It's Release Day!!

 Today is the day!

FALLEN DESTINY IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM BRIGIDS GATE PRESS.

Destiny isn't human and she has the horns to prove it. She's also damned good at blending into the human world.

That, along with her powers, has helped her forge a career out of locating supernatural beings and objects.

Got demon troubles? Need a mystical artifact found? Destiny's the one for the job.

All goes well for her until the day she's hired by a mysterious nun, and for the first time, Destiny's stumped.

How exactly does a demon hired by a nun find an angel?

Grab an eBook or paperback copy here:

AMAZON | B&N | KOBO

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ADD TO GOODREADS

I'd want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to Gwendolyn Kiste, Angela Sylvaine, Sonora Taylor, Wayne Fenlon, and Brian Bowyer for these amazing blurbs:

"I've been a fan of Yolanda Sfetsos for years, and whether you're brand-new to her work or you've loved her books for as long as I have, Fallen Destiny is an absolute must-read. This cozy dark fantasy takes you on a supernatural adventure with page-turning prose and characters you'll adore. Enjoy the ride."

— Gwendolyn Kiste, Four-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Haunting of Velkwood and Reluctant Immortals   

“Fallen Destiny is a wicked urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Kim Harrison. Sfetsos delves into the mysteries of heaven and hell while wrapping the reader in the warm embrace of found family. Move over Hellboy, there’s a new kick ass demon in town, and Destiny won’t be denied.”

— Angela Sylvaine, Bram Stoker Award nominated author of Frost Bite. 

"Fallen Destiny is a fun, devious, supernatural mystery with lots of clever twists and turns. Sfetsos manages to create a large and fascinating world of amazing characters, all of whom I loved. Don't miss this one."

— Sonora Taylor, award-winning author of Little Paranoias: Stories and Without Condition

"A cosy blend of genres: infusing horror, folklore, and eroticism, with a hint of mystery. A detective story at heart. This one, like all of Yolanda's work, is another proper page turner. A great writer."

— Wayne Fenlon, author of The Black Cabin

“Sfetsos is simply one of the best, and Fallen Destiny—thrilling, intense, and filled with suspense—displays an artist at the top of her game.”

— Brian Bowyer, author of Metro Kinetic. 

"A lively and atmospheric occult mystery with a main character who’s as hellish as she is human."

—Kirkus Reviews, GET IT verdict

Read full review here

I'm SO excited about this new release and can't wait for readers to read my cozy urban fantasy book about an occult detective investigating a mystery that might lead to her past.

The beautiful cover art was made by: Alison Flannery

Thanks for reading!

Cover Reveal!!

Today, Brigids Gate Press revealed the cover for my upcoming novel, FALLEN DESTINY, and it's beautiful.

Check it out:

I LOVE IT!

 Alison Flannery made a work of art. Not to mention that she captured the main character, Destiny, perfectly!

Here's the synopsis:

Destiny isn't human and she has the horns to prove it. She's also damned good at blending into the human world.

That, along with her powers, has helped her forge a career out of locating supernatural beings and objects.

Got demon troubles? Need a mystical artifact found? Destiny's the one for the job.

All goes well for her until the day she's hired by a mysterious nun, and for the first time, Destiny's stumped.

How exactly does a demon hired by a nun find an angel?

The release date is:

November 11, 2025.

If you're on Netgalley, you can check it out HERE!

ADD TO GOODREADS!!

Have a great day!

THE DEMON BARKER OF WHEAT STREET by Kevin Hearne & THE SWEETER THE JUICE by Mark Henry

Carniepunk: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This great short story is part of The Iron Druid Chronicles. I've read the first two books in this series, as well as a few other short stories, so it was good to catch up with Atticus.

The druid, Atticus, his apprentice, Granuaile, and the Irish wolfhound, Oberon, are in Kansas because Granuaile is hoping to catch a glimpse of her mother. They don't see her, but end up in the middle of a demonic problem...

Great story! It's an interesting and gnarly standalone tale set in this intriguing world. Lots of freaky demonic characters, plenty of unsuspecting humans, and a lot of magical action.

Atticus is such a cool character and so is Granuaile. Not to mention the adorable and always hilarious Oberon.

Yeah, I really enjoyed this!

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Carniepunk: The Sweeter the Juice by Mark Henry
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

OMFG.

I have to start with this: all the bad things the other reviewers mentioned here are right.

This is a terrible story. Not only because of the obvious transphobia, but also because it's a really shitty story. It's all over the place. It makes no sense. It's not even about a CARNIVAL. Like, at all. If the author was trying to be funny and witty, that's even worse.

I hated it. And actually can't understand how such a gross short story made it into a high-quality anthology featuring a great collection of stories. Except for this one, of course.

Total disappointment.


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RECESSION OF THE DIVINE by Hillary Jacques & DAUGHTER OF THE MIDWAY, THE MERMAID, AND THE OPEN, LONELY SEA by Seanan McGuire

Recession of the Divine by Hillary Jacques
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Greek mythology so I was looking forward to reading this one.

Olivia does inspections for an insurance company, but she wasn't always human. She's bound her powers while living in the human world and the day she inspects an accident in a travelling carnival, everything unravels...

You know, I should've loved this tale because, like I mentioned above, I love when Greek mythology is mixed into modern narratives. Olivia was interesting enough and so was the muse that keeps popping in and out, but there was something about this story... I'm not even sure what it was, but it's missing something.

Yeah, I liked many of the elements and carnival descriptions, even the writing style, but I didn't love it.

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Carniepunk: Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With a title like this one, I was intrigued instantly.

When Ada’s carnival passes through Alabama the secrets buried in the past rise to the surface...

Wow. What a stunning tale. The melancholy storytelling is as thick as the wonder about Ada's family and the world she lives in. The carnival is all she's ever known, but stopping at this town changes everything.

I especially found her mother's story to be the saddest, but of course that carries forward to her daughter as well. And Ada is such a lovely character that my heart broke.

Loved this. Very moving. And that ending. 😫


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PAINTED LOVE by Rob Thurman & PARLOR TRICKS by Jennifer Estep

Carniepunk: Painted Love by Rob Thurman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to expect from this story, but I'm really glad I read it. That's for sure!

Doodle has been all over the world meeting people. He usually blends into the background, more an observer than a participant. But when he meets Bartholomew, all of that changes...

OMFG. This story!! Everything starts out simple enough, and then you slowly start to realise that you have no idea what's really going on. Well, until you understand EXACTLY what's going on and: 🤯 !!

Yikes. I loved this so much. The writing style totally hooked me in, and I couldn't stop reading. There's something very disturbing about Doodle's story, but the way that it's told weaves a spell of dark magic around the reader. There's plenty of ugly, but there's also some fascinating imagery.

Awesome!

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Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is part of the Elemental Assassin series. I've actually read several other short stories set in this world, as well as the first book, so it was cool to catch up with Gin again.

Gin and Bria are sisters who go to the carnival looking for a missing teenage girl, but they get more than they bargained for when Esmerelda the Amazing sets her sights on Bria. Good thing Gin is also an Elemental Assassin...

What a fun story! What starts out as two sisters going to the carnival soon becomes the mystery of what happened to a missing girl last seen at the carnival, and delves into the cunning secrets of a ringmaster who is willing to do whatever it takes to stay young.

I really enjoyed it! I also should get back into this series. 😊


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HELL'S MENAGERIE by Kelly Gay & FREAK HOUSE by Kelly Meding

Carniepunk: Hell's Menagerie by Kelly Gay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, this short story packs a hell of a punch! It's part of the Charlie Madigan series and although I haven't read it yet, I still really enjoyed the story.

Emma is determined to rescue a litter of hellhound pups that were stolen, and when Rex finds out, he tries to stop her. Instead, they end up catching the eye of a creepy ringmaster who has plans of his own...

I was seriously hooked from the beginning and absolutely love this version of hell. The details were so vivid and the worldbuilding so natural that I had no trouble visualising everything. There's a lot of creepy, freaky stuff that goes on here.

Also, did I mention it's action-packed?

The story is told in the alternating POVs of Emma, a twelve-year old with a really cool power, and Rex, a former jinn and now human.

Terrific story that makes me want to get stuck into the series!

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Carniepunk: Freak House by Kelly Meding
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the prequel short story to the Strays series. I haven't read any of the books, but I still enjoyed it. A lot.

Shiloh Harrison's djinn father has gone missing and she's just figured out where he is. Held in a freakshow hosted by a despicable warlock. When she teams up with a human and a werewolf, she finds more than she bargained for...

This is definitely a solid and very interesting urban fantasy tale that introduces a cool half-djinn heroine with some very unique set of powers. I thought the worldbuilding was excellent, and I love the characters. As well as Shiloh's voice.

It's an awesome story that has me intrigued. I need to know more...


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A CHANCE IN HELL by Jackie Kessler & THE INSIDE MAN by Nicole Peeler

A Chance in Hell by Jackie Kessler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, this was another great story! I haven't read the Hell on Earth series, but I enjoyed the hell (pardon the pun) out of this one.

Jezebel used to be a succubus but she's just a human now. Well, a human who has access to a very powerful sword. But when her Ceci insists on going to a travelling carnival, demonic trouble finds her...

Wow. This is a very cool and very fun story featuring an awesome heroine who knows everything about Hell because she used to live there. I loved her voice and how the worldbuilding felt very natural and interesting.

I'm a sucker for a good demonic tale and this one didn't disappoint. Also, I enjoyed the playful, raunchy side of the story. And I have to admit that I would love to know more about the incubus, Daunuan. 😈

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The Inside Man by Nicole Peeler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one is a creepy story that needs several trigger warnings because it contains scenes that show sexual abuse.

Capitola, Shar, and Moo are private investigators of the supernatural kind. When they're hired by a mob boss to find out what's been happening to a bunch of towns where the people are left empty, the girls find themselves in the middle of nowhere. With a clown...

Yikes! This is another great story with a cool mystery that turns out to be super creepy. And freaky as well. The way that clown is described sure is nightmare fodder. 😳

I really liked the main character in this one.
Capitola is interesting and funny, has a lot of attitude and intriguing origins. Not to mention her two equally interesting friends.

I've read a few books in the Jane True series and really enjoyed them but I don't remember these three side characters.

I really enjoyed this!


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THE THREE LIVES OF LYDIA by Delilah S. Dawson & A DUET WITH DARKNESS by Allison Pang

Carniepunk: The Three Lives of Lydia by Delilah S. Dawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story set in the Blud world, so I was excited about checking it out. And wow, glad I did!

When Lydia wakes up in a strange and dangerous, but exciting world, she meets Charlie Dregs and agrees to become the Tattooed Lady. But nothing is as it seems...

Like I said, this is an amazing short story. First, I got swept up in the mystery of how Lydia got to Sang. Then, I was captivated by the mutual attraction between Lydia and Charlie. Before I feared about her safety. Until I was shocked to find out the truth.

Yikes!

O.M.G.

This is definitely a story I'll think about often. It's so well written, and so dark. A twisted fairy tale that I enjoyed. A lot.

Fantastic!!

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Carniepunk: A Duet with Darkness by Allison Pang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the prequel to the Abby Sinclair series and features a few familiar faces.

Melanie is a gifted violinist trying to escape the pressures of someone else's expectations. She's happy touring with a band of OtherFolk and everything is fine until they hit the carnival...

I really enjoyed this! It's a great story that is able to establish a lot of worldbuilding without much effort. There's no infodump, everything is revealed very organically. And I loved the cast of characters.

Incubus. Werewolf. Fallen angels. And so much more.

One of the best things about this story is how well it taps into becoming a cautionary tale about pride. Melanie is a great musician but she's got a chip on her shoulder and is too arrogant to see what's happening right in front of her eyes. Instead of appreciating what she's got and the one person who truly cares about her, she does the unthinkable.

BTW, Nobu is such an intriguing character.

Awesome story!


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Another Busy Week!

Hey! How are you today? Hope you had an awesome week. I can't believe July is almost over.

A few weeks ago I completed the first edit of my upcoming novel, Fallen Destiny. And this week, I read the proof. From start to finish. Yeah, I worked really hard on this edit. I enjoy smoothing out stories, especially when the editor's cool suggestions push me to make the book even better. Smoother. I was obsessed and totally distracted all week because it's all I could think about. LOL

This is what I said on Bluesky the other day: I'm at that stage of the proofreading where it's eating my brain & I can't wait to get back to it, but need a break because I have to eat, sleep, etc. 😅

So true. I felt like that all week.

Anyway, here's the tagline for the book: How does a demon, hired by a mysterious nun, find a lost angel?

Think Hellboy x Constantine with a twist of Supernatural, and that's Destiny's story. It's a cozy fantasy with a mystery. It's a bit UF, and definitely has a pinch of horror. There's a love story in there, a road trip, and features a found family.

I'm very excited about Destiny's tale, which will be released late this year from Brigids Gate Press! I'll keep you posted.

Asides from going for daily walks, sleeping, eating, and spending time with hubby, I didn't do anything else. 

Well, that's it for now. I'm going to enjoy the weekend with my husband because I need a mental break. 😃

Have an awesome weekend!!

PS. The graphic I posted above is Destiny, and I made it via Picrew, which is a doll maker website I've been using for years. Human artists upload their art and users can make cute versions of themselves, or characters. This isn't AI. I despise gen AI slop.

Beast of Burden...

Hey, how are you today? Well, September is coming to an end. Are you all looking forward to Halloween month? Yeah, me too. 

Today I have some news to share. My latest novella was released last weekend! ☺️🎉 

This one is a bit of horror, a little urban fantasy, and a lot of hellish chaos.

Two sisters. A demonic battle. Only one can win.

Elis and Willa are sisters, but they're definitely not friends. Elis was forced to imprison Willa because she's hellbent on destruction, but her imprisonment was never going to last forever.

Now, Elis has no other choice but to use the dark power she resents. With the help of the person who matters the most to her, she'll have to raise some hell in order to end the demonic chaos before it begins...

Read an excerpt HERE.

And you can pick up a paperback copy from Amazon.

LOST SOULS by Kelley Armstrong

 

Lost Souls by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Cainsville series, so I always look forward to checking out short stories/novellas set in this world.

The disappearing hitchhiker is an urban legend that's been around for years, but when Patrick brings the case to Gabriel, it takes an unexpected faerie twist...

I really enjoyed the mystery at the core of this awesome installment. Not just because urban legends never fail to intrigue me, but also because this provides a unique twist to a familiar tale. Adding Gabriel and Olivia to the mix made everything even better. Gabriel is so awkward he borders on cringe. And Olivia might be upset with him, but she still manages to make everything better.

Love these characters. Don't think I'll ever get sick of this fantastic series! 😍


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THE MONARCHS by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige

 

The ultra-exclusive Kappa Rho Nu - the Ravens - are determined to restore balance to the world. After destroying an ancient talisman and barely saving their sorority in the process, they'll go to any lengths to keep their secret as Westerly's most powerful coven of witches.

Scarlett Winter, a legacy Raven, has finally gotten what she's always wanted: Scarlett is Kappa Rho Nu's newest president. Unlike her mother or older sister before her, Scarlett has a vision for a more unified Kappa, one where no sister falls to the forces of wicked magic. But the powers of the presidency have their own pitfalls. And with the pressures of alumni bureaucracy and past failures weighing on her, Scarlett finds herself at risk of losing the very thing that defined her: her magic.

As a new member of Kappa Rho Nu, Vivi Devereaux finally knows what it's like to belong. She has her Kappa Rho Nu sisters behind her and, with Scarlett's blessing, Vivi's happily dating her first college crush (who also just happens to be Scarlett's ex). When Scarlett assigns Vivi the coveted role of social chair, Vivi is determined to live up to her Big's expectations. But Vivi's studies in witchcraft take a deadly turn when she uncovers a new form of magic, one that has mysterious ties to Kappa Rho Nu's past and the vengeful demon once tied to their talisman.

With the weight of their newfound roles and the terrible price of destroying the talisman haunting them, Scarlett and Vivi must save their sisterhood when the forces of hell itself and a rival sorority threaten to unleash havoc on the Ravens.

Last week I had a blast reading The Ravens. And thanks to Hachette Australia, I already had the second/last book in this excellent duology waiting for me. 😊

After losing two members of their sorority, The Ravens return after break prepared to get back into their college and magical lives. Scarlett is now president but starts to doubt herself and finds it too easy to get distracted by other things. Vivi is ready to dedicate herself to her sisters and wants to impress them with her magic while spending time with her first real boyfriend. But there's a mysterious foe waiting in the shadows, one that threatens to destroy everything these witches have built... 

Wow. Amazing! This is how you write an excellent duology. Both books were interesting. Both introduce new things to the world. Both raise the stakes. And both deliver in equal parts.

As soon as I started reading, I once again got lost in the story and couldn't wait to find out how things were going to turn out after the betrayal and loss that devastated The Ravens. And what started to take shape very early on was dark.

This book moves quickly and doesn't take long to establish the wickedness these girls have to endure and face while still suffering the aftermath of what happened in the woods. Their sisterhood is threatened all the way through and each witch deals with this problem differently.

The story unfolds at a great pace. Scarlett and Vivi once again share alternating POVs that complement each other while moving the overall plot along nicely, as well as revealing their personal growth. Both characters are awesome and manage to entertain, even when their lives are going downhill fast. The way everything escalates really took me by surprise. The magical problems arise very quickly, and the world of these witches gets a lot bigger.

The Monarchs is not only a fantastic sequel, but also the perfect way to end this captivating tale of young witches trying to continue a long legacy. This tale about a coven masquerading as a sorority never stopped surprising me and I didn't lose interest at all. Actually, the more I read, the more obsessed I became with the story and looked forward to whatever was waiting on the next page, the next chapter. And although I loved the ending, I was sad when I got to the end.

I'm going to miss these girls.

Also, one last thing. This cover is as stunning as the first. So beautiful, and matches the story perfectly.

The Monarchs, January 2022, ISBN 9781529363883, Hodder & Stoughton

THE RAVENS by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige

 

The Ravens by Kass Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I purchased this book recently and couldn't wait to get stuck into it. I mean, not only is it a story about witches in college, but it's written by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige. I LOVED Morgan's The 100 series and Paige's Dorothy Must Die series, so I was very curious about their joint venture.

Vivi has spent her life moving from place to place with her flaky mother, so she's excited to start college and finally spend four years in one place. Scarlett is in the mysterious Kappa Rho Nu sorority, known as the Ravens. Now, the Ravens are searching for new recruits, but there's something dark getting closer to these witches. Something capable of stirring up plenty of dangerous trouble for everyone...

Wow. Loved it.

This turned out to be such a refreshing and exciting book. I enjoyed every minute of it and enjoyed getting to know Vivi, Scarlett and their witchy sisters. The story is told through Vivi and Scarlett's alternating POV but there are a lot of secondary characters to round out this wickedly fun and spooky story.

The whole book was intriguing and hooked me from beginning to end, but those last seventy pages were so fast-paced and tense. I was on the edge of my seat as everything led to an unexpected confrontation.

Another thing I loved about this story was the atmospheric sense of location. It's set in Savannah and the details were so vivid I felt like I was there, on campus with these girls.

Also, I need to mention how much I love this beautiful cover. Those ravens really pop and look just about ready to fly off the book. So pretty!

I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.

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CRUEL FATE by Kelley Armstrong

 

Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED the Cainsville series and after really enjoying the first sequel novella, I was looking forward to checking this out.

Six months have passed since the last time we caught up with Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky. And now, her father is finally out of prison. But in Cainsville, there's always someone watching and waiting...

As soon as I started this novella, I knew I wasn't going to stop until I got to the end. And that's exactly what happened. I spent most of the day reading Liv's latest adventure and loved every minute of it.

This turned out to be another interesting mystery that puts our favourite trio in the thick of things because someone is trying to make sure that Todd Larsen's freedom doesn't last long. But they didn't count on his overprotective daughter and her tight network of friends and fae.

It was also awesome to see how Liv and Gabriel's relationship is going twelve months after they got together. I mean, Gabriel isn't the most affectionate person in the world and still struggles to deal/show emotion but he sure loves Liv, and really cares about Ricky. I just adore the way the connection between these three is portrayed.

Well, I'm really glad I decided to spend time in Cainsville because this mix of mysterious intrigue, mythology and horror is right up my alley. And since I've still got a collection full of stories, I can't wait to return. 😁

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KITTY'S GREATEST HITS by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Now that I've finished the awesome Kitty Norville series, it's time to read the two short story collections that are set in her exciting supernatural world.

This is the first one.

IL EST NÉ: David's wolf has taken control of his life, but one fateful Christmas he finds himself in a Waffle House with a werewolf named Kitty. Together, they embark on a bloody adventure...

A gory, sad and heartwarming story about two lonely wolves, and gaining control when the beast side is stronger than the human half. It was nice to see Kitty find someone during the holiday season while being far from her family.

A PRINCESS OF SPAIN: I really enjoyed this historical take on Catherine of Aragon and what happens when she's married off to the future King of England and finds herself alone in a strange, dark land...

Great way to cast the creatures of the night into the past, and the kind of role they could have played. 😁

CONQUISTADOR DE LA NOCHE: This is a fantastic novella! It's the origin story of Rick, the Master of Denver—aka Ricardo de Avila—and it's a bloody, violent and totally thrilling story. Loved this as much as I love Rick.

THE BOOK OF DANIEL: I didn't think I would enjoy the story of Daniel set in Babylon and featuring so much faith and political mayhem. But I did because this little shifter twist was awesome!

THE TEMPTATION OF ROBIN GREEN: Robin Green is a soldier working the night shift in a lab studying supernatural creatures. She never breaks the rules, until she crosses paths with a seal...

I love selkie myths and this tale was an original take, while also sticking to the familiar. Oh, and Rick makes an appearance! That was a lovely surprise.

LOOKING AFTER FAMILY: This is Cormac and Ben's origin story. They're both teenagers and Cormac has just moved in with Ben's family at their farm after tragedy struck, but they're not instant friends. THIS, is when THAT happens. Fantastic tale!

GOD'S CREATURES: Another Cormac story! And of course it was awesome. You know, for someone who hates the monsters, he sure as hell is as methodical and reckless as they are. Guess that's why he's THAT good.

I enjoyed the Catholic Church connection because it adds a lot to the way Kitty's world works.

WILD RIDE: I really enjoyed TJ's origin story because it's sad but hopeful, and revealed some pretty tough inner strength he didn't believe he had. Another fantastic and emotional story.

WINNOWING THE HERD: This was a fun little glimpse into how boring Kitty's life was before she was outed as a werewolf. I enjoyed her internal thoughts and how she separated herself from the humans during a staff meeting. Who can blame her? These forced social gatherings are shitty. 😅

KITTY AND THE MOSH PIT OF THE DAMNED: An awesome action-packed story about Kitty going to a concert in hopes of getting the popular band on their show. Devil's Kitchen are hiding a secret as big as the very mysterious bartender, Jax. Jax turned out to be such an intriguing character, wish he'd made it to the series.

KITTY'S ZOMBIE NEW YEAR: I didn't expect this story to be so sad on several levels. Firstly, because Kitty goes to a NYE party at Matt's house but feels so lonely. And secondly, because of how the zombie situation turns out. Terrific story, though.

LIFE IS THE TEACHER: This is such a great story about Emma becoming a vampire and dealing with having to let go of her past, accept that taking blood is now part of her life, all while engaging in a nice seductive game. Clever tale.

YOU'RE ON THE AIR: I always loved when Kitty got calls from the supernatural community, and this little tale is about one of those. Jake is a vampire but he works the graveyard shift at Speedy Mart and doesn't have much else going on. But after calling Kitty's radio show, his boring life takes an unexpected turn. One that reminds him what he is and what he can do. Such a fun story.

LONG TIME WAITING: Cormac's jail novella is fantastic! I've wanted to read this for ages and now that I have, I'm happy to report it was awesome as I hoped it would be. Sprinkle Cormac's bad luck with the very interesting Amelia, and this turned out to be a recipe for destruction. And an unexpected partnership that happens to be perfect.


Well, I took my time reading this collection of amazing short stories and I'm glad I did. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE STORY! They're all seriously awesome and Carrie Vaughn is a terrific writer. Love her style.

PS. Also enjoyed the story notes at the end of the book.

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THE IMMORTAL CONQUISTADOR by Carrie Vaughn

 

The Immortal Conquistador by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently finished reading the Kitty Norville UF series, so I was very excited about reading this book.

Ricardo de Avila, also known as Rick the former Master of Denver and new member of the Order of Saint Lazarus of the Shadows, is one of those interesting characters that always stands out. He's different and a trusty ally, plus one of Kitty's good friends. Reading about his early life, how he became a vampire and the hardships he was forced to endure just to be left alone because he wanted to live his own vampiric life, was a truly awesome experience.

The book is broken up into four parts and each follows Ricardo through the centuries. Every single one is as good as the one before and helped me to get to know Rick in such intimate detail, that it confirmed he really is nothing like other vampires.

While he might be considered cursed and thought of as a monster, he kept his wits and is a kind-hearted being who never forgot his faith and saw humans as friends rather than slaves. He also stumbled into some pretty fantastic situations and never once realised how strong and powerful he really is. He's totally kick-ass, too.

He's a vampire who doesn't like other vamps and refuses to put up with their BS.

Yeah, I love Rick. He's such a lovely character.

Oh, and I a got a real kick out of the Doc Holliday tale. It was SO much cowboy fun! 🤠

I enjoyed this book A LOT. It's one of the best origin stories I've read. A lot of times I feel origin stories ruin secondary characters, but this one deepened and strengthened one of my favourite vampires.

One last thing, asides from how wonderful this book really is, I also thought the writing was fantastic!

 

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KITTY SAVES THE WORLD by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty Saves the World by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, there was no more putting it off. I've reached the fourteenth book in the very awesome Kitty Norville series, which also happens to be the FINAL BOOK! 😳

Kitty's feeling on edge and can't shake the darkness she feels closing in. But it looks like Cormac and Amelia have figured out a way to trap Roman before he gets started. Yet, it can't be this easy to defeat an ancient vampire determined to destroy the world...

Wow. Yep.

This is how you end a beloved series.

Starting the last book in one of my favourite series is always both exciting and sad. Exciting because I can't wait to see how everything turns out, but sad because I'll miss these characters and their world once it's over.

At least I still have two short story collections and a novella, set in Kitty's world, left to read.

The melancholy mood of this book is there from the get-go. As soon as Kitty's story starts, there's a blanket of darkness hanging over everything, threatening to overwhelm her. And this really sets the scene, makes sure the reader's instantly on edge. I kept waiting for Roman and/or his followers to storm in at any moment. Couldn't turn the page fast enough to find out what was going to happen next.

It was awesome to catch up with so many characters that were introduced in previous books and now turned up for the final battle! I also didn't realise how much I missed Rick until we caught up with him again.

This is the perfect ending to an outstanding series featuring an amazing cast of characters, and a fantastic heroine. I love Kitty. She's always been smart, brave, tough, kind and proved that some battles are won with brains rather than brawn. She's always let her heart lead the way and it was such a wonderful quality. Sure, sometimes it got her in trouble, but it was always worth it.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face during the last few chapters because they were SO GREAT.

I seriously LOVED THIS BOOK.

Having said that, it's still bittersweet because now it's over. 😃+😫

 

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THE MISFORTUNE COOKIE by Laura Resnick

 

The Misfortune Cookie by Laura Resnick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's been a while, so it was definitely time to catch up with the Esther Diamond series.

Esther's finally got her job back at Bella Stella and is enjoying a shift during New Year's Eve, when the OCCB—led by the guy who failed to call her after an intimate Christmas Eve together—busts a bunch of mob guys and even arrest her. After that, she has no job, her money is disappearing, the weather is miserable and she can't stop thinking about Lopez. Lucky for her, she's about to fall into some trouble in Chinatown...

This started out like every other one in this series: a hilarious and mystical ride. But somewhere along the line, something happened. The usual fun factor started to fade a little because the magical mystery wasn't as exciting as it usually is. Actually, it really wasn't much of a mystery, tbh.

I don't know why, but all the characters seemed a little off in this book. Like they were mere shadows of themselves and didn't shine with their usual zany charm.

I'm all for relationship drama in all genres because it adds an extra level of complication to a story, but even I have to admit that what goes on in this installment is off the charts. I know Esther's an actress, but gosh, this was too much. I really wish these two would make up their minds already and stick to on or off. I mean, are they a thing or not? Will they or won't they? Maybe one day they'll choose one path. Hopefully.

Otherwise, what's going to happen is that everything that made their romantic mishaps funny and cute, will get old and boring. Because I was in fact, mostly bored by their ongoing problems and they started to feel silly to me.

Anyway, I liked the location of Chinatown and how Esther always manages to find herself in the middle of new problems and takes Max and Nelli along for the ride. She even lands another dead-end acting gig and meets new people via the mobster-in-hiding, Lucky.

Not too much excitement in this one. It lacked the usual suspenseful thrills. There was definitely too much padding and excess stuff that made this book drag in sections. And I'm starting to think that this Esther and Lopez thing has to end or it's going to doom a great series.

Hope the next book is back to speed!

 

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LOW MIDNIGHT by Carrie Vaughn

 

Low Midnight by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had my eye on the next Kitty Norville book for several weeks. Not just because it's the 13th installment in the series, but also because it's about the very mysterious Cormac Bennett.

Cormac's finally a free man. He has his papers and he's ready to get on with his life. Well, a shared life with the spirit of Amelia. And together they're going to help Kitty decode a text that will hopefully provide the answers they need to save the world from Roman. Unless his old life catches up with him first...

Loved this. I knew this book would be awesome! 😃

Like everyone else who enjoys this series, I've always wondered about the elusive Cormac. He doesn't say much and catching a glimpse of his thoughts sounded like fun. And it totally was!

Another very cool thing about his story is that we get to hear from Amelia. Not just whatever thoughts she sends his way, but also about her own life and death. Putting these two strong characters in one body sure turned out to be entertaining.

Although they share a body, this was essentially two stories about two very different people who find themselves interlocked in a very magical way. A way that not only proves beneficial for them, but also to help Kitty's plight.

I got a real kick out of seeing Kitty through someone else's eyes. Especially Cormac's, because I always felt there was so much he keeps inside about her. The way he thinks so highly and how affectionate he is towards Ben is lovely. Love that they're cousins but seem more like brothers.

The new mystery and angles presented in this book were also very interesting. Intriguing in the way they tie back to the original story, but also how it provided an intimate insight into Cormac's past and the many ways he's changed.

I loved this and can't wait to see what happens next...

 

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KITTY IN THE UNDERWORLD by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty in the Underworld by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the twelfth Kitty Norville, and since I'm determined to finish the series this year, I decided it was time to read the next one.

Kitty's in the middle of researching and brainstorming her latest book when Ben goes on a business trip. In his absence, and in typical Kitty fashion, trouble enters her territory and she ends up a prisoner to a group of supernaturals with ritualistic plans...

Wow. What an intense installment this one turned out to be. 😵

Stories like these always get under my skin. When a character is kidnapped, imprisoned and the captors attempt to brainwash or torture them in some way—hoping to get what they want—it makes my blood boil. Yet, I couldn't stop reading because these kinds of stories are always so intriguing. Plus it's satisfying when our main character defies her captors at every step.

In this story that situation also comes with an unexpected twist because we're dealing with a very stubborn, strong and capable alpha who bows to no one, and can't be brainwashed. Still, it was hard to watch Kitty and her wolf struggle to stay in control after being locked away, underfed and tranquilised. And awful to see how she reacted when being kept in the dark both physically and mentally.

This book was a little different to the others because Kitty was alone for so much of it. I've gotten used to having Ben, Cormac, the Denver pack and the vampires around, so it was strange and reminded me of the days when she didn't have this supernatural support system.

Luckily, Kitty's awesome and had no problem carrying her own story. She's also uncovered some pretty cool things that will no doubt come into play as the series races to its conclusion. I just hope we meet up with a certain lioness again.

Bring on the next book!

 

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