ARC Review - Darkness Unknown by S. A. Fenech

Darkness Unknown by S. A. Fenech

(Beshadowed #1)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal. 

You have been lied to.

Werewolves, vampires, ghosts … they aren’t what you think.

After the death of her mother, Everly Boderleth has to go back to her spooky hometown, Shroudhaven, and she has a plan to get in and out as quick as possible.

Step one, clear out the family home and antique store. Step two, watch her childhood sweetheart die violently at the hands of a horrific creature.

Wait, what?

That wasn't part of the plan. But it was just a dream, wasn't it? As the evidence mounts that what she saw was real, a broken heart is the least of her problems. Everly thinks she's close to the truth, but nothing is as it seems.

What is really lurking in the dark?

Darkness Unknown is the first book in the Beshadowed series by S.A. Fenech. If you're looking for shifters with a twist, urban fantasy with a touch of horror, and a satisfying mystery, you'll love Beshadowed.

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Book Depository

I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout and this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this new paranormal mystery with a fresh take on supernatural creatures. Featuring a spooky town full of creepy monsters, and a mysterious estate on the hill, which is definitely not full of vampires lol. If you’re looking for a fun, spooky read for Halloween - that’s not too scary - with plenty of supernatural mystery, then this is the perfect read!

TTT: Book Covers With Spring Vibes

 Time for another Top Ten Tuesday: Brought to you by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

It's Spring Time!

It's already getting warm and sunny again here in Aus, the days are getting longer, so here are some books (from my TBR) that remind me of the pretty colours of a spring sunset. 

Book Review - Brimstone Bound by Helen Harper, a Magical Whodunnit

Brimstone Bound by Helen Harper

(Firebrand #1)

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery

A werewolf killer. A paranormal murder. How many times can Emma Bellamy cheat death?

I’m one placement away from becoming a fully fledged London detective. It’s bad enough that my last assignment before I qualify is with Supernatural Squad. But that’s nothing compared to what happens next.

Brutally murdered by an unknown assailant, I wake up twelve hours later in the morgue – and I’m very much alive. I don’t know how or why it happened. I don’t know who killed me. All I know is that they might try again.

Werewolves are disappearing right, left and centre.

A mysterious vampire seems intent on following me everywhere I go.

And I have to solve my own vicious killing. Preferably before death comes for me again.

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Book Depository | Available in KU

*Affiliate links

Overall Thoughts

This book has all the elements that I like, but for some reason left me feeling a little underwhelmed. I’m not quite sure what it was, maybe it was the missing romance (though we have been promised a very slow-burn, once we get rid of the annoying boyfriend of course). Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. I still liked it, and I think writing this review made me like it more, is that normal? The last series I read by this author was really funny, and this didn’t have the same vibe, being a murder mystery and all, but I’m really looking forward to finding out more about this new mystical world. 

Loads to enjoy:

• An MC with the “unusual ability to un-die”
• Mysterious vampire crime-solving companion.
• Three seemingly unrelated but very fishy deaths. 
• Werewolf and vampire and police politics.
• Creative London setting. 
• A crossbow wielding detective. Now that's what I'm talking 'bout!

TTT: Books on my Spring 2020 TBR

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday: Brought to you by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR

AKA: A long list of books, of which I'll probably read 5 before I get distracted by something new and shiny. Wish me luck!

New Releases I will attempt to make time for:

Midnight Kisses (Shifter Island Book 1) by Leia Stone and Raye Wagner (pre-ordered)

Infernal Enchantment (Firebrand Book 2) by Helen Harper (pre-ordered and I'll be posting my review of Book 1 Brimstone Bound in a couple days)

Book Review - Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao

Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao

(Blood Heir Trilogy #1)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.

When Ana’s father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father’s murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is at work—one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to its core: Ramson Quicktongue.

A cunning crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson has sinister plans—though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Book Depository

Overall Thoughts

I enjoyed this book from the very beginning, which involves a hectic escape from prison with loads of blood, and gore and death, but in a really cool way! The MC, Ana’s memories are mixed into the first few chapters and throughout the book, which I really liked. I always loved the Anastasia myth, so I really enjoyed the elements of it in this story. The old timey Russian setting was fun as well. All the descriptions of snow and freezing rivers made me feel very cozy here in Australia. I love the characters in this, and the magic is really cool. It also deals with some pretty grim themes like prejudice and human trafficking. I have to say I’m a little disappointed that Ana didn’t just go nuts with her magic at the end and kill all the bad guys for an instant win, but I guess that would have been a bit too easy, and also bloody. I’m looking forward to some more bloodshed and twisty plots in the sequel! 

“I suppose we are all heroes in our own eyes, and monsters in the eyes of those who are different.”

Book Tour - A Chip on Her Shoulder by R. J. Blain

A Chip on Her Shoulder by R. J. Blain
(Magical Romantic Comedies #11)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

After a deal with loan sharks sours, Darlene’s brother is permanently transformed into a chipmunk. Not one to accept impossibility as a good excuse for failure, she’s determined to rescue her brother and secure revenge against those who’d poisoned him with grade-a transformatives.

If she wants to perform a miracle, she’ll need to join forces with a divine, but the man upstairs and his angels refuse to help.

None of the other so-called benevolent divines are willing to help her, either.

Running out of time and options, Darlene prepares to storm the gates of hell for her brother.

She never expected to fall in love with the Devil.

Warning: this novel contains a woman with a chip on her shoulder, humor, and one hell of a hero. Proceed with caution.

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon AU | Book Depository

Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours for letting me join the tour and for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Check out the other posts from the tour here.

Overall Thoughts

This book was not what I expected. I went into it thinking I was getting a typical Urban Fantasy with lots of action and magic and ass-kicking. It wasn’t. It was, as described, a magical romantic comedy. Unfortunately this meant that I took quite a while to get into it, and to get used to the writing style, which is also pretty different from my normal reads. I did end up warming up to the characters and enjoying it in the end. This is number 11 in the series, and since I haven’t read any of the others, I was worried about missing things, but I really didn’t. At times I felt like I may have been missing some world-building, but the characters and the story are pretty well self-contained. I thought it was a quirky take on angels and demons. Overall I had fun with the characters, especially because the MC Darlene is a snow-leopard shifter, which is my favourite animal! 

TTT: Books That Make Me Hungry

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday: Brought to you by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Books That Make Me Hungry

For this week I have a mixture of books with yummy food on the cover, as well as books that feature yummy food.

1. Cupcakes, Trinkets and Other Deadly Magic

Wrapping Up August | September TBR

August Wrap-Up

Books I finished reading this month (or will very very soon). Titles link to reviews. 

     

 Currently Reading:

I'm also participating in a Blog Tour for this on 8th September, so come and check it out!

I'm Reading Next:

Book Review - Hereditary by Jane Washington

Hereditary by Jane Washington
(Beatrice Harrow #1)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Young Adult, High Fantasy
[Content warning for sexual assault]

“What is the most powerful force in the world?”
Beatrice Harrow was raised in seclusion, separated from the Read Kingdom and protected from the mysterious mechanisms of the other four races, but they are not as blind to her as she is to them. Even before she steps foot inside the Academy, they know her name and they know the truth about her birth. She is one of the Tainted: a mixed-breed creature with the blood of a monster, clinging to legitimacy by the genes of her human father. She is more beautiful, more powerful, and more despised than any other being in the Read Kingdom.

Her life was never going to be easy, but when fate throws her together with Cale, the troublemaking son of her father’s sworn enemy, and Hazen, the intimidating crown prince of the Read Kingdom, she quickly discovers that her problems haven’t even begun.

In a world built on status, there are lines that can never be crossed.

In a time of peace, it is inevitable that war will whisper on the wind once again.

In a land of mixed blood, a Tainted Creature can either be killed … or they can be recruited.

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Book Depository | Available in KU

Bea’s mother was a Synfee, one of the Tainted Creatures. Beautiful, evil, immortal and possibly cannibalistic, the Synfee steal powers from other races who hate and fear them. So Bea has lived in isolation her whole life because people think she’s a monster. That is until her powers become too unruly and unpredictable, and she is sent to the Academy. With a mix of elemental, glamour, compulsion and caster magic, the Professors don’t know what to do with her so she gets teamed up with Hazen - the Crown Prince who can read minds - and Cale - a General’s son with equally rare magic.

"every nightmarish quality the synfees possessed was a product of something pure, pushed past the boundaries of its own purity by the strength of the twisted synfee magic"

Book Review - Two Witches and a Whiskey + Mini Review

Two Witches and a Whiskey by Annette Marie

(Guild Codex: Spellbound #3)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Three months ago, I landed a job as a bartender. But not at a bar—at a guild. Yeah, the magic kind.

I'm not a badass mage like my three smokin' hot best friends. I'm not a sorcerer or an alchemist, or even a wussy witch. I'm just a human, slinging drinks like a pro and keeping my non-magical nose out of mythic business. Seriously, I know my limits.

So why am I currently standing in a black-magic ritual circle across from a fae lord?

Somewhere behind me, my three mage friends are battling for their lives. Somewhere near my feet is the rogue witch I just knocked out with a stolen spell. And I have about five seconds to convince this very angry sea god not to shmoosh me like a bug.

I'm pretty sure this wasn't part of the job description.

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Book Depository | Available in KU

Have you started the series yet? If not, go here:
Three Mages and a Margarita | Dark Arts and a Daiquiri

OK so Tori has put herself into mortal peril - again, but for reals this time, she might actually die if the guild (or Zak) can’t fix this horrible mess. Oh Tori, what have you gone and done now? 

This girl is so so good at getting herself into trouble. Well I guess that’s what happens when you’re an impulsive, fearless human who works at a magical guild and hangs out with bounty hunting mythics.

I think this is my favourite in the series so far. Just so much wow. More druid, more fae, more life threatening situations than you can poke a stick at!