Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Eighties nostalgia hit me hard in this one. I fondly remember the days of great big hair, aqua net, answering machines and going out to the movies seeing Halloween on the big screen. I had such a good time with going back in time in this book. Since Airhead is the prequel book to The Hartigan's series you can read it with no commitment to the rest of the series and just see if this author is someone who going to work for you.
Katie and Frank have a big family now, but back in the day Katie was determined to stay away from the the handsome firefighter with a bevy of broken hearts in his wake. She knows his reputation and wants no part of being another hook up in a long line. Frank, on the other hand, has changed his ways and the only heart or pants he is looking to get into are Katie's. With a sly move from Katie's dad, he finds his in to team up and plan a retirement party with Katie. This is his chance to make her see he is more than the bathroom walls claim.
This story was so much fun. I understood Katie's reluctance to get involved with Frank, she wanted out of the little town she came from and he is already laying down roots. I could see the undeniable draw between them as Frank is quick to out call Katie on her delays and trying to get out of seeing him in person. She has her reasons and most of them have to do with trying to keep all of her clothing on and not forget they are in public. Frank is smooth and determined to get the girl in the end.
This had so many cute moments and I loved how it brought back so many of my own memories from the 80's which is OMG 40 years ago now. While I think this is going to be more fun for those of us who remember the 80's it will still have some great moments for some of the younger crowd and they can just tag it as historical fiction.
Savannah Peachy has narrated some of the other books by Avery Flynn and I found her narration to be just as fantastic as in the other books. She presents Avery's book humor well and did a great job with Katie. Aiden Snow...well he is one of my favorite male narrators for romance. His voice is hot and just melts my ears, in a good way, with that deep timber. Together they made the characters pop.
What a great follow up and conclusion to the Shepherd King tale. A few things made this book even better for me. The PoVs expanded from just Elspeth tWhat a great follow up and conclusion to the Shepherd King tale. A few things made this book even better for me. The PoVs expanded from just Elspeth to include Ravyn, Elm and Ione, fleshing out the story even more and adding to the depth of my emotional connection to each character.
“The Nightmare’s smile was a thinly veiled threat. “I know what I know. My secrets are deep. But long have I kept them. And long will they keep.�
The story picks up right after the events of the prior book. The Nightmare is in charge and has a secret. He knows where the lost providence card is, he hid it long ago, so only he can retrieve it to unite the deck. The King, desperate to save his kingdom from the encroaching mist sends him on a journey with Ravyn and few others to retrieve it before solstice. Their journey is treacherous and full of magic. The Shephard king sits in control of Elspeth's body and is Ravyn is ever going to get the girl he loves back, he has to unite the deck and release the Nightmare from her body.
Elm was a character I didn't particularly love in the first book. He was so reluctant to trust Elspeth and made all of his distrust known. In Two Twisted Crowns we learn all the reasons behind that and get a much deeper look at the prince. I enjoyed his chapters as we discovered why he was so loyal to Ravyn and just what a monster his brother was/is. The new romance between him and Ione was one I jumped on the bandwagon for right away in the story. They made a great pair and all of their chapters gripped me.
“Elm twirled her away, then pulled her back into his chest. “I want you to know me very well, Ione Hawthorn. Which is”—he dipped her again, bowing over her and speaking against her throat—“a rather horrifying feeling, if I’m perfectly honest.�
Ione had some secret depths to explore as well. She longed to help save the kingdom and thought with power tied to the crown she could make a difference. However the man she was betrothed to was a monster and would never have let that happen. Elm on the other hand is nothing like his brother and in their quest to find her maiden card they find something far more valuable.
This story had so many things to love about it. The revelations of the Shepherd King and what happened to him and his family. The mistakes he made in life and those that led to his death. The romances in the story, always a part of the tale but not overtaking it. The lore behind the magic and the cards along with the wood. Redemption for some characters and death to others in dramatic ways of course. So many fantastic moments that had me on the edge of my seat.
Elspeth and the Nightmare always steal the show though and their chapters hit me the hardest in some ways. The Nightmare's past and how he became a friend and father like entity in Elspeth's life was just...magic.
Rachel Gillig has solidified herself as a fantastic twister of tales and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I had a great time reading this book and it was so hard to put down as I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The writing with some the rhyming stanza's passed down through history just made this all the more special and really fit the story.
Great Duology! Wonderful touching finish. Everything I would expect from a new fairytale brought to life. ...more
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I've read a few short stories by Vi Keeland that have solidified my interest in her as an author. So I was really excited to pick up Jilted, a full romance novel marketed with a 27 Dresses vibe. Sloane was the Jilted former bride and easy to care about right away. Wilder is the the typical handsome rogue who just needed the right woman to change all of his ways. Together they find out they have more in common that they thought and might be able to help each other heal and move on.
First the meet cute. This was done really well when Sloane gets bamboozled into being in the wedding party last minute when a bridezilla has a melt down. She and Wilder have instant heat and chemistry but Sloan is taking a year off from dating and Wilder is dangerous to that plan. No problem though, they might have had a super hot moment in the coat closet and the best kiss of Sloane's life but she should be safe from seeing him again and can just hold that moment as a fond memory.
Wilder on the other hand has a different plan. He is the son of the owner of Bride Magazine that Sloane works for and pitches an idea for Sloane to cover the weddings of all of his college buddies. This plan with put them together at multiple weddings he is slated to be in. There is just something about Sloane that Wilder can't put a finger on, but she is the first girl he has wanted more with than just a fling and he is willing to put in some work to see if he can build a relationship with her.
In a short time, Vi Keeland built a very cute story. I loved that Sloane's family played such a big role in her life and the author hit on some of the challenges families face when a parent has a severe illness and how families pull together when tragedies hit. Sloane's family was fantastic and made her all the more real on page. Wilder was easy to like as well. Just a little broken due to a huge betrayal in his past that gets teased out along the way, we see him falter in a few places. I do appreciate the recoveries from these lapses are resolved swiftly with communication between the couple and added tension to the story but were not dragged out. There is one trope in this that isn't my favorite but the author made it work and it made sense with Wilder's history.
Overall this is an enjoyable romance with a few weddings, sweet moments and relationship tensions that all work out in the end.
Aiden Snow is an established narrator with an extension catalog of work. His voice has a deep unique timbre that worked well for how I imagined Wilder. Andi Arndt is just as accomplished as a narrator and it shows. Both narrators added to their characters and made them likeable, even when they did unlikeable things, you could tell they were conflicted and it made them all the more real.
I enjoyed how Laura Resnick twisted the vampire tropes and gave the reader an alternate description and history for vampires. Finally the Lithuanian pI enjoyed how Laura Resnick twisted the vampire tropes and gave the reader an alternate description and history for vampires. Finally the Lithuanian piece of the puzzle fell into place.
Esther is in a pretty niche off Broadway play. She was supposed to just be a side character but ends up semi-stealing the show and there are a bevy of people fascinated by the character in the play that have decided to cosplay her character. The leading man, claims to be a vampire and somehow becomes the lead suspect when one of the fans is found dead, drained of blood.
Lopez is on the scene again with rational explanations for everything. Esther is in the middle of all of the trouble again and seems to have caught the killers eye. She is also surrounded by a few real vampires, who knew. With Max's help she is able to call in some support and save the production from going under, well mostly.
I liked this one a little better. The play on the vampire stereotypes was fun. The Max flashbacks were a little strange and made the pacing a little odd but it was a way to show the history of the vampires and so Vamparazzi didn't suffer from quite as much info dumping.
Again these are easy no brainer reads and I'm just popping through them like they are candy. So there must be something to them that is a little addictive for me.
The Graphic Audio narration is really was is making these really enjoyable overall. Not sure I'd have half as much fun with them if I wasn't listening the a full cast narration. Esther and Lopez's voice actors do a really great job and make the story for me....more
Esther is at it again and just happens to fall into more trouble, she really seems to have a knack for it.
While the story had very interesting momentsEsther is at it again and just happens to fall into more trouble, she really seems to have a knack for it.
While the story had very interesting moments in it, trying to figure out if there are zombies or some bad voodoo happening it suffered from trying to explain...so many things. The other books in the story had a little of this but the history of voodoo and those who practice it's rituals was just a lot and took up too much page time.
Esther and Lopez still can't seem to get on the same page. He likes her, she likes him but his ability to willfully try to explain everything that is happening around them in a logical and mundane way is just infuriating. He is a cop, he is a smart guy but nothing is clicking and he still thinks Esther is a little crazy.
The Graphic Audio made much of this book fun but I really felt myself tuning out quite a few times as we get a history and culture lesson. Also, how long can the will they won't they trope last. It is book three, there is a point that it has to happen or just move on. If I was reading this with my eyes, I would have skimmed in a few areas.
Not the best, but I'll hang out a little longer to see if it was just a bump in the road....more
These aren't serious books, so don't go into them with that mindset and sit back for a good time.
Esther is between acting jobs after the off BroadwayThese aren't serious books, so don't go into them with that mindset and sit back for a good time.
Esther is between acting jobs after the off Broadway play she was in gets cancelled. Now it is back to waiting tables. At least the place she waits tables lets her sing as well. One catch, it is a hang out place for mobsters so Esther's maybe, almost if they can get their act together boyfriend isn't super thrilled, since he is cop.
ٳٱ'?" "It's a restaurant called Bella Stella in Little Italy." He frowned. "On Mulberry Street." "You know it?" That didn't surprise me. It was a pretty famous place. "Of course I know it, Esther. There've been two mob hits there in the past five years, and Stella Butera launders money for the Gambello crime family." Okay, so it was notorious as well as famous.�
Weird things are happening and of course Esther just happens to be right in the center of it all again. A few of the gangsters are seeing their perfect doubles and after that they tend to die. Esther likes a few of these guys and wants to help out. Introducing Max to the phenomenon, hanging out with gangsters and trying to figure out who is behind creating these dopplegansters ends up being a fun and wild ride.
I enjoy these books. Sometimes there is a little too much explaining the magic but overall they are really entertaining. Esther is funny and I like how she sometimes gets caught up on the wrong but funny details. I enjoy the will they/won't they heat between her and Lopez. Also the addition of a canine familiar has been enjoyable too. Who doesn't like a good doggie character.
The Graphic Audio of this series just adds to the kick back enjoyment of a silly tale with a lot of fun characters. One of the funniest scenes was Max trying to talk like a gangster. Lopez's voice is sexy and really does it for me as well. Too bad he doesn't get more voice time.
Overall nothing fancy just a kick back, don't think to hard and roll with it kind of story....more
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Aleski is the living embodiment of the God of Love and enjoys playing matchmaker. How can he resist finding the perfect love interest for the Kraken, the Ocean's protector and an entity thought to have lost his heart millennia ago. Naia is a new godling born from the dreams of men, goddess of the sea, it seems only fitting she is also the only one capable of capturing the heart of one of its fiercest creatures. In Daughter of Tides, the first book in the Born to Sea and Storm duology, set in the same world as the Bound to Fire and Steel duology, we begin our journey to see if the sea will capture the heart of the Kraken and if the God of Love will find his perfect match along the way.
I highly recommend reading the Bound to Fire and Steel duology as it sets the foundation of this story and I don't think the reasons for the trios diplomatic duties to a small Island will make sense otherwise. There is a history and enemy well defined in the first duology along with some interactions with the trio that set up the crux of the story in Daughter of Tides. During the battle in Queen of Dreams, Aleski was damaged when he was cut off from the dream for a time. He feels his mortality for the first time in thousands of years. Wanting to leave a mark before his eventual death, he is determined to help his friends by solidifying an alliance with a powerful Ice Mage who rules an Island of legend. If he can also facilitate stoking the embers of heat between Einar and Naia, all the more fun.
A hardened pirate warrior who had seen over two thousand years of life was certainly too old to blush just because a man smiled at him� even if that man was the manifestation of desire and passion. Especially if that man was also wholeheartedly playing matchmaker. Only the Lover could half seduce a man while throwing him at someone else with both hands.
Aleski might have accidentally seduced both Naia and Einar a little too well as the embers of desire surrounding them catch flame he finds himself caught in the burning fire of their desire. Aleski doesn't believe he is long for this world, but to be loved by two such powerful hearts might just make his last days some of the best in his long life. That is if he can stay alive against the plot that seems to be afoot on the Island and the dangers that surround them all.
Not many authors can write a thruple situation I'm on board for. But, Kit Rocha has written three of them now that I have really enjoyed and were fun to read. The spice level of the book grows and grows until it explodes near the end of the story. Naia is somewhat adorable as she is enjoying so much of her new life as a god and the adoration of the people who dreamed her into being. The Kraken is fierce, brave and you can see how his entire life he has never truly been excepted for everything he is, until now. I am the most intrigued by the transformation that Aleski seems to be going through and what that will mean to the overall story arc.
I enjoyed the book, however I think it could be edited down a little to flow slightly better. The end quarter of the book was a lot of sex stacked up, which while hot didn't really move the plot along. Still really steamy scenes, back to back to back. I also think they may have done a disservice to the reader by trying to set it up as a stand alone duology. It makes much more sense to put it in the Bound to Fire and Steel series, since you really should read those books first to have the right context for the story. I don't think on its own it stands well enough. If you liked Consort of Fire and Queen of Dreams this is a fun expansion into the lives of gods and the ongoing political drama set in that world.
The goddess once told me that death is not the enemy. I waited for her to elaborate, but she did not. Finally, unable to stop myself, I asked. She told me there are many enemies. I asked for their names, and she gave me several. “Greed. Fear. Anger.� Her eyes met mine. “Pain.�
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You will either love or hate Shamus Flynn, the literal life vessel for death. In Hell Bent I asked myself, how many times can a guy get drugged, in Stone Cold I wondered how much more could Shamus spiral out of control. Stone Cold, the second book in Broken Magic, a spin off series to Allie Beckstrom,follows Shamus a wielder of Death Magic and Terric the living vessel for life magic as they navigate their soul compliment bond and try to save the world.
Shamus will be the reason you love or hate this book. He is broody, as someone that can kill you with a touch of his power, he often isolates himself from friends and family for their own good. He also tries not to see or spend too much time with Terric. Afraid that dealing too much of their magic back and forth will make them like some other soul compliments like Allie and Zayvion who can basically read each other's minds. And the last thing Shamus wants is to share his every thought with another person; it is a dark place in there.
Eli is a serious problem. Kidnapped by the government for nefarious purposes, he is wreaking havoc on the magical community. Eli has found a way to use magic with devastating effects when most of the world is very limited. The path chosen is cruel and tortuous and he now has his sights set on Shamus and Terric since he has a score to settle with them. Some brutal decisions and sacrifices will be made by the end. Both Terric and Shamus will go through some very painful trials as they work to take Eli out and both will be changed forever before this is all through.
I like Shamus, so for me this book works. He is cynical, dark and often has somewhat of a martyr complex. But he is loyal to his friends and family and will put himself in front of a bullet or magic to save them, even if it is from himself. I have also enjoyed the bromance between he and Terric. They are very different people but each is trying their best and struggling with the magic they hold trying to find the right path forward. It was good to see them come to a balance of sorts in Stone Cold.
Overall the story is tense and for the most part flew by. There are some instances of repetition, like moments that Shamus reminds the reader again, "Magic is fast, but bullets are faster", multiple times throughout the book. But overall, I found the story engaging with tension, drama and suspense.
You don't need to have read Allie Beckstrom to enjoy the story, although I think it would add to the enjoyment and the depth of all of the characters. I know I look forward to going back and reading it at some point. You do need to have read Hell Bent as this will clean up the story arc started in that book. Narration: Performance: ★★★★� Character Separation: ★★★★� Diction: ★★★★� Pacing/Flow: ★★★★� Sound Effects: None
Paul Bellantoni, continues on with the series. I again completely loved his performance of this book. He embodied our bad boy in such a fun and charismatic way that the dialog just popped. I also liked all of the various voices he brought for the supporting characters, Cody specifically has a great voice. His pacing for the jokes and sarcastic quibbles made me laugh but he also brought depth of feeling to the Shamus' voice. Just a stellar performance and I look forward to hearing his voice for the rest of the series. I would say his narration actually added to my enjoyment of the book and my overall rating.
I have been really enjoying this series overall. But, Magical Midlife Meeting missed the mark just a little as so much of it revolved about the potentI have been really enjoying this series overall. But, Magical Midlife Meeting missed the mark just a little as so much of it revolved about the potential mating of Jacinta and Austin. Which you would think I would be more interested in than the overall story but alas, I was way more interested in the team being underground at the enemies lair for a competition than the love story part.
Elliot Graves, isn't who we initially thought he was. But that doesn't necessarily mean he is on team good. He is hosting a magical conclave that Jessie and her entire cohort are attending. With a few last minute additions including our favorite flower eating not a big foot. They are headed to kill Elliot Graves, but if you read the last book and I assume you have and aren't starting with #5 of a series, then you know she is in for a surprise.
I loved the competition portion of the book and seeing Jessie's team coming together and what they were truly capable of. I also really enjoyed learning a little more about our non-bigfoot (bassa-houn (sp?)), and how Jessie is now tied to them. I'm sure that will be an interesting story later in the series.
Jessie and Austin finally figure it all out and while we new it would happen, it probably didn't happen at the best time or in the best place. Still good to get it out of the way. The other interesting addition to the cast is Broken Sue. I liked the backstory and the vengeance he was able to get.
While not the best book in the series for me, I am happy with where it ended and with the possibilities for Jacinta with the new Mage teacher is identified and maybe she will learn a little magical control to go along with all that power....more
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
What if those running the Roman Empire were dragon shifters? That is the loose premise of Firebird the first book in of the new series, The Fire that Binds. Juliette Cross has built a new world on the bones of Roman history and their gods. It is a re-imagining where Minerva, goddess of wisdom, justice, law and victory, has bestowed three different sets of powers on women throughout the years since the time of Medusa. These powers will help them fight against the injustice evil men bring to the land.
Malina was once just a performer, a dancer that stole the heart of the Roman General Julianus Dakkia. He gave her a boon after seeing her dance that she has kept close to her heart for years. It has been prophesized that Malina and her sisters' magic will save them all. She never knew what that really meant until she lost her family and everything she held dear to the Romans. Including her freedom, as she is stuck as a slave in Julianus Dakkia's home. Should she fear him or should she seduce him?
Julianus Dakkia is the dragon general to the Emperor and his chosen successor. He hates the way his uncle rules and has been trying to subvert him for years. When he sees the witch, Malina, in danger after the Romans overtook yet another village his Dragon decides for them that he is done not having her close to guard and protect. He steals her to place her in his home as his body slave. This will mean a change to his plans for revolution; it is time to act and take down his uncle and his followers before they figure out what Malina really is to him.
I enjoyed this story overall. There are some disturbing scenes as the slaves are treated very poorly by some of the cruel masters in the elite circles. The Emperor is truly an abhorrent and evil character who gets pleasure from debasing and humiliating others. Julianus is an exception to this; he has slaves in his home but most he has saved from worse fates and treats more like family when he can. He is patient with Malina and tries to keep her safe while letting her become accustomed to him and the ways of the city. He wants to have her to fall in love with him because she is the mate to his dragon, but there is danger all around them and a real relationship is forbidden so they must be careful.
Firebird had me on the edge of my seat more then once as the reader can see the danger coming and is helpless to stop it. I needed to know how Julianus was going to keep Malina safe from his evil Uncle and other challengers. She was in a lot of danger and being seen as property by the empire, Julianus's hands were tied in many areas. I liked the conclusion and my heart was racing near the end.
This is not going to be for everyone, especially if you have a hard time with the slavery aspect to the story. I never felt this was enemies to lovers story but more of a revolutionary tale against slavery and oppression. There is a power dynamic that needed to overcome between Julianus and Melina, but she proves she is just as powerful in her own ways. There are a few other small aspects that some may have issues with in regard to the accuracy of the history. I didn't really get caught up on that as I took it as the foundation of the story was set loosely on Roman culture, but not exact to it. I think if those are things that are not going to bother you, this will be a great romantasy with a few hot and heavy scenes and some great tension built for the danger our couple is really in.
The performance was split as Blair Dade performed the Malina PoV chapters and Kale Williams narrated Julianus's PoV. Kale has a long history of books he has narrated and his comfort with audio performances showed. He brought the emotion and personality of Julianus to life. His voice is rich and decadent, it was easy to see why his catalog of books was so long. Blair Dade is newer to audio narration, but held her own in this story. I liked the performance she gave to Malina, it captured the pain she had been through and her vulnerability and strength well.
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I loved Swordheart! It feels like forever since I have connected with a book this deeply and enjoyed it so much. Halla and Sarkis were phenomenal characters that really made my day. Swordheart is full of funny lines and interesting situations. I am so happy to find this author, this is one of those books that made me want to get their entire catalogue to read. I’m definitely going to give the rest of the books in The World of the White Rat a go.
Halla is a respectable widow with the worst in-laws. After inheriting her uncle’s estate that included a doomsday predicting bird (previously thought to have been possessed by a demon, but it is not they had it tested), they have locked her in her room until she agrees to marry her clammy hand cousin. Well, she’d rather die and after a few days she decides to do just that. Except when she pulls the heavy decorative sword out of the scabbard and actual man comes out. It is at this point that I knew Halla and I were going to get along great as her personality really came out in an abundance.
Sarkis has been stuck in that sword for hundreds of years, forced to serve whoever wielded the sword. It has been a while since it has been drawn, but he has never had a wielder like Halla. First, she is a woman. Second, she isn’t a warrior and she isn’t trying to conquer anything. Third, and possibly most surprising, she actually treats him like a man and not like a weapon. He is bound to protect her but it has been a long time since he has actually wanted to protect the bearer of his sword.
I enjoyed traveling with Halla and Sarkis as they get to know one another and then with Zale and Brindle (a description of Brindle won't do him justice). Zale, a non-bionary priest of the Rat God, made an interesting traveling companion as he brought even more comedy in unexpected ways as he travelled back with our duo to help Halla get her inheritance back. They have a few adventures and detours along the way in this interesting land of many gods and wandering hills.
Swordheart definitely falls into the romantansy category of fantasy. Sarkis is a man with a colored past, I mean he did end up trapped in a sword so there has to be a story behind that, one that isn’t exactly good. He also is everything I love in a character. Slightly broken, cursed, loyal and just a nice guy overall. Halla, oh I love her. She has been through a lot in her life but she is still so trusting of people and nice. I love when she plays stupid with her questions in order to get out of potentially dire situations. Seriously a fun character. As they both figure out what they are feeling for each other I was getting all fluttery for them. No instalove here, their time together seemed like a perfect way to get to know each other and really form a bond together.
If you are a fan of both fantasy and some romance this might be just what you are looking for to brighten your day as well. I was really glad to find out that this is the first book of a trilogy since there are two other swords out there with people bound to them like Sarkis.
“What would you say if I tortured you?" asked the bandit leader conversationally. Halla blinked at him. "Err, 'Ow,' probably. 'Stop, Stop, Stop,' something like that?" *What a bizarre question. What does he expect me to say?*�
Narration: Jesse Vilinsky really brought all the characters to life. Her use of accent for Sarkis made him all the more dreamy and sexy for me. Halla comes across as genuine and endearing and just adorable actually. This is one of those books that I think the narration made the story even better for me. I listened to Swordheart at my usual 1.5x speed.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Queen of Shadow and Ruin is the conclusion to the Nightfire Quartet focused in Indian/Asian mythology. Zarya is prophesized to be the one to free them all. With her found family, she has defended against the dark and started a revolution. Now it is time to bring the story to a close and figure out what it means really means to free them all.
Zarya is wanted in multiple lands now. In hiding from her murderous sister she has gone to the one place Rowe, the man who raised her, always warned her would mean her death. In this conclusion to the story, she will need to face her father and determine if he really is the bogey man she was raised to believe in or if he is just a father who was denied a relationship with his daughter. Rabin, the love of Zarya’s life and husband, believes in her father and is sure she will be safe; it is only because of his trust that she is willing to travel to meet her father.
Yasen, is a great side character and helps to carry the story when he and Zarya are forced to split. I love the plutonic friendship that has formed between the two and he is always someone who can be depended on. That is probably why his character description describes him as �Emotional support companion and King of our Hearts�, which is so true. He adds some levity and comic relief to the story to lighten some of the more emotional moments.
The reader will also get some tender and steamy moments with Zarya and Rabin. I do like them as a couple and it doesn't hurt that Rabin can shift into a dragon, which makes him all the sexier. Their relationship remains strong though out the book even when they are put into some dire situations. I love the idea of the bond between them and how it was magically enhanced through tattoos binding them together.
Queen of Shadows and Ruin was a decently strong conclusion to the quartet. I never trusted the king, but being in the palace added some additional tension to the story as I waited to see, with Zarya, if he would help her in her efforts with the revolution or end up being the disappointment and danger she was always led to believe. There were still some surprises to be had there as his motivations were revealed. I didn’t expect how the prophecy would be fulfilled and so that was a great twist to the story.
The ending wrapped up well and tied together most of the loose ends of the series. The epilogue was also a nice touch to let the reader know how all surviving characters were doing ever the events of the book, which I think is a must for a series like this. I also appreciate that Nisha J Tuli gave a character list at the beginning of the book to help the reader remember who all the characters were and some of the important plot points from the other books. I needed some of the reminders as it has been a few months since reading the last books.
Solid overall romantasy series with interesting magic, cool world building and unusual foundational lore....more
REVELATION!!! YOU HAVE JUST LEARNED SO MANY NEW THINGS. AWARD!!! YOU ARE PROBABLY CONFUSED RIGHT NOW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME3.5 ish Donut Hole Stars
REVELATION!!! YOU HAVE JUST LEARNED SO MANY NEW THINGS. AWARD!!! YOU ARE PROBABLY CONFUSED RIGHT NOW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME OF THEM. DON'T WORRY I'M SURE IT WILL ALL MAKE SENSE LATER...PROBABLY
I'm not sure where to start with this story. There were so many things I loved in it and so many things that were just confusing. But I was definitely entertained on my 28 hour audio journey. There were so many stories happening all at once and seeing some of the lives of the old crawlers who literally wrote the book on crawling added even more depth to the story.
What a strange floor with much going on. Let me just first say I really liked Donut and Katia's journey to kill all the Naga on the floor in order for them to fulfill a quest that was tossed out on the first floor when Donut first put on her princess crown.
Sometimes I can't tell whose side the AI is on. It has definitely gone a little wack-a-doodle and it's new 'girlfriend' is causing all kinds of issues. The tension was really high in some places of this book and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next and how my favorite characters are going to fair.
While this is my least favorite book in the series just due to the confusion I felt in multiple places during the story (sorry Matt I forgot to bring along a dungeon interpreter and guide on this round) there were fantastic and great moments that I'd waited for since early in the series. If I was judging just the last 1/3rd of the book then it would be a 5 star read.
Donut and Carl are as always fantastic, even if Donut has now committed multiple atrocities.
“I GOT A SPELLBOOK CALLED WAR CRIME. I’M NOT SURE IF I SHOULD READ IT OR NOT. THE BOOK ITSELF IS BLEEDING AND CRYING AND IT’S DISGUSTING.�
Carl also Carled it up more than once in this installment, because a simple plan can go to shit in a heartbeat and then you have to just roll with it and probably blow some stuff up.
“Here’s the thing about coordinated attacks. Any plan, any attack, no matter how well-coordinated, no matter how well-executed always turns to absolute shit the moment someone drops a very big bomb in a very narrow room.�
Overall the series still deserves all the hype it is getting and I am really sad I have caught up to the published works and will need to wait patiently for the next book to come out. There are so many possibilities!
1 - Samantha...well that was in interesting turn and some hints to who she is which could be huge later. 2- The God quest Carl is on...the next floor should have some revelations for that. 3- Whatever Katia and the other former crawlers will be up to. 4- Lucia Marr, I have huge questions here. 5 - Agatha...I have so many questions. Like wtf girl. 6- Is Miss Beatrice going to show up again? I don't think we have seen the last of her. 7 - What other weird AI thing is going to happen next.
and on and on and on....
Matt Dinniman, I am hooked and anxiously awaiting whatever comes out of that imagination of yours next.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★� Character Separation: ★★★★� Diction: ★★★★ Pacing/Flow: ★★★★� Sound Effects: Minor
Jeff Hayes performance continues to be pure fun. I loved the over the top narration that fit the story so well. Great catchphrases! Samantha's character is so funny. I still believe some of my enjoyment of this series is due to the audio production of it. Still a seriously great time and I couldn't put it down once I started. A few small parts played by other narrators helps the story just be that much better with just a little more depth. 28 hours almost wasn't enough with all the fun I was having....more
Mongo is Appalled - How is it that I didn't know about this series when it first came out. Every book is longer, stronger and filled with even more crMongo is Appalled - How is it that I didn't know about this series when it first came out. Every book is longer, stronger and filled with even more crazy stuff. Characters die, twists hit you out of no where and Carl pulls a grenade of chaos out of his bag and hits Kau-Tin in the middle of the fish faces.
You'd think that a dungeon book that is more than 700 pages long might be too long, but you would be wrong. Well only if it is Matt Dinniman's book. There are so many cool things in this book. Besides the awesomeness that is Carl and Donut's relationship, which makes the book, there were some other characters that had book stealing moments. Samantha for one the withering demi-god spirit that is stuck in the head of a sex doll is fascinating. Her lines are almost as funny as Donut's.
“Donut: OH, HONEY. YOU USED TO BE A SEX DOLL. I’M QUITE CERTAIN YOU CAN HANDLE ALL MANNER OF INDIGNITY. Samantha: DON’T SLUT SHAME ME. I’M GOING TO KILL YOUR MOTHER.�
Another new addition to the Princess Posey is their lawyer. Apparently Carl is shaking up the entire Syndicate empire and they are pissed about that portal he used on the prior floor, so everyone is suing him. That's okay he will figure out a way to make the best of this.
The ever more unstable AI, his obsession with Carl's feet and more descriptive and disturbing commentary always floors me. How does Matt Dinnaman come up with these lines, it might be a really disturbing place in his head.
“New Achievement! This little piggy made a boom boom! You deployed a bomb with the supple, curved sole of your foot. You took your perfectly-perfect, 30.004861 centimeter-long right foot and compressed it against an explosive device—a device named after me no less—and you gave it a naughty little shove before you pushed it out the door and detonated it. You killed them. You killed them all for your daddy.�
Everyone is in danger and each floor has new horrors to face. This is the dreaded 6th floor where the aliens send in hunters to cull the crawlers. So not only does Carl and Donut have mobs and bosses trying to kill them they also have random syndicate citizens joining into the fray. But in true Carl fashion, he is going to turn this floor on it's head.
Such a fun book and series. How can I only have 2 more published works to read before I'm done :( Donut is Appalled. Good thing there was a pet contest so I could see Mongo pageant style.
There were some really big surprises at the end as well...my heart was elated and then devastated within the epilogues.
I'm trying to savior the last two books but who are we kidding. Once you pop you can't stop!
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★� Character Separation: ★★★★� Diction: ★★★★ Pacing/Flow: ★★★★� Sound Effects: Minor
Jeff Hayes performance continues to be pure fun. I loved the over the top narration that fit the story so well. Great catchphrases! Samantha's character is so funny. I still believe some of my enjoyment of this series is due to the audio production of it. Still a seriously great time and I couldn't put it down once I started....more
Houston we have a problem...I only found Dungeon Crawler Carl a few weeks ago and I'm already done with book 4 and the 5th floor. And lets be honest IHouston we have a problem...I only found Dungeon Crawler Carl a few weeks ago and I'm already done with book 4 and the 5th floor. And lets be honest I've really already read book 5 because I just couldn't wait. That means I'll be out of books soon...and what will I do without a weekly dose of Princess Donut, Mongo and Carl.
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God Damnit Matt Dinniman, what have you done to me with your series with fantastic plucky characters, a more and more unstable AI, a competition like survival game that is televised and some big intergalactic shenanigans. Anytime I start one of these books I just can't stop listening to them, since the audio is fantastic.
After all the plucky humans banded together in the last book to beat the level, the alien show producers have come up with a way to separate them all and "randomly" placed bubbles. Each has four quadrants and you need to basically capture the flag in all four before the stairs down to the next level will be available. Mongo is appalled!!! One of the quadrants is underwater and Donut is adamant she is not going into the water. She has yet to learn she can't say stuff like that out loud, the AI is always listening and it's sense of humor can be a touch sadistic, just ask Carl who still doesn't have any pants.
“Spoiler alert. Nobody is going to read your autobiography disguised as a space vampire and minotaur romance. You and every other half-wit out there with a nearby Starbucks and a laptop is writing the same bile. What you’re really doing is inadvertently live-blogging the story of human mediocrity,�
Carl is ramping up the violence and his ingenuity. If nothing else he is proving that the human spirit is hard to crush and he will find a way to break them all. Donut is hilarious as always and Katia grew on me quite a bit this time around.
I'm eating these up like a googly-eyed walrus slurping spaghetti at a clown convention! (<---Thanks Grok)
New characters, new quests, an encounter with a god and a talking sex doll head just to round out some of the ridiculousness that makes these so much fun. Also an Octoshark!!!
With that interesting reveal at the end, I can't wait to see what is in store for Humanities last hope on the 6th floor. Happy Hunting everyone.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★� Character Separation: ★★★★� Diction: ★★★★ Pacing/Flow: ★★★★� Sound Effects: Minor
Jeff Hayes performance continues to be pure fun. I loved the over the top narration that fit the story so well. Great catchphrase! I still believe some of my enjoyment of this series is due to the audio production of it. Still a seriously great time and I couldn't put it down once I started....more
NEW ACHIEVEMENT! You finished this book in record time putting all of your adulting on the back burner like a pro gamer wearing a diaper on a 36 hour NEW ACHIEVEMENT! You finished this book in record time putting all of your adulting on the back burner like a pro gamer wearing a diaper on a 36 hour gaming binge.
REWARD! Your house looks like one of Carl's plans went sideways and a bomb blew up in it. Guess you will need to prioritize and get it cleaned up before moving on to level 5 in book 4. OR you could just jump into the next book and deal with all the consequences later hoping for a loot box with a cleaning robot to help out.
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If you are here you know what this series is all about and like me you are here for it. We have another great adventure, this time in a tunnel system with trains, crazy lore and npc characters and an AI that is starting to go a little bonkers.
I enjoyed our team as Carl and Donut start to mesh with a new addition to the team. Katia is coming along nicely as she meshes with the team and learns how to be a tank. Her abilities were really cool and I loved how Carl always thinks up some great plan that ultimately goes sideways.
“I wasn’t just going to abandon you, Carl,� Donut said. “Who do you think I am? Miss Beatrice?�
Donut still steals the show with all the crazy things she says and I love her loyalty to the team members and Mongo.
Again small details of the outer world and it's issues are seeping in and Carl's new book seems like it is going to be extremely helpful or get him killed, but that is just about everything in that Dungeon.
On top of that, some crazy asshole who doesn’t want everybody to think he’s a crazy asshole is throwing a train full of explosives in our direction. So, you know. Typical day.�
Another great ride with a lot of action, explosions and just flat out fun. I'm loving all the characters and especially how a lot of the humans banded together in this level to share information and try to get as many as possible to the next level. The humor and characters really bring the story together. On to the 5th floor!!!
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★� Character Separation: ★★★★� Diction: ★★★★ Pacing/Flow: ★★★★� Sound Effects: Minor. Some sound effects for achievements and bigging of boss fights etc.
Highly recommend the audio!!! Jeff Hays' performance was just pure fun. I loved the over the top narration that fit the story so well. I hadn't had the pleasure of listening to a narration by him before DCC series, but I am sure that the story wouldn't have been quite as much fun without it. Seriously great time and I couldn't put it down once I started. He is perfect for all of the snarky commentary and I absolutely love all of his voices....more
Penny Reid’s sense of humor in her writing is one of the best I’ve come across. She creates characters that are flawed, but also feel so real. They coPenny Reid’s sense of humor in her writing is one of the best I’ve come across. She creates characters that are flawed, but also feel so real. They could be someone you know, just funnier. Bananapants has that same character feel but also explores how a bi-polar condition could affect someone’s life and what they do to cope with it.
“It’s all weirdos, trying to do their best, and looking like fools until they meet that person who makes them feel exceptional instead of foolish.�
Bananapants is a second chance friends to lover’s trope. After spending over a decade apart Eva runs into Desmond while pretending to be someone else. Desmond is there for a mark, Eva is there because one of her co-workers thought it would be funny to have Eva pretend to be her. Des wants Eva out of his marks line of site because nothing good can come from that. To get her to leave he makes a deal with her. He will attend a family BBQ and see his father spending a few hours there if she will just leave and not speak to the guy Des is trying to get close to. What follows is a fun situational comedy that has incredibly funny moments along with some emotional ones as these two characters reconnect.
I have not read Knitting in the City, so some of the cameo characters were lost one me. That sai, to enjoy this you really don’t need to know Eva or Des’s parents� backstory as it stands on its own really well. I liked Eva and Des. Both were funny and both had insecurities that were understandable and also adorable.
“It’s all smoke and mirrors and pretending, honey,� she went on. “Everyone is in various stages of falling apart. All the time.� Stepping forward, she cupped my cheeks between her palms, like she used to do when I was little. “Some people are just better than others with their smoke and mirrors, and how often and how well they lie to others. And to themselves.�
Des disappeared out of Eva’s life when they were in their teens. She has compared every boyfriend she has had in her life to him and somehow has ended up never really having a serious relationship. Des also has not had a long-term relationship, just very limited one-night situationships. Since both characters are a little broken, they suggest to help each other out. Ava will help Des learn how to be a good boyfriend and Des will help Ava out with the physical aspects of a relationship that she hasn’t quite gotten to yet. But we the reader always knows how this goes and soon Ava and Des realize they probably aren’t fooling anyone but themselves.
This was incredibly cute in a lot of ways. What makes this book a little different is that it really took a mental issue, something that may have a stigma and let the reader experience it though a character. Des’s Bi-Polar disorder was it’s own character and I thought Penny Reid did a really good job of showing and explaining it in a way that the reader could relate and feel it.
Funny situations, small drama with the mark Desmond was chasing after and for those who had read Knitting in the City probably a fun look at some of those characters later in life with their own children.
Narration
Thank you for using two narrators when there are two different PoVs. I love this in romance novels specifically since I think it helps bring the story home. Colin Brown and Fiona Fischer did a great job at bringing the fun of the story out and making the characters feel real. Colin did a fantastic job in performing Des and helping the reader feel what Des was feeling during an episode. Fiona Fischer made Ava’s quirky adorableness come through and it is so cute.
This is a fun series, if you don't think about it too much. It is a little formulaic in it's structure and I'm okay with that 3.5 Gobble Them Up Stars
This is a fun series, if you don't think about it too much. It is a little formulaic in it's structure and I'm okay with that since I have a really good time in the story and get a few really good laughs in.
Jacinta and crew are at it again and waiting for a Mage to show up. Jess put out a magical call in the last book in the last book, but some of the candidates just didn't pass muster. In true Ivy House fashion though they made a fun game of it and those that don't pass get a funny rejection.
Will we wait for the big bag battle to go down at the end Jess get's a little time with her son, who takes the news of her windfall fortune and magic much better than Jessie's parents did. We get some sweet moments and then some pretty funny ones as Mr. Tom tries to put together an Easter Egg hunt. Dicks and Janes are so strange in some of their customs it seems, but it does make for some hilarious moments as Mr. Tom tries to decipher traditions to make this a memorable trip for Jessie's kid.
Lot's of movement on the relationship front, which shouldn't be a surprise due to the title. However, it seems that it is going to be dragged out a little farther as our couple tries to figure out what mating really means and how it works. Austin might just be a little too perfect. He says all the right things at the right times and fights fiercely for Jessie. It is refreshing that we have more situational drama than emotional drama in the series.
We get four new potential members to the Council at Ivy house and they are some powerhouses. Besides the mage Sebastian we really don't get a lot of time with any of the new additions to the air team to care about them yet. However, I did like Sebastian and the page time we got with him. I guessed the plot twist there early on, but it was still enjoyable and I look forward to seeing dividends from that in future books.
“All animals and people have the innate, primal ability to sense danger. It’s built into us. Women have to listen to it more than men because you are so often prey.�
Overall this isn't a serious series. It is a light quick read and I use them for pallet cleansers between some of my more substantive reads.
Narration:
I listened to the Graphic Audio Version of the story. I love the full cast for the performance as I think it adds to the humor of the series and makes the some of the situational comedy just that much more entertaining. ...more
Welcome back to Ivy House and it's magical yet eccentric staff and new mistress. Jesinta is still training and trying All for the Entertainment Stars
Welcome back to Ivy House and it's magical yet eccentric staff and new mistress. Jesinta is still training and trying to learn all the new power she has inherited from the house, but she has a new problem. Her parents are coming to visit and she wants to keep her magic under wraps and not tell them. That becomes increasingly difficult as they are completely underfoot and Ivy House is messing with them to see how many things it can do that they will try to explain away. It also seems that someone has figured out a way to sneak onto Ivy House's grounds without Jessie knowing and that is a problem that needs to be fixed too.
This is a really fun series so far. I'm not going to say that the plot is the best, because well it isn't. But, I haven't cared as all the weird is just so funny. Jessie's rag tag crew is hilarious as they try to serve her. I especially like Mr. Thom's and Jessie's mom casually fighting over trying to do things around the house to take care of Jessie.
The big bad this time seems to be coming from two fronts and every time Jessie is tested she learns something and steps up to the plate to protect the people who have come to serve her and Ivy House. It is a bit formulaic but that has not diminished the fun I'm having reading this series. [image]
The romance has been slow burning. We all can tell that she and Austin will eventually figure out they are meant to be together and finally let all those little sparks ignite. But for now we get the flirting, the sweet statements, the confidence building they both provide to each other and a few steamy kisses. I don't think it will be much longer that the reader will need to wait, especially since the next book of the series is Magical Midlife Love. The slow burn journey has been a nice change from the insta-love of some of the other books I'm reading.
“None of us are fully comfortable with ourselves—there are always going to be things you don’t like. Ghosts and insecurities, dark places. The trick is finding someone who is as comfortable with your dark side as you are with theirs. The trick is not to change someone to fit you, but to find someone with whom you don’t have to change.�
Overall, I use these books as palette cleansers after some intense reads. In that way they are absolutely perfect. Light, enjoyable with just a little bit of tension in both the romantic and enemies at the gates of Ivy House areas. ...more
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the conThis review was originally posted on
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
She Doesn't Have a Clue isn't going to be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. Jenny Elder Moke is a new to me author. I really enjoyed the main character, Kate and how messed up she was in a cute way. The murder mystery on an private Island during a wedding weekend was engaging and I had a hard time putting this book down.
Kate is a writer who spends a lot of time in her own head, or more accurately in the head of one of her characters from the mystery books she writes. It becomes even easier for her to get lost in that fantasy life when at the wedding of her former fiancé, on a historic private Island, one of the attendees turns up dead. Kate is off to try and solve the mystery, since someone seems to be using plots from her books for the murder. To add to the chaos, Jake (not Blake from her books) is also at the wedding and someone has put him as Kate's plus one. Kate may have harbored a huge crush on the adventurer she helped co-write books for, but does he also have those kinds of feelings for Kate?
This book has a few ridiculous moments, that I found hilarious, but humor is really subjective so this book is either going to really work for you or not. As various calamities plague the house, a storm also approaches and traps everyone one the Island in a house with intermittent power, at least one dead body and a so many taxidermized animals anyone might feel uncomfortable. There are also a long list of suspects who all have some kind of motive to kill.
"So, I’ve learned to embrace the chaos.� “But I don’t want to embrace the chaos,� Kate said, shaking her head. “I want to . . . to organize the chaos.� Jake chuckled. “It’s chaos, Kate. By its very definition, it can’t be organized.� “Only because no one’s tried hard enough yet,� Kate said with grim determination.
I really liked Kate and her, I can be just like Jessica Fletcher and find the killer, attitude. With her can do attitude and slightly itchy thinking sweater she is off to solve the crime(s). The mystery of who is trying to possibly kill the bride and definitely killed another guest was interesting and fun with some false leads and twists. But the will they/won't they tension between Jake and Kate was what I was really into. While you are pretty sure they are meant to be, I enjoyed the journey and revelations along the way.
The mystery was fun, the humor was great and the romance was swoony. This book made me want to look into the authors catalog and see if there was anything else I could pick up.
“I’ve waited years for this,� he said, his breath warming the inner shell of her ear. “And I’m going to take my time. Every last minute of it, Kate. Until neither of us can stand up again.�
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