection of short stories as a whole. So I decided to simply give a few thoughts on each, as most weren’t long enough to get a full review.

Red Wine and Blood

The only story set in the past and not featuring any of the main characters from the novels. Ashwin Metcalfe and Ignacio Salvatore were soulbonded, much like Angel and Simeon, though their soulbond was not fully set even though they’d been together for twenty years. I liked the reminder that soulbonds usually take a long time to set when one of the couple is a vampire, and that Angel and Simeon are unusual in that way.

The look back at the history of the Blood Wars didn’t do much for me. However, I did find myself wishing that Ignacio had left behind journals. Angel was able to bring Isaac a journal written by one of their ancestors. I have to wonder if Ignacio didn’t write one, he did and it didn’t survive, or if Angel simply hasn’t bothered to read it. I think it would have been of much interest when Angel first started dating Simeon.

The only thing that really stood out about this story was a comment Ashwin made at the very end, about how he and Ignacio had centuries to allow their soulbond to fully set. It made me wonder if he was simply being unrealistic about the risk to him and Ignacio during the Blood Wars, or if the couple somehow survived, left the war behind, and will pop up in a later book.

A History of Trouble

The story of the resurrected mammoth that was mentioned in one of the books. One of the smaller cases Angel took back when he’d just started working with the police. It was something of a standard example of a reason why Angel would be called in. The mammoth was turned into a zombie, its behaviors ruled by basic needs. So, being an herbivore, it tried to eat plants.

This was the only story featuring a smut scene. As far as advancing the plot, or even adding new dimensions to the characters, it could easily be skipped. But the entertainment value of a zombie mammoth makes it worth the quick read.

A Dragon in the City

This story is from Eroch’s point of view, which I liked. And it started off with Eroch watching Simeon and Angel have sex, which I thought was super weird. Eroch isn’t so much interested in the sex the way a voyeur is, he’s simply happy that his nestmates were happy.

I loved the way Eroch labeled everyone – Simeon was the cold predator, Angel was Simeon’s magical mate, Daniel and Isaac were Eroch’s fellow broodmates. The notion of nestmates and broodmates goes back to how Eroch was raised on his home planet. The mention of that distant world was very interesting, and I loved that all the past Earth dragons came from that world and eventually returned there.

Eroch’s war on the pigeons is very amusing. The way he’s still trying to learn about the human world and match the names of things with what he sees showed that he’s very intelligent, even if that intelligence isn’t human. I’m excited about the reveal that, when Eroch grows big enough, he will gain a new ability. One that I’m sure will annoy the hell out of Angel. I hope it’s shown in the books!

Fae’s Gold

This was the longest story in the collection, taking up about half of the page space. And, out of all the stories, was the one that will have the most affect on the future books. It’s set between books 3 and 4, and I suspect it is a ‘must read’ in order for the future book about Daniel and Rory to make sense.

Basically, Daniel’s falling hard for Rory. I expected it. Hoped for it, even. Daniel deserves his happy ending just as much as Angel and Isaac. And Rory seems like a nice guy.

A lot of information about Rory is revealed in this book. It’s not just that he’s still trying to figure out how the modern day works. He’s been alive for centuries. Longer than Simeon or Batiste. He’s truly ancient, though he mentioned that his memory has gaps since he didn’t think certain things were worth remembering.

It was really heartwarming to see how much benefit Daniel got from helping Rory adjust to the modern world. Isaac is someone new, untouched by the Blood Wars, and Daniel is able to relax around him. Rory has promised to protect Daniel, which I can see becoming a conflict when Daniel and Rory’s story gets told in full. Isaac seems like the kind of man who’d think that falling in love with Daniel is somehow at odds with his promise to protect.

Necromancer’s Birthday Surprise

This story isn’t technically part of A History of Trouble but I included it here because I didn’t read it after book 2. I was so intent on starting book 3 that I wasn’t going to stop and read a short story. I wanted to find out how Angel handled the bombshell revel Isaac had dropped at the end of book 2, and this story didn’t seem like it would answer that question.

It turned out to have hinted that Angel was fine with Isaac’s reveal. Or at least, he wasn’t blaming his little brother. But the beginning of book 3 answered the question so much better.

This story is about Angel stopping two members of a grave robbing ring. The story ties in with part of book 3’s subplot, but isn’t a must read. It’s mentioned often in book 3 that Angel stopped two graverobbers, so the basic information was presented to the reader.

Much like A History of Trouble this was a simple story showing Angel using his powers to help the police solve a case. Aside from the connection with book 3, it doesn’t reveal anything extra about Angel. It does, however, reveal something about Eroch. And I’m actually really glad I didn’t read this story before I read book 3.

Eroch showed off a new ability in order to stop some zombies from getting to Angel. It’s the same ability he used to save Daniel in book 3. Because I hadn’t read this story before I read book 3, Eroch’s new ability caught me by surprise, and I loved it. I got so excited when he was able to save the day. If I had read this story first, I wouldn’t have been so excited when Eroch escaped with Daniel. So, despite not reading this in order, I’m glad I did it the way I did.

Review: The Necromancer’s Reckoning (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #3) by S.J. Himes

A great way to wrap up Angel and Simeon’s story.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 304 pages. Published May 28th 2018 by SJ Himes

Blurb:

Every action has consequences.

For a decade, Angel Salvatore has been the most powerful sorcerer and only necromancer in all the Northeast. Never one to ask permission nor apologies, he has acted with near impunity for years.

Until now.

The High Council of Sorcery has come to Boston, and Angel is their target. Charged with numerous violations of practitioner laws, his freedom and family are placed in jeopardy.
If found guilty, Angel’s apprentice Daniel will be imprisoned to serve out the remaining years of his apprenticeship. Isaac, his brother, is too vulnerable to be left unguarded, and Angel fears for his sanity and health. And Simeon, Elder vampire and Angel’s mate, refuses to see Angel convicted under the laws of the Council and his actions to keep Angel free threaten to start a war that could destroy their world. And Angel faces the severest of punishments—the castration of his gifts.

The Council has never cared for the people of Boston, and Angel doubts their motives. They have come for some insidious reason, and it has nothing to do with upholding the law and everything to do with Angel.

Dealing with an impending trial, a wayward ghost, and a graverobbing ring of thieves leaves Angel on the edge. He thinks he may have a handle on things until violence erupts across the city, and a stranger comes to town…a stranger with his own dark powers of necromancy.

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 304 pages. Published May 28th 2018 by SJ Himes

Likes:

  • The way Eroch protected Daniel.
  • A good way to wrap up the books with Angel as the main character.
  • Set up Isaac and Daniel’s stories.
  • Isaac finally got help.
  • We get to meet another necromancer.
  • We leaned more about Simeon’s past.
  • Great non-romantic plot.

Dislikes:

  • The run-on sentences were particularly noticeable.
  • The Council wasn’t dealt with big picture.
  • The romance between Simeon and Angel is completely settled at the beginning.

One of my biggest compliments about this book and the entire Beacon Hill Sorcerer series is how good the non-romantic plot is. This book in particular is stuffed full of things to do and problems to be overcome. I was never bored.

The downside of such a great non-romantic plot, especially in this book, is that it comes in part because the romance is on the back burner. This is the third book about Angel and Simeon, and they’re already a steady, established couple. There wasn’t much that needed to be done in terms of making them closer.

We did find out a little more about Simeon, like how and why he was turned into a vampire and whether he has turned anyone into a vampire himself. It was nice to know, even if the information wasn’t all that important.

Honestly, the book felt important to the series in two ways – the first and most important was to set things up for Isaac and Daniel to have their own happy endings in future books. The second was to show that there are consequences to Angel doing proscribed magic.

I was excited when I read the blurb, thinking that the Council might be this big, scary organization. I was definitely a little disappointed at how easily Angel dealt with them. It goes back to what I felt when reading the second book, about how Angel is so powerful now that not much can stop him. I was also disappointed that they weren’t stopped completely. Angel made sure they wouldn’t bother him or his friends, and then left the rest of the world to deal with the Council on their own. The one good thing that came out of the conflict with the Council was that another necromancer finally showed up.

I’m really looking forward to getting to Isaac’s story. Not only does he deserve it, he’s finally in a place to be open to it and make it work. I’m so happy that Isaac finally agreed to get help. I’m also glad that he has small point of view moments in the book that show how hard it is for him to stay in rehab when he learned that Angel was in danger. But that he also knew he needed to stay or he’d never come back.

Eroch gets a shout out for the second time in a row. The way he protected Daniel all throughout the book was fantastic.

I have one complaint about the writing, and it’s that the run-on sentences were particularly noticeable this time around. I’ve been able to ignore them for the past two books, but this time they bothered me. I know it’s just writing style, and it’s not enough to get me to stop reading the series.

Review: The Necromancer’s Dilemma (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2) by S.J. Himes

A great followup, but it does have a cliffhanger.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 213 pages. Published July 1st 2016 by SJ Himes

Blurb:

Even love can die without trust.

Angel’s brother, Isaac, has returned home, and the pair begin to make slow and awkward attempts back to each other. Learning how to be a brother to a grown man instead of a parental figure has Angel adjusting his behaviors and habits, and Isaac still remains a mystery. Was it merely entering adulthood that turned Isaac away from an overprotective Angel, or does Isaac carry a secret that will keep them from finally being a real family?

Daniel Macavoy, Angel’s new apprentice, is torn between his bond with Angel and the grasping machinations of his father. Dealing with a traumatized apprentice with dangerous holes in his magical education, saving Daniel may be harder than Angel first thought—especially since the biggest problem is not revenge, but guilt.

The one shining beacon in his life is Simeon, Elder vampire of Boston’s only Bloodclan. Four hundred years old and sexy as sin, Simeon is warrior and sage, patient and cunning. The strength Angel draws from Simeon’s devotion and the newborn mate-bond between them is steadfast and true…and the fount of death magic that animates the undead lord places Angel in the midst of a power struggle for control over himself, his lover, and his family.

Through it all, Angel is beleaguered by the unwanted attention of a troll-hybrid, the adventures of a dragon in the city, and a serial killer has decided to hunt the back alleys and midnight streets of Boston. 

Likes:

  • Eroch is adorable.
  • I liked Daniel and Isaac more in this book.
  • Simon got POV sections too.
  • Lots going on but it’s not too much.
  • How Angel dealt with Batiste.
  • All of Angel’s relationships still need work.

Dislikes:

  • Ended on a cliffhanger.
  • Why are Isaac and Daniel not in therapy?
  • Angel is almost too powerful.

One of my favorite things about this book is that Angel’s relationships still need work. There wasn’t some magical cure at the end of book one that fixed everything. Angel still needs to solidify his bond with Simeon, rebuild his brotherly relationship with Isaac, and form a mentor/apprentice relationship with Daniel. It’s a tall order, and I can see why Angel gets to be the main character for three books. He needs the time to get his life in order. It would have been a disservice to all the characters, major and minor, to end things just because Simeon and Angel became a couple.  

There are other perks to having Angel be the main character for three books in a row – it allows time to show more of Isaac and Daniel before they get their own books. Both young men got small point of view sections in this book that show more of who they are, how they think, and what they’ve been through. I immediately liked both young men more in this book than the last, and they only became more sympathetic. I expect both will have to go through some heavy shit before coming out the other side, and I can’t help but wonder why they aren’t in therapy. They both clearly need it. Especially given the whopper of a cliffhanger at the end of the book.

Simeon also got point of view sections in this book, which I thought was nice. Compared to the other characters, he doesn’t have a lot of issues, but I guess if I’d been alive for four hundred years, I’d have my life together too. His love for Angel comes through loud and strong, and there’s a lot of lust in this book.

The non-romantic plot is a lot, but there’s room for it. Because Simeon and Angel are together now, there is more page space for crazy things to be happening in Boston. And boy are there crazy things. Angel is literally thrown from one crisis to the next. It definitely kept things interesting.

I am a little worried that Angel is getting too powerful. There’s really not much he can’t do anymore, especially with Simeon and Eroch by his side. And given that Angel himself admits he has anger management issues and no problem killing people in self-defense, that’s a recipe for trouble. I’m just glad he dealt with master vampire Batiste in a reasonable way, one that I can already tell is going to have consequences in book 4 (and this is why I love starting series that are almost finished. That and the fact that his book ended in a cliffhanger and I hate cliffhangers).   

Eroch gets a special shout out. I love dragons, be they big or small. I also like that Angel is aware that Eroch doesn’t have the same moral outlook on the world as humans do.

Given the cliffhanger, I am more than ready to move onto book three.

Review: The Necromancer’s Dance (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #1) by S.J. Himes

Fantastic world building and an interesting spin on vampires.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book.  Published February 25th 2016 by SJ Himes

Blurb:

In a world where magic is real and evil walks amongst humanity, a young sorcerer is beset upon by enemies, both old and new. Angelus Salvatore is the only necromancer in all of Boston, and his name is whispered warily by the undead and fellow sorcerers alike. He and his brother Isaac are the lone survivors of an attack by an army of the undead, in which Angel used a spell so powerful it forever marked his place in history. Now, years later, Angel struggles to balance his career as a teacher of the higher magical arts, his role as big brother, and a tenuous relationship with an Elder vampire from the local clan. When his brother’s boyfriend is used as a pawn in a mysterious plot to draw Angel out, Angel is once again pulled back into the old hostilities that fueled the Blood Wars and led to his family’s death.

Leaning on others for help is something Angel cannot do, and while he searches for clues into who may be targeting him and his brother, Angel finds his heart steadily growing occupied with Simeon, Elder and vampire. Dealing with death magic and vampires on a daily basis may leave Angel jaded when it comes to life and staying that way, but the more time he spends fending off the ancient vampire’s attention and affections, the more he realizes he wants to give in.

Can Angel find out who wants him dead, and keep his heart safe in the process? How can he fall for a vampire, when his whole family was torn apart by an army of the undead?

Death stalks the streets of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill….and there is no one more suited to battle against death than a necromancer.

MATURE CONTENT Contains graphic violence, male/male sexual contact, a cranky necromancer, a sexy Irish vampire, and a pesky demon.

Likes:

  • The interesting spin on vampires and magic blood.
  • Hooked me fast.
  • Both Angel and Simeon were interesting characters.
  • The romance progressed at a nice pace.
  • Hot smut.
  • Milly.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • This was everything I wanted from a vampire novel.
  • Angel didn’t know what being in love felt like.
  • The world building.

Dislikes:

  • Isaac.
  • The ending felt fast.
  • Loose strings about the Collins family and Daniel’s father.

I picked this book up on a whim. It was the necromancer aspect that called to me, more than the vampire one. I wasn’t disappointed.

I’m a huge fan of world building, and I generally like when authors take well-known creatures and put their own spin on them. The vampires in this book were typical, except that they couldn’t feed from anyone with magic. That was new, and it immediately hooked me. It was a simple tweak, but one that opened up a lot of new possibilities for the story.

Both Angel and Simeon were interesting characters. Angel’s past was revealed to the reader slowly, but that didn’t bother me. I liked that the men had known each other for years, because the foundation for their relationship was already laid when the book began. That let their feelings take center stage. I also liked that Angel had never been in love before, and he wasn’t sure what it felt like. For such a brave, powerful man, that was incredibly sweet.

The romance progressed at a nice pace, and there was some hot smut. Things between Angel and Simeon aren’t totally settled by the end of the book, but that’s fine because the next book is also about them. However, there were a few things that felt like they were being brushed under the rug instead of being tied up, like the Collins family and Daniel’s father. I hope it get addressed in future books, because they feel like loose threads.

The non-romantic plot was fantastic. Mystery and fighting and illegal magic. It was balanced really well with the romantic plot, melding into a seamless whole.

Milly deserves a mention as my favorite side character. She’s great and I already wish she had her own spinoff. Isaac felt like a childish asshole. As for the vampires at large, they were exactly what you’d expect from vampires – that combination of entitled elite and complete fucking asshole.

The final fight with the bad guy felt like it ended rather fast. It was satisfying, but I guess I’m used to long, drawn out fights.

I am eagerly looking forward to getting to the next book. I’m not entirely sure if the series is finished or not, but I’m glad I don’t have to wait to read more about Angel and Simeon.

Series Review: The Traitor Lords Saga

A low angst historical series that had its ups and downs.

Series rating: 3.5 out of 5

Books:

Likes:

  • Low angst series.
  • Not much focus on homosexuality being immoral or illegal.
  • Each book had a main character who wasn’t wealthy.
  • Great side characters.
  • The difference in how all of the traitor lord’s sons dealt with the scandal.
  • Cozy reads.
  • Some mystery and drama.
  • All the main characters were likeable.

Dislikes:

  • The slow burn was too slow.
  • None of the romances flowed like a typical romance.
  • All of the endings felt abrupt.
  • Would have benefited from epilogues.
  • The acceptance shown towards the relationships felt a little unrealistic.

This was a great series to read in the fall. There was just something about it that made me want to snuggle under some blankets as I read. I think part of that was the low angst nature of the stories. Despite homosexuality being illegal and considered immoral, there wasn’t much mention of that in any of the books, which I appreciated.

I don’t know much about history, but I get the feeling that the author took liberties with many of the side character’s acceptance of the male/male relationships. None of the romances could have come to fruition without the help and acceptance of their staff. I do think the willingness of the staff to look the other way was due in part to how well they were treated, but there were times when it felt a little idealistic.

All the main character were likeable men, and the couples were all a good fit for each other. I liked that all of the couples had one man who wasn’t wealthy. It showed a bit more about how life worked back then, as well as allowing the men to bring different experiences and knowledge to the relationships.

My main problem with the relationships was how they were structured. Because none of the men wanted to risk getting in trouble by blurting out their preferences, all the romances were slow burn. And honestly, they were all a little too slow for my tastes. I don’t think a single romantic thing happened in any of the books before the halfway mark. This made for a lot of pining, which isn’t bad, but does get old after a while. It also means that a lot of the little romantic and physical gestures were missing from the books.

I liked that all three of the traitor lord’s sons was affected differently by the scandal. It led to a lot of variety in their situations and in the books themselves. There was some mystery and light drama involved in all the books, giving the non-romantic plot interest. 

I would have liked to see the men meet or get together at some point, as I have come to expect that in series. This is especially true since all three endings felt a little abrupt, and I think the books could have benefitted from epilogues.

Overall, not a bad series, but not my favorite thing in the world. I’m glad I read the books, and I might pick up more of the author’s historical novels in the future. But I think I’ve had my fill for a while.