Early Review: Dark Days by Kate Ormand

Dark Days by Kate Ormand

The future world has been divided into sectors--each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors' thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what's coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.

Sixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she'll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

They says be careful what you wish for, and I can't help feeling that saying applies to this book for me. So many times with Dystopian trilogies I've found myself thinking that things should have been condensed down into two books rather than dragging everything out. So when I saw that this was a dystopian standalone, I was admittedly excited to get my fix from this genre all in one setting without cliffhangers to worry about. Unfortunately, I think the book would have largely benefited by being stretched out into two books. Everything was so rushed along in order to keep it all in one book that I felt like only half of a story was being told and there were pieces missing everywhere. Nothing frustrates me more than when things aren't fully developed. So much happens in this book, yet I wasn't "involved" with any of it because it's just one thing to the next. There's no real substance behind it, which left me feeling less than satisfied. It's ironic because the short length of the book was what crippled it the most, but in the end was the biggest thing it had going for it, because if it had been any longer and kept up the same way, I doubt I would have continued reading past the first few chapters. But as it was, I knew that the book was short and a stand alone, so I might as well continue on hoping for it to turn around. Unfortunately it never did.

So as I said, things are all over the place and the plot is just one thing to the next, and frankly leaves a lot to be desired in the logic area. I mean if you really wanted to exterminate all of these communities why would you give so much notice. It makes no sense to me. Why not just grab out who you want to "save" and then get on with your awful plot. Sure, they played it off like they wanted to see how everyone behaved after this news to see if they were worthy, but honestly they've been told they will be brutally murdered by machines, I think a little crazy reaction is more than warranted even in the best of people. So there was a pretty big disconnect from the start there, but I was hoping once we got to the big reveal, it would all of a sudden make sense, but unfortunately that didn't happen and wound up feeling like a cookie cutter "bad guy" speech. Speaking of cookie cutter, that's a very apt description for Sia. I quite frankly can't think of one remarkable thing to say about her. Again, a lot of this goes back to the short length of the book which just didn't allow for much development in any area, but not being able to connect with the narrator is probably the biggest book killer for me.

As I'm reading back over this review I can't help feeling a bit sad. I wanted to like this book for so many reasons but it just wasn't meant to be I guess. Perhaps this one will appeal more to others, but for me, it's a pass.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)

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Early Review: Ignited by Corrine Jackson

Ignited by Corrine Jackson

Sense Thieves #3

Nobody hides forever.

Ever since Remy O'Malley discovered her dual identity as a Healer and a Protector, she's kept alive by staying one step ahead of both sides in this centuries-old war. Now someone's trying to draw her out of hiding, using her kidnapped father as bait.

To save him, Remy will need every friend she's got. But as new alliances form, old bonds fray. Her boyfriend Asher is losing his powers, becoming more mortal every time she touches him. Meanwhile, Remy finds herself growing closer to Asher's brother Gabe, even as a family tragedy drives her sister Lucy farther away.

On a rescue mission to London, Remy decides she's tired of being the hunted. It's time to end this war once and for all, as Protectors and Healers alike hurtle towards a final, violent confrontation that not everyone will survive.

One of the best things about this series is both the world behind it and the progression the characters make as they navigate it. I love how every Remy thought she had things figured out, something new would come along or something would change throwing a wrench into things. Not only did this keep things interesting, but it only made me fall for Remy more as she continued to persevere and stand up for what she thought was right no matter the obstacle thrown in her path. And boy let me tell you there were some major obstacles this time around. Everything really came to a head, and I loved seeing it all come together one last time to blow things out of the park. 

I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles. When they do pop up in books, generally I'm loyal to a core, choosing the first guy and sticking to him throughout. However, that wasn't the case here as I feel head over heels for Asher's brother, Gabe in the previous book. After Asher dies, Remy and Gabe become very close and you can see how much he cares for her, but things never move past just "closeness" as Remy's still hurting so much from her loss. I understood that and loved Gabe all the more for not rushing things. But of course at the end the rug got ripped out from under me when it turned up Asher wasn't gone after all. Don't get me wrong, his death was devastating, but the author handled the healing and transition to Gabe so well that I wanted only Gabe for her. Unfortunately IGNITED opens up with the love triangle in full force as Remy and Asher try to reconcile who they were and who they are now, with Gabe mixed in there too, leaving me more than a little frustrated. It was painfully obvious things were more than over between the two of them, as Asher just couldn't cope with her making him human. Gabe on the other hand never once faltered, and I have to admit wanting to yell at Remy more than a few times to wake up and see. But don't get me wrong, I do think the whole situation was handled very very well from a writing stand point as it was very realistic and there wasn't any sudden changing of feelings. A definite win in my book.

It's always bittersweet to say goodbye to a series I've loved, but I do enjoy it when that series ends with a good send out. One where you close the book on a sigh of contentment, and that definitely was the case here. Would I have wanted more from this series and world? Sure, as it's really well written and the characters suck you right in. But despite my wish for more, I'm very satisfied with the way things turned out and want to give the author major kudos for doing a great job pleasing this very hard to satisfy with endings reader. Two thumbs up, you won't want to miss this one!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Early Review: End Times by Anna Schumacher

End Times by Anna Schumacher

End Times #1

Carbon County, Wyoming is like a current running through Daphne’s heart.

When life gets too tough to bear in Detroit, Daphne flees to her Uncle Floyd’s home, where she believes she’ll find solace in the silent hills of her childhood summers. But Daphne’s Greyhound bus pulls over in downtown Carbon County and it’s not silence that welcomes her. It’s the sound of trumpets.

Daphne’s desire to start again in simple country comfort is instantly dashed as the townsfolk declare that the End Times are here. And incredible occurrences soon support their belief. Daphne does all she can to keep her head down and ignore the signs. She works a job at the local oil rig, helps around the house, hangs out with her pregnant cousin Janie and gets to know Owen, a mysterious motocross racer and fellow roustabout at the rig. But soon a startling discovery shatters her resolve and calls into question all her doubts and fears.

Daphne landed in Carbon County for a reason. She only has to read the signs—and believe.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, it kept my attention and read very quickly. In fact I finished in one afternoon as the family fished along the bank. However, there just didn't seem to be any real substance despite keeping my attention. The characters were a bit wooden and slightly off, almost as if they were mostly fleshed out, but not quite. And then the plot, well there didn't really seem to be a clear cut one honestly. The story just kinda meanders around, and then at the end there are attempts to tie everything together, but again, it just felt a bit... off. Then when you add in the almost zealot religious aspects and I was left scratching my head at some points. Look don't get me wrong, I realize that there have to be some towns that take their religion really really serious like this, and revolve a lot around it, but this case was just a bit over the top. Everything somehow was a sign from God be it good or bad, and quite frankly it was a bit too much for me. I think everyone has a right to believe what and how they want, but this just was overboard in my opinion as they seemed to continually throw reason out the door for the sake of religion and that just isn't my cup o tea.

Getting further into the characters, this story rotates through several perspectives, and while they all seemed to be missing a bit of something in my opinion, I will say that each one did have a very unique voice. Daphne was incredibly strong, yet broken due to what she went through prior to and during this story. Her being standoffish to men was completely understandable because of that. What threw me though was her instant and fierce attraction to Owen. It just seemed forced, almost as if it was decided there must be a love interest, so hey, let's make this guy work. This false nature especially held true at the end when certain plot lines are revealed, and once again I'm left scratching my head. Owen on the other hand had no such issues with relationships etc, so it was natural for him to be attracted to Daphne, but again there was a wrench thrown into things when he tried to push things too fast. Once again I was thrown out of the story as it didn't quite jive. 

When I first finished reading END TIMES, I rated it a three as I figured despite my frustrations, as I said, it did keep my attention. But now that I've put my thoughts all together in this review, I realize a three is a bit high. I'm not saying it's a terrible book, but it definitely was missing a good bit that kept me from fully enjoying the read. If any one of my issues had of been corrected, I think this could have been a much better read honestly as it had all of the components, they just weren't quite there. I'm not opposed to giving the second book a shot, if nothing more out of curiosity for what comes yet, but it probably won't be on my most anticipated list. Still all in all, if you don't mind a slower moving book that heavily revolves around religion, this one may be worth a shot. 

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Kirsten Reviews: A Turn of Light by Julie E. Czerneda

A Turn of Light by Julie E. Czerneda

Night's Edge #1

The village of Marrowdell is an isolated pioneer community, but it is also the place where two worlds overlap, and at the turn of light--sunset--the world of magic known as the Verge can briefly be seen.

Jenn Nalynn belongs to both Verge and Marrowdell, but even she doesn't know how special she is--or that her invisible friend Wisp is actually a dragon sent to guard her... and keep her from leaving the valley. But Jenn longs to see the world, and thinking that a husband will help her reach this goal, she decides to create one using spells. Of course, everything goes awry, and suddenly her "invisible friend" has been transformed into a man. But he is not the only newcomer to Marrowdell, and far from the most dangerous of those who are suddenly finding their way to the valley...

A Turn of Light by Julie E. Czerneda is the first in her Night’s Edge series, and is a heavyweight, both in terms of length and the worldbuilding done in order to establish this universe.

Marrowdell is an isolated village, and the site of an overlap between two worlds. In Marrowdell, magic is simply another part of life, and the audience slowly realizes how different their life is in a series of small touches that make it clear, but not overdone. The book’s protagonist, Jenn Nalynn is a part of both Marrowdell and the Verge, a world of magic, but as is the case in many fantasy stories, she is unaware of her own importance. In fact, she doesn’t even know that her invisible friend Wisp, is a dragon tasked with keeping her safe, and preventing her from ever leaving the valley.

But Jenn, wanting to see the world, makes up her mind that if having a husband might help accomplish her goal, she'll make one herself. Then, things go slightly wonky, and her formerly invisible friend is suddenly a man. However, there are more strangers coming to Marrowdell, and not all of them are friendly.

This book is not a quick, or light read, as there is quite a bit of plot to set up and several worlds in need of careful construction. For this reason, the pacing is quite leisurely, and readers who are impatient for a story to get moving will be frustrated by this book.

Also worth noting is the fact that the audience is aware of very nearly everything going on, while characters are ignorant or oblivious to what’s happening. This may become tiresome for readers who figure out very quickly where the story is going and prefer to have more twists in their fantasy stories. But, for those who are more interested in fantastic beasts, a village that is a character in and of itself, and magic, this book will be worth settling in to savor.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Early Review: The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz

The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz

Dark World #1

Paige Kelly is used to weird--in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s. But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer-and he isn't fazed by Paige's propensity to chat with the dead. Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she'll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that's overrun by demons-and she might never make it home.

The world building behind The Dark World was interesting and somewhat complex. It definitely kept me on my toes as I was trying to figure everything out. While I did guess some things ahead of time,  other caught me off guard, making for the perfect blend of suspense in my book. I especially enjoyed how this book is quite different than most of the paranormal YAs out there. It gave me something new and fresh to read, and I loved it for that alone, nevertheless all the other things that drew me in, like the fabulous cast of characters. I loved how they, just like this world were very unique and fully fleshed out. It certainly made for an enjoyable read.

I loved, loved, loved the slower build of the romance between Paige and Logan. Sure, it's still pretty fast, but compared to many similar books in the genre, it moved at almost a turtle's pace. This allowed me to attach more to the two of them together so much more than an instalove would have. So when roadblocks came into play, I felt the pain and angst right along with them. While I won't spoil things, I will say that by the end this better attachment to the characters and their romance became very important. So that when the whopper of an ending came into play and a certain character makes a huge life changing choice, it didn't lead to an eye roll from me. A definite win in my book.

I enjoy Cara's Spellbound series, but this one steps it up a notch for me. The characterization, world building and romance have only gotten better, and I love getting to see an author grow like this. I'll definitely be on the look out for the next book in the series after that ending, and frankly anything else Cara writes will more than likely be on my radar as well. So if you are looking for a fresh read and a good book to escape into for an afternoon, look no further than THE DARK WORLD.

(Received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley)

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Early Review: Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Dangerous Creatures #1

A new series returns to the world of Beautiful Creatures. Some loves are cursed...others are dangerous.

Ridley Duchannes will be the first to tell you that she's a bad girl. She's Dark. She's a Siren. You can never trust her, or even yourself when she's around. Lucky for her, Wesley "Link" Lincoln can never seem to remember that; quarter Incubus or not, his heart is Mortal when it comes to Ridley. When Link heads to New York City to start a music career, Ridley goes along for the ride-and she has her own reasons. As if leaving small-town Gatlin for the big city, trying to form a band, and surviving life with a partially reformed Siren isn't hard enough already, Link soon learns he has a price on his head that no Caster or Mortal can ever pay.

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthors of Beautiful Creatures, are back and casting another magical spell. Their signature mixture of mystery, suspense, and romance, along with a dash of fun and danger, will pull fans in and leave them begging for more.

I have to admit, prior to reading this book I wasn't the biggest Ridley or Link fans. I could still take or leave Link to be honest, but Ridley really grew on me. She's just so harsh and abrasive. While in my mind I knew she hadnt had things very easy, it was hard to remember that when I would see how she would treat others. Now however, after being in her head, I realize just how truly damaged and broken she is. She's in an almost constant battle with herself between her siren nature and what she wanted from her life. It's a struggle to balance her desire to be good with her true nature, and the fact that she cannot trust and good emotions due to her influential nature, well it's utterly heartbreaking. Suddenly it all made sense why she always did things to make people angry with her, negative emotions she could trust to be real, but any affection may not be. And sometimes something real even if it's negative is better than something fake. So that being said, seeing her try to be with Link is painful to watch because you know she's trying so hard, but yet everything keeps falling apart. As I said, Iink's not really my favorite character, but since he has the potential to make Ridley happy, he's alright in my book in the end.

Can I just say that I am 100% over cliffhangers? I mean prior to reading this book I wasn't the biggest fan of them, but this one seals the deal. To me cliffhangers most times feel like a marketing ploy to keep readers coming back. But I'd rather come back because a book sold me on its own merits rather than a driving need to find out what happened after a shocking ending. I just don't see the need to leave readers frustrated for months if not years until the next installment comes out, especially in this case as the series can more than stand on its own without the need for this. Granted, this could be the way the authors wanted to tell the story, with the shocking ending, but frankly it's turned me off and overall lessened the read for me. It's to the point where I'm seriously struggling with how to rate this book. Without the cliffhanger, a solid, well earned four, but the cliffhanger makes me want to knock it down to a two. That's how much it's frustrated me, but in the end I'm going to ignore the ending and look at the rest of the book as a whole to rate it.

One thing to note is that even though this is a spin off series, it really isn't the place to start reading this world. There is no recap, no explanation or back story, so if you haven't read the main series, you will probably be pretty lost. Even as myself, having read the previous series, I still felt just a bit lost and scrambling to remember everything, so I think at least a little recapping would have gone a long way. That being said and frustrations with the ending aside DANGEROUS CREATURES was a pretty good read for me. I loved seeing Ridley in a new light and want to see where things head next

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

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Kirsten Reviews: Bloodstone by Gillian Phillip

Bloodstone by Gillian Philip

Rebel Angels #2

Bloodstone is the second novel in Gillian Philip’s critically acclaimed Rebel Angels series, debuting in the United States for the first time.

For centuries, Sithe warriors Seth and Conal MacGregor have hunted for the Bloodstone demanded by their Queen. Homesick, and determined to protect their clan, they have also made secret forays across the Veil. One of these illicit crossings has violent consequences that will devastate both their close family, and their entire clan.

In the Otherworld, Jed Cameron, a feral, full-mortal young thief, becomes entangled with the strange and dangerous Finn MacAngus and her shadowy uncles. When he is dragged into the world of the Sithe, it’s nothing he can’t handle until time warps around him, and menacing forces reach out to threaten his infant brother. In the collision of two worlds, war and tragedy are inevitable, especially when treachery comes from the most shocking of quarters….

Bloodstone, the second volume in Gillian Phillip’s Rebel Angels series tells the story of two Sithe warriors, Seth and Conal MacGregar, who have spent centuries searching for the Bloodstone, as commanded by their queen. This artifact will help protect the Veil, but it’s a mission that has meant a search of more than four hundred years. But, they have also made many trips across the Veil, a barrier between the world of mortals and that of the Sithe, and it is one of these forays that will ultimately have grave consequences for them and all those close to them. Conal’s sister, Stella is unwilling to help them, as she has vowed never to cross over to the Sithe world again, and is determined that her daughter, Finn never learn the truth about her origins. Then Seth discovers a boy who can see things beyond the Veil, and trouble quickly follows.

In the Otherworld, a mortal thief, Jed Cameron has become involved in the dealings of Finn MacAngus and her uncles, Seth and Conal. This, and his ability to sense the Sithe, leads to him being pulled into their politics, family struggles, and also results in his young brother being threatened.

While this book does contain Sithe, or ‘fey’ as other fantasy series would call them, Phillip makes an effort to keep the mythology distinct, and the stakes of the brothers crossing the Veil, as well as broader political implications distinct from other works in the genre. Much of the strength of the story rests in the bond between Seth and Conal, who, although having very different personalities, are loyal to one another and face obstacles that viewers of fantasy and horror shows such as Supernatural may very well appreciate.

The book does take some time to get the story moving, and much of this is spent laying out plot for upcoming chapters, which is necessary, but may prove frustrating for readers who are anticipating a story that takes off right out of the gate. However, the plot does come together in the end, and events are resolved, with the exception of those things that will undoubtedly be continued in another book.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Early Review: Rebel by Amy Tintera

Rebel by Amy Tintera

Reboot #2

The sequel to the action-packed Reboot is a can't-miss thrill ride, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Veronica Roth, and Marie Lu.

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

I'd like to start off with a bit of a warning that this is only a duology as it completely caught me off guard, and wanted to make sure the same didn't happen to other readers. Somehow I overlooked that previously and I have to say I'm kind of disappointed now. Don't get me wrong REBEL was fantastic and I loved everything about it, so much so that I want more. Funny how that seems to work where trilogies that could have easily been finished with two are stretched out, and this time around where I want more, there isn't. But c'est la vie, and now onto the good stuff.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Wren and Callum in Reboot, and I enjoyed them even more in REBEL. The juxtaposition between them just really works as they balance one another out. In the previous book things were still new, and you saw Callum's influence on Wren more as he softened her greatly. However, this time around I saw less of the softening, and more of them finding a balance together. Wren's definitely more emotional, but only to a point. She's always going to be very analytical and frankly emotional considerations come second, but sometimes that's not a bad thing. She doesn't have a hard time doing what needs to be done, but she's also not cold nor malicious, which makes all the difference. Callum on the other hand is the complete opposite in that he's emotion first and logic second to the point where he refuses to get his hands dirty at all. Things were very black and white for him as far as right and wrong, which made me question at times why he loved Wren so much. But again those tides started to change as he grew and learned that things aren't always so cut and dry. I really love getting to see character development done really well like this, and REBEL knocks it out of the park.

There wasn't a single dull moment in REBEL. Between the incredible character development and the non stop plot I was completely hooked from start to end. That's not to say that it was all action packed, because it wasn't as there was more than plenty of down time too, but the intensity regardless was fully ratcheted up the entire time, making for one heck of a read. Trust me, if you enjoyed Reboot, then REBEL will hit it out of the park for you.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)

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Early Review: Fire Kin by M.J. Scott

Fire Kin by M.J. Scott

Half-Light City #4

Imagine a city divided…a city readying itself for a war. The vampire Blood and the shape-shifting Beast Kind seek to seize control now that the treaty is broken. Only the humans stand in their way…but they stand without their Fae allies…and they desperately need help....

I chose to stay with the humans when the Fae withdrew from the City. I am a healer, and they need me. I know the odds are against them. I know they need reinforcements. But I never expected them to turn and seek aid from the depths of my past. Asharic is a powerful Fae, exiled by the Veiled Queen thirty years ago. Leaving me behind. But now the queen is dead and the throne is vacant, and Ash is returning to the City—my City—with his mercenary army.

It would be false to deny that there is still a spark between us, but I will not be taken in again. And I’m not the only one disturbed by his return. A Blood lord is poised to conquer the Half-Light City, and other enemies new and old are gathering to eliminate the threat Ash poses. To save the City, we will have to join forces. And pray we’re not the ones who burn…

Since I'm very romance driven with my reading choices, it's only fitting that I kick this review off with my feelings for the main couple, Bryony and Ash. I just love the past history and tension that comes with reunited lovers. It's that battle to make this time work that really amps up the tension for me, and if you've followed my reviews at all, you'll know that that delicious tension and build up between a couple is my weakness. When done well, it can suck me completely into the characters, and I was so happy that was the case here with these two.

Now as much as I loved Ash and Bryony together, they couldn't overshadow an issue I had with the flow and focus of this book. So much time seemed to be spent on the fae politics side of things rather than the overall series arc of the war against the blood. This might have been okay if I had felt like we were getting somewhere with the fae aspects, but it just seemed to scratch the surface a stay rather vague, and yet major things happened, leaving my scratching my head and scrambling to get on board. It's also because of this heavy fae focus (and well heavy romantic focus too, but you won't hear me complaining about that), that the final showdown or resolution seemed to get jilted. I mean when you have a four book build up with a "big bad" I just would have expected the climax to have a bit more oomph to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I like how things turned out and the little event at the very very end really sold things for me, but I still feel a bit let down at how it was all resolved. I guess I just wanted a bit more.

So that being said, I'm pretty impressed with this final installment in the Half Light series. While I did have a bit of frustration with wanting more at the climax, overall I'm pleased and would recommend the entire series to fans of Urban Fantasy or lighter steampunk.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Kirsten Reviews: Black Arts by Faith Hunter

Black Arts by Faith Hunter

Jane Yellowrock #7

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who always takes care of her own—no matter the cost...

When Evan Trueblood blows into town looking for his wife, Molly, he’s convinced that she came to see her best friend, Jane. But it seems like the witch made it to New Orleans and then disappeared without a trace.

Jane is ready to do whatever it takes to find her friend. Her desperate search leads her deep into a web of black magic and betrayal and into the dark history between vampires and witches. But the closer she draws to Molly, the closer she draws to a new enemy—one who is stranger and more powerful than any she has ever faced.

Black Arts, the latest installment in Faith Hunter’s long-running Jane Yellowrock series is a tangle of storylines and a mystery that its protagonist has to solve in a hurry if she wants to find and save one of her friends.

Evan Trueblood comes into town in search of his wife Molly. As she’s Jane Yellowrock’s best friend, it makes sense for her to head to New Orleans on a visit. But apparently Molly, who happens to be a witch, barely made it into the city before she vanished.

Jane and Molly are still friends, although that friendship has been on shaky ground since Jane killed Molly’s sister. Unlike some urban fantasy heroines, Jane has had to face the consequences of her actions, and wrestles with whether or not what she did was ultimately the right thing or not, and if that makes her a bad person. While all of this is understandable, it means that Jane is a bit distracted from the situation at hand, and it takes her a good portion of the book to figure out what’s going on.

The search for what’s happened to Molly, as well as several of Leo’s second’s employees exposes Jane to the longstanding conflict between witches and vampires, and things snowball from there.

On top of the mystery, there are other problems facing Jane. Having been outed as a shapeshifter to the supernatural community, she is having some difficulties, and Leo is also facing territorial issues that make for ongoing complications for future books. As with other series, many of the plot threads are tied up by the end, but enough are left loose that readers will be interested in seeing what happens to Jane and the rest of these characters.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:

     All Things Urban Fantasy

     Red Hot Books

     Gizmo's Reviews

Previous Books:

     1. Skinwalker
     2. Blood Cross
     3. Mercy Blade
     4. Raven Cursed
     5. Death's Rival

     6. Blood Trade

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