**A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**ANCHORED was an unexpected treat of a novella. It’s a great take on the guardian angel mythology and it introduces us to a new world and heroine that left me wanting more.Central to this story is the relationship between Susannah Marsh and Jason Delacourt. Susannah is a tough loner, strong and stubborn. She’s a guardian angel charged with protecting the citizens of Biloxi, Mississippi. Susannah likes to work alone but is forced to take on Jason as a partner. He’s a healer, someone who can heal with just a touch. And with a sketchy past of his own, he’s no angel. It’s this partnership that’s one of the more interesting aspects of this world created by Larrieu. On one level, it’s an interesting worldbuilding element. Guardians are powerful but they need a healer to help them maintain their strength and energy as the city and its citizens can be draining on a guardian’s power. This is a new take on the angel mythology and it adds an interesting dynamic to Susannah and Jason’s budding relationship. Healers and guardians tend to have romantic relationships and it begs the question as to whether or not there is a magical element to their chemistry. On a romantic level, the chemistry between Jason and Susannah is off the charts sexy. I loved the back and forth between the two and chuckled at Jason’s complete irreverence for Susannah. No intimidation at all. He ruffles her feathers, so to speak, and it’s fun to watch that happen. My minor quibble with ANCHORED is that this relationship resolves a bit too quickly. I wish it had played out a little more, perhaps even resolving in the next book rather than at the end of the novella. I know I’ve focused a lot on the relationship but the world itself is also interesting - angels anchored to cities, its citizens feeding the energy and strength of the guardians; vampires and, I assume, other supernatural creatures are kept in line by the guardians; the sultry Southern atmosphere of the setting – all these elements added up to a wonderful first introduction to a new world. There’s also some great action and a very cinematic scene where Susannah has to infiltrate a nest of vampires preying on humans in her city. My favorite image is of her sneaking into a hotel room, the heart of the nest, and a female victim who is tied and gagged, sees her. Susannah holds a finger up to her own lips to let the woman know to keep quiet and she then spreads her wings…there’s something eery about that image. The film version…definitely slo-mo, maybe John Woo directed?It wasn’t until I had an impromptu Twitter conversation with the author that I learned that in the next book in the series, Susannah and Jason are side characters in a story that takes place in the same world. Color me intrigued. Though I think these two could definitely carry a full length, in fact, ANCHORED could have easily been a full length, I’m definitely curious to see who and what Larrieu has in store for us next.If you’re interested in a new guardian angel mythology, an interesting world, and a sexy heroine and hero to sink your teeth into, pick up ANCHORED. 4.5 Stars!This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.TIMELESS CONFLICT is an interesting blend of a Dan Brown-conspiracy like storyline with a heavy dose of the supernatural. Though I liked the originality of the shapeshifter race based on Egyptian mythology, there were elements of the book that kept me from connecting with the characters and the story in general. The book’s strongest point really lies in its creepiness. I appreciate a paranormal story that’s not afraid to embrace the sheer evil or violence of its creatures. In TIMELESS CONFLICT, we’re introduced to a shapeshifter, based on the Anubis god of Egyptian mythology, who eats people. Loved that idea. Now, this same creature is also the lead romantic interest of a human character. I appreciated the inherent conflict of someone who eats people being in love with a human. I think with vampires you can sexy up the violence but creating a supernatural being who gorges on humans…well, it’s hard to make that sexy. The writer has to work even harder to “humanize” him in the eyes of the readers and it makes for a difficult to redeem main character. While I appreciate the boldness of this choice, the rest of the book’s elements didn’t work for me. The main conflict centers around a race of shapeshifters who have spent centuries being hunted by the Masons. A young college student, Rachel, gets caught in the crossfire and her world is turned upside down as her relationship with Warren, a member of the Anubis clan, comes under the scrutiny of the Masons. These two must stay on the run in order to stay alive. By far the biggest problem for me was the instalove between Warren and Rachel. He ate (yes, ate) an acquaintance of hers and she saw him do it. But Rachel is a forgiving soul and is able to look past this and see the vulnerable person inside Warren. Yes, he has a tragic past; yes, he is full of understandable anger towards humans; yes, at one point, he saves her life. But he ate her friend. I can't see how you look past that and then, several days later, proclaim your love for that very person, someone you barely know. I couldn’t suspend that disbelief. In fact, had that conflict been strung out over the course of the story, this push and pull of feelings for Warren, their relationship would have been far more interesting.There were also some stylistic issues that bogged down the storyline. There’s a large cast of characters with constantly shifting POVs. These could often shift from paragraph to paragraph which could be confusing. This was particularly true for the first couple of chapters but I eventually got the hang of it. There was also quite a bit of detail in the first half of the book that slowed down what could have been an effective fast pace – for example, there was a lot of brand name details that didn’t add to painting a larger picture of the characters and there's one scene in particular, several pages detailing Rachel leaving the hospital, that just wasn’t necessary. Editing some of that out would have sped up the pacing of the book quite nicely. TIMELESS CONFLICT has some strong ideas and an interesting shapeshifter mythology. However, overall, I couldn't connect with the story enough to give it a high recommendation. This review was provided courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
This is an ARC review. I received a copy of this novella from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.This was another beautiful addition to Delilah S. Dawson’s wonderfully original Blud Series. In THE PECULIAR PETS OF MISS PLEASANCE, Dawson takes us out of Criminy Stain’s caravan and sets us in the London of the Blud world. Here we meet Frannie Pleasance, a pet shop owner, dealing with the loss of her family and trying dearly to protect a secret.What I love about this series is the world. Every time I open one of Dawson’s Blud stories, it feels like sinking into a dream. The world is dark but whimsical, and through her characters there is always a tenderness and pure romanticism that is achingly beautiful. In this particular story, we see this through the budding relationship between Frannie and Thom Maccallan, a fireman that helps save her house and shop from burning down. He’s also Scottish and wears a kilt, which are always big plusses in my book. Their connection is immediate and he sees in Frannie someone who may need his protection and so begins the very sweet dance of two lonely hearts coming together.In the background is Caspar, a side character in the first book in the series, who is also interested in Frannie. I was hoping that Dawson wouldn’t make this into a novella about a tired love triangle. What Dawson does is better and I love that Frannie knows her mind, doesn’t fall for the wrong guy, and is just so darned independent that it makes you smile and cheer for her. Frannie’s desperate to protect a secret and when you find out what that secret is, it’s an enchanting moment, a bit of light in the murkiness that is Dawson’s London. In a way, I think you may have to read WICKED AS SHE WANTS, the first book in the series, to fully appreciate what Frannie is protecting only because in that book you get a better sense of the darkness that is the Blud world.Someone is out to get Frannie and you’re not sure why. The novella is well-paced in uncovering the mystery of it, and opening up a new one, and the conclusion is definitely satisfying.If you haven’t read this series, I really wish you would. I am honestly swept away by the whimsy and the darkness of this world every time I read one of its stories. This review comes courtesy of the blog, She-Wolf Reads.
**A review copy of the first four episodes of this serial was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. The complete serial was purchased by the reviewer for this full review.** Susannah Sandlin is one of my favorite authors. I was borderline obsessed with her Penton Legacy series and I’m in love with her Sentinels of New Orleans series, which she writes as Suzanne Johnson. Pretty much any book this woman writes, under whatever name she chooses, I will read. When I was given the opportunity to review the first four episodes of her new Amazon serial, STORM FORCE, I was thrilled to get a taste of something new from her. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased the remaining installments so I could finish what started out as a very promising new series. For those of you who read that first review, did you wonder what I thought of the rest of the story? Well, here goes: As expected, I loved it. First of all, STORM FORCE introduces us to a compelling cast of characters. Central to this cast are Jack Kellison, an injured ex-Army Ranger and leader of the special ops team called Omega Force; and Mori Chastaine, an environmental activist accused of committing an act of domestic terrorism – the bombing of a Houston office building. Jack is sent undercover to investigate her and sparks fly. These two have chemistry but they also have secrets. What I love about Jack is he’s this kind of lone wolf character, not many friends, not much family, never wanting to ask for help but does when he needs to; he’s strong but vulnerable, not wanting to reveal his physical pain from an injury that could put his life in danger given his line of work. Mori is also a great character though she could get a bit frustrating. She’s hiding a big secret and I just wanted her to trust Jack. She thinks she’s protecting him but she’s not. When you find out her secret, it’s not hard to understand her trust issues but I still wanted her to get over her stuff and take a leap of faith. Also, the bad guy in this story is a real ass and Mori tended to frustratingly underestimate just what an ass he could be. But what was great about her arc is that, in the end, Mori became pretty kick ass and I loved her transformation from appeasement to kickassery. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the rest of Omega Force. This special ops team is special in more ways than one. They’re skilled and trained but more importantly, Omega Force is made up of both human and supernatural operatives. The supernatural half of the team includes Robin, an eagle shapeshifter, and Archer and Adam, brothers who are shapeshifting jaguars. We also have Nik, Jack’s closest friend, who is human but with a special gift - he can touch an object or a person and get images that tell their history; and finally, there’s the tech genius, Garrett. The interactions between the team members are spot on. I especially like the awkwardness between Robin and Jack. They respect one another but may not like each other. Robin is full of sass and I would love to see another story that focuses on the budding romantic relationship between her and Nik. Atmosphere and a sense of place. These are the things that always stand out to me in Sandlin’s work. You can feel the humidity of the Bayou, the danger of a brewing storm coming for Houston, the streets, the river, the land…I always feel firmly placed in the environment of her characters. And she always writes from what feels like an insider’s knowledge. With STORM FORCE, there’s a pivotal scene in which Mori and Jack are trying to get to his cabin before a monumental hurricane hits and Sandlin did a great job of describing this race against the storm. There was a palatable sense of tension that doesn’t really give up, even when you think they've made it. STORM FORCE is a great new series with endless possibilities. I’m looking forward to seeing where Sandlin decides to go next with this team. The book ends with the opening for a new mission, but also with some heartache. I hope I see more from these guys because I need to know what happens next to this motley cast of characters.**A review copy of the first four episodes of this serial was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. The complete serial was purchased by the reviewer for this full review.** This review is courtesy of the site She-Wolf Reads.
**An ARC of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**I thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Harlow’s new release, WHAT’S A WITCH TO DO? It had just the right mix of humor, mystery, and romance to keep me engaged throughout; it also released at a time when I was in the mood for a paranormal/mystery/romance blend the leaned toward the lighter side of the genre. The strength of the story really rests on its main character, Mona McGregor. What I like about her is that, other than being the most powerful witch in North America, she’s just so very relatable. Mona is so…normal. She’s no statuesque model type who can wield a sword and kick vampire ass. She’s a plump, 35 year old, overworked, single mother (to her two nieces) who is so busy doing everything for everyone else that she has no time for herself. Every chapter starts with her to-do list, which is generally a lot, and, as if that’s not enough, she has to add “find who’s trying to kill me” to it. I love that she has to dye the gray out of her hair before a date, I love that she has to think about who’s taking care of the kids before going out to find her potential murderer, I love that she has insecurities, that she’s pulled in different directions on so many levels that every woman can identify with her in some way. Mona is also smart and self-deprecating which makes her fun to follow. And while her powers as a witch I feel were a bit underutilized in the book, her strength and position in the supernatural hierarchy are interesting and I hope these elements will be more developed in subsequent books. The romance here is nicely paced. The relationship between Adam and Mona is slowly developed and realistic. As a beta werewolf, I appreciate the fact that Adam doesn’t display the typical alpha posturing but instead gives Mona what she really needs – help. She’s exhausted between heading a coven, running a shop, raising children…Adam helps her with the day-to-day and while that’s not in the same vein of the grand gesture romance, I found it to be utterly sweet and romantic. The mystery is also well-done. I was absolutely convinced that a certain character was guilty and was a bit surprised I was wrong. I do, however, think that my main suspect will eventually play a major role in this series.Some of my quibbles with the book include the under-displayed strength of Mona’s powers and my confusion with whether the town is aware that witches exist. Mona is the most powerful witch in North America and I want to see her do something a bit more than what she does here. Also, there were references to being discreet about the supernatural world yet Mona holds a coven meeting about demons and such in a public hall. I just didn’t understand how “out” this world is and it took me out of the story at a couple of points. Regardless, WHAT’S A WITCH TO DO? is a fun read. It has romance, mystery, and magic….a sweet love interest, and well-timed humor. I recommend this for anyone who wants a light paranormal mystery centered on a wonderfully relatable heroine.This review is courtesy of the site She-Wolf Reads.
Don't Call Me Angel
**A review copy of this book was provided by LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Group in exchange for an honest review.**DON’T CALL ME ANGEL has all the right ingredients – compelling opening, tough heroine, and an ending that has the reader wanting to know what happens next. For all these wonderful ingredients, there was definitely something lacking for me that kept me from being wholly engrossed by this prequel. The story opens with Six, an angel who has been cast out of Heaven, literally clawing her way out of Hell. I love the dramatic imagery this scene evokes – an angel clawing her way out of the pits of Hell. She makes it out and into the world above, our world, where she tries to blend in and start a new life. Six escapes with her friend or acquaintance, Alden. While Six feels some empathy for humans and holds some value for human life, Alden does not. Therein lies one level of conflict as Alden rampages against humans and Six tries to stop him. It also goes a little deeper. While Six does have some empathy for humans, she also knows that murdering them will alert the powers that be in Hell of her escape. She doesn’t need the attention. It was a miracle that I’d survived Hell with my sanity intact. I was weak. It had taken me too long to find my morals, and I was unfit to apply them.I found this dichotomy in Six to be interesting and the dramatic potential of it all is exciting – she’s conflicted, she knows what’s right and wrong, she has empathy, but there’s a coldness to her, and it takes her a while to act. Six is also filled with anger and resentment toward humans, towards Heaven, towards Hell. For all the dramatic potential, Six felt almost too distanced, too cold; her lack of emotion kept me from really caring about her and her conflict. I also wanted to feel that internal conflict more. In all fairness, I think it’s hard to develop this in such a short novella but I felt the lack of it nonetheless. Now, the ending…well, played. Nice twist. You learn why she’s named Six and you learn exactly what she’s running from and it makes you want to know more. All in all, I think this was a good prequel to a new series. With a full-length novel, we’ll be able to get the development of the tormented Six that I was left craving. She has such incredible potential to be a more compelling heroine that I’ll read the first book in the series to learn what happens to her.This review is provided courtesy of the site She-Wolf Reads.
ROMANCE, DRAMA, MYSTERY...I loved this one. Miranda is a wonderful heroine. I fell in love with her smarts and her strength. So very good. Review to come!
**A review copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**When I saw the cover for THE DEVIL’S METAL by Karina Halle, I immediately wanted to read the book. Its gothic quality and intriguing title piqued my interest, and when you add to this Halle’s reputation for writing addictive stories, well, I knew this book was for me. Oddly enough, what worked and didn’t work for me wasn’t what I expected. My predilection for the paranormal is what attracted me to this story but what kept me reading was the 70’s rock scene that Halle so deftly renders for the reader. This book would have been perfect if its paranormal promise rose to the level of its wonderfully drawn rock and roll backdrop.What I absolutely loved is Halle’s ability to capture this moment in 70’s rock – a band on the road, facing the pinnacle of success or the downward spiral to mediocrity; the band dynamics, the hate and the love; the bus, the venues, the drugs, the sex, the groupies. Halle takes the reader on this wild ride called a rock tour, she demystifies it, shows it for what it is, warts and all. At the same time, when the music starts and the band is on fire, she makes you see how you can lose yourself in it and crave it. It could go well, it could go all bad, but it was going to be epic in whichever way it went.I was going to throw up.Halle throws her young heroine, Dawn, into this world and it’s sink or swim for her. She’s completely starstruck when it comes to Hybrid, especially Sage Knightly, the bands enigmatic guitarist. As a young journalist who needs to learn to distance herself from her subjects, she makes mistakes. Big mistakes. But she learns from them and doesn’t let it hold her back from doing her job. I love that she’s a woman in a male dominated business, constantly being mistaken for a groupie and having to battle for respect. Dawn is an engaging heroine – strong and smart with that touch of awkwardness that makes her relatable. I also loved Halle’s voice. There are moments of unexpected humor that had me laughing out loud. “God, you’re beautiful, Dawn,” he murmured. I raised my head to see if he was talking to me or my crotch.I love the injection of that humor in a very sexy love scene and Halle’s writing has moments like this throughout the book. However, what I didn’t connect with in THE DEVIL’S METAL were its paranormal aspects. A supernatural/horror element is lightly introduced in the beginning of the story and is slowly developed until the end when it moves full force into the paranormal. Blame it on television but the creepy elements weren’t very creepy to me. They were a bit expected with the exception of one moment – a tour bus in a sandstorm (brilliant scene). The reveal at the end was also underwhelming and felt rushed. I didn’t find the supernatural dilemma to be very compelling. In fact, I could have done without the whole supernatural storyline altogether. I wish the last third of the book had stayed focused on this young female rock journalist navigating the world of the rock band on tour and her budding relationship with one of the musicians. What it comes down to is that what Halle gets right, she gets very, very right. For me, that was the 70’s rock scene and a young woman on the job assignment of a lifetime. What didn’t work for me, oddly enough, were the paranormal aspects. For some reason the supernatural world in THE DEVIL’S METAL just didn’t click with me. Would I read something else my Karina Halle? Most definitely. I love her voice and her Experiment in Terror series seems to be a classic to many readers. Would I continue with the Devil’s series? I’m not sure. This was a solid read but one that I wish had gone in a different direction.This review is courtesy of the blog SHE-WOLF READS.
This book really grabbed me by my heart and, in the last 100 pages, ripped it out of me. Mixed on how many stars to give it - 3 or 4. I already downloaded the sequel so I guess that says something!Full review to come!
**A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**It’s no secret that at She-Wolf Reads there’s a lot of love for Susannah Sandlin (a.k.a. Suzanne Johnson) and her Penton Legacy series. I’ve reviewed the first two books and loved them, the author has guest posted on my blog, and the latest book in the series, OMEGA, made my most anticipated reads for 2013. There’s something about this community of vampires and their layered relationships, coupled with the tenuous future of Penton that keeps me coming back for more. Sandlin originally announced this as a trilogy. Let me say right now that I will start writing letters to the publisher to get more books in this series. Yes, I like it that much. And this latest release, OMEGA, didn’t disappoint.Some of the strongest and most original aspects of OMEGA are its two main male protagonists – Will and Cage. His ego couldn’t deal with both his father and a woman with bigger balls than him. A man had to have limits.Let’s start with Will. In the second book, ABSOLUTION, when I got the sense that Will would be the featured character in the follow-up, I admit there was a part of me that may have been a little worried. I bought into his image as an arrogant, cocky, reformed rich kid who, while smart and with a good heart, still came across as someone who lacked a certain depth. That Sandlin is a tricky one. The Will we discover in OMEGA is unlike any other vampire hero I’ve read in a PNR. His arrogance masks insecurity and while he’s a strong male character, he’s not the overt alpha male we normally see in the genre. This guy has serious issues and a past he’s trying to not let define him. I love the depth Sandlin gave him, along with the very realistic coping mechanism of arrogance to hide insecurity. I also loved that he’s paired with Randa, a Vet, who probably scares and intimidates the shit out of him, all the while not knowing she feels the same about him. The tension is delicious and the coming together of the two is sweet, tender, and deserved.One thing that sets OMEGA apart from the previous two books in the series is that there’s a good amount of time devoted to another character in addition to Will and Randa, the book’s central couple. That character is Cage. He got on my radar in ABSOLUTION and in OMEGA, Sandlin fleshes out his position in Penton and why he’s there. Cage is interesting. He has skills from his past in the military in addition to a unique profession that makes his insight into the Penton vampires probing and, at times, funny. Cage also starts to have feelings for one of the Penton crew which opens up a romantic dilemma for the tight knit group. While I did feel there were traces of insta-love, it didn’t matter. The conflict it promises to create is going to be heartbreaking and I want to see where it goes. But I won’t give details because it would be a major spoiler. Suffice it to say that if we’re lucky enough to get another book, Cage will be a major player both in terms of the future of Penton and with regards to its romantic drama.For series fans, rest assured Sandlin brings the overarching storyline of Penton’s relationship with the Tribunal to somewhat of a conclusion and by that I mean she goes ahead and opens up another storyline that is, well, very cool. The potential for spinoff or continuation is ripe in OMEGA leaving me both satisfied and, honestly, rabid for more.Now, be honest…a letter to the publisher…too much?This review is courtesy of SHE-WOLF READS.
**A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**Full disclosure: I don’t read a lot of traditional fantasy. Sure, I’ve read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the George RR Martin series, Song of Ice and Fire, but that’s about it. Everything else I read is more along the lines of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, steampunk, with a sprinkling of sci-fi and horror thrown in for good measure. Philippa Ballantine has been on my radar for a while now with her steampunk series the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and Book of the Order. Both have been on my TBR list but it wasn’t until the release of HUNTER AND FOX that I decided to take the plunge into some of her more traditional fantasy work. I had a bit of an unexpected reaction this book. I enjoyed it but not for the reasons I expected.I’m a world-building whore and admit that I can get carried away by a wonderfully created world at the expense of character and story. Reading something that’s more traditional fantasy, my expectations were that I would be very focused on the world and its rules above all else. With HUNTER AND FOX, that just wasn’t the case. The characters are really what kept me in this game and what will bring me back to it. I’ll get to the world in a second but first let’s talk about the tortured Talyn the Dark and the besotted Finnbar the Fox.Talyn is Vaerli, a member of a once powerful race, now working as a killer and bounty hunter for the dictator of the land, the architect of her people’s demise, the enemy, so to speak, of her kind – the Caisah. She is alone, feared, and hated. Ballantine does a wonderful job of capturing Talyn as this formidable and feared woman, alone in her immortality, world weary and just, well, tired. She’s working towards an end that she thinks will save her people, whether they understand that or not, without ever once thinking about whether she’s made the right choices. Her path will eventually cross with Finnbar the Fox, a bard, a skilled storyteller. Where Talyn is dark, Finn is light. He has hope. Through banned stories that tell the almost forgotten history of the land, Finnbar wants to provoke change and destabilize the Caisah, Talyn’s boss. Ballantine masterfully teases out a shared experience between Talyn and Finn, something that is hinted at but is not quite clear. Finn is besotted with Talyn and sees in her what nobody else can. The road leading up to their meeting is suspenseful in a quiet way, and their interactions are fantastically tense because of what’s hanging in the air; the end is unexpected. Finn and Talyn are such compelling characters that I couldn’t look away from this book. I wanted to keep reading just one more chapter to see what would happen between the two of them. And Ballantine paces their individual stories perfectly.But HUNTER AND FOX is a book of shifting POVs and Talyn and Finn, while they are main characters, they aren’t the only ones with integral roles to play. Also important to the story is Byre, Talyn’s brother, who is bent on saving their people but decides to take a different path to salvation than his sister; Varlesh, Equo, and Si – good friends of Finn’s who also have secrets of their own; the blood witch Pelanor; and the Caisah himself. These shifting POVs were well-done, well-paced, and not confusing. Each one added a bit more and pushed the overall story along its path.Where I felt the book had some issues was in the world-building, or more accurately, its pacing. Let me explain. The world itself is incredible. Imagine a world of shifting landscapes – one minute a mountain range, five seconds later, a little rumble, and we have a desert landscape. This is a world of various races, under the thumb of a dictatorial leader, living in fear. Central to this world are the Vaerli, a people who were at one with the land, a people who invited the other races to join them only to eventually be at the bottom. But now they are one of the oppressed. Honestly, it’s all too complicated to explain. Suffice it say that change is coming, different forces are at work to bring the Caisah down, and Finn and Talyn are at the center of this. For me, it was a bit difficult to get into – the different races, their connections to each other, places, events, complicated history and mythologies…There were moments where I was confused and had to go back to remember a name or a place. Ballantine slowly reveals this information; she drops you in and expects you to keep up. As a result, it took a bit to get into but the reward was worth it. Once I got a handle on the backstory, I was sucked into the politics, the players, the drama and adventure of it all. It was worth the work.Reading HUNTER AND FOX was a bit out of my comfort zone. As I said, I tend to be a werewolf/vampire kind of girl, but Ballantine has made me a believer. What was great with HUNTER AND FOX is that creating an incredible world wasn’t done at the expense of great characters and plot. I was completely sucked into Talyn’s loneliness, Finn’s hope, Pelanor’s ambition, Byre’s bravery, and the Caisah’s mystery. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this unique series.This review is courtesy of SHE-WOLF READS.
**A review copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**RIVER ROAD has to be one of the best books I read in 2012. I read it as 2012 was coming to a close and it ended the reading year with a bang for me. Picking up three years after the first book in the series, ROYAL STREET, Johnson continues to bring us a fantastic heroine charged with keeping the supernatural world in line while dealing with romantic confusion and an unwieldy magical staff. RIVER ROAD, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways… 1. DRUSILLA JACO, a.k.a. “DJ”DJ continues to be one of my favorite UF heroines mainly because she’s one of the most relatable I’ve come across. DJ is strong, smart and independent; she’s self-deprecating, a bit geeky, and full of a social awkwardness that makes me smile. She’s not without her struggles. DJ doubts her abilities, her work, her romantic life – all issues we can relate to regardless of the fact she’s a wizard. Different job, same problems. In the first book, she was very green in terms of being a Sentinel, but now, three years later, she’s starting to come into her own. She still needs to look things up in her magical tomes and bemoans not knowing enough, but she’s developing a stronger sense of self as Sentinel which makes her a wonderful character to watch develop. 2. ROMANCEI wasn’t too big of an Alex fan in ROYAL STREET. I preferred Jake’s easygoing nature and warmth. But Johnson really flipped the switch on me in RIVER ROAD. With three years gone by, Alex and DJ have developed a comfortable but layered friendship. Preserving a working relationship keeps the chemistry to a platonic distance. And that chemistry is undeniable. Alex admirably holds his obvious feelings for DJ at bay while his cousin, Jake, recommences his romantic overtures towards her. Awkward? You bet. By the end of the book, I was team Alex all the way and was practically yelling at him to make a move. What makes this romantic triangle work is its slow development. DJ has a lot to figure out and Johnson is giving her heroine the time and space to do just that. It’s going to make the resolution of this romantic conflict all the sweeter because of it. Oh, and let’s not forget the sexy dead pirate, Jean Lafitte, who also has his eyes set on DJ. With him in the mix, anything can happen. 3. THE MYSTERYRIVER ROAD has a very well-drawn procedural feel to it as well. Someone is polluting the waters of the Mississippi and it’s up to DJ to figure out the culprit before two clans of mermen go to war and innocent lives are lost. DJ has her investigator hat on and works through theories and possible magical stopgaps as she slowly makes her way to the final solution. Walking with her through her investigative steps was fun and suspenseful; it also provided a great backdrop in which to add more to the overall word-building of the series through the introduction of mermen and nymphs, and all the baggage they bring to the politics and history of the supernatural world. 4. WORLD-BUILDINGThis is still one of the major strengths of this series. Johnson really excels at creating a layered supernatural world full of magic, power, and politics. The idea of the historical undead – the continued existence of past historical figures whose immortality is fueled off the collective memory humanity still holds for them – is still one of the most original ideas I’ve seen in a UF. Johnson adds to this world by bringing the fae to the forefront towards the end of the book. This is obviously where the next in the series is heading as DJ’s staff and bloodline have brought her to the attention of the effectively frightening fae. I’m intrigued by where RIVER ROAD leaves us in terms of this storyline. I have a feeling DJ is going to be pushed beyond her boundaries in the next book. 5. NEW ORLEANSIn some books, the city in which the story takes place can often be just a backdrop and easily replaced by any other city in the world. Not so with the Sentinels series. New Orleans is a character in and of itself. While Katrina played a major role in the first book, its aftermath plays an equally important role in this book. The city is rebuilding, dealing with neighborhoods that haven’t been able to bounce back and people who’ve decided not to rebuild. Furthermore, the magical pollution of the Mississippi was also a timely reminder of troubles in the non-fictional Gulf region. And it’s this reminder that keeps the story of mermen, wizards, dead pirates, shapeshifters, and all the magical mayhem and excitement of DJ’s world, grounded and relevant to our own in a very thoughtful way. I finished RIVER ROAD in the wee hours of the morning and my first thought was, “Damn, this was good.” Honestly, if you’re looking for a strong UF series with a very relatable and likeable heroine, a unique world and well-developed magic system, then you would do well to pick up RIVER ROAD and it’s predecessor, ROYAL STREET. Hands down, RIVER ROAD was one of my favorite books last year. Read it. Now.This review is courtesy of SHE-WOLF READS.