I very much enjoy Stephanie Burgis's books and this was no exception.
This author has a wonderful way of combining great magical world-building with chI very much enjoy Stephanie Burgis's books and this was no exception.
This author has a wonderful way of combining great magical world-building with charming, quirky and awkward - but likable! - characters and putting those characters into interesting situations.
While this was a short story it was still a lovely well-written story and peopled with characters I very much liked. I was only sorry there wasn't more of it to like.
I always look forward to new books from Burgis and having read multiple books across most of her series' I have never been disappointed and recommend all of them.
If you might enjoy books set in magical worlds, with an "Austenesque" feel to them, you may enjoy Stephanie Burgis - I certainly do!...more
This book was simply delightful and I very much enjoyed every moment of it!!
The author does a wonderful job of immediately setting the scene and introThis book was simply delightful and I very much enjoyed every moment of it!!
The author does a wonderful job of immediately setting the scene and introducing the characters (all of whom I liked and felt connected to right off) with enough, but not too much detail and creating situations that drew me in right from the very first page and kept my interest and attention all the way through.
Edith is a wonderful protagonist and I could easily see her becoming a new favourite character for me. She is smart, kind, resourceful, intelligent and determined and I loved getting to know her in this first book.
The plot was so well conceived and entertaining. There was just enough mystery to peak my attention and keep me reading to find out what the heck is going on at Wormwood Abbey! And once I did find out I was already anticipating the next book in this series.
There was nothing about this book I didn't enjoy and highly recommend it for readers who enjoy a bit of the paranormal, and the feel of a Jane Austen book with a twist!...more
This was fun. Several short stories about the cases that come to Spirelli Paranormal Investigations.
Jack Spirelli and his partner - dragon Marin - getThis was fun. Several short stories about the cases that come to Spirelli Paranormal Investigations.
Jack Spirelli and his partner - dragon Marin - get pulled into all sorts of magical mayhem and have to assist their clients while trying not to get killed or any other nasty side effects.
I have enjoyed other books by Kate Baray and recommend them to anyone who enjoys paranormal fiction.
These were fast and easy-reading fun stories....more
This book has some interesting world-building and combinations I haven't seen before. It has multiple parThis was a really good read and I enjoyed it.
This book has some interesting world-building and combinations I haven't seen before. It has multiple paranormal species all interacting and that was interesting.
What makes this story though is definitely Gwen. She is a great character who has everything. She is smart, capable, determined independent - literally everything you want in a strong female character. Even though the society she lives in shuns her for all those characteristics she keeps doing things her way and I love that.
The plot was exciting and turns a little dark at the end, but it was a solid well-written and very engaging story. I will definitely be continuing with this series, especially as I can get the books from my library. Great read!...more
This is one of my favourite paranormal series' and this book just kept the love going.
The combination by the author of dramatic, suspenseful paranormaThis is one of my favourite paranormal series' and this book just kept the love going.
The combination by the author of dramatic, suspenseful paranormal mayhem, with hilarious, snarky humourous moments absolutely delights me with each subsequent book in the series. It really makes for the perfect balance of intensity and light-heartedness so the books are never overwhelmingly heavy and dark, even thought the plot and the ongoing storyline are undeniably dark.
The characters in this series are just flat out fantastic, and I love all of them with my whole heart!! Izzy as our main protagonist the most, but all the characters in this series are so unique and quirky, sarcastic and ridiculous and I really could not love them more!!
The ongoing plot which appears to be driving us relentlessly to Armageddon is intense and scary but so engrossing and well-crafted. I always hate to put the book down when I read one of the stories in this series.
This series is a paranormal thrill-ride start to finish and I look forward to continuing on the ride through to the end. ...more
I really enjoy this series. It has many things I always love: strong female characters, an interesting take on a magical world, suspense and plenty ofI really enjoy this series. It has many things I always love: strong female characters, an interesting take on a magical world, suspense and plenty of excitement.
This alternate version of London is an interesting place, but it sadly still has all the idiotic and misogynistic rules to keep women under the thumbs of men who in most cases are less capable, less intelligent and less talented than they are, especially the only female mage, main character Seraphina.
Sera is determined to live her life her way despite the attempts of almost everyone around her trying to control her, diminish her and take advantage of her extremely strong magical abilities.
The cliffhanger ending of this book would have annoyed me much more if I hadn't already purchased the next book in the series so I can continue right on and find out what happens.
Format note: I get the books in this series in audio format as the narrator is excellent and really brings the characters to life....more
I really enjoy this series which has a number of things I love in a story.
The series first and foremost has strong female characters who refuse to letI really enjoy this series which has a number of things I love in a story.
The series first and foremost has strong female characters who refuse to let others (mostly men in this alternate Victorian era London) dictate how they must live their lives and behave. Sera especially is a smart, capable and independent woman who also happens to be the only female mage so she has the magic to allow her to live her live.
Even still in this book Sera starts out imprisoned by - well I don't want to give any spoilers so I will leave it at that. Suffice it to say Sera has some obstacles to overcome to gain her freedom and be left alone to live her life as she wishes.
The story, characters, world-building and plot are very engaging. I look forward to book 6 which is the final book in the series and comes out in June 2024....more
I LOVED this story!! Loved absolutely everything about it.
I liked the first book in this series, and I don't know why it took me so long to get back tI LOVED this story!! Loved absolutely everything about it.
I liked the first book in this series, and I don't know why it took me so long to get back to it and read book two but I'm so glad I finally did. This was a paranormal ass-kicking, romance-building fantastical thrill ride from start to finish!
First off, the world-building here is fantastic. The author has created a fully developed, unique, clever and engaging world with complex aspects and creative interesting drama to it. There is so much going on and all of it drew me all the way in here.
Lavender is a wonderful protagonist. She's complicated - and them some! - with all kinds of baggage and issues. But she's also incredibly likable and it's really hard not to root for her as she tries to make amends for her past bad choices and build a new life in The Refuge. I liked her immediately and continued to like her all the way through the book.
The romance between Lavender and Seth "the Big Bad" Wolf is enjoyable and makes sense within the rest of the story, but it isn't ALL of the story which I always prefer. I have no problem with romance and a few sex scenes, but nobody is always having sex, so I like it where there's an actual plot that doesn't only revolve around two people going to bed with each other which is how this story is. There's much more to both these people than their romance and good on the author for that.
The supporting characters, who are mostly fairy tale characters are also really clever and interesting and the pieces of the "rest of the story" about many of those characters are a fun and entertaining side story.
Just everything about this was top rate paranormal fiction and I loved every moment of it! I'm definitely planning to continue reading the rest of this series!...more
This has very quickly become one of my favourite paranormal series'. Book 3 was just as good as the first two.
The series has all the things that - forThis has very quickly become one of my favourite paranormal series'. Book 3 was just as good as the first two.
The series has all the things that - for me - make for good paranormal stories. The world-building is creative, clever and engaging. It's different but has enough connection to other paranormal worlds, i.e. vampires and witches with similar abilities and back-stories, that make it easy to understand and connect with the world.
The characters are just fantastic! Izzy especially is a fabulous protagonist, with complexities and issues, but still strong, smart and determined to protect and help those she loves. But ALL the characters here are equally as likable and relatable. The Grimstock family are just a big bag of crazy in every flavour, but lovable as all get out at the same time. They are awesome.
The plots that the author comes up with are a perfect combo of connections to the earlier, continuing plot-lines, but also new and expanding things to ratchet up the suspense and drama for the characters.
Probably my absolute favourite thing about this series is the humour, which is beyond amazing! The way the humour slips in as comic relief and the most unexpected moments is just the best and I often find myself laughing out loud during the most dramatic parts of each book, which is tremendous.
I will definitely be continuing with this series - it is DEFINITELY a keeper!!...more
I love this author's books! This is the fourth of her series' I've read books from and if you like paranormal fiction with strong female characters anI love this author's books! This is the fourth of her series' I've read books from and if you like paranormal fiction with strong female characters and exciting, suspenseful plots, I highly recommend Charlotte English's books!
This book I found a little different for the author. It was great paranormal world-building, and it certainly has the strong, capable (and funny, despite the seriousness of what's going on - another thing I love about this author) female characters. In fact it has three very different strong female characters in Fionn, Tai and Daix, and I loved all of them!
The plot was also exciting, dramatic and suspenseful with plenty of action and some surprises along the way.
What was different for me for this book was that the tone and the events felt a bit darker than I'm used to with this author. That is not a criticism, just an acknowledgement that this one goes in a slightly darker direction. Still, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely look out for the next installment of this series to see what happens next....more
This is one of my favourite series'. I love everything about it!
This is a mash-up of Victorian era England with a gentle magical world and wonderful sThis is one of my favourite series'. I love everything about it!
This is a mash-up of Victorian era England with a gentle magical world and wonderful strong female characters.
Each of the "cases" the lady patronesses of Almack's have taken on in these books has been different, interesting and very engaging. I have loved each of them.
Annabel is delightful and I love her as our main character here. I'm impatient for the author to sort out her and Quin's situation but otherwise I love everything about her.
These are short books, usually just under 200 pages on my eReader and they are fun and interesting and make for fast and easy reads when I'm looking for something a bit shorter. These fit the bill perfectly and are so satisfyingly entertaining....more
I absolutely loved this story! Stephanie Burgis has quickly become one of my favourite authors, as she writes wonderful stories and seems to have an iI absolutely loved this story! Stephanie Burgis has quickly become one of my favourite authors, as she writes wonderful stories and seems to have an inexhaustible variety of new and clever plots in her mind, which I am delighted she shares with her readers!
This series about the Regency dragons is charming, sweet and lovely. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, but I loved this book even more. One of the things I particularly love about this author's writing is how adept she is at writing characters who seem on the surface to be misfits. Rose is a fabulous character and I loved her immediately. Her kindness, earnestness and absolute determination to do the right thing in every circumstance - ramifications be damned! - makes her a terribly sympathetic and likable character. She led this story wonderfully!
All the other characters here are also a delight. They are quirky and odd and unorthodox and I loved each and every one of them.
The plots Burgis writes seem sweet and gentle, but they always have drama and suspense and the opportunity for thrilling breathless excitement that drives the reader to the conclusion with racing page turns (or, in my case taps as I had this as an eBook).
I also adore the sense of humour the author infused into her books. The quirkiness of the characters leads to some extremely funny scenes (in this book like the moment where Rose explains everything to everyone and chaos and fun ensues!) that frequently make me laugh out loud.
I loved this book and can't wait for the third book to meet the final Tregarth sister, Harry, and see what adventures Stephanie Burgis has in store for her! If you enjoy gentle romantic but suspense-filled stories that feel Pride-and-Prejudice-ish and have a little magic in them, I highly recommend ALL Stephanie Burgis' books. She has lots of varied plots and wonderful unique characters in all of them....more
I love Melissa McShane's books. I've read multiple series' of hers, and very much enjoyed all of them. The Last Oracle series, which this is the predeI love Melissa McShane's books. I've read multiple series' of hers, and very much enjoyed all of them. The Last Oracle series, which this is the predecessor of is one of my favourite paranormal stories ever! I was very sad when that ended, but I loved every book in it!
So I was super excited when I learned she had written a new book that continued Helena's story.
The new book is a real testament to what an excellent writer McShane is, because it's been a while since I finished the last book in the earlier series, but when I started this book it was like no time had passed. I knew right where we were, I got everything I needed to understand what was going on, how it related to what came before and where the story was going from the first pages. That's a great writer!
The new story is, well, new, but there are plenty of references to the earlier story without being confusing for a new reader who hadn't read the earlier books. I enjoyed the plot here, which ramps up substantially faster than the earlier series (which makes perfect sense in context) and also offers plenty of character development opportunities, especially for Helena.
There is excitement, danger, suspense and plenty of action here and the story moves along rapidly. I enjoyed the book and while there is technically a cliff-hanger ending, we do get an ending (sort of) for the current book, which I always prefer.
Suffice it to say I'm now looking forward anxiously to the release of the next book in this new series. I will definitely continue on with Helena's continuing adventures saving the world....more
I have loved all the books in this series and after all 3 of the Baba Yaga books, then the three Rider books I thought it was finished, so this new boI have loved all the books in this series and after all 3 of the Baba Yaga books, then the three Rider books I thought it was finished, so this new book was a lovely surprise. It did not disappoint at all!!
Deborah Blake has created a wonderful and engaging world here, combining paranormal aspects with the Russian pantheon of the Baba Yage in a modern-day, updated way. It is so well-conceived and written and I love everything about it.
This book was a very creative plot, to bring back the characters from the earlier novels without forcing it (as some authors do). The story was believable and clever in how it reflected the world and the events of the prior books but without being just a rehash of previous plots. This was a new, individual and very entertaining plot that worked for readers who have loved this world.
I'm delighted the author found a way to bring back these characters (whom I love) in a new story that kept me reading past my bedtime more than once....more
I adore Juliet Marillier's books! Her writing is lyrical and beautiful, her characters are complex but relatable, and her plots are simply spectacularI adore Juliet Marillier's books! Her writing is lyrical and beautiful, her characters are complex but relatable, and her plots are simply spectacular.
I really enjoy this world that Marillier has set multiple series' in. If you enjoy stories about the Fae and magic, I highly recommend this authors books. She understands the complexities of the world, but also understands people and their foolishness and foibles and uses that to great advantage in what situations she puts her characters into.
I am always at the edge of my seat with this author's stories. She takes me to the cliff edge and leaves me hanging by my fingers for a chapter or two, and then resolves things just perfectly.
I loved this book as much as all Marillier's others I've read and absolutely recommend her books as fabulous reads!
Merged review:
I adore Juliet Marillier's books! Her writing is lyrical and beautiful, her characters are complex but relatable, and her plots are simply spectacular.
I really enjoy this world that Marillier has set multiple series' in. If you enjoy stories about the Fae and magic, I highly recommend this authors books. She understands the complexities of the world, but also understands people and their foolishness and foibles and uses that to great advantage in what situations she puts her characters into.
I am always at the edge of my seat with this author's stories. She takes me to the cliff edge and leaves me hanging by my fingers for a chapter or two, and then resolves things just perfectly.
I loved this book as much as all Marillier's others I've read and absolutely recommend her books as fabulous reads!...more
This is such a fun series! I am delighted by it and highly enjoy reading each new book.
This is a wonderful mash-up of the manners and society of Jane This is such a fun series! I am delighted by it and highly enjoy reading each new book.
This is a wonderful mash-up of the manners and society of Jane Austen's time with a little magic thrown in for good measure and I find it so entertaining.
The lady patronesses are interesting with their various paranormal abilities, and Annabel is my favourite. Although she's taking forever to realize what is going on with Quinceton, I'm hoping she gets there soon.
These books are light, fun, cheeky stories which are easy-reading and very enjoyable. I plan to read the entire series, and definitely recommend them as fun, entertaining reads....more
This is SUCH a fun series and I am delighted to have discovered it!! I plan to read all the books in the series.
This series combines a variety of compThis is SUCH a fun series and I am delighted to have discovered it!! I plan to read all the books in the series.
This series combines a variety of components extremely well: the era of Almack's with all its attendant posturing, scheming and shenanigans, strong, interesting and likable well-written female characters and some cleverly conceived magical aspects. I am simply charmed by everything about the stories in this series!
The world-building in this series is unique and very interesting, and the skills the lady Patronesses have is quite different from any other magical world I've read (and I read a lot of "magical" type books) but it is so well done by the author that it feels completely natural and believable with the rest of the plots in each book.
I adore Annabel as our "main" character here, but also all the other characters who perfectly support and advance the plot of each book neatly and entertainingly.
This has quickly become a go-to favourite series, and with each story being relatively short they are easy, fun light reads that can be finished when one has only a short time to read.
Absolutely charming and I can't wait to continue with the series!!...more
I am really enjoying this series. It has a number of things that make a great read for me.
First off, this is some very creative, clever and entertainiI am really enjoying this series. It has a number of things that make a great read for me.
First off, this is some very creative, clever and entertaining paranormal world-building. This world has paranormals that are different from other stories (although it also has the ones readers are familiar with, like witches and vampires).
These books also have interesting, likable but complex characters - especially Izzy - who have very engaging back stories to enable the events of each book.
So far the two books I've read have had well constructed clever plots with plenty of drama and suspense to keep me reading once I start.
Finally, this author is great at infusing humour into the story that not only makes me laugh out loud at the antics of the characters and their interactions, but it neatly defuses the tension at key moments in the story.
I'm totally hooked on this world and it's inhabitants and definitely plan to continue with this series. Really entertaining reads!...more
This was a fun book. I enjoyed listening to it (had this as an audio book from the library) and definitely plan to continue with the series.
First off,This was a fun book. I enjoyed listening to it (had this as an audio book from the library) and definitely plan to continue with the series.
First off, I love that our MC, Katherine, is an older woman (well "older" than our usual 20- or 30-something leads in other magical books) who has grown children, extended family responsibilities and some experience behind her. It's nice to occasionally have a character that those of us readers "of a certain age" can more easily relate to. But Katherine is also smart and capable and savvy, so when she's asked to return to her former role as an agent of the Magical Bureau of Investigations we can see that being realistic and possible.
I liked the world-building here. There are plenty of magical beings but none of them are presented as unusual or remarkable; they're just part of the world and nobody is especially shocked when a vampire starts butting into Katherine's investigation (though Katherine is annoyed, setting up the potential for some chemistry to come)
The supporting characters here are a good fit for the rest of the story and world and I liked many of them.
The murder investigation was well-plotted and interesting with some red-herrings thrown in to make it a challenge for those who like to figure out who the killer is first (I'm not that person; content to read along until the solution is announced at the end).
This was a nice, light, easy-reading and engaging story and bonus that I could get it as an audio book for chores, walking or any commuting I have to do. I definitely will check out more books in this series....more
I enjoy this series when I want a fun, light, easy-reading story that entertains me and doesn't make me work too hard. This checks all those boxes.
I eI enjoy this series when I want a fun, light, easy-reading story that entertains me and doesn't make me work too hard. This checks all those boxes.
I enjoy the world-building in this series as it's a bit different from other paranormal series and I find it quite clever and engaging.
This author writes great characters, especially her female characters, which are always smart, strong and capable of looking out for themselves, which I very much enjoy.
I think the best feature of this series and my favourite thing are the dust bunnies who are so unique and SO much fun. Every time one of the dust bunnies "chortles" I do as well and it is a great smile-inducing moment.
I get these books on audio from my library and the absolutely brilliant Barbara Rosenblat narrates, which really does take the story to another level with her spectactularly talented ability to make every character have a unique voice and personality. If you're into audio books this series is a great one to listen to....more
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