The Qwillery

Welcome to my very first Month in Review. If you have been following my Week in Review then hopefully you still also enjoy my brand new monthly post. If you are new then I hope you enjoy hearing about what I have been reading.

September has been a nightmare on my work/life balance and as a result I haven't had a lot spare time to read. I have however, read a couple of 'goodies' and maybe a not soo goody to tell you about. I also had the opportunity to treat you to not 1 but 2 full reviews. Yipee!

I am going to start this post with a review of the audio books that I have been listening to. I have really gotten into audio books after not really enjoying them for years. This may or may not have something to do with my love of all things Hugh D'Ambray and the perfectly cast narrator Steve West.



Despite the fact that I have read and re-read White Hot and Wildfire by Ilona Andrews I decided to try the audio versions, narrated by Andrew's favourite narrator Renee Raudman. So I have listened to quite a few of Andrews' audiobooks over the last few months and I wasn't convinced that Raudman would make as convincing a Nevada Baylor as she did Dina Demille. I quite enjoyed these two instalments of the Hidden Legacy Trilogy. I thought that Raudman's vocal range worked well for both male and female characters and she didn't have the southern twang that she sported in previous recordings. The pace of the recording worked well and built the drama and action of the story. If you haven't read the books in this series then give the audio books a go.


Another fantastic audio release is David Sedaris' Calypso. We get a hilarious glimpse of Sedaris' life as he hits middle age. This book takes you from 'lol'ling about one of Sedaris' observations to feeling quite mournful as he recounts the events following the suicide of his sister Tiffany. It is a book of highs and lows and really makes you respect Sedaris' keen powers of observation and self deprecating sense of humour.

America - you are soo lucky to have Sedaris as one of your own but we have him now! Safely picking up roadside garbage in Sussex. You can't have him back!


I discovered that book 5 of Dannika Dark's Crossbreed series had been released and decided to give it a read. Blackout follows almost immediately after the events of book 4. Raven has no memory of her relationship with the vamp Poe and Shepherd struggles with the knowledge he has a child. More crossbreed madness is on horizon for the Keystone gang when a blackout hits the city and breed leaders end up dead. Keystone have a mission to do and the clock is ticking.

As the series progresses Dark has made the decision to increase the number of POV chapters, randomly swapping between characters but still focusing on Raven's experiences. There are only two words I can use to describe Blackout and they are 'hot and mess'. The random swapping of POV chapters really disrupted the story and the story itself wasn't that coherent in the first place. There is very little to the 'whose behind all the bad stuff' mystery and I predicted every major plot point. I decided not to continue with this series as I just don't care what happens to Raven or the other ragtag Keystone crew.


The final book I have to tell you about is Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. I actually started this book quite a while ago and finally decided to pay it some attention and finish it. Qwill reviewed this book back in August so check out what she thought.

Foundryside took me by surprise. Usually for me, Jackson's stories hit me with a big KAPOW from the first few pages and I am in there, loving the characters and loving the story. This time, it took me a little longer to warm up to Sancia and Gregor. I found it difficult, at first, to know what was going on and how the characters and civilization all fit together. Because I wasn't immediately engaged I got distracted by other books and left Foundryside for several weeks. In retrospect this actually worked in my favour. While it took me a little bit longer to get into the story once I did I was completely hooked. Sancia was a little bit different and her past experiences were horrific but shaped her into the hero she didn't think she could be. Bennett added some really good twists to make sure that we all paid attention and didn't feel the need the spoon feed us with lots of backstory. In the end I thoroughly enjoyed Foundryside and while it will take quite a bit for it to eclipse his Divine Cities series for me I am willing to it a go.


This isn't quite it for my September reads  - be sure to check out my full reviews of Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews and Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven. Well folks here endeth my first MMiR. I hope you enjoyed it. See you in October!

White Hot
A Hidden Legacy Novel
HarperAudio, May 30, 2017

The Hidden Legacy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews continues as Nevada and Rogan navigate a world where magic is the norm…and their relationship burns hot

Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …

Wildfire
A Hidden Legacy Novel
HarperAudio, July 25, 2017

From Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author, the thrilling conclusion to her Hidden Legacy series, as Nevada and Rogan grapple with a power beyond even their imagination…

Nevada Baylor can’t decide which is more frustrating—harnessing her truthseeker abilities or dealing with Connor “Mad” Rogan and their evolving relationship. Yes, the billionaire Prime is helping her navigate the complex magical world in which she’s become a crucial player—and sometimes a pawn—but she also has to deal with his ex-fiancée, whose husband has disappeared, and whose damsel-in-distress act is wearing very, very thin.

Rogan faces his own challenges, too, as Nevada’s magical rank has made her a desirable match for other Primes. Controlling his immense powers is child’s play next to controlling his conflicting emotions. And now he and Nevada are confronted by a new threat within her own family. Can they face this together? Or is their world about to go up in smoke?

Calypso
Hachette Audio, May 29, 2018

David Sedaris returns with his most deeply personal and darkly hilarious book.

If you’ve ever laughed your way through David Sedaris’s cheerfully misanthropic stories, you might think you know what you’re getting with Calypso. You’d be wrong.

When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And life at the Sea Section, as he names the vacation home, is exactly as idyllic as he imagined, except for one tiny, vexing realization: it’s impossible to take a vacation from yourself.

With Calypso, Sedaris sets his formidable powers of observation toward middle age and mortality. Make no mistake: these stories are very, very funny–it’s a book that can make you laugh ’til you snort, the way only family can. Sedaris’s powers of observation have never been sharper, and his ability to shock readers into laughter unparalleled. But much of the comedy here is born out of that vertiginous moment when your own body betrays you and you realize that the story of your life is made up of more past than future.

This is beach reading for people who detest beaches, required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumor joke. Calypso is simultaneously Sedaris’s darkest and warmest book yet–and it just might be his very best.

Blackout
Crossbreed 5
Dannika Dark, August 2018
Trade Paperback and eBook, 341 pages

The fate of millions rests on Keystone when they embark on their most important assignment of all…

After what was supposed to be a simple job, Raven and Christian uncover a sinister plot against the higher authority, and the stakes are as high as the body count. The assassins are merciless, with anyone who stands in their way becoming collateral damage. Meanwhile, Raven is still struggling to make sense of her feelings for Christian following a memory wipe.

During a blackout, the city erupts into chaos. With Breed on the brink of war, Keystone has only twenty-four hours to complete a secret mission. Raven seeks help from the most unlikely of places, but at what cost?

It’s a race against time to save lives in this explosive installment of the Crossbreed series.

Foundryside
The Founders Trilogy 1
Crown, August 21, 2018
Hardcover and eBook, 512 pages

“The exciting beginning of a promising new epic fantasy series. Prepare for ancient mysteries, innovative magic, and heart-pounding heists.”—Brandon Sanderson

“Complex characters, magic that is tech and vice versa, a world bound by warring trade dynasties: Bennett will leave you in awe once you remember to breathe!”–Tamora Pierce–

In a city that runs on industrialized magic, a secret war will be fought to overwrite reality itself–the first in a dazzling new series from City of Stairs author Robert Jackson Bennett.

Sancia Grado is a thief, and a damn good one. And her latest target, a heavily guarded warehouse on Tevanne’s docks, is nothing her unique abilities can’t handle.

But unbeknownst to her, Sancia’s been sent to steal an artifact of unimaginable power, an object that could revolutionize the magical technology known as scriving. The Merchant Houses who control this magic–the art of using coded commands to imbue everyday objects with sentience–have already used it to transform Tevanne into a vast, remorseless capitalist machine. But if they can unlock the artifact’s secrets, they will rewrite the world itself to suit their aims.

Now someone in those Houses wants Sancia dead, and the artifact for themselves. And in the city of Tevanne, there’s nobody with the power to stop them.

To have a chance at surviving—and at stopping the deadly transformation that’s under way—Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies, learn to harness the artifact’s power for herself, and undergo her own transformation, one that will turn her into something she could never have imagined.

Hello! Have you missed me? I realise I haven't been around for a couple of weeks.  I was on holiday in Seville, Spain in mid April. It was a fantastic holiday. We were there during a big festival called the Feria. Every woman was dressed in full flamenco clothes and men in traditional Spanish suits while riding horses. It was great with some book reading but not much. I then over-estimated what I could finish when I got back so alas no WIR last week but I'm back now. What did I read?


So I have a confession to make. I had fully intended to tell you all about books 2 and 3 of Dan Koboldt's Gateways to Alissia series however I only managed to finish 1 of them. All will be revealed soon.

In book 2 - The Island of Deception the magician Quinn Bradley is about to make the big time. A big show in Vegas and his name in lights. His life is finally on the right track until his former colleagues at Case Global Enterprises call him back to Alissia. Bradley is asked to return to the alternate universe of Alissia to try to stop the former head of Case Global, Richard Holt from taking control.

The story is told from multiple POVs including Quinn, Logan, Mendez and Kiara who we met in the previous installment but mostly from Quinn's. The POVs give us a modicum of character development as the story is told from that character's voice. I have to say that I didn't enjoy book 2. Second books are always challenging when the first book of a series is really good as they don't always live up to expectations. This is definitely the case for the Gateways of Alissia series. This book was too much of a filler for me without a lot of substance and I really struggled to finish it. I would love to tell you, in detail what happened, but basically Quinn arrives, he travels around and Richard Holt is still in charge at the end.

I really tried to finish book 3, The World Awakening to tell you about this week but it was too much of a struggle. I got just over halfway through and it was either skip a bunch of chapters or try again next week. It came down to 'try again'. I will endeavor to finish it next week!


While I was trying to finish The World Awakening I looked for something else I could read and discovered that book 4, Gaslight, of Dannika Dark's Crossbreed series was out. It was pretty inexpensive and I knew the previous books were quick reads. As I was pretty desperate for a quick read (it was Thursday by this point!) I decided to buy it.

After the events of book 3, Deathtrap, Raven is determined to search out and punish those who have been trafficking humans to vampires while her colleagues in Keystone have their own troubles and challenges to face. When Raven goes missing and is in the hands of her former tormentor allegiances are forged and torn apart. Christian and Raven's budding relationship is put to the test and no one is sure who will survive.

The first half of the story is pretty straight forward with Raven and Christian and what happens when Raven goes missing. Had that been constructed properly that could have been the whole plot of book but Dark decided to make it more complex and a lot more confusing. The main plot was resolved halfway through and then Dark decided to add in gratuitous sex, sentiment and some minor character development. Overall it was too disjointed with POV chapters that went nowhere or didn't contribute to the overall plot. If I compare this to the other books of the series I would have to say it was a bit of hot mess.


That is it for me this week. I know it sounds like a bit of a disappointing week and my fingers are  crossed for a winner for my next Week in Review. Stay tuned to find out if I find a perfect read. Until then Happy Reading!

The Island Deception
Gateways to Alissia 2
Harper Voyager Impulse, April 11, 2017
    eBook, 352 pages
Harper Voyager Impulse, May 30, 2017
    Mass Market Paperback, 496 pages

Continuing the exciting adventures from The Rogue Retrieval, The Island Deception blends fun and mystery into a brilliant new portal fantasy from Dan Koboldt.

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. But what happens after you step through a portal to another world, well…

For stage magician Quinn Bradley, he thought his time in Alissia was over. He’d done his job for the mysterious company CASE Global Enterprises, and now his name is finally on the marquee of one of the biggest Vegas casinos. And yet, for all the accolades, he definitely feels something is missing. He can create the most amazing illusions on Earth, but he’s also tasted true power. Real magic.

He misses it.

Luckily—or not—CASE Global is not done with him, and they want him to go back. The first time, he was tasked with finding a missing researcher. Now, though, he has another task:

Help take Richard Holt down.

It’s impossible to be in Vegas and not be a gambler. And while Quinn might not like his odds—a wyvern nearly ate him the last time he was in Alissia—if he plays his cards right, he might be able to aid his friends.

He also might learn how to use real magic himself.

Gaslight
Crossbreed 4
Dannika Dark, February 16, 2018
Trade Paperback and eBook, 373 pages

Raven Black returns in another heart-pounding installment of the USA Today bestselling Crossbreed series.

Vampire trafficking is a sinister business, and nobody knows that better than Keystone. After Raven discovers hidden clues in a cold case, the group sets a trap in hopes of catching an elusive criminal. But when the plan backfires, Raven’s world is thrown into chaos, and Christian’s loyalty is put to the ultimate test.

Buried secrets come to light, and the only thing keeping Raven grounded is her insatiable thirst for vengeance. The stakes are high as they travel to a place where the landscapes are as treacherous as the immortals who live there. This time, there’s no room for mistakes.

Will Raven have the courage to tame the violence in her heart before it swallows her whole?

Hello again. Sorry I have missed a couple of WIRs. I have been busy reading books for SPFBO 2017 and can't share my opinion of those books quite yet. I hope you have had some good books to enjoy while I have been offline. Let me tell you of two of the non-SPFBO books I have been reading.


First up is Andy Weir's Artemis. This standalone novel has been released recently but was I pretty lucky to receive it from the publisher via NetGalley a few months ago.

The story is set on the moon and features the plucky Jazz, who spends her days pushing contraband and living just shy on the right side of the law. She grew up on the moon, in the city of Artemis and loves every inch of it. When she gets an offer that will give her the life she yearns for it seems almost too good to be true. If it seems to good to be true it usually is. Its not long before Jazz is on the run from a criminal syndicate that plans to take over Artemis. With just her wits and her friends Jazz is determined to save the only home she has ever really known.

I rather enjoyed Artemis although it did take a couple of chapters for me to adjust to Jazz and her rather dubious moral code. This book is completely different in content and tone to Martian so if you are expecting another good guy then you may be disappointed with the more complex Jazz. I liked Artemis as a setting and all the sciency bits that made the plot more credible. The plot was interspersed with letters between Jazz and her childhood pen friend and this plot device helps to develop Jazz as a character and later on to help advance the plot. This is a quick, easy read with a strong female lead that I enjoyed. Science fiction fans be sure to take a chance on Artemis.


Book 2 for me was the third instalment of the Crossbreed series by Dannika Dark - Deathtrap. In this instalment Raven Black is set on the trail of criminal who is kidnapping breed children, killing their mothers and then selling them on the black market. All of the 'gang' are involved in this one and different sides are told through POV chapters. All this comes with Raven trying to reconcile letting her human life go and saying good-bye to her father. Helping her is the hunky vampire Christian who Raven is drawn towards, despite her hatred of vampires.

This series is very much light relief for me. The plot isn't challenging but there is enough substance to make it readable. Raven is not without her flaws which makes her a more likable character but Dark introduces a coincidental meeting that, in my view, adds nothing to the main romance of the story. Overall, an OK read but I am not expecting any big surprises.


That is it for me this week. Hope to be back next week but I do a few more SPFBO books to read so if I miss another week it's not because I'm not reading. Be back soon!

Artemis
Crown, November 14, 2017
Hardcover and eBook, 320 pages

The bestselling author of The Martian returns with an irresistible new near-future thriller—a heist story set on the moon.

Jasmine Bashara never signed up to be a hero. She just wanted to get rich.

Not crazy, eccentric-billionaire rich, like many of the visitors to her hometown of Artemis, humanity’s first and only lunar colony. Just rich enough to move out of her coffin-sized apartment and eat something better than flavored algae. Rich enough to pay off a debt she’s owed for a long time.

So when a chance at a huge score finally comes her way, Jazz can’t say no. Sure, it requires her to graduate from small-time smuggler to full-on criminal mastermind. And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. But Jazz has never run into a challenge her intellect can’t handle, and she figures she’s got the ‘swagger’ part down.

The trouble is, engineering the perfect crime is just the start of Jazz’s problems. Because her little heist is about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself.

Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over her head. She’ll have to hatch a truly spectacular scheme to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city.

Jazz is no hero, but she is a very good criminal.

That’ll have to do.

Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir.

Deathtrap
A Crossbread Novel 3
Dannika Dark, September 2017
Trade Paperback and eBook, 326 pages

The explosive third installment in USA Today Bestselling author Dannika Dark’s Crossbreed series.

“YOU MIGHT BE DONE WITH THE PAST, BUT THE PAST ISN’T DONE WITH YOU.”

For Raven Black, hunting criminals is second nature. So is denial. It’s not easy moving forward with one foot stuck in the past. But a new case offers her a much-needed distraction when Keystone accepts their toughest assignment yet—to track down an elusive criminal who’s selling children on the black market.

Their investigation leads them deep into the underbelly of the Breed world, a place both treacherous and enticing. With no room for mistakes, Raven makes a tough decision to lock the door to her past before it interferes with her job. The only trouble? Christian holds the key.

The stakes are high, and a shocking twist turns everything on its head. Will they catch this criminal before more lives are lost? Find out in the latest edge-of-your-seat installment of the Crossbreed series.

Hello! I am back! Did you miss me? I hope so. I have been on holiday and my eldest sister was over so I wasn't able to keep you up to date on what I had been reading. Hopefully, this post will remedy that for you. Enough said, what did I read?


I am going to start with the book that was my favourite - White Hot by Ilona Andrews, which is the second instalment of the Hidden Legacy series. The story starts a few months after the dramatic events of book 1, Burn for Me. Nevada hasn't heard a peep from the hunky Prime Mad Rogan since the big smooch that followed Rogan's declaration that Nevada was going to be 'his'. Nevada is thrown, quite literally, back into Rogan's life when she takes a case to solve the who murdered the animal mage, Cornelius's wife. It's not surprising that this continues the plot arc of the mysterious and extremely dangerous organisation that wants to bring down the magical hierarchy and all Primes with it. A number of secondary characters we met in book 1 are back to help Nevada, including her family. It's not long before Nevada and Rogan are the target and it's a race to discover who is behind the killings before they become the assassin's next victims.

I really, really enjoyed White Hot. I read it a few times in close succession. It stops just short of being excellent and I will tell you why a bit later. I like both Nevada and Rogan as characters. I also think the world building is well executed and the plot arc has me guessing. Andrews has got a lot to tell along with relationships and romances to build in only a few books as this is trilogy. Unlike the Kate Daniel's series and many others like it, Andrews doesn't have several books to have a slow burn romance between the main characters so no time is wasted bringing the love interests together. I find this quite refreshing and it must be challenging for the writers to make it believable and engaging. I think they have succeeded. I am also very intrigued to find out who the evil force is. I have no clue and that is a major achievement as I usually always guess 'who dunnit'. I don't have too long to wait as book 3, Wildfire, is out in July. I can HARDLY WAIT! So I mentioned that I felt White Hot fell a bit short of being excellent and that is down to the cover. I know I am a cover snob and I also know that the author is quite defensive of the covers as they are controlled by the publisher however, I can't see that this cover is a selling point. If I wasn't already invested in this author or the series I would have passed on this series purely based on the cover. I think the publisher has missed a trick by not having a more dramatic cover or a model that doesn't look like his six pack was drawn on with crayon. Just a minor downside of a great book and series.



I am going to tell you about the next two books together as they are the first and second books of a new series by Dannika Dark called The Crossbreed novels. These books, I believe, are set in the same work as Dark's Mageri series. I have to say, I believe, as I haven't read that series. The story introduces the lead character Raven Black who is a crossbreed - part vampire and part mage. She has been living rough as a one woman vigilante, killing the baddies, that seem to be everywhere. So far she has been living on her wits and her crossbreed talents until she receives a proposition to join the covert organisation - Keystone - to take down baddies as part of a group of supernatural misfits. In book 1, Keystone, joining Keystone doesn't go quite to plan and that is mostly down to her partner, the vamp Christian but without giving too much away Raven overcomes her issues with being part of a team by book 2 - Ravenheart. In this instalment Raven and Christian are set to find a series killer who is targeting Breed women. The hunter becomes the hunter in this second instalment.

I have to be honest and say that Dark isn't one of my favourite authors but so far I like this series. It it isn't taking itself too seriously and so far, no one has jumped into bed together yet which isn't typical of this genre. If you enjoy a supernatural murder mysteries with a female lead character that is quite sarcastic then why not give this series a go? These are books well suited to the beach or a long commute. I am looking forward to seeing what Dark has in store for Raven Black.


The last book I am going to tell you about is the novella - The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch. This is a story from the Peter Grant / Rivers of London series. PC Grant is on the case when ghosts are spotted on London Underground (aka the Tube). When the ghosts start to get more aggressive Peter enlists the help of his colleague from the British Transport Police, Jaget Kumar, and his trusty non-police dog Toby to track down why the spirits are haunting the Metropolitan line. When Peter discovers an actual human's life is at stake he realises that time is running out to solve this mystery. Lucky he has help in the form of his young teenage wizard cousin and an adolescent river god.

This is a great novella. I thought it was witty and gripping in equal measure. I am not always fond of novellas and short stories but this isn't one to miss.


That is it for me this week. I could tell you more but some of the books I read won't be published for a while yet so I need to keep my trap shut :-). I hope you have read some good books over the last few weeks. It would be great to hear what you read. I will be back next week so until then Happy Reading.

White Hot
A Hidden Legacy Novel 2
Avon, May 30, 2017
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 416 pages

The Hidden Legacy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews continues as Nevada and Rogan navigate a world where magic is the norm…and their relationship burns hot

Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …

Keystone
A Crossbreed Novel 1
Dannika Dark, January 2017
Trade Paperback and eBook, 310 pages

With over 1.5 million books sold, USA Today Bestseller Dannika Dark introduces her next addictive series...

Raven Black hunts evildoers for fun, but her vigilante justice isn't the only reason she's hiding from the law. Half Vampire, half Mage,she's spent years living as a rogue to stay alive. When a Russian Shifter offers her a job in his covert organization hunting outlaws,dignity and a respectable career are finally within her grasp. The catch? Her new partner is Christian Poe - a smug, handsome Vampire whom she'd rather stake than go on a stakeout with.

They're hot on the trail of a human killer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. One misstep during her probationary period could jeopardize Raven's chance at redemption, and her partner would love nothing more than to see her fail. Will Raven find the courage to succeed, or will she give in to her dark nature?

Dark secrets, unexpected twists, and a blurred line between good and evil will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Crossbreed is a powerful new urban fantasy series that will captivate your imagination. Follow Raven on her journey through a perilous world of secrets and lies.

Ravenheart
A Crossbreed Novel 2
Dannika Dark, May 2017
Trade Paperback and eBook, 329 pages

“WE ALL HAVE SECRETS, RAVEN. DARK ONES. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.”

Two weeks after joining Keystone, Raven Black is ready to take on the world as a criminal hunter for hire. If only her partner wasn’t a bloodsucking Vampire with a penchant for getting under her skin. Despite her lavish surroundings, Raven misses the freedom of life without rules. And Keystone’s next assignment is about to test her self-control in more ways than one.

Dead bodies are popping up in the human district, and all signs point to a Breed serial killer. In order to catch him, Raven and Christian embark on a mission that takes their partnership into uncharted waters. Lives are at stake. Can Raven trust her instincts, or will she fall into a web spun from lies and deceit?

Time is running out in this pulse-pounding tale of dark secrets, murder, and forbidden desires.

The Furthest Station 
A Rivers of London Novella
Subterranean Press, June 28, 2017
Hardcover, 144 pages

There have been ghosts on the London Underground, sad, harmless spectres whose presence does little more than give a frisson to travelling and boost tourism. But now there’s a rash of sightings on the Metropolitan Line and these ghosts are frightening, aggressive and seem to be looking for something.

Enter PC Peter Grant junior member of the Metropolitan Police’s Special Assessment unit a.k.a. The Folly a.k.a. the only police officers whose official duties include ghost hunting. Together with Jaget Kumar, his counterpart at the British Transport Police, he must brave the terrifying the crush of London’s rush hour to find the source of the ghosts.

Joined by Peter’s wannabe wizard cousin, a preschool river god and Toby the ghost hunting dog their investigation takes a darker tone as they realise that a real person’s life might just be on the line.
And time is running out to save them.

With this new novella, bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch has crafted yet another wickedly funny and surprisingly affecting chapter in his beloved Rivers of London series.

Welcome to June. I was hoping for some super scorchio weather this week but alas I had to turn the heating back on and wear a sweater. I guess I shouldn't expect a heatwave considering I live in the UK. I am just hoping it doesn't rain all weekend as I want to try out my new pressure washer. You know you are either getting old or boring when your big exciting purchase is a pressure washer! Anyway I digress.  What did I read?


I was having a browse on Amazon and discovered that Eidolon by Grace Draven was available. The last time I checked it wasn't available in the UK and then reading it slipped my mind. This is the second in the Wraith Kings series and continues the story of the unlikely couple  - the beautiful human wife Ildiko and her handsome but not so human husband Brishen. I was rather surprised to discover this was only book 2. So much happened in book 1 Radiance that I had forgotten it was only one book. At the end of Radiance Brishen had been captured and tortured which left him with only one eye and various other scars. He and Ildiko are still very much in love despite their many differences. The story doesn't start with these two mismatched lovebirds but in the home of Brishen's family following his mother unleashing monstrous demons on the castle and surrounding populace. All of Brishen's family are killed in the onslaught....well all apart from a tiny baby, her nurse and 2 palace guards. While they seek shelter Brishen is left thinking he is the only survivor from his family and has to find a way to save his kingdom and the rest of humanity. Little does he realise to do this he needs to raise an army of the undead...and become one himself. Ildiko is left to single handedly keep the Kingdom safe and wait for Brishen to return....if he does at all.

Yet again Draven creates a fast paced, dark but engaging tale full of folklore, action and romance. While the last story had a few subplots (the wedding, Brishen's mother, Brishen getting captured) Eidolon has one main plotline which is about Brishen trying to save his kingdom by becoming a Wraith King. I enjoyed this story I think more than book 1. Brishen had a hard choice to make in this novel and it wasn't just about leaving Ildiko on her own while he goes off to war. I also quite like Ildiko as she can stick up for herself and is self sufficient despite being part of the aristocracy. I also thought it was interesting that Draven is going to continue this series but not with Brishen and Ildiko as the lead characters. Apparently their story has been told and Draven is moving onto 2 of the secondary characters. This is a great way to keep the series fresh and not put this couple through seemingly never ending tumult. I do miss however the lovely illustrations that came with Draven's other novels but Eidolon does have a gorgeous cover to look at instead.


Book 2 for me was One Second by Dannika Dark. This is the final book of the Seven series and centres again on Lexi and Austin. In this instalment there is a war coming which puts the Weston pack at risk of being wiped out. A pack of rogues are taking over and wiping out packs in neighbouring states and they have set their sights on Texas. While this is unfolding the couple are facing their own challenges when Lexi ends up pregnant. Keeping Lexi and the baby safe is Austin's main priority but so is his pack and both are at risk of being killed at the hands of the invading rogues.

I will admit I almost quit reading this series as the male characters are misogynists with capital 'M'. I think if I had to read 'get your hands off my woman' or don't talk to my woman like that' or use of the word woman to describe ownership I was going to rush out and burn my bra. I thought I would finish the series off as I had already invested enough time and money in it so far. This book was an improvement on some of the others in the series but it was very slow going. Not a lot of the action happens until midway through and then it is pretty non-stop action until the end.


That is it for me for this week. Until next week Happy Reading!

Eidolon
Wraith Kings 2
Balestra Publishing, LLC, April 18, 2016
eBook, 239 pages
Review Copy: Reviewer's Own

In a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis unleashes a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to save his throne.

Three kingdoms on the verge of war must unite to save each other, and a one-eyed, reluctant king will raise an army of the dead to challenge an army of the damned.

A tale of alliance and sacrifice.

One Second
Seven Series 7
Dannika Dark, April 3, 2016
Trade Paperback and eBook, 392 pages
Review Copy: Reviewer's Own

Love. Family. Brotherhood.

Lexi has faced personal struggles, but nothing has prepared her for the most perilous battle of her life. Shifters are on the brink of war as Northerners target Colorado in an attempt to infiltrate the borders. Texas winds up on the hit list, and the Weston pack prepares to fight for their land… and for their lives.

Austin’s courage is put to the test when rogues want to seize his land and slaughter his pack. But that’s not all he’s facing as two shocking revelations turn their lives upside down. His love for Lexi is unwavering, but their future is uncertain.

Will the local packs set aside their differences to fight together, or will this be the end of peace among Shifters? Stand witness to the epic conclusion of the Seven series.

Destiny will find you.

Brrrrr.....it is freezing in the UK and we even had snow this week.  The snow here is not like you experience in the US or Canada.  It only takes 15 minutes of light snow to bring this country to a standstill. I was super jealous when one of my sisters told me she was on her third snow day (she is a teacher). Just think of the books I could read in three days snuggled under my duvet? This has also been a very sad week in the entertainment industry. I can't believe that two of my favourites - David Bowie and Alan Rickman - both died. I have been a fan of both Bowie and Rickman for many, many years. What a loss to both music and acting. Despite the snow and sad news I had a pretty good week so let me tell you what I read.


I have been very lucky recently with getting my requests from NetGalley approved. I have enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series and was delighted when I received Driven, a novella from the series.

In this long novella a young rogue wolf comes for help from Elena and the Pack. Members of his family have been found strung up and skinned while in wolf form. Elena needs a monster to find a monster and she doesn't have to look too far. She has her very own monster in the Pack - Malcolm Danvers. Readers will remember Malcolm as Jeremy's father, the pack's cruel and sadistic enforcer. He has asked to re-join the Pack and Elena was left with one of the hardest decisions as Alpha. Assigning Malcolm to find the killer of rogue werewolves is not an easy one but the best option for finding the murderer.

It has been awhile since I joined Elena and the rest of the pack. Nearly all of my favourite characters get a mention although the story focuses on Elena, Clay and of course, Malcolm. It starts with the 'big decision'  - Malcolm's re-admittance into the Pack. In the following chapters we get a front row seat to Malcolm's introduction to his Elena and Clay's children and re-introduction to Karl, whose father he killed. I almost liked these scenes more than the 'who dunnit' of finding the killer, especially the scenes with the kids. I would have enjoyed a bit more than just a mention of Paige (one of my faves) but overall a good story. As I had an eArc I missed out on the illustrations. I am sure they are superb.


Book 2 was Her Majesty's Necromancer by C.J. Archer. If you read my last WIR you will remember that I enjoyed the first in the Ministry of Curiosities, thought it has a couple of shortcomings. In this instalment Charlie continues her search for her birth mother and in the process uncovers a secret that threatens someone she holds very dear - the handsome but mysterious Lincoln.

Yet again, Charlie's curiosity gets her in trouble. She really needs to stop walking around on her own. She continues to slyly pursue her protector Lincoln even though she is now his maid. We learn more about the other inhabitants of the house and a bit more about their back story. Lincoln however, continues to be the big mystery. This series is OK. I am neither mesmerised by the plot or that bored by it either. It definitely has entertainment value. The covers continue to be utterly and completely gorgeous.


A little perusal of my Amazon recs undercovered Charming by Dannika Dark which is a mini-instalment/novella in the Seven series. At the end of book 6 the sophisticated Alpha Prince is introduced to the glamorous Nadia. He thinks he has discovered his dream girl but it isn't until her more rough and ready sister Katarina comes on the scene that he realises that love does come in unexpected packages.

I thought this book was only marginally OK. I found Prince kind of creepy and a snob. It was rather cliché that he falls for the pizza loving, jean wearing sister rather than the designer one.  In its defense this wasn't a full length story so there might have been better characterisation had it been longer. It does however, fulfil its PNR requirements so if you are looking for some quick and easy romance then this won't take a lot of your time.


That is all I have to tell you about this week. I am hoping to have some full reviews for you over the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled. Until then I hope you have a great week ahead.

Driven
Subterranean Press, January 31, 2016
Hardcover and eBook, 232 pages

Subterranean Press is pleased to present a long Otherworld novella by Kelley Armstrong, featuring a number of full-color illustrations by Xaviere Daumarie.

Cains are known for being big, brutish and not-too-bright. The mutt clan embodies all the supernatural world’s worst stereotypes about werewolves. But not even the Cains deserve to be hunted down and skinned like animals.

When young Davis Cain comes to the Pack for help, Alpha Elena Michaels can’t refuse him. It isn’t about morality or justice. It’s about not letting anyone think they can do this to werewolves and get away with it.

But Elena is also dealing with the Pack’s homegrown monster—Malcolm Danvers, onetime enforcer, full-time psycho. Malcolm is now under Elena’s control, as part of the most difficult decision she’s had to make as leader. But if she has to let Malcolm in, she’s going to make full use of him…and the best person to catch monsters is one who knows exactly how they think.

Her Majesty's Necromancer
The Ministry of Curiosities 2
C.J. Archer, August 2015
Trade Paperback and eBook, 246 pages

When bodies go missing from the cemetery, Lincoln and the Ministry of Curiosities investigate. But not Charlie. As a housemaid at Lichfield Towers, she doesn't get involved in Ministry business.

Instead, she conducts investigations of her own. She searches for details about her real mother, and makes inquiries into Lincoln's background. What she learns has the power to destroy the fragile trust they've built, or bring them closer together.

As secrets are revealed, and investigations don't go as planned, Charlie finds her necromancy sucking her into a whirlpool filled with betrayal, lies and danger.

Charming
Seven World 6.5
Dannika Dark, December 2015
Trade Paperback and eBook, 182 pages

After seven hundred years, Prince has acquired everything a Packmaster could desire. But when he meets the enchanting Nadia Kozlov, he realizes there’s one thing he doesn’t have: answers. Prince owes his life to a man he hasn’t seen in centuries, and Nadia holds the key to his whereabouts, because that man is her father.

Destinies collide when Nadia’s sister shows up unexpectedly. Katarina is a skilled bounty hunter, hot on the trail of a nefarious outlaw who turns out to be Prince’s old nemesis. Prince teams up with Nadia’s sister to track down the Mage, but the real game of cat and mouse is already underway as sparks fly between Prince and the cunning bounty hunter.

The only trouble? Nadia wants him too.

Happy Bank Holiday to any readers in the UK. I hope you are having a good one. I am trying to avoid getting too wet as, of course, it is raining. Apologies for not posting a WIR last week but I didn't even finish 1 book *gasp*. I was very lucky to be selected to beta read Michael Sullivan's newest book The Death of Dulgath which is finds us back again in Riyria in the company of two of my favourite heroes - Royce and Hadrian. Needless to say I can't tell you much about it other than its a great read. So what have I been able to read in the last two weeks?


I started the week with Crossed which is the third and final instalment of the Soul Eaters series by Eliza Crewe. The part demon part Beacon Meda Melange is back and fighting to save the world from certain annihilation from the demons. The Crusaders, who Meda has been living with, fighting for and being friends with are being wiped out as the war escalates. Meda doesn't know where to turn or what to do as friends become enemies and enemies become allies especially when Jo does the unthinkable. Everything looks like it is going to Hell when in fact that is exactly where Meda and her fiends end up. Can they escape, can they save humanity?

I have enjoyed this series especially the first instalment where Crewe uses one of my all time favourite words - hangry (when you are so hungry you are angry). Crewe really ramps up the body count as nearly everyone apart from a Meda and her closest friends die at the hands of the demons. This instalment starts out with some great scenes between Meda and Jo but this soon devolves into more stereotypical, teenage hysteria and melodrama. There few points in the later chapters that I was hoping that a demon would take out Jo just so I didn't have to read anymore of her childish rants. No such luck. I feel that Crewe ruined what could have been a great ending if it hadn't been for Jo. I was just a tad disappointed with the ending but do not regret reading the series.


Book 2 was Dannika Dark's Two Minutes which is the sixth book in the Seven series. The story is set about 10 years after the end of Three Hours. This time Dark tells the story of Maizy, the young human sister of Lexi and her childhood protector Denver. Maizy comes home after years in boarding school and living in England. She may have grown up but Denver is conflicted over the feelings he has for the beautiful young woman Maizy has become. Maizy still feels safe in the arms of her childhood protector but the more she is with him the more she comes to realise that he is much more than just her protector. Will true love prevail or will Maizy miss out on her fairy tale ending?

I have always found the Seven series nice easy reads that don't tax my brain too much and Two Minutes was no exception. In fact, this instalment was light on the plot as there was one too many coincidences for Maizy and Denver. A lot was made of Maizy being human and why she wasn't a suitable partner for a shifter so when it turns out that she isn't actually human and can turn into any type of shifter this seemed like a bit of a cop out. This really felt like the end of the series but apparently there is another book to go. I don't really know who is left to pair up so will be interested to find out how Dark decides to finish this series.


The final book I am going to tell you about is One Part Human by Viola Grace which is the first instalment of the Obscure Magic series. I came across it in my Amazon recommendations. Boy did Amazon get that one wrong. I got 60% of the way through and gave up on the story of Benny who is so magically special that she has stayed hidden for most of her life. She hides away as a food blogger until she is made to patrol with the Extranormal Investigation Agency. So despite trying to keep her powers hidden she makes a point of solving every case with her 'special skills' and ends up blabbing her hidden secret by the end of the fourth chapter. Not only was it dull it was also confusing but I was soo bored reading it that I couldn't be bothered trying to figure out what was going on with the lackluster plot.


That is it for me for this week. I wish I had some super great books to tell you about but it seems I have had a rather mediocre week in books. Wish me luck for next week. Until then Happy Reading.

I was finally quite productive this week both with reading and with writing reviews. I was starting to get worried that I had lost my reading and review writing mojo but its back. So what did I read?


I started the week with a debut novel that the lovely Qwill sent to me. Revision by Andrea Phillips is the very first novel to be published by Fireside Fiction Company and will be released on May 5th. I will be writing a full review of this book so keep your eye on the blog next week to find out what I thought about it.


I turned to my Amazon recommendations (again...very bad) and found that the next book in the Seven series by Dannika Dark had been released. It wasn't long before Three Hours was on my Kindle. I have mixed views of this series. I liked book 1 Seven Years, thought book 2 Six Months was OK, did not like book 3 Five Weeks and back to another OK review for book 4 Four Days. Part of me wants to continue reading this story just so I can find out if Dark can get her characters to fall in love in a matter of seconds. There are 2 more books in this series. It's going to have to be love at first sight by the time we get to book 7!

This instalment starts a few years after the end of book 4 with Lexi and Austin still in love, Izzy and Jericho and Ivy and Lorenzo both have young children and Lexi's human sister Maizy is a tweeny. The story is told mainly from Naya's POV. Naya has appeared in most of the novels as she is Lexi's friend and former neighbour. Naya is an exotic dancer and secret panther shifter. Panthers are feared for being too violent so she has kept her shifter identity secret. When young women start to go missing from her strip club Naya approaches the wolf Alpha Austin for help. He assigns the tattooed Wheeler to be her bodyguard. Naya and Wheeler do not get along and the fireworks start when they are forced to spend more time in each others company. Hiding secrets is the theme in Three Hours as Naya isn't the only one who is keeping secrets. Wheeler has almost as many secrets as he has tattoos and Naya is determined to find out each and every one of them. The other sub-plot is the shifter cage fighting and the seedy underworld that Naya and Wheeler find themselves reluctantly involved in.

This book gets another 'OK' for me. Unlike some of the other female characters Naya is a bit more complex and more developed. She is obviously the most noble and well centered stripper in town who helps out her local animal shelter and came to Lexi's aid more than once. I had a hard time imagining what Wheeler was like besides being covered in tattoos. He also kept saying 'preciate ya' and talked about 'his woman' which I found annoying and misogynistic. I can't understand why the female characters in this series are so objectified and are always getting into trouble when not shaking their 'booty'. I was fully expecting the one book of the series that involved a stripper to have the most hot and steamy but it really didn't. Yes, there is a smoking hot sex scene but really only the one. This is quite refreshing as there is more romance in this PNR.


My final book for this week was a little bit different. The good people at Curiosity Quills Press rescued my copy of I Kissed a Ghoul by Michael McCarty. I had received a copy from NetGalley in a format I couldn't open, I forgot I had it and then when I went back to sort it out the book had been archived. I apologised for not reading it in time and within an hour the publisher was sending me another copy in a different format. Hurrah!

If you are looking for a light hearted read look no further than McCarty's I Kissed a Ghoul. The 'big boned' teenager Tommy has been desperate to lose his virginity and every time he thinks he is going to get lucky he is thwarted by one of the many supernaturals in his small town. This book is a mere 120 something pages of Tommy's desperate attempts to seduce almost every female in town while fighting off vampires, werewolves and cannibals. Tommy doesn't seem to think that any of these supernatural encounters are anything out of the ordinary which makes it all the more amusing. One particularly funny scene occurs when Tommy's parents go on vacation leaving him home alone. He watches Tom Cruise in Risky Business and with the help of his father's credit card decides to re-enact the movie. This had me chuckling all the way through. Tommy isn't especially likeable and does seem to be either incredibly naive or incredibly dim but even so, you can't help but feel a bit sorry for him. He is just an overweight teenager looking for love (or a desperate girlfriend who wants to have a lot of sex). If you are looking for something different, a few laughs and a quick read then this is the book for you.


That is it for me for this week. I hope you have a great week ahead and Happy Reading.

Happy New Year! I hope you are all having a great 2015 so far. I have high hopes for some fantastic reads for the new year, mainly as I have been selected as a beta reader for Michael J. Sullivan's new series  - First Empire. I am super excited already.

In the last week I have managed to read a few books. I wasn't certain that I would get much read as I have been on leave so no long commutes to give me ample reading time. So what did I read?

I finished reading Transmuted by Karina Cooper but I will be writing a full review so can't give too much away. I did find that the price of Night Broken the 8th in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs had at last dropped to an acceptable, Kindle version amount. I loved this series at the start. Mercy ranked up there with Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrews) in my estimation as kick ass heroine. When Mercy married the 'too good to be true' Adam she has sorted wimped out and gets violently beaten up each book. Night Broken  has marginally improved my view of this series as Mercy has seemed to have re-grown her backbone, especially when Adam's ex-wife and manipulator supreme returns to town with a malevolent god-stalker in pursuit. It's up to Mercy to overcome her dislike of the woman who can still wrap Adam and the rest of the pack around her very human pinky to save the day.

I thought this instalment was quite different from the others. Firstly, Mercy - the coyote shapeshifter doesn't shift once. This has always been a focus of previous novels and even with her werewolf pack the shapeshifting takes a back seat. A number of characters from previous books also pop up in the story either as background, in conversation or are part of the plot. I thought it was a good 'melange' of supernatural characters including the werewolves (of course), the Coyote, fae, vampires and other gods and monsters. Overall, a good read but Mercy's boobs are WAY too big in this cover! She looks more like Lara Croft than the mechanic, coyote shifter Mercy Thompson.

I then discovered that the next book in the Seven series by Dannika Dark  - Four Days had been released. After the previous book Five Weeks I didn't think I was going to continue the series but I thought I would give it another go. This time the love story focused on Ivy and Lorenzo Church. Ivy had been basically traded off by her father and had been enjoying living with her new pack until the big baddy from her previous life shows up. A chain of ridiculous events lead Ivy to end up living with the macho Church where he violent and abusive past is discovered. I am not sure how Dark is going to get her lead characters to fall in love in less time than 4 days. It gives the phrase  - whirlwind romance - a whole new meaning. Bad guys, deep dark secrets and hot and steamy are the themes of this urban fantasy.

My final book for this week was A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious by Mary Wine. I found this book on my Amazon recommendations and I read a number of positive reviews about it. It was sufficiently steampunky that I thought I would be sure to like it. Well....lets just say by 75% into the book I gave up and read the last page. The story is set in what sounded like the late 1800s in England where who you were and how you acted in polite society was paramount. When the young aristo Janette finds herself caught between 2 warring factions of .....well that is it....I was never sure what they were but it had something to do with crystals. Needless to say there is a young man involved who gets Janette's corset all a quiver. Had she spent as much time thinking of her personal safety as she did about the hunky Darius then it might have been a better book!

That is all for me for this week. I have a few books to clear off my TBR in these early months of 2015 so until next week, Happy Reading.

Happy Bank Holiday weekend to anyone who like me lives in the UK. I am looking forward to the extra day off work. I am hoping that the weather cooperates so that I can enjoy some reading time outside. It is the UK though so highly unlikely I will get to. While I was able to get through a few more books this week I have to admit that I didn't enjoy all the books I read. So what did I read?

I haven't felt particularly productive lately so decided to go for some PNR. I started Dannika Dark's Seven series a few months ago and I discovered book 3 - Five Weeks had been released. In this instalment the love birds Izzy the drifter wolf and new waitress in town and the former rock star Jericho are reunited several years after their friendship ended in disaster. Needless to say the sparks start to fly the moment they come face to face for the first time. Love is never straightforward as misunderstanding and misdirection almost keep the pair apart. This is a HEA series though so no guesses what happens at the end.

While I liked the first book of the series - Seven Years and didn't mind book 2  - Six Months I did not enjoy book 3. I am struggling to find anything to recommend it. I found Izzy to be completely and utterly shallow. She spends more time worry how much to wiggle her hot pants and wink at the customers in the shifter bar she now works in than she does that her boyfriend is a human trafficking, drug dealer. Jericho is pretty bland for a former rock star that destroyed his friendship with Izzy years before with his drug and sex addiction. The action all happens in the first third of the book which made reading the rest of it more of a struggle. I don't like writing a negative review as I can usually find something positive to say about a book even though I may not have enjoyed it. Unfortunately, for Five Weeks this is too difficult.

Clap your hands everyone as I managed to finish The Dark Defiles by Richard K Morgan. This book has taken me WEEKS to read. I was almost hysterical that I wasn't going to get it finished but at last I did it. I will be writing a full review of this book so I don't want to say too much. What I can say though is that Morgan must have invented the word epic as this book puts to the 'e' in epic.

I was having a quick look on NetGalley for something to finish off my week. I came across Unborn by Amber Lynn Natusch. Luckily for me this was a quick read as I very nearly put this book on my DNF shelf. This is the first in the Unborn series. Khara has been ripped from the loving arms of her father Hades in the Underworld and ends up on the harsh streets of Detroit. She was fortunate to be rescued by her brothers who just happen to be a band of super tough guardians who keep the supernatural world in balance. Khara wants nothing more than to go back to her father but there is someone who is determined that she isn't going to get there. It's all up to her undiscovered powers and her new family to keep her from harm.

While I think Izzy from Five Weeks is shallow, the heroine Khara from Unborn is so one dimensional she is like a cardboard cut out. She is completely without emotion and contributed very little to the plot other than to almost get her new family killed several times. Her new brothers are fairly stereotypical - there is a super tough one, a super smart one, a friendly one and of course a bad boy. Again, I have tried to find something positive to say but I am at a loss apart from the cover which is is what drew me to this book in the first place.

That's it for me. I have my fingers crossed that I have a more successful week next week and find books that I enjoy. Until then Happy Reading