Calixta

“And this was the first time I died!”

“But if you are a mage and you received your power the second time you died, doesn’t that mean you are now obliged to work for the king?”

(Vanquishers of Alhambra 1) Calixta by Omayra Vélez

My thoughts on Review spoilers, and ratings may be relevant before you venture below --- the spoiler line ---. Click the [Back] button there to return here if you take a look. Review 1250± words

My Rating:

I reluctantly recommended this 3.5 star fantasy romance novel.

Calixta is a whore house madam. Not just any old slut with good management skills. Sold into slavery at 8, she's been trained to be far beyond the best. She speaks, reads, & writes in several languages, talks intelligently about any topic. Her brothel is the best in the Alhambra. And Calixita herself wears the tattoo of an "exotic". Among the most beautiful and most extensively trained in her profession. Few of the royals can afford an hour with her. That was before the first time she died.

Arriving at death's processing center, Calixta did not have the proper items to be processed and was hauled into an emergency meeting with the Virtues. Among these were Wisdom, Justice, Hope, Love, Peace, to name a few. Their job is management on behalf of "Father" (aka "Boss of the Virtues") and these "Virtues" had unusual news for Calixta. She's special; and the dark, painful life she lived wasn't suppose to happen that way, and worse... her mission is not complete. She'll being going back to that body that was just shot in the chest while protecting one of her pregnant girls.

Generally:            ----- Possible Spoiler Line -----
Jadro is high level management of evil incarnate and his boss has high expectations of him conquering the entire world. He's been highly successful. He's already murdered the mentors of Alhambra's Vanquishers who are now almost entirely untrained. Most are unaware of who they are. He's just received information that the third Vanquisher has been identified.

Dark Matter

“Until everything topples, we have no idea what we actually have, how precariously and perfectly it all hangs together.”

“It’s like we get so set in our ways, so entrenched in those grooves, we stop seeing our loved ones for who they are."

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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My Rating:

I recommend this interesting character driven 3.5-star science fiction quasi-quest novel where our protagonist and antagonist is Jason Dessen. Jason is not just Jason. (Yes, sounds confusing. Read it & it's not confusing.)

Our protagonist Jason has chosen a road less traveled. He could have been somebody. Awards, accolades, admiration of his professional peers. No one doubted that Jason was brilliant and likely would fast track to the top. Even Jason knew it and in rare moments regretted it.

Instead of fame and fortune, he chose instead, Danielia and his son Charlie. Rather than winning fantastic awards, being admired as the best among his profession, he chose family nights, wine, and warm fires on cold nights. He'll wash, Danielia can dry the dishes.

What Blake Crouch does in Dark Matter is peek behind this veil we think of as reality.

Generally: --- Possible Spoiler Line ---
There has long been a hypothesis that everything that can happen, has happened. In this theory, every time anyone makes a life altering choice, a new universe is born. Each choice opens a door in a maze of universes.

Warrior Fae Princess

“The lion, the yeti, and the dingy hotel suite,” Charity said as Devon ran right. “One wonders why that never became a beloved children’s book.”

“The time will come when you need to make a choice. ...—to give her a life—you must take the hard road,...”

(Warrior Fae 2) Warrior Fae Princess by K. F. Breene Review

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My Rating:

Recommended 4.5 star fantasy paranormal romance novel. Charity and Devon are our protagonist and co-protagonist in a continuation of the Warrior Fae series, the eighth novel in the Demon Days, Vampire Night world. In this novel we are primarily trying to save Charity from herself. A quest novel.

Additionally, Ms. Breene is beginning to wrap up the multitude of "loose ends" in the Demon Days, Vampire Night world. Eight books into a series "highly recommending" is overkill. If you've read eight, you're mumbling to yourself at this point (04/01/2021), "Can you hurry up, Katie?" Be patient, there is a publish date for Book 9: Revealed in Fire.

Generally: --- Spoiler Line, cross at your own risk ---
Chairty is reaching her magic puberty and her magic is literally knocking people around. Her lack of control of her magic endangers herself and those around her. Much like any teenager, there's emotional chaos going on.

Natural Dual Mage

“Okay, look, I don’t read subtle. What is going on?” I asked, annoyed.

You think Ms. Bristol is bad? Just think what it must be like when your girlfriend’s dad runs hell.” Reagan pushed a glass of whiskey at me.

(Magical Mayhem 3) Natural Dual Mage by K. F. Breene Review

My thoughts on Review spoilers, and ratings may be relevant before you venture below the spoiler line. Click the [Back] button there to return here if you take a look. Review 975± words

My Rating:

I recommend this exciting 3.5 star paranormal romance novel about Penny Bristol, et al in the Demon Days, Vampire Nights World. In book 3 of the Magical Mayhem Trilogy., "Natural Dual Mage", we witness the conclusion of the Penny Bristol coming of age, "is-this-going-to-be-a-tragic-unrequited-love-story-novel"?

An Additional Comment from the Peanut Gallery:
This project evolved beyond it's original scope. Books 1-3 were "The Fire and Ice Trilogy" primarily about Reagan Somerset. Next, the minor "Fire and Ice Trilogy" character, Penny Bristol, gets her own complete spin-off "Magical Mayhem" trilogy. This is where we are at. There are now two books containing "Warrior Fae" in the title and all the books are now in the "Demon Days, Vampire Night" series. The last (unpublished) book appears to return to Fire and Ice protagonist Reagan (if I'm following the gossip correctly.) So if you're confused, as I get at times, the core set of "co-protagonists" and the "world" remain consistent across all the books, but the actual primary protagonist may change from book to book.

Generally: --- Possible Spoiler Line ---
In Natural Dual Mage we open with our protagonist Penny under the influence of her new trainer, the infamous bounty hunter, "homicidal maniac" Reagan Somerset, whom everyone who's read this far, loves dearly. Infamous because Reagan is something like a sexy female cross between "Dog, the bounty hunter", "Hulk Hogan", and Hardluck Hank. All charming, dangerous, and prone to unpredictability.

The Burning God

“Dying was easy. Living was so much harder—that was the most important lesson Altan had ever taught her.”

“Her voice, thin and reedy, faded without echo into the frigid air. But she screamed it again, and then again, and then again. It felt so good to say that she'd survived, that she'd #!@% finally come out on top, that she didn't even care that she was screaming to corpses.”

(Poppy War 3) The Burning God by R. F. Kuang Review

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My Rating:

I highly recommend this 3.5 star novel/trilogy. It's sort of a historical novel, like Outlander, obviously far east of Scotland. The quasi historical fantasy of ancient Asia is expertly woven into a brilliant story about a pantheon of gods. Additionally, it's about how dealing with this pantheon of gods on a personal level makes the characters both powerful and crazy.

Match those powerful crazy god-filled-folks against the techno-advanced first-world-power-society who worship "the one true god" -- generously salt it all with political intrigue, backstabbing, hope, love, clashing of gods and hopelessness, then you've pierced the first level of depth to this trilogy.

Generally: --- Possible Spoiler Line ---
It gets deeper still. Yet, while reading/listening to this final book in the trilogy, The Burning God, I largely felt detached, almost uninterested. I can't identify why I felt this way. I was interested, anxious in all the places I should be, and so on.

Collateral Damage

“No, I’m not okay. Sharon is dead, and I think it was supposed to be me who was killed, not her.”

"They weren't home much."
“Of course they weren’t. They were too busy terrorizing, kidnapping, and killing,” Brooke muttered.

(Danger Never Sleeps 1) Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason

Narrator: Callie Beaulieu

Basic Info: ePub- 30 Chapters, 256 pages. Chirp Audiobook: 8 hours 46½ minutes. Review is 830± words.

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My Rating:

I recommend this 3.5-star suspense, mystery, romance, 'Christian' novel about Military Psychiatrist Captain Brooke Adams and Sergeant First Class Asher James. If you like Brain Freeman's Frost Eastman series or David Archer's Sam Prichard series, you'll like this.

I tried to line up the genre's in the significance of their relevance. Beyond a few (foxhole) prayers and a "Let's pray about it" afterthought I don't think I would add "Christian". The 3.5 star rating (see ratings link above) is probably an injustice. It's not one of my routine genres. I did sincerely enjoy the book and think Callie Beaulieu, audiobook performer, made the experience special.

Generally:
Captain Adams is deployed in a Middle East war zone. She meets with some of her girlfriends to unwind in a café, set on one of the busiest streets in Kabul. She thought The Bistro fare was amazing. Seeing Issiah Michaels, sitting at the bar, upsets her. He had promised to show up at his counseling session and skipped out again. She decides to ignore him and enjoy her time with her friends.

Sergeant First Class James has been ordered to apprehend Isaiah Michaels. He highly doubts he's a traitor as Captain Newell has informed him. He's confident Michaels will be at the small café where he likes the food. He collects his men, plan the mission, and load up in two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) light tactical vehicles and head for the café.

Short of arriving, the first MRAP hits an IED. James and crew in the second MRAP feel the blast

The Dragon Republic

“They believe in a singular and all-powerful deity, which means they cannot accept the truth of other gods. And when nations start to believe that other beliefs lead to damnation, violence becomes inevitable.”

“And you think you're on the brink of madness, you think that this moment is going to be when you finally snap, but it's not.
"How do you know that?"
"Because it gets easier every time. Eventually you learn to exist on the precipice of insanity.”

(Poppy War 2) The Dragon Republic by Rebecca F. Kuang

Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller

Basic Info: Epub via PocketBook Android App has 38 Chapters containing 526 Pages. Audiobook on Smart Audiobook Player Pro: runs 23 hours, 46 minutes, and 9 seconds. The review is 700± words.

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My Rating:

Recommended 4-star novel, The Dragon Republic, a fantasy primarily about Fang Runin (Rin), a war orphan from Rooster Province; commander of the Cike; and the last living Speerly. This is the second book in The Poppy War series taking place in Nikara, a fantasy representation of ancient China.

The Cike, if you only heard the audiobook, never saw the written page, you might think it spelled "The Psyc".

Speerly were a race of people who worshiped a fire god. In this fantasy, their god could and would answer their prayers, conveying to them an ability to wield fire.

The Dragon Republic begins with a prologue you'd only really understand with a remarkable memory towards the end of the novel or if you returned to read it after completing the novel. It was the same in "The Poppy War" as well.

Generally: (Entering Possible Spoiler Zone).
Towards the end of the first book, The Poppy War, Rin had learned some horrible truths about

Fused in Fire

“I smell drunk and look crazy. Trust me. My appearance IS the first line of defense.

What is happening? the vampire thought. Does she not need blood to survive?
“You are like a puzzle. What fun I will have figuring you out.”

(Fire & Ice 3) Fused in Fire by K. F. Breene

Audibook Narrator: Nicole Poole

Basic Info: Epub via PocketBook Android App has 34 Chapters containing 267 Pages. Audiobook on Smart Audiobook Player Pro: runs 9 hours and 9 seconds.

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My Rating:

I would recommend this 4-star fantasy about Reagan Somerset to those who enjoy paranormal romance, humor, and world building that includes nearly all things rumored to exist from Tolkien to Rowling. The Fire and Ice Trilogy is for those who may like werebadgers, werewolves, and vampires, including powerful elder vampires like Vlad and Darius.

If Ms. Breene's Fire and Ice world were on TV it would blend X-files, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with Portland's detective Nick Burkhardt, one of the last Grimm's to confront the wild "Wessen" of Portland Oregon.

No offense to the cameo appearances of minor species like unicorns, dragons, T-Rex, or beloved evil clown demons. You may be surprised to find common goats and llama grazing unconcerned in the hallucinogenic wilds of hell, however.

Generally: (Entering Possible Spoiler Zone).
Our protagonist is Reagan Somerset who appears to be a rather unpredictable human female

The Poppy War

“What’s the worst that could happen?” “You’re so young,” he said softly. “You have no idea.”

“Great danger is always associated with great power. The difference between the great and the mediocre is that the great are willing to take the risk.”

(Poppy War 1) The Poppy War by Rebecca F. Kuang

Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller
Basic Info: Epub via PocketBook Android App: 39 Chapters, 274 Pages - Audiobook by Brickshop Audio Inc. 09:33:57. Review approximately 1,000 words.

An important note on Review spoilers, and ratings. Back button to return here.

My Rating:

The Poppy War was highly recommended to me. I liked it. I recommend it, and think you'd enjoy this fantastic coming of age, heroic journey novel based in a multicultural-mythologies set in a historic China type setting.

The Poppy War fictionalizes historic conflicts between Japan and China. It throws in Greek and other mythologies into the fantastic theological beliefs portrayed in this story. Most of the names have been changed to protect historic mythology and historic accuracy.

Best of all, to me, The Poppy War is a character driven fantasy. You'll care about the characters more than the fantasy or mythology, which is also entertaining.

Raised in Fire

“You are wearing a leather outfit with a sword, gun, and fanny pack strapped to your person. What about that look says nice girl?”

“I probably will see humor in someone kicking your ass. But I promise to avenge you right after I stop laughing.”

(Fire & Ice 2) Raised in Fire by K. F. Breene Review

Narrated by: Nicole Poole

You can find where to purchase it from Katie's website

Adroid Pocketbook App - e-book Chapters-37±2 Pages-274, Audiobook 09:33:57 by Brickshop Audio Inc.

My Rating:

An important note on Review spoilers. Back button to return here.

Recommended 3.5 star paranormal romance novel. That description and rating doesn't suit though as the romancee is a woman bounty hunter who stops bad magical people, beings, and demons. She's called in when the supernatural cops and others who deal with these things find themselves against something truly unholy. I sort of think of her as a special woman "Dog the Bounty Hunter".