Review: Shadows - Kristen Proby

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes an all new paranormal romance set in the mystical city of New Orleans…
​
I am never alone. Not even when I am alone.

I see the unquiet dead, the souls that wander through the French Quarter.

They can’t move on, and I can’t stop seeing them.

I wear malachite for protection, and I control what I let in. It’s the only way to stay sane. Everything changes the day Cassian Winslow joins my ghost walking tour and knocks my world off its axis with green eyes the color of the stone around my neck.

An unspeakable evil is loose in New Orleans, taking young women and leaving a bloodbath in his wake. More shadows lurking for me. More unhappy dead. There might be a way to stop it.

Open myself up to Cassian.

If I do, it could spell his death.

But if I don’t, it’s mine.

Bayou Magic Series:
Shadows
Further titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Kristen Proby's website for more information

Review:
Brielle and her sisters Millie and Daphne have always had strange abilities but it was only when they were older and able to escape the abusive home that they grew up in that they were able to find another witch to teach them how to use them. Living in New Orleans Brielle's connection to the dead has caused her no end of trouble and she sees the shadows of ghosts wherever she goes. It's only recently that these shadows have started to appear as real people that are able to communicate though and, with a serial killer targeting young women who look just like her, now they're reaching out to Brielle for help.

FBI profiler Cash is only in the city on forced vacation after working a difficult case but he's enjoying spending time with his brother and he finds himself drawn to Brielle from the minute they meet. He's not sure what to make of it when she mentions her abilities but when a young woman they've both met goes missing he agrees to help her liaise with the local police to try and help with their investigation. The two quickly find themselves drawn into a dark and disturbing case and it looks like Brielle may be a target for the killer.

Shadows is my first Kristen Proby book but it won't be the last and I'm already looking forward to getting to know Brielle's sisters better as this series continues. I found all three of them really interesting characters and I loved the different abilities they all have. They had a really tough upbringing but it just brought them closer together and there's a really strong bond between them. Since leaving their home they've built a supportive community around them and found other like minded people to learn from.

Cash was a nice guy and I liked how supportive he was of both Brielle and her sisters but if I have one complaint about this book it was that the connection between them was a little too fast. I found it hard to believe he would be so quick to believe Brielle about her abilities and thought he would have been much more suspicious of her claims, at least in the beginning. I think a slower build on their connection would have made their relationship that bit more believable but I liked the two of them together so that only bothered me in the very beginning.

One thing I will say is that Shadows was far more creepy than I expected it to be. We see parts of the story through the eyes of both the serial killer and his victims so considering how much he loved to torture people that did get quite dark and hard to read in places. I'm not knocking it because it was very interesting to read but I just think you should know going in that this isn't a light and fluffy paranormal romance so you're prepared. The mystery was good and I like the way things were left off ready for the next book in the series, it wasn't a cliffhanger though, more of a winning the battle but still having the rest of the war to fight kind of situation. The rest of this series is definitely on my wish list but I think I'm going to have to check out some of Kristen Proby's other books while I wait for the next one to be released.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Rowan - Anne McCaffrey

The first book in the Tower and the Hive sequence

The Talents were the elite of the Nine Star League. Their gifts were many and varied, ranging from the gently telepathic, to the rare and extremely valued Primes. On the Primes rested the entire economic wealth and communications systems of the civilised worlds. But Primes were scarce - only very rarely was a new one born. And now, on the planet Altair, in a small mining colony on the western mountain range, a new Prime existed, a three-year-old girl - trapped in a giant mud slide that had wiped out the rest of the Rowan mining community. Every Altarian who was even mildly talented could 'hear' the child crying for help, but no one knew where she was buried. Every resource on the planet was centred into finding 'The Rowan' - the new Prime, the first ever to be born on Altair, an exceptionally unique Prime, more talented, more powerful, more agoraphobic, more lonely, than any other Prime yet known in the Nine Star league.

The Tower and the Hive Series:
The Rowan
Damia
Damia's Children
Lyon's Pride
The Tower and the Hive
Get off the Unicorn (Short Story Collection)

Visit Anne McCaffrey's website for more information

Review:
I read quite a few of Anne McCaffrey's Pern books when I was a teenager but I've not read anything of hers in years so I was quite excited to give this series a try when my friend told me it was one of her favourites. I actually read this when I was visiting my friend back in June so I've really left it too long to write a comprehensive review but I did really enjoy the world that the author has created here.

Set in a distant future where humans have colonised planets across the universe some of us, known as The Talents, have developed all kinds of telepathic and other psychic abilities. These powers vary in strength and very few people are considered Primes, those capable of incredible feats. This is the story of The Rowan, the first Prime ever born on the planet Altair. She was born in a small and isolated mining colony and was discovered as a three year old child who was heard by every Talent across the planet telepathically screaming for help when the entire colony was destroyed in a landslide. The Rowan was the only survivor and she was taken in by the Prime living closest to her so that they could start her training young.

This story follows her journey throughout her childhood and into an adult as she learns to use her abilities. I enjoyed her story and watching her grow into a smart and fierce young woman and I really loved seeing her step forward as a leader as she grew in confidence. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what happens next.

Source: Borrowed from a friend

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Review: HeartMate - Robin D Owens

All his life, Rand T'Ash has looked forward to meeting his HeartMate, with whom he could begin a family. Once a street tough, now a respected nobleman and artisan, he has crafted the perfect HeartGift, which, in the custom of the psychically gifted population of the planet Celta, is the way a man finds--and attracts--his wife...

Danith Mallow is irresistibly drawn to the magnificent necklace on display in T'Ash's shop, but she is wary of its creator, despite an overpowering attraction. In a world where everyone is defined by their psychic ability, Danith has little, placing her at the opposite end of the social spectrum from T'Ash. But T'Ash refuses to accept her rejection and sees it as a challenge instead. They are HeartMates, but can T'Ash persuade his beloved to accept her destiny by his side?

Celta's Heartmates Series:
HeartMate
Heart Thief
Heart Duel
Heart Choice
Heart Quest
Heart Dance
Heart Fate
Heart Change
Heart Journey
Script of the Heart
Heart Search
Heart Secret
Heart Fortune
Heart Fire
Heart Legacy
Lost Heart (Novella)
Heart Sight
Hearts and Swords (Novella Collection)
Celta Cats (Novella)

Visit Robin D Owens' website for more information

Review:
HeartMate is the first book in Robin D Owens' Celta's Heartmates series. Set on the planet Celta sometime in the future most humans have at least a small amount of psychic ability known as Flair. Flair can take many forms, from telepathy to telekinesis right round to healing, but the more powerful your ability the higher your place in society.

Rand T'Ash is part of the top tier of society and he uses his Flair to create beautiful and intricate jewellery popular with wealthy clients. He may be rich and respected now but after his family was all killed in a fire he grew up in the slums and had to fight hard to survive. All he wants is to find his HeartMate and build a life with her, he's created the perfect HeartGift, a necklace that will only appeal to the woman he is meant to spend his life with.

All Danith Mallow has ever wanted is a family, she has very little Flair but she's happy with her small social circle and dating her best friend's brother. It may not be love but she already adores his family and is desperate to officially be one of them. When she spots T'Ash's HeartGift in his shop she's immediately drawn towards it but because she has very little knowledge of that kind of thing she thinks he's created some kind of magic bauble to lure women into his bed. She doesn't trust the new feelings she has and the last thing she needs is some overbearing man in her life telling her they belong together.

My friend absolutely loves this series so when I was staying with her recently she encouraged me to give it a try. It's the first book I've read by Robin D Owens and while it wasn't perfect I liked it enough that I want to try the next in the series. I think she's created a really interesting world, I like the different kind of Flair abilities, I enjoyed learning about the society and I absolutely LOVED the talking cat Zanth. He was my favourite character by far and I could totally see my own cat's attitude in everything he said and did.

While I did like both T'Ash and Danith and did eventually get invested in their relationship there were times when he was too overbearing and pushy for my liking and I felt like certain things came far too easily for Danith. I think I would have enjoyed it more if they'd talked things through more and if T'Ash had just been willing to back off a little when Danith needed space. I was happy with the way things ended though and I'm definitely curious about some of the side characters we've met so I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Source: Borrowed from a friend

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Review: Wolf Rain - Nalini Singh

The fate of millions of lives hangs in the balance in this new Psy-Changeling Trinity novel from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh...

Kidnapped as a young girl, her psychic powers harnessed by a madman, Memory lives a caged and isolated existence . . . until she comes face-to-face with a wolf. Labelled an empath by her bad-tempered rescuer, Memory knows that her 'gift' is nothing so bright. It is a terrible darkness that means she will always be hunted.

But Memory is free now and she intends to live. A certain growly wolf can just deal with it.

Alexei prefers to keep his packmates at bay, the bleak history of his family a constant reminder that mating, love, hope is not for him. But Memory, this defiant and fearless woman who stands toe-to-toe with him awakens the most primal part of his nature - and soon, he must make a choice: risk everything or lose Memory to a murderous darkness that wants to annihilate her from existence . . .

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
As much as I've enjoyed meeting the bears and spending time underwater with Blacksea in the last couple of books (and I am really hoping we'll get to spend more time with ALL of them!) I was still really excited that Wolf Rain would take us back to where it all began with the SnowDancer pack. I can't help it, I've loved this series for such a long time that spending time with the wolves (and the cats of DarkRiver) just feels like coming home and it was so wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces.

We've met Alexi before, he's one of Hawke's lieutenants and is a powerful member of the pack. Strong but caring and very protective of the ones he loves, he holds himself at a distance from the others due to some dangerous family history. He has good reason to fear the future but meeting Memory gives him a reason to fight for what he wants. Memory is a brand new character, she's a Psy who has been held captive for decades and although that would have sent many people completely insane she's a survivor who made it through. She isn't like a lot of the Psy we've met before, she never managed to achieve Silence so she's much warmer than I expected. I'm not going to say much about her abilities but she's always believed they are a curse and that she's evil but working alongside the empaths and the Arrows she starts to realise that she is capable of more than she ever imagined.

These two have a lot going against them, the least of which is that her captor is hunting her determined to get her back under his control, but they both know what they want and they're willing to fight for it. One of the things I love most about Nalini Singh's stories is that she never manufactures unnecessary dramas, instead she focuses on creating well rounded characters with believable motivations. It is always so easy to love her characters and even the side characters who have never been in the spotlight feel like old friends.

It goes without saying that her world building is phenomenal too, the Psy-Changeling world is so full of depth that it's hard to believe it isn't a real place. I love the way the balance has been changing between the changelings, humans and psy since the fall of silence and that the different groups are starting to realise how much they all need each other. Things was always much easier amongst the changelings and humans but the psy are now learning so much more about themselves and the others.

As well as being a fabulous romance Wolf Rain really moves the overarching plot forward too and I can't wait to see where the story takes us next. Nalini Singh's books just never disappoint!

Source: Received from the publisher exchange for an honest review

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Review: Ocean Light - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives beneath the surface of her Psy-Changeling world into a story of passionate devotion and selfless love . . .

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment - taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling . . .

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret that Bo could never imagine . . .

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back - even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy.

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Nalini Singh is one of the few authors who has never let me down, I preorder her books the second they pop up on amazon, devour them the minute I can get hold of them and I always know that I'm in for heartwarming romance, fantastic characters and wonderful world building. Her Psy-Changeling series is one of the best paranormal romance series out there and this new second phase of the series is proving that she's still at the top of her game. As much as I love the SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs I'm really enjoying the expansion of this world first with the bears in Silver Silence and now getting to know the water changelings of BlackSea in Ocean Light.

Bowen has always been a character I've been curious about, as the human leader of the Alliance he has a lot of power in his hands but the ticking time bomb of the telepathic blocker implanted in his brain has him desperately looking for answers. Then there was the shocking attack in the last book which of course left me even more keen to get answers. He's such a sweet hero, I loved how open and honest he was with Kaia from the very beginning and how determined he was to make the most of the time he had left if they weren't able to fix his implant safely. I've always admired the way he wanted to put humans on the same playing field as the Changelings and Psy too, even though humans are physically weaker than the Changelings and defenceless against most Psy telepathic abilities they vastly outnumber those two groups and Bowen is fighting for equality amongst the races.

Kaia is a character we've not met before but she was brilliant too, very intelligent but the best thing about her was her huge heart and the way she cared for everyone in her circle. Kaia is the kind of person that is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on or moral support but who never wants to burden anyone with her own problems so she always sees to her own needs last. Bowen saw that immediately and went to great effort to show her how important she was to him. They fitted together really well and balanced each other out in a lot of ways.

There is no denying that the first half of Ocean Light is a little slower paced and more character driven than most books in this series, the action doesn't really pick up until later on but I was having so much fun exploring BlackSea's underwater home and meeting so many different water changelings (whales, turtles, sharks and so many more - including ones with tentacles!) that I really enjoyed the change of pace. Later on as the danger increases and things get more complicated I was so fully invested in the characters that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would end. This was another fantastic instalment in the series and I can't wait to find out who will be the stars of the next one!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Overtaken - K.F. Breene

Reunited with her people, Shanti knows that she must make a move in order to finally put her duty to rest. But as always, Xandre is one step ahead of her.

For one brief moment when she lets down her guard, Shanti falls into enemy hands. But if Xandre thought she would be a docile prisoner, he was sadly mistaken.

With Shanti running interference, it is up to the boys she has trained, and the army Cayan leads, to fight their way to her side.

The fate of the land will finally be decided.

Which side will be overtaken?

The Warrior Chronicles:
Forged in Blood (Short Story in the Legends: Fifteen Tales of Sword and Sorcery anthology or free if you sign up for the author's newsletter)
Chosen
Hunted
Shadow Lands
Invasion
Siege
Overtaken

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely love the Warrior Chronicles series by K.F. Breene but I had the final book, Overtaken, sat on my kindle for months before I eventually got around to reading it because I just didn't want the series to be over. I've really grown to love Shanti, Cayan and the others so I wasn't ready to say goodbye to them and if I'm honest even now I'm hoping the author may decide to go back to this world in the future so we can see how everyone is getting on!

So this is it, the book we've all been waiting for and the showdown between Shanti and Xandre, everything the entire series has been building towards. So was it worth the wait? Thankfully I'd have to say yes it was. I love so many characters in these books and they all get the chance to shine here, it has all the snarky banter I was expecting, lots of action, lots of Shanti kicking butt, some really sweet moments between Shanti and Cayan and it has the happy ending I was hoping for. There isn't an epilogue in the story which I was initially disappointed by but then I realised the author has posted a free epilogue on her website and trust me if you enjoyed this series you won't want to miss that.

I'm going to miss this world and these characters but I guess that's the great thing about rereads, I can revisit them anytime I want to!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Silver Silence - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a bold new chapter in her extraordinary paranormal romance saga with the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Wild passion will encounter the darkest of betrayal...

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater Bears, brings with him.

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence—her mind clear of all emotion—Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed...

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Silver Silence is the first in the Psy-Changeling Trinity spin off series and Nalini Singh is about to take us in a whole new direction. I don't think I'd recommend starting here if you've not read the original series because you'd miss far too much but if you haven't discovered these books yet then I can't recommend Slave to Sensation highly enough. The first series gave us the fall of Silence and the beginnings of the Trinity Accord between the human, Psy and Changeling races but this series is going to focus more on finding a balance between the three groups and each of them learning to work together. Of course there are still those Psy who don't think Silence should have fallen and they aren't the only ones who are working against the Accord, humans have been used and abused by the Psy for far too long and it's going to be difficult to build any kind of trust between them and the Changelings have always remained fairly isolated in the past so all three races are in for a big learning experience if they're going to make Trinity a success.

Silver was Kaleb's trusted second in command so we've seen quite a lot of her throughout the original series but now she has taken control of the Em Net, the emergency network that is being built to allow all three races to pool their resources in the case of any kind of disaster situation. Em Net has coordinated relief efforts at natural disasters like earthquakes but also helps at any major disaster and Silver is in charge of making sure the right people are on hand for every situation. She works closely alongside the Arrow squad but also Changeling and human volunteers and they are slowly starting to gain the trust of the general population. Silver is fiercely efficient and on the surface she's completely Silent but she has a deep loyalty to her family and quite a loving relationship with her grandmother and brother. Because of her rare psychic abilities she knows it would be dangerous to her mental health to let her emotions run free but a certain teddy bear is very good at getting under her skin.

Valentin is alpha of the StoneWater bear clan and he knew Silver was the woman from him the moment he first met her. Of course Silver is currently living under Silence and she has no interest in a relationship with Valentin but bears are stubborn and he's got all the time in the world to convince her they are meant to be together. I loved the way Valentin decided to be "sneaky like a cat" and slowly woo his mate, he pushes Silver a little further every time they interact but he never goes too far or too fast because he respects her boundaries. They make such a ridiculously adorable couple and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. Valentin is an alpha with a heart of gold who absolutely adores his clan and will do anything for them and Silver may be Psy but she's equally strong willed and she will do whatever it takes to protect Valentin from the people who choose to spurn him.

I don't think we've had much interaction with the bears in the past so I was really excited to meet a whole new clan of shifters and I love how different the bears are to either the wolves or cats. Nalini Singh always does a brilliant job when it comes to creating interesting characters and she hits the nail on the head with this whole new clan, not just Valentin but also his older sisters and his various lieutenants. The group were just so much fun to hang around with and I loved the way the young members of the clan are the centre of everyone's world - the tiny ninjas completely stole my heart! Don't worry we still get glimpses of some of our old favourite characters but I liked that we've had a large influx of new faces. It can be very easy for a series to start to get stale or repetitive when you're 16 books in but this change of direction is definitely a great way to keep things fresh. I thought Nalini balanced things really well, enough new to keep it exciting but enough of what we're familiar with to still make it feel familiar and like you're catching up with old friends.

We got to see a lot of Bowen and the Human Alliance so I'm really hoping that means his book is coming soon but I'm really excited about spending more time with the bears as the series continues. Silver Silence was the perfect blend of sweet and sexy romance with action and intrigue from various groups who are determined to destroy the Trinity Accord before it can properly begin. I have very high hopes for season two of the Psy-Changeling world and as always Nalini's books remain at the top of my "buy it immediately" list.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Raven King - Maggie Stiefvater

For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he's drawn others into his mission: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a life; and Blue, who loves Gansey . . . and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Nothing dead is to be trusted.

Now the endgame has begun.

Nothing living is safe.

Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.

The Raven Cycle:
The Raven Boys
The Dream Thieves
Blue Lily, Lily Blue
The Raven King

Visit Maggie Stiefvater's website for more information

Review:
It's been a couple of weeks since I finished The Raven King and I'm still struggling to come up with the words to review it. If I had to sum it up in one word then I'd probably have to say forgettable. In fact it was so forgettable that I just had to skim the last 80 pages to try and remind myself how it ended. I loved the first two books in this series but have to admit that I was so disillusioned by Blue Lily, Lily Blue that it took me a year to get around to picking up this final instalment. I'm not sure if the length of time between books contributed to my lack of excitement or if it was just a case of this series and me not being compatible but it was hard work reading this book.

In my opinion there were too many new character POVs introduced in the last book and that continued into this one, we spend too much time finding out about all these minor characters who don't really have any important roll to play in the story and that gives us less time to spend with the characters I actually cared about. We get some brilliant Ronan and Adam moments but not enough of them. We see a little of Blue's family but nowhere near as much as I wanted to. And the romance between Blue and Gansey just kind of stalled out here, what happened to all the shy glances and hand holding and, you know, actual romance? If it was in here I must have missed it when I was busy skimming past all the boring bits about Mr Gray and Piper and Laumonier and Henry and Seondeok and however many others I've forgotten about. Even at the end when we could have got a nice, emotional moment with them theres a third wheel sharing their page time.

I don't think this was a terrible book but I honestly don't think this series lived up to its potential. I do seem to be in the minority again though because most of my friends loved this book so take my opinion with a pinch of salt and don't let me put you off reading it for yourself.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Magic for Nothing - Seanan McGuire

Improbable, adjective:
1. Not very likely to happen; not probable.
2. Probably not a very good idea anyway.
3. See also "bad plan."

As the youngest of the three Price children, Antimony is used to people not expecting much from her. She's been happy playing roller derby and hanging out with her cousins, leaving the globe-trotting to her older siblings while she stays at home and tries to decide what she wants to do with her life. She always knew that one day, things would have to change. She didn't think they'd change so fast.

Annie's expectations keep getting shattered. She didn't expect Verity to declare war on the Covenant of St. George on live television. She didn't expect the Covenant to take her sister's threat seriously. And she definitely didn't expect to be packed off to London to infiltrate the Covenant from the inside...but as the only Price in her generation without a strong resemblance to the rest of the family, she's the perfect choice to play spy. They need to know what's coming. Their lives may depend on it.

But Annie has some secrets of her own, like the fact that she's started setting things on fire when she touches them, and has no idea how to control it. Now she's headed halfway around the world, into the den of the enemy, where blowing her cover could get her killed. She's pretty sure things can't get much worse.

Antimony Price is about to learn just how wrong it's possible for one cryptozoologist to be.

Incryptid Series:
14 Jonathan Healy & Frances Brown Short Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
3 Alice Healy & Thomas Price Short Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Discount Armageddon
Midnight Blue-Light Special
4 Antimony Price Short Stories (Read some for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
3 Istas and Ryan Short Stories (Read most for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Half-Off Ragnarok
1 Sarah Zellaby and Arthur Harrington Short Story (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
5 Verity Price & Dominic De Luca Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Pocket Apocalypse
Chaos Choreography
1 Elsie Harrington Short Story (Short Story in the Shadowed Souls anthology)
Magic for Nothing
1 Aeslin Mice Short Story (Purchase though Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page)
Tricks for Free
That Ain't Witchcraft

Ghost Roads Series:
(Stories are set in the Incryptid World)
Sparrow Hill Road
Train Yard Blues (Short Story in the Coins of Chaos anthology)
The Ghosts of Bourbon Street (Crossover Short Story with Verity from the Incryptid series free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Last Call at the Last Chance (Short Story available via Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page)
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
I love this series so I was quite excited when I found out that it was time for Antimony, the youngest of the Price siblings, to take the spotlight. She's not had a major role in the previous books but I enjoyed her short stories (if you haven't already discovered all the free short stories that Seanan McGuire posts on her website you're really missing out, they give so much extra background insight into the series and are well worth reading!) and was looking forward to getting to know her better.

Magic for Nothing picks up the story right at the end of Chaos Choreography where Verity makes a rather huge announcement on national TV and pretty much taunts the Covenant of St George to come looking for her and the rest of her family. I have to agree with Annie that Verity didn't really think things through before she made that declaration but she'd been through quite a lot at that point and I don't think there was a chance that the Covenant would have missed her battling a giant snake god on live TV so the gig was pretty much up before Verity even said a word! Anyway, the Covenant now know that the family are still out there and the Prices are in desperate need of information about what their future plans are so they have the brilliant idea of sending Annie, the black sheep of the family, to London so she can infiltrate the Covenant and spy on them. If you think that sounds like a disaster just waiting to happen you wouldn't be far wrong. Let's face it, it's not going to be easy for Annie to join up with the enemy and pretend to be brainwashed into their way of thinking.

Annie's parents have always been incredibly over protective of her, she's the baby of the family and they are much harder on her than they ever have been on Verity and Alex so it was a little surprising that they'd be willing to send her into the clutches of the Covenant. Annie will be completely alone when she's carrying out her mission, it's not like the rest of the family can hop on a plane to mount a rescue mission if she gets in trouble and they don't even have Cryptid contacts in London to keep an eye out for her as the local populations have been decimated by the Covenant's purges. Annie has certainly taken on a huge task when she agrees to the challenge, especially considering a rather large secret that she's been keeping from everyone, one that could very easily lead to her being caught by the Covenant. I have to say I admired her bravery and her determination to prove herself to her family, she always wanted them to respect her more so she jumps at this chance to show them what she's capable of.

It's very hard to like any of the Covenant members, I know the Price family has a history of converting them but I'm not convinced any of the characters we meet here will be willing to leave the dark side. It was interesting to get to see more of their distant cousin Margaret though, I don't particularly like her but she hasn't had it easy because the Covenant see her family as traitors and are constantly checking up on her to make sure she doesn't follow suit. Leon seems the most likeable but I'm still very wary of him and all of the others. After completing her Covenant training Annie is sent on her first mission and it was at this point that I really started falling in love with the side characters. Sam was a particular favourite and I really, really hope we get to see more of him in the next book, I just thought he and Annie were adorable together.

Magic for Nothing has a different feel to it than the previous books in the series, the stakes are higher than ever and Annie is completely cut off from the family for most of the book so she's totally on her own trying to handle everything. The aeslin mice are on hand to add plenty of humour though, even if they are there as a sort of black box for Annie and are supposed to report back to the family in case anything happens to her. The ending was pretty heartbreaking in several ways, poor Annie has jumped out of the frying pan and landed in the middle of the fire so it's going to be really interesting to see where she goes from here. I was already a huge fan of this series but now I'm more eager than ever for the next instalment and I can't wait to spend more time in this world.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Chaos Choreography - Seanan McGuire

Destiny, Noun:
1. The inevitable or irresistible course of events.
2. The inescapable future.
3. See also “Screwed.”

Verity Price is back on the West Coast and getting back into the swing of the family business: cryptozoology. She's rescuing cryptids from bad situations, protecting them from monster-hunters, and generally risking life and limb for the greater good, with her ex-Covenant partner/husband, Dominic, by her side. Her ballroom dance career is behind her...or so she thinks.

When Verity gets the call from the producers of Dance or Die, the reality show she almost won several years before, she finds the lure of a comeback impossible to resist, and she and Dominic are off to L.A. for one last shot at the big time.

Of course, nothing is that simple. When two of her fellow contestants turn up dead, Verity will need every ally she can find—and a couple she wasn't looking for—in order to navigate the complicated steps of both the tango and a murder investigation without blowing her cover. It doesn't help that her official family backup is her grandmother, Alice Price-Healy, who thinks "subtle" is something that happens to other people.

Winning this competition may have just become a matter of life and death.

Incryptid Series:
14 Jonathan Healy & Frances Brown Short Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
3 Alice Healy & Thomas Price Short Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Discount Armageddon
Midnight Blue-Light Special
4 Antimony Price Short Stories (Read some for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
3 Istas and Ryan Short Stories (Read most for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Half-Off Ragnarok
1 Sarah Zellaby and Arthur Harrington Short Story (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
5 Verity Price & Dominic De Luca Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Pocket Apocalypse
Chaos Choreography
1 Elsie Harrington Short Story (Short Story in the Shadowed Souls anthology)
Magic for Nothing
1 Aeslin Mice Short Story (Purchase though Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page)
Tricks for Free
That Ain't Witchcraft

Ghost Roads Series:
(Stories are set in the Incryptid World)
Sparrow Hill Road
Train Yard Blues (Short Story in the Coins of Chaos anthology)
The Ghosts of Bourbon Street (Crossover Short Story with Verity from the Incryptid series free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Last Call at the Last Chance (Short Story available via Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page)
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
As much as I loved getting to know Alex I was really excited for the chance to catch back up with Verity and Dominic. I was looking forward to seeing how married life was treating them and it was great to see what a strong couple they have become. Verity thought she had walked away from her dancing career for good when they left New York but when she gets an invitation to appear on an all star line up of the dancing show that started it all she finds the lure impossible to resist. Heading to L.A. in a whirlwind of sequins and wigs Verity knows she's going to have to work 24/7 to impress the judges.

Dominic has never understood Verity's obsession with dancing but I loved how incredibly supportive he is of her choices, he knows how much dancing means to her and he wants her to have every possible opportunity to fulfil her dreams. Even though he won't be allowed to stay in the dancer's accommodation he heads to L.A. with her just to offer support and to make sure she's safe. Unfortunately for Verity what should be a fun reunion with old friends and the chance of a lifetime for her career ends up getting a lot more complicated when dancers start going missing. After discovering dead bodies covered in strange runes they realise they're dealing with something significant and her parents send backup in the form of Verity's grandmother Alice.

Chaos Choreography was probably my favourite book in the series so far, I enjoyed spending time with Verity and Dominic, the crazy dance show setting made a nice change, the Aeslin mice were on hand to add humour in the darker moments, we get to meet a few interesting new cryptids but most of all I absolutely loved getting to know grandma Alice. We've had a lot of hints dropped about Alice during the series (someone please tell me that Seanan McGuire is going to give her her own book or spin off series eventually - I want to join her on her search for Thomas and we NEED to see them get a HEA!) and we even met her in one of the short stories but nothing prepared me for how completely badass she is. Alice is a weird mix of cookie baking grandma and gun-toting, grenade throwing, dimension hopping supergirl who looks like Verity's younger sister and she is absolutely awesome.

Things got very interesting at the end of this book and now I'm more excited to continue this series than ever. It initially seemed like a weird place to switch to Antimony's point of view for the next two books but having read the blurb for Magic for Nothing March can't get here soon enough so that I can find out what happens next.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Day Zero - Kresley Cole

Arcana means secrets, and these Arcana Chronicles short stories from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole are filled with them. Experience firsthand the beginning of the end and behold the apocalypse through the eyes of characters you only thought you knew.

Ashes to Ashes . . .
Evie Greene's story of the Flash is just one of many. All over the world, those connected in some way to the lethal Arcana game - like Death, Jack, and Fortune - must first survive a horrifying night of blood and screams.

We all fall down.
Some will have to grapple with new powers; all will be damned to a hellish new existence of plague, brutality, desolation, and cannibalism. Find out who they lost, why they endure, and what they sacrificed in order to live past Day Zero . . .

The Arcana Chronicles:
Poison Princess
Endless Knight
Dead of Winter
Day Zero (Novella)
Arcana Rising
The Dark Calling (2017)

Visit Kresley Cole's website or The Arcana Chronicles website for more information

Review:
If you're a fan of Kresley Cole's Arcana Chronicles then Day Zero is a must read companion. It does contain spoilers for the first three books so I wouldn't recommend picking it up until you've read Dead of Winter but it contains lots of fun information about the major Arcana players in the series and definitely got me excited about reading the next book.

Have you ever wanted to know where each of the main characters were when the Flash occurred on Day Zero? We saw Evie's story first hand and have heard bits and pieces about what happened to the others throughout the series but this book gives us a chance to see exactly what happened. It also includes profiles on the various Arcana with information about their powers, special skills, weapons and a whole lot more. Some of the information is still blank because it hasn't been uncovered and Matthew (aka The Fool) has redacted things he's not ready to share yet but it was really nice to have everything all in one place to remind me of the details.

You'll be very happy to hear that Jack's Flash story is also included even though he's not one of the Arcana players. I still suspect that he's the inactive card but Kresley Cole states at the beginning of the book that she'll neither confirm or deny if that's the case. Either way I absolutely love Jack's character so I'm glad we got to hear from both him and Death in this book and I'm definitely ready to continue the series and find out what happens next in Arcana Rising.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Wild Embrace - Nalini Singh

The “alpha author of paranormal romance”* presents a stunningly sensual collection of four all-new Psy-Changeling novellas, in which taboos are broken, boundaries are crossed, and instincts prove irresistible...

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander...

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play...

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries...

*Booklist, starred review

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I love the way Nalini Singh gives fans a chance to see the romances that don't get to play out in the full length novels. The Psy-Changeling world is such a huge one that it would be impossible for everyone to get their own book so these additional novellas are a great way to revisit old favourites or just add extra depth and background. She is one of the few authors who never fails to make me connect with her characters, whether she's writing short stories, novellas or full length books she never lets me down and I always know I'm in for a treat when I pick up something with her name on it.

Wild Embrace contains four brand new novellas that have never been published anywhere else. These stories are set at different points throughout the Psy-Changeling series (I'll point out where they fit in as I talk about each individual novella) and although they aren't essential reading because you won't miss any major plot points if you skip them I'd still highly recommend picking up this anthology because they're all great.

Echo of Silence:
This novella is set just after Visions of Heat and gives us the chance to spend time on the deep-sea station Alaris with human engineer Tazia and telekinetic Psy Stefan. I can't be the only fan who has been desperate to get to know the Stefan, I mean he was the one who wrote the Psy guide to sex that all the other Psy guys have been adding to throughout the series, so of course I wanted to know more about him! Although it isn't a secret that Stefan's Silence is defective he still has to be incredibly careful not to show his emotions in case he ends up getting his mind wiped by the Psy Council. The only reason he's been left alone this long is because he has such a rare and useful ability but that won't save him if they find out just how "broken" he is. Just because he's good at hiding his emotions doesn't stop him feeling them though and I absolutely loved the slow build relationship that develops between him and Tazia.

Tazia was a great character and I loved seeing how strong she was to fight against her culture to follow her dreams of becoming an engineer. It wasn't easy for her to go against her family's wishes and it was for her to be estranged from the people she loved but it was nice to see how Stefan was so caring towards her when she needed him to be. They're also facing a bigger struggle than most of the other couples in the series because Stefan has to work so hard to hide their relationship on the Psy-net. They are taking a huge risk to be together but it more than pays off for them in the long run.

Dorian:
I loved Dorian's story, it's the shortest one in the anthology and unlike the others it's not a romance but it was great to get further insight into his character's background. This story takes place over a number of years and finishes just after events in Visions of Heat. As a leopard Changeling without the ability to actually change shape Dorian has never had it easy and this story is all about him learning to come to terms with his situation.

Dorian had to learn to find other ways to communicate with his other side and he had to learn other ways to play and work alongside the rest of his pack. It was obvious in his book (Hostage to Pleasure) that he was well respected by Lucas and his packmates but this is more about him dealing with his personal demons. This story does contain a few spoilers for his storyline so if you've not read his book yet I'd recommend holding off on this one. Having said that if you already know what happens to him later on you're going to absolutely love the last scene in this story. It totally melted my heart and I love Dorian more than ever now.

Partners in Persuasion:
This novella begins towards the end of Tangle of Need and features submissive wolf Felix and dominant leopard Dezi. Felix has been hurt before by a dominant wolf so he's afraid of getting burnt a second time but Dezi knows what she wants and she has the patience to win Felix around. It's not always easy to sell me on a dominant female / submissive male pairing, too often dominant is actually code for "arrogant and bitchy" when it comes to women while submissive men are just too easy for them to walk all over and that never sits well with me. I trust Nalini though and she didn't steer me wrong here.

Dezi is strong and she's definitely the dominant partner in this pairing but she's not pushy or arrogant and she's very careful not to push Felix beyond his boundaries. Felix may be submissive but that doesn't make him weak and he's willing to stand his ground when he needs to so I have no fears that Dezi could take advantage of him. I think they're actually both incredibly strong characters and I enjoyed seeing them work around the challenges that come as part of being not just a dominant/submissive pairing but also from being from both SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs. I love the way the two packs are becoming more and more entwined as the series progresses!

Flirtation of Fate:
I think a lot of fans have been waiting for Kenji and Garnet's story for a long time now, Flirtation of Fate takes place towards the end of Heart of Obsidian and gives Kenji a second chance to make things right with Garnet after he rejected her previously. I've loved the banter between these two for a long time now and I've been wondering if they were ever going to act on it but I didn't realise quite how much Kenji had hurt Garnet by walking away from her before. I was irritated with him when I found out his reasons, I thought their age was a pretty poor excuse for leaving when he knew exactly what she was to him but he's so lovable that I ended up forgiving him just like Garnet did.

This story takes place away from the SnowDancer den at the territory Kenji look after and there is a bit of mystery going on in the background after one of their packmates is murdered. I have to admit I'd figured out the killer fairly early on but that didn't stop me enjoying seeing Kenji and Garnet working together to try and put it all together. I would have loved this story to be a bit longer so we could have spent more time with them as a couple but I still really loved their flirtatious banter and think they're a fab couple.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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