REVIEW: Three Kinds of Lucky (The Shadow Age #1) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Petra Grady is a Sweeper first-class. While she doesn't have magic of her own, she has the uncanny ability to see and handle dross—the disruptive, magical waste generated by the Mages' spell work. Sweepers have always been treated as second-class citizens by the Mages—janitors put on this earth to clean up their mess. But fortunately, Petra's got a few other hidden tricks up her sleeve. Until her life is turned on its head by the sexy, exasperating Benedict Strom with his research project to render the Mages' dross inactive and innocuous, which just might make the Sweepers obsolete.

I've been a fan of Kim Harrison's books since the Hollows (Rachel Morgan) series, so I jumped on this book, hoping that some fresh blood and a new series would reignite my passion. I found there was a lot to like, along with a couple things I didn't.

Like The Hollows series, I thoroughly enjoy the complex, original magical worlds that Kim Harrison creates, even though I found this magic system a little harder to grasp. I kept mixing up the differences between the types of dross, which attracts the shadow, and how shadow comes to be in the first place. So yeah, if you're looking for complex, this is it! It wasn't as playful and fun as The Hollows—but then again, Pluck is no Jenks. But enough for comparisons... this is an entirely new series and from here on out, I plan to review it that way.

Before I go on about all the fantastic elements of this story, let me get out of the way a couple things that didn't jive with me: First was the fact that the lab was planning to test on live animals... and second, killing off Petra's dog!! Seriously??!! 😱 Sure, he came back as Shadow, but there's a reason I don't read books like Old Yeller.

Throughout the book, I really jived with the analogy of the Mages and their discarded dross to the gravely polluted world we live in today. Oblivious people leaving behind their junk while expecting others to clean up after them. It's that same sense of superiority and entitlement where it's always someone else's problem, not theirs.

As the main character, Petra is smart and resourceful, a kickass, take-charge kind of gal. The magical world she lives in, kept hidden from the mundanes, is complex yet intriguing. Her counterpart, Benedict, sounds yummy, and while the relationship between the two was initially fraught with tension, I'm anxious to see how it plays out given that her feelings towards him see-saw quite a bit throughout the tale.

That said, I did find the writing to be a bit sloppy with some inconsistencies and contradictory info, but that's probably just because I was reading an uncorrected ARC, so I'm assuming all those will be ironed out in the final draft.

Overall, a wonderful new world from the mind of Kim Harrison, and another kickass heroine to love. Looking forward to more!

This book releases March 5, 2024, but you can preorder it at Amazon, or enter for a chance to win one of 50 Kindle copies at Goodreads (giveaway ends 3/3/24).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance readers copy of this book for review. While I received it free of charge, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

#ThreeKindsofLucky #NetGalley

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REVIEW: The Eleventh Hour by Aminah Fox

My Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Harry Potter meets the Sopranos! Hampshire, a magical borough in upstate New York, home to several noble families, and invisible to mundanes, aka non-magical people. A long-brewing war between the families has reached its pinnacle and courted death and destruction in it's wake. In a last ditch attempt to save her father and restore order, Hermione Mandrake and her half-brother Christian take up their grandfather's time trinket, with a plan to steal away into the past in order to redirect the future. But with enemies still on their tail, can they truly turn back the hands of time?

When I first began reading, I had difficulty staying engaged. The characters, even the MC, felt a bit flat and one dimensional. And I had a hard time keeping all the different families straight, not to mention all the children (and bastards) Alfred Mandrake fathered. Fortunately, the latter was rectified by a family tree of sorts at the back of the book, and I eventually came to realize that it wasn't as important to remember ALL the families, just a few key ones, which began to stick with me after a little while. By about the 30% mark, I was sold and began to enjoy the ride. The story itself was unique and magical, and if you like the thought of magical mafia-like families, waging war with wands and on dragon-back, then you should really enjoy this.

I did feel a few inconsistencies with the MC Hermione however. For example, supposedly she was no good at charms, yet she bested several magicians trying to abduct her, often taking on 2 or 3 at a time, after just a week or so of training. I also never really warmed up to her that much. It was hard to grasp what she was really all about. The only real feel I got from her was her devotion to her father and her family, but she felt a bit shallow beyond that. Fortunately, once they traveled into the past and the action picked up, I forgot about some of those things and became invested in how everything played out.

Thank you to NetGalley and 22nd Light LLC for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#TheEleventhHour #NetGalley

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REVIEW: The Witch With No Name (The Hollows #13) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

The final book of the Hollows series.... or so it was at the time The Witch With No Name was published back in 2014. But alas, a return to the Hollows is forthcoming with the release of American Demon this summer. Woohoo! I've already got my preorder in and ready to roll. :)

This 13th and "final" book brought a decade's worth of massive world building and mega-delicious storytelling to a close with such a satisfying conclusion that I truly never would've believed there'd be any kind of reprisal or return. But 6 years—and probably tons of clamoring, enthusiastic fans—later and voila! Rachel and the gang are coming baaaaaack!! w00t w00t!!

I had a challenging time summing this one up, seeing as it's the culmination of a decade's worth of awesome-ness. So in closing this major chapter, I'm going to borrow a quote from the publisher's description. They summed it up so succinctly that I'd rather not have to reword it, lest this review sit undone another 3 months. LOL

Rachel Morgan's come a long way from the clutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more. But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now...

Yup, the whirlwind world of Rachel Morgan has always been a nonstop ride of saving the world and facing down all the monsters—both human and Inderland. And now it's time for her to save Ivy's soul—something she's been promising to do throughout most of the series anyway—as well as the rest of the living vampires. If she doesn't, the link to the ever after will be irrecoverably severed and the infrastructure as we know it fall apart.

That's a lot of pressure to dump on one girl's shoulders! Why is it always Rachel who's expected to save the world? If you have to ask it's only because you haven't been following the series... it's because she's such a badass rockstar and the only one who can!

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REVIEW: Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Into the Woods is a collection of short stories from the Hollows and beyond. While many of these stories take place in the Hollows universe, others are from a completely new world, engaging nonetheless.

Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison
Read 6/8–6/9/06 & 10/12–10/13/19
This is Ivy's story, before she meets Rachel and Jenks and starts Vampiric Charms. We learn a lot more about what makes Ivy tick, and how she comes to her decision to live blood-free as a living vampire. I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as the full-length novels because I missed having Rachel and Jenks too, but still, I appreciate this story for what it is... a deeper look into Ivy's life pre-Rachel. :)
Rating: 7 stars

Dirty Magic by Kim Harrison
Read 10/14/19
This short story takes place in Kim Harrison's Hollows universe. Mia is a banshee previously introduced in the short story Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil. This is her story... I understand she's to become a major antagonist in the full-length Black Magic Sanction (book 8) so this is a good look into what makes her tick. I found it quite interesting and look forward to delving deeper into her character in an upcoming novel.
Rating: 7 stars

The Bridges of Eden Park by Kim Harrison
Read 10/18/19
A short tribute to Kisten, this short story actually takes place prior to For A Few Demons More. We briefly meet Kisten's sister Chrissie, who's ex-boyfriend is after her son. Rachel steps in to help and save the day. It's a decent story, quite short, but gives a brief glimpse into Kisten's feeling about children and shows him as a kind and tender soul.
Rating: 7 stars

Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel
Read 10/27 – 10/30/19
This is Rachel's story, before she joined the I.S. We get to meet Rachel's brother, Robbie whom we've heard about in the books. And we learn a little more about what makes Rachel tick and what prompted her decision to join the I.S. (before she eventually left with Ivy). At 84 pages long, this was more of a novella than a short story, and that made it even better... more time to flesh everything out. And the story about the ghost and how things go wrong is true Rachel. Loved this one! <3 Rating: 9 stars

Bespelled
Read 10/21/19
This is a short story that gives us more insight into the demon Algaliarept, "lovingly" referred to as Al throughout the series. This is pre-Ceri and we get to learn what makes him tick and how he came to be the demon he is today. Perfect timing to read it right after The Outlaw Demon Wails due to the major turning point taking place in that book. NO SPOILERS! :p
Rating: 8 stars

Ley Line Drifter
Read 12/7 - 12/9/19
This was a fun little Jenks and Bis short story, with a short Ivy appearance. Jenks takes on a job on his own and proves he's more than just a sidekick. And if I didn't already love Bis, this story would indeed win me over! We are introduced to a Dryad named Daryl who is mentioned in some later Hollows novels.
Rating: 8 stars

Million-Dollar Baby
Read 2/2/20 - 2/3/20
Remember in Pale Demon when Trent went off with Jenks on his elf quest? Well, this is that story... In it, we get to see Trent's self-doubt that he will be able to properly care for Lucy, his love for her the moment he set eyes on her, and his deep inner feelings on wanting to become a better person—one that doesn't turn to murder first when faced with trouble. We have really begun to see an entirely different side of Trent over the last couple books (Pale Demon & A Perfect Blood) and this story really brings all that home!
Rating: 7 stars

Non-Hollows Shorts

Pet Shop Boys
Read 2/8/20
This is the first of 4 non-Hollows-related short stories, and even though there was no Rachel, Ivy, or Jenks, Harrison's writing style still made it a joy to read nonetheless. The depiction of the darker side of Fairies—similar to blood-sucking vampires—is something that usually remains hidden from the eyes of most humans. Until one stumbles through the veil one night and has to fight for his life to escape!
Rating: 8 stars

Temson Estates
Read 2/8/20
This was a short 15 page story, but was a different take on dryads from what Ms. Harrison portrayed in Ley Line Drifter. An interesting read!
Rating: 6 stars

Spider Silk
Read 2/9/20
I really liked this story--which actually read more like the first few chapters of a book--since it definitely left me hanging at the end! I really would've liked to find out what happened to Kevin for one. I sincerely hope that Ms. Harrison considers taking this story further and gives us a full book, perhaps even jumping forward into Meg's adulthood, as I really enjoyed this glimpse.

The portrayal of the Dryad here is fierce but kind, loving yet cruel... it reminded me more of the Fae than any Dryad I've ever read about, the only minor difference being that they could be imprisoned within living trees—which I suppose is what makes them Dryad.
Rating: 8 stars

Grace
Read 3/17/20 - 3/18/20
A bit of a different take on magic, which focuses more on the transfer of energy and imbalances in the body, versus its usual association with witches or other Inderlander species like in the Hollows series. Throws, as they're known, have an imbalance of energy in their body such that they can do all sorts of things from shorting out electrical equipment to restarting someone's heart. But with all that power comes a need to control it, and that's where the Strand comes in. Grace is one such throw, having been discovered by the Strand in her mid teens and now working among their ranks—for anyone that refuses to work within the system must undergo a procedure to have it the "imbalance" burned out of them. Kinda like a lobotomy! So yeah, this is energy manipulation without any of the spiritual or magical stuff that goes along with it.

I found it an interesting angle, though I'm predisposed to enjoy the paranormal side of things more so than the science, so I can't say I liked it quite as much.
Rating: 7 stars


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REVIEW: The Undead Pool (The Hollows #12) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

When The Undead Pool was originally published back in 2014, it was planned that the series would come to a close after 13 books. This being book 12 would indicate we're nearing the end of the story arc. But woohoo! Ms. Harrison is publishing a return to the Hollows book later this year titled American Demon so hopefully we won't be saying goodbye to Rachel and Jenks for some time yet. :)

In The Undead Pool, Rachel is again out to save the world, with Trent right by her side. I don't want to give away too much, but if you've been watching the relationship (or previous lack thereof) between Rachel and Trent, you'll definitely be surprised how things develop here. Suffice to say, I was gleefully happy with the direction it's taken. ;)

Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series—fun, fast-paced, and exciting. Highly recommended!! But definitely start with Book 1, Dead Witch Walking.

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REVIEW: Ever After (The Hollows #11) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

Wow! While this one started off a little slower than the last few novels, it quickly picked up speed and became a fast-paced read I had a hard time putting down.

The demon's world of Ever After is shrinking—slowly at first but then rather quickly—as a genetically modified day-walking demon set on revenge is attempting to do everything in his power to bring Rachel down—and have her take the blame for his trying to bring an end to the demon world.

Despite all the demon's calling for her blood, Rachel is doing everything she can to stop the demise and force the blame where it should rightly be—on Ku-Sox's shoulders. But with the time limit fast approaching, the genetically modified demon will do anything to stop her—even if it means taking out everyone who stands in his way!


Also included at the end of the book was the short story, Trouble on Reserve:
A quick little short story of Rachel and Trent on a job that should actually come AFTER Ever After—not before—as evidenced by the girls being with Ellasbeth, plus the mention of a half-drunk confession. So while the copyright date on this short story appears to be a year earlier than Ever After (2012 vs 2013), Ms. Harrison obviously rewrote parts so that it clearly fit AFTER, and thus more precisely as a short story at the end of that novel.

That said, this particular story seemed to come to an abrupt end with no resolution... who knows, maybe it'll all be brought to light in The Undead Pool—the next full-length novel in the series.

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REVIEW: The Hollows Insider (The Hollows #9.5) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

LOVED IT!!! ❤❤❤

Devin Crossman is a reporter/blogger for The Hollows Gazette who's got an axe to grind with one Rachel Morgan. After one of her spells goes awry on the bus while trying to catch an escaping Were, Mr. Crossman ends up losing all his hair! Hey, it eventually grows back so no harm, no foul, right? But he won't let it die and is determined to bring Rachel down, using all the resources at his disposal to dig up all the dirt he can find on Rachel, Trent, and anyone else in her life!

The book is laid out in a dossier format—with file folders, post-its, and taped in cards and pages—really fun to read! And while it isn't really a story in the true sense of the word, a story is indeed being told through its pages. We discover some little known facts about Rachel and the gang, get some reminders about some of the important points in her life, and even get a map of the Hollows and downtown Cincinnati. We've also got several interoffice notes and memos between Trent and Quen, and Trent and Jonathan, obviously dug up somehow by the reporter, and through this, we also come to understand how or why certain events that took place in the book happened.

I'm really glad I grabbed the print version of this book—hardcover actually—as I'm not sure it would be readable on the Kindle... maybe on a Fire where you could read it in full color and have full-size pages, but don't even think of trying to read it on an e-ink device like the Paperwhite or Voyage... the latter being what I own. But I totally loved it and plan to hang onto it as a keepsake for one of my favorite series of all time!

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REVIEW: A Perfect Blood (The Hollows #10) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

A powerful underground hate group that targets Inderlanders has resurfaced, and you can bet Rachel's on their radar! But they've changed the rules, and now magic is their weapon instead of their enemy. While Rachel has successfully faced off against all manner of Inderland species—vampire, werewolf, banshee, and more—this group of supernatural-hating humans, with their never-ending supply of resources and funding, is proving to be quite tough to handle!

After the events of the previous book, and Trent's elven quest, Rachel and Trent have finally moved past their adversarial relationship and are beginning to trust one another... possibly even become friends, if you can believe it! w00t w00t! And if you read the version of this book with the bonus chapter, you'll even get to read a separate chapter 19 from Trent's POV. It's quite enlightening to say the least.

This was one of my favorites in the series thus far... although I feel like I've been saying that for the last couple of books at least. But seriously, as this series begins to draw to a close (or will it?) things are getting really juicy!


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REVIEW: Pale Demon (The Hollows #9) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

What do you get when a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy go on a cross-country road trip? One rip-roaring hell of a ride, that's for sure! But as a new day-walking demon is unleashed, can Rachel learn to embrace her demon side in order to save those she loves?

While battling some new and usual villains, this particular installment in the series focuses a lot on Rachel's relationships, including the heretofore strained relationship she's always had with Trent... and I totally loved where all this was going! So hard to put this down!

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REVIEW: Black Magic Sanction (The Hollows #8) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Rachel is again running for her life, this time from her own kind. The Coven of Moral & Ethical Standards, the powerful force that polices all witches, is convinced Rachel's a black witch and is determined to take her down.

But Rachel's not one to let a public shunning, fairy assassins, or the burning of her church get her down—she comes back kicking ass and taking names!

This pulse-pounding romp through the Hollows is book number 8 in the series, and it's been one of the best and most complex thus far. We not only discover a great deal about the witches' origins, but we finally understand more of what makes Rachel so different. Sooo looking forward to Number 9 !!!

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REVIEW: White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows #7) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

The past has come back to haunt Rachel—in more ways than one—and the new banshee in town isn't making things any easier! While doing battle with the emotion and aura-sucking banshee (similar to an energy vampire), Rachel finally starts to remember what happened that fateful night on the Kisten's boat.

So many things going on, making this a nonstop, edge-of-your-seat ride with Rachel & the gang… and Al too! One of the best in the series to date!

BookCrossing journal page for this book
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REVIEW: The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows #6) by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

Another great read in the Hollows series! The demon Al wants is being summoned out of the ever-after to kill Rachel and as usual, she's thriving on the adrenaline rush! When she willingly takes a trip into the ever-after to save her own ass and those she cares about, little does she know how much of a 360 her life is about to take!

I love reading these books—the action is always nonstop and the characters so well fleshed out! Rachel is so good at kicking ass and taking names—all while being completely human and screwing up along the way!

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REVIEW: For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

As usual, Rachel is up to her usual stunts, thriving on chaos. This time around, however, she's starting to wonder if her luck's about to run out! With demons running rampant through her church, Piscary released from prison, and people dropping dead around her, she knows it's only a matter of time until she's next... unless she can get protection from the master vampire that wants her dead!

This is the 5th book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I love this series and coming back to it after some time away has definitely rekindled my love of reading. The characters are always crisp, fresh, and funny. Bunny kiss kiss! <3

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REVIEW: Claimed (Servants of Fate #2) by Sarah Fine

My Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Claimed is the second book in the Servants of Fate trilogy and picks up pretty much right where Marked leaves off. Here, we move to Galena and Dec as the main characters, instead of Eli and Cacia.

While I thought Marked was unique and interesting in it's world building, the magic had worn off by the time I got to book 2. I'm not much into romance and this one was just a bit too much for me. Parts of the story seemed forced, and while I found it a bit tedious at times, I finished reading it nonetheless, simply because there was enough action going on to keep me entertained.

However, I'm not into it enough to want to read the final book... or am I? Honestly, I've got too many other good books waiting here for me to waste my time on mediocre. Sorry Ms. Fine, but your work just isn't doing it for me.

That said, this got lots of good reviews, and those who like a lot of romance in their stories may like it better than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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REVIEW: Marked (Servants of Fate #1) by Sarah Fine

My Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Cacia and her family are Ferrys. Not only is that their last name, but it's also their part-time occupation. ;) When someone passes on, the Ferrys are responsible for transporting them from the the in-between to their final destination, whether that be Heaven or Hell. The Ferrys have their nemesis—the Kere—who are the reapers. They are the ones that mark people for Death—not of their own accord, but via an order that comes from above, namely the Fates who weave the fabric of life. All this works as it should... most of the time.

Eli Margolis and his sister Galena arrive in future Boston from the barren wasteland of Pittsburgh. Galena has been offered a very prestigious research position at Harvard University, working on the cure to all infectious diseases. But her research could put a huge dent in the profits of the Ferrys and the Kere, a rogue Ker is determined to put a stop to it!

The author built a very unique world here, unlike any other fantasy/paranormal books I've come across. It definitely falls into the paranormal romance genre however, so there were some intimate scenes that seemed a bit forced and out of place. One can ignore that as they delve into the fascinating world the author has created here. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

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REVIEW: Crucible Zero: A House Immortal Novel (Book 3) by Devon Monk

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My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

The final book in the House Immortal trilogy brings things to close with a bang. Like the first two books in the trilogy, House Immortal and Infinity Bell, Crucible Zero picks up right where the previous book left off, so I'd recommend to read them all three together if you can. I myself re-read the first two book quickly before starting this one since it'd been almost 2 years since I was last immersed in this crazy, wonderful world.

An innovating change from the numerous vampire and werewolf tales dominating the genre, Matilda and the other galvanized are a sort of Frankenstein creation—immortal, intensely strong, and stitched together from numerous body parts.

Having just returned from the past, where she met up with her great-great-and-then-some grandfather to convince him to change the calculations of an experiment performed long ago that caused a break in time, Matilda now finds herself in a new reality that is not nearly the same as the one she left behind. But just as her reality is altered, so are the people she once knew. Gone is the heroic, ruggedly handsome Abraham, a galvanized she's got a lot of heat with, and in his place is Abraham the mercenary, killer-for-hire.

Unfortunately, there's yet another thorn in her side: a man named Slater who has followed her through time and will do everything in his immense power to see Matilda and her brother Quinten dead. For Matilda knows everything Slater has done throughout time to achieve the unworldly dominance he now wields in the world, and she'll stop at nothing to bring him down.

Now if she can only convince everyone else what's going on, maybe they'll all make it out alive!

The House Immortal Trilogy is a roller coaster of action and suspense. Science fiction and urban fantasy fans who enjoy great writing, riveting action, and unique world building should definitely check this one out.

REVIEW: Infinity Bell: A House Immortal Novel (Book 2) by Devon Monk

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My Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

LOVED IT! This second book of the House Immortal trilogy was just as awesome as the first. Infinity Bell picks up right where House Immortal, the first book, left off. And like the first, it too ends on a cliffhanger (aaargh!), leaving the reader eagerly panting for the third and final book in the series, due September 2015, to wrap everything up.

Matilda Case and her brother Quinten return to their family farm, with a plan to fix time and save the the world. Quinten believes he can travel back in time to change the events that caused the break in the first place. But can such a thing really be done when one doesn't possess a little blue police box? ;) Besides, we all know that changing history can have unexpectedly drastic and dramatic consequences, right?

Caught in a race against time, and willing to do whatever necessary to save the lives of those she loves, Matilda jumps right into the heart of the matter, quite literally. With Slater Orange still on her tail, time is ticking away as Matilda struggles to set things right while trying to avoid a raving lunatic hell bent on taking everyone down with him. Can she do it? And if so, what will the world be like upon her return?

The same cast of characters from the first book, plus an interesting new addition, are back in this one and they're just as fun, strong, and exciting this time around, perhaps even more so. As the main character, Matilda is fiercely loyal, brave, and headstrong... but also kind and caring. I was completely enthralled by her and her plight. And we get to know Quinten much more in this book than we did in the first, since he was in captivity then, and he's just as brilliant as previously described... not to mention loyal and headstrong just like his sister. And Abraham... oh what can I say about Abraham except hot hot hot! The burgeoning relationship between him and Matilda is bittersweet, and I look forward to seeing how things progress between the two of them.

Heart pounding non-stop action from beginning to end, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. And beyond... as I often found myself walking into walls, bunny gates, etc. because I simply couldn't put it down. :)

Science fiction and urban fantasy fans who enjoy unique world building, riveting action, and great writing, should definitely check this one out. I do recommend reading them in order though, so House Immortal first, followed by Infinity Bell, and then pre-order Crucible Zero so it'll be waiting for you on release day. Enjoy!!

Thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: House Immortal by Devon Monk

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My Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Wow! Cliffhanger alert! Lucky thing I've got the second book, Infinity Bell, here ready and waiting to go. I'm gonna start on it next.

House Immortal is the first book in what looks to be a fantastic trilogy. Filled with strong, intriguing characters, and a very well drawn world, it's unique, original, fast paced and exciting... definitely one of my favorites reads of the year thus far!

Matilda Case isn't completely human. Although she looks mostly human for all intents and purposes, she's actually stitched together from various parts and pieces, like a modern day Frankenstein, albeit without the bolts. But her extreme strength, not to mention the stitches running along her body and down the side of her face, would give her away to anyone who looks closely enough.

In a future world where all the resources of the world are controlled by eleven powerful Houses, these stitched-together immortal beings, thirteen in number and known as the galvanized, are actually prized commodities owned by the heads of the Houses.

Matilda has remained below their radar thus far, living off the grid on a farm in the middle of nowhere, with an assortment of peculiar animals stitched together by dear old dead dad. She's not yet been claimed by any House, and her existence is known only to a select few. But all that is about to change as one very greedy head of House will go to any lengths to discover the secrets of this modern galvanized girl.

REVIEW: Unseen (Unborn #2) by Amber Lynn Natusch

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My Rating: 5 out of 10 stars

After fighting Soul Stealers in Detroit, Khara hoped to return home to find answers in her father's realm. But the land of the dead offers little information, and far too much tragedy. Now cut off from her brothers, and left only with her dark and unreliable companion Oz, Khara must navigate the centuries-old webs of deceit and betrayal, all while eluding the Underworld's most depraved inhabitant. But she soon finds an unexpected ally in her adopted sister Persephone. Together, they endeavor to right a terrible wrong. And as Khara soon discovers, there's more riding on her success than she ever thought possible.

This is the follow-up to Unborn, which I read and reviewed earlier. I didn't really care for this all that much and don't really understand all rave reviews it received on Goodreads! More than half of the story was spent with Khara running around the Underworld, seeking answers to questions from those who would rather hide the truth from her. I believe she sums it up rather nicely in her own words at the beginning of chapter 21:

It seemed as though all I had done upon my return was storm through the maze of halls in the Underworld in search of others. Others with answers that I lacked. The monotony of it was beginning to gnaw at my resolve.

Sing it, sister! I hear you loud and clear!

When Khara first returns to the Underworld, she's trying to discover the reason she was hidden away, but we've already learned in book one that any daughter born to Ares would be put to death. Is that not reason enough for her to be sent from her true parents and hidden away? Why is she not satisfied with this answer?

But then, a tragedy befalls one of her brothers, and suddenly she's got different priorities, and an entirely new set of questions she's seeking answers to. Throughout the story, Khara continues to act recklessly, disregarding any and all warnings placed in front of her. For example, after she knowingly takes all the evil souls from the Fields of Oudeis into her, she then decides to leave the Underworld, taking all these confined souls along with her. And is then surprised when something goes wrong. Ummm ya think???

The way things unfolded in this book reminded me of a sitcom, where all manner of chaos and misunderstanding ensues simply because one person neglects to tell another the full and true story. Haven't we learned by now the trouble that can come by withholding information? Isn't Khara constantly harping on Oz over that very thing? Of course, her hypocritical actions serve to drive the plot forward, but it's weak at best. And it's only about 70% in that some action finally starts to happen.

So were there any redeeming qualities to this book for me? Well, it was more fun once the real action started. I only wish it hadn't taken 200 pages to get there!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, 47North, for providing me an advance copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Unborn by Amber Lynn Natusch

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My Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Khara has spent centuries discovering everything about the Underworld―except her place in it. But when she’s ripped from her home, solving the riddle of her origins becomes more important than ever. With evil stalking her through the dark alleys of Detroit, she finds salvation from an unlikely source: a group of immortal warriors sworn to protect the city. Khara needs their help to unravel the tangled secrets of who and what she is—secrets many seem willing to kill for. But time is running out, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer necessity binds her to an arrogant fallen angel.

Can their shaky alliance withstand that which threatens her, or will her soul fall victim to the unholy forces that hunt her―those that seek the Unborn?

The premise to this story sounded pretty interesting, but the execution fell a bit short in a few areas, namely character and world building.

Khara was a denizen of the underworld, where she grew up as a ward of Hades, never knowing who her real parents were. One day, quite unexpectedly, she's taken up above ground by a Dark One and mysteriously dumped in the middle of the slums of Detroit, where she's nearly killed by someone who then claims to be her brother... which apparently he was able to figure out just by touching her, a trait that was never really explained or expanded upon. And therein lies the crux, it felt like a lot of key points were left out for the reader to figure out on their own. Not so bad in a mystery, but it made certain parts of the plot a bit muddy.

I would've liked to have gotten to know Khara a bit better too, but she felt a bit flat and one-dimensional. It wasn't just the formal speech, I get that, it made her seem more like a stranger in a strange land and all, but we never really get inside her head and find out what makes her tick. And unfortunately, the brothers came across the same way. We've got the level headed one, the caring one, the smart one, and the one that's always itching for a fight. Beyond that, we know next to nothing about them except that they work for an organization called the PC (Petronus Ceteri) that polices the supernaturals in Detroit to keep the balance.

The author then falls back on Greek mythology to tell the story about the rest of the characters and Khara's background, though none of them really play a key role in this book so far, so I guess the lack of enlightenment here's alright for now. Unlike many other first books in a series, where the author does way too much describing and set up, this one goes in the complete opposite direction and you never really get a feel for the characters or the world around them. Those were my principal problems with this book.

That said, I did like the premise of the story, as I already stated, and the Greek pantheon thrown into the mix. I'm not sure it really jived with the whole fallen angel thing, but I think I'd still be interested in reading the next book to see where it goes, especially since I have it waiting here on my TBR pile anyway. :)

Thanks to the publisher, 47North, and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.