Some months after the events of 'Thieves of Blood' the remaining party members led by Diran take are on an aggressive campaign against evil. Their travels have led them across the Principalities into an obscure corner where two small baronies locked in a trade stalemate, an old curse prevents cooperation.

In the mountains they cross paths with the lich Lathifa in her lair, and she is fascinated by the dragonwand the artificer Tressler carries. It was apparently fashioned from a powerful and lost magical artifact. The lich sends her barghest servant after the party to get the wand at any cost. In those same mountains an orc rival of Ghaji is working for a mad assassin from Diran's past and a Kalashtar. The terrible trio are working to rebuild an abandoned experimental Cannith forge.

There are a lot of coincidences going on, but a lot of it can be explained as the manipulations of Vol, who, admittedly, has had 3,000 years or so to line things up. In the shadow of her plans the struggle for the psi-forged facility pales. Waggoner continues to dig deep into the character's pasts with well-timed flashbacks and broadens the character's relationships with each other. The villains are hardly bungling, but there was something funny about how these five scheming villains could hardly stop plotting and backstabbing and rubbing their hands together to get REVENGE and be the BEST at being EVIL!

This was really enjoyable - I had to dive right in to the next one. 

The Blade of the Flame

Next: 'Sea of Death'

Previous: 'Thieves of Blood'

Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.

As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

*I received a free copy from the publisher and chose to leave a voluntary review. Thank you!*

This is my first book by this author but after reading this beautiful book I will read some of her other books for sure.

I had a chance to read a sample of this book on Bookish first (Thank you!) and thought I would be something I enjoy. I had no idea how much I really ending up loving this book.

I loved the writing and the characters and the world a lot.

The writing just draws you in from the beginning of the book and makes it feel so real. Loved the small town setting and the bakery. Though the bakery part often made me hungry lol.

I really liked Anna Kate and Natalie and the depth of these two characters was amazing. Both of them different story and/ or history but yet so much in common and intertwined as it all comes together.

The book has a supernatural aspect but doesn't take it over it just enhances the story all the more. But really I personally think it still be a great book even without supernatural part.

But really this story is so much more, it is about grief and healing. Family and towns secrets and letting go and staring a new life, love, friendship and so much more. The story has funny moments but also some heartbreaking ones all nicely balanced as the story grows.

Overall just make you "feel good” book that I really enjoyed.

I rate it 5 ★

Available NOW 

Amazon *** B&N *** Kobo 

When former police detective Ted Conkaffey was wrongly accused of abducting Claire Bingley, he hoped the Queensland rainforest town of Crimson Lake would be a good place to disappear. But nowhere is safe from Claire's devastated father.

Dale Bingley has a brutal revenge plan all worked out - and if Ted doesn't help find the real abductor, he'll be its first casualty.

Meanwhile, in a dark roadside hovel called the Barking Frog Inn, the bodies of two young bartenders lie on the beer-sodden floor. It's Detective Inspector Pip Sweeney's first homicide investigation - complicated by the arrival of private detective Amanda Pharrell to 'assist' on the case. Amanda's conviction for murder a decade ago has left her with some odd behavioural traits, top-to-toe tatts - and a keen eye for killers . . .

For Ted and Amanda, the hunt for the truth will draw them into a violent dance with evil. Redemption is certainly on the cards - but it may well cost them their lives . . .

*I received a free copy from the publisher via Bookish First and chose to leave a voluntary review. Thank you!*

TW: Again this book mention the crime on minors.

I really enjoyed the last book, but I thought this book was even better than the last.

I like the growth we get with Ted and Amanda. I like the friendship we get with these two, they are an odd pair but yet work together so great. 

Ted is still trying to hide to stay out the public eye as much as he can, but of course things are not in his favor n some things. In last book I liked Ted but he still gave me a bit if the creeps at times.  He is doing much better in this book and maybe even working towards his peace. Like I said I liked the growth of his character and it is a big part of the story.

Of course I liked Amanda, she has her issues and we learn a bit more about her but she also is a bit of comic relief at times.

This book kept me captivated to the last page, it is suspenseful, had so many twist and turns. Again some things were easy to predict nut the big and fun things... not at all and had me in awe.

We meet some new and interesting people, that fit in m opinion right in with Ted and Amanda. 

I loved the landscape and surroundings of Australia.

Overall I really loved this book and highly recommended it to anyone that enjoys thrillers.

I rate it 5 ★

Available NOW 

Amazon *** B&N *** Kobo 

Crimson Lake, by Sydney-based, Ned Kelly Award-winning author Candice Fox, is a thrilling contemporary crime novel set in Queensland, Australia, perfect for readers of authors like James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, and Tana French.

How do you move on when the world won’t let you?

12:46: Claire Bingley stands alone at a bus stop

12:47: Ted Conkaffey parks his car beside her

12:52: The girl is missing . . .

Six minutes in the wrong place at the wrong time—that’s all it took to ruin Sydney detective Ted Conkaffey’s life. Accused but not convicted of a brutal abduction,Ted is now a free man—and public enemy number one. Maintaining his innocence, he flees north to keep a low profile amidst the steamy, croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

There, Ted’s lawyer introduces him to eccentric private investigator Amanda Pharrell, herself a convicted murderer. Not entirely convinced Amanda is a cold-blooded killer, Ted agrees to help with her investigation, a case full of deception and obsession, while secretly digging into her troubled past. The residents of Crimson Lake are watching the pair's every move... and the town offers no place to hide.

*I received a free copy from the publisher via Bookish First and chose to leave a voluntary review. Thank you!*

TW: This book is about a guy accused of a crime on a minor.

I really enjoyed this book, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

It is basically three mysteries in one book. Three different crimes and three different suspects. You would think it gets confusing but it really doesn’t. The writing is great and even though the three different stories in one, it is super easy to follow.  

It takes place in Australia, I never been there yet I had a great picture if it form the book, I really enjoyed the world building. It was well described but not overly, just the right amount.

The book, keeps you guessing, it gets you close and then jus leaves you with more question until the end. Something friendship and relationship wise I saw coming but the main plot and “who done it”, I did not see coming as much if at all. I thought about it a couple times but then was like “nahhhh” but that is just part of how the story plays with you.    

One of my favorite parts of the book were the “Dear Jake” letters, creepy and fun to read.

Characters, I liked them and I liked the mix of a bit of everything. From nice to bad and the weird and everything in between.

I liked Ted…. I think …..for the most part I liked him but there were a few definite moments and actions I was really  weirded-out by him and not sure what to think of him , But I think that was meant to be by the author.

I really liked Amanda, even with all her quirks … maybe even more so.  She also brought a bit of humor into the story.

Fabina….. I’m honestly not sure about her … maybe we see more if her next book.

 I liked how everything came together at the end, and how other things left a bit open for the next book.

I for one, am really looking forward to read book two.

I rate this book 4 ★

Available NOW 

Amazon *** B&N *** Kobo 

Audience: Adult

Format: Audiobook/Owned

Dorian Sudler knows he shouldn't smoke.

- first sentence

This is a dark story, but that isn't different from the other alien stories. It focuses on corporate and human greed and the evil greed creates. Weyland-Yutani had a backup plan if Hadley's Hope (Aliens) didn't give them the specimen they craved. They created an isolated scientific research station called The Cold Forge and transported eggs there to be stored for future research. Blue is a scientist who suffers from a debilitating genetic disease but she is also a genetic researcher. Her condition has declined to the point where she is bedridden, but she is able to function by transferring her consciousness into an android body (Marcus). Blue and the other researchers are using chimps to gestate the aliens from the eggs and produce xenomorphs. Dorian is a Weyland-Yutani hatchet man whose job is to find ways to save the company money. He is at the Cold Forge to figure out why the scientists haven't produced results yet.

Dorian is a despicable character that you will enjoy hating. I spent most of the book hoping he would die, and die painfully. Marcus is an interesting character who manages to generate sympathy despite being an android. I understand Blue's need to find a cure, but she doesn't care who or what she hurts to do it. She isn't exactly likable, and I often questioned her decisions.

The book is well-written and the characters are fully developed though not all are likable. The threat of the aliens is constantly there, but the characters (as usual) don't see it. The reader, on the other hand, is waiting for them to escape and kill everyone. The book brings up the question of animal suffering for the sake of research, and even questions whether it's ok to cage the aliens and cause their suffering.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of the Alien universe.