Showing posts with label urban fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urban fantasy. Show all posts

Saturday, February 10, 2024

#Review: REALM OF KINGS by Thea Atkinson

 


 5 of 5 stars

Whoa--hold on to your hats with this 4th installment in the Iron King's Assassin series. Master storyteller Ms. Atkinson has quite a few surprises in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Be prepared for the most daunting roller coaster ride you've ever been on, with one twist and turn after another.

Our girl Ava has been through the wringer lately and things are going to get a lot worse for our reluctant assassin. The Shadow Court's mob boss, Terran, is still determined to have Ava assassinate King Ferranus even though it means a death sentence for her. Terran is ruthless and doesn't care one whit for her well-being, but the dark enforcer certainly does. Blade has vowed to keep Ava safe and she wonders what that entails exactly. In the last book, Ava's feelings toward Blade were changing from murderous to something else, but what exactly? Is she falling in love with the hellhound, or more importantly, does she even have the capacity to love after the drug-addicted and vicious life she'd led up to this point.

One thing is clear. The most important thing to Ava is keeping her sister, Kit, safe from harm's way especially now that Flint has brought Kit into the Fae world. Kit has fallen hard for the gorgeous Fae and refuses to listen to Ava when she tries to explain how dangerous Flint is. To keep Ava in line, Terran plans on sending Kit with the Shadow Court entourage when they go to the king's celebration. Now Ava is in a quandary. How can she keep her sister safe without compromising the mission? Can she even keep herself safe? And what about the other brother, Stone? Ava was once attracted to Blade's gorgeous Fae brother, but has that attraction waned? Can she count on him as a friend?

There is so much more to unpack about this story, and I could go on and on about how much I love this series, but suffice it to say that this series does not disappoint. There is a momentous surprise near the end of the book that I never saw coming and I sat in shock as I read it. It was absolutely brilliant!!

This story is dark, with heart-pounding excitement, and will definitely get your adrenaline pumping. I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.



Tuesday, November 21, 2023

#Review: REALM OF ILLUSION by Thea Atkinson

 


 5 of 5 stars

I always read Ms. Atkinson's books with great anticipation because she's such a masterful writer. The third book in the Iron King's Assassin series wrings every emotion out of our girl Ava. What she endured while trapped in the catacombs has left her so emotionally scarred that she can barely open her eyes. Only the solid presence of the Dark Enforcer, Blade, keeps her grounded in reality. He rescued her and vowed to stay by her side. She held onto that one thought as she tried to recover from all the hits of the drug Bloodmist she had to inhale just to survive that hellhole. But, now she's in withdrawal, a withdrawal that's so much worse than ever before, especially since she's been clean for so long. She's powerless to resist as Blade guides them back to the tavern she was kidnapped from. He knows she needs time and rest to get through the worst withdrawal symptoms. Along the way, her feelings for him start to change, but she's fighting any hint of caring for Fae, any Fae, but especially for the Dark Enforcer.

When they finally make it back to the Shadow Court, Ava has hardly recovered from the trauma before she's dragged before the Fae mafia boss again. He's taken action that has shocked her, and her rage nearly causes the boss to threaten the one person she cares about--her sister Kit. Now Ava faces more danger as she's torn between two fae brothers--Stone, who has more humanity in him than some humans, and the Dark Enforcer, who makes her blood sing. There are so many moving pieces in this story that kept me glued to the story. Will Ava be able to protect her sister in Fae land while carrying out her dangerous mission, and will she ever believe that she deserves love?

I can't wait to read what Ms. Atkinson has in store for our monster hunter, Ava. If you're looking for an intriguing and engaging series about assassins, monster hunters, and the Fae, this series is a must-read.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.





Tuesday, October 10, 2023

#Review: REALM OF SHADOW by Thea Atkinson


 

5 of 5 stars

After being blown away by book 1 in this new series, I couldn't wait to read and devour this book. When we left off, intrepid monster hunter Ava Ashe, is being blackmailed into accepting a job to kill the Fae king before his coronation. If she doesn't follow through with the assignment, one of the Fae warriors, Flint, will kill her sister. Even though Ava's sister won't even accept her calls, there's no way that Ava will let anything happen to Kit. Her one weakness is a gorgeous High Fae, Stone, and they nearly get it on when all hell breaks loose. The Fae Mafia kidnaps her and brings her before the Mafia boss, Terran, in Fae land. Come to find out, Stone is the son of the boss, and now Ava feels totally betrayed that her would-be lover had an ulterior motive for being with her. 

When she is thrown into the Fae dungeon for insubordination to Terran, she finds out that another Fae she knows, Blade, the owner of the tavern where she's kidnapped from, is the boss's dark enforcer and also another son. It takes 3 days and a very horrifying lesson from Blade when he transforms into a hellhound before Ava knows she can't bluff her way out of the assassin job. Unfortunately, to be ready to infiltrate the Fae King's coronation ceremony and catch the eye of the king, she needs a special dress only available by a hermit-like dressmaker. This dressmaker can only be reached by traveling along the Shadow Road, a road filled with all manner of monsters. She still hasn't forgiven Stone for his betrayal in having her kidnapped in the first place, and when he volunteers to accompany her, Terran insists Blade be the one to take her. This sets the stage for a roller-coaster ride of emotions.

Miss Atkinson is a master storyteller and has an unbelievable imagination for all manner of bad situations and monsters for Ava and Blade to encounter along the Shadow Road. All the while, Ava is cataloging everything about Blade because her ultimate goal is to kill them all--Terran, Blade, and Stone, plus any other Fae that get in her way. Ava is one badass woman, but she's still human, and when she comes against stronger Fae and their magic, it forces her to do the one thing she hates--have patience and wait for the perfect opportunity to carry out her vengeance. Her skills and endurance are sorely tested when she's betrayed again and taken by a horde of low Fae when she and Blade stop for the night. Now our girl Ava is in serious trouble. She's half-naked and has no weapons except her bravado and skill set as a monster killer.

If you like pulse-pounding action with all kinds of twists and turns thrown in for good measure, you won't want to miss this second installment of the series. To fully appreciate how Ava ends up in a Fae dungeon in the first place, I recommend starting with book 1. You won't be disappointed!

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.




Saturday, March 18, 2023

#SALE .99 THE VAMPIRE NIGHTLIFE BOXED SET by Debra L Martin and David W Small

 


Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Nightlife-Boxed-Set-ebook/dp/B09N2LCHNX


The Silver Cross, Book 1
There are two things Boston detective Lacey Gardner knows about killing vampires. Slicing off a head or a hit directly to the heart are the only surefire ways to kill one. Silver is their Achilles heel. A vampire never wears silver.

When she meets bartender extraordinaire, Damon Harte, her heart does a quickstep for the dark, hunky guy. She's learned the hard way that having a love interest in her line of work can be heart-wrenching. She's kept to herself for years, but something about Damon captivates her and draws her to him. When she learns Damon's devastating secret, she knows what she has to do: kill the man who has stolen her heart.

The Silver Double Cross, Book 2
Fresh off suspension for insubordination, Lt Detective Lacey Gardner is eager to get back to killing vampires. Reeling from the shock that her lover and soul mate, Damon Harte, was the former vampire king in Boston, she did the only thing she could—she shot him—twice.

Now Boston is under siege by a brutal new vampire king, and it's all her fault. The new king has declared the city's citizens fair game. The streets run red with victims' blood, and it's up to Lacey and her team to hunt down the rogue vampires and restore order. When Damon comes back to Boston offering to help, Lacey has a heart-wrenching decision to make. Will she open her heart to the man she loves or will she be forced to send him to his final death?


Excerpt from Silver Double Cross:

Amira came forward when they reached the circle. “Mr. Harte, please join us inside the circle and take off your shirt.”

Damon eyebrows shot up at the request. Amira smiled at his surprise and explained. 

“You’ll be wearing both crosses for the ceremony, and they need to stay in contact with your skin. At the same time, both crosses will need to be visible to the entire circle so we can focus on them.”

Damon walked to the altar and took off his shirt. “Do I lay down on this?”

Amira nodded. “Yes.”

She handed him the sapphire cross, and he put it around his neck and positioned it next to his ruby cross.

“It is imperative that you do not move and stay as quiet as possible,” Amira said. “There can be no distractions for this spell to work.” 

 As he lay down, the crosses suddenly seemed to have an otherworldly glow as the light from the candles hit them. Amira looked around at the circle of witches to ensure everyone was ready. As each nodded their readiness, she walked back to her place beside Anne. With a nod of her head, Anne began to chant softly. One by one, the candles flared in front of each woman as they joined in.  

Damon kept his eyes open, wanting to see everything they did, but his gaze remained glued on Anne. This was no mild-mannered farmhouse wife but a powerful witch. She guided her sisters in the spell. After nearly ten minutes, the chanting became louder, and he began to feel a slight tightness in his chest. Not undue pressure, but certainly like a heavy object had been placed upon him. The chanting continued, and the pressure became more intense, almost to the point of being painful. He had no idea if this was what he was supposed to be feeling, but he knew he had to remain still. 

Anne’s voice rose above the others as the chanting became louder still, and the pain became almost unbearable. He fisted his hands, trying not to move. It took all of his resolve to continue to be still. This was for Lacey, and it kept him pinned to the table. The chanting reached a crescendo, and the women raised their hands toward their crystals. One by one, the crystals lit up, and a beam of light from each of them surrounded him in a circle that undulated and pulsed with extraordinary power. As the most powerful witch of the circle, Amira was the fulcrum of the spell and moved forward with a large crystal pulsating in her hands. With a final incantation, she pushed her crystal into the circle of light, and her crystal stayed suspended within the circle.

Damon was assaulted with the most excruciating pain he’d ever felt. A cry tore from his throat, but the circle of light absorbed the sound. His body fought and struggled against invisible bonds that held him fast to the altar. The women continued chanting, and the circle began to condense along with Anne’s crystal and invaded his body while his cross was lit up in a brilliant flash. The concussive wave knocked the women to the ground as Damon moaned and writhed uncontrollably on the table. Amira was the first to regain her feet and tried to rush to Damon, whose limbs were shaking and jerking erratically. 

Anne grabbed her before she could reach him. “Amira, no” Anne yelled. “The spell must be completed without interference.”

“But it’s killing him,” Amira cried out in panic. “We must help him.”

Anne shook her head. “No, we cannot. Remember, if you interrupt now, he will surely die.”




Thursday, June 30, 2022

#Review: GRAVE MAGIC by Thea Atkinson

 


 5 of 5 stars

Whoa, hold onto your hats with this one because this series just keeps getting better and better. Brie nearly died in her last interaction with the black coven and when Parrish suggests she fake her death to give her a reprieve from being hunted by them, she reluctantly agrees. But...that sets a whole other sequence of events into motion and none of them are good. She thought she was protecting Layne, but news of her death sends him into a spiral that he may never recover from. Brie is running out of time. She has to find the secret to her magic and that path leads her into dangerous magic territory. Can she control the magic this time or will it send her into the depths of hell?

Ms. Atkinson does it again with this heart-stopping, action-packed story. There are so many twists and turns, you'll get fabulously dizzy trying to keep them all in your head while following Brie on her quest to find the answers she needs. I can't wait to read the next book!

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.



Wednesday, March 16, 2022

#Review: RITUAL MAGIC by Thea Atkinson

 

5 of 5 stars

Hold onto your hats for this one because there's no time to even take a breath! Brie is once again embroiled in things she has no control over and when a newly hired shop girl turns up dead, Brie realizes that she's in for the fight of her life. She's convinced the Black Coven killed the girl, but Layne isn't on board and neither is the ME Parrish. However, this latest murder isn't the only thing on Brie's mind. She's dealing with her feelings for Layne--should she trust him or not? One minute he's so cold and the next is giving her smoldering looks that melt her insides. What's a girl to do?

I have to admit that my favorite character in this story is Parrish. She's a wise-cracking medical examiner, but she's also become Brie's best friend although Parrish would never admit to such a thing. Heaven forbid Parrish show any sentimental crap like that!

In any case, be prepared for the whiplash effect because there are plenty of twists and turns and surprises at every turn. Be sure to carve out enough time to read this one as you won't want to put it down. Oh boy, I can't wait to see what's in store for our girl Brie as she just tries to stay alive, something that's not quite so easy these days.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.



Thursday, February 24, 2022

#SALE .99: THE VAMPIRE NIGHTLIFE BOXED SET by Debra L Martin & David W Small

The boxed set will be on sale for .99 for a limited time. It's a complete story revolving around vampire hunter Lacey Gardner and her soulmate Damon Harte. Be sure to grab your copy before the price goes back up to $5.99.


Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Nightlife-Boxed-Set-ebook/dp/B09N2LCHNX

Blurb:

The Silver Cross, Book 1
There are two things Boston detective Lacey Gardner knows about killing vampires. Slicing off a head or a hit directly to the heart are the only surefire ways to kill one. Silver is their Achilles heel. A vampire never wears silver.

When she meets bartender extraordinaire, Damon Harte, her heart does a quickstep for the dark hunky guy. She's learned the hard way that having a love interest in her line of work can be heart-wrenching. She's kept to herself for years, but something about Damon captivates her and draws her to him. When she learns Damon's devastating secret, she knows what she has to do: kill the man who has stolen her heart.

The Silver Double Cross, Book 2
Fresh off suspension for insubordination, Lt Detective Lacey Gardner is eager to get back to killing vampires. Reeling from the shock that her lover and soul mate, Damon Harte, was the former vampire king in Boston, she did the only thing she could—she shot him—twice.

Now Boston is under siege by a brutal new vampire king, and it's all her fault. The new king has declared the city's citizens fair game. The streets run red with victims' blood and it's up to Lacey and her team to hunt down the rogue vampires and restore order. When Damon comes back to Boston offering to help, Lacey has a heart-wrenching decision to make. Will she open her heart to the man she loves or will she be forced to send him to his final death?


 

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

#Review: RUNE MAGIC by Thea Atkinson

 

5 of 5 stars

 

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L69WLY7

I’m always amazed at the creativity of some authors and Ms. Atkinson is one of the masters. Where do these ideas come from? Should you be scared? Not at all, but what you will be is deeply entrenched and on the edge of your seat reading the dark and edgy second volume of her new series “Counterfeit Psychic.

 

Once again Brie Duncan becomes embroiled in a new murder case much against her will. She has cleaned up her business and now just wants to make enough money to pay her rent, buy groceries and maybe have a little left over. Of course, that’s not what happens when Detective Farrel walks into her magic shop and demands she accompany him to the precinct. She’s right to be nervous because as she looks at the newest crime scene photos, she knows somehow witches, and not the good kind, are involved. Things go from bad to worse for Brie and even when Layne comes back after being MIA for two weeks, she’s in for some rough times. There is definitely chemistry between these two, but events keep spiraling out of control before they can do more than longingly gaze at each other.

 

There is so much happening in this story that it will make you dizzy and terrified for our girl Brie. Could she have magic—the real kind and not the kind based on the help of drugs? She finds out some crucial facts about her childhood and it leads her to become even more involved in the latest murders. All she wants is to lead a quiet life, but when all the clues lead to WHO (the black coven) is committing the murders, there are no leads to WHY they’re doing it. Parrish, the local ME, is a welcome addition to the story. I love her kick-ass attitude. As with all the other Thea Atkinson books I’ve read, this one will take you on a roller coaster ride of thrills, terror and questions upon questions. March 2022 cannot come fast enough to find out what’s in store for Brie, Layne and Parrish. A must read for fans of urban fantasy.

 

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.