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avid_reader_sf_and_f's Reviews (5.29k)
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
Our FMC Bisma has built a business of supplying poison, and not just because rival potioneer MMC, Xander has the normal Apothecary business of the village. When Bisma's sisters begin to fall ill from what is clearly poison, Bisma reluctantly goes to Xander for aid in curing them. The tension between Bisma and Xander is delightful, and their love growing as they struggle to find a cure for her sisters, is sweet.
If you love found family, this is a tale of family built by choice, not blood, a beautiful tale of sisterhood and belonging. This is a tale of friendships and romance, and a cozy YA fantasy with a fabulous enchanted forest setting, that's an utter delight.
If you love found family, this is a tale of family built by choice, not blood, a beautiful tale of sisterhood and belonging. This is a tale of friendships and romance, and a cozy YA fantasy with a fabulous enchanted forest setting, that's an utter delight.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
Utterly delightful.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Our MC, 45-year-old Imogen, has always struggled to fit in, and failed to find passion in her life. Did she question if her impending nuptials were a good idea? Yes, that doesn’t mean she wanted to leave Earth and everyone she knew and loved. Emphatically, no!
This book begins when Imogen is kidnapped by Al, an alien prince and there is nothing she can do to stop him from loading her onto a ship headed to another planet. He’s Sidhe, and like the stories of old, he has magical abilities and ego to spare. Al believes he should always get what he wants and is willing to break all the rules in order get his way and he's utterly convinced Imogen will fall in love with him, and her new powers, once she’s "turned sidhe."
Thankfully, Imogen is having none of it and she's smart, she's savvy and she's clever enough to convince the others on the ship that she's not there willingly. While not able to return home, Imogen sets a path for herself that is a joy to follow.
This book was excellent. The humor, the pop culture references, the action, the fabulous side characters and Imogen as a 45 year old heroine, who won't take no for an answer and saves the day all on her own, is everything.
If you enjoy your novels with strong world-building, and an unpredictable protagonist who’s more than capable of saving herself then, A Dagger of Lightning is for you. I absolutely recommend this book!
This book begins when Imogen is kidnapped by Al, an alien prince and there is nothing she can do to stop him from loading her onto a ship headed to another planet. He’s Sidhe, and like the stories of old, he has magical abilities and ego to spare. Al believes he should always get what he wants and is willing to break all the rules in order get his way and he's utterly convinced Imogen will fall in love with him, and her new powers, once she’s "turned sidhe."
Thankfully, Imogen is having none of it and she's smart, she's savvy and she's clever enough to convince the others on the ship that she's not there willingly. While not able to return home, Imogen sets a path for herself that is a joy to follow.
This book was excellent. The humor, the pop culture references, the action, the fabulous side characters and Imogen as a 45 year old heroine, who won't take no for an answer and saves the day all on her own, is everything.
If you enjoy your novels with strong world-building, and an unpredictable protagonist who’s more than capable of saving herself then, A Dagger of Lightning is for you. I absolutely recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping
Moderate: Stalking
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book was brilliant!
In this world, there's a Prime dimension of reality and a near unlimited number of Echo dimensions of that reality, which exist beneath the surface. Each Echo layer is deeper, more deadly than the last.
This story all takes place in one night, in the 3-4 the hours leading up to midnight on New Years. The location, a New Years Eve party held by a wealthy benefactor, where all of the political movers and guilds are there.
Kembral Thorne who is a member of the Hound Guild, and our FMC, has just had a baby and is still on leave but attends the party in order to have a few hours away from her newborn. Left as the only one standing, after the wine is poisoned, Kem is the only one to notice when the night is reset, and the party falls spiralling into the Echo.
Notorious burglar Rika Nonesuch, is a member of the Cat Guild, and Kem's professional and personal kryptonite. Rika may be Kem's only chance at surviving the night, and saving everyone in the room.
Twelve times, the party attendees must deal with murder and mayhem until midnight and the echo-made clock chimes, thrusting the the entire ballroom and all of its guests into increasingly deeper layers of the echo, and further from their prime reality.
Every fall into a deeper echo is more dangerous.
I've never read anything like this and it was an utter delight! Totally recommended for those who love intricate plots and twisty world building, with a mystery that takes its time to get to the conclusion.
In this world, there's a Prime dimension of reality and a near unlimited number of Echo dimensions of that reality, which exist beneath the surface. Each Echo layer is deeper, more deadly than the last.
This story all takes place in one night, in the 3-4 the hours leading up to midnight on New Years. The location, a New Years Eve party held by a wealthy benefactor, where all of the political movers and guilds are there.
Kembral Thorne who is a member of the Hound Guild, and our FMC, has just had a baby and is still on leave but attends the party in order to have a few hours away from her newborn. Left as the only one standing, after the wine is poisoned, Kem is the only one to notice when the night is reset, and the party falls spiralling into the Echo.
Notorious burglar Rika Nonesuch, is a member of the Cat Guild, and Kem's professional and personal kryptonite. Rika may be Kem's only chance at surviving the night, and saving everyone in the room.
Twelve times, the party attendees must deal with murder and mayhem until midnight and the echo-made clock chimes, thrusting the the entire ballroom and all of its guests into increasingly deeper layers of the echo, and further from their prime reality.
Every fall into a deeper echo is more dangerous.
I've never read anything like this and it was an utter delight! Totally recommended for those who love intricate plots and twisty world building, with a mystery that takes its time to get to the conclusion.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A delightfully fun, and cozy short story. Fabulous for fans of coffee and fantasy creatures.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fascinating world building, this story felt at first like a Gaslamp Fantasy, with our MC Emma, who grew up in the King's monster hunter core, a group tasked with eradicating monsters, magic and the people who use it.
When Emma discovers that she has magic of her own, she runs away and meets up with an exiled fairy and the "scientist" she's protecting. From this point on, this story felt more like the classic TV show Sliders. Emma and her team hopping from parallel world to parallel, trying to find one where Emma can live out her dream as a magical bartender.
This was delightful and fun fantasy and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint really is the marketing, which touts this as a cozy fantasy with a magical bartender, when this was more of a fantasy adventure, with a magic wielding MC off to set the parallel worlds to right, on her search for the best place to settle down.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next, but don't expect a low stakes slice of life cozy, this a rollicking ride.
When Emma discovers that she has magic of her own, she runs away and meets up with an exiled fairy and the "scientist" she's protecting. From this point on, this story felt more like the classic TV show Sliders. Emma and her team hopping from parallel world to parallel, trying to find one where Emma can live out her dream as a magical bartender.
This was delightful and fun fantasy and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint really is the marketing, which touts this as a cozy fantasy with a magical bartender, when this was more of a fantasy adventure, with a magic wielding MC off to set the parallel worlds to right, on her search for the best place to settle down.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next, but don't expect a low stakes slice of life cozy, this a rollicking ride.
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No