Craven Street ( Whitechapel Paranormal Society 1) by E.J. Stevens

Hello to all,


                     Today i'm here to share my opinion on a new release by E.J. Stevens from who i've read the Ivy Granger series. It's a series with a character from the Ivy series, but that aside it's completely different. It's a dark urban fantasy set in victorian time which can sound promising if you love horror and dark stories.

Happy reading

Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press

Publication: 2019

ISBN13:  9781946046369

Genre: paranormal mystery, dark, ghost, demon, paranormal, horror

Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: homosexuality hint
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

  In this spellbinding novella, E.J. Stevens weaves a tale of murder, necromancy, and demonic possession that brings together characters from her Whitechapel Paranormal Society Victorian horror series and award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series on the fog-shrouded cobblestones of 36 Craven Street.

The discovery of bricked up skeletal remains at 36 Craven Street point to something more diabolical than an illegal anatomy school. The tool marks on the bones, arcane sigils of great power, indicate more than mere butchery, more than enlightened experimentation. The signs, omens, and portents support the crown's greatest fears. A great evil is being unleashed upon the gaslit streets of London, a blood-drenched shadow reaching skeletal fingers beyond the slums of Whitechapel.

We must stamp out this demonic plague for the sake of our Queen, our Country, and our immortal souls. - Cora Drummond, Whitechapel Paranormal Society

Collecting human souls is a thankless job, nearly as tedious as acting as solicitor to the fae. But when the demon Forneus enters an opium den searching for men eager to trade their souls for the ill-smelling weed, he stumbles on a plot so devious, so heinous, he's jealous that he hadn't thought of it himself.

There's nothing like a maniacal plot to unleash Hell on earth to break the boredom of immortality. - Forneus, Grand Marquis of Hell

The Whitechapel Paranormal Society series is a Victorian horror "dreadpunk" series set in London's East End. The Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series is an award-winning urban fantasy series known for heart-pounding action, quirky characters, and supernatural horrors.

Whitechapel Paranormal Society novels Eeper Weeper and One for Sorrow coming July and October 2019

My opinion:

           I loved the Ivy Granger series so i was curious about this series but it's sure really different. This book ( and series?) is really more horror than Ivy Granger's one, it's really dark  both in the events happening but also in the character's mentality.

The Whitechapel Paranormal Society is a group of women with special abilities who are part of the force but in secret focus on the supernatural elements. They have their male counterpart but those really looks down on them and even try to hinder their work...their misogynist point of view though understandable in a historical period still started to bother me after a time because they get the job done and even with all those men must have seen with paranormal they still can't respect them? even a minimum?  it's frustrating.

The intrigue is the start of something bigger and the mystery is really well written, really dark too. The different characters are interesting but we focus on Cora and Flan more than on the others so we see little of their powers but it's tempting so we want to discover more about them and how they choose that job , discovered their abilities etc.

That being said some point bothered me more. First at time , i i had the feeling to have missed something as the situation jump to another without really an explanation or link even if we go back to track just after  it's like something was missing. Then the relationship between Cora and Flan bothered me....somehow i think it would it would have been better if they were just friends or colleagues , the lover part even if not too developed sounded wrong . I don't know if it's because we get the feeling it's part historical and at that time while homosexuality existed it wasn't done in public or because it give the feeling no male characters could be good enough, open minded to these abilities....it just wasn't necessary for the story in my opinion.

But if that doesn't bother you and if you love dark urban fantasy with ghosts and demons this is really  a good horror book just probably not for me

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Lovely, Dark, and Deep ( the Collectors 1) by Susannah Sandlin

hello to all!

            Time is really flying, in less than one month it will be my birthday, a little after the " Carnaval" and of course there will also be a lot of new releases i'm dying to get my hands on.

Thankfully it also means that the wait has finally come to an end today was realeased the last episode of the serial " Lovely, Dark and Deep" by Susannah Sandlin.....now just a few months of patience to get the paperback but you can already preoder it...because later this year we get the second installment of this series!!! YES, hard to tell you how excited i am with this year program but first thing first, here is my opinion on  this new story, first in a new series, it will be short because want to avoid spoilers...

And if like me you love discovering the little history behind a book, you can discover who inspired the characters this time here, if you are like it it could steal you some tears.

 happy Reading

Publisher: Montlake romance

Publication: 2014

ISBN:  0373277210

Genre: thriller, romantic suspense
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: ecopy in exchange for an honest review

"From award-winning author Susannah Sandlin comes a heart-pounding romantic thriller that pits a quick-witted scientist and a scarred ex–combat diver against a ruthless billionaire treasure hunter with ties to the White House....

When biologist Gillian Campbell makes an offhand comment about a family curse during a TV interview, she has no idea what her words will set in motion. Within days, Gillian finds herself at the mercy of a member of the C7, a secretive international group of power brokers with a dangerous game: competing to find the world’s most elusive treasures, no matter the cost, in money or in lives. To save her family, Gillian teams up with Shane Burke, a former elite diver who’s lost his way, navigating the brutal 'death coast' of the North Atlantic to find what the collector seeks: the legendary Ruby Cross of the Knights Templar, stolen by Gillian’s ancestor and lost at sea four hundred years ago."

My opinion:

          Lovely! The title says it all in fact there are dark moments, some angsty ones and as a whole it’s more than a lovely reads^^. Susannah did succeed in my opinion at this attempt at the thriller genre and I was hooked right at the start.

As always the author is a master at descriptions you really fell like you right next to Gillian and Shane as you see by their eyes and feel their fears and frustration…  the psychological building of the characters is really essential in this story since the villain uses their weakness against them and Susannah really knows what she is doing because you  immediately fell like you are in their shoes and you understand how deep their guilt goes…you want to shake them sometimes and at others just to hug them with promise it will get better. They are really realistic, like you could meet them at the street corner.

The tension is really high at some point , The villains are making your skin crawl and biting your nails, but then there are also time for breath thanks to the little touch of humour with Shane ‘s best friend taste in music and of course.. TANK, the dog, so funny ^^ and protective^^  Shane ‘s nightmare. 

If you love investigation, the idea of treasure with a good touch of romance spiced with steamy scene this book is right you alley! A must read

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

So what are you waiting for? You can get it here and if you want more info you can check Susannah's Website  .

Hellforged ( Deadtown 2) by Nancy Holzner

Hello to all,

                  i guess the topic of this month: zombies don't motivate me a lot because i can't find a lot of free time but even when i have a few i don't feel like reading... it won't last though and i did make an effort so today i can share with you my opinion on a book full of zombies... the second Deadtown novel titled " Hellforged" written by Nancy Holzner

happy reading!

Publisher: ACE

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0441019803

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

A demon is stalking Vicky's dreams-just as several of Deadtown's zombies are viciously attacked and become really dead. And when Vicky realizes she is the only connection between the victims, she suspects that the demon is somehow working through her dreams to become Deadtown's living nightmare.

My opinion:

          I read a lot of urban fantasy and a few darker too but this series is definitively too realistic for my taste. It’s not bad quite the opposite, the writing style is excellent, the world building is really well thought, the plot interesting there is a tough of romance and even better they are several kind of paranormal creatures: werewolves, zombies, vampires, shifters, demons and I’m sure we will discover more along the way too…

The idea that the paranormal have made their coming out and as a consequence find themselves parked in a part of the city with less rights than a normal citizen, need permit to go somewhere else and even are killed on sight in some states.. it’s interesting and sadly  really logic and realistic.  I would like to say it’s not  but if we are honest we must admit that if that happened now, humans would become afraid and they aren’t fair with what frightened them. Sure some would be pro paranormal but the majority will make sure their security come first and if it means treating them like garbage they would do it. It’s bothering me. Science fiction and other writing genre have always been used to send message and to make people understand some situation by transposing them in a fantasy universe but with enough element for reality so the readers can make the links and think about it. It’s not something bad quite the contrary.

However, I’m perhaps already to realistic at the moment I need to evade myself not to spend my time regretting injustice in a fantasy world. Nancy Holzner writes so well that you are thinking about the situation even if you don’t want to… and I must also admit that it’s a little dark with lot of deaths too ..

Now it’s true the story is interesting and developing after each book, this time we learn more about the nature of Vicky or to be more precise we get to discover the demon’s point of view on this story because as often where there are two camps there are two stories, two truths while in reality you need to know both to approach the real truth and leave the “propaganda”. It was really well shown here and it gave us a new perspective. The romance is also better in this second book, the characters discover what they really want and what the others is doing  so their feelings looks more real, not just the sparks of the moment but like a real relationship, a commitment in a sense.

The plot managed to keep my attention during all my reading and while we learn quickly who the main bad guy is we don’t know what he is planning until the end. Now the ending…we get the resolution to the main investigation yes, we get a little happy end yes but we also see the seeds for the next book, the next villains, and in that way it’s a little cliffhanger( not a angsty one fortunately)

If you want a urban fantasy book including zombies, this book  and series is more than interesting and you could enjoy it if you are not too sensitive.

Score:  3/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath 1) by Keri Lake

Hello to all,

                   i'm sorry to have disappeared a few days but life got really busy and i got a little lost, i will try to do better . Today , while hiding from the sun ( too hot now, really too hot) i decided to share with you  the first book of a recent series written by an attentive and kind author.
When i heard about Soul Avenged last year, i knew i had to read it, i started to follow the author,to read all review, participate in all contests without any luck. Sadly too, for international readers the print book ( think big book) is only available on amazon at the moment. Fortunately, Keri took pity on me and i got this copy i could review for you.( Thanks again!!!!)

I decided to share this with you today because at the moment, Keri has a vote going on on her blog here to choose the model for the cover of the next book so more specificaly we are looking for the best personnification of Logan, the troubled, hurt, strong minded but sill yummy and touching demon... normally if you enter by this link you would grant me an extra entry too because each votant are entering a giveaway for  a t-shirt , gift card or perhaps something else. So don't hesitate to go to see the post about the model and then to vote ( my favourite are teh least three but perhaps you would prefer another one^^)

Now if you haven't read this book yet, here is my opinion on the book.

Enjoy and good luck!

Publisher: Keri Lake

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0984851720

Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal romance

Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: gift
 

Short description from goodreads :

Passion is blind in vengeance and love ...

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

Sons of Wrath

Never gamble with vengeance

My opinion:

          This book initiated different feelings in me.. when I saw the early excerpts before the publication I knew I really wanted to read this one and I tried to get it without success until the author took pity on me ( thanks!!). Now while reading I didn’t know where to stand… at first I was confused because it seemed the heroine, ayden , was alone in her mission then suddenly Zeke acts and i didn’t know what or who he was, where he came from.. I even when back a few pages to see if I missed something, if it was the name of her dagger or something ^^;; it lasted only a little moment though and we get the explanation. Another detail that bothered me a little is the way lycans, mostly werewolves, are described. Here they are mindless beasts, devouring babies, killing without reasons etc , I usually prefer shifters that keep part of their humanity while changing ( like adam Hauptman or tybalt), the fact they were all evil bothered me but it’s something personal and even more it’s not exactly how they are described but how Ayden had them described to her. We see the difference between demons and lycans from her eyes and she is learning that not everything is like she thought that not one camp is the good guy and the other the bad….. the evil are not who she thought during so long. I guessed some part of the plot but I was really in my reading and I didn’t want to take any break when it started to get deeper in the story.

I liked this book a lot as a whole, Ayden is suffering but she is hiding it behind a cold attitude and behaviour.. when she became an Alexi, her memories were ripped from her. Until getting bits of them she never thought she would want them. She was programmed as a soldier but at the same time she left them despites the fact it was going to make her a prey… she still had some independence and while she didn’t question the theory the alexi taught her  ( lycans bad, alexi superiors etc etc) she stil decided to seek her own revenge which was forbidden. I would have loved if she analysed the situation more but learning how she was conditioned I really understand her better. To protect herself, she went to the demons and not a simple one no she made a contract with the Sons of Wrath specialized in vengeance and punishments…. She even had before a relation with their elder Gavin but not wanting something lasting she broke it up for a professional relationship only… finding an Halfling, a lycan to be, she is surprised to feel something and decide to take him prisoner to learn more.

Kane was a doctor and someone simple until that night when he got attacked by beasts…he didn’t believe in werewolves or paranormal until then and he doesn’t understand what is happening to him.  However, when Ayden tells him what he will become, what he will become capable off, Kane is still sane enough to decide that it’s not what he wants and he ask her to kill him then. After when he has to put his new abilities to use he does it but only in hope to help and safe her. Slowly he becomes the proof that lycans are not what she was taught but a lot more complex and more human than some others.

The Wrath’ s sons are quite a gang: excessively handsome, proud and not lacking self esteem,  important lords in their universe they are really adapt at what they do: take revenge, punish those who wronged their clients. However they are also quite picky on who can be one of their clients. Each one has a speciality or a special power for example, the older one Gavin has some power of premonitions but those visions are  not complete nor are they coming on demand.  I really enjoyed to see the relationship they had together and how their personalities differs. They give us some information on the demon’s world and while it can be really barbaric there is some honor and rules that can’t be broken without repercussions. They aren’t evil just terribly violent with their own moral code..

It’s a good urban fantasy and really promising for the first book of a series. If you don’t mind some werewolves mindless and barbaric ( at least for a moment) and love urban fantasy, give this one a try you would be surprised

To recommend

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges: