3.5 AVERAGE

dark mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Thank you netgalley for the arc. 

I've never read a fantasy murder mystery before and I have to say, it's way more fun than one set in the real world. 
kaitmary's profile picture

kaitmary's review

3.25
adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
fast-paced
Loveable characters: Yes

This one has been on my radar for a while coz I read the same some time ago and thought it was fun. I waited till I could get the audiobook and I wasn’t wrong in my initial thoughts. 

This is actually my first by the author and now I should checkout what else she has written. Because this book has a very witty writing style which made for many a wry smiles, despite it being essentially a multiple murder mystery. It’s also very fast paced and I just rushed through it. The stakes never did feel too high though and danger levels didn’t feel anxiety inducing, just more on the fun and exciting side. The revelation of the murderer was also quite the scene and while I had some suspicions, I didn’t really predict it. 

The main characters are also nice with Tabatha being the typical Asian American child trying to find her dreams which is completely opposite of what her mom desires for her, and Callum being the youngest child of a very popular sorcerer - a father who really didn’t see his children for more than their potential for sorcery. They make for a cool pair together, investigating the murder, with some budding romantic moments sprinkled in between. 

The sorcerer Solomon dies pretty early in the book but his presence nevertheless looms large throughout the narrative. Angelique was shown as this fiery hot tempered but powerful sorcerer but we don’t really get to see those powers. Felix and Circe both only get a few scenes to showcase their presence. I felt more impressed by the both the moms - Rowena and Anne-Marie are both not sorcerers but strong in their own right, doing whatever necessary to keep their kids safe. 

Overall this book was a fun and quick read, and I also enjoyed the parts I listened to on the audiobook, narrated very neatly by Katharine Chin. The characters others than our protagonists didn’t really get much page time, but our main couple had very cute moments between them, and I loved following along with them on their Nancy Drew style mystery solving. 
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

alicia_likes_books's review

4.5
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

amariprice's review

4.0
adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Pretty good; murder mystery 
adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No