Urban Fantasy

Book Review: Whispers of the Selkie by Lisa A. Moore

Categories Fantasy, Magic, Magic Realism, Mystery, Mythic Fantasy, Paranormal, Surreal Fiction, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: Whispers of the Selkie by Lisa A. Moore

Book Details:

Author: Lisa A. Moore
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Series: The Enchanted Heritage Trilogy Book 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mythic Fantasy, Magic-Realism, Paranormal, Mystery
Format: E-book 
Pages: 306 pages
Publisher: Unraveled Realms Press
Blurb:
Some secrets refuse to stay buried-especially when the ocean itself seems to be keeping them.
When Morwenna Willowheart Brightwood receives a mysterious letter shimmering with an otherworldly pull, her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. She’s content in her weathered lighthouse home on the Maine coast, weaving stories for others and tending her wind-battered garden. But this letter isn’t just a piece of paper-it’s a summons. One that carries her across the sea to the mist-shrouded Scottish Highlands, where ancient legends breathe, magic hums just beneath the surface, and family secrets refuse to stay silent.

Thrown into a world she barely understands, Morwenna is forced to confront the legacy she’s unknowingly inherited-a tangled web of selkie folklore, forgotten power, and a curse that stretches back generations. With her fiercely protective sister Ava by her side and the guidance of mysterious allies with motives as murky as the sea itself, Morwenna must navigate a path filled with danger, deception, and choices she’s not ready to make.
But legends don’t care about readiness. They don’t care about fear. And the tide waits for no one.
Whispers of the Selkie is a story where urban fantasy collides with mystical realism, set against the haunting beauty of the Scottish coastline. Rich with contemporary fantasy flair, it’s a tale of family loyalty, reluctant destiny, and the pull of magic that refuses to let go.
Perfect for fans of Karen Moning, Deborah Harkness, and readers who crave sharp-witted heroines, atmospheric worlds, and secrets wrapped in salt and shadow.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Whispers of the Selkie by Lisa A. Moore is a beautifully atmospheric tale that blends Scottish folklore, family secrets, and reluctant destiny into an enchanting and immersive read. From the misty coastlines of Maine to the hauntingly beautiful Scottish Highlands, the novel integrates magic and mystery in a poetic way.

Morwenna Brightwood is the kind of protagonist I love—strong yet hesitant, grounded yet drawn to something bigger than herself. When she receives a mysterious letter that pulls her across the sea, her journey into a world of selkie legends and ancestral power begins. What I appreciated most was how real Morwenna felt—she’s not immediately fearless or eager to embrace her heritage. She questions, resists, and struggles with the idea of expectation, which makes her journey all the more compelling. Her dynamic with her sister Ava is another highlight—there’s warmth, loyalty, and just the right amount of tension that makes their bond feel genuine.

Moore’s writing is lush and lyrical, painting the setting with vivid imagery that makes you feel the salt on your skin and hear the whispers of the waves. The Scottish Highlands come alive with an almost sentient presence, making the world feel as much a character as Morwenna herself. The mythology is woven in seamlessly, giving the story a sense of depth and history. If there’s one small critique, it’s that some parts of the pacing felt a little uneven—certain revelations and moments of action could have been spread out more for maximum impact.

Overall, Whispers of the Selkie is a beautifully written and immersive story perfect for readers who love fantasy grounded in mythology, family ties, and the lure of the unknown. It’s a book that stays with you long after the final page is turned. If you love atmospheric, folklore-driven stories with complex heroines, this one is definitely worth picking up.

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Book Review: Welcome to Neverbury by Chris Lynch

Categories Horror, Short-Stories, Urban Fantasy1 Comment on Book Review: Welcome to Neverbury by Chris Lynch

Book Details:

Author: Chris Lynch 
Release Date: June 28, 2023
Series:
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Horror, Short-Stories
Format: E-book 
Pages: 180 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Somewhere on the coast of England, Neverbury is a quaint little seaside town with the kind of problems that a lot of quaint little English seaside towns have these days… demons, serial killers, immortals, thieves, time travellers, ghosts, vampires, haunted houses, witches, an extraordinarily strident village council, and monsters.

There are the gods above and the great thing below… praise them all.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Neverbury by Chris Lynch is an exceptionally well-written book of short stories set in the fictional town of Neverbury.

First off, the world-building of the town itself is phenomenal, and I absolutely loved it. Secondly, the stories are all so good that it was hard to pick a favourite; each one had something different to offer. The writing style of the author is great, and it resonated well with me, which, for me, is one of the most important things when it comes to dark or horror stories. Each and every story had a great flow, and the pacing and tension were simply perfect.

This book was more like an experience, and I’d definitely recommend it to all fantasy and horror fans, as this book has so much to offer.

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Book Review: Legends of Heraldale IV: Our Final Act by Brian McNatt

Categories Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, High fantasy, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: Legends of Heraldale IV: Our Final Act by Brian McNatt

Book Details:

Author: Brian McNatt
Release Date: April 21, 2023
Series: Legends of Heraldale (Book #4)
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, High Fantasy
Format: E-book 
Pages: 84 pages
Publisher: New Degree Press
Blurb:
“REVENGE, BEVIN! REVENGE FOR MORDRED,
PAID IN FULL BY EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSE!
MY SISTER’S WORDS SHALL RING TRUE YET!”
The dire warning sends a bolt a terror through
the heart of battle-hardened Sir Bevin. Reminded
of a part of her life she thought far behind her,
the unicorn warrior travels east to the lands of
the banished Wolf-Lords in a race to keep foes
old and new from joining together.

But war waits for no mare, as Princess Galaxy
and the rest of her friends and family prepare a last,
desperate plan to destroy the Gran Harmonium and
end the war once and for all.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“Legends of Heraldale IV: Our Final Act” by Brian McNatt is an absolute delight and a brilliant finale to a series that has been close to my heart since the first book. McNatt’s storytelling prowess truly shines in this installment, blending a richly imagined world, vibrant characters, and a story that had me hooked from the very beginning.

I was completely immersed in the world McNatt created. The vivid descriptions and intricate details made the world of Heraldale feel alive and tangible. It’s rare to find a book where the setting feels like a character in its own right, but McNatt pulls this off effortlessly. The depth of the lore and the attention to detail in constructing this world are simply breathtaking.

The characters, many of whom we’ve grown to love since the first book, are the soul of this story. McNatt has a way of making each character feel like an old friend, with their quirks, growth, and journeys. Seeing how they’ve evolved over the series and how their stories intertwine in this final act was incredibly satisfying. It’s like catching up with old friends and seeing how far they’ve come.

The pacing of the book is just perfect. McNatt strikes a brilliant balance, weaving tension and excitement throughout the story in a way that kept me turning pages, yet also allowing space for quieter, more reflective moments. It’s a rollercoaster ride that had me on the edge of my seat but also gave me moments to pause and soak in the journey.

Overall, “Legends of Heraldale IV: Our Final Act” is a phenomenal read. It’s a book that not only concludes the series with a bang but also reminds me why I fell in love with McNatt’s world in the first place. It’s a heartfelt goodbye to a world and characters that I’ve cherished, and I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting end.

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Book Review: Gateworlds Earth – Athanator by Gillbert Troll

Categories Fantasy, Gillbert Troll, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: Gateworlds Earth – Athanator by Gillbert Troll

Book Details:

Author: Gillbert Troll
Release Date: 6th December 2021
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Gateworlds Earth (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 335 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Earth is in (im)mortal danger. Only one man can help. One man and a chicken.
When a smug but mighty talking tree asks him to retrieve one of the rune crystals of the Multiverse Gate Earth, John Zelm “Athanator” decides against his better judgment that he will do as he is told and recover the guard rune to save the planet. As the balance of the multiverse itself might be at risk, he is helped by powerful allies such as a chicken and a platypusbear. 

Can John save us, or are we dead already? You must read the book NOW to find out! Otherwise, it might be too late! 
A book by Gillbert Troll, who is in the process of making the renowned multiverse bestseller: “How to start great and meaningful conversations with dark elves.”
If you buy the book now a troll will or will not be named after you somewhere in the multiverse! 

Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Anthanator by Gillbert Troll is the first book in the urban fantasy series – Gateworlds Earth. I loved reading this book because it had an amazing characterisation and outstanding world-building. It was an extremely engaging read and I enjoyed every bit of it, right from the very start to the mind-blowing ending.

I was able to relate to all the characters in this book, primary as well as secondary, and I felt a real connection with the lead cast. I found myself rooting for them and cheering them on throughout the story. I am now really looking forward to reading the next part of this series.

I would highly recommend this book to all fantasy readers, especially to those readers who like reading urban and epic fantasies.

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Book Review: Fancy Shop by Valeri Stanoevich

Categories Short-Stories, Surreal Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Valeri StanoevichLeave a Comment on Book Review: Fancy Shop by Valeri Stanoevich

Book Details:

Author: Valeri Stanoevich
Release Date: 10th August 2021
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Surreal Fiction, Short Stories
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 88 pages
Publisher: Matador
Blurb:
The stories contain features of fantasy, urban legends, mystery, magical realism, penetration in the deepness of the human soul.
The characters are different: knights, anonymous people, dreamers, outsiders, crazy ones, technocrats, cockroaches, holders of secret knowledge. They crave for another world of dreams come true, inexpressible truths and oases of redemption of past guilt. On the way to their new identities, they move freely between reality and fantasy.

They are in constant conflict with themselves, and the front line is the line dividing the two hemispheres of their brains. The stories are very short but each has a complex plot, provocative suggestions and a surprising end. Without in any way denying the traditional concepts of good-evil, simple-profound, they lead the reader into worlds in which paradox is a synonym of universal meaning.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Fancy Shop by Valeri Stanoevich is a very unique short story collection in which the stories are written in an abstract form drawing inspirations from the mundane and turning them into a dreamlike subject. I liked this collection quite a lot because I found the author’s take on things very interesting and intriguing.

Because of the abstractness of the subject matters of the stories and the dream-like quality of the writing, this book feels surreal and may take readers more than the first read to be able to grasp the intention of the story entirely. Though, trust me, it’s worth more than one reading. The multiple layers of meaning and the metaphorical writing instantly drew me into the book and kept me hooked till I turned the last page.

I would recommend this book to readers of short story collections and also to those who like reading surreal, dream-like (borderline speculative) fiction.

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Book Review: Whiplash (Rust Chronicles #1) by Morgan Quaid

Categories Dystopian, Morgan Quaid, Urban Fantasy, Young AdultLeave a Comment on Book Review: Whiplash (Rust Chronicles #1) by Morgan Quaid

Book Details:

Author: Morgan Quaid
Release Date: 8th November 2021
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction
Series: Rust Chronicles (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 322 pages
Publisher: Markosia Enterprises
Blurb:
Are you ready to fight?
Abducted in the dead of night by a mountainous thug and a ginger-haired dwarf, eighteen-year-old Jack Flint is taken to an underground bunker where he and a group of other teens are forced to fight an implacable enemy in a dream world rife with danger.
Whiplash is a fast-paced story set with a rich and intricately detailed fantasy world where nightmarish creatures from the world of dreams threaten the waking world and teens with the ability to lucid dream must fight in a war for humanity’s survival. Above the throng, powerful demigods vie for control while Jack and his companions struggle to find a path out of the madness.
Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent and Ender’s Game.


Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Whiplash by Morgan Quaid, the first book in the Rust Chronicles series, is a highly imaginative, original and entertaining story.

After a long time, I’ve finally found a young adult book that was actually as good as the blurb suggested. This book has rich characterisation and a brilliant world-building that made this book a memorable read. I loved to read about each and every character and was able to relate to most. The world-building was explained well and the concept’s execution was done very cleverly creating a strong base for the readers for the next books to come in this series.

I enjoyed this book a lot and would definitely recommend it to all YA, Fantasy and Dystopian fiction readers.

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ARC Review: Beneath the Veil (The Valor of Valhalla Book 1) by Martin Kearns

Categories Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Martin Kearns, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Beneath the Veil (The Valor of Valhalla Book 1) by Martin Kearns

Book Details:

Author: Martin Kearns
Release Date: 11th October 2021
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Valor of Valhalla (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 322 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
In a battle between two ancient evils, can one naïve young man become the last hope against powerful creatures of legend?
David Dolan thinks he’s already got the world figured out. But when a collapsed bridge plunges him into the icy Hudson, he’s pulled deep into the deadly realm that exists between life and death. And with his earthly form trapped in a coma, he’s vulnerable to the horde of demons hell-bent on his utter destruction.
Traversing the road to the afterlife, David seeks the wisdom and skills he needs to fight the demonic forces reigning havoc on his allies above ground. But as one hellish threat closes in on his defenseless body, David must defeat another terrifying fiend waiting in the shadows to use him…
Can David escape the world beneath the veil in time to stop the bloodshed?
Beneath the Veil is the gripping first book in The Valor of Valhalla dark urban fantasy series. If you like reluctant heroes, infernal myths, and bloody epic clashes, then you’ll love Martin Kearns’s formidable foray into the unknown. 

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Beneath The Veil by Martin Kearns is a a unique urban fantasy book that has bucket loads of demons, epic battles and some old as well as new myths that makes it a very entertaining read.

I loved the world-building in this book and the writing was great and complimented the plot very well. The characters were solid and well-developed making it a very engaging and intriguing read, keeping me at the edge of my seat throughout the story. The ending was great and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

I’d definitely recommend this book to all urban fantasy readers as well readers who are looking to explore a new dark fantasy series by a new author.

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Book Review: To The North by Evan L. Grove

Categories Evan L. Grove, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: To The North by Evan L. Grove

Author: Evan L. Grove
Release Date: 4th December 2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Awakener Duology (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 390 pages
Publisher: 
Blurb:
Emily Lee wants nothing more than to live her life in peace, safe in the comfort of home with her father. But when he falls prey to dark magic, trapping him and countless others in a foreign land, she is forced to take action. Compelled only by the desire to save him, Emily travels to the northern nation of Odelia in search of a means to free her father from his terrible curse.

Lehksi Olent works as a private investigator, helping those uncover the truth that is often shrouded by a world of magic and mystery. Together with her brother, Marty, she now travels the Odelian countryside in pursuit of the growing unrest taking place within the heart of a country torn asunder by unseen forces.
When their paths converge, Emily and Lehksi’s lives will be forever changed. Two paths, one future. Be it for the good of all, or for a singular desire, the fate of Odelia lies within their choices. And should they prove lacking, the world of Oul might never be the same.
To the North is the first novel in The Awakener Duology, an adult urban fantasy that explores what it means to discover the dark truths of an unforgiving land. It takes place in an alternate reality set in a pre-digital world, one that is governed by magic and corporate influence. Two young women must navigate numerous challenges in order to protect what is important to them, but in doing so they will make discoveries that may drive a wedge between them.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

To The North by Evan L. Grove is the first book in The Awakening urban fantasy duology. It is a very conceptually refreshing book and I really enjoyed reading it.

The characterisation was good, the world-building was great and the narration was good and complemented the story well. I love reading fantasy and thankfully this book met all my expectations. It is a good fantasy read, especially considering that this is the first book in a duology. I’m really looking forward to reading the sequel to this book.

I really liked this book and would recommend this book to all fantasy readers.

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Book Review: Donnybrook Good-Bye by Martin A. Cullen

Categories Martin A. Cullen, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: Donnybrook Good-Bye by Martin A. Cullen

Author: Martin A. Cullen
Release Date: 14th November 2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Longest Game
Format: E-book 
Pages: 200
Publisher: –
Blurb:
A demonic crusade.
A homesick god.
A merciless order.
A lonely gruffin.
And a crafty puca.
Trapped in the middle, Inara Caan is an embittered vestal to The Order of the Avenging Hand. She flies to Boston for her next mission. Like every other assignment, she expects more deaths to defile her soul…Not some happy family beaming up from the glossy photo of her targets.

To save the innocents, Inara defies The Order. On the run, she fights to keep everyone alive. As enemies close in from all sides, she finds unlikely allies who—dare she hope?—might even save her life as well.

She may evade her enemies but she can never escape the demon promised her soul.

Book Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Donnybrook Good-Bye by Martin A. Cullen is the first book in The Longest Game urban fantasy series. It is an action-packed adventure ride full of demons, monsters and greater forces. Overall, this book is a decent introduction to a new series and I am very much looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I loved the concept of the book. The story itself was well-developed with good characterisation. Being a series, I am expecting the characterisation to blossom more in the next book, though as an introduction I found it good enough. The writing was good enough but I did have a problem with too much “telling” in the entire book. Other than that, it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it a lot.

I’d recommend this series to fantasy lovers, especially fans of urban fantasy.

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Book Review: The Blazing Chief (The Deschembine #3) by Matt Spencer

Categories Matt Spencer, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Blazing Chief (The Deschembine #3) by Matt Spencer

Author: Matt Spencer
Release Date: 12th October 2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy | Post Apocaliptic Fiction
Series: The Deschembine Trilogy (Book #3)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 578 pages
Publisher: Back Roads Carnival Books 
Blurb:

For untold ages, the refugees from the land of Deschemb have lived secretly beneath the surface of human society. Now modern civilization crumbles as their ancient feud boils to the surface. As chaos and brutality engulf the world, strange alien forces reshape the lands for a new beginning…for whoever survives.

In the frozen Canadian wastes, the United Deschembines take shelter in an abandoned military base, under the leadership of Jesse Karn, Zane Rochester, and Sally Coscan.

In the Louisiana swamps, Rob and Remelea press towards the ruins of New Orleans, for a final confrontation with Talino.

In Brattleboro, Vermont, a long-forgotten doorway opens, to a land beyond living memory, where two lifelong enemies must journey as allies, to save two worlds, or destroy them.

You can find The Blazing Chief here: Amazon | Goodreads

Book Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Blazing Chief by Matt Spencer is the third and the last instalment in the Deschembine trilogy. The first book is The Night And The Land and the second one is The Trail Of The Beast.

This book brings this amazing apocalyptic trilogy to an end and what an end it is! I love how the author treated all the characters with an equal amount of respect giving them all (even the ones I did not expect) a well-rounded ending. I was so glad that the book lived up to all the anticipation that was built-up in the first two books and that it ended on a higher note than either fo the first two books!

I loved the ending because it wasn’t exactly how I had predicted it to be. So it did surprise me though not entirely, but that’s understandable because I was able to see the character arcs (which were very nicely done) in the first two books being a writer myself. The thing I loved best about this book (and event he earlier books) is that the author delivered on each and every promise that he had made at the start of the series and that makes it a very well-rounded story on the whole.

I loved the action-packed climax and the tension that was present throughout the book leading to a wonderful climax. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this wonderful trilogy to all dystopian and apocalyptic (and post-apocalyptic fiction. I am sure you all will love this book!

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Book Review: The Trail Of The Beast (The Deschembine #2) by Matt Spencer

Categories Matt Spencer, Urban Fantasy1 Comment on Book Review: The Trail Of The Beast (The Deschembine #2) by Matt Spencer

Author: Matt Spencer
Release Date: 13th May 2019
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Deschembine Trilogy (Book #2)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 362 pages
Publisher: Back Roads Carnival Books 
Blurb:

Five years ago, Rob and Sally fled Brattleboro, Vermont. Now married, they are hiding out in a Florida backwater, hunted by both sides of the ancient, otherworldly feud between the refugees of the realm of Deschemb. Meanwhile, Sheldon follows a series of disturbing visions back to Brattleboro. Jesse and Zane’s search for the High Natural lands them at the center of a web of secrets and poison magic in New Orleans.
Within the lands, ancient forces rise towards consciousness, threatening to reshape the world on a cataclysmic scale.

Book Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Trail Of The Beast by Matt Spencer is the second instalment in the Deschembine trilogy. It is the sequel to The Night And The Land.

This book surpassed my expectations on so many levels! I was not expecting the conflicts to go so completely out of control on such level (in an obviously good way.) I was expecting to see more of the inter-personal and relationship conflicts, but this book has so much more to offer than just that. The characterisation was a really good development too and the new characters as well as the old ones, especially the old ones, were a treat to read about. I guess it won’t be wrong to say that I enjoyed this book even more than the last one! And I love it when this happens in a series.

The book picks up 5 years after the events of the first book and we get a good glimpse into those years, albeit from a distance which felt perfect to me. The larger conflict was the heart of this book and the author did not fail, whatsoever, to execute it well. And on top of that, there were the brilliant gory action scenes which completely knocked me off! Wow, I really, really enjoyed this book.

This book, in fact, the series (so far), would be great for anyone who’d like to explore a new author or a new urban fantasy series (that leans a bit on the dystopian side.)

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Book Review: The Night and the Land (The Deschembine Trilogy Book 1) by Matt Spencer

Categories Matt Spencer, Urban Fantasy2 Comments on Book Review: The Night and the Land (The Deschembine Trilogy Book 1) by Matt Spencer

Author: Matt Spencer
Release Date: 13th May 2019
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Deschembine Trilogy (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 362 pages
Publisher: Back Roads Carnival Books 
Blurb:
Among the local hippies and squatters of Brattleboro, Vermont, Sally Wildfire is on the run, hiding from her cruel, relentless family. She finds unexpected love with Rob, a bristly young man freshly awoken to alien sensations and ancestral memories of a long-forgotten realm…setting them both on a collision course with a brutal rite of passage, as the Wildfire family leaves a trail of mangled corpses on the road to Brattleboro. 

Book Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Night and the Land by Matt Spencer is a brilliant urban fantasy read that hooked me right from the beginning and left me wanting for more in the end! It is a perfect start to a trilogy and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next 2 books in this series.

The best thing about this book, for me, was the world-building. The author has woven an intricate universe that merges seamlessly with ours and leaves you wondering about the story having some truth to it. It is the best kind of fantasy when it makes you question your reality and for me, that is where this book wins!

Other than that, the characterisation was good enough, the narration was superb and the plot was simply out of the world. I loved every bit of it, though I am holding back one start cause I have a feeling the sequel might be better as it will be developing the world and characterisation further (or at least I hope so.)

I’d definitely recommend it to all fantasy readers. It is worth all the time!

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Book Review: The Shimmering: Dark Descent by A. K. Crook

Categories A. K. Crook, Fantasy, Magic, Magic Realism, Magic/Elementals, Romance, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Shimmering: Dark Descent by A. K. Crook

Author: A. K. Crook
Release Date: 4th July 2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Visionary Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 104
Publisher: –
Blurb: A visionary fantasy about a young woman who stumbles upon the world of her creators, only to discover she holds the key that will open the doorway to return home… and set the forces of evil free.
In the city of Saint Anthony, there is a realm of existence unknown to most mortals. Far below this urban landscape, in the cavernous bowels of the Underworld, Sinda journeys to discover fantastical lands, strange cultures — and herself. 
When she is snatched from her homeland and thrust into the civilized world of humans, she comes face-to-face with the hardest quest she has ever encountered – find her way home or follow her heart. 

Is the choice even hers?

The clock is counting down for Sinda, but time is not her only adversary — Nefarious beings seek her for their own devious designs, the Elders want to exploit her in a power play over their rivals and the godlike Solari’i hold her fate in their hands. 

With each turn she takes, Sinda draws closer to her destiny — and the salvation of the entire Underworld.

Book Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Shimmering: Dark Descent by A. K. Crook is a very refreshing take on the urban fantasy genre with elements of high fantasy, amazing supernatural beings, underlined by visionary and psychological themes and a sub-plot of romance, lightly touching on the LGBTQ subject – this book has everything a book lover can ask for and more!

Wow, I was not expecting this book to be this awesome! I loved the cover and was intrigued by the blurb as it promised a lot, but I am always sceptical whenever the blurb is extremely promising because many times authors overstate while working on the blurbs and it is very disappointing to then read a book and find out it was nowhere close. But this book was one of those rare cases where it delivered what was promised! And even some more, which made it a pleasant surprise for me.

I love reading urban fantasies as I like the concept of our world co-existing with another one and this book was a real treat as it had good characterisation, sensible theories that were not unrealistically far-fetched, awesome beings and creatures and their insatiable lust for power and related motives. This book was full of conflicts and I enjoyed reading it a LOT!

To top it all of, the book was written well and the concepts were executed conscientiously making the prose flow smoothly. And I would definitely recommend this book, the author’s debut, to all fantasy lovers. 

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Book Review: 22 Dutch Road by T. C. Schueler

Categories Cross-genre, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, psychological thriller, Science-Fiction Fantasy, Speculative-Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, T.C. Schueler, Thriller, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: 22 Dutch Road by T. C. Schueler

Author: T.C. Schueler
Release Date: 13th January 2020
Genre: Speculative Fiction Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, Horror, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, Paranormal
Series: 
Format: E-book
Pages: 492
Publisher: 
Blurb:
An estranged son drives twelve hours to collect badly needed money from his father’s estate. The same ugly McMansion still sits behind a security wall, but there are new features: a gaudy slate roof, a 70s-style conversation pit, and nearly two dozen statues posted along the wall like sentinels. It makes no sense: Billy Buchanan’s scheming father was broke; where had these fierce, obviously valuable sculptures come from?  Forced to spend the week at 22 Dutch Road, Billy begins believing these samurai-styled carvings can talk to him by day, and worse, move at night—his father might not be so dead after all.

REVIEW

★★★★

22 Dutch Road by T.C. Schueler is a very unique blend of and a cross-over of a lot of interesting genres such as Paranormal horror thriller with elements of sci-fi fantasy and speculative fiction but still giving off the overall vibe of a fantasy read. So many things happen in this book that it is hard to get bored while reading it so it definitely made for an entertaining read.

When I started reading the book, I was instantly pulled into the plot with a great opening and thankfully found myself involved and engaged with the story throughout till then end. The characterisation was okay but the writing was good along with the overall story-line.

It was a surreal read if I have to describe it in one word, and I really think that it is worth a read, so I’d recommend it to all the readers of sci-fi fiction-fantasy and paranormal and horror fantasy fans (well, that was quite a handful, innit?!)

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: The Inheritants By K.M. Mackmurdie

Categories K.M Mackmurdie, Urban FantasyLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Inheritants By K.M. Mackmurdie
Author: K.M Mackmurdie
Release Date: 30th April 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  
Edition: E-book
Pages: 402
Publisher: Burton Brown Enterprises Publisher
Blurb:
Many moons ago, the Gods funnelled their gifts into mortals, and the Inheritant Families were born…London 2018
Meredith Earl is an Inheritant orphan with no one left to trust. Her lover Sloane is dead and his corpse missing – now Meredith must find out who took him, and why.
After the tragic death of her parents she vowed never to use her powers again, but to find Sloane Meredith must enter the shrouded world of the Inheritant Families once more, and rediscover who she really is.
Meredith embarks on a voyage rife with love, loss, sacrifice and despair to face an enemy more cruel and vengeful than she could have ever imagined.The Inheritant is K. M. Mackmurdie’s literary debut, a thrilling urban fantasy that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Review

★★★★

Inheritants by K.M. Mackmurdie is a new urban fantasy read that is thoroughly fast-paced, engaging and enjoyable.

A well-written book for a first-time author with a strong main character, relatable secondary characters, good pacing, great story progression and a fascinating new plot – this book ticks off all the major check-boxes for a great read. It was very enjoyable and I am glad that I read this book.

Heavy with twists and turns and magical themes that were not only entertaining but dark too this book kept my mind engaged throughout, something which is missing from a lot of other books in this genre. I appreciated the simple yet powerful writing and the thought that went into crafting each and every single character.

This book is kind of a stand-alone consisting of all three parts of the series. So it’s one book with an entire 3-part story which is always a treat for readers like me who like to finish series they start but can hardly find the time to do so every time.

If you’re looking to discover a new author in the urban fantasy genre or want to read a book that’ll give you the satisfaction of having read a full trilogy in one go then go for this one, I’m sure you’ll like it.

this review is also posted on goodreads and amazon

AudioBook Review: A Witch’s Concern by N.E.Conneely

Categories Magic/Elementals, N.E. Conneely, Paranormal, Supernatural, Uncategorized, Urban Fantasy2 Comments on AudioBook Review: A Witch’s Concern by N.E.Conneely
Author: N.E. Conneely
Narrators: Jeff Hays and Laurie
Release Date: 16th January 2018
Genre: Paranormal, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Magic Realism
Series: A Witch’s Path, Book 4
Length: 7 hours 25 minutes
Publisher: N.E. Conneely
Blurb:
Michelle has been figuring out what her life is like now that the demon has been killed and Sylvia and Varro are dead. Even the clans of witches trying to attract her to their way of life have backed off and given her a chance to grieve. Her relationship with Elron is stronger than ever, but there are things left unsaid.On the way to her parent’s wedding, the delicate calm she’d been living in is broken. Witches are out for her blood, her family is caught in the crossfire, and friendships are threatened. Work doesn’t let up either, and she partners up with Elron to deal with magic gone wild. Michelle finds that her problems are larger than one clan of witches, and is forced to choose between the people she holds dear and the way of life she loves.

Review

★★★★

A Witch’s Concern by N.E. Conneely is a refreshing and highly entertaining read, revolving around a young witch and her adventures.

I loved this book; the plot was unique, the characters and their conflicts felt real and the sub-plots were very interesting. I enjoyed listening to the story from start till the end, and even though this is the 4th book in A With’s Path series, I didn’t have any trouble getting into it. So this book can safely be read as a stand alone as well, but I am considering reading all the previous parts before going for the next ones.

The characterization was good, if not brilliant, and even though I wasn’t able to connect to the main lead, Michelle, in a very strong way, I liked her quite a lot and that was enough for me to read about her and her adventures (or misadventures.) Elron’s character felt a bit shaky initially but by the end of the book, he proved to be a strong male lead.

The narration was good for the most part. It took me some time to get into Elron’s (Jeff Hays) narration, though I did love the female lead’s narration a lot! Lauri’s voice and expressions were really good and made listening to this audiobook a very pleasant experience.

I’d recommend this book to all the paranormal and supernatural lovers, along with those who love reading about witches, elves and magic.

this review is also posted on audible and goodreads

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Book Review: Nightlife by Matthew Quinn Martin

Categories Fantasy, Horror, Matthew Quinn Martin, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy2 Comments on Book Review: Nightlife by Matthew Quinn Martin

17672505Author: Matthew Quinn Martin
Release Date: October 21, 2013
Series: Nightlife
Genre: Horror, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Edition: e-book (Kindle)
Pages: 384
Publisher: Pocket Star

Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb:

For centuries an ancient evil has slept beneath the streets of New Harbor. This Halloween, it wakes up.
An action-packed debut horror novel from talented new writer Matthew Quinn Martin, Nightlife pits a feisty bartender and a mysterious loner against bloodthirsty terrors as alluring as they are deadly.

Nightclub bartender and serial heartbreaker Beth Becker might be a cynic. But when her best friend goes missing Halloween night, Beth knows it’s up to her to find out what happened.

Her quest will take her on an odyssey through the crumbling city of New Harbor, Connecticut. Along the way she meets a homeless prophet warning of something he calls the “Night Angel”-a bloodthirsty creature that feeds on the forgotten. And she will form an unlikely bond with a hunted stranger who knows all too well what stalks the streets at night.

REVIEW

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Nightlife by Mathew Quinn Martin. This book is a real page-turner from start to end. It was literally un-put-down-able!

The best part about this book and also the most impressive one was that this book showed Vampires in completely different light. I guess this is the first time someone has successfully pulled off portraying Vampires as really scary creatures. The concept behind the whole vampire mythology was explored beautifully and I was captivated by the author’s imagination. For the first time in my life, the Vampires actually creeped me out! I’m glad that finally, someone wrote a book that didn’t show vampires as the lovey-dovey pets people want to fall in love with.

Author Mathew Quinn Martin showed them for what they are really are – blood sucking nightmares.

Apart from this, the writing was great too, and the pacing was superb. The alternating POVs kept me on on my toes the entire time and I enjoyed the POV shifts mostly because the transition was really smooth.

The characterisation is also brilliant. I loved all the characters, especially that of Jack and Beth. I even liked Beth’s jackass boyfriend. The reason why I liked Ryan is because all his faults and stupidity made him come out as a really believable character. I was able to connect to all the characters.

The book began with an intriguing prologue which threw me right into the story’s heart and was a complete winner for me. I was so engrossed in it that I wasn’t able to put down this book once I started it.

The ending was good and quite practical. I loved it and thought that it was perfect and in tune with the story.

I’m really looking forward to reading more by the author. I’d recommend this book to all the paranormal and horror lovers and especially to all the Vampires fanatics.

Goodreads | Amazon

Book Review: Monsterland

Categories Adventure, Book Reviews (by Genre), Books Reviews (by Author), Fantasy, Horror, Michael Phillip Cash, Paranormal, Post Apocalypse, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult9 Comments on Book Review: Monsterland

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Author: Michael Phillip Cash 
Release Date: April 6, 2016
Series: None
Genre: YA | Adventure | Urban Fantasy | Post-Apocalyptic | Horror>Zombies |
Paranormal>Vampires | Shapeshifter>Werewolves | Post-Apocalyptic
Edition: Ebook (mobi)
Pages: 336
Publisher: Create Space
Source: NetGalley
Buy it here: Amazon

Blurb

Welcome to Monsterland – the scariest place on Earth. All guests can interact with real vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by an actual werewolf on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.
Wyatt Baldwin, a high school student and life-long movie buff is staring bleakly at a future of flipping burgers. Due to a fortuitous circumstance, Wyatt and his friends are invited to the star-studded opening of Monsterland. In a theme park full of real vampires, werewolves and zombies, what could possibly go wrong?

Rating

TRB 5 stars

Review

It was the entrance to the Auschwitz death camp.

http://blewzen.deviantart.com/art/Werewolf-vampire-zombie-sketches-450864569
http://blewzen.deviantart.com/art/Werewolf-vampire-zombie-sketches-450864569

The story line of Monsterland is really unique, fresh and, I must admit, quite chilling (esp. the werewolf part.)

It’s not scary in the literal sense as such but it does gives the chills at more than one occasion. The descriptions are wildly realistic and the images they paint is worth all the time and money spent on this book. I felt that I was the one visiting the Monsterland with my friends and not the fictional characters. The story is beautifully crafted and the detailing is commendable. Being a paranormal/shapeshifter/horror storyline, the author successfully captured the character backgrounds and successfully added layers to the overall concept.

I enjoyed the book right from the first line right till the very last one. The overlapping of the paranormal and horror genres is commendable because, despite my initial reservations, the author managed to woo me with his amazing story and its execution. It is a job well done on the author’s part.

I felt a connection with each and every character of this book. What seemed to be pointless discussions of monster-obsessed teenagers in the initial pages of the book, made more and more sense as the story progressed and finally when it reached the last act.

I also enjoyed the last connection that the author made between the characters. It’s a well thought out storyline with 3-dimensional characters and layers and layers of different elements.

All the elements blended perfectly well together (except for one little thing- why was Raoul the vamp scared of the zombies!?!? Well, this crossed my mind only for a second before I got caught in the thrill of the moment and my mind moved on to other characters who were literally fighting for their lives (when the story is as good as this, who cares?)

I love myself some badass zombies but this is the first time I actually saw them sympathetically as “victims” and poor sick people who are not someone to be shot or bashed in the head by any/everyone, but a sad bunch of unfortunate people who caught the plague.

http://weknowyourdreams.com/zombies.html
http://weknowyourdreams.com/images/zombies/zombies-07.jpg

By the starting of the end, I was actually feeling sad for all the three creatures- the zombies, the vamps and the werewolves- but by the end, all the other things faded from my mind and I experienced what I really wanted to (and why I really picked this book in the first place)  – a complete monster massacre.

Other Stuff

Opening Line: The sky was a sparkling, power blue, mosquitoes droned lazily over the tepid water, frogs croaked messages while they sunbathed on waxy lilypads.

Memorable Quotes: 

Wyatt looked back at the main area of the park, feeling uneasy he was being led somewhere he shouldn’t be going.

Memorable Paragraphs: 

Wyatt glanced back in his rearview mirror and shifted uncomfortable in his seat, remembering why the sign unnerved him. It bore a stricking resemblance to a picture he has seen in his history book. The words were in German and read Arbeit Macht Frei– Work Makes You Free. It was the entrance to the Auschwitz death camp.

Highlights: Superb concept and amazing execution of all the elements.

Lowlights: None.

Final Thoughts: A must read for paranormal and post-apocalyptic readers.

You can also read this review at Goodreads, Amazon and NetGalley