Review: Wicked Misery by Tracey Martin

Wicked Misery

Author:Tracey Martin

Release Date: October 8, 2013

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Miss Misery Book #1

ISBN:   1619218070

ISBN13: 9781619218079

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Author

It s all quasi-legal fun until somebody gets framed for murder.

Jessica Moore thrives on misery. Literally. Thanks to a goblin s curse, she gets a magical high from humanity s suffering. A shameful talent like that could bury a girl in guilt, so to atone, she uses her dark power to hunt murderers, rapists and other scumbags until one of them frames her for his crimes.

In desperation, Jessica seeks refuge with the one person she trusts to not turn her in a satyr named Lucen. Like every member of his race, Lucen uses his lusty magic to control Boston s human population, and Jessica isn t immune to his power. But the murder victims belonged to a rival race, and when they discover Lucen is harboring Jessica, dodging the cops becomes the least of her problems.

With only five days to find the real killer, Jessica faces a danger far more serious than the brewing magical war. The danger of succumbing to Lucen s molten seduction.

Warning: Contains a heroine with a lust for misery, creepy murders, and creepier goblins, satyrs so hot you'd sell your soul for one, and scaly sewer rats masquerading as dragons. Who said magic was all sparkles and tiaras?

What a fun new series. There was a little bit of romance, a whole lot of supernatural with danger and drama in between. Jessica has what she believes is a goblins curse where she thrives on misery. She uses her 'curse' to hunt down the dregs of society but one night she ends up framed for murder.  Jessica had dreams of being a part of something else but ended up with this curse that she can not stand. WICKED MISERY follows her as she learns more about who she is while trying to keep herself out of custody and searching for the real killer. 

When Jessica turns to Lucen for help she has no idea what will happen. She thinks it is Lucen's gifts that make her want him but you can tell she likes him for other reasons as well. They dance around each other constantly and there were points I wanted to hit both of them over the head and be like, hey get over yourself. The plot was pretty fun to follow. There was a particular action part of the book that got a little confusing because I felt like we were thrown into the situation out of nowhere but other than that I enjoyed every other part of the story. There are many paranormal creatures introduced in WICKED MISERY. They are not looked well upon by normal humans but I liked what they have made of the slice of world they live in. Walking the streets with Jessica was never boring. 

WICKED MISERY was a pretty descent start to a new fun and fast paced Urban Fantasy series. I look forward to seeing what happens next and what might happen between Jessica and Lucen in book 2. 

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

Guest Blog: Silent Oath by Paul Anthony Shortt

UFI welcomes Paul Anthony Shortt Author of The Locked Within Trilogy. Thanks for Joining us!!

The Book Setting (300-400 words)

Setting is key to fantasy genres. For the Locked Within Trilogy I wanted something that felt close to the real world, but still fantastic enough to accommodate the mystical elements I needed. The first hints of the hidden world are uncovered by Nathan Shepherd in Locked Within. In Silent Oath, he encounters mythical beasts, shapshifters, and even ancient gods.

Many stories feature reincarnation, but for this series, I wanted to try something a little different. Rather than be the purview of great heroes or a mark of the Chosen One, in the world of Silent Oath, reincarnation is commonplace. So much so, that the majority of mortals aware of the supernatural can remember several past lives. Those who can are known as reborn, and can draw upon the strength, knowledge, and skills of their previous selves. This allows them to re-learn skills from life to life, and often results in people living lives similar to those they have lived before, so warriors become warrors, and artists become artists.

Opposing the reborn and their protective conclaves is the Council of Chains. Their origins lie in the time of the Roman Empire, and in the mystery surrounding what happens to the soul after death, the one thing no reborn has ever remembered. While the reborn believe that the true essence of a person returns in each life, the Council of Chains believe that only memories and impressions are left, that the true soul is lost forever upon death. As such, they seek out paths to immortality, as vampires, revenants, and worse. The true nature of Lord Dorian's immortality is hinted at in Silent Oath.

The ongoing conflict between these two groups forms the central background to the New York of the books. Years before the first book in the series, a war between the Council of Chains and the Reborn Conclave of New York ended with the reborn driven out of the city. Nathan Shepherd has been fighting to protect the innocent people of the city in the Conclave's absence. In Silent Oath, he enevours to form a conclave of his own, so that the Council will no longer have free reign to prey upon the populace.

The challenges Nathan will face will be hard, and he must face an enemy who has hunted him throughout his previous lifetimes, and win back the heart of a lost lover, if he is to succeed.

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A child at heart who turned to writing and roleplaying games when there simply weren't enough action figures to play out the stories he wanted, Paul Anthony Shortt has been writing all his life. Growing up surrounded by music, film and theatre gave him a deep love of all forms of storytelling, each teaching him something new he could use. When not playing with the people in his head, he enjoys cooking and regular meet-ups with his gaming group.

Paul lives in Ireland with his wife Jen and their dogs, Pepper and Jasper. Their first child, Conor William Henry Shortt, was born on July 11th, 2011. He passed away three days later, but brought love and joy into their lives and those of their friends. The following year, Jen gave birth to twins, Amy and Erica.

Paul's first novel, Locked Within, was released on November 6th, 2012, by WiDo Publishing. Silent Oath is the second book in this urban fantasy trilogy.

Find Paul and his books

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Silent Oath
Locked Within Trilogy #2

Amazon

 In this second of the Locked Within trilogy, hope has returned to New York City. Nathan Shepherd leads a small band of dedicated fighters against the Council of Chains and the city's supernatural masters. But it's not enough. Because from the shadows of Nathan's former lives comes an old enemy, one who knows terrible secrets that Nathan has not yet remembered, secrets that could undo everything he has fought for.

Nathan's only chance to uncover the memories of his previous existence, and to conquer these new forces of evil, lies in Elena DeSantis. A woman he has fought beside in past lifetimes. A woman he has loved.

Together, Nathan and Elena are the only future their city has.

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Review: Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey

Autumn Bones

Author:Jacqueline Carey

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Publisher: Roc

Agent of Hel Book #2

ISBN:  0451465180

ISBN13: 9780451465184

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher

New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey returns to the curious Midwest tourist community where normal and paranormal worlds co-exist—however tenuously—under the watchful eye of a female hellspawn…

Fathered by an incubus, raised by a mortal mother, and liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, Daisy Johanssen pulled the community together after a summer tragedy befell the resort town she calls home. Things are back to normal—as normal as it gets for a town famous for its supernatural tourism, and presided over by the reclusive Norse goddess Hel.

Not only has Daisy now gained respect as Hel’s enforcer, she’s dating Sinclair Palmer, a nice, seemingly normal human guy. Not too shabby for the daughter of a demon. Unfortunately, Sinclair has a secret. And it’s a big one.

He’s descended from Obeah sorcerers and they want him back. If he doesn’t return to Jamaica to take up his rightful role in the family, they’ll unleash spirit magic that could have dire consequences for the town. It’s Daisy’s job to stop it, and she’s going to need a lot of help. But time is running out, the dead are growing restless, and one mistake could cost Daisy everything

Daisy is a fun protagonist. She finds herself in the weirdest situations and I have to say the giant hormone induced orgy in the club climbed to the top of the weird list. The rest of the characters in the series continue to help Daisy and keep the story on track. Daisy's Mom is a breath of fresh air and Lurine always manages to stand out in a super fun way.

Let's talk relationship/romances. I was a bit shocked with the relationship between Sinclair and Daisy. He just doesn't seem her type. His family is a bit psycho too. I have to say I was super happy at the events that happened between Daisy and Cody. I am not sure what will happen from here on out but they have great chemistry and I hope that Daisy doesn't get hurt in the long run. I am still not sure what I think of Stefan. The whole he is a ghoul thing kinda freaks me out but he is always there when Daisy needs him and that counts for something. 

Although there are many sub plots going on I had no problem keeping up with what was happening. I thought AUTUMN BONES is paced better than book 1 so if pacing was an issue for you, give book 2 a try. Daisy and her friends bring plenty of action and drama to the table making this series fun to follow. If you are looking for a light, fun and quick paced Urban Fantasy, this series might be for you!

I gave it 4/5 stars

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Discovery by Brina Courtney

Nine months ago, Teagan Matthews' boyfriend disappeared and took her sense of stability with him. But when the opportunity to live with her aging grandmother in Salem arises, she decides it's time to get on with her life. A new home, new job, and new friends are adding up to a beautiful summer...

 ...until a young girl's body shows up one night in town, wearing a pentagram necklace exactly like Teagan's.

Now a guy, looking remarkably like her missing boyfriend, has arrived in Salem along with a mysterious stranger, who may have some answers that Teagan has desperately been searching for. Teagan must now decide who to trust. It's a matter of life... and her death.

Purchase on Amazon

About Brina Courtney

Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She’s spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs.

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Guest Blog & Giveaway: Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins

UFI welcomes Margo Bond Collins Author of Waking Up Dead. Thanks for Joining us!!

Author’s Book Picks and What’s in My Library

Like most novelists, I am a voracious reader in my field, which means that I read all kinds of urban fantasy and paranormal fiction. But in addition to being an urban fantasy writer, I am a college English professor with a Ph.D. in eighteenth-century British literature. This means that any time anyone wants to talk books, I have more than my share to say!

It also means that my personal library is eclectic, to say the least. I have shelves full of books from getting my degrees—fiction as well as literary criticism. I also write articles about television shows, so I have a number of academic books about popular culture, too!

In early British literature, I love the classics—but especially the stories with heroes and monsters: Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Knight’s Tale. I love Shakespeare’s plays, but my favorites to teach are Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream because each is such a great example of its genre. Hamlet’s tragedy seems virtually unavoidable, and Midsummer’s comedy hits all the high (and low!) points.

In my own sub-specialty of eighteenth-century British literature, I love the early novels written by some of the first women to make a living writing in England, such as Aphra Behn, Eliza Haywood, and Delarivier Manley. Behn’s 1688 novel Oroonoko tells the story of a king who became a slave and found the woman he loved in the process, only to kill her and their unborn child to save them from slavery. In Haywood’s Fantomina (1724), a young noblewoman sets off on a sexual adventure full of disguises and intrigue. And in Manley’s The Wife’s Resentment (1720), a young woman takes revenge against her unfaithful husband with a gruesome murder. These early novels influenced later gothic tales, with virtuous damsels in distress and monstrous villains out to destroy them.

I think these various loves in more traditional literature—monsters, heroes, strong women, and gothic settings—are all parts of what have influenced my love of urban fantasy and horror. I love seeing many of the same tropes and ideas in more recent publications that influenced earlier works, as well.

So with that, here is a list of five of my favorite urban fantasy and horror reads, along with a few thoughts about each of them. Enjoy!

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. When I think of “urban fantasy,” I tend to think of vampires, werewolves, and the like. But Perdido Street Station epitomizes another kind of urban fantasy—also gritty, dark, and full of half-human creatures moving through a landscape that is alien and bizarre.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. What better setting for urban fantasy than the London Underground? When Richard Mayhew stops to help a young girl on the street, he is pulled into a world below and will never be the same. This was probably the first true “urban fantasy” novel I read a number of years ago—and wow! What an introduction!

Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I re-read this book about once every twelve to eighteen months. McKinley does a beautiful job of setting up a world that is almost, but not exactly, like our own. The eponymous protagonist almost seems to ramble sometimes, but the voice is perfectly her own and the things she reveals about herself are beautifully woven back into the plot. Also, the vampires are creepy as all get-out!

Nightlife (Cal Leandros #1) by Rob Thurman. What I love about this novel is the way in which the narrative shifts perspective in such a lovely and horrific manner. The story draws the reader into complicity with horrific evil. It’s a great move that left me breathless. In fact, for that same kind of twist, I would recommend Thurman’s Trick of the Light, too. 

House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski.  Okay. This isn’t really “urban fantasy.” But it is horror at its stomach-churning best. It left me with chills. It’s a smart read and, like Nightlife, makes the reader a part of the horror it induces. It’s a haunting vision of a house that can’t contain the horror within.

A few urban fantasy series faves, too (because I find I can’t ignore these!):

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

The Kate Daniels Magic series by Ilona Andrews

The Stray series by Rachel Vincent

Kitty the Werewolf series by Carrie Vaughn

The Spider’s Web series by Jennifer Estep

 

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Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.

Find Margo and her books

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Waking Up Dead
Callie Taylor #1

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

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Promo & Giveaway: Arielle: Immortal Quickening by Lilian Roberts

Arielle: Immortal Quickening

Immortal Rapture #4

A fatal night...
College co-ed Arielle Lloyd is on vacation with her immortal love, Sebastian Gaulle, when they receive word of a dreadful accident. Her dear friend Gabrielle hovers near death. But it's much worst for her beloved friends, Eva and Ian. In spite of Eva's magical abilities, their lives have been cut tragically short.

An immortal choice...
Troy Vasser's only love is Gabrielle, but on the night of the accident, his deepest concern is for their dying friends. When the life force within Ian and Eva flickered dangerously low, Troy had to make a hard choice. He could either them them die or lose their humanity and live as immortals. So he did the only thing he could: he gave them immortality. Now it is up to Arielle to break the news to Eva before the transformation is complete.

A quest for vengeance...
Danger continues to stalk Arielle's life. Unknown to her, her new professor is an immortal, and he is furious when discovers that Arielle is wearing an amulet that should be owned by immortals only. Sebastian's nemesis, Annabel, has also not given on her quest to destroy Arielle. What Annabel doesn't realize is that Arielle's circle of friends drastically changer. There are two newly minted immortals that adore her and have vowed to protect her.

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Lilian was born, the second of two daughters, in Athens, Greece. She came to the U.S. to study during the amazing years of the late 1960s and early 70s. This was a time without personal computers, Internet, e-mail, IPads, and IPhones. The US was deeply involved in the Vietnam War, and the anti-war student protests turned bloody and violent spreading across colleges and university campuses. It was a time of patched and embroidered blue jeans, tie-dyed fabrics, wet t-shirt contests, Woodstock, mood rings, pot, and hot pants.

College, marriage, the corporate world, and a beloved daughter kept Lilian’s writing on the back burner for many years. It wasn’t until later on in life that she decided to sit in front of the computer and finally put her thoughts on paper.

Lilian lives in Atlanta Georgia. She is blessed with a wonderful and supportive family, and circle of friends who have encouraged her along the way and have tremendous faith in her journey.

Find Lilian and her books

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