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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Excellent!
I’ve very much enjoyed this series so far and look forward to”Mastering the Flames” and any other books in the series. I also greatly look forward to the next book in the “Realms of Love” series.
I’ve very much enjoyed this series so far and look forward to”Mastering the Flames” and any other books in the series. I also greatly look forward to the next book in the “Realms of Love” series.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Before reading/listening you might want to check the CWs if you want to avoid sexual assault as the off-page rape of a major side character is a topic. Then there is also a plot line involving alcohol and substance abuse.
This one is just as intense and fast paced as the other books but a bit darker, obviously. I love how Angel and Simeon are this solid, protective unit when it comes to their chosen family. As much as I love this I loathe when people abuse their power position, or the imagined power position. That Council woman is really awful. She has some strong Mrs Umbridge vibes going on.
More side effects of Simeon's and Angel's mating bond are revealed. It's not surprising that they are still 100 % devoted to each other and their connection gets even deeper and stronger.
While I couldn't make up my mind about Batiste in the first two books I have now picked a side - his side. How he had not only Simeon's and Angel's backs but also Daniel's was heartwarming. While, yes, he is a bit of an arrogant and smug prick he is also fiercely protective, without hesitation and no questions asked. Me like!
For some reason the fourth book, Mastering the Flames is twice as long as the others, almost 15 hours. I think I will listen to the collection of short stories first, A History of Trouble, book 3.5.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five stars out of five.5 = I'm obsessed! I loved it! It now holds a special place in my heart and is a given on my re-read list! 😍
This one is just as intense and fast paced as the other books but a bit darker, obviously. I love how Angel and Simeon are this solid, protective unit when it comes to their chosen family. As much as I love this I loathe when people abuse their power position, or the imagined power position. That Council woman is really awful. She has some strong Mrs Umbridge vibes going on.
More side effects of Simeon's and Angel's mating bond are revealed. It's not surprising that they are still 100 % devoted to each other and their connection gets even deeper and stronger.
While I couldn't make up my mind about Batiste in the first two books I have now picked a side - his side. How he had not only Simeon's and Angel's backs but also Daniel's was heartwarming. While, yes, he is a bit of an arrogant and smug prick he is also fiercely protective, without hesitation and no questions asked. Me like!
For some reason the fourth book, Mastering the Flames is twice as long as the others, almost 15 hours. I think I will listen to the collection of short stories first, A History of Trouble, book 3.5.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five stars out of five.5 = I'm obsessed! I loved it! It now holds a special place in my heart and is a given on my re-read list! 😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Torture
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Gore, Rape, Stalking
Minor: Colonisation
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The best out of three
The better of the three books. I truly enjoyed this one. There was a good balance of smut and plot.
The better of the three books. I truly enjoyed this one. There was a good balance of smut and plot.
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Each book in this series somehow manages to be better than the previous. In this third book, the events of the first two finally catch up to Angel in the form of the Magical Council, who sweeps into town with the intent to prosecute (persecute?) him. Angel and the gang are still trying to protect their city, but at the same time they're even more forced to protect themselves from the council that has a nefarious intent. With Isaac 'safe' in a rehab center taking care of his own overwhelming guilt, Angel, Simeon, Daniel, Eroch, and Milly attempt to uncover a mystery of stolen magical items and this looming potential threat on their doorsteps. Although only the third book in the series, the events in here are the biggest to have occurred so far.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Already have! Will absolutely recommend it.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: What more is there to say about Angel, Simeon, et. al? The gang are at their best in this book, including Daniel, who is still struggling with his own fears and is starting to come into his own. I appreciate the relationships between each of these characters and the found family that has really started to coalesce by this book. Angel is at his best, of course, with his strength and snark and no-nonsense refusal to back down. Eroch also has some highlighted moments in this book that are from his point of view, and they are truly brilliant to read!
PLOT: Angel and the gang are trying to take care of their city where grave robbers have been stealing ghosts via magical artifacts. Meanwhile, their exploits have finally been noticed across the pond and the Magical Council has decided that they want to prosecute Angel. While the entire thing is shady, it still puts Angel in danger and forced to fight on more than one front now. Meanwhile, because he's Angel's apprentice, Daniel is also targeted. The group must all work together to fight on multiple fronts, especially with Isaac away from them in rehab. We're gifted multiple POVs, a very special appearance near the end and by the end, there are so many different plots all coming together at the same time to equal a truly epic culmination!
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
2:5/medium. Still a brilliant, low intensity but high stakes entertaining read.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
90%. I do wish that we had more POVs near the end so that we could spend some time in the immediate aftermath, but I did appreciate how the book ended. It feels like a fitting end to a series, or at least, a fitting end to the first cycle of the series. I'm content!
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Already have! Will absolutely recommend it.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: What more is there to say about Angel, Simeon, et. al? The gang are at their best in this book, including Daniel, who is still struggling with his own fears and is starting to come into his own. I appreciate the relationships between each of these characters and the found family that has really started to coalesce by this book. Angel is at his best, of course, with his strength and snark and no-nonsense refusal to back down. Eroch also has some highlighted moments in this book that are from his point of view, and they are truly brilliant to read!
PLOT: Angel and the gang are trying to take care of their city where grave robbers have been stealing ghosts via magical artifacts. Meanwhile, their exploits have finally been noticed across the pond and the Magical Council has decided that they want to prosecute Angel. While the entire thing is shady, it still puts Angel in danger and forced to fight on more than one front now. Meanwhile, because he's Angel's apprentice, Daniel is also targeted. The group must all work together to fight on multiple fronts, especially with Isaac away from them in rehab. We're gifted multiple POVs, a very special appearance near the end and by the end, there are so many different plots all coming together at the same time to equal a truly epic culmination!
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
2:5/medium. Still a brilliant, low intensity but high stakes entertaining read.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
90%. I do wish that we had more POVs near the end so that we could spend some time in the immediate aftermath, but I did appreciate how the book ended. It feels like a fitting end to a series, or at least, a fitting end to the first cycle of the series. I'm content!
**3.9**
I am enjoying the series so far, but I’m starting to worry the series will end up with too many main characters and POVs. I still wish I had more background for the Blood Wars, and Simeon. I like Angel and his character is growing, and liked the overall plot of this book in the series. I still feel like something is missing, but I love Eroch
I am enjoying the series so far, but I’m starting to worry the series will end up with too many main characters and POVs. I still wish I had more background for the Blood Wars, and Simeon. I like Angel and his character is growing, and liked the overall plot of this book in the series. I still feel like something is missing, but I love Eroch
The hijinks keep coming as Angel and Simeon face off against the High Council of Sorcery and a graverobbing team of goons and practitioners!
“The magic that makes you who you are, makes all vampires who they are, I can touch it, use it, and it pours into me uncalled. I’m a battery that’s plugged in and constantly charging.”
Simeon went stiff, arms tightening to a scary degree before relaxing. He rolled Angel underneath him, cradling him in shadow and the soft mattress below. “They want you. If they have you in their control, then they have me. They have us both, and then they gain leverage over you through Daniel—they control your magics.”
Angel roped his arms around Simeon’s neck and sighed. “Yup.”
It wasn’t difficult to figure out why the High Council came for Angel. They’re a “government” agency, so to speak, and just like all of them they only do what is best for them. They are bloated on power and greed, so wanting to control a necromancer and his soul bonded mate makes perfect sense. The idiots should have done some more research about Angel before they tried, though. *grins* They tried to imprison him in their dungeon under the city streets of Boston and Angel found a very long-dead wendigo to help bust him out.
I’ve become accustomed to so much going on in these books, which I love, that I didn’t even bat an eye at Isaac finally revealing to Angel the mass of guilt he feels in their families’ deaths, plus his need for rehab due to his binge drinking. Not to mention Daniel telling Angel that a blood donor member of Batiste’s bloodclan helped Deimos when he raped and tortured Daniel. Oh, and let’s not forget the high court sidhe fae, Rory, whom Angel saved at the end of ‘Dilemma’ and who now lives at Salvatore mansion in the greenhouse. Whoa. It’s a lot but the author truly writes it all seamlessly blending everything together.
The ending is superb with Angel battling a gruesome creature that the graverobbers inadvertently let loose when they dropped the reliquary that contained him. Add in the Council kidnapping a very young necromancer from Canada and her mentor, Nicademus (bad*ss), to manipulate him into fighting Angel… well, it was exciting with a capital E.
I think it’s pretty obvious how much I love this series and if you like urban fantasy, action adventure, mystery, suspense, and thrills, then this is definitely for you. Oh, and Eroch is NOT to be missed.
“Daniel sat next to him on the couch, playing with Eroch, the small dragon attacking Daniel’s hand as he tickled the light green scales along the dragon’s belly. Eroch mock hissed and flailed with wings and tail, making Daniel laugh. He gently gnawed on Daniel’s fingers, wrapping his tail around his wrist and bunny kicking. “Ok, ok, you win!” Daniel laughed, and Eroch flipped over to his feet and curled his neck, flirtatious and sweet, making Daniel pick him up and cuddle him close. Angel rolled his eyes, and the wee beastie gave Angel a smug lift of his tiny snout and a wink of one daffodil-yellow eye.”
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes