Ravensong by TJ Klune

Ravensong
by TJ Klune

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, General Fiction (Adult)

I loved Wolfsong, and was so pleased to finally get more from the Bennett pack. If you’ve not read and of TJ’s stories before just go with the way they are written, it may seem a bit confusing at times, but it gives a real sense of feeling, of understanding the characters, of how the pack feels as a collective and how individuals feel within it.
Gordo, what a traumatic childhood, and then just when he’s feeling secure it all upends again 😦 I understood why he wanted to stay out of the wolves issues, just run his garage, live his live. He wasn’t happy though, he was just coasting through life. And then – the Bennett pack returned and somehow he gets sucked into pack issues once more.
I loved the connection between Mark and Gordo, the feeling of push pull they had, that however far away Gordo tried to stay Mark was there inside him. It does take a seriously long time for the two to get themselves sorted, it really makes for a drawn out, slow burn romance, but its fabulous, really emotional.
I love the human pack characters here too, the witty banter that came just when things looked grim and somehow lightened the atmosphere. There are some very dark parts in this novel and that lightness was much needed. I sniggered along with them at times….
Its a progression from Wolfsong, not just a romance but a solid story about Pack, and the battles they have to overcome. They’re at the edge, now, facing a formidable opponent and I can’t wait for Heartsong to reveal more.

Stars: Five, another wonderful Pack novel, romance and adventure.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Night Is For Hunting Moonrise #2 by Jules Kelley

Night Is For Hunting
Moonrise #2
by Jules Kelley

 

https://amzn.to/3NbaSu3

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci-fi and fantasy

I really enjoyed the first book, and this was a good follow up but didn’t grip me quite as much. Its an easy read, good story line, and some interesting characters.
The romance between Leland and Haley is growing, they’re learning more about each other. I was hoping for a bit more romance between Diego and Val, as so much of this story centres on them but its developing. Slowly 😉
I do wonder in stories like this where there are clearly lots of supernatural characters but hidden in plain sight so to speak, how realistic that is in the modern world? It didn’t feel quite believable here, small groups without big money to hide behind means to me discovery inevitable. But that could just be me being picky…..
And damn, not exactly a cliffhanger ending – but a very striking story line for the next book!

Stars: Three and a half, I wasn’t quite as taken with this one as the first but its still a good read, easy to follow and interesting
.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Eastside Witch Hunt, A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel, T.J. Deschamps

Eastside Witch Hunt, A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel, T.J. Deschamps

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: general Fiction, Womens Fiction, Sci-fi and Fantasy

Womens Fiction – Sigh….just why. An outdated, sexist category.

Anyway, I didn’t realise this was book two, started reading and was completely lost. Luckily book one was on KU, so I read and enjoyed that, though with a few reservations. Then got onto book two with a clearer understanding.

The premise is fun, but in book one I felt there were too many different supernaturals, especially as they were mixed so some part werewolf, part witch etc. This book adds in even more of them, and it felt a bit like the blunderbuss effect, throw in everything and hope something sticks. Sometimes less is more and this book – IMO- would have benefited from a decent cull, keeping the Supes down to a basic few.

I wasn’t really sure where the story line was going – was it the Big Reveal? Was it the Fae heritage of the FMC, and the problems that brings? Was it her past with Satan, the Big Bad who she’s been hiding from, having made him think she was dead?
I jut felt there were so many plots overall, plus the new ones in this book, that combined with the myriad types of Supes it got a not muddled, and I lost interest. A shame, as from book one I felt this series has good potential for me.
I might try book three if its on KU, and see if things settle a bit, become clearer but I’m on the fence.

Stars: Three. I enjoyed book one but felt this was a bit of a muddled bag and lost direction.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

The Zauberin and the Dragon

The Zauberin and the Dragon

Genre: Romance, Sci-fi and Fantasy

well, an intriguing premise but it didn’t live up to potential for me. Some things that bothered me was the transition from cursed mosquitos back to cursed dragons. The transition between “ordinary” carrier and becoming an out of control killer wasn’t ever explained – or I missed it. I wanted to know what it was the tipped the balance, was it something they did, a choice they made or just something that happened without their control?
There were some silly spelling/grammar errors too that irritated, not enough to spoil story but enough to stand out.
Riley and Olivia are good as a couple, searingly attracted but I found it hard to believe that a) he broke her heart and b) he seriously expected one kiss and she’d just wait five years because he asked? Despite that I loved the pair of them as a couple, just would have liked events to have had a longer time span, to grow organically.
Riley’s family are weird, and the turnaround equally so – I found that hard to believe in.
The story line is quite dark at times, but it fitted the plot and was balanced out by other events, and some subtle humour. There some serious drama building up and a very satisfying ending.

Stars: Three, a mixed bag. Some parts I loved, others were harder to believe in.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Edge of the Woods, Moonrise Book 1, Jules Kelley

Edge of the Woods, Moonrise Book 1, Jules Kelley

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci-fi & Fantasy

I love this kind of fantasy, and was keen to read this book. A whole new series, love that idea. I did enjoy the story, do want to read more but felt there were things here that ( for me ) could have been better.

Haley – love her but…she’s Alpha but it takes til right at the end before she really seems to believe or act like it.
Leland, the new sheriff, was a great guy, loved the interaction and attraction between him and Hayley but….I do find stories where the supernatural is hidden a little hard to take. That’s personal on my side, of course, but it just seems so difficult to ensure a secret of that magnitude stays secret.
Diego, he’s a great kid, coped well with what happened and I do hope the tentative moves towards a romance follows through. Given who the other person is that would really tie supernatural ends together.
,
I’d like to see more of the Pack, we really only meet Hayley, Michelle. Jo and Diego and I would like to see more interaction with other members. I didn’t guess who was moving things, driving the murder story line and would have liked to see more motivations. There was some explanation but it wouldn’t have been the whole story. It felt a little out of character from the little we learned, I wanted to know the back story.

Of course first books in a series have a lot to ask, a good story line to keep the reader engrossed, while delivering a new world setting and group(s) of characters. That’s tough, and I think this novel delivers pretty well, my comments aside. I’m a reader, not an author – that’s something way beyond my skill set!
I’m looking forward to seeing where this story line goes next.

Stars: Three and a half, its a good start but I have a few things that didn’t sit well with me.

ARC supplied by Netgally and publishers

The Becoming, The Dragon Heart Legacy Book 2, Nora Roberts

The Becoming, The Dragon Heart Legacy Book 2, Nora Roberts

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

Book one was fun, introducing new people and new worlds. Now we’re on to the middle book and its consolidating all that and setting us the scene for the bog climax, the fight with the Big Bad, Odran.
I love the village life, the people and the whole settings, but I was really pleased we went to the Capital, the seat of where decisions are made. More new people to meet and of course Shana, Kegan’s former lover. She wasn’t best pleased at being thwarted, seeing him as her way to power. I love characters like that, where you know there’s going to be some underhanded schemes, some snarky comments and a person that isn’t letting go easily. Of course poor deluded Keegan thought they were both aware it wasn’t a relationship but a mutually satisfying hookup – some people are almost willfully blind when it comes to stuff like that!
The dragons – oh I loved them. Intelligent beings, and a useful form of transport in a world without technology.
There’s lots going on in this book, and it was one that didn’t grip me in a must-keep-reading style, but which I read over several days. That actually worked well, let me focus on the many things happening, the plots within plots, the magics, and of course the day to day stuff, Marco’s cooking and new relationship, Breen’s new-to-her family, her book, her and Keenan’s relationship – which was at times one step forward and two back. I liked that, liked there were issues on both sides, it made it feel so much more real. There’s such a lot packed into this book that reading in several parts let me fully absorb and understand the story better.

Stars: Four, an action packed story, cementing what we learned in book one and setting up for book three.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Six Crimson Cranes, Elizabeth Lim

Six Crimson Cranes, Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy, teens and YA.

Well, re-tellings are a bit hit and miss for me, some I’ve adored and others…well, lets just say I didn’t. This story though, based on the old Grimms fairy tale, pulled at me. I adored Grimms as a kid, any fairy stories but especially those, and I’d read them over and over.( Mum used to say “Jeannie, you’re too old for fairy tales.” I’d have been maybe 9 or 10….) I’m much, much older now – frankly, you’re Never too old for fairy tales 😉
I remember this one so well, the poor sister spinning and knitting sweaters out of nettles…

Elizabeth makes the sister a princess, and the brothers princes. Sets them in a beautiful Eastern setting, with woods that stretch for miles, huge snow covered mountains, harsh dusty roads. There’s a very pronounced master/servant divide that works so well for the story.
The closeness of Shiori and her brothers grows, she’s always been loyal to them, loves them, but they’ve grown apart over the years. Now though, forced into each others company, depending on each other to break the curse, they grow back as one unit.

I loved this book, loved the addition of dragons, loved the fantasy elements that were still true to the original story but changed to fit this new one. I enjoyed the way Eastern beliefs and myths were woven into an essentially European fairy tale. It all added to that overall roundness of the story, made it feel believable.
I really liked seeing the day to day life, the little things like Shiori struggling to work for the lady she tried to steal the boat from. There were some great characters, harsh ones, kind ones, and of course my favourite, the cruel but clever, wicked ones.
Shiori grew so much in this book, from a sweet but selfish princess, into a much more rounded and understanding character. I enjoyed the gentle romance that grew towards the end, loved the way poor Shiori and her brothers seemed to take one step forward and two back. Those setbacks all added to the story, pushed her and her brothers into devising even more ways to try to break the curse. Kiki though, Kiki really was the star for me. I loved her, and can’t wait to see where Elizabeth takes her and Shiori on the next adventure.
This story is complete but…there are seeds sown for a follow-up that I’d love to read.

Stars: Five, a fun read for all ages, not just teens and YA.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

How to Talk to a Goddess, (The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic 2), Emily Croy Barker

 

How to Talk to a Goddess, (The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic 2),
Emily Croy Barker 

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Sci-fi and fantasy

Its so long since I read book one that I decided to reread it. I remembered parts but discovered there was much I’d forgotten, and found that it was still as much fun as first time round.
Then I went straight on to read this and I think having refreshed my thoughts via first book made it easier to get into Nora’s mind, to follow why she chose certain actions. I was a bit sad for her parents who would once more get plunged into a mysterious disappearance, but really, how could she explain it? I think at least leaving them a note would have been kind, even if they don’t believe it.
I liked that Nora’s return was not seamlessly easy, and very believable. I wondered how after accidentally slipping into that world she’d be able to repeat it, and it was done in a way that felt natural.

I loved this book, the first is still my favourite by a small margin, but this has some great parts. I did like the things that happened, good and bad, to Nora and Aruendiel, the separation, the jealousies ( I love a good jealous issue!) I wasn’t so keen on the Goddess parts, and of course that’s a huge part of the story. It wasn’t that I disliked that part, I just felt Nora became someone else at times, and I wasn’t convinced she’d have acted in the way she did.
I’m glad the Faitoren were brought in and a resolution found, that tied up any lose parts from earlier and allowed the story to move forward.
I enjoyed meeting Aruendiel’s friends, and how they pulled together in dangerous times. The magic, I love that, loved the workings of the spells, loved the whole idea but then at heart I can’t help wishing there was magic in the world…..
Its a fun read, a worthy follow up and I would still like more from this world. I think Nora, Aruendiel and their friends could still have lots of adventures.

Stars: Five, A fabulous read, worthy follow up. And please Emily, more??

ARC supplied by author

For the Wolf, Hannah Whitten

For the Wolf, Hannah Whitten

Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy

I was so looking forward to this but the beginning…well, I had to restart a few times because, honestly, it was a slog. Once past that though it was a fantastic read, I’m so glad I didn’t give up, and I really want the next book Now!

I loved the Wilderwood scenes, they really were the best part. The slow burn romance, the Fife and Lyra interactions, the other characters, descendants of those caught in the past, and of course, the Wilderwood. A wood like no other, sentient, but focused on survival at all costs, and that’s meant the deaths of second daughters in the past.
What I wasn’t keen on was the Neve, Kiri part of the story, at least in the early stages. When the end grew near the two parts melded and became one but until then it was as if I was reading two different stories, only tangentially connected. It was hard jumping from one story arc to the other.
There were some terrific characters here, some horrific moments in the Wilderwood, and lots of things to learn, superstitions and stories, some of which were true, others not. I hadn’t read the connection to Red riding Hood, thankfully, as I don’t like re-imaginings of traditional stories and would have not requested this. To me, the only connection really is superficial, Red’s name and cloak, the woods and Eammon being known as The Wolf.
Its a fantastic read, once past the beginning I was gripped. Its very intense at times, lots of gritty drama and details, and the fabulous slowly unfolding romance. I am so hoping its not long to wait for more!

Stars: Five, If you struggle at first, stick with it, its so worth it. Fabulous, dramatic, intense story. And a gorgeous slow burn romance.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

A Grimoire for Gamblers, (The Trove Arbitrations Book 1), Amanda Creiglow

A Grimoire for Gamblers, (The Trove Arbitrations Book 1), Amanda Creiglow

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Sci-fi and Fantasy

This sounded unusual, and that’s good in a market saturated with so many fantasy reads that are almost copies…so I dived in.
The magic here is different, very different to the usual, and I liked that, it was good to read a protagonist that wasn’t instantly transformed into someone more skilled than others hundreds of years older. Magic here – for humans at least – relies on skill, practice, accuracy- and intention. I really felt that part was one of the things that sets this novel above so many others.

I liked Elizabeth, and understood her grief for her father even though he’d been trying to end his life for some time. Her curiosity – that would be me, I couldn’t leave such interesting papers and items alone either….The grief provides a convenient excuse for her not being at work too, which gives her time to sort out this mess she’s inadvertently involved in. I didn’t see the point of the boyfriend, Faisal, he’s away for most of the novel and doesn’t add anything. Their relationship doesn’t feel like a very solid one, there’s no real pull between them, they feel more like flatmates than lovers.

I did get a little confused by all the different magical creatures, and I’m still not entirely sure what/where the Gravelings come from. That kind of brings up the weakness in the story for me, I have several unanswered questions. I didn’t understand the relevance of some incidents, felt others were too slickly glossed over. Max seems almost manic at times, yet terrified of his masters – why? What was the significance of the train, other than to begin events? The solutions occasionally seemed a bit slick, though the end result, the big problem, worked excellently for me. Complex enough to make me think, yet with a logic that I could understand.

Overall this was a fun read, and the issues I had could easily be put down to first in series syndrome. Those books have a tough ask, delivering a story interesting enough to hook the reader, but a world wide enough to carry future books. I think its successful here, I’d certainly like to read more.

Stars: Three and a half, its a fun fantasy, but with some darker edges. Holds promise for an interesting series.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers