write_of_passages's reviews
572 reviews

I knew going into this one that I’d be reading it and skimming a lot of the romance (which, yes, is a large part of the book) so take my review with a grain of salt. Overall, this book felt like a deviation from the main arc to focus on one side character. Granted, we do have a second character, but I couldn’t connect with him. He was sprung too quickly onto me with no history mentioned and so it overall just felt like nothing more than an inserted love interest who, in my opinion, didn’t make sense as a love interest. I personally appreciated that Cian’s character is ace and didn’t need to have a romantic plot, so I was a bit disappointed by that. I skimmed a lot of the romance and read this book mostly for the few moments where bits of the main plot are set up for us in preparation for the final book.





Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
Yes. Again, I went in with certain expectations and I’d probably still read it the same way.




See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book


CHARACTERS: Cian and Fenric have most of the POVs, which makes sense given this is their story. Again, I skimmed a lot of Fenric’s POV and any spots where Cian was suddenly waxing lyrical about Fenric which he did A LOT. I think I would have enjoyed it more if Cian’s love interest was someone we had met before, even in passing or in their history. Anything at all. If you can get past that issue, he’s written well as a cat-sidhe who can turn into two types of cats and spends so much of his time curled up as a cat letting Cian pet him. Cian struggles with his feelings for Fenric, which again, truly didn’t make any sense or ring true to me at all. If he’d been there before in Cian’s history where Cian actually spared a thought for him it would have made more sense that he’d actually have feelings, but it didn’t feel that way to me. The rest of the characters were, as usual, fun to see when we got a chance to see them and I appreciated that the book wasn’t 100% suddenly just two people.





PLOT: Overall, Cian’s fated mate suddenly shows up and Cian struggles to come to terms with his feelings for Fenric. This is the main plot. Lots of flowery descriptions of the same things over and over and then Cian, who made sense as an ace character, end up topping and having sex multiple times with Fenric. Again, it didn’t make sense. Otherwise, the main plot doesn’t move too much. Cian and Fenric help Angel to take out the assassins that are targeting the Salvatore clan, though most of it isn’t much but waiting. In the end, Fenric and Cian come together and Angel receives some big news at the very end which sets us up perfectly for the final book in this series. I’m so excited to get to it.





EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.


1:5/low. It felt more like a beach read than anything else. Certainly no high stakes involved.


CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?


50%. I mean, I went in with specific expectations and those were fulfilled. I didn’t personally feel a connection with our main pairing such as they were. But the 25% of the book that dealt with the overarching plot left me excited for the final book.

I have been waiting for this one to come out and I am not disappointed! An incredible edition to the series, we’re really beginning to see Angel’s whole crew coming together in this one, which is so awesome to see and read. 3rd person POV that switches through multiple characters so we really never miss a thing. The book as a whole is gearing up for the next book, which would never have worked if the world and characters weren’t already so well known and beloved. We get a combination of action and stakes, steamy moments, and beautiful moments that really bring together the whole world (an interlude for Dragon babysitting anyone?!)

If I had two qualms about this book: it would be the very last character introduced (because they’re out of the blue so that’s disappointing) and also that there are no official chapters. Each moment is broken up by who has the POV. But perhaps it was simply the way the kindle version was edited. Neither of these are major drawbacks though.


Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
So. Much. Yes. Absolutely.

 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book


CHARACTERS: As mentioned, the characters are simply stunning. Every one of them is so fleshed out and brilliant. I love that we really get a chance to follow all of them because they are very much a team AND a family. Having scenes from Eroch’s POV are also some of the best in the whole book. I appreciate the complexity in the characters as well, especially Angel. He’s so incredibly strong that he’ll break down and cry. You don’t get to see that very often in books with male protagonists. I adore the power balance as well, within and between the group and the couples. The dynamics are simply stunning. Reading scenes with multiple characters are just a joy to read (and as an author myself, I know how hard they can be to pull off!).


PLOT: The plot largely gives the sense that everything is ramping up for a final showdown. We don’t fully get that showdown in this book, but that doesn’t feel like a bad thing, because there is more to come. The pacing is moderate and draws a lot from the overarching tension because they’re all waiting for sh*t to hit the fan. There are wonderful moments that feel almost like interludes, yet remind us just why these characters are so brilliant and important. We see them living their lives as normally as they can, which is something that I personally loved. The conflicts and stakes are high and present, and at the same time, show just how perfectly WHY the Council wants to tamp down on the power. The showcasing of power in this book is truly stunning and a joy to read. I loved how each conflict was overcome. Nothing felt forced or unreal.


EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

4 out of 5, high. Not that the stakes are necessarily higher in this book than previous books, but at this point I am so emotionally invested in the characters and the world!



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

90%. There are a few moments near the end where I wished the scenes would have ‘stuck the landing’ a little bit more. This isn’t uncommon in books I read, where I wish we had a little more time in the resolution and finale phase, the denouement, the aftermath, before everything just ends. It’s very clear that more is about to happen and we’ve been set up nicely without any cliffhangers, which I appreciate. 

Although this is part of the Beacon Hill Sorcerer world, this novella largely focuses on two new characters outside of Boston. This is a short novella as well with insta-lust and not all that much time to really connect to the characters, which, I will admit, I didn't. The best part of this novella is near the end, when we get to spend time with two characters from the main series. It's fun to see them from a complete stranger's perspective. This was a fun read and nice to tide you over until you read the next book, although I personally feel it's likely you don't absolutely need to read this one in order to enjoy the next book in the series. Consider this more as 5.5 rather than book 6. 

Like the previous book, Mastering the Flames, this book focuses more on the romance versus the external action of the overarching plot. That being said, I both loved that Daniel gets his time to shine; he and Rory are wonderful characters to follow and--because of how close he is with the rest of the cast--we really get a wonderful host of characters sharing the screen with them. One of my favorites is when a romance doesn't focus only on two people as though they're the only two in the book's universe all of a sudden and we don't have that issue here. Additionally, we're gifted a bonus POV from Cian, which I absolutely adore. We also have some of the all-time coolest magics in this universe (which is saying something). Overall, I enjoyed the romance to action ratio much more in this book, as it's closer to the original three in the series. Highly recommend this one!


Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Definitely. Already have.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: Daniel has come a long way as a character, especially with the amount of trauma he suffered as a child/young man before becoming Angel's apprentice. Throughout the previous four books we've seen him begin to come into his own and by this book his growth is exponential and absolutely wonderful to read. There are no miraculous healing moments, Daniel, like Isaac, still has issues he's working through, but surrounded by his family and his love, we get the chance to truly see him shine. Rory is a wonderful addition to this story as well (although I will admit that my favorite POVs are still the couple that we're gifted from Eroch). We learn a lot more about Rory and Cian's past (what we can of such a long history) but overall despite having, in my opinion, mostly romance, this book has just enough action to be a welcome respite from the main overarching plot.


PLOT: Primarily centered around Daniel and Rory and their relationship from friends-to-lovers, the gang also contends with two different mysteries, one that involves Eroch and the other involving Rory and Cian. With lives specifically targeted, Daniel takes the metaphorical driver's seat this time in keeping his family and lover safe. The climactic events are interspersed throughout a whopper of an ending on the romance level and we finish with a jaw dropping moment that sets us up perfectly for the next full book in the series, The Necromancer's War.



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

2:5/low. Again, read the description, as anything from Daniel's past, although only ever referenced, may be triggering to some.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

90%. I appreciated the climactic events in this one more than the previous book. They feel truly epic and like a right of passage for Daniel that culminates in a rather incredible scene on the romance side. Overall I'm excited to move on to the next book from here and get back to the main plot! Things are definitely about to heat up and this book ends on that note. 

I remember being a little bit more disappointed with this book the first time I read it, but going in the second time remembering my expectations made this book a lot more enjoyable this second time. In my opinion, the relationship to action ratio is much more skewed towards the romance and relationship in this book. Isaac is really wonderful as a main character and I found Batiste's POV almost as engaging.


Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Yes, considering this is my second reread.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: Here we switch between Isaac and Batiste, focusing on Isaac's journey to relearning who he is after coming out of rehab, which I believe the author does incredibly well. We start with a bam in Isaac's POV. One of the really neat parts of Batiste's POV is we get to go back to see him when he was still a mortal as well as the moment of his turning. It's good that they're both engaging characters, because this book relies much more heavily on the characters than the plot. Multiple times throughout the book Isaac will say the same thought, as though it hadn't been said before, which got just a tiny bit repetitive and something to be aware of. Their relationship is a little more "usual", as well. For example despite how tall Isaac is, he's still shorter than the immortal being and the immortal being is the top who calls him "my little flame." I personally don't like one-sided nicknames, especially ones that make no sense, but this is just a small pet peeve of mine. Some of the best scenes were still the ones that involved Angel (our protag from the previous books). Overall, the characters, especially Isaac, are incredibly likeable and it is fun to see some of the main cast from a different point of view again. That was my favorite part.



PLOT: More medium-paced this time than the fast-paced of the previous three books, the plot centers around Isaac and Batiste navigating their feelings for each other against the backdrop of an unknown assailant who seems to be targeting both Isaac and the bloodclan. A majority of the plot also involves Isaac's mental health journey as he also relearns how to be himself and who he is in the world now that he's out of rehab.



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

2:5/low. While I do believe it was low for me, please be advised that this book does include a journey with addiction and alcoholism, so it could be a higher rating for others.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

75%. This part had me the most disappointed when I first read. I personally felt that the final climactic event occurred far too quickly and too easily, which left me feeling like the main external plot (outside of the relationship) could have been taken care of so much more quickly. It definitely felt as though that plot (which is my favorite in this series) took a backseat to the romance. That being said, I still enjoyed this book.

 

Each book in this series somehow manages to be better than the previous. In this third book, the events of the first two finally catch up to Angel in the form of the Magical Council, who sweeps into town with the intent to prosecute (persecute?) him. Angel and the gang are still trying to protect their city, but at the same time they're even more forced to protect themselves from the council that has a nefarious intent. With Isaac 'safe' in a rehab center taking care of his own overwhelming guilt, Angel, Simeon, Daniel, Eroch, and Milly attempt to uncover a mystery of stolen magical items and this looming potential threat on their doorsteps. Although only the third book in the series, the events in here are the biggest to have occurred so far.




Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Already have! Will absolutely recommend it.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book


 
CHARACTERS: What more is there to say about Angel, Simeon, et. al? The gang are at their best in this book, including Daniel, who is still struggling with his own fears and is starting to come into his own. I appreciate the relationships between each of these characters and the found family that has really started to coalesce by this book. Angel is at his best, of course, with his strength and snark and no-nonsense refusal to back down. Eroch also has some highlighted moments in this book that are from his point of view, and they are truly brilliant to read!



PLOT: Angel and the gang are trying to take care of their city where grave robbers have been stealing ghosts via magical artifacts. Meanwhile, their exploits have finally been noticed across the pond and the Magical Council has decided that they want to prosecute Angel. While the entire thing is shady, it still puts Angel in danger and forced to fight on more than one front now. Meanwhile, because he's Angel's apprentice, Daniel is also targeted. The group must all work together to fight on multiple fronts, especially with Isaac away from them in rehab. We're gifted multiple POVs, a very special appearance near the end and by the end, there are so many different plots all coming together at the same time to equal a truly epic culmination!



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

2:5/medium. Still a brilliant, low intensity but high stakes entertaining read.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

90%. I do wish that we had more POVs near the end so that we could spend some time in the immediate aftermath, but I did appreciate how the book ended. It feels like a fitting end to a series, or at least, a fitting end to the first cycle of the series. I'm content!

 

 If you love the series, you'll love this short work of novellas! This book consists of four novellas that take place sometime before, during, or just after the first three books in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer's series.

Red Wine & Blood actually takes place over a hundred years before the series, which shows a moment between the Salvatores and the Melbournes during the Blood Wars. The shortest of the lot, there are echoes of Angel and Simeon in this pairing which is quite fun, because the roles are reversed in a few ways. Ashwin and Ignatio are really fun characters just for the few pages that we get to meet them and I think the best part is being able to see echoes of Angel and Simeon in their characters.

 A History of Trouble gifts us the incident with the zombie mammoth at the college that is referenced in The Necromancer's Dilemma. After reading book three and seeing how far along the relationship between Angel and Simeon has come, it's really fun to go backwards and see how they react together earlier on in their relationship. This one has echoes of nostalgia to it, surprisingly, considering it only takes place between books 1 and 2!

A Dragon in the City This is perhaps the best one in the lot. My favorite, certainly. Here we're gifted an entire short story from Eroch's POV, including his own blood war against the city's pigeon population. S.J. Himes does a brilliant job at making this feel like a dragon's POV, especially as the young dragon that he is. A truly bright piece of work that had me smiling the entire way through.

Fae's Gold The final novella gifts us some more time with Daniel and Rory, who will have further roles later in the series (see: Love Springs Eternal which is book 6 I believe?). This novella does a brilliant job in helping us to see how Rory catches up with the modern world, given that he was in an enchanted stasis sleep since the Revolutionary War in 1776. The developing friendship between Rory and Daniel is truly lovely to read, as well as the cameos by Angel and Eroch that we also get throughout.



Overall, this is a great book to prepare for the next in the series, book 4, Mastering the Flames, which continues with Isaac's story and takes a break from the overarching story from Angel's POV. Highly recommend reading this book!

I forgot that this second book has such an awesome plot; my memory kept thinking it was further down the series. We're once again back with Angel, Simeon, and this time we have Isaac and Daniel added to the mix. The book doesn't end with a cliffhanger but rather a bombshell, which in my opinion is one of the perfect ways to end a middle book in a series. As Angel and Simeon's bond deepens, there's a supernatural serial killer on the loose and after Simeon gets attacked, the hunt becomes personal. A whirlwind of a ride with even more amazing characters and some of the best scenes in the entire series!



Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Definitely. One of my favorite series.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: I adore how confident Angel is in himself. He's so incredibly strong but also easily accepts help from those he loves when he needs it. For example, he has no problem being picked up and carried when he overextends himself with his magic. He's still wonderfully blunt and snarky and a true protagonist. Simeon is the perfect complement to Angel and I adore their relationship and seeing how they work together as their relationship deepens. You won't find much internal struggle between them, which I also adore. They're ready to be in a relationship and it shows with how well they work things out together. Isaac and Daniel also play more active roles in this book and we can see that they're going to become much bigger characters as the series progresses.



PLOT: Although we start in an unexpected way with a steamy scene, the plot is a fast-paced whirlwind with loads of action as well as the mystery of a serial killer roaming Boston. When it becomes clear it's a supernatural being, Angel works with his family to discover the killer and why. All five main characters (Angel, Simeon, Milly, Isaac, and Daniel) have their brushes with danger, which leaves the stakes for this book wonderfully high and thoroughly entertaining. I adore the answer to the mystery, as well. The author excels in building such a brilliant magical world and system that permeates such a real-life place.





EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

2:5/low. Perfect entertainment with high stakes and action.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

95%. As mentioned, the story ends with a bombshell rather than a cliffhanger, which I appreciate. I always wish for just a little bit more of a denouement and immediate aftermath, but overall, I'm quite happy with how this one ended.

This is my second time reading this book, so I'm already coming at this review with a bias. The magic system, the setting, the characters, everything about this story is so fun and entertaining to read. From the very beginning we are gifted with Angel, our necromancer, who is incredibly powerful, capable, and will absolutely take no shizzle from anyone. He's a flare in the dark working against forces from past and present that don't want to see him succeed (or even live). In the midst of all this, he finds love with vampire Simeon and the two of them fit so well together. Fast-paced, this book doesn't let up and ends so perfectly with a set up for the next book in the series.



Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Absolutely!


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: I adore Angel. He's my favorite human character (my official favorite character is Eroch, who only gets better and better throughout the series). Angel is tenacious, smart, incredibly determined, and protective of those he cares about, even when they don't give him the same in return. Ten years after losing his entire family except his brother (seven years his junior), he's still reeling from what happened, living as quiet a life as he can, when the world decides it won't be quiet for him anymore. And he fights back. It's impossible not to root for him. He's powerful and yet vulnerable and highly proactive. The perfect protagonist. Pair him with Simeon and we're set up for a deep bond that also ends up being a bundle of laughs and banter. I adore characters that can hold their own and Angel is one of the best. The side characters are just as fun (and that cast will grow as the series progresses). So worth it!



PLOT: Fast-paced, ten years after the Blood Wars that killed his entire family save his younger brother, Angel Salvatore is living a quiet life as a magical teacher in Boston's Beacon Hill. He's incredibly powerful and known for killing an entire army of vampires that day, a secret only he knows how he did it. As such, he's notorious both in the supernatural community and with the human community who have a bias against him (because they are allied with the losing side from that war). His quiet life is disrupted by a vampire intent on killing him and those close to him and with Simeon's help he takes on the challenge, refusing to back down or let this mysterious vampire live. All whilst navigating brand new and scary feelings that are very close to 'love' that he's having for Simeon.



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

3:5/medium. Wonderfully entertaining with lots of action and high stakes.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 


90%. I always wish for just a little bit more when it comes to the immediate aftermath. However, the end does wrap up everything book one set up and leaves us on our way to solve more mysteries with Angel and his ever-growing found (and biological) family. 

 

I was not expecting what I ended up reading, for great reasons and some less-than-stellar reasons. In this book, the 'Gods' are actually humans with Elemental powers who have been given names based on those powers. Zeus is our main character, a superhero with lightning abilities, while the LI and other MC, Prometheus is (ironically) ice-leaning: he can create ice. But in reality, they're both just Danny Grant and Malcolm (Mal) Cho, open rivals and secret lovers who are so suited together despite being on opposite sides of the 'good vs. evil' spectrum in Olympus City. Even greater threats loom for the two of them, though, when a new dark-leaning god sets their sights on Danny and Mal. But they're both already breaking at the seams, can they find a way to hold themselves together before its all too late and they lose not only each other but their lives and the home they both love?



Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Yes!


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: I felt this book ended up being more of a character study than an action/superhero book. While I of course wished for more action, the characters are absolutely a highlight and worth the read. Danny, like his powers, is a spark upon the page. He's fierce, intense, under constant pressure from being a detective by day and superhero by night. On every page you can see his simmering emotions and how liable to blow he is at any given moment. The way he's written is utterly dazzling and one of the best parts of this book. Every time we see him it's breathtaking trying to keep up with him, what he'll do, how he'll react, what he'll say, how quickly he'll spark and fizzle out only to ignite again. I was truly dazzled reading him. Not only that, but he's vulnerable and he can't help but be vulnerable, both with his friends and even with his rival, Mal. He's mesmerizing to read. Mal, though having a few more years beneath him than Danny, feels so brilliantly opposite to Danny. Sure, they aren't quite fire and ice, but there's a steadiness to his character that allows Danny to spark and spark and spark against him and he's fireproof against Danny. Except he isn't. Even Mal lets his vulnerabilities out, whether he chooses to or not. I adored reading the scenes with both of them on the page, especially the manner with which they both chose to come together as more than just rivals, but secret lovers.



PLOT: There's a lot less action in this book than I'd imagined, which I'll admit was a bit disappointing. As such, this book is more on the slow- to medium-paced side, rather than fast. The intensity comes from the characters and their interplay. For example, Mal is planning a heist that takes most of the book for us to actually see, whereas I would have expected to see him and Danny both out in the field a lot more. The scenes will also jump timelines (a bit like Danny when he lightning-jumps in the story), so it feels rather backstory heavy at the beginning. It took me a little bit to get through the first 50 pages. Ultimately, Danny is trying keep himself together, uncover a new evil lurking in their city, and decide how he wants to handle his hatred and passion for Mal all at the same time. Meanwhile, Mal, who only cares about taking care of his portion of the city, finds himself inextricably linked into it all because of his ties with Danny. In the end of this first part of a duology, the heroes barely escape knowing that there is so much worse more to come.




EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

3:5:/medium. Although I did feel that by the end we'd moved up to 4:5/high. Especially with the internal tension in Danny's character as he struggles with depression and anger issues that are all too real.




CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

90%. I wanted just a wee little bit more from the end, but I'm grateful that we didn't have any scenes where we had to fade to black, because we have my favorite dual POV (technically triple) because we end up with the omniscient POV for the antagonist as well every now and then. But otherwise, wow did it deliver. At one point I whooped aloud and said "now we're talking!"