Review: An Evidence of Magic (Everlight #1) by Kris Michaels and Patricia A. Knight

Fantastic blend of romance, fantasy, and mystery. A great start to a series.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 210 pages. Published September 5th 2016 by Troll River Publications

Blurb:

Forty-year-old, hard bitten, foul-mouthed, homicide detective, Hiro Santos, suspects the owner of the art studio committed the gory killing. Too bad. There are other things he’d like to do to the gorgeous young man than book him for murder. Worse, his sexy suspect is certifiable. The nutcase claims he’s some kind of high wizard from an alternate reality and needs Hiro’s help to save their worlds.

While the striking Sable Campion appears a youthful twenty-five, he’s endured over two-hundred lonely years as guardian of the portal between Everlight and Elysium. None of those centuries offered him any experience finding a vicious killer. That’s where Hiro Santos comes in; but convincing the virile detective to trust Sable will take all his persuasive skills…and perhaps a bit of magic.

The magic they find in each other’s arms will rock each of their realities. 

Likes:

  • Person of color main character.
  • Hiro and Sable, together and separately.
  • Hooked me fast and kept my attention.
  • A great mashup of romance, fantasy, and mystery.
  • The character development both men went through.
  • Hot smut.

Dislikes:

  • Too many pronouns on occasion could make things confusing.
  • Was expecting last minute drama.
  • Occasional point of view changes out of nowhere.

My favorite genres are gay romance, fantasy, and mystery. This book had all three, and combined them seamlessly. I’m very impressed. There was a lot going on in this book, but it was balanced nicely. A romance that continued to change and grow up to the end, enough world building to flesh out Elysium, and a mystery that drove the story’s momentum.

I liked Hiro and Sable equally. They’re both smart, talented men. The lives they’ve lived are wildly different, but they fit together perfectly as both a romantic couple and partners trying to solve a crime. Watching their relationship was so much fun. They both undergo drastic changes throughout the book, thanks to one another. The character development was top notch.

I especially love that Hiro is a person of color with a complex ethnic background. Not only that, but his ethnicity plays a part in the story.  I wish there were more character like Hiro in gay romance.

This book hooked me fast. I don’t mind a gruesome murder scene here and there, especially when it sets up the mystery. The mystery was the main driving force behind the story’s momentum. Hiro and Sable are a couple by about the middle of the book, so the romantic drive decreases a bit. Other points of interest come in, which makes you want to hurry and find out all the details.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the smut. So hot, and a lot of it. Plus, the men are verse. The attraction between Hiro and Sable is off the charts, and doesn’t cool down even after they get together.

I was expecting last minute drama when it came time for the killer to be revealed. It was a little disappointing that there was no double cross or anything like that. But I liked the way everything ended. It sets up future books perfectly.

I think there are times when the pronoun ‘him’ was overused, and made things a little confusing. Similarly, there are some random point of view changes. But other than that, I don’t have any complaints about this book. I’m excited to get to the next one. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if Hiro and Sable were the main characters again, I liked them that much.

Find the review for the second book in the series, Incident of Magic, here.

Review: Watch with Glittering Eyes by K.S. Murphy

I feel bad for picking the story apart, but it didn’t work for me at all.

2 out of 5 stars

E-book. 80 pages. Published February 8th 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Travis Grayweaver is a witch with two significant problems.

First, he has a tendency to run toward trouble instead of away from it without the insurance of a Guild to back him. As a freelancing witch taking odd jobs wherever he can, this has landed him in some trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic.

Second, he’s madly in love with his best friend Niko, and is much too afraid to confess his feelings to him.

Niko, born between the corporeal and ethereal worlds, is a familiar — cat one minute, human the next — with a rare, pure source of magick sought after by people all over the world. When contracted, familiars will do whatever they have to in order to protect their human. Although Travis has no contract with Niko, they share an unshakable bond built on friendship, loyalty, and trust.

But their bond is put to the ultimate test when something dark and sinister threatens their community and their lives. If they don’t stop it in time, Travis might lose Niko — and the chance to ever tell him how he really feels — forever. 

Likes:

  • The blurb hooked me.
  • The basic story idea is interesting.
  • That Travis decided not to join a guild.
  • The side characters were all people of color.
  • Short.

Dislikes:

  • The blurb was deceiving.
  • Niko is basically the physical manifestation of a fetish.
  • No character development for either man.
  • Niko and Travis are already lovers.
  • No hook.
  • Slow plot.
  • Heavy exposition.
  • Unnecessary flashback.
  • How they dealt with the threat was cliché.
  • Travis’s excuse for not joining a guild was lame.
  • The lack of magic bond between Travis and Niko was left unresolved.
  • Use of the word ‘magick’
  • Confusion about where the story was taking place.

This book is an excellent example of an idea that failed to live up to its potential. The blurb was exciting and I was looking forward to a good read. I love stories where one friend has fallen in love with the other and is afraid that confessing will change everything between them. I knew that the story was short, only 80 pages, and expected the plot to take off like a rocket in order to fit everything in.

Instead, the story took off like a herd of turtles with bad knees. The beginning was slow, exposition heavy, and lacked a hook. I expected the trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic to be a central plot point, but no. The story starts with Travis bringing groceries home after getting done with the council meeting, since “he really hadn’t been worried” about the outcome.   

I would definitely say the blurb was misleading about the magic council aspect, and only included it to make the story sound more exciting. Thankfully, the other non-romantic aspects mentioned in the blurb were present. Travis is a freelance witch, and spends a good chunk of the story doing or preparing to do odd jobs.

My favorite thing about this book is the fact that Travis declined to join a guild. He mentioned that, since he was freelance, he could charge less for services, which made his magic accessible to an underrepresented population. I love that, and wish it was the main reason he didn’t join a guild. Unfortunately, his real reason was lackluster in the extreme and was literally summed up in a single sentence. It actually made me a little angry, because not being associated with a guild put Travis in a precarious position. Both he and Niko, the man he loves, would be safer in a guild.

Which brings me to the danger Niko is in. As a familiar, Niko’s brand of magic is highly valued. As long as he’s bonded to a witch, who he’d then protect with his life, he’s safe. So of course Travis never bonded with him, because he’s too embarrassed to ask. It’s a plotline I expected to develop during the story, but no. It’s not brought up again and they never magically bond.

But they do make love. That’s right, in a romance where the main problem is that Travis is “much too afraid to confess his feelings” he and Niko are already lovers. Travis simply hasn’t said the words. I almost dropped the story when I got to that point. Like, are you kidding me? Here I was expecting one-sided feelings that finally burst forth and make Travis and Niko go from friends to lovers. Instead, what I got was a confession that didn’t fundamentally change the nature of their relationship.

There are a lot of things I didn’t find satisfying about this book, but Niko is definitely the worst. Not because of his personality or abilities, but for what he represents. I like anime, so I’m familiar with cat girls, or nekomimi. They’re a popular character type, both for their looks – cat ears and tail – and for possessing the hot/cold personality seen in cats. They’re treated as pets, which means they have owners. And that, from what I can tell, is the appeal. They’re not an equal. The romantic/sexual relationship is more like that of a sugar daddy who provides everything in exchange for the cat girl’s eternal love and affection.

Niko felt exactly like a nekomimi. Physically, he was one, complete with ears, tail, and whiskers, but with a human-enough body to have sex. At first, Travis’s relationship with Niko was giving me bestiality vibes, but then I realized that nekomimi was the more apt comparison. And it’s not like it was possible to forget that Niko was part cat. Niko’s actions and behaviors were always cat like, from the way he slept to his dislike of water. Travis constantly called Niko ‘kitten’, especially during sex.

            “Want me to make you feel good again, Niko? Like my good little kitty?”

            Niko meowed and nodded. “Please. Say it. Tell me I’m your good kitty.”

I try not to kink shame, and nekomimi are a popular fantasy. That’s fine. If this was an erotica story, Niko wouldn’t have bothered me. But this novella was presented as a romance. And Niko was nothing more than the physical embodiment of a fetish. His personality was ‘cat’ and he had no character development.

Honestly, there are a lot of other little things that bothered me about this story. I was confused about whether the story was taking place in a fantasy world or the real one. The flashback to how Niko and Travis met was unnecessary and slowed the story down. All the named side characters were people of color but the two main characters were white. The way they dealt with the threat at the end was cliché.

I do feel bad for picking this story apart, especially since it’s been published by a small queer press. But sometimes a book just doesn’t work for me and I have to give a bad review. I would be willing to give the author another shot in the future. The potential is there. It just didn’t come together well.

Review: Yuletide Treasure (Goddess-Blessed #3) By Eliot Grayson

My favorite book of the series.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 130 pages. Published November 8th 2019 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

There’s not enough Yuletide spirit in the world to fix this holiday disaster…

Eben Sypeman’s world is falling apart. It’s two days before Yule and his business partner is dead, leaving behind empty accounts and looming bankruptcy. And if that isn’t bad enough, his patron goddess is irritated with him. It seems she’s tired of his tendency to mince words and avoid conflict. She’s insisting—quite forcefully—that he start being totally honest with everyone, including himself. Divinely enforced honesty couldn’t have come at a less opportune time, especially when his clerk’s tall, dark and distractingly handsome son enters the picture.

The last thing on Tim Pratchett’s mind is romance. All the former soldier wants is to fill in for his sick father at work and recover from his war wounds in peace. But there’s something about the grumpy Eben that confounds and entices him in equal measure. Their timing couldn’t be worse. They’re complete opposites. And yet…none of that matters when he’s with Eben.

But if Eben and Tim have any hope of finding their very own happily ever after, they’ll have to survive a dickens of a truth curse and the machinations of a trickster goddess—all while searching for enough yuletide treasure to save them all.

A joyous, relaxing Yule indeed. Bah, humbug.

This is an M/M romance with explicit scenes, a voyeuristic pagan goddess, and an odious nephew. Despite any other possible similarities to A Christmas Carol, there are neither ghosts nor geese, but readers can expect a happy ending and at least one use of the word “dickens.” 

Likes:

  • My favorite book of the series.
  • A new goddess.
  • Yule instead of Christmas.
  • Hot smut.
  • Eben and Tim, separately and together.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • The epilogue.
  • Quick, easy read.

Dislikes:

  • Frank.
  • How Eben treated Bob Pratchett in the beginning.

This is hands down my favorite book of the series. Whereas the first two books have a lot of emotional angst surrounding the romance, this one didn’t have much. Instead, Eben’s worry and anxiety was directed towards the threat of bankruptcy, which provided a very entertaining side plot to the romance.

Also in contrast to the two previous books, I liked both main characters equally. Eben starts out worn down by life, which is incredibly relatable. It’s easier for him to give in than cause a fuss, which I also relate to. Tim struggles a lot – with his limp, with taking the family’s troubles on his shoulders, and with being seen as a complete person.

The change both men go through during the book is heartwarming. I genuinely feel like they’re better together than they were separately, and I don’t just mean romantically. Eben sees Tim as a man, not just a cripple. Tim sees that Eben needs someone to lean on when he can’t be strong anymore.

The epilogue shows just how much they’ve both changed. I don’t mind that Althyone, the goddess who marked Eben, is responsible for putting everything in motion. She was right – it was entertaining. And Eben and Tim would never have gotten together without her intervention. Plus, I was happy to see another goddess mentioned.

Grayson’s books always have good smut, and this one is no exception. What was unusual is that I don’t think there was any penetration. Which I actually really like. Sex isn’t all about penetration. Tim and Eben’s feelings were conveyed just fine without it.

I have few complaints about the book. Frank is odious, but he’s meant to be. Eben’s treatment of him in the epilogue made me laugh. I also enjoyed Eben’s treatment of Bob Pratchett in the epilogue, but for the opposite reason. Eben was more than a little classist about Bob in the beginning of the book, and I was glad to see Eben treating Bob with more respect in the end.

Like the other books in the series, this was a quick, easy read. I almost didn’t catch the fact that they were celebrating Yule instead of Christmas. It makes sense, of course – the book is centered around pagan goddesses. I would love if the series continued, perhaps introducing more goddesses and expanding the world building.

Find the reviews for the first two books in the series, The Replacement Husband and The Reluctant Husband.

Review: The Reluctant Husband (Goddess-Blessed #2) by Eliot Grayson

I am so impressed at how Tom was redeemed. Best part of the book.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 168 pages. Published June 7th 2019 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Is their marriage a blessing…or a curse?

Tom Drake wants nothing to do with his patron goddess. Her blessing has always been little more than a cruel curse. But when he finds himself disowned, disgraced, and on the verge of homelessness, he knows he can no longer afford to ignore her demands. He must marry. Sadly, his one marriage prospect is a pragmatic, stubborn man who only seems to value him for his blessing…and his body…

Mal Leighton will stop at nothing to save his beloved cousin’s life, even if it means marrying Tom—and using him for his blessing—to do it. Theirs would be a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience. Love was never part of the equation. He’ll just have to somehow learn to ignore his overwhelming attraction to his dangerously charming and seductive new husband.

As weeks pass, Tom and Mal find there’s often a fine line between love and desperation, passion and pride—and what exists between them is infinitely more complicated than their simple marriage of convenience was ever meant to be. Can they set aside their painful pasts and misconceptions to take a chance on the love match they never expected to find?

This is an M/M romance set in an alternate-universe Regency. It contains the ideal number of carriages, duels, and redeemed villains, but beware of pagan goddesses who like to micromanage. It is the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. Tom’s previous dastardly deeds can be found in The Replacement Husband. 

Likes:

  • Quick, easy read.
  • Tom was redeemed.
  • Questions from the last book answered.
  • Hot smut.
  • Heartwarming epilogue.
  • Action and excitement at the end.
  • A good end for the Drake brothers.

Dislikes:

  • Mal knew he was acting badly and didn’t change.
  • The story behind the goddess blessing gives me serious pause.
  • The beginning was a little confusing.
  • Both men trying so hard to guard their hearts.
  • Mal wasn’t as fleshed out as Tom.

I was a little worried when I realized this book was about Tom. He was definitely the villain of the last book, and I didn’t think I’d warm up to him. To my surprise and delight, he proved to be very sympathetic. While I still think he was an absolute ass to both Owen and Caroline, knowing what was going on in Tom’s head redeemed him.

The book began on a bit of a confusing note. Marcus and Malcolm Leighton were introduced – one a bully, the other Tom’s former crush. I had to double back and check which was which, one of the reasons I don’t like it when characters have similar names. Heavy reference was given to their time in school together, which was never brought up again.

My confusion didn’t last long. This book relies heavily on the reader remembering what happened in the last book, not a problem for me since I’d just finished reading it. The pace is very quick, with everything happening in rapid-fire succession, so that Tom quickly finds himself remarried.

I liked Tom better than Mal, mostly because Tom felt better fleshed out. More of Tom’s backstory gets told, whereas Mal is so focused on Will that we don’t find out much more about him. The fact that he knows he’d not treating Tom well and doesn’t immediately change his behavior made me a little mad. But there was, eventually, genuine affection between them, and it was fun watching their feelings change and grow. The last few chapters were exciting, and the epilogue was heartwarming and wrapped up this book and the previous one well.

Mal and Tom’s relationship definitely took a while to get going. I got annoyed at the end at how hard Mal was trying to guard his heart. Similar to the last book, the main barrier to a happy ending was the lack of open and honest communication. Though, to be fair, I understood why neither wanted to admit they were in love. At least the smut was hot.

I was pleased to get more information on the goddesses, especially Mirreith’s story. It explained a lot, but it made me wonder if the men who were blessed by her were forced into becoming something they didn’t want to be and wouldn’t have chosen for themselves. Tom had a natural inclination towards men, but was he naturally submissive? Owen definitely was, but I’m not sure about Tom. And don’t even get me started on the way Tom’s father made him feel about being blessed.

Overall, this book was a quick, easy read, same as the last one. Hands down the best part is Tom’s redemption. I am so impressed. I’m looking forward to the next book, and wouldn’t mind if the series continued.

Find the reviews for the other books in the series, The Replacement Husband, and Yuletide Treasure.

Review: The Replacement Husband (Goddess-Blessed #1) by Eliot Grayson

A quick read with hot smut and an interesting premise.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 160 pages. Published December 28th 2018 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Owen Honeyfield lives a goddess-blessed life. His picture-perfect courtship and engagement to the man of his dreams is proof of that. But when his betrothal takes a disastrous turn, Owen’s only hope to restore his tarnished reputation comes from a most shocking source—the cold, disturbingly sensual brother of the man who just shattered his heart and abandoned him. Perhaps he’s not as blessed as he’d always thought…

Arthur Drake is accustomed to cleaning up after his impulsive and selfish brother. After all, he’s done it his whole life. The latest debacle, though, is much worse than usual. This time, his brother’s actions have threatened not only their family name, but Arthur’s own happiness. The only honorable choice is to marry Owen. But while he knows he can repair the damage to his beautiful new husband’s reputation, mending his broken heart might prove infinitely more difficult.

It’s not long before the lines between duty and passion blur, and Arthur finds himself in the inconvenient position of falling for his new husband. Will his love be enough to convince Owen to let their marriage of convenience become the happily ever after they both deserve?

This is an M/M romance set in an alternate-universe Regency with waistcoats, awkward tea-drinking, and pagan goddesses on the loose. It is the first in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. 

Likes:

  • Hooked me and kept me interested.
  • Unique premise.
  • Hot smut.
  • Short, quick read.
  • Arthur and Owen, together and separately.

Dislikes:

  • The goddess blessings weren’t explained.
  • Some lingering questions.
  • Owen’s constant doubts.
  • Abrupt ending.
  • Wish Arthur and Owen had spent more time together.

I picked up this book after reading The Alpha’s Warlock. I liked Grayson’s writing and was eager to read more from him. Happily, I really enjoyed The Replacement Husband. It was a quick, easy read that hooked me from the very start and kept me interested.

The premise of the story was interesting, what with the goddess blessings, but it could have used a lot more explanation. Owen was obviously treated differently from other young men, and I wish I knew how much of his personality was him and how much of it was how he was raised.

Still, it was easy to like Owen. He was young and a bit sheltered, but his feelings about the way people treated him like he wasn’t fully a man made him sympathetic. I was a bit worried at first, especially with the way Tom treated him, that the book would be filled with many of the things I don’t like about hetero historical romances – i.e. with Owen treated like he’s a delicate, swooning prize to be won. And while Owen was a bit of a damsel in distress at the beginning, he did change over the course of the book. Do I wish he’d changed a bit more and punched Tom at the end? Yes. But that doesn’t feel realistic for his character.

Arthur was my favorite character by far. Older, brooding, but with a desire to care for and love Owen. I loved that he honestly tried to respect Owen in many ways, from not making him go through a purity ritual before their marriage to writing up a marriage contract that left everything to Owen in the case of his death.

Of course, there was a lot of miscommunication between the two men. Honestly, that was where the majority of the tension in the book came from. It got a little annoying at times, especially when it came to Owen’s doubts.

The only thing that worked for them right from the start was the smut, which was incredibly hot. I do wish Owen’s submissive tendencies had been explored a little more. I also wish the men had spent more time outside of the bedroom getting to know each other better. Their relationship felt like it was finally on safe, solid footing when the book ended. Simply put, I wanted more of their relationship.

I do have some lingering questions, especially about Tom. Was he no longer in Arthur and Owen’s lives? I liked the epilogue about Caroline, but wish that Arthur and Owen had been the focus.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I finished it in a single setting, and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Find the reviews for the second two books in the series, The Reluctant Husband and Yuletide Treasure.

Review: The Alpha’s Warlock (Mismatched Mates #1) by Eliot Grayson

A fast paced read with a snarky as hell main character.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 172 pages. Published March 20th 2020 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Cursed, mated, and in for the fight of their lives…

Warlock Nate Hawthorne just wants a cup of coffee. Is that too much to ask? Apparently. Because instead of precious caffeine, all he gets is cursed by a pack of werewolves who want to use him for his magic. Now the only way to fix the damage is a mate bond to a grumpy and oh-so-sexy alpha in the rival pack, who happens to hate him. This is so not how he wanted to start his day.

Ian Armitage never intended to take Nate as his mate. The Hawthorne family can’t be trusted. Ian knows that better than anyone. The fact that he’s lusted after the way-too-gorgeous man for years? Totally irrelevant. Ian’s just doing what is necessary to protect his pack. This whole mating arrangement has nothing to do with love and never will. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.

Nate and Ian will have to work together if they have any hope of staving off the pack’s enemies and averting disaster. That’s assuming they can stop arguing (and keep their hands off each other) long enough to save the day…

The Alpha’s Warlock is an explicit M/M paranormal romance featuring a snarky warlock, a brooding alpha werewolf, knotting, enchanted socks (long story), and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Likes:

  • Snark and sarcasm in spades.
  • Nate and Ian.
  • Charlie and Doran.
  • Quick, easy read.
  • Just the right amount of angst.
  • Hooked me and kept me interested.
  • The plot.
  • Hot smut.
  • The action and fight scenes.

Dislikes:

  • Not much about the Armitage pack.
  • Not much world building.
  • Nate and Ian’s relationship changed in a heartbeat.
  • Ending was abrupt and left me with a lot of questions.
  • The blurb for the next book has me uncertain.

Nate is the type of guy I love to read about – sarcastic, sassy, and lacking a brain/mouth filter. His first person point of view made the story come alive.

I put this book on my e-reader about a week before I got around to it, and didn’t bother rereading the blurb before diving in. That changed my reading experience a bit, because I was surprised when Nate and Ian ended up mated. They didn’t get along at all at the beginning. Or at least that’s what Nate thought. It caused more than a little angst on Nate’s part, because he genuinely thought Ian hated him.

But that’s one of the great things about romances – they always have a happy ending. There’s safety in the knowledge that, no matter how rocky a relationship starts off, it’ll always end well. Nate didn’t believe he’d get a happy ending, but there were enough hints about Ian’s true feelings that the reader was able to see what Nate couldn’t.

The interactions between Nate and Ian were a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much. It took them a long time to get to a place where they could be open and honest with each other, and once they did their relationship turned a corner. It was a fast turnaround, but it worked. Not to mention, the smut was hot.

This book was a fun, fast read that hooked me right from the start. The pace never slowed down – there was always something going on, always something pushing the story forward, and I stayed up much later than I should have to finish reading. The action and fight scenes were well written, and Charlie and Doran were so much fun. I hope they get a book of their own.

There weren’t many side characters, which was strange for a book mostly set on wolf pack territory. Especially since Ian was the pack second. The Armitage pack was basically nonexistent except for the leader, Matthew. There wasn’t much world building in general, and while I didn’t have too many questions while reading the book – a product of the fast paced plot – I’m aware of it looking back.

I was a little surprised at the abrupt ending, because a lot of things weren’t resolved, but I guess that’s what the next book is for. Unfortunately, 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.

Review: Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1) by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes

This was a quick, easy read with low angst and a happy ending.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 113 pages. Published March 12th 2020

Blurb:

A starving incubus.

A bear alone.

Jasper Jones is Lyric’s most pitiful incubus. He can’t feed and doesn’t want to if it means hurting people. When a witch gives him a chance at breaking the cycle of hunger, he rushes half cocked into the woods in search of a cure.

Caleb moved into Poisonwood Forest to escape the crowded city of Lyric, but it’s lonely by himself. He doesn’t expect to find his mate when he trips over an unconscious young man in the middle of the woods, but there he is, perfect—except for a peculiar fondness for processed cookies.

Their only problem is that Jasper’s sick, and when he doesn’t get better, his one shot at survival is in the hands of a bear shifter who’ll do anything to save him. 

Likes:

  • Hooked me right from the start.
  • Interesting premise.
  • Jasper’s feelings were understandable.
  • Good smut.
  • Quick, easy read.
  • Low angst.
  • A feel good ending.

Dislikes:

  • Caleb felt a little underdeveloped.
  • Not much world building.
  • Not much info given on incubi.
  • Felt like the men had to be spoon fed the romance.

This was a fun novella. The blurb caught my attention and Jasper’s feelings towards feeding off people hooked me right away. It felt very modern and self-aware for Jasper to be worried about his food. More people are paying attention to where their food comes from and how it’s produced. So if humans can worry about their food, why can’t an incubus?

Does Jasper take it to the extreme? Yes. Do I think he could have done research on how to be an ethical incubus? Maybe. I don’t really know. There’s not a ton of world building. Which is one of the downsides of a novella. There’s isn’t room to expand on things that could have cleared up some of my questions. And I do have questions.

Jasper feels like he has no choice but to be the kind of incubus his father and siblings are. It made me wonder why he didn’t simply do some research to see if an incubus can have a normal relationship. It’s clearly stated that the supernatural community exists.

I have questions about Caleb too.  He felt a little underdeveloped as a character. I don’t feel like I know much about him, even simple things like whether or not he has a job or how he has a cabin in a public forest. Still, I liked him. He was a good match for Jasper, and they made a cute couple. The smut was hot and I enjoyed watching their relationship deepen.

My biggest complaint is that the men needed to be spoon fed the romance. If it wasn’t for multiple sisterly interventions, the relationship wouldn’t have survived. Poppy almost felt like a puppet mater controlling things from the shadows. And while it was ultimately Jasper and Caleb who decided to become a couple, I would have liked them to have a bit more autonomy.

Overall, this was a quick, easy read with low angst and a happy ending. It piqued my interest in the authors, and I’ll definitely take a look at some of their other books and series, of which there are several.

Check out some of my rave reviews for Sam Burns’s Rowan Harbor 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), 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)

Review: Seeker’s Portrait (Elements of Dragonis #2) by Hannah Walker

DNF 63%.I lost confidence that the author had thought through the story. It’s a shame because the base idea was good.

2 out of 5 stars

DNF 63%

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 481 pages. Published December 15th 2016

Blurb:

Prince Elijan has spent his life protected by castle walls, prevented from fully experiencing the world outside. He longs to see the empire he will one day rule, but his only view is from the safety of the windows in his suite. He yearns to find out what life has to offer. When he’s given the chance to work with the dragons, and a desire to learn their language flares to life, he is finally granted some freedom.

Aldren’s life has always been about the dragons. As a Rider, he is dedicated to the protection of the kingdom. He’s always been willing to step up when he is called upon, but his latest orders come directly from the king, and for once, Aldren isn’t sure he the right man for the job.

Protecting the king’s only son is not something to be taken lightly, and when Aldren meets Elijan, the instant attraction he has for the man complicates matters even more. Still, he’s never refused a job before and he isn’t about to start now.

Working and living side by side brings Elijan and Aldren together, forcing them both to admit to the emotions stirring inside them. It only takes one kiss and no matter the risk, the two of them refuse to ignore the chemistry between them.

When danger comes calling, and Elijan experiences strange visions that manifest in his drawings, Aldren worries. How does he protect the prince from an enemy he can’t see?

With friends, both man and dragon, by their side, the two must learn who seeks them out and what the information they’ve gained from Elijan’s drawings might mean, but at the same time, they must protect the dragons. Evil lurks around them, but so does salvation. Drawn into a dangerous destiny, Aldren and Elijan find that love and friendship really can conquer all.

Likes:

  • The relationship between Andren and Elijan.
  • The dragons.
  • The seeker plot.

Dislikes:

  • Insta-love.
  • Both Aldren and Elijan feel two dimensional.
  • Didn’t hook me.
  • No forward momentum.
  • Aldren’s resolve only lasted two days.
  • Too many pronouns.
  • Elijan doesn’t act like a prince.
  • Huge chunks of dialogue.
  • No drama, tension, or suspense with the romance.
  • Both Elijan and Aldren are *perfect*
  • The ‘seeker’ part of the plot started way too late.
  • Scenes with Frode came to feel like filler.
  • Elijan’s romance issues became just as annoying as Con’s in the previous book.
  • So many open, honest emotions in every conversation.
  • The alternating POV isn’t always followed.
  • All romantic tension wrapped up early.
  • Guards don’t have magic.

DNF 63%

This book didn’t hook me. I would read half a chapter, then put it down. If I’m invested in a book, I don’t want to stop reading. But I thought that, since the characters, plot, and romance were all fine, I’d be able to finish the book eventually.

And I tried. Even as I came across more things that turned me off, I kept going. Because I wanted to know how things turned out, not just with the romance but with questions left over from the previous book, like ‘Who sent Rillian the spell book and why?’

In the end, the number of things I disliked about the book were too many. It ended up feeling like each chapter had something new that didn’t make sense. I don’t know anything about what the author was thinking when she wrote this book, but it felt like she didn’t stop to ask herself, ‘Does this make sense in a larger context?’

Despite that, there were some things I liked about this book. First, Elijan is a virgin who’s never been kissed, and Aldren takes things slow. Everything they did together was designed to make it good for Elijan.  Second, the dragons. Grith was my favorite this time around, but Frode was super cute too. Third, the non-romantic plot about who sent the spell book and the whole ‘seeker’ thing was interesting.

As for my dislikes, it started with the way the book is structured. The first 34% is all about two things – Elijan and Aldren’s romance and Elijan hanging out with the dragons. Compared to the previous book that had action and mystery right from the start, the beginning of this book had no hook.

The reason why it took so long for the seeker part of the book to begin was because Rill and Con were away on their honeymoon. Nothing with the nonromantic plot advanced until they returned. Looking back on the first third of the book, a lot of it felt like filler. Especially the stuff with Frode. It was like ‘Look! A baby dragon! Focus on how cute he is and ignore the immobile plot.’

Then there was the insta-love. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but Aldren’s resolve not to get romantically involved with Elijan only lasted two days. Which meant that there was almost no tension, drama, or suspense. Once the romance began, it developed incredibly quickly, so that by the 48% mark, the only thing they had left to do was tell the king and queen.

The fact that Elijan and Aldren felt two dimensional didn’t help me get invested in their romance. Aldren is a strong, brave, loyal, dedicated dragon Rider. If he has family, hobbies, or plans for the future, we don’t get to see that. Though to be fair, we didn’t see that for Rill and Con in the previous book, which just goes to show that it’s easier to ignore some things when you’re hooked on the story.

But it’s Elijan’s character that really bothered me. Elijan is sweet, innocent, good natured, friendly, open, and wears his heart on his sleeve. Oh, and he’s also the crown prince. And if it seems weird for a crown prince to be completely guileless, you’re right. It is weird. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Elijan never once acted like a prince. Hell, his every emotion was visible on his face. It felt as though the author didn’t stop to wonder if this was the way a prince would act.

That aside, my biggest problem with Elijan was how *perfect* he was. Everyone loved him. He fit in with the stable lads without even trying. Aldren fell for him right away. The dragons loved him.

He’s Frode’s Eithreadal. The dragons claimed him. He’s Aldren’s bond mate. He’s the seeker. He’s a mage with great powers. He’s the crown prince.

Elijan literally has no flaws. And you can’t root for someone who has no flaws, because they don’t struggle with anything. The only things Elijan struggles with are A.) getting people to treat him like an adult and B.) believing Aldren’s heartfelt confessions of love.

Which brings me to the dialogue, which can accurately be summed up as the ‘Why use one sentence when you could use five’ approach. The book could use some serious editing, both for length and content. Because it wasn’t just the long chunks of dialogue, it’s what was said. Everyone spoke openly and from the heart all the time. Not only was it unnatural, it significantly lowered the impact of what was being said. Add in the overuse of pronouns – “The fact he gave up all control to him, allowed him to do what he wanted, was an exquisite form of trust and one he received reverently.” – and the writing could be a little hard to read sometimes.   

The final straw that made me lose all confidence in the author was the whole ‘guards can’t protect Elijan from magic’ argument. Which is crazy. You’re trying to tell me that in a world with magic and mages, that not a single palace guard is capable of doing magic? This smacks of not thinking thing through. Of not asking ‘Does this make sense in a larger context?’

I have to admit, I’m incredibly disappointed with this book. It has all the ingredients of a great story, it just didn’t come out well. But if there’s one thing I’m grateful for, it’s that now I don’t have to read the next book in the series, which is a whopping 676 pages long.

You can find the review for the first book in the series, Booker’s Song, which I enjoyed, here.

Review: Booker’s Song (Elements of Dragonis #1) by Hannah Walker

A good introduction to the series.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 248 pages. Published July 29th 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Blurb:

Rillian Mascini is one of the most knowledgeable mages in the world. Spending his days and sometimes nights with his nose in a book has taught him magic and histories that few care to remember. He has a passion for dragons that pulls him to learn all he can about them, including their language. He is one of the last people left alive who can speak to the magnificent beasts.

Conwyn D’Aver is squad leader of the Dragon Riders. He will do whatever it takes to protect the dragons and people he has given his oath to serve. Nothing is more important, and when Neela, his personal dragon, is attacked, Conwyn is out for blood. He vows to find the threat and defeat it.

When an old spell book is found that gives a person the power to control all dragons, Conwyn will do anything he can to keep it from getting into the wrong hands, even if that means teaming up with the bookish Rillian to find a way to overcome the evil enemies who seek to gain the power.

Together with the dragons, the two men must find a way to protect everything they both love, but while doing so, they risk losing their own hearts to each other. As their enemies seek to destroy them, they learn that sometimes it takes love and trust to defeat the things we fear the most. 

Likes:

  • Dragons, magic, and the high fantasy setting.
  • Plot hooked me and kept me interested.
  • The smut.
  • Rill.
  • A quick, easy read.
  • Good introduction to the series.

Dislikes:

  • There was no world building outside of the dragons.
  • The way Rill and Con were written was a little too similar.
  • Con’s lack of personal insight was ridiculous.
  • The nicknames.

This book is a good introduction to a series. The way Rill comes into the dragon’s lives and needs to learn more about them also lets the reader discover how cool the dragons are. Rill is also in a perfect position to show off the dragon’s personalities, and I think the dragons are some of the best characters.

The story hooked me right from the start and kept my attention the whole way through. New things were constantly happening, adding dashes of drama, political intrigue, battles, and mystery to the story. Overall, the book was a fun, quick read.

While I do think that the plot had a good mix of high fantasy and magic, and that all the pertinent information about the dragons was present, I wish there was more world building. I feel like the dragons were in a bubble of their own, without much outside context. I’m the kind of reader who likes to be immersed in a world, and I know almost nothing about the Calias Empire.

Rill was definitely my favorite character. With his love of books, it was easy to relate to him. Con wasn’t a bad character, but his denseness when it came to his feelings made me incredibly frustrated by the end. Especially because it was a little unbelievable. He’s not stupid, but his lack of personal insight was beyond belief.

That being said, the romance progressed nicely. The smut was good and the ending was sweet. It did feel like the way Rill and Con’s inner thoughts were written was a little too similar. Because neither of them talked to anyone else about the relationship, they had to have literal mental conversations with themselves about why getting together was a bad idea. It’s the only dull spot in what was otherwise a good romance.

My final nitpick is with the nicknames of Rill and Con. Both men have slightly longer names, and I wish they’d used them. It would have given the book an added high fantasy feel. After all, unusual names are part of the experience.

I’m excited to get to the next book in the series and hope it’s as good as this one.

You can find the second book in the series, Seeker’s Portrait, here.