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urban fantasy

reviews December 20, 2021

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis

In the quiet streets of Prague all manner of mysterious creatures lurk in the shadows. Unbeknownst to its citizens, their only hope against the tide of predators are the dauntless lamplighters – secret elite of monster hunters whose light staves off the darkness each night. Domek Myska leads a life teeming with fraught encounters with the worst kind of evil: pijavice, bloodthirsty and soulless vampiric creatures. Despite this, Domek finds solace in his moments spent in the company of his friend, the clever and beautiful Lady Ora Fischerová – a widow with secrets of her own.

When Domek finds himself stalked by the spirit of the White Lady – a ghost who haunts the baroque halls of Prague castle – he stumbles across the sentient essence of a will-o’-the-wisp captured in a mysterious container. Now, as its bearer, Domek wields its power, but the wisp, known for leading travellers to their deaths, will not be so easily controlled.

After discovering a conspiracy amongst the pijavice that could see them unleash terror on the daylight world, Domek finds himself in a race against those who aim to twist alchemical science for their own dangerous gain. (publisher)

In 19th century Prague, Domek Myska is a lamplighter, which is an organization that hunts monsters. They also light the streetlamps of Prague. He has a very black and white view of the world. Monsters = bad. There are no shades of grey for him. Then there is Ora Fischerová, a pijavice (vampire). Ora has been avoiding the company of other pijavice for decades and was married to a human but is now a widow. They’ve been flirting for a while, and Domek is none too happy when he finds out that Ora is a monster he’s supposed to hunt.

I don’t think I’ve read a book set in Prague before so that was a nice change.
For the majority of the book, Domek makes stupid choices because he thinks he’s the only one who’s right and has morals. Sees only black and white and jumps to conclusions because of that. At times, it felt like he was a bit too naïve. Ora makes him see some shades of grey too.

But despite those few gripes, this was a very enjoyable debut. For some reason, I’m having trouble finding something to say about it… But it truly was a good book.

3,5/4

Published: Titan Books (May 25, 2021)
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley

reviews October 17, 2013

Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook

Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook

In these four original novellas, readers follow paranormal bodyguards into Lucifer’s realm, where they’ll encounter his fearsome four-legged pets; seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non-lethal vampire trackers, one who intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers; find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world; and embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind-and damn sexy-companion and a hellhound. (Goodreads)

 
 

The Britlingens Go To Hell by Charlaine Harris
Batanya and Covache kind of bodyguards who are contracted by a customer to guard him on a way to Hell. He stole something from Lucifer on his last trip but left there while escaping and now goes to collect it.

There was witches, magic, hellhounds and things happened. Can’t really say anything more about that one. Definitely the weakest one on this book.

Angel’s Judgment by Nalini Singh
Deacon is a Slayer who works for the Guild and his job is a secret and only few people know about it.  There were angels, vampires and hellhound…

I’ve never read any of her books before but I think this was a prequel to her Guild Hunter Series. I liked this but I think it would have given more if I had read the series. But I liked Deacon and Sara together and I’ll definitely keep this series in mind. And I think I have the first book somewhere…

Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews 
This takes place after Magic Strikes and Kate is still recovering and Andrea is covering for her at the Order. There’s three-headed Cerberus, Hades’ hellhound, on the loose and Andrea promises to help catch it. Unfortunately for her, she has to do it with Raphael…

This was the reason why I read this book and it didn’t disappointed. It was great to learn more about them and how they become a pair. And you see softer and more vulnerable side of Aunt B too.

Blind Spot by Meljean Brook
Maggie is former CIA operative who must protect Geoff and save his sister Katherine. There’s family secret involved and Maggie’s innocence to prove.

This was another author I haven’t read before but I was surprised how much I liked this. I think this is part of a series but it was easy to follow even though I haven’t read the series. I’m curious to know how Geoff’ and Maggie’s relationship grows from this and to learn more about Geoff’s uncle.

4/5

Published: Berkley (2010)
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 320
Source: my own

reviews August 10, 2013

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels 5.5) by Ilona Andrews

After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend.

When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world… (Goodreads)

After Andrea Nash was kicked out from the Order and breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s trying to find new direction in her life. Then several shapeshifters die and it’s her job to find who is responsible. To make matters more difficult she must work with her former lover whose workmen were killed.

I’ve liked Andrea before so I was happy that she got her own book. I like her relationship with Raphael and we get to know Raphael bit more in this book. It was nice to see there’s more to him than being Aunt B’s pretty boy whom women drools after. And we learn more about Andrea’s past and we get to see someone from her past. And I’m starting to think Ascanio is adorable. Too many hot men here…

The book was action-packed as all Andrews’ s books are but not as action-packed as Kate books. At least it felt to me like that. Can’t wait for her next book.

4/5
Published: Ace (2012)
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 434
Source: my own

reviews August 9, 2013

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels 4) by Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels keeps the peace in Atlanta for the Order, humans caught between the vampire controlling People led by her biological father and best kept secret, Roland, and the shape-shifter Pack, led by her mate-to-be Curran, the Lord of the Beasts. But her look-alike aunt Erra, Babylon’s god of chaos and terror, has come to town controlling seven naked warriors: Deluge (flood water), Tremor (earth quake), Gale (hurricane wind), Torch (fire inferno), Venom (disease poison), Beast (animal monster), and Darkness (overpowering dread). (Goodreads)

The book starts where the last one ended. Kate is preparing a dinner for Curran as a payment for a lost bet, but then he never shows up. She’s furious but decides to act like nothing happened. Then villain comes around who plans on getting rid of the shapeshifters.

Let me start this by saying that now I’m officially Curran fangirl. And maybe just a bit Jim, and teeny tiny bit Derek…. Okay moving on…

We finally see some progressing on Kate’s and Curran’s relationship even though I’m sad we don’t see the dinner she promised to make. That would have been entertaining. Kate seems to grow as a person in every book and Curran is trying to learn to share and both are trying very hard making it work.

We learn more about Kate’s family and that’s always interesting stuff. Can’t wait for Kate to meet her dad one day.

I’m starting to run out of ways to describe the awesomeness of this series but I really loved this. There was more of Curran but less of Derek and I’m starting to hope more of Jim in future books. Oh the problem of too many hot men!

4,5/5
Published: Ace (2010)
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 349
Source: my own

reviews August 8, 2013

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels 3) by Ilona Andrews

When her werewolf friend Derek is discovered half dead, Kate Daniels knows that she cannot rest until she neutralizes his attackers. Her hunt for the culprits ultimately leads her to the Midnight Games, an invitation-only, no-holds-barred paranormal fighting tournament. Magically appealing. (Goodreads)

Kate gets a call from the shapechanger Saiman that he’s got Kate’s werewolf sidekick Derek after he tried to break into his home. In exchange to Derek’s freedom Kate agrees to go to Midnight Games, highly illegal tournament to death, as Saiman’s date. Derek won’t tell why he tried to steal Saiman’s tickets but makes her promise to deliver a message to a girl in the Games without reading it first. Kate does as she promised but it comes with a price as she comes too late to Derek’s rescue and finds him nearly beaten to death, unable to shapeshift nor heal himself.

At first I have to say that this was the book that made me love this serie for sure! I’ve liked the previous books but this is by far the best so far.

There’s lot of action and ass kicking and I loved it. Kate seems to have matured a bit and started to care for others more. I loved how she went to Julie’s rescue to the school. Relationship between Kate and Curran takes to another level and the bath scene *drools* I like that the relationship is building in stages and she’s not just jumping into his bed at first chance.

I laughed aloud many times and the book is great mix of humour and action.

I found myself to become more curious of Jim too. It’s not easy when there’s too many hot men there! And poor, poor Derek!

I admit that everyone was right, these books just gets better.

4,5/5
Published: Gollancz (2010)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 310
Source: my own