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gatun's review against another edition
5.0
Great story
Really good read. Characters and references to the gamer life spot on. Thanks for taking the time to build that world.
Really good read. Characters and references to the gamer life spot on. Thanks for taking the time to build that world.
samrushingbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as part of Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - October 2017
This was a nice start to a paranormal romance/urban fantasy story. I liked that Jade owned a comic and game shop, and that her spells were reminiscent of D&D spells. My only real issue with this is that I wanted more. It was roughly 83 pages long, and I felt like there was so much more to explore. I guess I can be glad that there are several more stories in the series.
This was a nice start to a paranormal romance/urban fantasy story. I liked that Jade owned a comic and game shop, and that her spells were reminiscent of D&D spells. My only real issue with this is that I wanted more. It was roughly 83 pages long, and I felt like there was so much more to explore. I guess I can be glad that there are several more stories in the series.
lorune's review against another edition
2.0
148 pages is just a lie really, it is much shorter, like 20% at least, on my kindle it ended at around 80%, the story on itself was for however little there was of it i guess, but it really felt like it was chapter 1 and 2 of a real book.
It was free so i guess i cannot complain to much, but i don't think i'll buy more of this author. If all of these books are this short it just feels like milking people for more money for very little content. Especially with the latter books all being around 4-5 dollar range for what should have just been 1 book most likely, or 2 at most.
It was free so i guess i cannot complain to much, but i don't think i'll buy more of this author. If all of these books are this short it just feels like milking people for more money for very little content. Especially with the latter books all being around 4-5 dollar range for what should have just been 1 book most likely, or 2 at most.
whatsmacksaid's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun, if quick, read. Neither Justice Calling nor its sequel run more than ninety pages. It has some fun “nerdy” references, but it’s pretty heavy on Dungeons and Dragons references. If you know nothing about D&D, I’d suggest choosing something else to read.
The supporting characters are a little flat—I couldn’t tell the fraternal twins apart, to be honest—but I really, fully enjoyed Jade’s narrative voice. She’s fun and totally easy to like and to root for. I also really liked the idea that, for sorcerers, magic is a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to grow instead of a static well that runs dry and needs rest to be replenished.
I can’t remember what I paid for Justice Calling, but overall I don’t regret paying whatever it was. (EDIT: $.99! Utterly, totally worth a dollar for the ebook.) I’ve already started reading the sequel and am leaning toward making the plunge for the third in the series. I like Jade, I like her voice, and I like her world. This is well worth a read.
The supporting characters are a little flat—I couldn’t tell the fraternal twins apart, to be honest—but I really, fully enjoyed Jade’s narrative voice. She’s fun and totally easy to like and to root for. I also really liked the idea that, for sorcerers, magic is a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to grow instead of a static well that runs dry and needs rest to be replenished.
I can’t remember what I paid for Justice Calling, but overall I don’t regret paying whatever it was. (EDIT: $.99! Utterly, totally worth a dollar for the ebook.) I’ve already started reading the sequel and am leaning toward making the plunge for the third in the series. I like Jade, I like her voice, and I like her world. This is well worth a read.
michalice's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the idea behind the story but I would have preferred a longer book. I felt there was too much packed into such a small space it occasionally became overwhelming.
smuttea_matcha's review against another edition
3.0
The biggest draw to this book was the fact that Jade was a comic book and gamer nerd. I feel like Jade can come off as a Mary Sue with her dormant sorceress powers and how she can speak every language (which we don't get an explanation for). For a short-story, the world building wasn't bad. I liked that we have a leprechaun antique shop owner and that there's a distinction between a sorcerer and warlock. The geeky references are cute too. The one thing I didn't like was how quickly Alek and Jade end up together. I feel like aside from the physical attraction, there isn't enough to get me excited for this couple. I wanted Bellet to make me want them to be together instead of defaulting them to each other's love interest.
bchristian541's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
Sorceress Jade Crow has been hiding from her ex, an evil sorcerer, in a small town full of non-humans. She hasn't used her powers in ages and didn't plan on doing it anytime soon, at least until she gets a visit from a Justice. Then things start to go south. An unknown magic is trapping shifters into their animal forms and feeding off of their powers. When those she loves are being targeted, Jade does not hesitate to use the powers she has been hiding. Is Jade able to save her friends? Find out in Justice Calling.
Justice Calling is a fast read. It is a good story with some twists. I do wish that it was drawn out a little more. It felt rushed. I also wish that it went a little more into the character's lives (such as why Jade is called the twenty-sided sorceress). It is more of a 3.5 than a 3, but I do not feel like it was a 4 star read. Maybe the other books in the series go further into character backstories, but I'm not interested enough to read more.
Justice Calling is a fast read. It is a good story with some twists. I do wish that it was drawn out a little more. It felt rushed. I also wish that it went a little more into the character's lives (such as why Jade is called the twenty-sided sorceress). It is more of a 3.5 than a 3, but I do not feel like it was a 4 star read. Maybe the other books in the series go further into character backstories, but I'm not interested enough to read more.
humanignorance's review against another edition
3.0
The plot was a bit wonky, and the characters insufficiently developed, but it was pretty fun nevertheless.
gypsydawn's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up
This was a great Urban Fantasy - except it really ends at 81%. 122 pages. Ok. I can handle that, but it annoyed me? I don’t mind previews, but that felt excessive. Regardless, this was still a decent UF that opens a brand new world.
This was a great Urban Fantasy - except it really ends at 81%. 122 pages. Ok. I can handle that, but it annoyed me? I don’t mind previews, but that felt excessive. Regardless, this was still a decent UF that opens a brand new world.
bethtabler's review against another edition
4.0
see my full review on www.beforewegoblog.com
Content advisory: scattered F-bombs, some violence, and innuendo. (if you are a long time reader of this blog, you should be used to that.)
"Justice Calling," is an absolute treat for lovers of Urban Fantasy with strong female characters. A la Mercy Thompson, Kitty Norville, and my favorite Rachel Morgan. Holla at "The Hallows!" It is an exciting, albeit too short romp through a new world created by Anne Billet. The protagonist is fun, saucy, and not at all annoying. Something that I have missed in the last few Urban Fantasy novels I have read as of late.
Jade Crow, Sorcerous, shop owner, and gamer finds herself in a pickle of a situation. Does she stay or does she run? Does she out herself, and possibly bring ruin upon her future? Can she do all that she needs to do, and not use magic? I think if you are a fan of the Mercy Thompson Series or the world of Kate Daniels this might be a good series for you. Although definitely not as well developed as those worlds, is has the bones of a great series. Good plot points, fun characters, and I have to admit I absolutely love the gamer bent. Me being a gigantic geek myself, I can relate to her quite a bit. I hope that in her later books the author can flesh out the characters a lot more and give us more to read but, great start! Also, Jade has a very cool superpower. She knows every language. That is a superpower for a total geek. I love it!
Things that I don't dig. Why is it that every Urban Fantasy with a female character needs to have some sort of love angle? No really. C'mon. Not all ladies need to have a love interest. Nor do those ladies need to be saved by the said love interest. Although, props to Anne Billet for letting this lady do the saving. Don't get me wrong though, I enjoy a good romance now and again, but this particular possible love interest seemed a bit shoehorned. Yes, he is hot, yes he has rippling muscles, yes he turns into a (sexy?) white tiger? Blah blah blah. I think it would have been much more of a compelling character if he was a just a plain normal looking guy. A guy with a particular skill set that led him to the job he is now in (I don't want to give away to much). He doesn't need to speak like a combination of Dolph Lundgren and Daniel Craig to be compelling. At least that's how I picture him. It makes him much more relatable. How many guys like Daniel Craig have you met in your life? Also, to some extent, there isn't much of a story. This is more like an introduction to the characters. Which I really like and a very quick problem that they need to overcome. That is fine for me for a start of a series.
Do yourself a favor, read the novella. It is good light fun. Not a barn burner or anything. I don't think anyone will be getting a Jade Crow tattoos like Twilight and Dresden. But its fun and saucy and thankfully not sugar-coated crap. Read up.
Content advisory: scattered F-bombs, some violence, and innuendo. (if you are a long time reader of this blog, you should be used to that.)
"Justice Calling," is an absolute treat for lovers of Urban Fantasy with strong female characters. A la Mercy Thompson, Kitty Norville, and my favorite Rachel Morgan. Holla at "The Hallows!" It is an exciting, albeit too short romp through a new world created by Anne Billet. The protagonist is fun, saucy, and not at all annoying. Something that I have missed in the last few Urban Fantasy novels I have read as of late.
Jade Crow, Sorcerous, shop owner, and gamer finds herself in a pickle of a situation. Does she stay or does she run? Does she out herself, and possibly bring ruin upon her future? Can she do all that she needs to do, and not use magic? I think if you are a fan of the Mercy Thompson Series or the world of Kate Daniels this might be a good series for you. Although definitely not as well developed as those worlds, is has the bones of a great series. Good plot points, fun characters, and I have to admit I absolutely love the gamer bent. Me being a gigantic geek myself, I can relate to her quite a bit. I hope that in her later books the author can flesh out the characters a lot more and give us more to read but, great start! Also, Jade has a very cool superpower. She knows every language. That is a superpower for a total geek. I love it!
Things that I don't dig. Why is it that every Urban Fantasy with a female character needs to have some sort of love angle? No really. C'mon. Not all ladies need to have a love interest. Nor do those ladies need to be saved by the said love interest. Although, props to Anne Billet for letting this lady do the saving. Don't get me wrong though, I enjoy a good romance now and again, but this particular possible love interest seemed a bit shoehorned. Yes, he is hot, yes he has rippling muscles, yes he turns into a (sexy?) white tiger? Blah blah blah. I think it would have been much more of a compelling character if he was a just a plain normal looking guy. A guy with a particular skill set that led him to the job he is now in (I don't want to give away to much). He doesn't need to speak like a combination of Dolph Lundgren and Daniel Craig to be compelling. At least that's how I picture him. It makes him much more relatable. How many guys like Daniel Craig have you met in your life? Also, to some extent, there isn't much of a story. This is more like an introduction to the characters. Which I really like and a very quick problem that they need to overcome. That is fine for me for a start of a series.
Do yourself a favor, read the novella. It is good light fun. Not a barn burner or anything. I don't think anyone will be getting a Jade Crow tattoos like Twilight and Dresden. But its fun and saucy and thankfully not sugar-coated crap. Read up.