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Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals #1)
Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals #1)
Cheryl S. Mackey | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
To start off a new fantasy world within a novella is a very brave thing to do. So often, you need an epic novel due to the amount of world-building that you need to do. Somehow, Cheryl Mackey has managed to build a world, complete with history, within a very short space that is not lacking in any way!

Our four heroes battle against evil and their memories. You get glimpses of their pasts which will intrigue you and leave you wanting more. A lot is answered in this novella but it is Part One so you are left with teasers for the next book, none of which I will mention so as not to spoil it for anyone.

If you are dipping your toe into the genre of Fantasy, or want an atypical fast Fantasy read, then I can definitely recommend this book. In fact, I would recommend it to all Fantasy fans.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 5, 2015
  
Hallowed Out
Hallowed Out
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Haunted Tour Ends in Mystery
Julia Snowden has gotten roped into an effort to bring some tourists to town during October via a haunted homes tour. One of the stops is Gus’s restaurant where a rumrunner was killed by gangsters during Prohibition. An actor has been brought in to help with the reenactment, but the night of the first tour, he is shot when the lights go out. Who did it?

It truly is wonderful to revisit the characters, no matter how briefly it might be. The plot is strong, and the characters we meet along the way are just as strong. I didn’t see the twists of the mystery coming, and the ending caught me by surprise. There is a delightful sub-plot as well that kept me grinning. And there’s a recipe or two at the end.

NOTE: This story is a novella, roughly 100 pages, and was originally part of the novella collection Haunted House Murder. If you have that book, there is no need to buy this ebook. If you haven’t read the story, now is the time to sit back and enjoy this Halloween trip to Maine.
  
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Merissa (12838 KP) rated Burn Baby Burn (Fairytales of the Myth #1) in Books

Jan 27, 2021 (Updated Aug 7, 2023)  
Burn Baby Burn (Fairytales of the Myth #1)
Burn Baby Burn (Fairytales of the Myth #1)
Miranda Grant | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
BURN BABY BURN is the first novella in the Fairytales of the Myth series and there is no easing gently into this series. Oh no! Instead, we jump straight into the action with children fighting, followed by 'real' fighting, slaves, abuse, you name it.

Ella has put up with more than any person should, but her childhood enemy turned friend, Cadeyrn, got her through. When she feels he has betrayed her though, all bets are off and she turns to a pact with the Dark Fae, Daman.

I thoroughly enjoyed being with Ella in this novella. Seeing things from her perspective, and feeling her pain, it was a brilliant read. The only thing I wasn't sure of was the ending with Delentia. I couldn't quite get my head around what she actually wanted.

Nevertheless, this was a brilliant read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 25, 2021
  
Wayward Stripper
Wayward Stripper
J.B. Buell | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A great story that left me wanting more!
WAYWARD STRIPPER is a short novella about a trans man on the run from his abusive ex, who lands a trial run at an Omega (Ladies) Club. The Head Dancer, Tristan, is on hand to help in any way and the sparks are instantaneous.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but I wanted so much more! I would love for this to be a full-length novel, so I can get all the background information I want - the ex-relationship, Jake's escape, and more between Jake and Tristan. As a novella, it is fast-paced, but I would have loved more of the nitty-gritty that gives the story some depth. For me, it was a little too fast, with chunks either missed out or skipped over.

A great story that left me wanting! I would still recommend it though!

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 30, 2023
  
Yule Log Murder
Yule Log Murder
Leslie Meier | 2022 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Christmas Murder on a Film Set
News has broken that a major Hollywood movie is going to be filmed just outside of town, and many of the townspeople are going to be used as extras. Lucy manages to snag one of those spots, but her joy turns to sorrow when a young woman dies on the set. The police seem quick to settle on a killer, but Lucy suspects that something else is going on. Can she figure things out?

I must admit that I haven't read many of Lucy's adventures, sticking mainly to the novellas featuring this character and her family. As a result, I don't have the history with Lucy's family that long time series readers do. That may be why I found them annoying. The mystery itself was very strong, however, with a solution I didn't see coming.

NOTE: This story is a novella, roughly 100 pages, and was originally part of the novella collection Yule Log Murder. If you have that book, there is no need to buy this ebook. If you haven’t read the story, now is the time to sit back and enjoy this Christmas mystery.
  
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.
  
The Blue Veil (Seven Deadly Veils #1.5)
The Blue Veil (Seven Deadly Veils #1.5)
Diana Marik | 2022 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE BLUE VEIL is a novella that sits between the first and second books in the Seven Deadly Veils series and we meet up with Miranda and Remare once again. One of Valadon's paintings has gone missing and Remare wants to find it before Valadon returns home.

This was a brilliant novella, with everything you could wish for... there are attacks by Rogues, steam enough to fill a sauna, and delving into the underworld of illegal auctions. It was also full of emotion and I devoured every word.

I am looking forward to reading the next book and hope for a HEA for Miranda and Remare! I also want one for Valadon, as he's not a bad guy, just infatuated with Miranda when it's clear he's not the one for her. Definitely recommended but I would suggest you start with Book One first, as it details instances that you will need to know about.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 13, 2024
  
RA
Ranieri Andretti
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
You are always guaranteed a fantastic read from this author. This book has it all, blackmail, betrayal and flashbacks. This is a mafia second chance romance story. Each one of the books in this series just keep getting better and better the more you read. This is a quick novella but the author packs a lot into the pages. I can't wait to read more in this series and by this author in the future.



Highly recommended series

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

www.obsessedbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk
  
TA
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I don't give many 5-star ratings, but <i>The Atrocity Archives</i> deserves one. You may need to read it with a web browser open to look up references using Wikipedia or Google, but if you enjoy Torchwood, Men in Black, or [b:Snow Crash|830|Snow Crash|Neal Stephenson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157396730s/830.jpg|493634], I think you'll enjoy this one.

The volume actually includes the novel and a novella, <i>The Concrete Jungle</i>. Both are good reading, and I recommend giving yourself time to enjoy the foreword and afterword, as well.