DDBook Reviews

  Futility of Defense is the second book in the epic sword and sorcery series by Bryan Cole. The series follows the exploits of Krell, a paladin of the god ReckNor, and his band of warriors that are under contract to protect the harbor town of Watford. Watford has become the target of sea devils that attack during storms and kill indiscriminately. This time around Krell has to face a giant and a basilisk, reanimate his friends that are killed. Again. Consequences from the past brings death and destruction to Watford as a demon is set on destroying Krell. If dealing with these things is not enough Krell has to navigate human life and relationships which at times seem more perilous than fighting monsters.   In this, the second book of The Paladin’s journey, the author has taken time to flesh out the characters. As more background is given regarding Verbena, Dahlia and Sheana, Krell develops both in his skill with magic and hand-to-hand combat as well as his view of the world...

  Kaimo de Morté is a trained optometrist but living in a small town he has to work in the mines in order to save money for his own optical emporium. Living under an Emperor who is seen as a god there are insurgents who fight for political freedom. When Kaimo and the insurgents’ paths cross and Kaimo rescues a girl from an imperial cargo train, his world changes. He and the girl embark on a quest to find a scholar who can tell her more about the aether in her veins that Lord Cazar wants her for. In their travels, they encounter countless dangers and suffer betrayal and trauma. However, once they reach the Insurgents and discover that they themselves have become rebels there is no turning back. Together with a very Brittishly witty automaton, Kaimo, and Zylpha have to face dangers and losses and celebrations of life, all against the backdrop of a steampunk industrial world filled with automatons and mechanical works of wonder, such as the traveling City Mystwalker and the steam-powe...

  Hot Magic by Black Cat Antiquities Book 1 (Cat's Paw Cove Series Book 5) by Catherine Kean tells the story of Lucian Lord, a 12th Century Knight A sorceress cursed him with her dying breath. He and his squire (who is now a cat) are cursed to be reincarnated for eternity. Lucian is bound to an organization, the Experts, that monitors and controls magic. This has led to the demise of any relationships he has started. While Lucian looks after his Grandfather’s antique shop in Cat’s Paw cove, he observes a spike of dark magic which he has to investigate. His investigation brings danger and destruction to the antique shop, and what he uncovers brings back an old nemesis Lucien thought was long gone. After Molly’s mother died, she has to go through the contents of the house to judge what can be sold or what needs to be kept. She meets Lucian at the antique shop, and the two have an instant connection. As she cleans, she finds an old wooden box that contains a unique necklace. However, ...

Titanian Warrior by Victoria Saccenti is the third in the Titanian Chronicles and follows the story of Hagen, the last Titanian who still has to find his mate. After the events in Alaska, Hagen finds himself consumed by bloodlust. This affliction can only be cured by finding his mate or facing execution by his older brother Soren. When faced with the devastation he wreaked. At the same time, under the influence of his bloodlust, Hagen turns to the chthonic deity, Alecto, for punishment, but Hades intercedes. Broken and exhausted, Hagen wakes up with a fever in an unknown house. Taking care of him is Faiza and her sister Lillith. When the truth comes to light about Faiza's master's plan for Hagen, Faiza steps in and saves Hagen. Faiza is introduced to the world of the supernaturals fighting the dark forces of Astarot to keep humans safe. Is Faiza Hagen's mate? Will she accept him and save him from being swallowed by the bloodlust? All this has to be dealt with while fighting...

  After the events in Groups Welcome, Sage has lost her Spiritual Medium abilities, and Emily’s has grown at an unprecedented pace. With Scott’s ghost now safely within the magical boundary that keeps evil spirits out, Emily cannot wait to talk to him. But it seems that the dark entity also came through the boundary, and it is only when a new group of guests check in at Eternal Rest that Scott has an opening to speak to Emily. Once again, Emily finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation as one of her guests dies in Sage’s office. But all is not as it seems, and people are not what they pretend to be. All the while, Emily is focused on helping Scott, but is she prepared for what will happen once Scott is free of the dark entity? Will Sage regain her abilities and will Emily ,have at least one quiet night? As always, Patricia Shade has done a wonderful job voicing Oakhill's inhabitants. The soft, calm tone with which she narrates is easy on the ear and allows one to relax ...

  Emily Buchanan has had an eventful year, and all she wants is some rest, but when a coven of witches books a stay at Eternal Bed and Breakfast, she has no idea what is install. For one, she did not expect her mother-in-law to be a witch or another guest to meet an untimely death. While dealing with another murder mystery, Emily must navigate her relationship with the town Sheriff and Trevor. She is in a race against time to help Scott’s spirit cross over the psychic barrier before he becomes trapped by an evil entity. As always, the visit to Eternal Rest is like a coming home of sorts where old friends meet you, and you slip into the adventure as if you belong and are part of the gang. I can never switch off the audible version as I want to know what will happen next. If you do not yet know Emily and her tendency to get into trouble, you are 6 books behind, So start listening or reading this wonderful series.

  After the events in Ghost of a Whisper, Maxwell feels that he placed Betty in danger, and the two reluctantly break up. In Ghost of a Memory, Betty goes off to a haunted resort and comes head to head with life-threatening circumstances. What makes it worse is she imagines Maxwell, and that just makes the longing harder to bear. When it becomes clear that one of Betty's close friends has betrayed her and placed her in danger, Maxwell does come back believing Betty to be in danger with or without him. In Ghost of a Hope, Betty and Maxwell are back together and working on a Halloween "haunted house," which seems to be actually haunted. Meanwhile, the demon hunters are making things hard for the two love birds as they are chased from their home,  and some of their spirit allies are exorcised. When Maxwell does something unthinkable to a demon, an unexpected but truly wonderful result catches Betty and Maxwell unawares. Ghost of a Hope ends the series on a wonderfully positi...