REVIEW Ruby Road (Crossroad Chronicles Book #3) by BR Kingsolver

Ruby Road (Crossroad Chronicles Book 3) 

by B.R. Kingsolver
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: February 19, 2023
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) 

Check out my review of book one in the series, Family Ties

Check out my review of book two in the series, Night Market

BR Kingsolver’s books have always been one of my favorite indie urban fantasy reads, and her Crossroad Chronicles books are no exception. However, the latest installment, Ruby Road, didn’t have quite the same impact as the first two books in the series. 

Diana Smith is a ‘Walker’ or a magical being with the ability to walk between worlds. By day, she’s a jeweler and a blacksmith working at the Crossroads, the largest marketplace in any of the known worlds. However, when adventure comes knocking in the form of her ex-lover promising the motherlode of all scores, Diana can’t resist the temptation and signs up for the ride. 

My favorite part about this series is worldbuilding. With Diana’s ‘Walker’ powers, readers get to explore different worlds through her eyes. They are also exposed to various different magical talents that exist throughout the various worlds (for example, Diana is earth magic that allows her to sense the presence of minerals and stones below the surface). We also get to meet a whole host of characters who possess said powers - my favorite characters in this book in particular were Diana’s mom and Lanya. 

While the characters and worldbuilding were definite highlights, I was very confused by the storyline and some of the actions that the characters took. For example, Diana is a complete badass but she seems to lack a basic sense of self preservation. She knows her ex is a douche bag with a penchant for getting those around him into trouble, but she doesn’t seem to take that into consideration when planning her trip with him. At the very least, one would think that she would want more information or would make more of an emergency escape plan. But, no, she doesn’t. 

Overall, Ruby Road was an entertaining read with some minor issues. I’m unsure whether or not this completes the series, but I do think the author tied up all the story threads nicely. I would recommend the book (and the larger series) to urban fantasy readers who like authors like Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, or Lisa Shearin. 

About the Author

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.

Interested in other books by BR Kingsolver? Check out my reviews here!

REVIEW Night Market (Crossroad Chronicles Book 2) by BR Kingsolver

Night Market (Crossroad Chronicles Book 2) by BR Kingsolver
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Release Date: August 28, 2022
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Night Market by BR Kingsolver, the second book in the Crossroad Chronicles series and the sequel to Family Ties, is another entertaining and engaging urban fantasy title. If you like the author’s other series The Rift Chronicles or Rosie O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar and Grill, then I think you’ll enjoy these books. At the time of writing this review, it’s available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited (so make sure you check it out if you’re a member). 

In my review for Family Ties, I asked the universe for a book that focused more on Karina (Diana’s sister), and my wish was granted. In this book, Karina asks her sister for help as she is hunting a rare and powerful tome that was stolen from the Great Library. Together, they work towards finding it, bringing them to the shady and secretive Night Market at the Great Marketplace of the Crossroads of the Worlds. 

The character development in this book is fun. Despite being nearly identical, Karina and Diana couldn’t be more different. Diana is a warrior who wears her hair short, loves working with her hands, and is more interested in common sense and comfort than vanity. Karina, on the other hand, is a scholar who loves her books, has a bit of a highborn attitude at times, and can be prone to superficial tendencies (Diana had to make her sister tone down one of her glamors before they went out disguised as common folk). This makes me even more excited to learn about their parents - I’m really hoping we get to see more of them soon. I want to learn more about their abilities, and how that played into the various abilities their children inherited. 

The world building was interesting in this book. Instead of learning about different worlds, BR Kingsolver introduces readers more to each of the world’s inhabitants. Diana and Karina come across many people in their hunt for the book - I appreciated the variety of species that were covered. It was also interesting to learn about the different cultures of the worlds they Walked through. There are multiple mini-lessons interspersed throughout the book that covers the level of technology each world has, as well as their system of government and the types of magic users they may encounter. With the sheer scope of worldbuilding in Night Market, it is understandably a bit hard to go in-depth into everything so that was a disappointment as a reader. I have loads of questions about things like the Kaminesky scale that I want to be answered! 

In my opinion, Night Market is an enjoyable installment to the Crossroad Chronicles series, and to BR Kingsolver’s larger catalog of works. There were some minor issues, but nothing that seriously impacted my enjoyment of the read or that would convince me to not read future installments (I’m hoping that all three siblings will work together in future books and that maybe their parents will make a larger appearance). I would recommend this book to adult urban fantasy readers, especially if you enjoy books by Patricia Briggs, Lisa Shearin, or Ilona Andrews.

About the Book

I was blissfully ignorant of a book, usually translated into Human languages as The Gospels of Satan, until it was stolen from the Great Library.

My twin sister, a Senior Scholar, showed up at my door and asked me to help her retrieve the cursed book. It’s magical, priceless, and in the wrong hands might be dangerous.

It could be anywhere in thousands of Worlds, but the logical place for the thieves to sell it is the Great Marketplace at the Crossroads of the Worlds. Not out in the open, but in the shadows known as the Night Market, where the buyers and sellers don’t mind disposing of a body or two.

About the Author

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.

Interested in other books by BR Kingsolver? Check out my reviews here!

REVIEW Family Ties (Crossroad Chronicles Book 1) by BR Kingsolver

Family Ties (Crossroad Chronicles Book 1) 

by BR Kingsolver
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: February 27, 2022
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) 

Family Ties, the first book in the Crossroad Chronicles series by BR Kingsolver, is a new entertaining and engaging urban fantasy release. If you like the author’s other series The Rift Chronicles or Rosie O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar and Grill, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. 

The main characters in this book are all very headstrong; I love how BR Kingsolver’s books feature badass fierce heroines. Diana reminded me a lot of the main characters from other series, like Danica James (The Rift Chronicles) and Libby Nelson (Chameleon Assassin). I was quite amused by the dynamic between Diana and her siblings in this book. I would love to see more of a spotlight on Karina (Diana’s sister)  in future installments of the series; I would also love to see some action scenes featuring the triplets' mom (from all accounts in the book, it seems like she’s a superpowered badass elf). 

Worldbuilding has always been one of my favorite parts of any of BR Kingsolver’s books. The author took that to another level with Family Ties, given that the main character and her family are Walkers (magical beings who can literally walk between worlds). It was fun to get to explore different worlds on Diana’s travels - I hope future books explore even more worlds. I was also very intrigued by the magic system and how the inheritance of power works (especially for half breeds). This book is all about political intrigue, and as the name suggests it's even more complicated with the family aspect. 

Overall, another amazing urban fantasy read from BR Kingsolver (though I don’t think there’s been a book she’s written that I haven't enjoyed). I would recommend this book to fans of Patricia Briggs or Lisa Shearin. I look forward to reading future installments in the Crossroad Chronicles series (though it was unclear in the book as to when they may be coming out, given that the author is also working on the Wicklow College of Arcane Arts series).

About the Author

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.

Interested in other books by BR Kingsolver? Check out my reviews here!