I came across this on my library's website and gave it a try because they had the audio book version. I'm so glad I did because I REALLY enjoyed this I came across this on my library's website and gave it a try because they had the audio book version. I'm so glad I did because I REALLY enjoyed this and look forward to continuing with the series!
I love all aspects of paranormal fiction so this was a likely candidate for a good read for me. It has many things that make a book great for me: a creative interesting plot, well-written, likable characters with quirks doing exciting things, and strong world-building as a foundation for a solid series. This book had all those items.
What it also had, and which is always a winner for me, was plenty of cheeky humour throughout the story. I LOVE a book that makes me laugh, and when the humour is wrapped around a potentially life-altering or world-ending story line well that just ups the entertainment factor that much more.
Alex is a really great main character who is in the quintessential "fish out of water" situation, discovering she is the heiress to not only an amazing mansion, but to a magical bloodline as well. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say this first book sets up a world and a story that has plenty of room to grow.
I also like that this book has some unusual paranormal species as characters; species we don't regularly see in other paranormal stories and learning about them and their abilities here was a fun twist.
Overall, this was a good, solid start to what I hope will be a long-term favourite series that I will continue with for the several future books already released.
Format note: for those who like audio format, the narrator here (who is new to me) Maria McCann was excellent. She gave each character a unique voice and personality through her narration and added that extra layer of enjoyment a well-narrated audio book can deliver to a story. I plan to continue listening to these books on audio....more
This was a really short story, but it was a sweet and wonderful finale to a series I really loved.
This book was everything I love: strong female charaThis was a really short story, but it was a sweet and wonderful finale to a series I really loved.
This book was everything I love: strong female characters, homage to my favourite book (Pride and Prejudice), magic, humour and diverse interesting characters doing clever and entertaining things for the reader to enjoy....more
Oh my goodness - I loved, loved, LOVED this story!!
This series is absolutely wonderful and I couldn't read this second book fast enough. Everything abOh my goodness - I loved, loved, LOVED this story!!
This series is absolutely wonderful and I couldn't read this second book fast enough. Everything about the book and the series is truly magical!!
The characters here are just one of the "best things" about this world. Everyone in the book is unique and interesting and likable, even with all their flaws and foibles. These characters feel real, and I fell in love with all of them immediately and completely. Cassandra especially, will appeal to anyone else (like me) who believes they must do everything all by themselves, all the time, in every situation and do it flawlessly and efficiently. I feel I understood Cassandra and could sympathize and empathize with her choices, even as I knew she would eventually have to let others help her.
The flipping of the societal roles for men and women is so clever and such a thoughtful viewpoint on how ridiculous it is to dictate who people must be, and what they can and cannot be capable of simply due to their gender. It is very well presented but feels seamlessly part of the plot, rather than finger-shaking judgey preaching and I loved it too.
Really there's nothing I don't love about this series, and I look forward to reading other books, not only in this series but other books by this author. I've read other stories from her already, and very much enjoy her writing style, her perspective and the magical way she wraps a reader into her worlds and lets them explore the magic!! Highly recommended if strong female characters, alternate Regency-era worlds, and magical, quirky stories are something you enjoy!...more
I am really loving this series! Book 3 was just as entertaining and engaging as the first two books.
I honestly enjoy everything about this world. SeraI am really loving this series! Book 3 was just as entertaining and engaging as the first two books.
I honestly enjoy everything about this world. Sera is a wonderful main character who is smart and capable and not only determined to live her own independent life out from under the control of the Mage Council, but also truly cares about helping others with her magic.
The plot of this book was another interesting clever story with plenty of twists and turns and opportunities for Sera to use her magic.
I really do love everything about this series and hope the author has more books planned to continue it. I will read as many as I can get!...more
I am a huge fan of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and have loved all the books and especially the characters of Cat and Bones. I have been unrI am a huge fan of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and have loved all the books and especially the characters of Cat and Bones. I have been unrepentantly crazy about their love story from the beginning.
This book is the second in the retelling of the first two books in this series from Bones' perspective rather than Cat's which was the POV of the entire original series. This book proves what devoted fans of much loved books can do along with an author willing to self-publish, because for Frost's many fans, she self-published two books to tell Bones' side of the story and her fans came through, buying it in enough quantity to make the first book a best-seller and allow her to publish book two of Bones' story.
True, re-writing previously published books from another character's POV is unusual, but if you love this world and its characters, then you understand how cool it is that we get to relive this story from "the other side of the grave" as the title of the first book re-write says. And it IS very cool!! I really really love these characters and enjoyed reliving their story and adventures experiencing all of it through Bones' eyes and experience.
I listened to all the original books on audio because the amazing Tavia Gilbert narrated all of them and she is spectacular as a narrator. For Bones' POV, Jeaniene Frost found Will Watt to narrate and he is perfect! Totally brings Bones to life with all the cheeky humour and brutal (when necessary) mindset of a vampire hitman that is required to understand who Bones it.
This was an absolutely delightful opportunity to revisit characters, plots and worlds that I loved the first time around and loved even MORE experiencing it from the other half of this couple's perspective. If you loved the original books I highly recommend checking out the two books from Bones' POV. ...more
I really enjoyed this book! I've read other books by this author, including from this series and have enjoyed all of them. Kristen Painter is definiteI really enjoyed this book! I've read other books by this author, including from this series and have enjoyed all of them. Kristen Painter is definitely one of my favourite authors for paranormal fiction.
This series, about a magical town where supernaturals can live safely is some very clever and creative world-building. There is so much going on in the town with a variety of supernatural citizens and there are lots of interesting characters and other stories to learn about and look forward to.
This story - about Andi and Con - was lovely. There was drama, suspense, romance, broken hearts, learning, growing and the requisite happily ever after. I loved every minute of this story, and definitely plan to continue on reading other books in this series and getting to know more of the residents of Shadowvale. Highly recommend for lovers of paranormal fiction!!...more
I really enjoy both the world-building and the characters in this series very, very much. The world of This is one of my favourite paranormal series!
I really enjoy both the world-building and the characters in this series very, very much. The world of Shadowvale is so creative and unique and each new book has both a standalone plot with its own characters, and also links up with the world of Shadowvale more broadly with subtle connections and "guest shots" from characters in earlier books.
I loved Theo and Robin, as well as the supporting characters in this installment. There was just the right balance of excitement and suspense with character development.
Kristen Painter is a wonderful author and has a great knack for creating characters, worlds, and inter-connected stories that are really fun and engaging for a reader!
I have also read and really enjoyed Painter's Jayne Frost series. If light paranormal fiction is your thing I highly recommend this author. I find all her books to be great, entertaining reads!...more
I absolutely LOVED this story!! I think this is my favourite of the Shadowvale series by far!
I've read numerous books by Kristen Painter and I very muI absolutely LOVED this story!! I think this is my favourite of the Shadowvale series by far!
I've read numerous books by Kristen Painter and I very much enjoy both her world-building and her way with characters.
The Shadowvale series is a very unique and engaging premise that naturally lends itself to continuing stories that follow a theme but are also each unique, and the creativity of the author who clearly has lots of interesting plots in her makes each new book its own fully realized story for its own characters.
This particular plot I found to be so multi-faceted with much more going on than just a paranormal romance. Really all the books in this series have been more than romance - although that IS in these stories, certainly. But the story is much more than just a convenient vehicle to get the main characters to their HEA. These characters have backstories, and they are interesting and dramatic and well told.
I really do love this author's work. I've read all the Jayne Frost series books as well and loved all of those too. I look forward to reading more books by Kristen Painter and hope she has more in the Shadovale series planned because I love this world and would happily read more about the people who live there!...more
I have loved this series and read all the full novels set in the Blud world. This novella was one of the books I missed and I enjoyed revisiting the wI have loved this series and read all the full novels set in the Blud world. This novella was one of the books I missed and I enjoyed revisiting the world.
This author is wonderful at world-building and her version of paranormals is unique and engrossing. I love this world and all the creatures that inhabit it.
Delilah S. Dawson is also excellent at writing strong, capable charming female characters and I particularly loved Jacinda! She has travelled everywhere, experienced everything (including the loss of her husband) and is still open and kind and a kick-ass fabulous woman.
The back-and-forth between Jacinda and Marco was fun and cheeky and entertaining. Although this book was short it was very entertaining with plenty of drama and suspense. I really enjoyed this....more
This is such a fun series! I enjoyed book two just as much as I did the first book and this is becoming a favourite series that I definitely intend toThis is such a fun series! I enjoyed book two just as much as I did the first book and this is becoming a favourite series that I definitely intend to keep reading!
I enjoy the Regency period, especially when the story includes smart, strong capable female characters to lead the story, as happens here. I enjoy it even more when the characters have some magic to bring to bear on their roles as the lady patronesses of Almacks.
This is a relatively short story (it was 110 pages on my eReader) but it was fun and charming and filled with clever plot lines and plenty of humour. These are easy-reading and entertaining stories and I look forward to continuing to read the others in the series....more
I am really enjoying this series! Book 2 was just as good as book one.
The world-building in this series is very clever and well-conceived. I love the I am really enjoying this series! Book 2 was just as good as book one.
The world-building in this series is very clever and well-conceived. I love the concept of the only female mage in a world where only men have been allowed to hold the magic prior to Sera's birth and her protection from being killed (as all other female babies had been when magic landed in them after the death one of the limited number of existing mages) by her father.
This second book really expands and develops Sera's character and her abilities in the world she's trying to live in without letting a bunch of overblown men tell her what to do and how to live (sigh, even in fiction women have to battle to simply live their lives) and it was lots of fun seeing her figure out how to ingeniously out-maneuver both the Mage Council and the King to live her life ruled by no one but herself.
The plot is just as clever this time around as in book 1 and I also enjoyed getting to know the supporting characters better in this second book. All of them are likable and interesting and add to the enjoyment of the story.
Format note: I had this as an audio-book and the narrator is excellent, so if you enjoy audio format, this is a good series to listen to.
I look forward to book 3 which I will definitely be reading....more
I LOVED this book!! I've read another series - the Freaky Circus - from this author and really enjoy that one as well, but I super-duper loved this boI LOVED this book!! I've read another series - the Freaky Circus - from this author and really enjoy that one as well, but I super-duper loved this book. I loved everything about it and I'm positive this is going to be a favourite series that I'm going to be obsessed with.
I love the world-building here; it's creative and interesting with lots of potential and scope for future books.
I REALLY love the characters - all of them! Literally every character in this is likable and interesting and unique and all of them have quirks, which just makes them even more fun. Izzy is a terrific main character and I love her a lot already after only one book.
Finally, what I love the very most about this author and her writing is the humour. Amanda M. Lee has an excellent sense of humour and it permeates this entire story. Even when dramatic, dangerous or terrifying things are happening, the gallows humour the characters use to cope is quite simply a hoot! I laughed out loud many times reading this and it was wonderful!
One aspect of this book that particularly tickled me is that the story is set on Belle Isle near Detroit Michigan. I grew up in Windsor Ontario, which is just across the Detroit river from Belle Isle and it was so cool that places mentioned in the book are some that I have been to many times, including Belle Isle (which really is absolutely beautiful and if you ever have the opportunity to visit definitely do it!) and Windsor is even mentioned (in relation to the tunnel to get there from Detroit). This was just a neat side aspect that added to my own enjoyment of the story being able to know the places where the action was happening.
I've already bought the second book in this series and I can't wait to get to it and continue living in this world. If you enjoy paranormal fiction, smart, kick-ass female characters, plenty of action and some very snarky humour in your books then I highly recommend this series!...more
I really enjoy this series. In fact, I've read books in multiple series' by this author and very much enjoy her writing style, world-building and charI really enjoy this series. In fact, I've read books in multiple series' by this author and very much enjoy her writing style, world-building and character development across all her books. That said, the ending of this book didn't thrill me (which is all I'll say to avoid spoilers).
I have loved Jayne Frost since the first book, and her eventually getting married didn't detract from either her adventures or the new world-building. This is a wonderful and engaging paranormal world and the various paranormal species here are unique and clever.
Given the, as noted, not-my-favourite ending here, I'm not sure I would read future books in this sub-series. But that's okay as Kristen Painter is a prolific author with many series to choose from and I've enjoyed all of them so there is plenty of other choice from her. I definitely recommend this author if you like well-written, creative and engaging paranormal fiction with lots of variety....more
This was a super-fun easy read. It had a number of things I really enjoy in a book/
There is magic in this which I always love, and the world-building This was a super-fun easy read. It had a number of things I really enjoy in a book/
There is magic in this which I always love, and the world-building here was very well-done. More than enough detail to understand what's what, but not so much that it takes away from the plot.
And the plot here was very exciting and suspenseful. I also love a good spy story and this combined that with the magic in a very natural way that blended the two in a great story!
I love Charlotte and Desmond. This author is very good at writing character with flaws and complications, but who are also likable and relatable. The two make for a great pair, even as they battle and argue and butt heads.
I just enjoyed every moment of this story, and was very happy to see at the end that a second book is coming next year. I definitely plan to read that. This was a great start to a series....more
I like this series. It has lots of things I like: paranormal stuff, interesting characters, strong female characters, an exciting, dramatic plot and dI like this series. It has lots of things I like: paranormal stuff, interesting characters, strong female characters, an exciting, dramatic plot and dark humour.
Book two in the series was still good but the sword of Damocles hanging over the characters in this one (which I won't say more about to avoid spoilers) made for a darker feel, and not because of the monsters (there are always monsters in this series).
I love the setting of the circus because aside from the fact they travel making for changes in situation that can be interesting, the circus life is already a little off-centre, and the fact that the members are also monster hunters just ups the ante on the unexpected situations the stories will be able to tell.
I especially love the author's perspective on dark humour and I laugh out loud a lot at the things the characters say and do. The humour is a big selling point for me on these books. I will definitely be continuing on with this series, at least until I find out how the cliff-hanger at the end of this book plays out....more
I enjoy this cozy series. It has several things I enjoy.
A library in an historic home, a librarian who's a witch and whom the books talk to and assistI enjoy this cozy series. It has several things I enjoy.
A library in an historic home, a librarian who's a witch and whom the books talk to and assist, a really smart and sassy black cat and the small town cast of "characters" make this series very fun to read.
I like the magical aspect to the series, but it doesn't overpower the cozy mystery focus. The magic Josie has and uses to help her investigate things is just a part of the overall stories and I think it's charming and works well.
I'm not thrilled with the romance aspect of this series so far, but again, that's just one small part of the whole and it doesn't take away from the main murder-solving aspect.
I definitely plan to continue reading this series. It's a good cozy world....more
This book is a great reminder that reading other people's reviews is fine, but you shouldn't let them make decisions about whether or not you read a bThis book is a great reminder that reading other people's reviews is fine, but you shouldn't let them make decisions about whether or not you read a book. I really enjoyed this, but if I'd let other people's reviews decide for me I probably wouldn't have tried this out and that would have been a loss.
Other reviews talked a lot about how immature Poet is, and how her snarkiness got old very fast. I didn't react to this book that way at all. In fact I LOVED how sarcastic Poet is! Her approach is very similar to mine, except I usually keep my snark inside my head rather than saying it out loud . . . usually. I loved Poet's sense of humour and dark approach to the crazy her life is made up of. In fact not only did I laugh out loud multiple times, but I even snorted a few times from laughing. The humour in this story was great!
I found this story to be unique, creative, quiky and very entertaining. A travelling circus that doubles as a troupe of monster-hunters has so much scope for great stories, and this author told a very clever and exciting story here. I was delighted to discover that there are a number of additional books in this series and I am definitely going to be buying them and continuing to go along on Poet and the gang's adventures. This book was really good!...more
I love this series! It's tons of fun, adventure, magic and great characters! What's NOT to like?!
Ves is simply a hoot! I love everything about her, esI love this series! It's tons of fun, adventure, magic and great characters! What's NOT to like?!
Ves is simply a hoot! I love everything about her, especially her irreverence about the nutty magickal world she lives in. Her humour is delightful and I love going along on her magical adventures.
The world-building in this series is excellent. Everything feels completely natural, as though disappearing houses, flying chairs and talking books just happen to everyone, don't they???
The characters are all wonderful and likable and everyone is unique and feels real. I love the whole gang here.
This is just a fun, well-written and engaging series with plenty of excitement, suspense and drama . . . plus, magick - woo hoo!!!
I have read most of what Charlotte E. English has written and I love all of it! Her perspective and way with writing characters is lovely and I highly recommend all her books to anyone who likes stories about magic and creative world-building. These stories are a treat!...more
I love this author's books, and the House of Werth series is probably my very favourite. I enjoyed this new entry in the series just as much as all thI love this author's books, and the House of Werth series is probably my very favourite. I enjoyed this new entry in the series just as much as all the earlier books.
The world-building here is creative and clever. I love learning about all the "wyrdes" the people in this world have and how it affects them living in this alternate version of England
Gussie as our main character is simply a hoot! I love that she ignores entirely the rules society ttys to impose on her and simply does whatever she likes. Gussie is cheeky, smart and charming and I adore her and going on her adventures with her.
This is a favourite series and an "auto-read" as soona s a new book comes out. That said, I highly recommend all of Charlotte E. English's books for anyone who enjoys well-written, entertaining paranormal stories filled with delightful characters, as well as that unique and fun British sense of humour worked in throughout....more
I really enjoyed this - a great story with magic, strong female characters and clever, thoughtful world-building.
Sera is a very sympathetic, likable mI really enjoyed this - a great story with magic, strong female characters and clever, thoughtful world-building.
Sera is a very sympathetic, likable main character. Set in a world where female mages are usually smothered at birth because the male mage council believes women are too weak to be mages, Sera has managed to make it to adulthood, but has been stifled by a rotten male mage guardian until her 18th birthday.
When her guardian is murdered just as she gains her freedom and independence, she's suspected (naturally!) and has to prove her innocence to keep her independence and her life.
With a great cast of supporting characters, a very engaging plot and a plucky, likable clever main character, this was a very entertaining story and I look forward to reading more in this series!...more
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