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Archive for 'Fantasy'

Skinwalker, Audio Book

Skinwalker, Audio Book (2009) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #1) It’s been several years since I read or listened to this series. I’d mean to finish the last books then, but life happened and I just couldn’t deal with the bad things that happened in the last couple books and were likely […]

Dead Heat

Dead Heat (2015) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #4) The Arabians might not suit you; they don’t suit everyone. They are like cats: vain, beautiful, and intelligent. But you deal well enough with Asil, who is also vain, beautiful, and intelligent. “Shut your piehole, punk kid,” Max said, thumping her on the head with the […]

Fair Game

Fair Game (2012) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #3) Leslie learned two valuable things about the fae that day. They were powerful and charming—and they ate children and puppies. Asil bowed his head to Bran’s anger. “That’s why you are the Alpha and I will do anything I can to never be Alpha again.” His […]

Hunting Ground

Hunting Ground (2009) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #1) His grandfather had often told him that he tried too hard to move trees when a wiser man would walk around them. So often people got it wrong, treating their elders like children, people to be coddled and ignored. He knew better, and so did the […]

Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf (2008) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #1) “Bran, the Marrok, is going to bring the werewolves out to the public?” Her voice was hushed as if she could never imagine such a thing. “He thinks that too many of the wrong people already know,” he told her. “Science and computers have made it […]

Where Foxes Say Goodnight

Where Foxes Say Goodnight (2023) Sam Burns (Sleeping Foxes #1) Max has won awards and accolades for the semi-biographical story he wrote about his life with his grandmother, so it’s a bit of an unpleasant surprise to awakened the very next day by a lawyer on his doorstep with an NDA from the guy he […]

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, Audio Book

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, Audio Book (2019) Alexis Hall narrated by Nicholas Boulton I read this in 2020, and enjoyed it then, so when floundering for my next audiobook (I couldn’t think of a series I wanted to dive into), I went with this. First, the narrator has a marvelous voice, and did […]

Something Spectacular

Something Spectacular (2023) Alexis Hall (Something Fabulous #2) I was somewhat hesitant to read this book as I thought it was Arabella’s book, and I’m not sure I can handle an entire book with her as the main characters (Bonny was difficult enough and that book wasn’t from his point-of-view) but this is Peggy’s story […]

Nine Goblins

Nine Goblins (2013) T. Kingfisher It’s not that Nessilka wanted to be in charge of this squad of goblins, it’s just that there wasn’t anyone else to do the job. Smart goblins became mechanics. Dumb goblins became soldiers. Really dumb goblins became officers. So when, in the midst of battle, they are pulled away and […]

Execution in E

Execution in E (2020) Alexia Gordon (A Gethsemane Brown Mystery #5) “If you don’t want me to see your fingers crossed behind your back,” she pointed to his semi-transparent hand visible through his semi-transparent torso, “you should dial up your density.” “Ms. Markham’s parents’ money buys a great deal of tolerance of Ms. Markham. The […]

Fatality in F

Fatality in F (2019) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #4) He’d hybridized the rose himself and christened it the ‘Sandra Sechrest’ in honor of the librarian who’d given him a biography of Pythagoras when he was seven and sparked his lifelong love of math. Gethsemane winced. Dunmullach’s murder rate had tripled after she arrived. Some […]

Killing in C Sharp

Killing in C Sharp (2018) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #3) Ghost Hunting Adventures reigned notorious for both its physicality and the amount of profanity that had to be bleeped out. “Some versions say Maja was the choice from the jump. Long and short of it, the baroness tricked Maja into going to the construction […]

Soulstar

Soulstar (2021) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle #3) This is the conclusion to the Kingston Cycle, and there is a lot going on here: Severin Mountrose is now king, witches are free, there is a search to replace aether, and Solidarity has decided to hold an open election–even if it doesn’t officially count. “Why doesn’t […]

Stormsong

Stormsong (2020) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle) Grace has escaped with her brother after the destruction of the aethernet, but when she senses a terrible storm coming she knows she has to return to Aeland to protect her people. A storm spread out miles wide, spinning away from the Cauldron off the coast. It was […]

Witchmark

Witchmark (2018) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle #1) I reread this so I can finally finish the series. Mr. Elliot dragged in a tattered breath. “I got too close. They needed the souls. The war—” He gagged and rolled away from me, retching. I held him steady. “Don’t try to talk.” He dragged in ragged […]

Death in D Minor

Death in D Minor (2017) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #2) “Thank you, Miss Brown,” Hank said. “Doctor Brown,” she corrected. “Oh, that’s right, you do have some sort of degree in, what is it, music?” “A Ph.D. From Yale.” “You must forgive me, Doctor Brown. I believe I mentioned before I don’t pay much […]

Murder in G Major

Murder in G Major (2016) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown #1) Teaching teenaged schoolboys was going to be almost as much fun as defending her dissertation to a hungover committee head who’d lost his tenure and his wife in the same week. Almost. “My friends call me Frankie.” “And what should I call you?” Gethsemane asked. […]

The Masquerades of Spring, Audio Book

The Masquerades of Spring, Audio Book (2024) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Set in New York City in 1926 (B)ecause the landlords knew that the coloured folk couldn’t get lodgings in the white neighbourhoods, they could charge more than twice the normal rent. Since coloured folk mostly got paid half of […]

The Wonder Engine

The Wonder Engine (2018) T. Kingfisher (Clocktaur War #2) “Politics,” she said. “It doesn’t make any sense. People do the stupidest shit and you want to scream that it’s against their own interests and you never know if they’re playing some deep game you don’t know about or if they’re really just that stupid.” “I […]

Clockwork Boys

Clockwork Boys (2017) T. Kingfisher (Clocktaur War, #1) This is a rare book: one that I listened to before I read. (Honestly, at the time I was desperate for distraction and wasn’t really able to concentrate on reading.) I still enjoyed it, and as it has been two years, managed to forget just enough that […]

All Accounts Settled

All Accounts Settled (2025) Drew Hayes (Fred the Vampire Accountant #9) The final Fred the Vampire Accountant book. I believe I read the author had health issues that kept him from finishing the book on the schedule he set for himself, and I also think he was fighting with the publisher of his earlier books, […]

Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? Audio Book

Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? Audio Book (2016) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police #3) I haaaaaaaaate that this series didn’t get more books. ‘I won’t tell you!’ she shouted. ‘I can!’ Kevin insisted, pointing at himself. The stormtrooper paused awkwardly again. He obviously had as little idea as she did what Kevin’s […]

Legends & Lattes

Legends & Lattes (2022) Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes #2) As a rule, folks with a fixed address avoided swindling an orc. Viv sighed. “I’ve lived a long time knowing I’m a threat walking. I’d rather that wasn’t the shape of it for you.” The hob pushed a handcart loaded with a big, brass-barreled mechanism, […]

Bookshops & Bonedust

Bookshops & Bonedust (2023) Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes #1) The sequel to Legends & Lattes recently came out, so I decided I really needed to read the prequel to that so I could reread Legends & Lattes and then the new book. For some unknown reason I’d put off reading this story. I loved […]

Help Wanted

Help Wanted (2018) J. Emery (Ashveil Academy #1) Em wants to get her best friend the best gift this year for her birthday. Except that she’s broke, and her alchemy skills are terrible. So she decides to get a job, so she can buy Thaian the gift she wants to get her. Calpurnia West, sister […]

Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD: The Thin Blue Ley-Line

Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD (2025) Keith R. A. Decandido Monsters are real, and the NYPD has to deal with the ones who break the law. Thus was born the SCU, or Supernatural Crimes Unit. The SCU had been formed after a vampire named Bogdan Albescu killed a City Hall employee named John Rosario on the […]

The Severed Streets, Audio Book

The Severed Streets, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police #2) Trigger Warnings: there are not detailed descriptions, but if a bad thing can happen, it likely happens in this series. You despair about making accurate judgements about anyone. Well, I’m here to tell you, boy, it was always thus. […]

London Falling, Audio Book

London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police #1) Trigger Warnings: there are not detailed descriptions, but if a bad thing can happen, it likely happens in this series. “Might as well look as if we’re together,” said Sefton, under his breath, as he pressed the tea bag against […]

Mockingbird Court

Mockingbird Court (2025) Juneau Black (A Shady Hollow Mystery #6) This is the final Shady Hollow mystery. I’m not mad, though I am a little sad. The authors have every right to walk away, and with a series as enjoyable as this one has been, I can see how hard it would be to keep […]

Summers End, Audio Book

Summers End, Audio Book (2024) Juneau Black narrated by Cassandra Campbell (A Shady Hollow Mystery #5) Buckthorn had told her to stick to her specialty. But what Buckthorn didn’t know was that Vera’s specialty was sticking her nose in other folks’ business. Vera checked in with all of them, gave them firm warnings about sneaking […]

Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf (2021) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #5) But loss was too complex a thing to always feel what you were supposed to feel. Fear is just your body protecting itself, Dr. Ripodi had said once. Just like pain exists to let you know something is wrong, fear is another message. Sometimes, though, the […]

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (2020) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #4) Park inclined his head slightly in that way of his that always made him look like some kind of benevolent god accepting a loving sacrifice. When Cooper tried the same he looked like he’d suddenly dropped food down his shirt. “It’s not you, it’s […]

Twilight Falls, Audio Book

Twilight Falls, Audio Book (2023) Juneau Black narrated by Cassandra Campbell (A Shady Hollow Mystery #4) And everywhere, you hear the sound of water flowing. It begins with tiny trickles from melting icicles and the rivulets running down the slopes. Whether seeping or meandering or tumbling madly, they all meet at the rivers running through […]

Thrown to the Wolves

Thrown to the Wolves (2019) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #3) “(T)he book said no one should hike alone. What if you run into an animal?” “Then there’s a 50/50 chance we’re related.” Cooper felt the discomfort that had been prickling at the base of his skull since the market bloom across his skin. You […]

The Wolf at Bay

The Wolf at Bay (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #2) I love the opening of this book so very much. But I have quoted it every review I’ve done, so I’ll skip this time. But really, it’s the best. Ever since (learning of Cooper’s injuries) Park had been hyper-vigilant that Cooper was getting enough […]

The Wolf at the Door

The Wolf at the Door (2018) Charlie Adhara (Big Bad Wolf #1) Ava being Ava. He didn’t understand why she always sent a thousand little texts rather than put all the information in one long message. She didn’t understand why he used commas. “It’s a standing joke around the Trust that the real reason behind […]

Battle Hill Bolero, Audio Book

Battle Hill Bolero, Audio Book (2017) Daniel José Older narrated by Daniel José Older (Bone Street Rumba #3) It’s almost over. Kia is back in town and now an Iyawo, Sasha and Reza have become friends, and Kia, Jimmy, Kris, and Redd–one of the ghosts from the Burial Grounds–have become friends. “Him and Damian and […]

Swordheart, Audio Book

Swordheart, Audio Book (2018) T. Kingfisher narrated by Jesse Vilinsky One of the grimmer realizations of Sarkis’s youth had been the discovery that knowing you were being an ass did not actually stop you from continuing to be an ass. “Well,” she admitted, looking at the pile of potatoes, “you’re good at that.” “I have […]

The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy

The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy (2025) Roan Parrish Edgar Lovejoy sees ghosts. This isn’t a gift to him, it’s a nightmare, and one he tries very hard to avoid and flees whenever he can. But seeing ghosts is in his family, and there’s nothing he can do about it…is there? Jamie Wendon-Dale loves […]

Midnight Taxi Tango, Audio Book

Midnight Taxi Tango, Audiobook (2016) Daniel José Older narrated by Daniel José Older (Bone Street Rumba #2) A textbook lies open on the counter in front of me; I don’t even remember taking it out. It’s trig, some shit I already know how to do, and can’t be bothered answering a bunch of mindless questions […]

Family Matters

Family Matters (2018) Angel Martinez (Brandywine Investigations) What I’ve got is a headache as annoying as a cruise ship full of sugared-up four-year-olds. “So you’re saying I should’ve been more mature and ignored the fact that he hurt me?” He glanced from one face to the other, Auntie Hestia’s managing stern and sympathetic at once, […]

Half-Resurrection Blues, Audio Book

Half-Resurrection Blues, Audiobook (2015) Daniel José Older (Bone Street Rumba# 1) (A)nother little guy is definitely Indian/Pakistani or maybe Puerto Rican. Or half-black. Whatever he is, he gets randomly searched every time he’s within twenty feet of an airport. “Row seven, bin A.” I walk down the aisles, peering at the numbers like I’m using […]

Open for Business

Open for Business (2016) Angel Martinez (Brandywine Investigations #1-3) “Epically bad.” Orpheus dropped the divorce papers on the table, shaking his fingers out as if the words had singed him. “She’s kicking him out, too. Keeping the palace and the dog.” Neither one of these dudes even smirked, like Tiberius was as normal a name […]

The House on Druid Lake

The House on Druid Lake (2021) Isabelle Adler Oliver has taken a job in Baltimore to make a new start, and perhaps a little bit of escaping his abusive ex. He believes he’s lucked out in finding a relatively inexpensive apartment to rent, in what looks to be an historical building, but things are not […]

Salsa Nocturna, Audio Book

Salsa Nocturna, Audiobook (2012) Daniel José Older narrated by Daniel José Older (Bone Street Rumba #2.5) Nothing marginalizes marginalized people like a dead white guy talking sympathetically. A child’s excitement is its own force of nature. ‘Simpático’ is the best word for him. It means ‘nice’ in English, but nice is such a pathetic word. […]

Spectred Isle

Spectred Isle (2017) KJ Charles (Green Men #1) Set in London in 1923 (T)he Empire that had covered a full quarter of the earth was beginning to look less like an immutable and unchanging truth and more like hubris. As a normal sort of Englishman, Saul’s reaction to religious enthusiasm was usually to remove himself […]

Shade Spells with Strangers

Shade Spells with Strangers (2025) Sarah Wallace & S. O. Callahan (Fae & Human Relations #3) Set in London in 1814 The sequel to Fire Spells Between Friends starts at the wedding between Emrys Wrenwhistle and Torquil Pimpernel-Smith, where Silas Rook-Worth and his family are creating the protection spells and area for the wedding. Silas’ […]

Mirror Lake, Audio Book

Mirror Lake, Audio Book (2022) Juneau Black narrated by Cassandra Campbell (Shady Hollow #3) At the base of the great elm tree that Heidegger called home, Vera pulled the bell rope to alert the owl. In response, a basket attached to a thin rope dropped from above. “Ah, but now you have the important phrase […]

Cold Clay, Audio Book

Cold Clay, Audio Book (2022) Juneau Black narrated by Cassandra Campbell (Shady Hollow #2) A skeptic with an eye for minutiae may even ask why a rat requires a visit to the haberdasher. In turn, we ask such skeptics to look to their own hat collections before passing judgment on another. ‘Grey’s School of Etiquette,’?” […]

Gumption & Gumshoes

Gumption & Gumshoes (2013) Alex Kidwell I wanted to shift. I didn’t often, because seriously, what would be the point? None of us did. Personally, I was just really hooked on the opposable thumbs thing that I had as a human. But right then, I wanted to be smaller. And why would you want to […]