Synopsis:

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts.

Review:

Tor UK kindly sent me a copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil for review.

I don’t know where to start other than I utterly loved this. It gave me big Addie LaRue vibes (which I ADORED), V.E. Schwab writes immortal women well, and she also writes these gorgeous pining, dangerous and heart-breaking romances.

Is Bury our Bones a romance? Well, no. It’s a vampire book where the events are all set out by romance, or love, or sex, however you want to look at it. Each thread of story starts with some form of yearning. Schwab does this so damn well. There’s something poetic and sweet and dangerous about her love stories. She not only writes romance as a positive but as something that can twist and turn vicious and dark. There’s no one out there doing it like her.

At over 500 pages Bury our Bones is quite the beast of a book. And Schwab uses every moment, every page is well-paced and there’s no drag. Weaving three separate stories and times together to create this heart-wrenching meet at the end I found myself utterly gripped. From our first meeting of Maria there’s no time wasted in introducing the vampirism that weaves threads through the entire book.

These aren’t dark and scary vampires. There’s no turning into bats or huge blood baths. It’s more of a quiet vampirism, in girls that draw your eye and Schwab weaves vampire society (what there is of it) into the every day and mundane. It’s a story deeply rooted in our world and it’s all the better for it.

The story broke my heart. You watch Maria from when she becomes a vampire through many stages of her life. You’re also introduced to Sabine, Alice and Charlotte. All girls whose lives are deeply intertwined and changed by each other. It’s a stunning story and I desperately wanted to know how everything & everyone was going to link together.

Read this. If you loved Addie LaRue, read this. If you love vampires, read this. If you love stories with big hearts, read this. You won’t be disappointed.

Synopsis

A travel guide to hauntings and the haunted, to lands with their own power, and to the communities that spring from these strange realms.

What you hold in your hands is a travel guide to the strange and surreal. From arcades along a boardwalk and jetties at the edges of tourist towns, to a rural village in Pakistan and hollows hidden deep within a forest in Pennsylvania, strange things can happen no matter where you are. You can become lost in a city crowded with people, haunted within your own home, and slip from one reality into another in the space of a step.

With twenty-two stories by authors such as Brian Keene, Maurice Broaddus, Ai Jiang, Samit Basu, and KS Walker, editors Sheree Renée Thomas and Lesley Conner take readers on a tour of places where weird things happen. Places where ghosts are real, old gods are hungry, and towns are not as idyllic as they appear to be.

Welcome to The Map of Lost Places. Enter at your own risk.

Includes original fiction from: Ai Jiang, Brian Keene, Beth Dawkins, Danian Darrell Jerry, Dimitra Nikolaidou, Fatima Taqvi, Ferdison Cayetano, Gabrielle Paniccia, Jenny Rowe, Joshua Lim, K.S. Walker, Lavie Tidhar & Nir Yaniv, Maurice Broaddus, Muhammed Awal Ahmed, Octavia Cade, Oliver Ferrie, R.L. Meza, Rebecca E. Treasure, Rich Larson, Samit Basu, VH Ncube, Vivian Chou, with an introduction from Linda D. Addison.

Review

Releasing today is a brand new short story anthology, filled to the brim with horror and suspense. Is it good, though? 

The idea and the concept behind the collection are interesting, but as a whole The Map of Lost Places is very uneven in its execution. I think a number of the authors got caught up in their own ambiance, failing to put together a compelling story in the process. I think with the horror aspect (especially the supernatural element that was prevalent in so many of the tales), it seemed easy to let the words just kinda flow like the wispy trails of a ghost, but so often the stories lacked structure. Some tried to make up for a lack of structure with clever framing devices, but I’m not sure a framing device replaces a solid plan and structure for how the story gets from Point A to Point B, and for a lot of the anthology it felt untethered. 

For me, however, there were a few stand-outs and that’s what ultimately saved the collection in my mind. Here’s the top four stories that caught my attention as I worked my way through The Map of Lost Places: 

Notes Towards A History of LeHorn’s Hollow by Brian Keene

Keene has a great framing device (the notes left behind by a retired newspaper editor as he begins crafting a “true crime” novel about a mysterious town), and it works. For me, this might have been the strongest story in the book, which is no shock considering who penned it. As a former newspaperman myself, I found myself drawn into the narrative and enjoyed it through the mysterious ending. 

Codewalker by G.M. Paniccia

With all the advanced tech out there, it seems like a given that something will go wrong, especially the closer that tech comes to interacting with the human brain. Hints of Ready, Player One and Sword Art Online make this seem possible, but the horror vibes put it over the top for me. 

All Praise the Durians by Joshua Lim

I think horror often works better when there is an air of humor throughout, and Lim does that with his story in this collection. If you aren’t familiar, a durian is a fruit grown in Southeast Asia known for smelling like gym socks at best. The author takes that reputation and turns it on its head, but the final kicker comes in a bit of an O. Henry way and I really liked it. 

The (Lost) Tribe of Ishmael by Maurice Broaddus

Less than an hour away from where I live is a small town that was the first African-American rural settlement in Indiana. Today you can visit and they will tell you about the success of that settlement and how some descendents still live nearby and farm the land. This story has a similar vibe, but something in the town’s history doesn’t go as well for the settlers and that history comes back to haunt the later residents years later. 

Besides that, there are a handful of stories that are fine, and a handful that I had to power through to get to the next one. There are 22 overall, so perhaps you’ll like some better than me and there are plenty to choose from. I noticed when I received the book, it lists Sheree Renee Thomas and Lesley Conner as the ones who “compiled” the collection, almost inferring to me that they didn’t edit or have much of a hand in choosing the stories that were ultimately included. I think this collection would work better pared down a bit and if some of the stories were tightened up and told a little more streamlined, but there are gems to be found if you care to look. 

Thank you to the Apex Book Company for providing a book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis:

USSR, 1941. In the frozen desolation of Siberia, a shaman unleashes an ancient entity from its slumber deep within an abandoned salt mine.
England, 1996. The echoes of that distant ritual reach across time as Meren-Ptah, a foe the RPI Gran Maestro occultist Gino Marcotti once vanquished, returns. With the line between the living and the dead blurred, Gino and Carter Williams must unravel the mystery connecting the past to the present. What dark force has been awakened, and how can the mistakes of history be undone? When the past and the paranormal collide, only the dead hold the key to saving the living.

Review:

Thank you James for sending me an early copy for review.

A Crack in the World: The Reckoning is another very strong book from Mordechai. Introducing both new characters to the story and revisiting Gino and Carter the story effortlessly weaves in details from the first book while quickly getting into the action. This can be read either standalone or as a sequel, Mordechai has made sure that no reader will be lost.

Intertwined throughout the book are chapters from Atom, an Armenian physicist who travels to Siberia and encounters horrors in and around a salt mine. This part really reminded me of the Dyatlov Pass incident, as at first it seems like Atom and his team are running from unknown somethings that get most of them killed (I’d also watched a programme about it recently so it was at the forefront of my mind).

Our old foe Meren-Ptah is at the centre of the story again, and he’s once more causing chaos. A second visit to the same demon plane we went to in the first book shows it as a barren and abandoned place. I particularly loved some carvings that Mordechai introduced here as it was not only a really great look back at the events of book 1, but added a whole new sense of creepy to the book.

Carter really shines in The Reckoning. There are points where he is alone and can’t lean on Gino for the occult, and so he comes into his own to figure out some occult things by himself. No spoilers though, sorry.

Mordechai is a wonderful storyteller and while Reckoning doesn’t necessarily have the big world-ending scenes from book 1 it takes a slightly quieter (relatively) approach to ending the world. Demon planes, museums, occult and Gari the dog having his moment. Reckoning is fast-paced and will drag you right into the story. I’m fairly sure Mordechai could throw any occult words or idea and I’d run with it. The confidence and knowledge the book oozes makes it so easy to get lost in the occult.

This is such a fun read and I had the best time revisiting these characters and story.

Synopsis

Scourge is an action-packed, paranormal fantasy novel that will take you on an intense, emotional, and nail-biting rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

Fear crawls the streets in New York as homeless are killed one by one. As police detectives Angela Benson and Joe Anderson begin to investigate the chain of murders, they soon realize these are not ordinary homicides, and it’s not only the less fortunate being impacted. As they dig deeper, they unravel a deeper, darker, more ancient mystery that may impact all of mankind.

Readers of urban fantasy; readers who love worlds of magic, danger, and adventure; readers that want multiple interesting, likable, and unique characters with complex storylines; readers that enjoy a plot that unfolds slowly and steadily with anticipation and twists the reader won’t see coming; and readers who love page-turning suspense that may keep them up at night will love this novel. Scourge is part of a saga that will not disappoint, and it won first place in the CLC Book Excellence Award for Paranormal and Urban Fantasy in 2023!

Review

Scourge by Rodney McWilliams follows two detectives as they investigate gruesome murders in New York City. These are not ordinary murders, spurred by crime or passion. They seem almost ritualistic, and there is more to them than can be understood by the human mind.

This book is written in the third person omniscient with a focus on Detectives Angela Benson and Joe Anderson. Joe is a kind-hearted man who has lost a great deal in life. Police work has become his way of giving his life meaning when he thought he had nothing left.

Against the wishes of her father, Angela answered the call to police work. She felt drawn to a career where she could maximize her impact on the immediate world around her. She is strong and determined, despite the strain it has put on her relationship with her parents.

Though Angela is a new partner to Joe, he becomes a mentor to her—a father figure. I enjoyed watching them bond. Not only did they support each other as partners but protected each other as friends.

McWilliams focuses on these two detectives, but the book offers us a view into every aspect of the murders. We get scenes of the medical examiners looking over the bodies. We get detailed accounts of victims before they meet their end. And McWilliams spares no detail to create an immersive story. The amount of research that went into every facet must have been vast. From police procedures to layouts of the business district of NY, McWilliams ensures the reader is right there with the characters experiencing every smell, the materials of which things are made, and precise descriptions of each area.

Not only are Angela and Joe’s backstories explained throughout, we get a lot of information on everyone we meet. I think I found Thomas’s story to be one of the saddest. Each character is unique and diverse and reacts to things differently depending on their station in life. McWilliam’s characters are another well-thought-out facet delivered to the reader in King style with a full backstory, allowing us to imagine each scene in as much detail as possible.

As we get deeper into the investigations of these murders, we also get scenes from the killers themselves although McWilliams does not offer us all the information at once. As we get little snippets, we start to realize that the killings are more than person-on-person violence and the entire balance of good and evil is at risk.

Once you discover who the killers are, there are still secrets to be unveiled and the story becomes a wild race to the end. A well-written story that kept me on my toes until the very end, Scourge will keep you up late at night scrounging for more answers.

Synopsis

Combat Monsters brings together twenty award-winning and bestselling speculative fiction authors who each bring their own spin on an alternate history of World War II.

New research has uncovered deeply buried military secrets—both the Allied and Axis special operations during World War II included monsters. Did the Soviets use a dragon to win the Battle of Kursk? Did a vampire fight for the Canadians in Holland? Did the US drop the second atomic bomb on a kaiju?

This collection takes real events from World War II and injects them with fantastical creatures that mirror the “unreality” of war itself. Each story—and two poems—feature mythical, mystical, and otherwise unexplainable beings that change the course of history. Dragons rise and fall, witches cast deadly spells, mermaids reroute torpedoes, and all manner of “monsters” intervene for better or worse in the global turmoil of World War II.

Together, Combat Monsters challenge the very definition of monstrous, with the brutality of war as a sobering backdrop.

Review

I have a soft spot for short story anthologies. Don’t get me wrong — I love an epic fantasy or a sprawling sci-fi space opera as well — but there is something special about a book with a few handfuls of small little narratives. Each tale has its own writing style, its own perspective, its own flavor. And if you don’t like one of the stories — Good News! There’s plenty more to dive into. And these anthologies are easy to read in chunks…putting it down after a few stories without needing to worry about where you were in the book.

I was thrilled to get an early copy of Combat Monsters: Untold Tales of World War II in exchange for an honest review. I had a blast with the anthology and I know I’ll be thinking about some of the stories for a while to come. 

Combat Monsters takes a wide and ranging look at World War II from the early years to the final nail in the coffin with the bombing of Nagasaki. As a history teacher in my daytime job, I really connected with this book. There was so much to appreciate about this well-edited book. The stories were put in chronological order; the stories can just about exist on their own even without the monster and supernatural elements; there is a great variety with stories featured from each theater of the last great war. 

Whenever I review an anthology, I like to point out a few of my individual favorite stories, so here are the ones that really resonated with me: 

The Fourth Man by Jeff Edwards

For me, this was the best of the bunch. Wow. This is a story that really leaned into all the prompts. World War II – check. Supernatural beast – check. Something that shows that perhaps the horrors of war are not the only horrors in this life or beyond – check. I loved the framing device with the main character looking for absolution in the present day for the “sin” he committed during the war, crossing a line that helped the Allies win. There was a great combination of action, and ideas that are going to keep me thinking for quite some time, I think. 

Grigoriy’s Army by Catherine Stine

One of the fun things I like to teach about is Hannibal trying to invade Rome with war elephants. Catherine Stine takes the ideas of animals in war and takes it a step further. Through a tragic childhood that left Grigoriy abnormally bright but also stunted socially, he used his and his father’s research to genetically engineer an army of bears to defeat the Nazis. I would have loved for this story to keep going and to see what else poor Grigoriy has up his sleeve after the war ended.  

Bockscar by David Mack

The closing story in this collection is about the crew of the plane heading to Nagasaki and the ethical dilemma they find themselves in. I really don’t want to spoil this story, but there is a lot more to see in this story beyond the “should we?” or “shouldn’t we?” questions the crew asks in the moments before they reach Japan. Even without the twist in this story, I was enjoying this one for the simple ethical questions that we are still asking today, but the hidden reasons for the bombing make it all the more juicy. 

I would love to write something about each story — in fact if I wrote this review tomorrow, I’d probably pick two or three different stories to highlight. I found a few new authors to be aware of in the future and enjoyed new works by some writers I already loved. I really did have a great time with this book and will definitely be checking out other works edited by Henry Herz in the future. 

TL;DR Review: Sherlock Holmes meets the League of Extraordinary Gentlewomen. A gothic mystery that sucks you in, with marvelous characters that keep you coming back for more.

Synopsis:

In this fresh-yet-familiar gothic tale—part historical fantasy, part puzzle-box mystery—the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in a thrilling exploration of feminine power.

At the dawn of the twentieth century in Paris, Samantha Harker, daughter of Dracula’s killer, works as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. But no one realizes how abnormal she is. Sam is a channel into the minds of monsters: a power that could help her solve the gruesome deaths plaguing turn-of-the-century Paris—or have her thrown into an asylum.

Sam finds herself assigned to a case with Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the criminal mastermind and famed nemesis of Sherlock Holmes and a notorious detective whom no one wants to work with on account of her previous partners’ mysterious murders. Ranging from the elite clubs of Paris to the dark underbelly of the catacombs, their investigation sweeps them into a race to stop a Beast from its killing rampage, as Hel and Sam are pitted against men, monsters, and even each other. But beneath their tenuous trust, an unmistakable attraction brews. Is trusting Hel the key to solving the murder, or is Sam yet another pawn in Hel’s game?

Full Review:

Step aside Watson and Holmes; the age of Harker and Moriarty has dawned!

Strange Beasts brings everything I loved about the Sherlock Holmes mysteries (including my old favorite villain, Dr. Moriarty himself) and adds a dash of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The result is something truly spectacular and enjoyable.

Samantha Harker, daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker, has grown up knowing about and, eventually, wanting to help eradicate monsters. She has joined The Society, a British organization that hunts down, captures, and kills monsters around the globe. She does it to carry on her parents’ legacy, but also hoping she will one day be able to find her grandfather, who vanished mysteriously and left only a sequence of numbers as a message.

When that exact same sequence pops up on the graffiti of a snarling wolf painted over a corpse clearly killed by some monster, Sam ventures out of the safety of her library and into the field to find clues. Her partner is none other than Dr. Moriarty—Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter to the infamous villain himself.

From their first meeting, we’re treated to a series of deductions that could have been ripped straight out of a Sherlock Holmes novel (this is very much a compliment!), but also the addition of some magic and mysticism that promises fascinating developments as the story evolves.

Together, the two of them set off for Paris to begin their investigation into the mysterious and grisly murders. And inevitably, things go very, very wrong!

I won’t spoil the mystery for you, but suffice it to say, it combines both the Sherlock Holmes-style bizarre-but-real and all the extraordinary arcane and supernatural elements of stories like Dracula, Dorian Gray, and the very first fantasy books ever penned.

The setting is fascinating, too—the story takes place in the glitz and glamor of Paris in the early 1900s, with all the cultural quirks and foibles that characterized that era.

But it’s the characters that make this story truly sing.

Sam Harker is hiding a secret: she is a channel who can see visions from anything she touches that is imprinted with strong memories, such as a blood-covered jewel or a murder victim’s lifeless hand. This secret would get her banned from The Society and hunted down, so she has guarded it carefully. Yet as she’s working with Dr. Moriarty—or Hel—she tries to talk herself around to lowering her guards and trusting her companion. Even though Hel has done nothing (or very little) to earn it, Sam’s optimistic nature makes her want to try it anyways. And when she does, it’s just the thing to break through the walls Hel has built around herself as a defense mechanism against the world that sees her as nothing more than the daughter of Europe’s most notorious villain.

Hel’s story is incredibly fascinating, giving us a Sherlock Holmes character but with all the psychological issues that would stem from being raised by Dr. Moriarty. Sam is just the thing that will bring her out of her shell—albeit very, very slowly.

I loved every minute of this book—from the colorful setting to the fascinating Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery to the development of the characters’ relationship—and can’t wait to be back for more in future installments!

Synopsis:

Theodora Corvus can hear the whispers of her crumbling family home. She can hear the whispers of Kingsward Manor, her place of employment. She sees the watchers by the lake, black-eyed and waiting. But Broken Oak is silent. Broken Oak is empty.

When Theodora takes the job as governess to young Ottoline Thorne, she leaves behind her beloved grandmother and the decaying ruins of her childhood home to travel far north to Broken Oak Manor. There, she finds a house filled with secrets. Under the stern eye of the foreboding housekeeper, Theodora quickly navigates the dark and winding corridors of Broken Oak, only to find herself irrevocably drawn to the mysterious lord of the manor. But someone walks the hallways late after nightfall, their footsteps leading to the attic. The only place in the sprawling house that does not remain silent. As her scandalous feelings for Cassias Thorne grow, Theodora fights to unearth the secrets of Broken Oak. Who wanders the house at night? Where is the Lady of the manor? What lies behind the attic door high up under the eaves of the house? “Where is Lady Thorne, Cassias? Where is your wife?”

Review:

Though it was published recently, The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses has the feel of a classic gothic tale, both in atmosphere and in style.

The story follows Theodora, a young woman with a grief-filled past. She lost both of her parents at a young age and was raised by her grandmother, who had some very traditional ideas about what a woman’s placement in the world should be, even for the time period (while it isn’t mentioned specifically in the text, it had the feel of the mid/late-1800s.) Theodora accepts a position as governess to a family some distance away at her grandmother’s urging, though she believes throughout the story her father would have wanted her to pursue something else.

When she arrives at Broken Oak Manor to begin her new job, there are subtle hints that things aren’t normal almost immediately, but they’re introduced slowly and singly. It was only at the end of the book, after the big twist occurred, that I could fully appreciate how carefully the author layered in little details that, in retrospect, all led to the same grim conclusion. It was reminiscent of how many of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories were constructed, and had a similar overall atmosphere.

While I enjoyed the story, the mysteries it presented, and the subtly eerie setting, I never fully connected with Theodora’s character. There was something about her that was distant for me as a reader, which made it difficult to become emotionally attached (the same was true for the side characters too, though Cassias seemed more relatable than the others.) I’m not sure if the distance was by design or not, but I think I would have enjoyed the reveals at the end a little more if I had an emotional connection to the characters.

Overall, I liked the story. It had just enough creep-factor to set me on edge and keep me reading, and though it had a classic gothic Poe-esque twist near the end, the book concluded on a relatively uplifting note. I wouldn’t call it happy, exactly, but it was fitting.

If you’re looking for books to add to your October/Halloween reading list, I think this one is deserving of a spot.

Synopsis:

In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

Review:

I picked up this book based on recommendations, but I really wasn’t sure what to expect based on its relatively brief synopsis (which is why it sat untouched on my kindle for more than a year.)

There were some things I really liked about this book, but the pacing was a bit slow in places, particularly (and a little surprisingly) at the end. There was a good deal of set-up for the next book that occurred in the final chapters, which I’m usually fine with, but I felt they dragged a bit in this case.

Pacing aside, A Discovery of Witches made some fresh twists on some classic themes, added tidbits of history, tossed in some modern-day science, and mixed in a whole lot of worldbuilding to make for an immersive tale. Most of the story is narrated by Diana, who is a witch refusing to use her magic (for reasons revealed throughout the book). Instead, she focuses her energy on the study of history, particularly that of alchemy. While her age wasn’t disclosed in the book, she has advanced degrees and tenure at a university, so I imagine she’s in her thirties (I wanted to mention this since the synopsis says she’s “young,” but I think that’s in reference to Matthew, who is…ancient.)

Matthew is a biochemist and geneticist—and a vampire. He comes into the picture when Diana uncovers the illusive Ashmole 782 manuscript, a book he’s been itching to read for years. Probably centuries, as it’s disclosed at one point that he’s over 1,500 years old.

Now, I have to mention the little details the author added in when it came to Matthew. It isn’t just mentioned that he’s old and it’s over like so many other books tend to do. There are conversations sprinkled throughout the story where Matthew admits to being acquainted with some well-known historical figures, and some of the books and items he keeps in his personal spaces give some weight to his stated age. I absolutely loved that the author took the time to make him actually feel his age.

In the scope of this book’s world, there are three types of “creatures”: Witches, vampires, and daemons, all of which do their best to blend into human society without detection. It’s unusual for different types of creatures to mingle, and forbidden for them to become romantically involved. So when Matthew and Diana hook up, it not only causes a stir, it draws the ire of some other powerful creatures. Add to that the Ashmole 782 manuscript that Diana retrieved, which was sought by both daemons and witches for their own reasons, and Diana finds herself hunted by some very dangerous people.

I really enjoyed the lore in this world, the mysteries that were revealed, and the dynamics between the various types of creatures. I also liked the historical references and the science that came into play courtesy of Matthew’s work in the lab. Overall, this was a good read.

Synopsis

Ever heard the saying, “Careful what you wish for?” The phrase is about to take on a whole new meaning for Haven’s one-and-only Paranormal Investigator, Nick Holleran…

In the months since ‘One Life Left’ and his reality-spinning showdown with Lilith and the Sin-Eater, Nick Holleran has spent the time making new friends and forging alliances across the realms of Hell. But when an innocuous relic-hunt on behalf of the elusive Collector proves to be more than it seems, Nick’s new normal becomes twisted beyond reason.

His foundations crumbling, and his relationships with both his girlfriend Rosa, and eternal ghost-teen Diana, tested beyond what’s reasonable, Nick has no choice but to go on the attack, or Hell will change forever… And not for the better. Revelations are uncovered, mysteries unlocked, and, even when the stakes are unimaginable, there’s snark. Good old-fashioned snark.

Look, it’s Nick Holleran. You ever heard that other saying? “The more things change…

If you enjoy “Supernatural” and the “Dresden Files”, you’ll be captivated by this paranormal detective series.

Review

Damn this is my favourite of the Nick Holleran series, yet all are brilliant, but this one tops the lot. Slick Nick and his sidekick ghost kid Diana are back with a double bang and causing all sorts of trouble in hell for the supernatural beings, in this fantastic supernatural paranormal blockbuster of series.

A Shadow Over Haven is the fourth book in the Nick Holleran series by David Green and this story just gets better and better with each book as the author brings us on another roller coaster ride into the city of Haven and a dip into hell.

Told from a first person perspective, Nick Holleran is one of those characters that you can’t help but love but would love to give him a kick in the hole because he can be such an ass at times. Well, I suppose if you died and came back and had a manner of all demons, death and Gangsters after you, you probably would be too…

I love David Greens writing. It’s creative and witty, his worldbuilding, and plot making draws you in hook line and sinker. I absolutely the dark setting he has created for us fans of the Supernatural to get lost in. From the get-go, David Green really knows how to grip his readers with suspense as you are thrown straight into an action-packed showdown from the very first chapter of every book, and it’s bloody fantastic.

If you love a good supernatural detective story, then look no further than this wonderful series. Full of hilarious moments, lots of twists and turns, and the characters are so fun and so relatable. Whether they be ghosts, demons, Lucifer, Irish Gangsters or hard ass cops, you will absolutely love them all even if their trying to destroy the world.

After the end of One Life Left and surviving Liliths fae realm. Nick Holleran and his ghost kid Diana find themselves in another sticky situation in the abandoned Forest View Hotel’s lobby as a blood ritual and an old nemesis has gone a step too far using the Septer of Metatron, creating a Chtulhu God and it’s trying to drag it’s way into Haven, but not on Nicks watch.

With Metatrons Septer in hand, Nick finds himself addicted to its pull. It can change reality, and when the higher dieties feel it has come into play, everyone wants in on the action. Nick is playing a dangerous game and must keep it safe and from falling into the wrong hands, but for how long before all things go to hell, literally.

Absolutely awesome read, I just can’t get enough of this series. I can’t wait for the next instalment Infernos Child. If you haven’t checked out David Greens books yet, then I very highly recommend that you do…

Synopsis

Trapped in a castle, a queen starves for moonlight.

For thirty years, Aysel has been cut off from the night and the moon. After the ancient order of priestesses, the Chiroluna, was destroyed and scattered, plagues and famine grip the Solerium Kingdom. Aysel, one of the last remaining priestesses, longs to escape from her prison, but her husband refuses to release her so she can find her remaining sisters and tend to the land as they had for centuries.
As the full moon draws closer, Aysel plots her escape. But breaking out of the castle is one thing. Freeing herself from the king is another.

Review

Grabbed this a bit ago on kindle, and needed a short read for slow bits at work, so this fit perfectly. 

This is a story of enslavement and loss. The ancient protectors of the land, the Chiroluna, the masters of moonlight, oversee the land, bringing their bats with them to pollinate the land and keep down the insect populations. However, they’ve been attacked, and one, Aysel, has been forced to remain in her human form for decades. The king, smitten with her human beauty, has effectively clipped her wings, forcing her to wed him, to attend him, to dine with him, but never to enjoy the moonlight again. 

However, there are those that still believe in the old ways, seeking the other lost Chiroluna, and painstakingly waiting until the time is ripe to free the Queen. So while this is a dark and abusive tale, it is also one of hope, strength, and eventual freedom. 

I’m impressed that in so few words the author was still able to paint multilayered characters. The King, though mislead (and manipulative) is not wholly evil. His love for his Queen is such that he can’t even see the damage caused to his lands by the absence of the Chiroluna. I truly believed that HE believed he was keeping her safe. The author makes a point to state that he used to be kind, gentle even. Perhaps the impending loss of the Queen was a gut feeling for the King, turning his anxiety to cruelty. But, giant mutating bat women have got to fly… and the Queen was a great example of persistence and strength. 

This was a quick and well written read, I’d definitely suggest it!