REVIEW Vendetta Road (Torpedo Ink #3) by Christine Feehan

Vendetta Road (Torpedo Ink #3) by Christine Feehan
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Format: eBook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Berkley

Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan is the third book in the Torpedo Ink series, and while entertaining will definitely not be for everyone. Explosive, action packed, and filled with romance, its also filled with explicit violence and sex scenes. 

While the members of Torpedo Ink are all powerful in their own right and have worked on building a life for themselves on the coast, they are not by any means "stable". All of the members suffered long term abuse when they were children, and its left them scarred and unable to perform as 'normal' members of society. When they find their person though, thats it for them and Ice and Soleil are no exception. The book is dark and full of scary things (like the human traffickers the club works to hunt down and stop), but there are also happy moments.

Ice and Soleil grow together, and figure out their own way to make their needs work. As opposed to some of the other relationships in the series, theirs felt balanced. I'm definitely commited to seeing more of their relationship in the future, and hope they continue to show up in more books (like Anya/Reaper, Steele/Breezy, and Blythe/Czar have). I would recommend this book to mature fans of paranormal romance, who love the motorcycle club sub-genre and the found family trope.

REVIEW My Warrior (Bewitched and Bewildered #13) by Alanea Alder

My Warrior (Bewitched and Bewildered #13) by Alanea Alder
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: August 25, 2020
Format: eBook (Personal Library, Kindle)
Publisher: Sacred Forest Publishing

“You respect my job and trust in my abilities, yet, still know when to treat me like a woman.”

My Warrior, the thirteenth book in the urban fantasy meets paranormal romance series Bewitched and Bewildered by Alanea Alder was another humorous and entertaining read. There’s still a lot of tragic and terrible things going on in Eire Danu (the home of the fae), but the warriors and their mates are getting a lot closer to figuring out what’s going on. Enter Brie, a deputy sheriff working under local law enforcement. After her surprise mating with lion shifter warrior Ari, they work together to save more people and outsmart the ferals and reapers working against them. 

Ari and Brie have an entirely different dynamic that most of the other couples and I loved it. Brie is a warrior in her own right, and not really domestic at all. Ari embraces that, and never tries to stifle who she is. Brie also ends up being an integral part of outsmarting the enemy, as she’s not stuck in the same way of thinking as the paranormal warriors (who have developed their methodologies over the course of hundreds if not thousands of years). She works well with Menace (a.k.a. Meryn) and they both kick butt. It’s sad that the middle books of a city’s story arc leave so much hanging, but there’s still a lot of action happening to satisfy readers. 

Overall, an excellent read with great worldbuilding. We’ve been building towards heading towards the final paranormal pillar city Storm Keep (home of the witches), and I’m so excited to see Meryn and company wreak havoc and chaos on the witches (especially considering how much shady stuff they’ve been up to). I highly recommend this series to those who enjoy humorous mixes of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. 

REVIEW City Spies (City Spies #1) by James Ponti

City Spies (City Spies #1) by James Ponti
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: March 9, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio

Check out my review of the second book in the series, City Spies: Golden Gate

Check out my review of the fourth book in the series, City Spies: City of the Dead

James Ponti’s series opener City Spies was a fun adventure series perfect for middle-grade level readers and above. In a book where Spy Kids meets James Bond and Mission Impossible, an orphan joins a rag tag group of child spies on a mission to save the world. 

While the child spy theme is not a new one to books, I really appreciated how the author put a unique spin on things. Each of the different child spies has their own special gifts (which inspired “Mother” to recruit them) and it’s quite a diverse cast from all around the world. The mystery and the saving the world issue is the main plot, but the author does reveal bits and pieces about each of the individual characters as secondary storylines. “Mother’s” storyline was the most unique (though I’m still not sold on his nickname) and I’m curious to see how that will play out in subsequent books. 

The storyline was also a unique aspect of the book. Instead of having the main character Brooklyn jump straight into spy training after Mother recruits her, she goes almost directly into her first mission with the other children. I did miss getting multiple scenes of training sequences, but in return I appreciated that readers get to jump straight into the action. As a side note, I did want to warn any potential readers that there is some serious stuff happening in the book. The crimes that the kids have to deal with are no joke, there are mentions of murder and other violent acts like dismemberment and explosions (never on page), and there is some mild language in the book (things like freaking and stupid, nothing to the degree of an ‘f-bomb’).  

Overall, this was an excellent read and I look forward to checking out more of the books in the series. Lisa Flanagan did a great job bringing the voices of Brooklyn and the other characters to life with her performance in the audiobook narration of the story. If you or a young reader in your life enjoys mystery and thrillers with spies, this book is worth a listen.

About the Author

James Ponti is the New York Times Bestselling author of three Middle Grade book series: the DEAD CITY trilogy about a secret society that polices the undead who live beneath New York City; the Edgar Award-winning FRAMED! series about a pair of Sherlockian tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, D.C.; and the all-new CITY SPIES about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 spy team.

James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.

REVIEW A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose #2) by Charlaine Harris

A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose #2) 

by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
Reelase Date: January 14, 2020
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Saga Press

In the second installment of Charlaine Harris’ Gunnie Rose series, A Longer Fall, readers once again return to a world where the United States we know are no more, having split into multiple different smaller territories. If you enjoy genre-bending novels with a bit of a Western flair, this would be a great choice for your next read. 

Lizbeth Rose is a “Gunnie”, a sharpshooter gifted with firearms and a boon to any crew she’s on. After the events of the last book left her all alone with a dead crew, the new crew she’s on has been given the job of guarding a piece of cargo as it makes its way across the continent. Things don’t go to plan though, as her crew is (unsurprisingly) ambushed and the cargo is taken. Once an old friend shows up, Lizbeth realizes that things are much more complicated then she anticipated and they must retrieve the cargo or die trying. 

Lizbeth and Eli are a unique pairing. While they are not a traditional ‘couple’, they fit together well and make a great team. On paper, their chosen professions would never have them even meet let alone interact for an extended period of time. However, fate has them partnered together and they make the most of their time (both professionally and in a personal, intimate way). The two characters definitely carry the book; while the side characters helped to move the action along, I couldn’t really recall any memorable details about any one in particular. 

The setting is still a bit jarring, but I can appreciate the unique take with the alternate history the author has crafted in this book. You’d think that the dystopian thriller western vibes that Ms. Harris has going on in this book would read as somewhat discordant, but I think it blended together well. 

Audiobook narrator Eva Kaminsky once again did an excellent job bringing Lizbeth’s perspective to life with her performance. This book leaves a clear starting point for the next book, and I’m excited to see what’s next for Gunnie Rose and Prince Eli in The Russian Cage. Additionally, I’m also excited to get to see Felicia get her time in the spotlight starting with the fourth book in the series, Serpent in Heaven. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Racism, Slavery, Domestic Violence, Lynching, Gun Violence

About the Book

In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building the world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

About the Author

Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over thirty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Charlaine lives in Texas now, and all of her children and grandchildren are within easy driving distance.

Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, her husband Hal gave her the opportunity to stay home and write. The resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of series, and soon had her own traditional mystery books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.

Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.

When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who simply enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, was very successful in many languages.

The Harper Connelly books were written concurrently with the Sookie novels.

Following the end of Sookie's recorded adventures, Charlaine wrote the "Midnight, Texas" books, which have become a television series, also. The Aurora Teagarden books have been adapted by Hallmark Movie & Mystery.

Charlaine is a member of many professional organizations, an Episcopalian, and currently the lucky houseparent to two rescue dogs. She lives on a cliff overlooking the Brazos River.

REVIEW Queen Takes Rose (Wicked Villains #6) by Katee Robert

Queen Takes Rose (Wicked Villains #6) 

by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC (Self Published by Author) 

I’ve been on a recent streak of reading all of Katee Robert’s books, and Queen Takes Rose is the final installment of the Wicked Villains series. Aurora has appeared in all of the previous books, and now it’s finally time for her to take center stage. Once again, it was quite intriguing to see how the author took the skeleton of the original fairytale and twisted it to fit the series. However, for some reason, the female dominant characters that the author writes don’t seem to click for me as much as others. 

Aurora has definitely grown since the first time she was introduced to the series. I was intrigued by the dynamic between her and Malone and some of the references you can recognize from the original fairytale. Like many of her other series, this one has a connection to another set of books - specifically, Malone is connected to the Sabine Valley series (which at this point, I’m going to have to pick up and read out of sheer curiosity). In addition to Malone and Aurora, Katee Robert continues their trend of LGBTQ+ positive characters with a non-binary former Amazon serving as Malone’s head of security. 

Despite liking Malone and Aurora as individual characters, I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. I flipped through their ‘scenes’ together instead of devouring every word. I kind of missed the types of scenes that Aurora participated in with the previous installments of the series (i.e. the Scene with Isabelle, Gaeton, and Beast in book 4). I also thought it was weird that Malone wanted Aurora submissive 24/7 instead of only when they were scening together (like the other dominants in the series such as Jafar or Hook do), but that might just be a lack of exposure to such characters more than anything else.  

Overall, Queen Takes Rose was definitely another entertaining book. It just wasn’t my favorite out of the series or something I’d see the need to reread in the future. Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jenny Nordbak did an excellent job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook narration. The Wicked Villains series would be a great choice for mature readers who aren’t put off by taboo dark romance stories that reimagine classic fairytales. 

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of Author’s Website): Parental Death (mother, comatose for long period of time and heroine makes choice to end life support), assault, explicit sex

About the Book

Once upon a time I made a deal with the devil. It turns out I like playing in the dark. Over the years, I’ve become someone I’m proud of, someone dangerous.

I’ll never be as dangerous as Malone, though. She’s one of the most feared leaders in Carver City, and her reputation is more than earned. Years ago, we had a single night together and she’s ignored me ever since.

Imagine my surprise to discover she’s scheduled me for the final two weeks of my contract. Maybe I should be afraid. Everyone else fears Malone. Instead, all I feel is anticipation. It’s time to balance the scales, once and for all.

The villains aren’t the only ones in Carver City a person should be wary of crossing.

Sometimes the prettiest flower hides the deadliest poison…

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Katee Robert Author Website

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REVIEW The Sandman Act I by Neil Gaiman (Adapted by Dirk Maggs)

The Sandman Act I by Neil Gaiman (Adapted by Dirk Maggs)
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: July 15, 2020
Format: Audiobook 
Publisher: DC Comics and Audible Originals

Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman Act I is a beloved epic fantasy tale based on the original publication of graphic novels (with the audiobook adaptation written and directed by Dirk Maggs). With a full cast, a completely produced audiobook production, and the author leading the charge as the narrator, it’s one of my favorite audiobooks of all time. You might also be familiar with The Sandman because of the recent adaptation by Netflix - this audiobook covers a little bit more than the TV show does. Readers are invited to follow the story of the King of Dreams, Lord Morpheus, as he works to reclaim his tools and rebuild his realm after a century of forced imprisonment. 

Neil Gaiman wove enough references into the story that even the pickiest of fantasy readers should be satisfied. There are references to mythology (Morpheus, Loki, Odin), angels and demons (specifically Lucifer), and also some references to DC comics characters and locations. Enter the Martian Manhunter and John Constantine! 

It’s rare that an author is as equally talented a narrator as they are a writer, but Neil Gaiman fills both roles with ease. There is a full cast of actors giving voice to the characters, with some big names making an appearance, and I loved how immersive it was. The music, sound effects, and background noises added to the experience. I’ve listened to the book before, but it was exciting to revisit The Sandman after watching the television show and get to see what’s similar and what was changed. They are set up similarly with each episode of the audiobook covering roughly the same material as the TV show.   I’m impressed with how similar James McAvoy and Tom Sturridge sound, giving voice to Morpheus in the audiobook and TV show respectively. Some of my other favorite actors in the audiobook were Kerry Shale (Abel) and Taron Egerton (John Constantine). I want to clarify that the audiobook is intended for mature readers only. The explicit language, graphic violence, and strong sexual content make The Sandman unsuitable for younger ears. 

Overall, this was a fantastic audiobook. I’m excited to listen to Act II, but I’m waiting to see if Netflix will pick up The Sandman for season 2 before doing so. If you enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s work, you could also check out American Gods, Stardust, Coraline, and Good Omens (among many other titles). If you enjoyed Neil Gaiman as a narrator, I would recommend you check out his book Norse Mythology (especially if you are a fan of mythology). 

TRIGGER WARNING: Pedophilia, Child Abuse, Rape, Graphic Violence, Blood, Gore, Death, Suicide, Dead Animals

About the Director

Dirk Maggs, a freelance writer and director working across all media, is principally known for his work in radio, where he evolved radio drama into "Audio Movies," a near-visual approach combining scripts, layered sound effects, cinematic music and cutting edge technology. He pioneered the use of Dolby Surround in BBC Radio. He was among the first nominees for the Directors Guild of Great Britain Outstanding Achievement in Radio Award, and in 2005 he was invited to become one of the first Honorary Fellows of the University of Winchester for his work in the dramatic arts.

From 2003 to 2005, Maggs produced new episodes of Douglas Adams' science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, adapted from the novels based on the original radio series that Adams wrote. The books that Maggs adapted were written after the radio series ended its original run.

He co-founded Perfectly Normal Productions Ltd (PNP) with Paul Weir and Richard Adams to create compelling high-quality popular audio drama in serialized form for delivery to personal digital players and cell phones.

Early in his career Dirk became known for directing adaptations of comic book storylines. He started in 1988 with the 50th Anniversary Man Of Steel docudrama Superman on Trial, carried on with a 50th birthday tribute to the Dark Knight: Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome. This was followed by The Adventures Of Superman, Batman: Knightfall, The Amazing Spider-Man, and his final BBC Radio superhero series, Judge Dredd in 1995. Along the way his production of Superman: Doomsday and Beyond ("Superman Lives" in the USA) won the 1994 Audie Award for Best Dramatisation from the American Booksellers Association and Spoken Word Audio of The Year from Publishers Weekly.

About the Author

Neil Gaiman was born in Hampshire, UK, and now lives in the United States near Minneapolis. As a child he discovered his love of books, reading, and stories, devouring the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Branch Cabell, Edgar Allan Poe, Michael Moorcock, Ursula K. LeGuin, Gene Wolfe, and G.K. Chesterton. A self-described "feral child who was raised in libraries," Gaiman credits librarians with fostering a life-long love of reading: "I wouldn't be who I am without libraries. I was the sort of kid who devoured books, and my happiest times as a boy were when I persuaded my parents to drop me off in the local library on their way to work, and I spent the day there. I discovered that librarians actually want to help you: they taught me about interlibrary loans."

Gaiman began his writing career in England as a journalist. His first book was a Duran Duran biography that took him three months to write, and his second was a biography of Douglas Adams, Don't Panic: The Official Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion. Gaiman describes his early writing: "I was very, very good at taking a voice that already existed and parodying or pastiching it." Violent Cases was the first of many collaborations with artist Dave McKean. This early graphic novel led to their series Black Orchid, published by DC Comics.

The groundbreaking series Sandman followed, collecting a large number of US awards in its 75 issue run, including nine Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and three Harvey Awards. In 1991, Sandman became the first comic ever to receive a literary award, the 1991 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story.

Neil Gaiman is credited with being one of the creators of modern comics, as well as an author whose work crosses genres and reaches audiences of all ages. He is listed in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top ten living post-modern writers and is a prolific creator of works of prose, poetry, film, journalism, comics, song lyrics, and drama.

Gaiman has achieved cult status and attracted increased media attention, with recent profiles in The New Yorker magazine and by CBS News Sunday Morning.

REVIEW The Beast (Wicked Villains Book 4) by Katee Robert

The Beast (Wicked Villains Book 4) by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: April 13, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC 

Check out the book on Bookshop.org

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The Beast by Katee Robert is another installment in the Wicked Villains series, and this one is a very loose reimagining of the tale of Beauty and the Beast. If you’re a fan of the series and read the books in order, you probably already know that the Man in Black was one of the biggest power players in Carver City and that he’s recently passed. The power structure of the city has become precarious, and the Man in Black’s daughters Isabelle is left to ensure that they don’t lose their territory in the aftermath of her father’s death. In doing so, she reaches out to both her exes and her father’s former lieutenants (Beast and Gaeton) to make a deal. Will she be finally able to make the choice they are asking her to make, or will things crumble in the process? You will be happy to know that she doesn’t have to choose and that the relationship develops into a glorious polyamorous throuple. 

Love is love, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Beast, Gaeton, and Isabelle are all bisexual and enjoy their polyamorous relationship. It was amusing to see the original fairytale retold in the form of a menage et trois or a throuple (as I said, it’s a very loose retelling). Despite being extremely committed to each other, they do enjoy ‘playing’ with others. EVERYTHING done in the books is consensual, and it’s so exciting to see that play out (for those who are curious, basically all of Katee Robert’s books have a heavy emphasis on consent and feature ‘consent king’ heroes). My favorite steamy scene in the book was where the trio had a scene in the Underworld with Aurora.   

Some might go into this book thinking that it’s all smut and no plot (and there’s definitely no shortage of smut), but I was pleasantly surprised to see how well thought out everything is, and how interconnected each of the books is (despite being able to read them as standalone). After reading this book, I’m even more convinced that I need to pick up Ms. Robert’s Sabine Valley series. This is yet another connection to those books (Beast’s origins are there), and I did feel like I missed out on some small details by not having that context. Looking at the bigger picture, my mind is blown by how interconnected the worldbuilding of her various series is - job well done there!

Overall, The Beast is another entertaining installment to the Wicked Villains series. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series! As with the other books, I would recommend this series to mature readers who aren’t put off by taboo, kinky dark romance stories that reimagine modern fairytales.  

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author’s Website): Parental death (father, cancer, off-page, historical), grieving, assault, explicit sex

About the Book

Once upon a time, I fell in love with two men. Their feelings for me were matched only by their hatred for each other. Gaeton, with his brash charm and casual cruelty. Beast, his lust equal to his penchant for violence. Being with them was sinful and perfect in different ways. In the end, I couldn't choose, and I lost them both. Now, my sisters have tasked me with securing our power base, no matter the cost. I will do anything for my family even if it means agreeing to the terms set by Gaeton and Beast. The three of us. Together. But only for as long as it takes me to choose one of them once and for all. When playing games of power, happily ever after isn't a priority. Not even for me. Especially not for me.

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Katee Robert Author Website

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REVIEW Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker Duology #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg

Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker Duology #1) 

by Charlie N. Holmberg
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: November 1, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Available through Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: 47North

Charlie N. Holmberg’s Spellbreaker, the first book in the Spellbreaker Duology, has an attention-grabbing premise that easily persuaded me to read the book. Set in an alternate universe resembling Victorian England, two classes of magic users dominate society. There are those that pay inordinate amounts of money to gain the ability to cast magic (Spellmakers or Aspectors) and those with the ability to break spells (Spellbreakers). The main character Elsie is a member of the second group and must be careful with her abilities lest she is thrown into jail (or worse, killed). Her secret is in danger of being blown wide open, however, when she is discovered by budding master Spellmaker Bacchus. Will she be able to escape the situation with her life and protect everything she cares about, or will the mystery that Bacchus and Elsie find themselves thrust into the middle of be too much for both of them to handle?

From the first chapter, the pacing is a big issue in this book. I was so bored in the first quarter of the book that I was in danger of marking it as DNF and giving up on it entirely. In the author’s defense,  they do use that initial time to explain the world and how everything works, but that’s a long time for no real action to happen. As a result, it caused things to border on feeling info-dumpy (a disheartening realization, especially with how cool the magic system promised is).  

While the pacing was rough, the worldbuilding was one of the strengths of this book. Admittedly there’s a lot to keep track of and it can be hard to keep everything straight (especially when you are listening to it as I did), but if you persevere and push through that initial quarter of the book it's well worth the effort. I enjoyed getting to learn about the Atheneum, and the different groups of citizens (Spellbreakers, Spellmakers/Aspectors, and the average humans). It was interesting to me how the position as a Spellmaker is something that can be bought and is another reflection of power and position in the book’s culture. By comparison, a Spellbreaker can be anyone and is a position someone is born into, no matter their material wealth. Ms. Holmberg did a great job weaving this aspect of the worldbuilding into the dynamic between Elsie and Bacchus, and their eventual romance. 

In addition to worldbuilding, romance is also a highlight in the book. By anyone’s definition, the relationship between Elsie and Bacchus is a slow-burn romance. There’s a lot of tension between the two characters (initially propelled by their rival abilities), and their attraction grows over the course of the story. If I had to guess, they will probably act more on their feelings in the second book. For those who might be concerned by the mention of romance, I would rate this at a young adult level. No graphic intimacy or overt steam or anything like that to worry about - just a clean, predictable slow burn romance tale with some mild flirtation. 

Spellbreaker was a solid book overall, but the issues mentioned left me unable to give it a full five stars. I’m unsure when I’ll make time to read the sequel, Spellmaker. If you’re a reader who might enjoy a cross between a fantasy and a “whodunnit” mystery, then this might be the book for you. If you’re primarily a fantasy reader who loves simple worldbuilding and fast-paced action from start to finish, then I would probably suggest looking for your next read elsewhere. 

About the Author

Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, and writes contemporary romance under C.N. Holmberg. She is published in 20 languages, has been a finalist for a RITA award and multiple Whitney awards, and won the 2020 Whitney for Novel of the Year for Adult Fiction. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, and owns too many pairs of glasses. She currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her Instagram at instagram.com/cnholmberg.

Visit the author's website here!

REVIEW Eva Evergreen Semi Magical Witch (Eva Evergreen #1) by Julie Abe

Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch (Eva Evergreen #1) 

by Julie Abe
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: August 4, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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“No matter how far I flew, I never seemed to be able to catch up to her”

Julie Abe’s middle-grade debut, Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch, is a whimsical and entertaining coming-of-age tale that emphasizes the importance of defying expectations, owning your talents and uniqueness, and the power of community. If you’re a fan of fantasy titles or the Studio Ghibli collection (especially Kiki’s Delivery Service), then I think you’ll enjoy this book. 

Eva Evergreen is the daughter of grandmaster Nela Evergreen, and she’s an apprentice looking to graduate to the next rank. The only problem is that she has a pinch of magic compared to her mother. As part of her quest to become a novice, she arrives in Auteri and becomes the town witch. However, she has her work cut out for her because the townspeople are very reluctant to trust her. They eventually warm up to her over the course of the month, enjoying her ‘semi-magical’ fixes, and everyone bands together once they realize ‘The Culling’ (the yearly storm that everyone fears will hit their town) is headed their way. 

I really enjoyed Eva’s growth in this book. She’s able to make her own path and come out of the shadow of her mother’s position and power, and that was so exciting to see. To quote Edward de Bono, “Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” Eva couldn’t fix the town’s problems in the usual way, so she came up with creative fixes. You go, girl! Semi-Magical Witch for the win. My favorite ‘fix’ was the spell that went slightly awry but ended up creating a tasty new treat everyone ended up loving. 

The rhyming nature of the magic in the book was fun. Each rhyme helped add to the whimsical nature of the book (I’m also impressed with how many rhymes the author came up with). It was cool to see the structure of the witch's and wizard’s society (grand master witches, novice witches, apprentice witches…) In addition to the magic system, there is also some traces of Japanese influence in the world of Eva Evergreen. For example, many of the town names are Japan-inspired. There are also various foods in this book that seem inspired by Japanese culture. 

All in all, Eva Evergreen Semi Magical Witch was a wholly magical debut from Julie Abe. Narrator Caitlin Kelly did a great job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook. If a fantasy tale about defying expectations and creating your own path in the world sounds like something you would enjoy, then visit Eva Evergreen’s world today! I’m excited to be able to revisit the world in Julie Abe’s most recent novel, Alliana Girl of Dragons (a separate storyline set in the same world) as well as the sequel Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch.  

About the Book

Sometimes all you need is a pinch of magic...

Eva Evergreen is determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before she turns thirteen years old. If she doesn't, she'll lose her magic forever. For most young witches and wizards, it's a simple enough test:

ONE: Help your town, do good all around.
TWO: Live there for one moon, don't leave too soon.
THREE: Fly home by broomstick, the easiest of tricks.

The only problem? Eva only has a pinch of magic. She summons heads of cabbage instead of flowers and gets a sunburn instead of calling down rain. And to add insult to injury, whenever she overuses her magic, she falls asleep.

When she lands on the tranquil coastal town of Auteri, the residents expect a powerful witch, not a semi-magical girl. So Eva comes up with a plan: set up a magical repair shop to aid Auteri and prove she's worthy. She may have more blood than magic, but her "semi-magical fixes" repair the lives of the townspeople in ways they never could have imagined. Only, Eva's bit of magic may not be enough when the biggest magical storm in history threatens the town she's grown to love. Eva must conjure up all of the magic, bravery, and cleverness she can muster or Auteri and her dreams of becoming a witch will wash away with the storm. 

About the Author

Julie Abe is the author of the EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH middle grade fantasy series; the middle grade fantasy ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and the young adult novel THE CHARMED LIST. She has lived in Silicon Valley, spent many humid summers in Japan, and currently basks in the sunshine of Southern California with never enough books or tea. Keep up with Julie’s latest books and adventures at instagram.com/julieabebooks or sign up for her newsletter at julieabebooks.com/newsletter.

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