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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I'm just not feeling this writing style.
This is actually a high 3 for me, but a few things kept it from being a 4. I thought there was some cool worldbuilding and I stan Cassius. However, I disliked having to flip back and forth to the glossary to learn all the words. (Reading the glossary once before reading was not enough.) This also led to contrived showing vs telling where instead of saying that so-and-so is a witch or sorcerer or whatever, Cassius will smell whatever that class of magic user smells like, which still wasn't that helpful to me as a reader, even if it is what Cassius is experiencing. I also didn't like the end.
Spoiler
The strange memory connection between Cassius and Morgan was stranger than it was a tantalizing foreshadow, and that the one dude's son was the criminal was dissatisfying. I think good mysteries introduce to the suspect earlier on, so while that decision made sense in the context of the worldbuilding, it was less satisfying narratively.
Oooh I really enjoyed this, just what I wanted to read. Thank you.
On to the second book now, I hope it's as good as this one.
On to the second book now, I hope it's as good as this one.
Fractured Souls (Fallen Messengers #1): 
Rating:
“Cassius Black was infamous not just among the otherworldly, but among humans too. The Cursed Angel with the Black Wings. The Devil Who Walks Amongst Us. The Possessed Fallen.” Salinger.
Rating:
“Cassius Black was infamous not just among the otherworldly, but among humans too. The Cursed Angel with the Black Wings. The Devil Who Walks Amongst Us. The Possessed Fallen.” Salinger.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Fractured Souls by Ava Marie Salinger is the first book in the Fallen Messengers series. Cassius Black has been on his own since the Fall brought him, his kind and many other magical beings to earth. He has moved to San Francisco in hopes of staying off the radar of the many magical agencies that have been nothing but trouble in the past. When a run of the mill missing cat case lands him right in the middle of a pressing Argonaut investigation Cassius finds himself drawn to his loud neighbor Morgan King. Morgan is immediately drawn to Cassius and doesn’t fear him like so many others do. As the investigation goes from bad to worse Morgan brings Cassius into the fold of his team and they work to stop black magic from tearing apart San Francisco.
Cassius Black has had a long life of being feared and hated. He doesn’t know how to take Morgan’s Argonaut team backing him and telling him they’d protect him with everything they are. He also struggles to fully allow Morgan in knowing that they may be infatuated with each other now but once the shine wears off will Morgan still want him or throw him to the side like so many others. Morgan repeatedly tries to show Cassius that he is wanted not just for their physical relationship but because they have a soul deep bond that is only getting stronger the more time they spend together.
“Morgan studied him for a moment before blowing out a sigh. “You’re a trouble magnet, you know that?” Irritation wrinkled Cassius’s brow. “Yeah, well, it takes one to know one.”
Morgan King has been struggling with nightmares ever since the Fall. He doesn’t recall what he was before but the visions of the past plague him. It is until he connects with Cassius that he feels even the smallest semblance of peace. Morgan’s boisterous personality compliments Cassius’s more hesitant approach to society. They manage to balance each other out both intimately as well as in battle. Morgan’s magical potential has been opened up since meeting Cassius and their history together is slowly being remembered by other members of their magical community. They bring out strength in each other that they never expected and Morgan is not willing to let that go even when Cassius’s fears try to put distance between them.
“What?” Morgan asked irritably.
“You’re like a kid who’s been told he can’t play with his favorite toy.” Cassius chuckles.
“Well, you are my favorite toy.” Morgan grumbles.
Cassius’s expression turns serious. “I am?”
Morgan stilled at the silent question in the gray eyes opposite of him. “Yes,” he said quietly, dropping a soft kiss on Cassius’s lips. “You are mine, just as I am yours.”
I am a sucker for urban fantasy so I was so excited when I got an opportunity to read this book. There is a lot of world building that the author chose to do through a glossary rather than an information dump in the story itself. I appreciated having the glossary for when I needed to go back and just check either a type of angel/demon or what an organization did. This book had a lovable and quirky found family in Morgan’s Argonaut team and I enjoyed their banter as well as how much they just cared about one another. It made me so happy that they took Cassius under their wing. It was so sweet because you could tell that Cassius just was floored by the support he had never felt before. From a reading perspective there was a lot of punctuation like exclamation marks and question marks and combos of the two. I found it slightly distracting before it came up that often. It didn’t take away from the story but it was noticeable for sure. The book managed to keep a fast pace without feeling rushed. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
4 stars for a new urban fantasy adventure for the Guardian of Light and Price of Night.
Fractured Souls by Ava Marie Salinger is the first book in the Fallen Messengers series. Cassius Black has been on his own since the Fall brought him, his kind and many other magical beings to earth. He has moved to San Francisco in hopes of staying off the radar of the many magical agencies that have been nothing but trouble in the past. When a run of the mill missing cat case lands him right in the middle of a pressing Argonaut investigation Cassius finds himself drawn to his loud neighbor Morgan King. Morgan is immediately drawn to Cassius and doesn’t fear him like so many others do. As the investigation goes from bad to worse Morgan brings Cassius into the fold of his team and they work to stop black magic from tearing apart San Francisco.
Cassius Black has had a long life of being feared and hated. He doesn’t know how to take Morgan’s Argonaut team backing him and telling him they’d protect him with everything they are. He also struggles to fully allow Morgan in knowing that they may be infatuated with each other now but once the shine wears off will Morgan still want him or throw him to the side like so many others. Morgan repeatedly tries to show Cassius that he is wanted not just for their physical relationship but because they have a soul deep bond that is only getting stronger the more time they spend together.
“Morgan studied him for a moment before blowing out a sigh. “You’re a trouble magnet, you know that?” Irritation wrinkled Cassius’s brow. “Yeah, well, it takes one to know one.”
Morgan King has been struggling with nightmares ever since the Fall. He doesn’t recall what he was before but the visions of the past plague him. It is until he connects with Cassius that he feels even the smallest semblance of peace. Morgan’s boisterous personality compliments Cassius’s more hesitant approach to society. They manage to balance each other out both intimately as well as in battle. Morgan’s magical potential has been opened up since meeting Cassius and their history together is slowly being remembered by other members of their magical community. They bring out strength in each other that they never expected and Morgan is not willing to let that go even when Cassius’s fears try to put distance between them.
“What?” Morgan asked irritably.
“You’re like a kid who’s been told he can’t play with his favorite toy.” Cassius chuckles.
“Well, you are my favorite toy.” Morgan grumbles.
Cassius’s expression turns serious. “I am?”
Morgan stilled at the silent question in the gray eyes opposite of him. “Yes,” he said quietly, dropping a soft kiss on Cassius’s lips. “You are mine, just as I am yours.”
I am a sucker for urban fantasy so I was so excited when I got an opportunity to read this book. There is a lot of world building that the author chose to do through a glossary rather than an information dump in the story itself. I appreciated having the glossary for when I needed to go back and just check either a type of angel/demon or what an organization did. This book had a lovable and quirky found family in Morgan’s Argonaut team and I enjoyed their banter as well as how much they just cared about one another. It made me so happy that they took Cassius under their wing. It was so sweet because you could tell that Cassius just was floored by the support he had never felt before. From a reading perspective there was a lot of punctuation like exclamation marks and question marks and combos of the two. I found it slightly distracting before it came up that often. It didn’t take away from the story but it was noticeable for sure. The book managed to keep a fast pace without feeling rushed. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
4 stars for a new urban fantasy adventure for the Guardian of Light and Price of Night.
This was an amazing start to a new urban fantasy MM romance which is definitely my cuppa. I love paranormal romance and with angels, demons, imps, witches and more this fits the bill. The world building is interesting and pretty easy to follow which is something I loved. Too many times in fantasy the world building can get to be too confusing where I have to back track and reread to make sure I'm understanding correctly what is going on. The author also includes a glossary of many terms as well to help keep up which was appreciated as the terms for some beings were not easy to decipher.
The romance was played out well. There was plenty of heat and I enjoyed the teasing. I really liked the little hints of Cassius and Morgan's pasts. It kept my brain spinning with different theories and guesses. There was never a dull moment from start to finish. Something was always happening, whether it be sexy times or an epic battle. I was never bored and even really loved the side characters who make up the different paranormal agencies.
The book ends with the team of agents and Cassius having made major headway in their investigation that the book centers around. The case isn't closed, but it doesn't end with a major cliffhanger which I'm happy about. I have mixed feelings about cliffy endings. I tend to lean more towards frustration because I am dying to get my hands on what happens next. I didn't need a cliffhanger in this book for me to need the next one immediately. The author's intriguing storyline and writing spoke for itself. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Cassius and Morgan!
The romance was played out well. There was plenty of heat and I enjoyed the teasing. I really liked the little hints of Cassius and Morgan's pasts. It kept my brain spinning with different theories and guesses. There was never a dull moment from start to finish. Something was always happening, whether it be sexy times or an epic battle. I was never bored and even really loved the side characters who make up the different paranormal agencies.
The book ends with the team of agents and Cassius having made major headway in their investigation that the book centers around. The case isn't closed, but it doesn't end with a major cliffhanger which I'm happy about. I have mixed feelings about cliffy endings. I tend to lean more towards frustration because I am dying to get my hands on what happens next. I didn't need a cliffhanger in this book for me to need the next one immediately. The author's intriguing storyline and writing spoke for itself. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Cassius and Morgan!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated