A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene

 

A Feather So Black
by Lyra Selene

Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

I wasn’t sure what to expect here, an adult debut, an author unknown to me but I adore stories involving fae so requested it. I loved it. After A Court of Thorns and Roses ( loved that too) there seem to be hundreds of fae stories with that type of title, trying to emulate the trilogy. Most for me are just fails, don’t have the magic of the story, believable characters or decent writing/dialogue. Sue me, I’m picky about what I read 😉
So this was a gamble, hoping it was not one of those….and it isn’t. Its perfect, great storytelling and plots, realistic characters, fabulously descriptive wring with venturing into “ writing to fill word count” territory and a host of twists, turns and surprises.

I love Fia and her special talents, felt for her awful upbringing even as she’s grateful for it and loves the Queen deeply. The settings were perfect, both human and Fae. I would have liked to see more of the Fae folk, mostly we just meet Irian. And Corra of course, I love Corra. I’d rhyme something but I can’t..we need morra Corra, that best I can do 😉
Poor Fia, trained for one thing her whole life and then she finds that maybe things were not as she was let to believe, maybe by following the queens orders things will be worse not better. Who is telling the truth? Who to believe, so much hinges on her decisions.
I am so keen to read more of this series, its fabulous.
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Stars: Five, a fantastic fae read, great journey, fab ending but I need more ASAP!

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Relight My Fire (The Stranger Times 4) by C. K. McDonnell

Relight My Fire
(The Stranger Times 4)
by C. K. McDonnell

Genre: General Fiction (adult), Sci Fi & Fantasy, mystery and thrillers.

Oh, I just love the whole silliness of this series, combined with the witty fun dialogue. Banecroft still wins at that, he is such a curmudgeon, sharp tongue (but accurate), drunken workaholic, and yet hidden deep he’s actually got a caring side underneath.
Stella is lovely, I do feel for her, she doesn’t know what she is, or how to control her powers. Then the rest of the gang, they all work so well together.
Its another fun story, involving more supernatural entities, a new drug that gives people temporary powers but inevitably ends in death, the spook squad of the police trying to work out how to prevent more, and cover up whats happening so as not to alarm the public. The founders doing their usual, another group creating mayhem, a new character joining the ST gang, its business as normal for the ST group.
What I love about this series is the supernatural has elements of spooky but its all wrapped up with some sheer silliness, stuff that’s so improbable and yet fits in perfectly and becomes almost believable. You never quite know quite way the story will turn.
I loved it again. Do I know exactly who’s behind what and how it resolved after finishing the story? Not really, it becomes so complex its quite hard to keep track, but I have the gist. This is one of the stories for me where its about the journey not the ending, the enjoyment is in just how things play out along the way, not in finding out exactly who did what.
Roll on more for the cast of The Stranger Times.

Stars: Five, a fun read, full of weird and wonderful events and surprises.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers
#RelightMyFire #NetGalley

Deceptive Silence Reily Garrett

Deceptive Silence
Reily Garrett

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, General Fiction (Adult)
Hailey is back in the thick of action again, witnessing a murder while out photographing nature. Once more she’s in danger, and the puzzle of who has been killed, why, by whom and who else is at risk wrap around her. Trenton is, of course, involved again, and Caspar, from another of Reily’s series gets involved. I have to say Haley is far more patient with her when the teen says she cant explain things. That would ( and did ) irritate me, I wanted to say “what, how, tell me why”.
Hailey also had help from another unexpected source, as she starts to develop her powers. I think that’s going to prove really interesting, and certainly was needed in this book.
Its another action packed, supernatural filled, suspense. At times I did get a bit confused about how everything connected, as its a pretty complex, involved story. That’s just me though, I find concentration a bit hard at the moment.

Stars: four, if you enjoy a solid, plot dense supernatural adventure this is perfect.

ARC supplied by author

Of Pears & Spears The Thule Cycle #1.5 by C. Monk

Of Pears & Spears
The Thule Cycle #1.5
by C. Monk

Genre: Novellas & Short Stories, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

I rarely read novellas, but as I’d read the first Thule story, this was just like continuing, in that I knew all the major characters and the world setting so it was fine for me. It was like joining old friends on a new adventure.
I’m so glad we got Sfjona as a main character, I hoped for that after the Dance(s) with Sir Natameus Bedivere of Bedrydant in the last book.
Of course they’re opposites in so many ways, not least in social standing but Sir Bedivere isn’t going to let that stand in his way. Tall and imposing he may seem, but to Sfjona he is gentle, pursuing slowly and carefully, always conscious of the need to not frighten her off.
Of course its not just a romance, but one with the wonderful Arthurian type whimsy and regulations, Capybaras, ( behaving badly) and now some creatures that may or may not be more than a child’s fairy tale.
It all adds up to a quick, delightful read, very unusual in the range of fantasy. I love finding something fresh and new.

Stars: Five, a fun, short read that I really enjoyed.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Perfect In Death: A murder mystery with a ghostly twist Reily Garrett

Perfect In Death: A murder mystery with a ghostly twist
Reily Garrett

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

I’m always stunned how authors put together a story, or series, so many characters and plots to weave together in a way that makes sense. I’d be useless ;-).

Hailey, loved her humour, loved her dedication to her job, but occasionally her decisions were a little too risky. There’s a balance and she strays at times. Trenton was so opposite to her, though I did understand his protective streak, at times it was too much. I could see why Leigh and Hailey were annoyed and tried to evade him.
The Vodou was an unusual addition, something that I enjoyed. Its good to have something different in the way of magics, and the history of this is rich and varied, so many ways to fit in a story.
Hailey is determined to bring justice for the teen, but it puts her in dangers she could never have foreseen, It connects to her family on a personal level too, which came as a surprise to me. Trent’s unsure if there’s a connection to his case too, which has brought out threats to his family. You can see what I mean now about the different pieces that slowly come together. Then – Caspar from a previous series turns up, I loved that. She was a great character and will slot in perfectly with Leigh and Hailey. I hope she deters them from that annoying “twin speak” though….
This particular plot wraps up but with a few open ends that leave things set up for the next book.
As usual in Reily’s stories the star of the show is Gunther the Wolf/dog hybrid 🙂 Wish my dogs were that well behaved ( though to be fair one is only six months).

Stars: Five, a great start to a new series. More magic, mayhem and mischief to come.

ARC supplied by author

A Power Unbound, Freya Marske

A Power Unbound
A spicy, magical historical romp
by Freya Marske

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

This has been a lighthearted, fun read, mixing magical families, with lands and homes that are almost sentient, with some subtle romance. Its got great characters, fun ones, serious ones and of course some good old fashioned purely bad ones. I loved Jack and Alan, two very diverse characters but the sensuality, wow….Of course the folk we’ve met before are here too, fighting for the good of magic, risking dangers at every turn. The bad characters here really will stop at nothing to get the power the perceive as their due.
It brings together the events of the previous novels, wrapping the story up in a very dramatic finale.

Stars: Five, I really enjoyed this, though at times had to mentally re-track on who was who and where they belonged in the story. It would have worked best for me to read the novels back-to-back, but that’s because I read so much there have been lots of other fantasy reads between these.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

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

A Dowry of Blood THE GOTHIC SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER by S.T. Gibson

A Dowry of Blood
THE GOTHIC SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by S.T. Gibson

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy

Well, I was so looking forward to this but….it just didn’t resonate with me. I found it hard to connect to, or even really care about, the characters, and for me that’s essential to enjoy a story. Still, its a well written read, one of those cases where its me thats out of step, not the book. Others love it, so may you.
Stars: Two. I wanted to like it but..
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ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Of Blood & Light #1 by C. Monk

Of Blood & Light
Of Blood & Light #1
by C. Monk

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, romance, new adult

Well, you know how it is, new to you author but the premise sounds interesting so – do you or don’t you? I did, and I’m so glad, this was a fabulous read, bringing a different slant on the supernatural side, weaving in a bit of Arthurian legend, combined with a strangely Victorian Britain theme….
There are secrets here, secrets upon secrets and poor River is lost. Who Are these people? Where Is she? They seem to feel she is someone else, a wayward wife no less.
I loved so much about this story, the fabulous new world I entered, the strange characters within it, some who were decidedly not what they seemed. And of course the magics 🙂
I really felt for River, loved her determination, her love for family, and her attitude of DLTBGYD. Then Hadrian, who appears cold and aloof, but time proves otherwise. So many fabulous characters here, and some real nasties too. I do love finding those in a story.
Its an intense read, full of drama, action, ballgowns and corsets 😉 and a hero who is a true gentleman, not the usual pushy Alpha grunting type! There’s a really useful section at the back explaining about Thule and its inhabitants, I found that excellent as I was a little confused to begin.
I’m off to look for what else the author has written, and I really, really hope we’re getting more of this.

Stars: Five, a cracking, unusual take on the fantasy romance genre.
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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
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ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers