Tag: paranormal mystery

Book Review: Lovely, Dark and Deep (Fallow Creek #1) by Claudia Cain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Mystery
Length: 300 pages
Author: Claudia Cain
Publisher: Black Sheep Books
Release Date: November 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s a beautiful day in autumn, and a little girl has gone missing…

She’s not the first.

Hannah Hendricks is the fourth child to disappear from the small town of Fallow Creek in the past two months. Search parties comb the woods and vigils are held, yet there is no trace of the missing children, as if they have vanished off the face of the earth.

Cassandra Reilly is certain there is magic involved, but few people trust the word of a witch, and fewer still want her help. As an outsider to the rest of the town, it seems there is little she can do – until Hannah’s parents arrive on her doorstep, begging for magical aid.

Cass is tired of doing nothing, but agreeing to help is more dangerous than she knows. Something evil is at work in Fallow Creek, and if she isn’t careful, she’ll lead it back to her own door…

Content warnings for this book can be found on the author’s website.

Thank you to the author for the gifted Kindle book.

SPOOKY.

Well this will give you the hibbie jibbies REAL FAST. This was outside of my usual genre choices but added in a lot of things I always love reading about for an eclectic and fast paced book. I was real excited when a snarky Fae showed up to hunt down the terror in the woods. I thought he and Cass had great banter and there’s definitely some slow build romance happening here.

There were good twists too. Especially about a certain character (!!). I love being taken by surprise and I think it helped build Cass’s character too knowing her decisions from the past. I didn’t love her sister, Pen, who felt like she was 11 instead of 17. But I did adore Theo.

This is absolutely perfect for the fall and with the addition of witches gives all the vibes you could hope for. Occasionally I would find some of the information repetitive (as in, it was just touched over, but is being repeated by a different character on the next page). Besides that I don’t have any major complaints. I loved the pacing, the need to know what happens next and seeing all of the spooky things that go bump in the night. After that ending I’m excited to see how this story further unfolds!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal mystery
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: missing children, loss of life, physical and magical altercations, creature attacks, near death experiences, loss of a parent (off page, prior to book)

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Book Review: Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3) by Victoria Schwab

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Middle-Grade Paranormal
Length: 304 pages
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: March 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows … unless it’s the other way around?

Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents’ TV show.

But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.

Cass takes on her most dangerous challenge yet.

FAV OF THE SERIES.

Really liked this one! A very quick audio read that I felt more invested in than the previous books. I attribute that mostly to the fact that I’ve really gotten to know and love all of these characters. Cassidy is such a great, younger main character. I love how strong she is and committed to her friends. Jacob is always there for Cassidy and I love that he started finding a common ground with Lara! The characters are the best part of the book.

The setting was fantastic!! Since I’ve visited New Orleans I felt it come even more alive through the writing. The depictions of The French Quarter and surrounding areas brought me there. All of the ghosts were creepy (and sometimes charming). A great spooky atmosphere without being over the top (since it is meant for a younger audience).

An enjoyable read as always. They make me smile and reaffirm that power of strong friendships.

Overall audience notes:

  • Middle grade paranormal
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: being attacked by ghosts
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: slavery and racism (in reference to the history of some of the New Orleans locations)

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Book Review: Swotting Up (Wayfair Witches #9) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 279 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: November 8th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

College isn’t quite as much fun as Wanda Wayfair had hoped. But when a dead body turns up in the library, it seems like her crime-solving life might be calling her back.

There’s more at risk, though, than finding the killer. Wanda and the gang also need to track down a Bad, Bad Book – quite possibly the worst book of all.

But as more murders take place, it seems like time might be running out. Will they find the book, and the killer, before an ancient evil is unleashed upon the world?

SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I feel like I was left with more questions than answers this time around. Which isn’t a bad thing. There’s 2 books left so I was hoping for some mystery to still be alive. And there is!

I’m super invested in what’s happening in Wanda’s love life (when am I not involved in the romance?). It’s becoming one of those last pieces to the story. I might be changing my mind about who I was leaning towards. Frankly, I JUST NEED TO KNOW.

This mystery was a lot more broad and dangerous for Wanda. I like that this had more pieces and intricacies than previous murder mysteries. This story definitely isn’t over. They’re so many emotions and things happening that it’s hard to put down. I love the humor that’s always thrown in and how it balances everything out.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder

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Book Review: Legally Red (Wayfair Witches #8.5) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal cozy mystery
Length: 238 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: August 26th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

*This is a full-length, standalone cozy mystery novel, set in the Wayfair Witches world. It can be enjoyed without having read the Wayfair Witches series.*

Melissa Wayfair might be about to sit the LOL exam, but she sure isn’t laughing about it. Because if she wants to become a legally operating lawyer, then she has to do more than answer a few questions – she also has to clerk under the most obnoxious lawyer known to witch.

While working for Miles Master, Melissa has a lot to contend with. There’s a murder case to solve, there’s a young witch who wants to be emancipated from her parents, and there’s also the slight matter of a broken heart …

But once Melissa has dealt with all of the above, she might have to face her greatest challenge yet – learning how to stand up to her horrible boss.

ENJOYABLE.

I was (and always am) hesitant to read a side story/novella in the midst of the entire series. But after seeing some reviews, and loving Melissa as a character, I wanted to go ahead and read this where it fit into the story!

But no, you do not have to read this in order. It could be read anytime after book 8.

I loved seeing Melissa on this journey! It broke up the series well and gave me some new insight into Melissa and a few other characters. It was well written and the mystery still kept me on my toes. I love the lawyer she’s working with and loved seeing some more of Candace. Melissa has some really cool power combinations that I liked learning about too.

The super cute romance with Mack was just precious. It made me smile and really solidified their ship for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery side story
  • Language: none
  • Violence: murder

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