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.

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

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 800± words.

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.

Warrior Fae Trapped

“Well, didn’t you find yourself a handsome young man? Congratulations. Just remember, they don’t come trained. You have to do that yourself.”

Macy stepped up next to Charity. “How are you doing?” “If I said ‘fine,’ would you believe me?” “If I said ‘yes,’ would you believe me?”

(Warrior Fae 1) Warrior Fae Trapped 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 1200± words.

My Rating:

Recommend this 4.5 star paranormal fantasy romance novel primarily about Charity, our protagonist, a girl from the under belly of Chicago. Raised by a violent alcoholic father, and mother who abandoned her when she was 16. Determined, Charity not only survives but wins a scholarship to UC of Santa Cruz where we eventually meet our co-protagonist Devon, who had a workaholic father, and mother who rejected him as her own blood in his hour of need.

This is the 7th book in the Demon Days, Vampire Nights (DDVN) world, and the first book focusing on this set of characters, Warrior Fae 1? K. F. Breene has not disappointed. Once I finished the "Fire and Ice" Trilogy focused on Reagan Somerset, I doubted Ms. Breene could equal that literary work in her "Magical Mayhem" Trilogy that focused on Penny Bristol. In this first book about Fae in the DDVN World, K. F. Breene reached new depths of connecting readers with her co-protagonists.

After finishing this book in under 24 hours, I've struggled with the decision to wait, or immediately re-read the entire series.

Generally: --- Possible Spoiler Line ---
Sam, who took in Charity as one of her pet projects is one of the rich beautiful people on campus. Unlike her rich beautiful friend, Charity wasn't in college to party and have a good time. Her full scholarship was her ticket to a life unlike her childhood.

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.

Natural Witch

“We don’t get to choose what we’re given, but we do get to choose what we make of it,”

"Although running over a few dead guys wasn’t nearly as bad as turning women into zombies. It was all about perspective."

(Magical Mayhem 1) Natural Witch by K. F. Breene

You may want to know my thoughts on Review spoilers, and ratings before you go beyond "Generally". Click the [Back] button there to return here

My Rating:

Recommended 4-star fantasy novel taking place in the Demon Days, Vampire Nights World . Book 1 of the Magical Mayhem Trilogy. "Natural Witch" primarily features Penelope Bristol as our "coming of age" natural witch and Emery Westbrook, a natural mage.

Remember Penny? Well, let me recommend the Fire and Ice Trilogy if that name isn't sounding familiar. I would recommend you read that trilogy first. It isn't entirely necessary. If you do read that trilogy first, when folks like Reagan, Callie, Dizzie, and Darius pop up you'll be feeling the thrill of old friends making cameo appearances. I've reviewed all three on Goodreads, Sagely Fox on Blogspot.com or my Sagely Fox 2021 Reviews Page.

“Celebrate your differences. It is remarkable to be unique in a world of the mundane. You are one in a million.”

Generally: --- spoiler's allowed line -- continue at your own risk ---
Penny, having always sensed the supernatural, always being able to trust her intuition, on a whim, books a seminar on magic in Louisiana. She shows up, and you're treated to a scene out straight out of "Raised in Fire" (if memory serves). Except in this case you'll be witnessing it from Penny's point of view instead of Reagan's point of view.

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".

Born in Fire by K. F. Breene

(Fire & Ice Trilogy 1) Born in Fire: Ebook: 26 Chapters, 259 pages (Pocketbook Pro app),
Audiobook: 10:24:10 

Audiobook Narrator: Nicole Poole

For spoiler sales blurbs, which I attempt to avoid. Read the sales blurbs at Goodreads, Bookbub, or Amazon Ebook & Amazon Whispersync Audio or your favorite book source

(Fire & Ice Trilogy 1) Born in Fire by K. F. Breene

My Rating:

I recommend you put Ms. Breene on your "To Read" list. I've read at least 10 of her books, many of them twice. I've not found one I would not recommend.

First, thanks Katie for Born In Fire. I haven't laughed so hard since Don Quioxte in 2019.

Generally:
Our protagonist is Reagan. Reagan isn't easy to like at first. She comes off a bit pretentious. No worries. I've learned to trust Ms. Breene.

Reagan is a bounty hunter in New Orleans. She was strutting down Bourbon Street in her black army boots, made for kicking in teeth, black leather pants with gun holstered on her leg, and a sword strapped to her back. A little girl broke away from her parents and ran towards her. She stopped to pick up a string of pink beads on the street. After picking them up she said to Reagan, "Pink's my favorite color."

Reagan stared back at her, struck mute. Then replied, "Mine too." The little girl smiled and ran back toward her parents.

"So is mine?" She thought, "No way!", but worse, "Why wasn't that kid afraid of her?"

The Viscount's Son

The Viscount's Son by Aderyn Wood

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Odd format. The book is written as an online blog. I liked it, (three stars), and recommend it. This is a paranormal romance novel. I would classify it as a prequel to "The Viscount's Son Trilogy" but that would require another book that doesn’t exist to my knowledge so it IS the first book in the trilogy.

At first, my reaction was, “Oh hell, here we go with a new thing in actual book writing.” I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

A museum book conservator named Emma says she decided to translate the seemingly dark tale of a 16th century Latin diary, and transcribe it in this blog. One of her co-workers has already determined the book a fake, so Emma doesn't feel it is an ethical violation to share her translation online anonymously.