Review: Street Magic (Black London #1) by Caitlin Kittredge

 Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life  mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete’s eyes—or so she thought. Now a detective, Pete is investigating the case of a young girl kidnapped from the streets of London. A tipster’s chilling prediction has led police directly to the child…but when Pete meets the informant, she’s shocked to learn he is none other than Jack. Strung out on heroin, Jack a shadow of his former self.  But he’s able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget’s kidnappers are hiding: in the supernatural shadow-world of the fey.  Even though she’s spent years disavowing the supernatural, Pete follows Jack into the invisible fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget—and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago

I'd seen a review for this somewhere (most probably Goodreads) and it instantly caught my attention. It sounded dark and gritty, both of which I really love so I kinda had high hopes.

We meet Pete in the middle of a case where children are going missing. It felt like I'd been dumped in the middle of something and didn't know what the hell was going on, but saying that, that can be a usual thing for me. And although I liked Pete right away I Initially I found the 3rd person narration a little confusing. I don't normally, but for some reason I did while reading this.

I was disappointed to be honest. Street Magic had everything I like but it never got me excited. There was just something missing that I can't put my finger on. I don't know whether it was the fact that Jack was a heroin addict, or that there was no spark between the two, I just don't know. And I don't just mean a romantic spark SPOILER (scroll to see) incidentally, I really didn't understand why she'd offer to die for him. Up to that point it came across as she really didn't care for him at all END SPOILER. 

I need to mention the swear words. They were so distracting. On one page it would be all Wankstick, demon-buggering gits, then on the next it would be fucking cunts and dickheads. You either commit to swearing or you don't. The strange mix of hard and soft swear words just sounded stupid. 

Also I never really believed that they were in London. The story could have took place anywhere really. I first thought that it was maybe it was London USA until Big Ben chimed. But I never really felt it but that could be just my predjuice. If I think of London I think dank and dark Jack the ripper London. 

I never connected with Jack and I know it's not the actual drug theme as I never had a problem with the drug use in the Downside Ghost series. It's because he's a heroin addict. It's just a dirty stanky drug. I think if he'd had an addiction to a fictional drug, or pills, or anything else but heroin I would have felt differently but I just didnt like him because of that drug, and couldn't take to him on an emotional level. I've already said that I liked Pete, and I did at the start but Jesus H Christ what a nag she was. I felt like yelling for her just to stop. She didn't shut up whinging and moaning and after a while it wore on my nerves a bit. 

I just didn't become emotionally engaged in the two leads or the story at all. Not at any point of the story did I feel like I knew what the hell was going on, even the magic was confusing and wasn't very visual. The second half of the book was much better than the first but it wasn't enough. I will read the 2nd book in the series though. I thought it was okay (I did finish it) but I had issues with it. I'm sorry I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. 

Rating: 3/6 - it was okay

Review: Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job. 

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate. 

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price.

I re-read the first 4 books in the Kate Daniels series in January (for the 3rd time). Mistakenly thinking this was due out the beginning of February. I was wrong and I was only slightly annoyed that I had to wait another few months (yeah this review is kinda old).


I love this series. I love Kate and Curran, and I love Ilona Andrews. Although I didn't get ecstatic over the scenes from Curran's pov, I did enjoy them.


Magic Slays was released on the same day as Kiss of Snow, the 10th Psy-Changling book, and another favourite series of mine. I ended up reading Kiss of Snow first because I've been impatiently waiting for that one for what felt like ages, but that's neither here nor there regarding my preference.


The one thing about this series I'd forgotten about was the humour. In those short months I forgot how funny these books were. As with the other books, Magic Slay had me laughing out loud. I love Kate's and Curran's relationship and how they bounce off each other. The one thing that jumped out at me though was how violent they can be together when Kate is super angry. They get very physical and sometimes it's hard to read.


As usual the story felt very visual. I love the world building of this series, and Andrew's ability to put you in her world so easily.


A great read, and if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?


Rating: 6/6 - It Was Amazing

Review: Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1) by Kalayna Price

As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead-she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why.

I saw this book a while ago on a book blog or Goodreads, I forget which and I managed to picked it up a few weeks ago. It was the cover that caught my eye originally but the story also sounded really interesting so I didn't wait too long before starting it.

Alex is a grave witch. She can raise and speak to the dead but she goes near blind afterwards. I really liked that using her grave sight had a price -I not sure why I like the fact that she became vulnerable, but I did. She isn't stupid and that is a big plus for me. There’s nothing I dislike more than an annoyingly stupid heroine (coughMacfromDarkfevercough). Okay she rushes ahead sometimes and that can get her into trouble, but you can see why she couldn't wait around so it's easy to let that go.

Death (a sole collector only Alex seems to be able to see), and Falin (a police detective) are the two love interests and I liked them both. I felt that Death could have played a bigger part in the whole scheme of things than he did but because there was a lot more of Falin, it was him I felt I 'knew' better so was rooting for him throughout.

It was very easy to get into and the writing was really good. Alex is a rounded character and very likable. Death was cool but Falin was sexy.

I couldn't put it down. I really, really enjoyed it.

A great start to a promising series.

Rating: 5/6 - Really liked it

Review: The good, the bad, and the Undead (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows #2) by Kim Harrison

Description (from Goodreads)

Rachel Morgan s back, and in more trouble than ever! Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and other vampire novels won t want to miss the second novel in Kim Harrison s addicting--and already bestselling--supernatural series.

Former-bounty-hunter Rachel Morgan has it pretty good. She s left the corrupt Inderland Runner Service and started her own independent service. She s survived werewolves, shape-changing demons, bad-hair days, and sharing a church with her vampire roommate Ivy. She even has a cute (if human) boyfriend-what more could a witch want?

But living with a reformed vampire isn t all it s cracked up to be, particularly when your roommate s very bad ex-boyfriend wants her back, and wouldn t mind you in the process. And especially when he s six feet of sheer supernatural seduction, and you ve got a demon mark that makes vampires literally hotter than hell....

To save herself and Ivy, Rachel must confront the vampire master-and the dark secrets she's hidden even from herself.

I struggled to get to grips with the first couple of pages. It felt like I was just dumped straight into the thick of it and it took me a few pages to catch up. This happened with the first book, but I kinda guess that's the effect Harrison's after. Its one of the first elements of story telling we're taught in school after all; put the reader straight into the middle of the action. But when there's so much mundane detail right at the beginning it confuses me, well it does with Hollow books. But I'm nitpicking.

What I'm loving about this series so far are the vampires. They are scary! These aren't loveable rouges, no they are scary motherfuckers and I love it. Ivy especially. God when she blows she blows evil on your ass. She's so calm that it's chilling.

I know what was missing from the first book! Romance! I'm glad it finally made an appearance here. During the first half I didn't feel the chemistry between nick and Rachel at all (maybe because there wasn't any). I even though for a brief moment that she may have got on it with Glenn (lol). I'm glad we saw a bit more of their relationship (her and Nicks).

I found myself skim reading parts of the last quarter of the book, though. I think mainly it was because the action (tension?) scenes were littered with other little details that I got distracted. I was rushing to get to the important bits.

I really liked the plot, and enjoyed the book as a whole. I wish there was less mundane detail though. It clogs up the action and distracts me. It's for that reason this gets a 5 and not a 6.

I'm still looking forward to reading the next book though.

Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked It

Review: Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3) by Chloe Neill

Description (from Goodreads)

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire.

To be honest I deleted this review by mistake and I can't remember for the life of me what the hell I wrote. I've read loads of books since, and with my shitty memory I can't remember much about it. That's not a slight on the book, only on my memory. I do remember that I really enjoyed, and I'd even go as far as saying that it's my favourite one. I loved the action with the werewolves (yes I remember the weres :).

I even kinda like Ethan now.

Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked It

Review: Friday Night Bites (Chigagoland Vampires #2) by Chloe Neill

Description (from Goodreads)

Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they're enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But should people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle-the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.

So now it's up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn't want peace between them-someone with an ancient grudge.

Again there's not much action within the first 2/3's of the book . It's just as enjoyable without it, actually no, it needs the action but I enjoyed reading the non action as much as the action. If ya know what I mean. It all flowed nicely.

I got half way through before I began hoping the word Chagrin stopped popping up without warning, it was getting distracting.

All in all though it was a great read. I definitely read this one again.

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It

Review: Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires #1)

Description (from Goodreads)

First in a brand new series about a Chicago graduate student's introduction into a society of vampires.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war and there will be blood.

I picked this up after I'd finished reading At a Grave's End earlier than expected. I was filling time before finishing the Night Huntress series ready for book 6 (This Side of the Grave) which was out on the 22nd :D

I found Some Girls Bite a little confusing at first and I wondered if I'd missed an earlier short or something, but it didn't take long for me to get into the swing of things and found myself getting gentle sucked in.

There is loads of banter and it made me laugh out loud a lot. I could read Merit's pov forever. The action doesn't come until 3/4 of the way in, but I found that I didn't mind, nor did I particularly notice and that's because of Merit's engaging pov.

I didn't particularly like Ethan and I didn't get Merit's attraction to him. He just seemed an ass.  Morgan seemed a little  more rounded. Team Morgan all the way :)

All in all it was an enjoyable romp and I can't wait to read the next installment.

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It

Review: Stormwalker by Allyson James

Janet Begay is a Stormwalker, capable of wielding the raw elemental power of nature, a power that threatens to overwhelm her. Only her lover, Mick, is able to calm the storm within her-even as their passion reaches unimaginable heights of ecstasy. 

But when an Arizona police chief's daughter is taken by a paranormal evil, they find themselves venturing where no human can survive-for only together can they overcome the greatest danger they've ever faced.

I'd just finished Archangel's Consort and was looking through my To-Read List trying to decide which book to go for next. Then one of the con's of having a To-Read List/Pile bit me on the ass; I always forget how a book ends up on the list or what caught my attention about it in the first place. I managed to whittle my choice down the 3. Darkfever, Stormwalker, and Fallen. Finally I settled on Stormwalker.

I loved the cover and I think it was that which ultimately made up my mind for me.

Janet is half Navajo (fathers side), and more importantly, a Stormwalker. She is able to draw magic from a storm. We are placed immediately into the action as Janet battles with a Skinwalker (no not the loveable Jane Yellowrock!). Calling on a nearby storm to aid her she wins the fight, which she suffers for afterwards. It's an impressive start, and one I don't instantly dislike! We learn straight away that like Allie Beckstrom, Janet has parent issues, but it's Mother issues this time. By chapter 2 we've also met Nash, an annoying Unbeliever who has it in for Janet right from the off.

As much as I thought the first half of this was an enjoyable, easy read, there were elements that stopped me from enjoying it too much; I didn't like the flashback style at all, surely this information could have been slipped in some other way? I also really disliked the original meeting between Janet and Mick. It didn't do anything to make me like the characters, in fact I think I liked them less after reading it. I started losing interest around chapter 11 but thankfully it picked up again around chapter 15, but by then I'd stopped caring. I had to force myself to keep reading, and to be truthful I skim-read the rest.

All the way through it just felt as if I was being told a story. I don't like being told, I want to see. I couldn't connect with the characters at all. I was slightly disappointed after what was a promising first couple of chapters.

Saying all that, it was okay. The beginning and the end were better than the middle which kinda dragged. I didn't really dislike it I just stopped caring. The action towards the end was good but I don't know whether or not I'd read the next book, Firewalker. I have it already on my kindle. I most probably will at some point seeing as I have it already.

Rating: 3/6 - It Was Okay

Review: Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom #5) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Allie Beckstrom's lover, Zayvion Jones, is a Guardian of the Gate, imbued with both light and dark magic and responsible for ensuring that those energies don't mix. But Zayvion lies in a coma, his soul trapped in death's realm. And when Allie discovers that the only way to save Zayvion is to sacrifice her very own magical essence, she makes a decision that may have grave consequences for the entire world.

Before I go on I have to just say, in case you get the wrong idea, that I'm still very much invested in this series. I'm just finding it easier to say what I don't like about it than what I do.

Magic at the Gate is book 5 of the Allie Beckstrom series. Again it's Allies inability to trust or listen to her dad that grated a little in the first 1/3 of this book. It slowly got worse as the story unfolded. Yes I know she could end up being right eventually; that daddy dearest could very well end up hurting her and her friends, but there has been tender moments from his part, yet she doesn't even acknowledge them. Even when she has memories of him missing meetings to be with her on her birthday (there were a few other memories that proves this point but i forget), yet she pays them no attention. I rolled my eyes for most of the first 1/3 of the book. I was hoping she'd have learnt to listen a bit more or at least get her priorities right (particularly at the end of chapter 17. I was praying that Shame would flip her off) but even though my frustration made me pause many times, it didn't stop me putting it down for good. I'm still interested. I just wish she'd stop pissing me off so much. I devoured books 2,3, and 4, and this one has been great in parts but if I'm being completely honest, she's kinda ruining it a little for me now. And as much as I love Shame (including his history and relationship with Terric) , I found I was missing Zay. He was absent for the majority of this book and for that I was a little sad.

Saying that, I would really really enjoy reading a Shame/Terric/Stone spin-off :D

Rating: 4/6 - liked it

Review: Magic on the storm (Allie Beckstrom #4) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path.

Magic on the Storm has a kick ass ending, but let me start at the beginning :) Book 4 is nearly as good as book 3, not quite but nearly. The continued history of Magic is really fascinating, and the world building still vivid. The on-coming storm keeps the pace moving along quite nicely although I found it a little anti climatic towards the end, and although I could see the ending coming a mile off, it didn't dampen my enjoyment of it at all. Not my favourite in the series but not the least either.

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It

Review: Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom #2) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.

Magic in the Blood is the 2nd book in the Allie Beckstrom Series . I was really looking forward to reading it so started it right after I finished the first book and I was not disappointed. It starts where Magic to the Bone finishes, and I liked that it does. I prefer this to the story jumping a year later or something as some other books do. I was a little frustrated that Allie couldn't remember her relationship with Zay though, but I guess that's that's Monk's aim; for us to feel Allie's frustration. It was good to see under Zay's zen and see a little of his pain at her memory loss, it made his character slightly more three dimensiona. He's still mysterious and I'm hoping that Monk has something big in store for us in the future regarding this. I really don't know who to trust though, and that includes Allie. I don't trust her or her judgment, and I definitely don't trust her to make the right decisions. However, we knew she was flawed from book 1. She even knows she is. I just hope that during the next few books she learns to listen before she gets someone killed.

Rating: 5/6 - Really liked it

Review: Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom #1) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy-tale, hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o, sparkles and pixie dust crap. Magic, like booze, sex, and drugs, gave as good as it got.

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user - maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they Offload the cost onto innocents. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster - and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is.

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune - and the strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magic Offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic.

Now Allie's out for the truth - and must call upon forces that will challenge everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine ... and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control.

I started Magic to the Bone last week but was distracted by the sheer amount of books I had around me. I really didn't know which one to choose and kept flitting from one to another. I picked it up again a few days later.

The first 6 chapters didn't light my fire, although it was nowhere as near as frustrating as Nightwalker. I'd read a review somewhere which described it as dark but to be honest I found it a bit fluffy (I'm still talking about the first few chapters). I prefer my stories/series a little dark and gritty but I didn't dislike this enough to stop reading, but then again I'm renowned for disliking the first half of the first book in every series I read -I almost stopped reading Halfway to the Grave because Bones' accent was getting on my nerves and now that's my favourite series EVER.

Chapter 7 is where things take a turn for the better. Then that was it, I couldn't put it down. Everything just got better. I enjoyed the relationship between Allie and Zay. I have to admit though that Allie frustrates me a little, but I'm hoping that she's grow over the next few books. I have now read the first 3 books and it is now on my favourite series list.

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It