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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2532 KP) rated The Ducal Detective in Books

Apr 25, 2024  
The Ducal Detective
The Ducal Detective
Sarah E. Burr | 2017 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jacqueline Starts Her Reign Solving a Murder
Jacqueline Arienta Xavier has just been crowned Duchess of Saphire after the death of her parents in an accident. Since she is still mourning them, she is struggling to adjust to her new duties. Then she gets word that her parents’ death may have been murder. Not knowing who to trust, can she figure out what happened to them?

This is a fun novella that introduces a mystery series with a light fantasy setting. Considering all that the novella has to do, it’s impressive how it balances it in the short length it has. I was immediately drawn to Jacqueline, and I loved what we saw of her here. I also really liked the rest of the characters. The world was fun, and I hope we get to explore it further as the series goes along. For the length of the story, the mystery was good with enough twists to keep us engaged on the way to a logical climax. I appreciated the balance we got in tone between the sadness Jacqueline is experiencing and the lighter scenes. I can’t wait to make a return visit to this series.
  
    Abyss

    Abyss

    8.2 (5 Ratings) Rate It

    Tabletop Game

    The Abyss power is once again vacant, so the time has come to get your hands on the throne and its...

40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2532 KP) rated A Voyage of Vengeance in Books

Aug 5, 2024  
A Voyage of Vengeance
A Voyage of Vengeance
Sarah E. Burr | 2017 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sailing with a Killer
Duchess Jacqueline Arienta Xavier is thrilled to be joining the maiden voyage of Rose of the Sea, a luxury vessel. The voyage is also a birthday celebration for one of her friends, Lady Carriena, the future ruler of Isla DeLacqua. But Jax is surprised to find that her fellow passengers are an odd assortment of people, more for the political gain of her friend’s duchy than a true celebration. Then the weird things start happening. Can Jax figure out what is going on?

I was so happy to be back with these characters for the third novella; they already feel like old friends. While we get all the suspects introduced to us at once, it wasn’t long before I felt like I knew them well. The plot wandered a bit, but my patience was rewarded with a strong mystery and a great revelation. I also appreciated that the plot felt appropriate for the length of the story. The setting has just hints of a fantasy world to it while still being mainly about the mystery, and I love it. There are some hints at what came before, so know that going in. I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to see how the series transitions to full novels.