To Kill a Fae (Dragon Portal #1)

If one more person questions me, people are going to start dying.

Available at Amazon.com

To Kill a Fae
Jamie A. Waters
Dragon Portal, book one
Kindle Edition, 338 pages
Published September 26, 2019
ASIN B07TW9JG8N
ISBN 9781949524178
Amazon Free Read

The darkness holds more than just secrets...

Marked for death, Sabine escaped from her home more than ten years ago.

But the Wild Hunt will never give up.

It should have been easy to stay hidden. All Sabine had to do was keep her head down, avoid telling anyone about her past, and above all else -- not let her glamour drop.

Even the best-laid plans eventually fall apart.

When a charismatic stranger arrives in the city, Sabine finds herself unwittingly drawn to him and the power she can sense hidden within him. Keeping her distance is nearly impossible, especially after a life debt is called due and she’s tasked into helping steal a rare artifact.

Sabine is the only one who can break the magical barriers protecting the item, but that means revealing the truth about her identity and exposing her darkest secrets.

Unfortunately, the Fae aren’t the only ones hunting her.

And the most dangerous monsters aren’t always confined to the dark.

When Sabine is attacked by four men looking for a payout for her assassination, she makes quick work of two. The third manages to draw blood but is easily dispatched alongside his companions. When she turns for the fourth, Sabine discovers him in a pool of blood at the feet of a stranger.

A tall, dark-haired, lethal male with a deep blue aura being escorted by the town goblin? Things just got interesting.

Malek Rish'dan. Captain Malek Rish'dan. A man who possesses Fae knowledge without any Fae appearance. Not quite human but something else Sabine can't pinpoint. A man with sensitivity to magic, or so she summizes as he tracks her glamouring her assailant's tattoos and enchanting a wooden coin for a lanky child on the street.

Sabine's power had called to him from the moment of his ship's arrival at the dock. When she offers to honor the debt of his aide, he strategically negotiates a simple dinner.

To ask for more than what's due would have negated the debt entirely.

In a world with demons and trolls, goblins and fae, it's Sabine whose spoken name silences a room. No one dares cross her. No one dares touch her. If she isn't enough of a threat on her own, then it's the demon, Dax, whose protection she is under that would give them pause. If not him, then surely his estranged brother, Bane. Heads of the thieves guild and assassins guild, respectively.

When the goblin, Pozgil, informs Dax of the attack against Sabine it becomes clear that heads are going to roll and limbs are going to tear.

When Dax finds Sabine's mark on Malek's wrist the threat of violence is just as imminent.

The book occasionally shifts from Sabine to Malek's POV and it's a feature I adored because Sabine can't fingure him out. And even Malek withholds his true identity and intentions from the reader for most of the story.

Leave it to Bane to finally solve the mystery.

Malek is a dragon. Not the average ship captain nor common smuggler. He's hunting Fae artifacts to mend the failing seal on the closed portal. Should it fall completely, war will return to their kinds.

This is a good read for anyone into kickass females surrounded by overprotective alpha males and all the pixies, witches, goblins, demons, and dragons one could hope for. That said, it's merely an introduction to the series that will span about six books. This installment ends just as Sabine's twin brother, Rhys, has recalled the Wild Hunt to track her down. He wants her dead in order to claim the magic he believes her existence has stolen from him. Sabine, accompanied by Bane, flees Akros aboard Malek's ship and that's where book one closes.

Without waiting for a response, she turned away from the demon and walked toward a dragon. And behind her, the city continued to burn.

Dax. Bane. Jacoby. This author watches a lot of American television. Malek. Riven. Rhys. Now she's just teasing outright.

3 out of 5 stars.



Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

The Devil You Know (Mercenary Librarians #2)

I don't know how to flirt.
I only know how I feel.

Available at Amazon.com

The Devil You Know
Kit Rocha
Mercenary Librarians, book two
Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Audiobook, 13+ hours
First published August 31, 2021

Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there’s only one thing she can’t do—forget.

Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can’t escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered.

When Maya’s team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she’ll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps.

And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.

The series continues with Gray and Maya's story although everyone else gets just as much page time.

Nina and Knox are still the beloved alpha pair taking care of everyone and out to save every lost and wounded soul in Atlanta.

Rafe and Dani bicker as usual as they fight off their mutual attraction to another.

Conall remains. Ava visits. And Mace is alive!

We also add another few characters to the cast and finally kill off a high ranking villain. But the story rolls on in the next installment.

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Previously in the series:

Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal #1)

I will sleep wherever you want me to.
Whether it’s on the floor or in the dirt or in your bed...

Available at Amazon.com

Metal Slinger
Rachel Schneider
Fire & Metal, book one
Kindle Edition, 497 pages
First published May 12, 2024
ISBN 9798324986469

Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.

Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.

Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.

When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…

…including her heart.

Brynn is a proud member of the Alaha, a people banished to life on ships after losing the war so many years ago. It's tradition, however, for the graduating class, those coming of age, to be allowed to come to shore and visit the annual Markets. They get just one day.

It's a day Brynn has been anticipating for forever. It's also the day her best friend, Kai, has chosen to reveal to her that he's asked his parents' permission to choose her at the Matching Ceremony.

But Kai is the Captain's son. And Brynn is an urchin. Not the most ideal match. And he'd never even hinted of his affection for her before that moment. So, she bolts...

Into the crowd of the Market, lost among the Kenta and their strange clothes. The women in their richly colored skirts and dresses. The soldiers in their metal helmets with just the slightest slits with which to see.

Soon enough, she catches someone's eyes. Someone she's noticed before. Someone who's following her.

Dark hair, dark eyes, a gold ring in one nostril. Lips I somehow know often say crude things-or maybe it's his entire demeanor that tells me that, but there's something inherently vulgar in his beauty.

Color me intrigued.

Brynn attempts to lose her stalker but sure enough she gets caught, and accused of being a thief. As disorienting as it was to be dropped into mid conversation with the very first line of this book, the turn a nice trip to the markets took into a wild chase was just as jolting.

He orders the command into my ear for only me to hear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Place your hand against the stone.” He’s not simply playing games with me like I had suspected.

I shake my head despite the sting of the blade. “Why are you doing this?”

He’s done waiting for me to comply. Instead, he uses his free hand to grab mine and places my trembling palm against the warm stone, his hand covering mine.

Pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt before lances through my body. Heat sears my arm and my chest, down my body and into my legs. It’s like a live current, similar to the electric eels found in the coral outside Alaha, but times a thousand. I scream.

Then, in the span of a blink, it’s over.

…

I look up, up, up and into the soldier’s face. He looks as stunned as I feel, eyes wide as he stares down at me, breath frozen in his chest.

Kai’s voice shouts over the gathered voices. “Let her go!”

But the soldier doesn’t break eye contact with me, something between awe and fear staring back at me.

“I said,” Kai demands, the voice he rarely uses silencing the crowd. “Let her go.”

The soldier is slow to turn, head swiveling in Kai’s direction before his gaze slides away from me, face transforming from awestruck to cold as he looks at Kai. “That won’t work on me,” he says, voice low and undeterred. “You have no power here.”

I struggle to get to my feet, legs giving way when I try to put my weight on them. I can’t look behind me to see Kai’s expression, but the unflinching gaze of the soldier tells me this isn’t going to end without collateral damage. He flips the blade in his hand, a visual reminder that Kai and I are defenseless against him and his men.

“Let her go,” Kai repeats, more placating than before.

The soldier tips a brow. “She’s not yours.”

::chokes::

Sir, I don’t yet know your name but I like you. Watching the wrong woman though. Damn, Aurora, was blowing up the market really your go-to? Brynn was just here for the pastries. And Kai? Big Aetos energy with that one, except he'd actually chuck the rigid pda rules just for a kiss. While Messer is their best swordsman and resident peacemaker and slut.

Love Kai's parents! But "suspect?" Rofl. You suspect the girl who blew up the market is a part of an uprising? What was your second clue? Still, it's so refreshing when characters have loving, supportive parents.

I picked this ebook up somewhat randomly while recovering from the beating I took from AcoMaF. If I didn't find a proper distraction I would have grabbed up Wings & Ruin and no... No. This Maas addiction will not be made real.

Every chapter, one after another, is just checking each of my boxes. Every character. Every detail. All the things I love about fantasy romance right here. Rachel Schneider, the writer that you are!

Then Acker finally starts talking-his name being the only downfall of this book-and now my mind is reeling because a large percentage of the characters I love may be the devil in disguise. And I'm loving them even more for it!

This book is wild and oh so good. Kai has a secret. Messer has a secret. Acker has many secrets. Oh how the twists turn and the turns twist! The eyun! The squid! Hallis with the wisdom. Beau! Gurl! Here I thought Aurora was the badass chick of the book, and then Beau says Hold my beer.

And take a lesson, Feyre darling. This is how one responds when they discover their mate knew about the bond and didn't reveal it. Very demure. Very mindful.

There's a shift that happens in the story where what is fun and romantic becomes dark and erotic and violent. And then Chapter 56 happened and it broke my brain. Turns out the one with the most secrets... was Jovinnia.

“Use your magic on me again
and I’ll take it as an invitation to do the same.”

5 out of 5 stars. And I still don't know what he said when he hit him!! He hit him! He damn well hit him! Whatdidhesayyyyy??Whydidhehithimmm???

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook



If book two isn't Acker hunting her to the ends of the earth then I don't want it. He is too good a character to be collateral damage. Justice for Acker! Justice for the man who wanted to swim among the stars!!

The Ippos King (Wraith Kings #3)

It's just the aftermath of relief at avoiding death,

her reason told her turbulent emotions.

Her emotions guffawed and told her reason to kindly fuck off.

Available at Amazon.com

The Ippos King
Grace Draven
Wraith Kings, book three
Kindle Edition, 437 pages
First published October 6, 2020
ISBN 9781641972246

The demonic horde that threatened to devour the world has been defeated, but at great cost. Plagued by guilt and nightmares, Serovek Pangion sets out to deliver the soulless body of the monk Megiddo to the heretical Jeden Order for safekeeping. Accompanying him is sha-Anhuset, the Kai woman he admires and desires most--a woman barely tolerant of him.

Devoted to her regent, Anhuset reluctantly agrees to act as a Kai ambassador on the trip, even though the bold margrave known as the Beladine Stallion gets under her skin like no other, and Anhuset fears he'll worm his way into her armored heart as well.

But guilt and unwelcome attraction are the least of their problems. The demons thought vanquished are stirring again, and a warlord with blood-soaked ambition turns a journey of compassion into a fight for survival. When the Beladine king brands Serovek a traitor, Anhuset must choose between sacrificing the life of a man she's grown to love and abandoning lifelong fealty to the Kai people.

A tale of loyalty and acceptance.

I was delighted to find that book three in the Wraith Kings series takes a sidestep and focuses on Serovek, the noble, human ally that all but sacrificed himself to aid Brishen in the quest against the demon horde, and Anhuset, Brishen's bastard, female cousin and second in command. I love me some Anhuset.

Serovek? He's in awe of her. Her mind. Her skills. And yes, her body.

While she, true of her kind, finds him abhorrent. His eyes are like bugs about to pop out of his skull... But his hair? His hair she likes. And his strength. His compassion. His courage. His wit. And yes, she might have ogled his arse a time or two.

Girl has it bad and she's at constant war with herself. And when she's not telling her inner, lustful demons to kindly fuck off, she's being the master, er mistress, of mixed signals. You're ugly. Are you married? You're an annoyance. Why haven't you remarried?

And when she plucked the ribbon from the mud.. awe... Our girl's a softie inside.

“Ah gods,” he said in a rough voice. “We made love, didn't we? And I don't remember any of it.” He shifted position, cursing from the pain it caused him. “You weren't jesting when you said I wouldn't survive you.” 

...

Serovak regarded her, trading his frown for a half smile. “Battered and pissed on, you're still beautiful.”

“And I didn't think you could get any uglier.”

His smile grew, accompanied by a wince. “Does this mean I can't coax you under me?”

“The beating has made you delirious. I doubt you can even stand at the moment.” Her mind recognized his jesting, but her body reacted otherwise, sending a hot blush flowing under her skin. Her heart, barely slowed after the climb, resumed its previous heavy beat.

Serovek waved a hand in a careless motion. “Some bruises, a few cracked ribs. They didn't geld me.”

“Don't think the idea didn't occur to them. And you didn't mention the black eyes. Your nose is broken too. You're in no shape for a swiving.”

He snorted. “I'm beaten, not dead. I'd suggest you be on top, but you weigh as much as my horse. You'll break the rest of my bones those shit maggots didn't get to.” A chuff of laughter escaped her. “Ah, there it is,” he marveled, as if he'd turned back a threadbare cloth to reveal a valuable jewel.

It has action, romance, suspense, banter... Ah, the banter. I laughed till my eyes cried. Bless you, Anhuset.

And I'm still damning you, Feyre.

She's no longer sha though. Not sure how I feel about that. Margavina just doesn't have the same ring to it. And the Ippos King? Did I miss the part where the title was relevent to the story? A mere reference to the Beladine Stallion perhaps??

4 out of 5 stars.



Available in ebook | paperback | audiobook

Previously in the series: