Category: Book Review

Book Review: Darkness (Series)

Erin Penn

Amazon Cover

Into the Darkness: Darkness Book One by Nora Ash
Hidden in Darkness: Darkness Book Two by Nora Ash
Shades of Darkness: Darkness Book Three by Nora Ash
Fires in the Darkness: Darkness Book Four by Nora Ash

SERIES REVIEW

I read the series as an omnibus of the four hard erotica superpower novellas which combined for a reasonably price long novel written by the amazing Nora Ash. The writing is tight, with descriptive unique sex scenes, strong characters, plus the compelling story arc missing from most eroticas.

The sex arc showing the growth from two enemies in lust with the same woman to a true menage is potent. The superpower story going from a simple robbery to the final battle with the big bad hits many, many of the clique high points one needs in a superpower story – kidnapping, betrayal, intrepid reporters, and corrupt politicians. A balance between character building, sex, and plot is stuck with marvelous precision by the author.

I don’t really like the males of the menage, though The Shade wiggles his way into my heart by the fourth book. And Ms. Ash’s preference for dominating sex does show through.

I have reviewed the books separately. All of them rate high with none of the typical middle sag in a story. Since my original review, the omnibus has been retired and Ms. Ash has re-covered the series with brilliant art downplaying the superhero and up-playing the dominating sex. 

 

Amazon Cover

Into the Darkness: Darkness Book One by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

There are no such things as heroes.

I went out for coffee. I came back with a nemesis.

The city’s favorite hero, Lightning, saved me from getting gunned down, and I thought my luck was finally changing. Not only was I not dead; I also managed to snag an exclusive interview with the masked supe. Only, instead of job stability and internet fame, I earned the attention of every dangerous criminal in the city. The only thing that’ll save my life now is allowing Lightning to claim me as his pet. To offer my body in the hopes that he’ll protect me.

But the city has it wrong. He’s not one of the good guys. And submitting to his claim will bring another darkness from the shadows. A darkness whose only goal is to take anything his archenemy possesses.

Including me.

Book 1 in Nora Ash’s dark Paranormal Romance ménage, Darkness. Each installment is novella length and ends in a cliffhanger.

MY REVIEW

First of four books in a hard erotica series. Total pages 427 – total price $9. The first book is free (at the time of the review) which allows you to see if you like the story and writing style before committing to any cost. The first book includes two harsh, hot sex scenes.

A well-written superpower hard erotica story – yep, all those adjectives apply. The opening scene is the heroine witnessing a robbery being stopped by a super “hero”. The scenes of superpowers in action are exactly what I expect from any superpower story. The scenes with the hard erotica are exactly what I expect from such stories down to the ropey streams. The well-defined characters and levels to the plot are what I expect from a well-written story set in urban contemporary times. 

Finding all three at once! Miraculous. 

Why didn’t I give it a five-star for Goodreads? Well, I just didn’t like the men of the menage. Ms. Ash does say they are “bad boys” – and they are; one is a jerk and the other a killer.

But at the same time they, in their own ways, try to be good. The jerk has mind control and uses it on the woman to show how dangerous his world is, even going as far as using it to “mark” her. But not taking so far as to take her against her will. The killer likely has the same ability, but uses only force of will to bend the woman into submission. Again, like his opposite in her affections, he does not take her against her will. He waits until she screams for him and makes every effort to have her enjoy every second of his claiming.

Both men want to dominate her and have her obey their wishes. Good luck with that fellows, Kat may be only human but she has a mind of her own.

Trigger warning – intense near gang-rape before super-save.

 

Amazon Cover

Hidden in Darkness: Darkness Book Two by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

A human pet to dominate and control.
To breed.
That’s what I am to them.
They don’t care what I want—they only care who wins the claim to call me his.
But with corruption running deep, and my city on the brink of destruction, I need to find a way to save it. If the two supes fighting for dominance over my body refuse to do it… I guess I have to.

Book 2 in Nora Ash’s dark Paranormal Romance menage, Darkness. Each installment is novella length and ends in a cliffhanger.

MY REVIEW

Starting to really love The Shade. Really going to smack Lightning. Both boys need a serious attitude adjustment, and I think Kat is going to give it to them if they continue to ply their own private war in her bedroom. Either that, or she is going to die of ecstasy. 

The second of the Darkness series continues the promise of the first with solid superpower plot advancement as Kat continues her investigations, with breathtaking erotica as Lightning finally claims what is his, and with stunning character development as The Shade registers his objection in a way which shows how powerful he is beyond simple superpowers (a man willing to give control while still dominating – shiver producing!). An excellent mix of superpower and hard erotica.

 

Amazon Cover

Shades of Darkness: Darkness Book Three by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

Pain. Violation. Degradation.
That’s what getting involved with two magic-welding rivals has brought me. And the longer I stay with them, the deeper I’m sucked into the infested web of corruption running through every layer of my city.
I should try to escape—find a way out and away. No human can survive the demands of two such powerful men using her body as their battleground.
But they are the only key I have to saving my city from the powers threatening to lay it to ruin.

And when the rest of the supe community learns of my existence, my two protectors have to decide what’s more important: their age-old strife… or my life.

Book 3 in Nora Ash’s dark Paranormal Romance menage, Darkness. Each installment is novella length and ends in a cliffhanger.

MY REVIEW

Girlfriend why did you have to go and get yourself kidnapped? Such a clique superpower thing to do, especially after going off into the warehouse district in the first book and getting caught snooping during a ball in the second book.

At least I really believe all the cliques actually apply. That warehouse part, while stunningly stupid on your part Kat, really, really felt … just felt. Made me forget I was reading an erotica.

This book too. Even during the kidnapping, in some ways, you were rescuing yourself. Even in the world of the big bad supers, you have your own agency. Good going.

Now get those men into your bed and have some MFM fun!

 

Amazon Cover

Fires in the Darkness: Darkness Book Four by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

I am out of time.
There is no more waiting, no more hiding in the shadows. No more pretending I don’t love the two men who have claimed me as theirs.
But darkness has arrived.
And if we don’t fight it… If it wins….
I will lose my soul.

MY REVIEW

The exciting conclusion to the Darkness series completes the wonderful superhero plot with the final big bad revealed, further character development of the male leads into (finally) beings you can like, and strong MFM sex scenes driving the character development while satisfying the erotica urges.

The difference between p*rn and erotica and romance – p*rn you can remove the stuff outside the sex and nothing really changes, romance you can remove the sex scenes and nothing changes, but with erotica the mix of sex and pushing forward the plot means you must have both for the story to make sense.

Fires in the Darkness delivers on the MFM menage erotica promise.

A little disappointed with where the superpowers come from, but at least Ms. Ash does provide a backstory. On the other hand, I was only expecting a Happy-for-Now ending so I guess everything balances.

Book Review: Curse of Strahd

Erin Penn

Amazon Cover

Curse of Strahd (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition) by Wizards RPG Team

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

Unravel the mysteries of Ravenloft® in this dread adventure for the world’s greatest roleplaying game
 
Under raging storm clouds, the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind’s howling increases as he turns his gaze down toward the village of Barovia. Far below, yet not beyond his keen eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd’s face forms the barest hint of a smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they came — all according to his plan. A lightning flash rips through the darkness, but Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited.

 

MY REVIEW

A group of my friends after one hangout session decided they wanted to play the Ravenloft. While we were all gamers (and women), none of us gamed together in any combination, and I haven’t gamed for real-real in about a decade. I don’t even know where my dice are. They tossed the Curse of Strahd at me and volun-told me I was the DM (I’ve DM on and off since I first started playing, more “on” than “off” when I am at a table).

So now I got (1) learn the fifth edition, (2) remember how to DM, (3) meld a new gaming group, and (4) rediscover Ravenloft in its new format (which I previously only played as a character).

Fifth edition and Curse of Strahd is making this herculean task possible. I wouldn’t want to do this module as a new DM, but as one with experience in storytelling as well as dungeon-mastering (is that a word?), it is exceptionally well set-up. The chapters are easy to follow, all the dungeons are mapped well, the monsters and their reasons for being where they are are logical, etc. You do need the Player’s Handbook and Monster Manual and Dungeon Master’s Guide to play the module – but using the core books should be expected.

With the new party, I decided to do the optional appendix for game play 1-3 level of experience as well as the “draw them to Ravenloft” portion in the introduction. These add-ons work as good as the rest of the book.

There are some “holes” in the book, deliberately left for the DM to fill in. For example, the third gem from the Wizards of Wine which disappeared a decade ago has no further backstory than it is gone. I’ve decided to use that “sandbox” area the Ravenloft creators left for DMs, to make part of the module my own. It’s awesome they left an area to individualize the game to the DM’s interests, giving them room to tell their own story and be more invested in Curse of Strahd. So much more fun for me.

The instructions say read the book through before DMing it. YES! DO THIS! So many of the sections interact with each other getting the general lay of the land will make the game much, much better for players and the DM.

Ravenloft is one of the first, the first? – yeah, the first, storytelling-oriented module (instead of dungeon crawl-dice roll) and the company brought back the original writers to expand the module out for fifth edition. Everything remains true to the original, but works with the new 5th edition rules.

Vampire the Masquerade story-telling-centric style would likely not exist without Ravenloft.

Curse of Strahd captures the heart of Ravenloft and carries its legacy well.

Book Review: Bewitched & Betrayed

Erin Penn

Amazon Cover

Bewitched & Betrayed by Lisa Shearin

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

From the national bestselling author of The Trouble with Demons comes another fantasy adventure with a beloved, bold heroine.

Raine Benares is a seeker. She finds lost things and missing people—usually alive. But now she’s been bonded with the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone of unlimited power, and must hunt down its escapees. Especially since one of them is also hunting her…

 

MY REVIEW

Another installment of Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares novels. Reads like Urban Fantasy in a Fantasy setting – kickass woman in leather with swords and magical powers off the charts (check), plucky friends (check), bad guy (check), politics stew (check), two love interests – one good but kind-of bad and one bad but kind-of good that are both total dish (check).

Love the main character’s family with their questionable morals, but extreme loyalty. The behind the scenes political stuff does not usually affect the character directly, but does impact who she can go to when – just enough stuff happening in the background for you to feel the character is part of a much larger world and it doesn’t just revolve around her. The other characters have real lives offscreen, and some of them may be even more interesting than hers.

One down-side – the author constantly adds mini-recaps, like you expect to put her book down and come back to it in a couple days. Not something I do, but if you actually have a life and can only read a book in 2 or 3 chapter intervals, may be a helpful.

If you like the Urban Fantasy formula, give this series / book a try.

Book Review: Necromancer for Hire

Erin Penn

Amazon Cover

Necromancer for Hire: The April Sullivan Chronicles by Darin Kennedy

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

April Sullivan is a young woman with a special gift. She can raise the dead.

This collection of stories introduces you to the April’s world, the world of a professional necromancer. Her days and nights populated with vampires, werewolves, and demons as well others of her stock in trade, April must use all the tools at her disposal, mystical and otherwise, not only to ply her trade, but to stay alive. This first collection gathers the initial seven April stories, from their homes in various anthologies, into one volume for the first time.

“Necrodance” – April teaches a serial killer a lesson on the difference between being the hunter and being the hunted.

“Bonds of Blood” – Sibling rivalry takes a new spin as April and her vampire brother meet to “discuss” the affairs of their ailing mother.

“Solstice” – April must combat the necromancer who taught her everything she knows before he can raise an army. And the army he intends to raise: Arlington National Cemetery.

“Class Reunion” – April attends the funeral of the first boy she ever loved, but dark events converge to ensure he doesn’t rest in peace.

“Solomon” – April plays a dangerous game of chance with a demon with her immortal soul as collateral.

“Symphony of Wolves” – April’s boyfriend takes her to the symphony on the night of the full moon. What could go wrong?

“The Fall and Rise of Julian LaMorte” – An origin story of sorts for April’s once mentor now nemesis.

This book clocks in at just over 150 pages and is perfect if you’re looking for a quick, fun read in the urban fantasy genre. And in case you really like, never fear, for more April is on the way!

 

MY REVIEW

A collection of short stories on a reoccurring character, April Sullivan — Necromancer, by Darin Kennedy. Some of the collection are amazing, most are good, and all hit the mark. Seven stories in all published over a period of three years, four of the seven were published in other anthologies before the rights reverted to Dr. Kennedy.

“Necrodance” introduces us to April Sullivan in a creepy story where you are never certain who is the hunter. (4 stars)

“Bonds of Blood” give us a bit of insight into April’s family life and her full abilities. (4 stars)

“Solstice” has switching POVs between April and a cop who pulled her over for a routine speeding ticket and gets far more than he expected. There is reasons cops are worried during every pullover – the danger is real. Though usually not involving a century-old necromancer raising entire graveyards of soldiers during a lunar eclipse. (Story has to take place December 22, 2010 – the only time since 1638 for a lunar eclipse on the Winter Solstice. – Yep, this fact in the story wasn’t just made up because it was cool. Mr. Kennedy chose an actual event.) (4 stars – plus a bonus star for getting the eclipse right)

“Class Reunion” is the best of the story stories because the emotions of everyone involved. Each and every character has agency, personality, and impact to the outcome of the story. Everyone changes because of the story, even April a little. This story is unique to the collection and hadn’t been published before. (5 stars)

“Solomon” – I first read in the Big Bad anthology, and I think it works better in the mix of that anthology then in this collection. When I read it as part of the anthology, I was jamming on the Big Bad of the story – when I read it as part of the collection, I focused on our necromancer anti-hero. Interesting how you can read the story and have two completely different take-aways based on what other stories surround it. (3 stars in this collection; 4 stars in the anthology)

The final two stories – “Symphony of Wolves” and “The Fall and Rise of Julian LaMorte” – were written for this collection. Symphony is as action packed as Solstice, while Fall and Rise is perhaps the weakest of the lot because it’s more a prologue for the upcoming novelette than a stand-alone story. (4 stars and 2 stars respectively)

Average 4 stars. As Goodreads rating states “I really liked it.”

***

If you are interested in the technical side of writing, each short story of the collection has a different point of view (POV) style. “Necrodance” is first-person POV (not April!). “Bonds of Blood” is third-person POV. “Solstice” is alternating first person POV (April and the cop). “Class Reunion” finally has the typical urban fantasy first-person POV on the main character. “Solomon”‘s first person POV again returns to the adversary of April we saw in “Necrodance”. “Symphony of Wolves” is third-person, and “The Rise and Fall…” is first-person adversary.

Hmmm – I liked “Class Reunion” the best, could it be because it follows the traditional formula the closest? Again, if you are interested in the technical side of writing looking over this collection written by the same author and same character with the same “voice” but with different POVs can help give you a feel of how POV can change things.

Book Review: Because You Love to Hate Me

Erin Penn

Amazon Cover

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

This edgy anthology teams up acclaimed YA authors and popular YouTubers to create 13 fairy tales and 13 inspired works–all from a “villain’s” perspective, in the vein of Maleficent or Wicked.

Leave it to the heroes to save the world–villains just want to rule the world.

In this unique YA anthology, thirteen acclaimed, bestselling authors team up with thirteen influential BookTubers to reimagine fairy tales from the oft-misunderstood villains’ points of view.

These fractured, unconventional spins on classics like “Medusa,” Sherlock Holmes, and “Jack and the Beanstalk” provide a behind-the-curtain look at villains’ acts of vengeance, defiance, and rage–and the pain, heartbreak, and sorrow that spurned them on. No fairy tale will ever seem quite the same again!

MY REVIEW

This is very much a YA of the present (2019) generation. The villains are too sweet; all have justifications and are likable in the extreme. Some you might even rub elbows with. Each of them is someone a reader can understand and identify with.

I guess it is a good introduction to when villains are heroes in their own stories – but this feels more like what an 11 and 12 year old are fed rather than raising the moral questions a 13 and 14, let alone a 16 or 17, should be asking and investigating. The gimmick of the bloggers commenting actually improves the book in this regard. Some of the best writing is from them.

The Blood of Imuriv – Selfish boy with anger control issues. No where near as creepy as it should be. Blog commentary is A+.

Jack – A retelling of Jack in the Beanstalk. A lot of these are retelling of old myths and stories, and they suffer in comparison with the creepy, evil of the originals. This one doesn’t; it’s on par with Jack and the Beanstalk.

Gwen and Art and Lance – Another retelling, this one of Camelot. Very teen-angst. You can see where the evil is going to grow, but it isn’t true evil yet.

Shirley & Jim – Sherlock retelling. One of the few without the evil being the POV character. Love the villain and the relationship with the future hero. This one establishes everything which will follow and you can see it unspool in your mind after you are done reading. Great read.

The Blessing of Little Wants – I’m the wrong generation to enjoy this one. M. Night Shyanmalan’s movie is still too fresh in my head, and I saw the twist a mile away which deflated all the magic of this short story.

The Sea Witch – The little mermaid from a different point of view. The blogger questionnaire is interesting to answer.

Beautiful Venom – Medusa in a different mythos. Extra plus for diversity.

Death Knell – An original work, mostly. (I’m too widely read for delaying Death to be truly original.) Southern Gothic feel.

Marigold – Nice. This is how I like my elves in the woods to be. A historic piece that keeps several historic values of age and culture-stratus in place.

(Note that the three furthest from contemporary US culture (and that includes the sci-fi at the start) are grouped together – Beautiful Venom, Death Kneel, and Marigold.)

You, You It’s all about You – Don’t often see second person stories. This one pulls it off fairly well.

Julian Breaks Every Rule – This is one where the blogger gets it 100% right. The story needs to continue. (and yet it doesn’t – ends at a perfect time for a short story.) Captures both YA and villainy perfectly. This is what the whole anthology should have been like.

Indigo and Shade – Beauty and Beast retelling. Way too heavy-handed in trying to get parallels. It felt stiff; like a story constrained by the structure of the story it is emulating rather than a celebration like the previous short story of Jack.

Sera – Birth of a Death God. Has too many POVs to get emotionally invested in the story. This doesn’t disturb the way it should. The characters in the story has no agency – everything was destined from the beginning and no one had any choices. Either fighting or celebrating fate would have been more interesting.

Julian Breaks Every Rule and Marigold are what I hoped for the whole anthology to be like, with Jack, Shirley & Jim, You You It’s All About You, and Sera being close. The “villain” POV stories are a popular anthology sub-genre. This villain anthology concentrated on making the bad guys identify as good guys and neutered them too much in order to keep the YA feel. Villains don’t have to be likable; their willingness to do what needs doing is how a reader identifies with and envies them. Power has its own draw.

Read for book club; borrowed book from another member.