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Uncaged Review: How to Claim an Undead Soul by Hailey Edwards

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

How to Claim an Undead Soul
Hailey Edwards
New Adult Fantasy

Life was simpler for Grier when she was flat broke and a social pariah. Now she’s carrying the baggage that goes along with the title of Dame Woolworth, and shouldering that weight is giving her a serious crick in the neck. Her work as a Haint is the one thing that makes her feel normal, but even that’s more paranormal than usual.

Spirits are vanishing from well-known hot spots on the ghost tour circuit, and vampires are turning up as shriveled husks. Grier takes it upon herself to uncover what’s preying on Savannah’s supernatural community, and what she uncovers is bigger than a few flickering lampposts gone dark. It’s a deadly threat unleashed by one of their own, and saving her city just might kill her.

Uncaged Review: The second book in the series picks up not too long after the first one ends, and this one improved on the last book by leaps. The world building is better, but still needs tightening up. As for the characters, we learn more about Linus, and Amelie and Boaz, but I still really don’t care that much about either one of them. I’m not enthused about a romance between Boaz and Grier, they completely lack chemistry, but now Linus….here’s hoping.

We get to learn more about Linus and a bit more background on Grier, but there are some twists in this one that may surprise you. The story arc tied up well, and the main series arc continues on. Grier keeps adding more characters to her group, and this time Oscar joins her, and another favorite of mine is now Cletus. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review: Song of Wishrock Harbor by Krista Walsh

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Song of Wishrock Harbor
Krista Walsh
Fantasy

Gabriel Mulligan is a hard-nosed P.I. with a smirk on his face and ice in his veins.

Or at least that’s what he tells himself.

Until a crimson-eyed woman walks into his life with a killer case and challenges everything he believes to be true.

Six men have been found naked and frozen on the docks of Wishrock Harbor, and a dark shadow lurks in the river ready for its next meal.

As the details of the case keep changing, the line between good and evil start to blur.

With the help of his best friend and some unlikely allies, Gabe will need to sift through the lies to determine who the true monsters are — even if one of those monsters is himself.

Step into the Invisible Entente series and lose yourself in a supernatural mystery of friendship, longing, and revenge.

Uncaged Review: The second book of this series focuses on Gabriel, half fae and half gorgon. Each book in the series focuses on one of the members that escaped a magical room together. They don’t come back as a whole per say, except for a couple, but as this series progresses they may come together at the end, it seems that way anyhow. Being part gorgon (yes, the Medusa type) has kept Gabriel as a loner most of his life, having to wear sunglasses all the time to keep from turning people to stone. I would have thought he could have gotten an eye patch – would have made more sense, since it was only one eye that was the problem. Working as pretty broke P.I., a fire elemental comes in to hire him to find out how her husband was murdered, since the police are getting anywhere.

This is a pretty good book, although it slowed down too much in places, but it did stay interesting enough. I enjoyed this book, but I honestly think I liked book one better. The author does a good job twisting the story just enough that you have to rethink who you think the “bad guy” is from your original guesses. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: It Came from the Multiplex Anthology

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

It Came From the Multiplex
Various
Horror Anthology

Welcome to tonight’s feature presentation, brought to you by an unholy alliance of our spellcasters at Hex Publishers and movie-mages at the Colorado Festival of Horror. Please be advised that all emergency exits have been locked for this special nostalgia-curdled premiere of death. From crinkling celluloid to ferocious flesh—from the silver screen to your hammering heart—behold as a swarm of werewolves, serial killers, Satanists, Elder Gods, aliens, ghosts, and unclassifiable monsters are loosed upon your auditorium. Relax, and allow our ushers to help with your buckets of popcorn—and blood; your ticket stubs—and severed limbs; your comfort candy—and body bags. Kick back and scream as you settle into a fate worse than Hell. Tonight’s director’s cut is guaranteed to slash you apart.

Uncaged Review: Pop up the corn, and kick back with this fun anthology that takes a swing (and maybe inspired?) at the campy 80’s horror movies. This selection of short stories all center around the movies, and even though I’m not a big fan of horror books, these were a lot of fun and creepy! A couple standouts are the first two stories, Alien Parasites from Outer Space and the 2nd story Return of the Alien Parasites from Outer Space which just continues the first story. An outdoor movie theater centered in a meteor crater, what could go wrong? And the very talented Kevin J. Anderson came in with Special Makeup. There were a couple that I wasn’t feeling, Negative Creep wasn’t really scary, just kind of gross, but Helluloid was a good haunt. So if you are a fan of the old midnight movies from the 80’s like Creature Features or Shock Theater with the low budget horror films we all stayed up late at night watching, then you will enjoy this set as it brings back that same feeling, and even if you weren’t a part of that strange time, if you like the campy horror flicks, you’ll enjoy this selection of stories. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: By Blood and Magic by Jamie A. Waters

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

By Blood and Magic
Jamie A. Waters
Urban Fantasy

A priceless treasure is hidden within the ocean’s depths…

Sabine barely managed to escape from Akros with her life.

But the ocean isn’t safe for someone whose power stems from the forests.

When their ship is attacked on the high seas and one of Sabine’s companions is taken hostage, only an agreement forged by blood and magic may save her friend’s life.

The pearl of the sea is also the key to the gods’ revenge…

With the dragon portal failing and the gods’ magic threatening to destroy their world, Sabine must choose between following her heart or upholding a sacred oath.

The cost of ending a centuries-old feud may be higher than anyone expected.

All magic demands a sacrifice–even if it’s hers.

Uncaged Review: In the second book in this series, Sabine and Malek are going after another of the artifacts needed to seal the portal between worlds and keep the dragons in their own world to prevent war. This time, their ship is attacked by Merfolk, and some of their crew is taken hostage. Only with Sabine’s negotiating a deal, can they save their people, including Esme and Levin. But they will need to find a Merfolk that went to land and was kidnapped – and bring her back alive to get their people back, and they don’t have long to do it.

This series is so multi-faceted. As soon as you discover and get through one layer, another develops. This book is even more riveting than the first book in the series. Blossom, the resident Pixie is a hoot, and of the demons, I really like Bane – even though I didn’t care much for Dax in the first book. The relationship between Malek and Sabine continues to develop and we see more and more of Sabine’s past and her powers. This series is a fun set that is easily recommended. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: To Kill a Fae by Jamie A. Waters

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

To Kill a Fae
Jamie A. Waters
Urban Fantasy

The darkness holds more than just secrets…

Marked for death, Sabine escaped from her home more than ten years ago. 

But the Wild Hunt will never give up.

It should have been easy to stay hidden. All Sabine had to do was keep her head down, avoid telling anyone about her past, and above all else — not let her glamour drop.

Even the best-laid plans eventually fall apart.

When a charismatic stranger arrives in the city, Sabine finds herself unwittingly drawn to the power she can sense hidden within him. Keeping her distance is nearly impossible, especially after a life debt is called due and she’s tasked into helping steal a rare artifact.

Sabine is the only one who can break the magical barriers protecting the item, but that means revealing the truth about her identity and exposing her darkest secrets. 

Unfortunately, the Fae aren’t the only ones hunting her.

And the most dangerous monsters aren’t always confined to the dark.

Uncaged Review: The first book in this series is one of those books that starts strong, and continues to get better as you read. Several secrets are revealed as you read – a few I guessed, a couple I didn’t. Sabine has been living in Akros for over 10 years, hiding from the people that want to destroy her, her own family. With two demons, a witch, a pixie, a beastmaster and a dragon shifter as her allies, she will need them all and their special abilities to get out alive.

Sabine is a character that is powerful, but cares about the few people she’s let into her inner sanctum. There are many facets to this book, the brewing romance between her and Malek, the bonds between herself and the demons and Balkin, between herself and the witch and pixie and even the orphans and children. The action sequences are flashy and the main arc within this series has my interest. Looking forward to book two. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: Graveyard Rose by Ginny Clyde

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Graveyard Rose
Ginny Clyde
YA/Paranormal

Stay out of the woods at night- An easy rule for the people of Maldorfina, but not for seventeen-year-old Lenara Gerrickson. In fact, she’s been sneaking out on dark New Moon nights on her own secret missions.

Handpicked by the beautiful vampiress, Annabelle, Lena carries on her family legacy to protect the people from the scourge of the nulan– the mindless undead creatures that plague the land.

She is sent to investigate a looming threat from a new breed of werewolves along with the other elite warriors of her rank, but the company falls into unseen calamity. Fate puts her in the path of a mysterious masked hunter who saves her life. He has his own secrets to protect but Lena can’t help her feelings towards the stranger.

She is soon forced to choose between duty and freedom, but if she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything. Here begins the incredible tale of a lost maiden and a mysterious gentleman who calls himself a beast…

Uncaged Review: The first book in this series is more of an introduction to the characters and this world. Set as a historical, it’s a cleverly written world that is very original, but does lack depth that longer novels have. Lenara is a strong lead character and is a Guardian – an elite group of warriors that get rid of threats, especially of the paranormal type. On a mission gone bad, Lenara is rescued by a mysterious hunter, who cares for her wounds and heals her, but reveals little of himself. I have my own ideas of who he is, and even though we don’t meet the royal vampires in this book, I’m looking forward to the next book and to peel back more layers of this world. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Kiss of Fury by Deborah Cooke

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Kiss of Fury
Deborah Cooke
Fantasy Romance

One act of passion can save the world…

Scientist Alexandra Madison was on the verge of unveiling an invention that would change the world. Then her partner was murdered, their lab was burned, and their prototype was destroyed. While Alex is in the hospital recovering from burns suffered in the fire, recurring dragon-haunted nightmares threaten to land her in the psychiatric ward, but she knows she has to escape to her lab to rebuild the Green Machine.

Handsome, daring, and impulsive, Donovan Shea is more than willing to do his part in the Pyr/Slayer war. Assigned to protect Alex, Donovan is shocked when her presence ignites his firestorm. He has no desire for a destined mate, but Alex’s intelligence and determination inspire him to join the fight to save her invention. With the Slayers closing in, Donovan knows he would surrender his life for Alex…and lose his heart to possess her.

Uncaged Review: I decided to give the 2nd book in the series a try, and I did like it better than the first one. One of the things I do like about this series is the dragons along with their descriptions and the fact that they are in dragon form often, unlike other shifter books where the shifters are human 90% of the time. I also think the battles are well described and exciting. This book brings us the 2nd prophecy of Warrior and Wizard. Donovan is taken aback that his firestorm begins when he gets close to Alex, a human he needs to protect because of her huge contribution to the Earth and mankind, of a car that runs on salt water and is prophesized as the Wizard in the Pyr prophecy.

I really enjoyed Donovan more than Alex, especially at first. I honestly can’t believe that Alex even survived the first part of the book, she should have been taken out by stupidity. All in all, the book was better than the first, but since I’ve read this book, the series has been pulled from KU, and for me personally, that probably ended my reading, they aren’t strong enough in the first two books of the series to keep going. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Shadows & Surrender by Deborah Wilde

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Shadows & Surrender
Deborah Wilde
Urban Fantasy

Ash wanted a career filled with challenging mysteries.

She should have specified she didn’t mean her family.

When a murder scene reveals a connection to Ash’s father who abandoned her when she was thirteen, she’s stunned. He may be the key to stopping Chariot from achieving immortality.

The catch? He could be hiding anywhere in the world.

To make matters worse, Levi, Ash’s romantic entanglement and brand-new boss, has his first official case for her: helping his ex-girlfriend, a.k.a. Ash’s childhood tormentor.

No one ever said adulting was easy.

As secrets multiply and alliances get deadlier, Ash’s investigation takes her back into Hedon and into her own past. Cracking this case could reunite her family… or cost her everyone she holds dear.

Actual ghosts have nothing on the ghosts of her past.

Uncaged Review: The third book in this series is definitely ramping up the storyline with some twists and turns that I did not expect. I think this is the best book in the series so far, but for the ending. I won’t give anything away, but the ending was uncool, and out of character. The world is coming into more clarity and the characters in this series are more and more defined in who they are. Levi and Ash are navigating their relationship while still finding their way professionally.

This series should not be read as standalones as the reader wouldn’t get the full series arc and would probably be a bit lost. I would recommend starting at the beginning. If this book’s ending had been better, it would have been my favorite of the series so far. The action is non-stop and the snark and witty remarks is a lot of fun. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Death & Desire by Deborah Wilde

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Death & Desire
Deborah Wilde
Urban Fantasy

Angel of Death.

Black market magic.

When you’re Ashira Cohen, smart is the new kickass.

When Ash is hired to solve her first murder, it seems like a perfectly normal, open-and-shut case of family feuds and bad blood. Until Ash discovers an evil magical artifact and her lead suspect is of the winged, white-robed, celestial variety. As if that weren’t bad enough, if she can’t find the perpetrator quickly, fourteen vials of lethal, ghostly magic will be sold to the highest bidder.

Her quest to figure out her Jezebel powers and find the shadowy organization responsible for stripping teens of their magic isn’t going any smoother, either. Can’t a girl just pursue her dream career without getting caught up in a mysterious destiny or playing a dangerous Sherlock-Moriarty game with her annoyingly hot nemesis?

But when Ash accidentally crosses the cunning and deadly Queen of Hearts, ruler of the magic black market, all those cases may go unresolved.

Permanently.

With the clock ticking, it’ll take all of Ash’s intelligence to survive with her moral center–and her head–intact. The game is afoot and failure is not an option.

Uncaged Review: Ash is coming to terms with her Jezebel magic, and to being the Private Investigator she’s always dreamed of. When she gets a hold of a magical artifact during a case, it’s siren song is hard to resist. On top of all of that, her deal with the Queen of Hedon to get the vials of smudge back is becoming more and more twisted.

This book has this story coming along nicely, and the romance between Ash and Levi continues to slowly climb in intensity. This author is known for her snarky bad-ass characters and Ashira is no shrinking violet, but the author doesn’t make the character over the top and hard to like, Ash is definitely a character that grabs hold of the reader. Along with the mish mash of a supporting cast, this series is one to cozy up to and be ready for a fun ride. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: The Summoning by Linda Nightingale

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Summoning
Linda Nightingale
Fantasy Romance

Heather Morique is a witch–problem is she doesn’t know it. Her husband Jahill was a refugee from an obscure branch of the Arawak Indians. After his death, mysterious whispers lure her to his home in Jamaica. Soon, she finds herself in a web of secrets, lies and illusions.
Jahill’s people worship Eyrael, the God of Wind and Sea, and his brother Sofiel, the God of Fire and Earth. The new Shaman has pitted brother against brother, and these two powerful spirits are at war to become the tribe’s ruling deity.
When Heather unwittingly summons Eyrael, she is embroiled in this dangerous game.
The irresistible chemistry between these two unlikely soul mates is more disturbing than the long-buried secrets.

Uncaged Review: Heather is distraught from losing her son and her husband in an accident. Also having learned that her husband was not the man she thought he was – she goes to the ocean, trying to find a way to end the whispers in her mind and the constant pain of grief. In her agony, she summons a god, Eyrael – who then saves her from drowning. The scenes in this book are epic, the author takes you right to Jamaica, and the characters are well developed.

This is a shorter book, about novella length, and the author does a great job in the space. There is so much more to this story and I can’t give it away, but if you like books with witches, gods, demons and shifters with a soul mate destined romance, then you will enjoy this book. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars
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