Book of the Elder Wisdom by R. Walter Dutton

December 11, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Book of the Elder Wisdom by R. Walter Dutton
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A time of epidemics, disaster, unrest…

We are entering Lovecraft’s world. This book is the prologue.

******

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An unwitting heir to this legacy stumbles onto its dark mysteries, and sets out to solve them – on a quest that ranges from an ancient tower of the Anasazi in the American Southwest, to the streets of Skid Row Los Angeles, and finally into the farthest reaches of time and space.

The Book of the Elder Wisdom renders a faithful account of these events, and the meaning they hold for our own time, as told to R. Walter Dutton.

Some secrets are far older than anyone would have guessed.

Mr. Dutton had a smooth, descriptive writing style that worked perfectly for the tone of this book. I stayed up past my usual bedtime for more than one night so I could finish an extra chapter and see what the characters would discover about the mysteries of ancient tower next among many other compelling scenes. The act of reading felt like watching a movie play out vividly in my imagination. That’s something that only happens occasionally for me, and I relish it every time it does.

There were times when the pacing was a bit uneven. This was something I noticed the most in the last third of this tale. It was distracting for me as a reader to move between the quicker pace of the beginning and middle to the slower pacing later on. Either of the speeds would have been fine. I simply would have preferred that the storyline stuck to one or the other.

The protagonist’s character development was excellent. I really questioned his judgement in the beginning due to his decision to investigate a case without having any training in how the authorities collect evidence or what steps they take to preserve a crime scene. Without giving away too many details, I can say that I was quite pleased with how the plot twists not only acknowledged the danger of doing these things but gave good explanations for why the main character made those choices. I walked away feeling satisfied with what I’d learned about them as well as with how much they’d changed as a result of their determination to get to the truth.

Book of the Elder Wisdom was a thought-provoking read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys metaphysics or archeology.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Holiday Heroes Save Christmas by Adam Wallace

December 9, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Holiday Heroes Save Christmas by Adam Wallace
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

This just in―breaking news from the North Pole!

Santa Claus can’t deliver presents on Christmas Eve and he needs backup. But not just anybody can help him―he needs the Holiday Heroes!

This Christmas, it’s up to the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, a Witch and a Leprechaun to fill in for Santa and save Christmas.
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Can the Holiday Heroes deliver presents without being spotted? Will they be able to pull off Christmas in the end?

Everyone needs to take a sick day eventually!

My favorite part of this picture book were the profiles that were included about Santa, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, a leprechaun, and a witch. These profiles gave the audience so much information about all five of these classic fantasy characters, including some facts about their lives that were downright funny. It was nice to have these glimpses of who these individuals were, especially when it came to the portions of their lives that weren’t necessarily part of the traditional canons about them.

I would have liked to see more time spent on plot and character development. The blurb and first scene of this tale were filled with so much promise, so I was disappointed with how quickly some of the most exciting plot twists were either not shown or mentioned only in passing. This was a fabulous idea that could have been expanded upon so much more than it was.

While this wasn’t specifically about Covid-19, the thought of Santa needing help delivering presents due to being sick and in quarantine is certainly timely this holiday season. I appreciated the way the narrator explained this turn of events in ways that were honest about his illness but still reassuring for young readers. It was also interesting to see how this concept was addressed again in the final scene. There was certainly room for a sequel, but it also felt nice to have a resolution to this problem.

The Holiday Heroes Save Christmas should be read by anyone who has a vivid imagination and loves Christmas.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Wicked Fire by Raisa Greywood

December 7, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Wicked Fire by Raisa Greywood
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Erotic Romance, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Dryas

Freedom isn’t a blessing. It’s a curse.

I’m lost in the modern world, beset by the rage of the Archer clan, and given the impossible task of bringing my former ally to justice once and for all. The Mad King Teran wants to wreck the world and I am its unlikely savior.

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After all I’ve done, the path to redemption will be long, but I will succeed. Even if it costs me everything.

This is an interesting new novel about Morgaine Le Fay and the life decisions she made. The worst one was falling for the light Sidhe Fergus Archer, yet you have to feel sorry for her. Fergus was an expert seducer and Morgaine was still naïve. It didn’t help that he spiked her drink. It was horrible to watch him rape her and then allowed every member of his family to draw upon her magic. She vows revenge.

Morgaine’s life becomes extremely difficult and at the same time becomes the best it ever has since she was young and still with her parents. I could feel her confusion when her prison is suddenly destroyed, and she was thrust into the 21st century with nothing to her name.

Draco has an interesting sense of humor and I love how confused he is of everything that is the 21st century. It was a great amount of fun (with some LOL moments, like when he commented on the band, Korn) and I love how the author made their relationship change over time. Trust slowly building until lust takes over and then over protectiveness. One of the first kind things Morgaine finally receives is a good meal, a bath, and clean clothes making her finally feel like a real person. Draco doesn’t know how to deal with her emotions, though, or how they make him feel. There’s a lot of growing and changing both characters have to do.

I did think the ending was rather rushed. But I adored this plot and the twists and turns that make it an interesting read. So many different relationships and watching them change and develop is a real pleasure. So, the only things I would like to see change is the beginning take off a little faster and the ending not to be quite so quick. A great read especially for those that love the old legends of Britain.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Shapers of Worlds by Edward Willett, Editor

December 2, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Shapers of Worlds by Edward Willett, Editor
Publisher: Shadowpaw Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Within these pages lie eighteen stories, from eighteen worlds shaped by some of today’s best writers of science fiction and fantasy, all guests on the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers during its first year. There are original stories from Tanya Huff, Seanan McGuire, David Weber, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., John C. Wright, D.J. Butler, Christopher Ruocchio, Shelley Adina, and Edward Willett, plus fiction by John Scalzi, David Brin, Julie Czerneda, Joe Haldeman, Gareth L. Powell, Dr. Charles E. Gannon, Fonda Lee, Derek Kunsken, and Thoraiya Dyer. Some are international bestsellers. Among them are winners and nominees for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, Aurealis, Ditmar, British Science Fiction Association, and Dragon Awards. Some have been writing for decades, others are at the beginning of their careers. All have honed their craft to razor-sharpness.

A teenage girl finds something strange in the middle of the Canadian prairie. An exobiologist tries to liberate a giant alien enslaved on its homeworld by humans. The music of the spheres becomes literal for an Earth ship far from home. A superhero league interviews for new members. Strangers share a drink on a world where giant starships fall. Two boys, one a werewolf, one a mage, get more than they bargained for when they volunteer to fight an evil Empire. A man with amnesia accepts a most unusual offer. A young woman finds unexpected allies as she tries to win a flying-machine race in steampunk London . . .

Ranging from boisterous to bleak, from humorous to harrowing, from action-filled to quiet and meditative; taking place in alternate pasts, the present day, the far, far future, and times that never were; set on Earth, in the distant reaches of space, in fantasy worlds, and in metaphysical realms, each of these stories is as unique as its creator. And yet, they all showcase one thing: the irrepressible need of human beings to create, to imagine, to tell stories.
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To shape worlds.

These tales are filled with surprises, so keep guessing as you read them!

“The Tale of the Wicked” followed Captain Michael Obwije as his war ship, The Wicked, attempted to hunt down and finally destroy an enemy ship. When something unexplainable happened at the last moment, he had to quickly figure out what was going on before it was too late. The plot twists in this tale kept me on the edge of my seat. They felt like an episode of a fast-paced and thought-provoking science fiction adventure show. I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended, and the creative final scene only made me yearn for more!

There were some tales in this collection that I wish had been given more time to develop, and “Ghost Colours” was one of them. It was about a man named Brian who had inherited a ghost from a relative. Luckily, science had advanced to the point that hauntings could be permanently dealt with by having one’s DNA slightly altered. I was intrigued by how such a procedure would work and was a bit disappointed that the characters never went into detail about it. They only barely scraped the surface of how proving the existence of ghosts would change human society. With that being said, I loved the premise of this story and of the others that I thought could have used more time to grow. Their basic structures were good, they just needed to be filled out more.

As soon as I read the first sentence of “A Thing of Beauty” and realized two of the characters were talking about murdering orphans in order to save money, I raised an eyebrow and kept going. There’s definitely something about cutting straight to the chase when the stakes are high as these ones! I was intrigued by the main character’s plan to stop these murders from happening. While I can’t go into more detail about it than that, I will say that the plot twists kept me guessing until the final scene.

Shapers of Worlds was a well-rounded anthology that should be read by anyone who wants to lose themselves in other times and places.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Wolf by Stephanie Burke

November 27, 2020 By 1 Comment


The Wolf by Stephanie Burke
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Caille knows the hearts of men, and she has been ripping them from their chests for centuries. Now, as a member of the Wild Hunt, she wants nothing more than to rip apart the men who dared steal one brother’s mate and kidnap her other Hunt brother. Nothing and no one will stand in her way… even the curiously attractive new partner The Master of the Hunt has given her.

Bran the Blessed had been in a cave for what seemed like an eternity, growing back his body and learning about the new world with the aid of his companion crows. He relied on no one except his friend, Kern, who brought him out of his solitude and offered to introduce him to the new world. Problems arise when his friend’s mate has been kidnapped by murderous cultists, leaving Kern unable to function. There is no way Bran, the once-powerful King of Wales could not assist with this hunt as a new Huntsman… and then there was Caille.
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Instantly intrigued with each other, the two Huntsmen become pawns in a dangerous game where the elite go to satiate their darkest desires and where the cultists themselves hope to gain more power and influence. Vowing to protect this budding relationship, Bran will do anything he can to protect his new family, even if it means he became one of those who play with wolves.

Thomas has been taken. Kern is incapacitated, Arcas is missing. That leaves the rescue mission to Bran and Caille.

Oh my! What a novella. This is small but mighty and certainly packs a punch. The attraction between Caille and Bran leaps off the page but they never forget just what the priority is. I loved Bran’s backstory and how he was annoyed at how his story had twisted and changed throughout the years. Caille is the very definition of a strong independent woman and it was great to see Bran recognise that and leave her to it when needed.

This ends on another cliffhanger but now I really, REALLY, want Arcas’ story. I know he’s going to be with Marshall and I can’t wait. Sparks are going to fly. Not only that but I need Thomas to be safe.

Such a great series and definitely one I am loving. Absolutely recommended by me.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

November 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark book 7
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

His obsession…

Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

Her downfall…

Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.
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They were never supposed to want each other this much…

With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

She wants him and he wants her, but they’re determined to keep each other at arm’s length—so they think.

I love the Immortals After Dark series and I couldn’t wait to read this one. A Demon King and a Sorceress…what can go wrong? Lots, really. I liked the pacing of the story, but at times it seemed a little choppy. I get the author was trying to build up anticipation and it worked. I was drawn right into the story and had to keep reading.

Rydstrom was my favorite character. For a demon, he’s a darn upstanding guy. Really. He wants to do the right thing, despite being a demon. I liked how he tried to protect Sabine and tried to do what was best. There were times he seemed almost too good to be a demon, but that wasn’t a bother to me.

Sabine was different. I guess what bothered me the most about her was that she was a bad girl—which was fine for me—but she could be despondent and just plain mean. I didn’t see what Rydstrom saw in her. She wasn’t cute, but rather rotten. I didn’t mind her being a bad girl. I like reading bad girls, but let her be a bad girl. Let her be bad, but have some sweetness about her. She wasn’t rotten to the core.

The ending left a little to be desired, in my mind. But that might have just been me and the time I read the book. It was still packed with tension and action, so it kept my attention.

If you’re looking for a story that’s hot (like scorch-the-screen hot) and fast-paced, then this is the one for you.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Huntress by Sevannah Storm

November 10, 2020 By 1 Comment


The Huntress by Sevannah Storm
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

A sassy detective struggles to maintain her integrity in a multi-species world but finds herself choosing sides in a vampire-shifter war instigated by a human politician.

CALLIE is a sassy detective, known for her attitude and her ability to endanger her partners. While investigating a senator, she stumbles upon suck-bloods (her word) and a canister, embroiling herself in a diabolical plot older than her grandfather. Trying to stop her dying sister from an unlikely conversion, she falls for an ancient suck-blood and discovers that she’s more than human.

GABRIEL is centuries old but has withdrawn from society, preferring to spend his years avoiding vamp politics and reading ancient Greek texts. Asked to rescue Callie as a favor, he doesn’t expect her to tempt him with her scent, her delicious blood and her honor. When another vampire abducts her, Gabe must use his allies and their skills to find her before she suffers through a conversion dooming her to an eternity of enslavement.
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The passion between them is potent, their love empowering as Callie learns that controlling everything won’t bring her happiness. Gabe discovers that to truly live he must lose his heart. What follows is the merging of vampire and human, of lust and love, of honor and forgiveness whilst preventing the suck-bloods and beasts from fighting a war they didn’t start.

In a world where vampires and shifters co-exist – in a fashion – next to humans, it would take something pretty spectacular to bring all of them together. Say… a mysterious canister and the blood of someone that changes with what she eats maybe? Yep, that should do it.

Callie has always listened to her instincts and they have kept her alive and pretty much unharmed. Gabe is the older brother, the stronger brother, and yet it is Syl who rules. None of that bothers Gabe but once Callie is on the scene, he will do anything to protect her – even if it means taking his brother’s throne.

I really enjoyed this first book in the series. It leads you to a new world where the rules have changed. I enjoyed getting to know Callie and found her to be a strong, upfront, and sassy heroine. However, I also found parts of the story with her to be slightly confusing as her mindset isn’t always the most stable.

There is an overall story arc that I’m sure will be covered more in future books. For now, though, this story was enough to give you a fulfilling read whilst still leaving you wanting more. The only downsides for me were the confusion already mentioned and the epilogue. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to ruin it for others but, suffice it to say, part of the epilogue was perfect. And the other part was just meh. I’ve seen that storyline before, just thrown it in at the end, and it never seems to come out as it should.

Overall, this was a great read with a wonderful cast of characters, smooth pacing, and a world I wish to return to. Definitely recommended by me.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Silence Of The Sands by R.J. Hore

November 6, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Silence Of The Sands by R.J. Hore
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

His secretary Bertha has gone missing, and so have her mother and a large tourist island. Randy has to find emergency transportation to the disaster zone and fast, if he has to rescue the lost damsels and ease their possible distress.

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Good thing someone stuffed a kitten in Randy’s pocket. Just another typical day outside the office, complete with wayward women and a missing beach.

Randy knew something was up when his half-banshee secretary, Bertha, whirled into the office – over an hour late – grabbed some spare cash then left without any explanation. Randy knows Bertha is usually completely calm and collected, but he’s not initially worried. When Bertha contacts him and beg for help he’s drawn into his most bizarre case yet.

While this is part of a series I haven’t read any of the previous installments and can happily say this book truly stands well alone. I adored catching all the puns and various mangled references (a cat called Schrodinger, for example) and this coupled with the hard-boiled edge of Randy’s voice mingled really well so the story didn’t feel too noir or edgy, but also not just a light and fluffy comedy story either. I thought the author did an amazing job balancing these two and I found myself both deeply embroiled in the mystery aspect to the plot while laughing at the references I caught and enjoying the lighter tone equally well.

Readers looking for a humorous mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still has a solid plot, a wealth of interesting and varied magical characters and an astonishingly well-detailed world should find this story a delight. The pace moves quickly at times and I found myself needing to go back and read more carefully in a few places as the author manages to put a number of clever references and witty ripostes in a very short space of words. It’s easy to overlook small details like this and I’m certain this book will only grow deeper and more complicated in a wonderful way upon further re-reads. This is exactly the sort of book where even on the third or fourth re-read you can catch extra hints, tips and clues and be delighted all over again at the cleverness of the author and characters.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Deary: Betrayal in the Shade of Light by Sarmistha

November 5, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Deary: Betrayal in the Shade of Light by Sarmistha
Publisher: Olympia Publishers
Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

After her brother’s mysterious demise, Steff Robert Smith collects herself and decides to know what’s hidden from her. As she gets obsessed with the payback, she is exposed to secrets and betrayals, the ones that were always in front of her eyes. The deceit was in the light, yet was shaded. The fight is not just against bad ones but also with time and her destiny. On the journey to get her revenge, loved ones come and go and she is left broken each time.

So, does her pain win, or does the revenge and fire of sisterly love take over? Will she bow to her destiny or rise above and win her battle?

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A little curiosity goes a long way, especially when it comes to a mysterious death.

Steff was an assertive individual, and that was one personality trait that was sorely needed in this mystery. This was the sort of adventure that required anyone participating in it to have a strong sense of what they were seeking and how far they were willing to go to reach their goals. She definitely had the right personality for that!

I had trouble getting into this story due to how non-descriptive it was. When characters were introduced, I had few to no details of what they looked or sounded like even when they were the protagonist or someone close to that role. This same problem extended to the settings, themes, and conflicts. I’d struggle to explain what many of them felt like or how they might have changed over time because of how little information I had about them to begin with.

The plot twists were well done, especially in the last dozen pages when the pacing picked up and Steff was dealing with multiple conflicts at once. These scenes raised the stakes of her mission and made me wonder what her fate would ultimately be. The author took a few risks with the ending that were a little out of the ordinary for the mystery genre, but they paid off wonderfully. I’m glad she was willing to stretch the boundaries of this genre like that.

The Deary: Betrayal in the Shade of Light should be read by anyone who enjoys action-filled mysteries.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton

October 30, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A brutal murder, a suspect in jail, and an execution planned—but what if the wrong person is about to be killed?

When a fellow U.S. Marshal asks Anita Blake to fly to a tiny community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on an emergency consult, she knows time is running short. When she arrives, there is plenty of proof that a young wereleopard killed his uncle in the most gruesome and bloody way possible. As the mounting evidence points to him, a warrant of execution is already under way.

But something seems off about the murder, and Anita has been asked for her expert opinion on the crime scene. Despite escalating pressure from local cops and the family’s cries for justice for their dead patriarch, Anita quickly realizes that the evidence doesn’t quite add up.

Time is against Anita, as the tight-knit community is up in arms and its fear of supernaturals is growing. She races to uncover the truth and determine whether the Marshals have caught the killer or are about to execute an innocent man—all in the name of justice.

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I missed a couple of Ms. Hamilton’s previous books prior to Sucker Punch because I felt tired of whole scenes being dedicated to sex. I’m thrilled that this novel has a PLOT and the author stayed focused on solving the mystery with only a few episodes to remind me how convoluted and important her relationships are within her polycule. It wasn’t heavy-handed at all and I really appreciated that.

The whole premise was to save a young man who both Anita and Marshal Newman believed to be innocent. Unfortunately, a warrant of execution was issued and time is not on their side. The legalities they were trying to work through and with was fascinating. It presented a clear case of our justice system in reality. A law is passed that everyone felt was needed but in practice falls short of actual life situations. The result is someone could die that really shouldn’t but the law is so narrow, there’s no wiggle room. Talk about frustrating and stressful! The suspense comes from wondering if they will make it in time and what will they have to do to make it so.

Of course, everyone is sure Bobby is the murderer. The secondary characters exhibit prejudices and lack of tolerance and the willingness to ignore the 10 years Bobby was a model citizen. How easy it is to accept the simple way out just because the topic makes a person uncomfortable. It seemed like most of the townsfolk just want to sweep Bobby under the rug and forget anything ever happened. But, in true Anita Blake form, she won’t give up, she keeps fighting no matter how angry she gets the local PD. I am always impressed with Anita’s character. She’s a strong woman who isn’t afraid to fight and face the monsters head on, even when monsters turn out to be evil humans. I wasn’t sure if that was the case because guess who’s back in town? Olaf a/k/a Otto. He had a case in the vicinity and I kept wondering if there was a connection.

One connection that makes for good reading is the dynamic between Otto and Anita. Fans of the series understand why that is disturbing on so many levels. In Sucker Punch, I was treated to a serious pondering of, what If Olaf actually gets his way? If you’d have asked me before reading this novel, I would have said no way in heck – that is never going to happen. Ms. Hamilton spent some time with Olaf’s character and now I have to say, I’m not too sure. And after what Edward said? Color me shocked! Another stunner is that Anita’s lion isn’t that averse to the possibility. I wonder if other readers are of similar mind about Olaf after reading this story. It sure makes for some interesting contemplation.

The ending is exciting, shocking, stunning, and quite possibly contains the most important cliffhanger question any book has ever ended with. I am not going to say who it involves because I want a reader to be just as flabbergasted as I was. I never saw that coming in a million years. One thing is for sure – I am NOT going to miss the next book when it comes out. The answer to that question is way too important to ignore.

Ms. Hamilton wraps up the case in spectacular style. It’s not what I expected but it makes a ton of sense and provides complete closure. Sucker Punch is a powerful book with a hefty story worth taking the time to read. This is the most satisfying Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel I’ve read in quite some time and is an easy recommend.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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