#Blogtour Reawakening by Alethea Lyons

It's my turn on the Blogtour Reawakening by Alethea Lyons, a collection of short stories in The Seer of York universe.

About the Author

Alethea (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore. Many of her works take place at the intersection between technology and magic. She enjoys writing stories with subtle political and philosophical messages, but primarily wants her stories to be great tales with characters readers will love. She also has soft spots for found family, hopeless romances, and non-human characters. Her short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website.

Alethea lives in Manchester, UK with her husband, little Sprite, a cacophony of stringed instruments, and more tea than she can drink in a lifetime.

Bonus content for The Hiding & other works can be found on her website: alethealyons.wixsite.com/stories/seerofyork, Social media: linktr.ee/alethearlyons

About the book

After centuries of suppression, the magic of England is Reawakening...

Return to the world of The Seer of York with this collection of new tales set in the aftermath of The Hiding.

Harper, Grace, Saqib, Heresy, and AJ bond as a team and as a family to save innocents, supernatural and human, despite hunters pursuing them.

Introducing Zero, a starlight cat with a bleak and painful past.

Demonic-possession, Faery circles, Pūcas, And more…

Review

Although the beginning and intro sets up the world of The Seer of York universe, the intro and stories have a different feeling. Whereas the intro to the supernatural, dark and demonic element of York has a more ancient almost medieval feel to it, the stories have a present day vibe. In a way it sets the two worlds apart, despite their commonalities.

It's a short collection, novella length. Each of the stories opens the door to both a new adventure and front seat to the machinations of the power that is hidden in plain sight and the merry band of monster hunters who are intent on keeping them at bay.

Might be an interesting idea for a small screen series, nobody has quite managed to fill the Buffy sphere since that waved goodbye, but perhaps that isn't doing the individual stories real justice. They vary in depth, in walks through folklore, myths and legends. Ghoulish, grim, disturbing and balancing the scales are the monster hunters.

I like to see some of the shorts developed with more depth - possible ideas for the next book in the series perhaps, although I'm sure there are plenty more where these came from. It's definitely world-building with a lot of potential - looking forward to seeing where the author takes it.

Buy Reawakening at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Brigids Gate Press, pub date 24 Sept. 2024. Buy at Amazon com. Buy via BrigidsGatePress.

#Blogtour Whispers Through The Canvas by K J McGillick

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour Whispers Through The Canvas: Murder's Timeless Echo by K J McGillick.

About the Author

From the bustling courtrooms of Atlanta to the vibrant tapestry of 16th-century England, Kathleen McGillick's life and career have been a captivating blend of legal expertise, artistic passion, and a thirst for adventure.

Fueled by an undergraduate and graduate degree in nursing, Kathleen built a foundation of compassion and care. This dedication to service later led her to pursue a Juris Doctorate, allowing her to navigate the intricacies of the legal system for nearly three decades. Her courtroom experience now breathes life into the intricate details of her legal thrillers, ensuring every courtroom scene crackles with authenticity.

But Kathleen's story doesn't end there. A deep fascination with art history led her to delve into the world of renowned artists and captivating eras. Her particular passion for 16th-century British history allows her to transport readers to richly detailed historical settings, immersing them in the culture, politics, and societal nuances of the time.

Driven by an unwavering dedication to her craft, Kathleen has independently published eleven legal thrillers since 2018. Her commitment extends beyond solo creation, as she actively engages with the writing community, honing her skills through workshops and courses led by renowned authors.

And when she's not crafting captivating narratives, Kathleen embarks on international journeys, soaking in diverse cultures and experiences that further enrich her writing. This global perspective adds another layer of depth and realism to her stories, allowing readers to connect with characters and settings that transcend geographical boundaries.

To delve deeper into Kathleen's world and explore her captivating legal thrillers, visit her website at kjmcgillick.com or goodreads.com/author/K_J_McGillick

About the book

Murder... Across The Fractured Corridors of Time.

Plunged into a centuries-old conspiracy, unconventional art historian Rowan Southeil must race against time to stop an ancient evil from rewriting history. When a young artist is murdered in a chilling echo of medieval violence, Rowan finds herself drawn to a seemingly unrelated clue - a 16th-century painting drenched in arcane symbols. Aided by the victim's haunting presence, Rowan delves into the painting's mysterious past, uncovering a dark conspiracy that stretches back generations.

Teaming up with the pragmatic Detective Lancaster, the intuitive Rowan follows a daring journey through time, from the storied halls of 16th-century Tudor London to the secretive 17th-century Vatican. As she awakens powerful elemental forces within herself, Rowan must decipher the painting's secrets - and the connection to the medieval-style murder - before Lev Rubilov, a dark centuries-old occultist, can harness its magic to rewrite history and restore a twisted vision of the past.

For fans of genre-blending thrillers like A Discovery of Witches and Outlander, this captivating novel weaves together mystery, the supernatural, and high-stakes time travel in a race against the clock to stop an ancient evil. Whispers Through The Canvas is a crime story, filled with action and adventure, within a historical fantasy milieu. If you love kick-ass heroines who have a bit of life experience and walk on the wild side of magic, this book is for you.

Review

Rowan is an art historian with an unconventional ability, she sees and senses beyond what is visible to the eye. She feels what is often carried within the creation or perhaps even captured and held hostage in the between the colour, vision, material.

That in itself makes her invaluable to those who believe there is more to the world we live in than preconceived norms. A 16th-century painting takes centre stage in this riveting mystery that forces the reader to see beyond the brushstrokes.

It's a little weighty in a sense that it appears to be on the cusp of wanting to wander into literary fiction, but being contained to a genre or story which may or may not constrain the tendency to walk beyond the structure of said genre/s. Maybe it's time to let that instinct determine the path.

It's a story that weaves in and out of magical realism, supernatural, historical fiction, and a good old mystery at the core of it all. The whole concept of art being the patient zero in a web of conspiracy, betrayal, power and murder, which stretches across centuries - well it has the potential to be a series that keeps on giving. I wonder what Rowan would make of the new royal portrait that was recently unveiled?

Buy Whispers Through the Canvas: Murder's Timeless Echo at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Sleep Tight by C.S. Green

 

It's an absolute pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Sleep Tight by C.S. Green

About the Author

Is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers and an award-winning writer of fiction for young people under the name Caroline Green. Written under the name Cass Green, her first novel for adults, the Woman Next Door, was a No.1 ebook bestseller, while the follow-up, In a Cottage in a Wood, was a USA Today bestseller and a Sunday Times top ten bestseller.

She is the writer in residence at East Barnet School and teaches courses for City University and Writers' and Artist' Yearbook. She lives in London with her family. Sleep Tight is the start of a new series featuring the UCIT.

Follow @carolinesgreen on Twitter, Visit carolinegreenwriter.co.uk, Buy Sleep Tight

About the book

The nightmare is only just beginning... When DC Rose Gifford is called to investigate the death of a young woman suffocated in her bed, she can't shake the feeling that there's more to the attack than meets the eye.

It looks like a straightforward crime scene - but the police can't find the killer. Enter DS Moody - an eccentric older detective who runs UCIT, a secret department of the Met set up to solve supernatural crimes. moody wants Rose to help her out - but Rose doesn't believe in any of that. Does she?

As the killer prepares to strike again, Rose must pick a side  before a second woman dies.

Review

You really expect readers to go to bed and sleep peacefully ever after, especially after this read? More like one eye open at all times from now on. Forget lavender, meditation, yoga and whatever other sleep aids anyone may use. From this point forward it is coffee, caffeine and matchsticks between the eyelids.

Rose is called to the scene of a locked room mystery. A young woman who has been murdered, a woman who screamed very night that someone was out to get her. Nobody believed her, nobody cam to save her - and she isn't the only one.

What separates Rose from the herd is her intuition and the ability to think beyond the boundaries of what society dictates. Her dead mother, who tends to wander around her house, might not agree with that assessment or anything for that matter. Rose is in tune with some things others can't connect with and she is unwilling to accept.

Cue the secret department of police who investigate those crimes nobody has an answer for. They might just have the answers Rose is looking for, both in the case she is investigating and her life in general.

This looks like the beginning of an interesting series. Combining crime with the supernatural is one thing, but having a sceptic who sees ghosts and other apparitions, and yet denies that fact completely - well that's another thing entirely. Looking forward to seeing where this road leads us and how crotchety Moody and insecure sceptical Gifford combine forces in the future.

Buy Sleep Tight at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : HarperCollins pub date 4 Mar. 2021. Buy at Waterstones. Hive. Bookshop org.

#BlogTour The Lazarus Child by Jay Raven

 Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Lazarus Child by Jay Raven.

About the Author

Jay Raven is the author of Gothic chillers and historical horror reminding readers that the past is a dangerous place to venture, full of monsters and murderous men. He blames his fascination with vampires, witches and werewolves on the Hammer Horror films he watched as a teenager, but living in a creepy old house on the edge of a 500-acre wood may have something to do with it.

If you would like to be informed of new releases, enjoy free short stories and access exclusive giveaways and competitions, please subscribe to Jay's monthly newsletter on his website at www.jayraven.com

Follow @JayRavenAuthor on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Facebook, Buy The Lazarus Child

About the book

To save his missing daughter a distraught slayer must venture deep into the heart of darkness

Legendary vampire hunter Anton Yoska is on the edge, tormented by the rumour that the precious child he once thought dead is still alive and lost in a world of monsters.

One creature alone knows for sure what happened to Gretchen, but Terek Modjeski won’t divulge his secret - revelling in the twisted power over his long-time foe.

Despairing and drinking heavily, Anton stumbles from near disaster to near disaster as he puts his team in jeopardy, testing their friendship and loyalty to snapping point.

Only one diabolical solution is possible - to confront Terek in his maximum security cell and force the bloodsucker to end his game of cat and mouse. But making the cunning infernal talk will mean employing brutal methods that go against every code Anton has ever lived by, forcing him to become as much of a demon as the leeches he hunts.

Face to face with the evil, taunting vampire, the desperate slayer takes a decision that will change his destiny forever - sending him hurtling into danger to confront a terrifying truth about his lost child that risks not only his sanity but the future of mankind.

Review

The last sentence... I mean really? It just conjures up all kind of images.

This is the third book in the Blood Riders series, it can be read as a standalone novel, however I would suggest reading the others to get the gist of the characters and their journey.

I think it's fair to share that the Anton we experience in this book is not the Anton we met in the first. Gone is the determination, the soul and the essence that separates him from the monsters he is slowly disintegrating into. He has become a liability to his team, a risk to himself and people are starting to perceive him differently.

The author shows the way his main character is slowly stripped of his humanity, as he navigates the pain and guilt he carries around with him. Each story shows how he inches towards the decline. It gives this supernatural story a bit of an edge. The hunter becomes what he both hates and fears the most.

This story has a load of potential, even three books in. I still maintain that the team element, and the characteristics and personalities of said team, is what drives this series. Not necessarily the sub-plots. Sometimes contemporary trumps niche from an audience perspective, which means the more speculative creativity can be hindered a wee bit. Open up the gates.

The Lazarus Child at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. 

Blog-Tour for As I Descended by Robin Talley starts today!

The author of the Lies we Tell Ourselves is back with a new novel. As I Descended by Robin Talley is read you don't want to miss..

Here are the links so you can follow the tour and enjoy what my fellow bloggers have to say about As I Descended.

7th Sep at thereaderlines.blogspot.co.uk

8th Sep at bookaholicconfessions.wordpress.com

9th Sep at ziliinthesky.com

10th Sep at emmasbookery.blogspot.co.uk

11th Sep at mmcheryl.wordpress.com

12th Sep at fictionfascination.co.uk

13th Sep at bookreferees.org

Follow at @robin_talley and @HQYoungAdult & look out for #AsIDescended on Twitter.

Hope to see you here on the 11th for my review!

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

It starts off fairly innocently, funny even. The town seems to treat their very own personal witch a bit like the oddball auntie you want to hide when the new in-laws in spe come to visit.

Then Heuvelt slowly takes the atmosphere from funny to peculiar and then it starts to get creepy. From that point onwards everything is just downhill from a 'I was expecting a more pleasant experience' perspective.

The horror aspect takes over in such an insidious way that it seems to slither from the pages into your fingers. I felt like having a shower afterwards to wash off the scent and the touch of the witch.

For me it was the whispering, I swear it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Then on top of that the imagery of the sewn up eyes and mouth. Yeh, that's one way to keep people awake at night.

I liked the parallels between the hysteria of the witch trials and the reactions of the modern day townspeople. All in the name of the Good Lord and everything goes to hell in handbasket in a matter of days. Educated, sensible and lenient people turn into scavengers braying for blood.

They want their fair share of the supposed justice. Forget about the fact none of them are living in medieval times, and they seem to have become a small country unto themselves. Governed by myths, hearsay, fear and a council full of backwards thinking individuals.

At the very beginning the Delarosa's make a valid point. The cursed town could try a little harder to keep new people out. Nobody wants to be stuck in the same place forever, subject to the whims of an ancient witch and always on the cusp of death.

Hex seems like your standard horror/supernatural, but Heuvelt doesn't believe in standard or in happy endings for that matter.

Buy Hex at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick

When Holly gets a desperate phone call her from her niece it is the beginning of a long search for her missing brother Ben and the unravelling of a love story that stretches over many centuries.

Holly doesn't want to see the other side to Ben. He is beyond reproach and everyone else must be to blame for his disappearance.

None of that changes the fact he has not only vanished without a trace, but he has also left his very young daughter to fend for herself in the middle of the night.

Holly discovers that Ben was researching the history of specific items owned by the Winter Queen. They are rumoured to be very valuable and possess magical powers. Destructive magical powers.

The story wanders in and out of three timelines, the past with the Winter Queen, the past with the close descendants and the present with Holly. The link between all of them being the dangerous heirlooms and the mysterious Ashdown House.

Inevitably it comes down to a choice between power or peace, war or sanity and money or being able to just say no. You know what they say, power corrupts, especially when you have a never ending source.

Kornick mixes historical fiction and a wee bit of the unexplained supernatural.

Buy House of Shadows at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Shifter: City of Wolves by Avery Burch

It's supposed to be adult paranormal romance, but I think it is a combination of YA and New Adult with fairly graphic scenes. That is possibly something the author needs to look at more closely.

The age of the main characters and their dialogues does not gel with the more adult content in the book.

At times it seemed as if two sub-genres were colliding in a way that suggests the author isn't quite sure which direction she wants to go in.

Then there is the matter of keeping it realistic, well as realistic as you can get when werewolves are involved. Having your main female character give fellatio to the main male character in the middle of huge fight or slaughter scene, well it just isn't realistic.

Everyone around you is being killed, weapons are being fired and you fear for your life. So you do what everyone would do in that dire situation you wipe out your boyfriends winkle and blow, suck and lick for what your life is worth.

Sometimes less is more, and in this case the author needs to be more certain and stand behind her storyline instead of resorting to quick erotic thrills to keep the reader reading. Is her storyline strong enough without all the graphic intervals? Yes, I believe it is. Perhaps a little too much on the YA side, but then maybe that is where Birch would be more comfortable.

The other thing I found slightly dodgy was the fascination with incestuous scenarios. I know they are wolves, and animals don't adhere to higher social standards when it comes to being related, but these are shifters. They are men and women with the possible genetic coding of a shifter. They live as humans, and the elitists abhor the shifters, so why would they entertain incestuous relationships? Surely even by their standards it is going to be seen as legally and morally wrong?

I think when Burch finds a little more of her own voice to make this series as strong as it potentially could be.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Buy Shifter: City of Wolves by Avery Burch at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Time to Die by Caroline Mitchell

Jennifer Knight is a policewoman with special abilities. The kind of ability that is a little out of the norm. She has a gift, the gift of foresight.

The images come to her via nightmares and sometimes even day-mares. She uses her gift on the job with her similarly gifted colleagues.

The team is called in to deal with an odd suicide. There seems to be some kind of connection to a strange Tarot reader. Little do they know that this odd man is a very dangerous individual. Dark visions and magic mixed with an almost obsessive need to kill.

It was interesting to see a main character with enough baggage to cause OCD. Her need to control leads all the way back to being helpless as a child. The reason for that helplessness turns up again after many years, which angers Jennifer and makes her more anxious than usual.

Perhaps she can deal with her OCD when she finally lets go of all her secrets, and there are quite a few. Even her sister is unaware of just how many secrets Jennifer is keeping to herself.

I liked the concept, although I do think Mitchell needs to give the special police squad a little more attention. Venture out a wee bit more with the other member instead of just focusing solely on Jennifer the entire time. You can give a main character enough space in a story without eclipsing everything else.

Overall this crime with a shot of supernatural has a lot of potential, it just needs a little more polish and structure.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

Monster by C.J. Skuse

I wasn't expecting it to get so dark, probably because it starts out with a general Enid Blyton boarding school feel to it.

The normal toxic relationships between teenage girls living in close vicinity to each other. Away from their parents and siblings, and shut off from the real world, as they go about their daily life in a cold and strict environment.

Skuse lulls the reader into a false sense of security.  The focus is on the myth of the monster, the fear of the unknown and the slightly dysfunctional boarding school atmosphere.

Then from out of nowhere the pace, the plot and the genre changes in one foul swoop. I can't  tell you what, why, when or who, because it would spoil the surprise heading your way.

I think it is possible Skuse might return to this particular set of characters, because of the way she left the beast storyline. Something to explore in the future perhaps?

Overall it was a surprising read that will appeal to readers who like some innocence with their gore, a portion of mean with their candy floss sugary sweet and a wee bit of gnarly bloody beast with their murders.

Looking forward to see where this author takes us next with her twisted imagination.

Buy Monster at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Read The Deviants by C.J. Skuse. or Sweetpea.

Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

Why is it someone so clever, strong and streetwise always manages to end up being captured by the local psycho?

You would think by now she would spend a lot more time listening to her inner alarms, then again maybe Gin just doesn't have any. this time the torture flips a switch inside of her.

The torture or rather the effects of BURN seem to facilitate the opening of a door in Gin's psyche.

The flow of emotional baggage seems hard to ebb now it has started rolling over Gin like an avalanche down a mountain. She is confronted with her inner Pandora's box of secrets and emotions she would rather not think about, hence locking them up deep inside.

Gin goes all omnipotent in her battle against the drug-lord, perhaps a wee bit over the top. Her reputation and her ego are placing her at the same level as her opponents. She is going to have to watch those boundaries from this moment forward, because if not it will eventually become very hard to differentiate between her and the bad guys.

I also think that Gin was and is surprised by the similarities between herself  and her younger sister. Not in a good way either. Bria acting as if everyone is expendable to achieve a means to an end, despite the fact Gin often does the same I do believe it came as a bit of a shock to her.

Meanwhile in the midst of this new conflict it becomes clear how Gin is stepping into the footsteps of Fletcher. She is building a team, quite a large and very highly skilled team, without even fully acknowledging that fact. Her family and friends have always been around her and willing to support, save or rescue her, but this is starting to feel different.

At the end of the book we get to meet the new muscle in town. Literally the new and next generation of villains. I think Estep will try to bring back some of the Mab/Gin mortal combat magic, which always worked well for the characters and the series.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

Read more about Gin in Estep's Elemental Assassin series here: Spider's Trap, The Cold Burn of Magic, The Spider, The Black Widow and Heart of Venom.

Severed Streets by Paul Cornell

This is the second in the James Quill series.

I wasn't really keen on the beginning of the book, the few pages before the murder of the politician.

I found them a wee bit confusing and lacking clarity, which isn't always a good way to draw potential readers in.

Fortunately Cornell gets to the nitty-gritty darkness fairly quickly.

His Sci-Fi plot weaving is mixed with police procedural story-lines, which makes sense when you consider his background as a Dr. Who scribe. He also uses the historical backdrop and urban myths associated with London.

Cornell seems to enjoy the quagmire of despair, suffering and pain when it comes to his characters, especially the good guys. Lots of bleak moments for them unfortunately. Hopefully, as the series progresses some of them will get some lucky mojo come their way.

I know the fact he has Neil Gaiman play a role in his story is a bit of topic in reviewing circles, however I think it was more of a nudge nudge wink wink move,  perhaps because elements of the first James Quill book London Falling was compared to Gaiman's work.

It will be interesting to see where Cornell takes this series and his eclectic combination of genres.
I received a copy of this via NetGalley.

Power: The Girl in the Box #10 by Robert J. Crane

It has been a long tumultuous road, filled with death, torture, pain and hardship, and that was just the fun side of things.

The girl we met in book 1 Alone has grown into a young woman.

A leader of people, a killer of all that dares stand in her way, and above all she has finally caught the end of the tigers tail she has been chasing.

An understanding of why, when, who and the what the hell for, and the knowledge to destroy the one person who created all the questions in the first place.

After all Sienna has been through, after all she has lost, and those hits just keep on coming like a shark hunting bait, will she be able to peer through the screen of destruction and see the light? Will she succumb to the ultimate power and the life being offered to her on a silver platter?

Jigsaw pieces come together to make the picture complete. Unanswered nagging questions from the very first few pages of the series are answered ten-fold and more.

Sovereign decides to try a different tack to convince Sienna. His actions create suspicion, disbelief and then a dangerous level of acceptance and complacency seeps in to the minds around him. The enemy becomes friend, the foe become a divided Korea and Sienna's merry bunch of hybrids become a tad confused.

Sienna wouldn't be such a popular character if she didn't throw us for a loop and make a leap in the complete opposite direction. In the end she is complete. The past has taught her well and she is able to envisage not only the future, but also finally understands the connection between herself and Andromeda.

Of course the same goes for Crane, he also wouldn't be such a popular author if he didn't know exactly how to keep his readers on their toes and guessing backwards like an episode of Jeopardy does Metas.

The end of the book holds a surprise revelation in regards to Sienna's fate. Unexpected to say the least. I have enjoyed and devoured each and every word of this series. Kudos to Crane for that.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Legacy: The Girl in the Box #8 by Robert J. Crane

I will be the first to admit that Crane drives me absolutely bonkers because he is such a master weaver of plots.

I get all smug and feel like Sherlock Holmes on a high when I think I have figured out exactly where he is taking the story. Then it’s Wham Bam Thank you for playing Sherlock, as he throws a spanner into my well laid explanation.

So let’s see where we are at the beginning of the eighth book in Alone (The Girl in the Box #1) Sienna has been delegated to top dog at Omega, which sort of happens when the leadership team falls prey to a series of unplanned fatal accidents. This also means she is in charge of what is left, ergo the straggling limping remains of the Unit.

After all the excitement in Enemies she decides to hop on a plane all footloose and carefree, except she doesn't realise that her feet aren't exactly loose any more. The powers that be have other plans for her. They also have some surprises to spring on Sienna, some of which are less than enjoyable.

Without revealing any of the major events in the story I want to at least try and discuss some of them in a way that will omit any revelation. Did you get any of that? No neither did I. It sounded way better in my head than it does on screen.

Mama Bear Sierra turns up out of the blue and I can honestly say for the first time in eight books mother and daughter manage to connect on a level which is less than vitriolic. Somewhere along the line I think one of them needs to accept that they are more or less re-enacting family secrets, problems and schemes devised by third parties over and over again through the generations.

Sierra is Sienna and Sienna is Sierra, add on grandmother and great-grandmother and you have a whole lot of orchestrated events tumbling over each other and the direction of their personal history. They think, especially Sierra, that they have changed the course of fate, when in fact other people have been pulling the strings in the background when it became necessary or convenient. Some of that becomes evident during this book.

I really want to get my teeth into Sovereign.

By the middle of this story I had come to the conclusion that there must be a time travelling element involved. The flashbacks to specific Meta, who had interacted with Sovereign, made me wonder whether he knew exactly who or what she would imbibe, which would explain his killing some and letting others live.

Did I mention the author and his propensity for spanners?

Book eight is the calm before the storm, the eye of the hurricane and so eerily tranquil that I know the last two books are going to just implode.

Sienna is walking the last stretch of the mile towards fulfilling her destiny, even if she is completely unaware of what that might be exactly but I am guessing from the ending in this book that she isn't in the dark any more.
Sienna has broken free of the constraints of that box and she is finally getting a glimpse of what she is and what is expected of her.

However it is Sienna, so if I know one thing for sure it is the fact that what everyone expects is never what she ends up doing.

As always this was a fantastic read.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Without Shadows by Olivia Owens

This is second book in the Soulless series by Olivia Owens.

One of the points I made about Nick in my review for the first book Windows of the Soulless,was his constant internal battle with himself. Instead of being without a soul I believe he lives with two, which is why his behaviour is very erratic and it can often seem as if the reader is reading about two completely different people.

There is the ruthless killer, who has no conscience and acts like an animal hunting human prey. He is insensitive, rude and lacks any kind of endearing quality. Then there is the other side of Nick, the humane and caring side. The side that makes sure a young Jane Doe feels safe in an extremely difficult situation.

Although these two sides of Nick inhabit the same body I am not sure if he is aware of the almost multiple personality like quality he is exhibiting.

The conflict between the werewolves and the vampires is heating up and possibly heading towards a climax and boundary issues.
The relationships and complicated hierarchy of the vamps is strained almost to breaking point, especially when Nick finds out that the monster who ended his previous life is connected to his present in a most unfortunate way.

There was a lot going on in this book, perhaps a sort of interim leading up to the next, because it lacked a little of the plot structure the first book had. Nevertheless this is still a series with lots of potential and room for scope.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Windows of the Soulless by Olivia Owens

The author portrays the main character as someone who has two distinct personalities within him and he is fighting to control both. Each of those personalities is trying to gain the upper hand at all times.

One personality represents the humanity left within him. The person who doesn't want to kill and allows himself to show mercy towwards others. The other personality is the vampire, the hunter, the killer and the one that will destroy at the mere smell of blood.

Obviously this also means that the people who surround the main character are never quite sure who they are dealing with. It also explains how he can seem to be caring in one second and then utterly without a conscience the next minute.

I didn't feel this was about loving a person he is not allowed to have. For me it was about that fight within him. Depending on whether the ruthless part of him wins also dictates the fate of those he supposedly cares for.

At this point I would also like to say kudos to the author for the twist in the plot during the hospital melee. It was completely unexpected, both how it came about and the way it was planned.

The book takes a complete U turn about halfway through into a deeper plot involving shifters. The setting of the book is Germany during WWII so the inevitable German military villain turned up.

Whether it was done on purpose or not and I would to think yes, there was a certain element to the villain Ulrich. Without revealing a spoiler I think his experimentation and enjoyment of said experiments were a subtle reference to the sadism which was a huge part of the horror that took place during that era. All in the name of science, as they liked to say.

Overall this was both an entertaining and well written story.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.