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Running from Demons by M.K. Theodoratus – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Running from DemonsRunning from Demons by M.K. Theodoratus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about discovery. in a fantasy world where status is ruled by your magical abilities, Pillar has always been at the bottom of the pile. She manages as best as she can in a commune until one day her cousin demands her return. Curious for answers to her mothers past, Pillar journeys west to her kin. But demons follow her trail and there is more to her mothers story than she ever dreamed of. Will she evade the dangers and find the answers she is looking for?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Pillar wanting to belong but also going after what she wants. a great example of a bildungsroman as we follow Pillars journey and development into who she needs to be. great cast of supporting characters like the strict Thelma or the kind Gracie. A brilliant villain that will send shivers up your spine.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel for example in the nature of Cascadia with its alek and crickets as wild nature that is also comforting which was beautifully written Or the city centre full of life and colour and people to add to the fast paced action of those scenes to make a captivating read. I also adored the vivid colours of the auras as bright and beautiful and the sense of smell and sounds as if you were actually there.
A brillaint example of the fantasy genre with magic that was spellbinding every time and demons straight out of the horror genre as ghastly creatures. A great example of world building in a different world with its own geography which was wonderfully written. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.
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Self Love by T.L. Clark – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Self LoveSelf Love by T.L. Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great read about finding yourself. Molly is a florist struggling to find love. After a fiasco booking at a wedding and its events after with an old work colleague, she decides to focus on herself. As her florist business grows, she decides to lose some weight to find love and rediscovers herself along the way. But will she find love and happiness in the end?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns. Well developed characters like Molly going after what she wants despite the criticism of others or Wendy as a caring friend trying to help others. Molly’s struggles with being tired of being alone and her weight and finding love were beautifully written and relatable.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel with the colourful flowers or the interior details of Molly’s house full of details or the wedding scenes full of people and life but also claustrophobic at the same time. The first person narration helped to display Molly’s thoughts and feelings.The only issue I would raise is that the narration broke the fourth wall and felt more like a blog post than a novel If this was addressing the audience was reduced, it would be five stars. Overall, a great read and I would give it four stars.

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Blind Magic (The Sanctuary Chronicles #2) by India Kells – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Blind Magic (The Sanctuary Chronicles #2)Blind Magic by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about independence. Sera is a witch who has recently lost her sight. But her blindness holds more secrets than she knows and brings danger into her life. Dreading the consequences, Sera wants to run but her friends want to help. Will she stay and put them in danger, or risk the consequences alone?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Ian trying to move on from pain and protect people or Sera trying to carry on despite it all. The depiction of blindness and it’s struggles was beautifully done and emotive and powerful and I loved the colourful auras vivid and bright to help her see which was a lovely touch. I also loved the use of the senses throughout with smell and touch and taste and hot and cold as if you were actually there.
Great cast of supporting characters like Finn and Violet with humour the book needed or Hunter as the calm source of reason.
I loved the fantasy nature of the novel with its shifters and witches mixed with realism of coffee shops and libraries which made for a captivating read. The use of magic was spellbinding each time with different powers alongside fast paced action and high stakes for a brilliant read.
Overall, a brilliant read and I would give it five stars.

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Releasing the Demons by L.D. Rose – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Releasing the DemonsReleasing the Demons by L.D. Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about struggles.The city of New York has been plagued by vampires for a long while. When a man is suspected of being one and murdering a woman, Detective Mendeiros is hot on the trail for justice. But there is more to the story and meeting the man Blaze Knight changes her life forever. Can she find the truth before the killer strikes again?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Blaze with his struggles that were powerfully written but also a caring side underneath or Valerie trying to protect people and solve a mystery. Great supporting cast of fun friends like Deron and Dax with humour the novel needed. A terrific villain that will send shivers up your spine. Fast paced action and high stakes made for a captivating read.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel in the art of tattoos full of detail or the statues and grand buildings of the sire. Or the use of the senses with heat and smell and taste and sight as if you were actually there. I loved the mix of supernatural with vampires and their powers and hierarchy and the sense of a crime thriller with police officers and forensics and realism of coffee shops which was combined perfectly for a captivating read. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.

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Casstiel; Born of Lightning: Dragon Shifter (Dragonland 52 Realms) – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Casstiel; Born of Lightning: Dragon Shifter (Dragonkind ~ 52 Realms)Casstiel; Born of Lightning: Dragon Shifter by Sheri-Lynn Marean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about loss and love. Casstiel is a dragon shifter mourning the loss of his mate ten years ago. When the enemy rescues his friend Zales, he is hostile to them before realising one of them is tied to his essence. Desperate to be rid of it and join his mate in the afterlife, he tries to convince her. But it is really the right decision?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns out I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Cass struggling with grief while still doing his duty or Ashtura trying to fit in and discover herself. Great cast of supporting characters like the wise Zales or caring Saber or sweet Aries as a little kid. The use of locations in chapter titles was a terrific idea so the reader could follow the story when it changed location easily and picture it
A brillaint example of fantasy with different realms and languages and races of magical beings The list of names and pronounciations was a great addition.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel for example the use of colour especially in the dragons with vivid colours refs and greens and blues. Or the lightning and the sunset as something otherworldly but beautiful. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.

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Beneath a Blue Moon (Crescent City Wolf Pack #2) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Beneath a Blue Moon (Crescent City Wolf Pack, #2)Beneath a Blue Moon by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about possibilities. Chase Beauchamp lives a stable life as second in command of the Crescent City wolf pack until a witch is found brutally murdered. While cake tasting for his alphas wedding, he comes across another witch who is hiding secrets. Chase has always been wary towards witches, and it tries his patience. Will he able to put his mistrust aside, can he find out the truth before more supernatural creatures get hurt?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Rain wishing for a better tomorrow even if it seems impossible or Chase trying to protect his pack but still hold authority. Great supporting cast with kind and caring Snow or sweet Emma as a curious little girl. A terrific villain that will send shivers up your spine.
A great example of building upon the fantasy world in a sequel with introduction of witches with their own laws and rules coexisting with the werewolves. the sense of facing the consequences of these laws was perfectly written to create tensions for Rain. The use of magic was spellbinding each time as something sacred but beautiful. And also the curse and the potion was perfectly written with specific rules to create difficulties for the character.
I also enjoyed the witches mythological roots in nature and magic and kindness which is rare in literature. I loved the visual detail throughout the novel in the nature of the park and the storm and rain song as something soothing and intoxicating. Or the bakery with its colour and sense of smell and taste in all the cakes as if you were actually there. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.

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A Monster Like Me (Heart of Darkness, #2) by Pamela Sparkman – Review by Sarah Oakes

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A Monster Like Me (Heart of Darkness, #2)A Monster Like Me by Pamela Sparkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A spellbinding read about second chances. Zeph has always been on the dark side and has done many terrible things along the way. When he tried to kill himself in despair, he is saved and healed by an elf. Surrounded by people who hate him, will Zeph change for the better or return to his old ways?
A brillaint read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Zeph cold personality while struggling with his feelings or Arwyn living in hope but still standing up for herself. Zephs struggles to find his way and not be a monster was powerful and emotive throughout. Great supporting cast of fun friends like Lorchlan or Seary.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel like with the sea and the cliff and the forest as wild untamed beauty which was perfectly written. I also loved the detail of the monsatery as something sacred but unique. I also loved the use of opposites in the novel in light and dark/ night and day or religion and magic which worked beautifully together to make contrasts with wonderful vivid colours.
I also loved the fantasy used in the novel with realms and magic with different societies and laws to create a spellbinding fantasy world. The inclusion of magical beings with different powers and mystical creatures of darker mythology made for a captivating read and was beautifully written. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.

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Werewolves Only (Crescent City Wolf Pack #1) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Werewolves Only (Crescent City Wolf Pack, #1)Werewolves Only by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about danger. the French Quarter has been struck by a series of mysterious rapes and attacks. Hot on the trail is Detective Macey Carpenter, who uses special abilities to solve crimes. When she meets werewolf Luke Mason at a bar, she thinks it is just a date. But events beyond their control unite them as the attacks continue. Will they be able to stop the attacker before it’s too late?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Macey standing up for herself but avoiding a broken heart or Luke jovial personality but kind nature underneath.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel like the storm and trees or the garden or swamp full of natural imagery to make the world around them seem spectacular. Or the use of scents and sounds as if you were actually there which was beautifully written.
I loved the use of fantasy with the werewolves as a big family with their own rules and laws existing the real world. The use of different powers and variety of mystical creatures from fantasy was spellbinding each time and a lovely addition to the novel.
The mix with realism of crime scenes and morgues was beautifully done and made for a captivating read. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.

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Shifter’s Pride by Laura Hawks – Review by Sarah Oakes

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Shifter's PrideShifter’s Pride by Laura Hawks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about mystery. America is inhabited by Spirit Walkers, people with special abilities. When Spirit Walker Feather Woods finds a dead body, she believes it is cruel fate that it is a close friend. But as the investigation escalates, the police discover she is the only link to the death. As events escalate and a cold hearted killer stalks the people she loves, will their abilities help to find the truth and catch the killer before it is too late?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. fast paced action and high stakes make for a captivating read. Well developed characters like Raine as a kind protective brother or Feathers compassionate nature but still standing up for herself. The use of flashbacks to the past worked well and didn’t disrupt from the narrative of the present.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel in the sense of nature with the animals and the moon and also the landscape of the past in a sense of wild beauty.
I loved the mix of fantasy with the shifting and also the realism of police and crime which was combined beautifully for a great read. The use of horror and gore was written to perfection in an eerie beauty and grabbed the readers attention. Overall, a brilliant read and I would give it five stars.

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