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Estranged
8.0
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Kalei hates touching, especially if it is a hug. After all, it was a hug that killed her mother. ...
Dark Urban Fantasy
Breathing Betrayal (Elemental Evidence #1)
Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham
8.0
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Every breath brings them closer to love, and a killer. Jake Chivis is the descendant of Fire...
MM Urban Fantasy Romance
Merissa (12861 KP) rated Amethyst Flame (Butterfly Witch #2) in Books
Mar 7, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)
AMETHYST FLAME is the second book in The Butterfly Witch series. We return to Mo as she heads out for a weekend in Vegas. She is still living with her mum and Manager at the Desert Freeze shop. Both she and her mum are still reeling from what happened at the end of the first book.
If I had to say what this book is about - in a nutshell - I would say trust. Or lack of it. Whatever. Basically, this whole book is a mindf*ck of who Mo can trust and rely on. There are secrets within secrets with all of them, but it is Mo on the frontline.
This book expands on what started in the first part, including a revelation about Mo's moths, and will absolutely leave you wanting more. My Kindle nearly hit the wall with the ending and I can't wait for the next book!!!
An Urban Fantasy where the heroine doesn't have all sorted within five minutes. Highly recommended by me.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 4, 2022
If I had to say what this book is about - in a nutshell - I would say trust. Or lack of it. Whatever. Basically, this whole book is a mindf*ck of who Mo can trust and rely on. There are secrets within secrets with all of them, but it is Mo on the frontline.
This book expands on what started in the first part, including a revelation about Mo's moths, and will absolutely leave you wanting more. My Kindle nearly hit the wall with the ending and I can't wait for the next book!!!
An Urban Fantasy where the heroine doesn't have all sorted within five minutes. Highly recommended by me.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 4, 2022
Accidentally Summoned an Incubus (Briar Coven, #1)
8.0
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This wicked little witch was going to be the death of me, and she wasn’t even trying. After...
Erotic Romance Urban Fantasy Monster Romance Smut Romance Fated Mates
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Happy Hour of the Damned (Amanda Feral, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
Snarky, crude, smart, bitchy, strange, dirty (in more ways than one), superficial, gory and more-y, HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED is a hard book to describe in few words. Besides calling it zombie chick-lit urban fantasy, which is such a disservice. Amanda isn't the type of main character I usually enjoy reading about, I admit I'd rather read about someone more sympathetic than a label-conscious, cocktail swigging, loose, uppity, self-absorbed diva. But guess what, I actually liked her. Go figure. Now I wouldn't want to hang out with someone like her in real life, but in a book, it's all in good fun and I definitely will pick up the next two Amanda Feral books and hope there's more to come.
I loved the snarkiness, the footnotes (how many fiction authors actually do that?), the memoir-style writing, the cleverness of it all, it's a very good book. So why didn't I give it a higher rating, you may be thinking. Or maybe you're not. Whatever. Well, it did lose me a couple places and the plot meandered a bit in the beginning, and I'm still not sure what the master plot entailed (or is it entrailed? LMAO :D) exactly, as the plot did get a bit confusing towards the end. That could have just been me, I'm not the brightest at times. However, I think I did get the gist of the whole thing, so I wasn't left completely confused. In addition, I didn't find myself absorbed in the book, meaning I could put it down without withdrawal symptoms, so that brings my rating down slightly. I found the best thing to do with HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED was to just let the book take me for the bizarre and fun ride the author had in store for the readers.
I'm sorry to hear that the series is in trouble, as it's much better than a lot of urban fantasy out there. We snarks of the world need these brainy reads (the fun kind) to survive, so in a way, we're zombies too. You may be wondering, "What can I do to help a good author out?" Well, go buy it! But only if you don't mind foul language, queasy and disgustingly gory scenes and imagery, sex in all it's kinkiness (which is mostly mentioned in passing), brand name designers, in-the-gutter-humor and more! All for the low, low price of $6.99. Have your credit card handy, operators are standing by - okay, I'm done with my infomercial sales pitch now. But really, if you do mind the aforementioned descriptions of what's covered inside, why are you looking at a zombie book anyway?
3.75 stars - just because I can.
I loved the snarkiness, the footnotes (how many fiction authors actually do that?), the memoir-style writing, the cleverness of it all, it's a very good book. So why didn't I give it a higher rating, you may be thinking. Or maybe you're not. Whatever. Well, it did lose me a couple places and the plot meandered a bit in the beginning, and I'm still not sure what the master plot entailed (or is it entrailed? LMAO :D) exactly, as the plot did get a bit confusing towards the end. That could have just been me, I'm not the brightest at times. However, I think I did get the gist of the whole thing, so I wasn't left completely confused. In addition, I didn't find myself absorbed in the book, meaning I could put it down without withdrawal symptoms, so that brings my rating down slightly. I found the best thing to do with HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED was to just let the book take me for the bizarre and fun ride the author had in store for the readers.
I'm sorry to hear that the series is in trouble, as it's much better than a lot of urban fantasy out there. We snarks of the world need these brainy reads (the fun kind) to survive, so in a way, we're zombies too. You may be wondering, "What can I do to help a good author out?" Well, go buy it! But only if you don't mind foul language, queasy and disgustingly gory scenes and imagery, sex in all it's kinkiness (which is mostly mentioned in passing), brand name designers, in-the-gutter-humor and more! All for the low, low price of $6.99. Have your credit card handy, operators are standing by - okay, I'm done with my infomercial sales pitch now. But really, if you do mind the aforementioned descriptions of what's covered inside, why are you looking at a zombie book anyway?
3.75 stars - just because I can.
Shopping Mall Girl
Games and Entertainment
App
~~> Shop till you drop in the coolest shopping mall in town! Show off your style, you gorgeous girl!...
Gritty narrative (1 more)
Twisting turning plot
Fantastic dystopian fantasy
This book came highly rated by people on the fantasy faction facebook group and goodreads, so I had high expectations when I started reading. The reader is thrown straight into the thick of this strange post-apocalyptic magical world and the terms and creatures therein.
The story follows Ryhalt Galharrow, a captain in the Blackwing, a group of soldiers and enforcers working for the supreme magician Crowfoot. They are charged with keeping order along the Range and tracking down dissenters and run-aways.
Galharrow quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot and a battle to save the republic from itself and the evil Deep Kings and their hordes of mutated zombies.
The narrative is extremely gritty and at times you can almost smell the filth and second-hand brandy.
While you are thrown into it without warning and without preamble, this is to McDonald's credit, as the reader pieces things together quite quickly, or can make up their own mind about how things look and work.
To sum this up, I would say it was like Mark Lawrence or Joe Abercrombie ghost-writing a Brandon Sanderson plot - with the best aspects of both sides (the gritty dialogue from the grimdark authors with the intricately designed magic system and urban landscape of the plotter).
A superbly crafted story with excellent flowing prose.
The story follows Ryhalt Galharrow, a captain in the Blackwing, a group of soldiers and enforcers working for the supreme magician Crowfoot. They are charged with keeping order along the Range and tracking down dissenters and run-aways.
Galharrow quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot and a battle to save the republic from itself and the evil Deep Kings and their hordes of mutated zombies.
The narrative is extremely gritty and at times you can almost smell the filth and second-hand brandy.
While you are thrown into it without warning and without preamble, this is to McDonald's credit, as the reader pieces things together quite quickly, or can make up their own mind about how things look and work.
To sum this up, I would say it was like Mark Lawrence or Joe Abercrombie ghost-writing a Brandon Sanderson plot - with the best aspects of both sides (the gritty dialogue from the grimdark authors with the intricately designed magic system and urban landscape of the plotter).
A superbly crafted story with excellent flowing prose.
Lee Ann (116 KP) rated City of the Lost (Casey Duncan, #1) in Books
May 24, 2018
Anyone who writes usually has authors that they can point at and say "If I can ever be compared with them, I'll be happy." For me, I don't look at the authors who are defined as the classics - Austen, Shelley, etc - I look at Kelley Armstrong. If anyone ever compares anything I've written to something of hers, I think I'll die happy.
Every genre this woman turns her hand to she excels in. From her Women of the Otherworld Urban Fantasy Series, to her YA Darkest Powers, her Sea of Shadows fantasy, the crime fiction of Nadia Stafford, the Cainsville series (oh how I love you and am dying for the final book!) and this, the Casey Duncan series. I swear I haven't read a book by Kelley that I haven't instantly become invested in the storyline and the characters.
City of the Lost is written in Kelley's typical style - honest, detailed without being overloading, intricate and fascinating. Her characters just jump off the page with their realism. There is no perfect person, they are flawed and human. She twists and turns the plot with a skill that I'm in awe of. And just when you think you have it figured out, she throws in a twist you didn't see coming and the ride just keeps on moving.
Can't wat for the next book in this series. Long live Kelley Armstrong!
Every genre this woman turns her hand to she excels in. From her Women of the Otherworld Urban Fantasy Series, to her YA Darkest Powers, her Sea of Shadows fantasy, the crime fiction of Nadia Stafford, the Cainsville series (oh how I love you and am dying for the final book!) and this, the Casey Duncan series. I swear I haven't read a book by Kelley that I haven't instantly become invested in the storyline and the characters.
City of the Lost is written in Kelley's typical style - honest, detailed without being overloading, intricate and fascinating. Her characters just jump off the page with their realism. There is no perfect person, they are flawed and human. She twists and turns the plot with a skill that I'm in awe of. And just when you think you have it figured out, she throws in a twist you didn't see coming and the ride just keeps on moving.
Can't wat for the next book in this series. Long live Kelley Armstrong!
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Disappearing Nightly (Esther Diamond, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
First off, while this could technically be called an urban fantasy, it doesn't really have the atmosphere of one and I'd be more likely to call it a magical mystery. <u>Disappearing Nightly</u> is a charming, wonderfully intriguing tale featuring the logical off-Broadway actress Esther Diamond, who through no fault of her own stumbles into the world of magic, and the path of Dr. Maximillian Zadok.
The author crafted a well-done, swiftly plotted yarn that left me pleased as punch. The characters went beyond caricatures, which could have so easily happened with the amount of personalities featured, and each of their respective professions, in the more colorful world of NYC. Through a comedy of errors, rapid fire dialogue, which the author has a gift for, and hilarious interactions, this motley crew of an investigative team gets to the bottom of the mysterious disappearances that are happening in the community. I had no trouble visualizing events as they unfolded, with amusing results, and could easily see this as a television series. The romance was nicely weaved into the story without becoming overpowering, and surprise of all surprises, there was no bed-hopping! What a nice change of pace. Altogether, this was fine little read that I flew right through and am glad I have the sequel handy! So far, this just may be my favorite read of the year.
The author crafted a well-done, swiftly plotted yarn that left me pleased as punch. The characters went beyond caricatures, which could have so easily happened with the amount of personalities featured, and each of their respective professions, in the more colorful world of NYC. Through a comedy of errors, rapid fire dialogue, which the author has a gift for, and hilarious interactions, this motley crew of an investigative team gets to the bottom of the mysterious disappearances that are happening in the community. I had no trouble visualizing events as they unfolded, with amusing results, and could easily see this as a television series. The romance was nicely weaved into the story without becoming overpowering, and surprise of all surprises, there was no bed-hopping! What a nice change of pace. Altogether, this was fine little read that I flew right through and am glad I have the sequel handy! So far, this just may be my favorite read of the year.
Lee Ann (116 KP) rated City of the Lost (Casey Duncan, #1) in Books
Mar 13, 2018
Anyone who writes usually has authors that they can point at and say "If I can ever be compared with them, I'll be happy." For me, I don't look at the authors who are defined as the classics - Austen, Shelley, etc - I look at Kelley Armstrong. If anyone ever compares anything I've written to something of hers, I think I'll die happy.
Every genre this woman turns her hand to she excels in. From her Women of the Otherworld Urban Fantasy Series, to her YA Darkest Powers, her Sea of Shadows fantasy, the crime fiction of Nadia Stafford, the Cainsville series (oh how I love you and am dying for the final book!) and this, the Casey Duncan series. I swear I haven't read a book by Kelley that I haven't instantly become invested in the storyline and the characters.
City of the Lost is written in Kelley's typical style - honest, detailed without being overloading, intricate and fascinating. Her characters just jump off the page with their realism. There is no perfect person, they are flawed and human. She twists and turns the plot with a skill that I'm in awe of. And just when you think you have it figured out, she throws in a twist you didn't see coming and the ride just keeps on moving.
Can't wat for the next book in this series. Long live Kelley Armstrong!
Every genre this woman turns her hand to she excels in. From her Women of the Otherworld Urban Fantasy Series, to her YA Darkest Powers, her Sea of Shadows fantasy, the crime fiction of Nadia Stafford, the Cainsville series (oh how I love you and am dying for the final book!) and this, the Casey Duncan series. I swear I haven't read a book by Kelley that I haven't instantly become invested in the storyline and the characters.
City of the Lost is written in Kelley's typical style - honest, detailed without being overloading, intricate and fascinating. Her characters just jump off the page with their realism. There is no perfect person, they are flawed and human. She twists and turns the plot with a skill that I'm in awe of. And just when you think you have it figured out, she throws in a twist you didn't see coming and the ride just keeps on moving.
Can't wat for the next book in this series. Long live Kelley Armstrong!