Tag: magic

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: 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.

Review: Familiar Beginnings (Demon Magic #2) by Alice Winters

A great followup to another 5 star book!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 214 pages. Published March 26th 2020

Blurb:

Smart men quit while they’re ahead—they lay low and hope disaster blows on by them. Not me. Especially when disaster seems to follow me and my soulmate Havoc, a demon I bound to me three hundred years ago with my magic.

The dark mage Geoff is back from the dead and creating chaos by devouring the hearts of people with magical abilities, giving him overwhelming power as his followers grow. And since I’m one of the strongest mages alive and am leading the resistance against him, he’s coming for me next. Oh, and it might have something to do with the fact that I was also the one who originally killed him. But you can’t blame me; the guy needed to die.

Havoc and I, along with our unlikely band of… (I don’t want to say heroes, I can’t give them that much credit) annoyances will stop at nothing to end the destruction. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a sexy demon by my side every step of the way. For the first time in three hundred years, I’m finally with the person meant for me, and I will do anything to keep from losing him.

Familiar Beginnings is a 63k word sequel to Happy Endings. It contains a powerful mage who just wants to be left in peace, a mysterious curly-haired troublemaker, gargoyles that are literally dumber than stone, a river trip that doesn’t feel at all like a vacation, and a “cat” with some unusual features and deadly claws. 

Likes:

  • Hooked me fast.
  • Instantly funny.
  • Still loved the snark and banter.
  • Menace.
  • Flashbacks that are well done and add to the story.
  • How Miles is haunted by his past.
  • The story speeds along at a fast pace.

Dislikes:

  • I never really worried about Miles being in danger.
  • Relatively little planning before each fight.

Another winner from Alice Winters! Of course, I’m not surprised. Having loved Miles and Havoc in the first book, I knew I’d like this one too. What I didn’t expect was how much better Miles and Havoc’s relationship got in this book.

In book one, Happy Endings, Miles and Havoc finally got romantically involved after knowing each other for centuries. The romance was new then, and came with all the typical ‘new romance’ feels. In this book, they’re an established couple, and have realized just how much they mean to each other. It was fantastic character development and made their relationship truly heartwarming.

Of course, there’s still snark and banter. The book starts off with them having been captured, and how they deal with the situation is both funny and a great reminder of why I liked them in the first place.

I was instantly hooked, since this book is all about defeating the Big Bad from book one, Geoff. All of Miles’s friends get together again, with a few notable new faces. Menace the cat is my favorite, but I did like Etienne and Leo.

One of the things I was a little disappointed about was the relatively short amount of time Miles and his friends spent preparing to fight against Geoff. I think this comes from the many high fantasy books I’ve read over the years, where a good chunk of the story is about people having adventures in order to find rare and hidden weapons. I’m glad that didn’t happen here. It would have ruined the pace of the book, which moves along at a nice, fast clip. I didn’t make an actual note of how many days pass in the story, but I don’t think it’s more than three or four.

I was a little worried that this book would get dark, since Miles and Havoc both have traumatic pasts. And some of that shared past was shown through well-executed flashbacks. But things never delved into truly dark territory, for which I’m glad. It was acknowledged, especially when Miles was struggling with the weight of guilt from knowing that his power was used to kill people. It added a lot to the story, rounding out Miles and Havoc as well as showing how much of a monster Geoff was.

I was never in doubt that there would be a happy ending. That was both a good thing and a bad one. Good because the characters deserved a happy ending. Bad because I was never really worried about Miles. Even when he got hurt, I knew things would turn out fine. It did lessen the tension a bit. That being said, none of the characters came out completely unscathed, and I did worry about some of the side characters a time or two.

I would be very happy with more books set in this universe. Of course, I’d take more stories about Havoc and Miles, but the book ended in a way that felt like their story was complete. I’d happily read stories about Etienne and Leo, Sam and Iya, or anyone else. As long as there’s snark, I’m all in.

Review: Happy Endings (Demon Magic #1) by Alice Winters

A fantastic book with tons of snark.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 2nd edition. 256 pages. Published December 12th 2019 (first published December 12th 2017)

Blurb:

Smart men never dabble with demons. I never claimed to be smart, but at least I’m powerful enough to control them. When I bound Havoc to me nearly three hundred years ago, I never realized how difficult he’d make my life, although “accidentally” lighting him on fire every now and then does bring a smile to my face.

Havoc is handsome, mysterious, and somehow my closest companion, even if we don’t always get along. He’s more interested in bedding attractive women than protecting my life, which defeats the main reason a mage like me would have a demon. I even had to fight off swordsmen alone once because he was too busy betting on who’d survive.

When fifteen people are found dead with messages from a long-extinct cult, Havoc and I are forced to face our past and sort through our differences. We start to realize that there’s something more to this relationship, something that has kept us by each other’s sides for so long. Maybe it took three hundred years to finally understand my feelings for Havoc and realize that I can’t imagine being with anyone but him. Havoc and I will do everything we can to stop the evil that is threatening the lives of the people I care about. Or destroy everything—we haven’t quite figured that out yet.

Happy Endings is a 73k word novel that has an immensely powerful mage, a shapeshifting demon with a strong libido, a dark mage that just won’t stay dead, a spray bottle put to unusual uses, armor that is most definitely not made of dragon skin, blackmail involving an unfortunate slow-mo video, a detective being pursued by a determined minotaur, unprofessional use of illusions, and an epic walk into battle.

*Revised and edited. 

Likes:

  • Havoc and Miles, together and separately.
  • The magic and world building.
  • The side characters.
  • The humor.
  • Hooked me fast.
  • Looking forward to the next book.
  • Good romantic and non-romantic plot balance.

Dislikes:

  • Worried the story will get dark in the next book.
  • Havoc’s womanizing.

I’d had this book downloaded from Kindle Unlimited for a while, but didn’t get to it until after I read A Villain for Christmas, also by Alice Winters, and absolutely loved it. So I knew I had to read this series next. And I have no regrets.

I love Winters’ writing style. It’s full of humor and snark that are actually funny. Or maybe I just relate to grumpy, sarcastic introverts. Either way, this book was a joy to read and I finished it in a flash. (Though not in one sitting like A Villain for Christmas)

I was a little worried that Havoc’s womanizing would add a lot of angst to the story. I expected that Miles would have a thing for Havoc (he did), but Miles was used to Havoc sleeping with every beautiful woman around. Which made it all the more impactful that Havoc stopped chasing women when Miles got hurt.

The way Miles and Havoc transitioned to lovers was both believable and felt natural. They still bickered and bantered with each other, but there was so much affection. They’d always had some respect, but the way they ended up, the feelings that developed, was quite a transition. And the gift Miles gave to Havoc at the end? So much love in such a little thing.

The balance between the romantic and non-romantic plots was well done. Both were fully fleshed out and given enough time and page space. The non-romantic plot was interesting, and I love the world the story was set in. It was unique and populated by a whole bunch of interesting characters.

I love a book with good side characters, and this book had a lot of great people in it. The forest spirit, Badrick, was probably my favorite. I hope he and the others are in the next book as well.

I am so used to mm romance series where every book focuses on a different couple, that it surprises me when a series is focused on the same people. Miles’s story is far from over, even though the book does have a nice ending. But it’s only the beginning. I’m actually a little worried that the next book will get dark. There were hints of dark in this book, especially when Miles and Havoc referenced their pasts. But for some reason, it feel like the next book could be full of pain and angst, which I don’t want. For all the death and blood in this book, it was low angst and fun. I’m hoping that the next book will be the same.

Review: Fire and Ink (Kitten and Witch #2) by K.L. Noone

The best of the three.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. 49 pages. Published November 28th 2018 by Less Than Three Press, LLC

Blurb:

Three months ago David Stanton rescued a runaway kitten in the rain. Now he’s got a scandalous feline shapeshifter living in his house, helping with his white-witch business, and making him smile. David is falling in love fast, but there’s still the problem of Colin’s past—and the secrets he’s obviously keeping…

Likes:

  • Story is from David’s point of view.
  • We get to see the first time the men say ‘I love you’.
  • Heroics.
  • Sweet and cute.
  • Glad to see a continuation of David and Colin’s story.
  • Good flow.

Dislikes:

  • Still too short.
  • Lack of communication.
  • The tension made me wonder about the bigger picture.

I definitely liked this story best out of all three. Part of that is because it’s focused on an established couple, so there’s less time spent setting things up and more time spent on the relationship. I’m also just happy that David and Colin got a continuation. They deserved it.

Unlike the previous story, this one is from David’s point of view. I liked that. It was different from the last book, and it added to the minor tension. Considering that the people Colin has stayed with in the past have been rich and powerful, it was inevitable that David would worry if he was enough.

Unfortunately, David didn’t want to talk about his feelings directly with Colin because he was afraid. Which, while understandable, was a little cliché. And it took the shadow of a disaster for things to be cleared up. Also cliché, but more acceptable when used in such a short story.

I enjoyed David’s heroics, and the minor tension this story had. It made the sweet parts even sweeter by comparison. Especially seeing the two men finally admit that they love each other. It was a great way to close the chapter on David and Colin.

With this story, I have finally gotten used to the short format. For being only 49 pages, it packed a punch. I don’t think I’ll ever love such short stories, and I do still feel like this story and Port in a Storm could have been combined and expanded into a novella or novel, but I’m happy with how things turned out.