A spirited and compulsively readable paranormal-romance series entry.
A fantasy romance featuring two superpowered lovers in Victorian-era England.
This new installment in Sumner’s League of Lords series takes a secondary character from its predecessor, The Lady Is Trouble (2020), and puts him center stage. In 1855, Finn Alexander, the adopted son of a viscount, has the paranormal ability to read people’s minds, and he’s set up a gambling den that’s become wildly popular among the well-to-do. But his special talent comes with a price, as his mind is constantly filled with the background noise of others’ thoughts. This, in part, leads to his deep interest in the engaged Lady Victoria Hamilton, whose own powers allow her to erase people’s short-term memories and block others’ powers from working. He experiences the latter power firsthand, and the experience is a first for him: “Added to the bizarre circumstance of not being able to read her, being close to her obscured his ability to read others, like she’d dimmed the flame on the gaslamp of his mind, leaving only his thoughts to contend with.” Finn finds himself truly intrigued by her on multiple levels, and he soon introduces her to a clandestine group of similarly superpowered men and women. As in the previous volume, Sumner seamlessly blends gaslight-era fantasy and conventional historical romance. She also perfectly incorporates detailed supernatural elements into her well-researched setting. Her two central characters are compelling and believably damaged; each comes from a radically different segment of society, and each finds themselves in a relationship that they weren’t expecting. Finn, in particular, is a highly rewarding fictional creation—a well-drawn combination of roguery and vulnerability. Readers may be initially drawn to the book for its exciting paranormal aspects, but they’ll stay for the electric dialogue between Finn and Victoria, which includes plenty of comic banter. (Those expecting X-Men–style superheroics, though, won’t find it here.) Overall, it’s a sparkling addition to this promising series.
A spirited and compulsively readable paranormal-romance series entry.Pub Date: May 23, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 258
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: July 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A somewhat muddled yet still charming small-town love story, with magic.
A witchy florist is reunited with her high school love in this lightly magical second-chance rom-com.
In Moonville, Ohio, a town steeped in lore about magic and love, Romina Tempest and her sisters run The Magick Happens—a shop with flowers, candles, and books. Romina calls herself a “flora fortunist” and uses the language of flowers to help her clientele with their romantic woes. Her own love life has been nothing but heartbreak, so when she unexpectedly encounters her first real love, Alex King, whom she hasn’t seen in 11 years, old feelings resurface. The two of them antagonize each other, but their flirtation comes naturally. Too bad Romina is fake-dating her friend Trevor Yoon—who also happens to be Alex’s soon-to-be stepbrother—as she tries to secure Trevor’s father as an investor in the shop. Lies and secrets will eventually be revealed, and Romina will have to decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart once more. The magical elements add a nice touch of whimsy to this humorous tale, while Romina’s damaging former relationships and desire to be a mother add realistic dramatic heft. The story feels like it’s trying to do too much at once, however—too many side plots and tropes—which makes it feel messy and meandering. Some readers may also be put off by all the secrets Romina and Alex keep from each other initially. Still, Moonville is an enchanting town many will hope to revisit.
A somewhat muddled yet still charming small-town love story, with magic.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780593715055
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A book designed to please diehard series fans.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series returns to the 1980s.
The year is 1981, and Darius leads his brethren in what was once an elite vampire fighting squad. Their king, Wrath, refuses to take the throne, preferring to fight as a regular soldier. As the eldest member of the brotherhood, Darius feels responsible for the weakened state of both his king and the brotherhood. While out driving one night, Darius accidentally hits a human woman, Anne Wurster, who's stumbled into the road after a narrow escape from her abusive boyfriend. Darius arranges to pay her medical bills, intending for that to be the end of their interaction—but even though he knows it's strictly forbidden for humans to know anything about his world, he finds it impossible to stay away from her. They enjoy a brief affair before Anne discovers he's a vampire and runs away, keeping her pregnancy a secret. This book operates as a tragic series prequel, with Anne's and Darius’ fates having been established in the first book of series. Their daughter, Beth, was destined to become Wrath’s mate and Queen of the Vampires, but neither of her parents were part of her life. Longtime fans of the series are likely to enjoy this story. Ward is known for her fearless embrace of pop culture, and this novel delights in reminding readers of the touchstones of the '80s, name-dropping stores, music, actors, and movies of the time (though there's an occasional anachronism, like a reference to Miami Vice several years before it aired). Compared to the frenetic latter books of the series, which are jammed with multiple narrating characters and long, ongoing plotlines, this novel is calm and almost mellow. There are brief appearances from beloved characters, and some convenient rewriting of series lore, but Darius and Anne’s tragic love affair remains front and center.
A book designed to please diehard series fans.Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781668035382
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
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