Tag Archives: Otherworld

Darkness Raging (Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon #18) by Yasmine Galenorn-Review & Giveaway

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Darkness Raging (Otherworld / Sisters of the Moon #18) by Yasmine Galenorn-Review and Giveaway

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Darkness Raging
Otherworld / Sisters of the Moon #18
by Yasmine Galenorn
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal romance
Release Date: February 2, 2016

 

Darkness Raging

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We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch. Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. And me? I’m Menolly, a vampire married to a gorgeous werepuma. As the war in Otherworld arrives, Blood Wyne, Queen of the Vampires, summons me. Apparently, my position as Roman’s consort entails more than I imagined…

As the Demon Lord Shadow Wing creates his own sinister version of the Keraastar Knights—the guardians of the spirit seals—to destroy the portals and free himself from the Sub Realms, his ally, the necromancer Telazhar, leads an assault from Otherworld into the streets of Seattle. And my sisters and I are caught dead center.

Then, on the eve of war, my wife, Nerissa, is captured. The enemy demands we surrender the rest of the spirit seals, or they are going to kill her. I will do anything to save her. Even if it means leading an army of vampires into the very depths of the Subterranean Realms.

••••••••••

REVIEW: Darkness Raging begins with all hell breaking loose with all kinds of rogue portals appearing and all kinds of beastly beings pouring through. Of course, Menolly and her sisters, along with their crew, are called in to help contain and destroy the beings and the portals themselves. As Shadow Wing seems to be stepping up his game with the help of his dangerous ally Telazhar, the unthinkable happens. Menolly’s wife, Nerissa, is kidnapped and taken down into the Subterranean Realms where she is held captive.

The sisters call in favors to aid them in their search and planned rescue for Nerissa. As the threat of war seems inevitable, they know that the party entering the Sub Realms may be futile, but they also know that they will lose Menolly to the dark side of her vampire nature if they don’t get Nerissa back. Decision made, Menolly and a surprise ally, along with a few others, head down to rescue Nerissa. Little did they know that what was about to transpire would change everything. The Spirit Seals come into play in a HUGE way and the tables are turned. The question is, are they turned in a good way or in a bad way?

FINALLY!!!!! Darkness Raging takes us back to what started this series in the beginning. The search for the Spirit Seals. The tides are turning for everyone in this series. And, I mean everyone. Major changes for Menolly happen in this installment. And, for Nerissa. With Camille set to become a Fae Queen and having to move out of the home she and her sisters have shared since coming Earthside, the sense of dread that they feel at being separated is palpable. I’ve kind of complained that I had no idea what Galenorn’s end game was with this series, but I think with this installment, it may have come into view. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!!! Well done, Yasmine Galenorn!! Very well done.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie

giveaway

In celebration of Yasmine Galenorn’s newest book DARKNESS RAGING (February 2nd, 2016) we’re giving away the following items in a fabulous Yasmine-themed giveaway:

ONE copy of Panther Prowling
ONE copy of Priestess Dreaming
ONE set of character art cards (9 cards total in one set)

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Panther Prowling (Otherworld Novel) by Yasmine Galenorn-Review and Giveaway

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Panther Prowling (Otherworld Novel) by Yasmine Galenorn-Review and Giveaway

Panther Prowling Banner

Panther Prowling
Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon #17
by Yasmine Galenorn
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal

Panther Prowling Jan 15

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch with three gorgeous husbands. Menolly is a vampire married to a werepuma. And me? I’m Delilah, a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. While the war in Otherworld is expanding, so is my newly renamed PI business. And my next case is about to make life very interesting…

While waiting for Shadow Wing’s next move, I decide to revamp my ragtag PI agency into the Cat’s Eye Investigations firm. My first client turns out to be our cousin Daniel. During the grand reopening for the Wayfarer, he shows up while being chased by a rampaging ghost. Daniel has procured a rare and valuable sword, and a ring of ghostly warriors comes attached to it. Protectors of the soul trapped within it, the spirits are out to stop anybody who threatens the weapon. As my sisters and I unravel the history of the sword, we quickly realize that the entity locked within the blade is a dangerous king from times gone by—and he’s about to break free and try to recover his crown…

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Panther Prowling begins with the sisters giving Camille a surprise birthday party and the newly rebuilt and renovated Wayfarer, which was destroyed by fire in a previous book. And, wouldn’t you know it? Just as they party is getting started, havoc is wreaked as their cousin, Daniel, runs into the bar being chased and ultimately body slammed by a Viking ghost. Yep………………things got weird quickly. Once they restore order and are able to talk to Daniel, they figure out that they have another mysterious case on their hands. Again. Once they start unraveling the many details of this case, things really get interesting. And dangerous.

On top of their new case, they also have things going on personally that will leave them questioning everything. Delilah finds out more about her twin sister who died at birth, and of whom she only found out about in the last year or two. Let’s just say that things weren’t as clear cut as Delilah and her sisters had thought, and the revelations will explain a lot. Menolly and Nerissa have hit a bit of a rough patch in their relationship, but are determined to make things right. And Camille gets BIG NEWS. As in life altering HUGE news that could change the dynamics of everything.

Through it all, they are endlessly battling the evil creatures that are hell bent on breaking through, and not only destroying them, but destroying the world as they know it. As usual, their whole crew, as well as a new ally or two, rallies around them as they try to defeat their latest nemesis. Will they be victorious? Well, you’ll have to read to find out!

Panther Prowling is a fast paced, action filled installment in Yasmine Galenorn’s Otherworld Series. Each book in the series is written from one of the sister’s points of view, in order: Camille, Delilah and Menolly. Even though this one was Delilah’s book, the lines are starting to blur as to whom the books are about due to the fact that there is so much going on now. The battle against Shadow Wing still rages on. War in Otherworld is still being waged. And things aren’t much better Earthside. They are constantly being called out to fix wrongs that no one else can handle. As I’ve said before, the sisters are destined for BIGGER things. I just wish I knew what the endgame was! Ha! I can’t wait for the next installment, as it seems things are rolling faster now towards said endgame. Very well done, Yasmine Galenorn.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.

giveaway

The Reading Cafe is offering a paper copy of PANTHER PROWLING to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from January 29-February 2, 2015

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Flight From Hell (Otherworld 15.5) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

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Flight from Hell (Otherworld Series Novella #15.5) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

Flight from Hell

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About the book: Release Date August 19, 2014

Crossover from the Otherworld Series to Fly By Night Series.

New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn returns with another thrilling foray into Otherworld—introducing a new cast of heroes alongside the D’Artigo sisters…

When the half-demon Carter approaches Menolly and her sisters desperately asking for their help, they think he’s just had a tiff with Shimmer, his blue dragon girlfriend.

But after talking to Alex Radcliffe, the owner of the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency where Shimmer works, they suspect that she has been kidnapped by an old enemy of Alex’s.

Now, Alex must join forces with the D’Artigo sisters in a desperate race to find Shimmer before Julian, a powerful vampire from Alex’s past with a grudge to settle, can use the dragon to wreak havoc on Seattle as revenge.

••••••••••••••••••

Review: The help that Carter (who is half Titan, half demon) has given Menolly and her sisters (the D’Artigos) has helped them immensely in their battle with Shadow Wing, so when he calls needing their help, they don’t hesitate. Once he tells them why he’s so worried about Shimmer, they aren’t convinced that there is an actual problem. But, once they head to the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency to inquire about Shimmer, it doesn’t take them long to find out that there is indeed something wrong. It seems that Alex, Shimmer’s boss at Fly By Night, had made an enemy long ago and has made his way to Seattle. And, it appears that he will do anything to make Alex pay, including going after his employees. Namely, Shimmer.

When they finally figure out what’s going on, they all head out to try and save Shimmer. And, wouldn’t you know it, seems something is amiss in the perpetually haunted Greenbelt District, aka, Spooksville Central. They eventually find where Shimmer is being held and come up with a plan to get her out. The big problem? She’s being held by a powerful vampire who has company….. Looks like it’s gonna be a long night…..

This novella is a fast paced introduction to Galenorn’s new series and I believe it will be another hit for her. I loved meeting the new characters. Alex, the boss is a vampire. Bette, the assistant is a water spirit and Ralph is a werewolf. And, from what I’ve read, we’re in for a hell of a ride. Even though this is a short story, it was action packed and set up the new series very well. I believe the first novel will be released in July 2015 and I can’t wait! Well done Yasmine Galenorn, well done.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Crimson Veil (Otherworld #15) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

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Crimson Veil (Otherworld #15) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

Crimson Veil.Jan 14jpg

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Crimson Veil
Otherworld #15
by Yasmine Galenorn
Genre: paranormal, adult, romance
Release Date: January 28, 2014

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked good witch with three gorgeous husbands. Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. And me? I’m Menolly, a vampire married to a scorching hot werepuma. And right now, we’re facing enemies on all sides…

It’s been a long and devastating week. Back in Otherworld, war has decimated the elfin city of Elqaneve, our father has gone missing, and Shadow Wing has managed to obtain another spirit seal. On the home front, somebody burned down my bar, the Wayfarer, killing eight people, including a friend.

To make matters worse, we still haven’t found a way to stop Lowestar Radcliff—the daemon in charge of a supernatural corporate power grab. He’s attempting to awaken Suvika, the lord of vice and corrupt businessmen, and we have to stop him. Our enemies are closing in on all sides, and this time, there’s no place to hide.

•••••••••••••••••

Crimson Veil begins right on the heels of Autumn Whispers. The war is still being waged in Otherworld, decimating everything in its path. The girls are tired and just can’t catch a break. On top of the Wayfarer being burned down, another vampire club is torched. However, this time, the D’Artigo sisters get there in time to figure out what’s going on…….sort of. Seems there is an arsonist hell bent on taking out as many vampires as they can.

There’s still the problem of stopping Lowestar Radcliff from awakening Suvika, and, they still haven’t found their friends’ missing friend from Autumn Whispers. Things happen rather fast in this installment of the series. The girls had met some of their cousins, whom they didn’t know existed, in the previous book, and one of them ends up being more than he initially seemed, but can they trust him with all that’s going on Earthside and in Otherworld? They decide to take baby steps with him and see how it goes.

They soon realize that the things happening Earthside are tied together and race against time to find the missing and stop Radcliff. There’s also the question of what to do with the Earth Seals that they have in their possession, because if they fall into the wrong hands, all is lost.

Galenorn has changed up her writing in this series a little bit. As I said in my previous review of Autumn Whispers, she normally ties up the current storyline as we progress in the overall arc of the series. She didn’t do that in Autumn Whispers, and she didn’t do it in this one either. But, it works for me. Once we reach the climactic “battle” scene, the way that one of the bad guys is taken out literally made me laugh out loud!! But, in a good way. There are some devastating developments as they find out what has happened to some who are missing, and some developments that leave you cheering. As always, we get to see all of the D’Artigo sisters’ motley crew and the efficiency with which they work together. They all have the “take no prisoners” attitude and do what is needed in any given situation to ensure that those they love are protected. If you’re a fan of series full of all kinds of beings and creatures, you will not be disappointed with this one. I can’t wait for the next installment!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Brazen (Otherworld 13.1) by Kelley Armstrong-a review

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BRAZEN (Otherworld Stories 13.1) by Kelley Armstrong-a review

Brazen

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 15, 2013

Nick Sorrentino knows everyone in the supernatural world considers him the Pack’s playboy, the pretty but not very useful werewolf whose only reputation involves his amorous exploits.

Usually, Nick couldn’t care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack’s past, it matters.

Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.

It’s time for Nick to prove he’s not just a lover.

••••••••••••••••••••

SPOILER alert

REVIEW: BRAZEN is the latest novella from Kelley Armstrong focusing on the werewolves of The Otherworld series. The storyline premise finds Nick Sorrentino on the hunt for Malcolm Danvers-one of the most powerful and dangerous werewolves known to the pack. Malcolm, once believed to have been killed by a rogue mutt, has returned in all of his former psychotic glory in the hopes of luring out those he believes betrayed him. As the father to the former alpha, Malcolm knows that the New York pack won’t be far behind. But sending Nick is an insult as Malcolm knows that Nick is less than capable of going for the kill.

Malcolm’s brief reappearance in THIRTEEN, the final Women of the Otherworld instalment, was a shock to readers as he was presumed but never proven deceased. BRAZEN will find Nick partnered with a half-demon mercenary whose field agents have gone missing and presumed dead; but Nick is reluctant when the mercenary is a beautiful woman who is a complete distraction on the job.

Many of the New York wolf pack including Reese, Noah, Elena and Clay make a brief appearance but the bulk of the storyline centres on Nick’s hunt for Malcolm. Malcolm leaves a trail of dead bodies in his wake and Nick knows that one wrong move could find himself at the receiving end of one of Malcolm’s deadly attacks.

BRAZEN is a storyline that ends without a resolution. I am a bit disappointed that we seem to be going around in circles as it pertains to Malcolm and his ability to a evade capture with every encounter. Nick was given an opportunity to take down Malcolm but a moment of hesitation finds Malcolm on the run once again. Kelley Armstrong is obviously planning several more short stories and novellas where our favorite wolf pack goes on the hunt for a psychotic killer and in the end, there is only one wolf who should be allowed to take down the man who has destroyed so many lives.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Autumn Whispers (Otherworld #14) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

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Autumn Whispers (Otherworld #14) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

Autumn Whispers

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About the book: Release Date September 24, 2013

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch with three sexy husbands. My sister Menolly is a vampire married to a wildly hot werepuma. And me? I’m Delilah, a two-faced werecat and Death Maiden. The Supe Community is in danger and now it’s up to us to unravel a mystery to which we may not want the answers…

When two vampiric software engineers approach us about a missing colleague, we don’t expect to find much. But then Grandmother Coyote steps in and our simple missing persons case rapidly devolves into a nightmare of debauchery, slavery, and corporate greed. Now, we must infiltrate and destroy an underground organization of influential men, led by the mysterious Lowestar Radcliff, before they discover we’re on to them. But one misstep puts our whole operation and our lives in peril, and I must unleash my powers as a Death Maiden, even if it means destroying someone I love.

Review:

As the D’Artigo sisters embark on trying to help out a couple of friends find a missing colleague, they have no idea how things are going to change. Besides their ongoing battle with Shadow Wing, who rules the subterranean realm and wants to open the portals to unleash hell on earth, they are approached by Grandmother Coyote, one of the Hags of Fate, for help. And no one, I mean NO ONE, refuses her. She informs the sisters of coming changes that will wreak havoc on earth as well back home in Otherworld. They are also made aware of a power emanating from a building in downtown Seattle. Seems these sisters just can’t catch a break. Oh, and Delilah’s training as a death maiden will finally put her front and center when she is called to go in on her own to take a soul to it’s final resting place…….or two.

Once they start their search for the friend of their colleague’s, they soon realize that things aren’t as simple as they first appeared. They soon learn that the missing friend was taken into an underground organization by a less than stellar citizen who has far reaching ties and seemingly unlimited resources. In the middle of this investigation, the Wayfarer, a Supe bar owned by Menolly (one of the sisters) is attacked and burned to the ground and there are several fatalities. And to top it all off, they have to head back to Otherworld, namely Elqaneve, for a meeting with Queen Asteria, who is holding the spirit seals that Shadow Wing is desperately searching for in order to open the portals.

Upon their arrival in Elqaneve, Camille feels an evil presence and as they enter the castle things go bad very quickly. Very very bad, very very quickly………….. The evil presence is a storm stronger than anything they’ve ever experienced. It is a living, breathing entity that is leaving complete and utter devastation in its wake. The sisters and their entourage were separated once the building started collapsing and Queen Asteria’s right hand man whisks Camille and Delilah away to a safe location. While waiting on the storm to pass, Delilah is called into action as a death maiden to escort a soul to its final destination. She had been forewarned that one of the souls that she’d be escorting would be hard to accept…………What an understatement. Once that job is finished, she and Camille make their way back home to try and make sense of everything that’s going on. They also have no way of knowing who survived and who didn’t. Will the sisters and their entourage be reunited? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out.

Galenorn has once again written an intriguing story of good versus evil, and boy, did evil get a leg up in this one! There was so much happening in this that it was hard for me to put into words to make it understandable. Suffice it to say, parts of this one were a little hard to read. We lose a pretty major player in the good versus evil game. And, for the first time in this series, there were loose ends left hanging. LOTS OF THEM!!!! Normally, at the end of the books in this series, things are carried through to fruition, at least the current story line. The next rolls into the next stage of the battle. This one left me hanging so high, my shoulder got yanked out of socket! LOL!! I for one CANNOT wait for the next installment!!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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HAUNTED MOON (Otherworld #13) by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

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Haunted Moon by Yasmine Galenorn-a review

haunted-moon

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Otherworld Series book #13

About the book: Released January 29, 2013

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. My sister Menolly is a vampire married to a werepuma. And me? I’m Camille, a wicked-good witch with three sexy husbands. I’m a priestess of the Moon Mother, and I’m training under the Queen of Darkness. Unfortunately, playing in the dark means that sometimes you stumble over secrets better left buried…

There’s a new Fae sorcerer in town—Bran, the son of Raven Mother and the Black Unicorn—and I’m the unwilling liaison between him and our new Earthside OIA. With cemeteries being ransacked and spirits being harvested by a sinister, otherworldly force, Aeval sends us to rescue the missing wife of a prominent member of the Fae nobility. Our search leads us to the mysterious Aleksais Psychic Network and, ultimately, to face the Lord of Ghosts where Morio and I must undergo a ritual that will plunge us directly into the world of the dead.

Review:

The D’Artigo sisters have been waging a battle with Shadow Wing, the leader of the evil force that is trying to break through the portals to wreak havoc in Otherworld as well as on Earth, since the beginning of this series. Galenorn has, over the life of this series, introduced us to her magical world of Fae, goblins, ghouls, bhouts, bone-walkers, necromancers, shifters, witches……..The list goes on and on. Each book centers on one sister, in repeat order: Camille, Delilah and Menolly. Each book is also a continuation of the previous, so reading in order, in my opinion, is a must in order for you to fully understand and appreciate all that happens in the storyline.

Camille, and one of her husbands, Morio, have been working on their death magic together for a while now, growing stronger and stronger. Once again, the sisters are called in as unexplainable things begin to pop up around Seattle . First zombies and then it seems someone or something is sucking up the souls of the dead around town, and there’s only one reason someone would do that. Power. Unfortunately, they realize that it’s Gulakah, the Lord of Ghosts, and that they know they may be in over their heads. Oh yeah, he’s also a god. They just can’t seem to catch a break………….

The sisters have an extensive extended family, and a powerful one. Camille’s other two husbands, Smoky (a half white and half silver dragon) and Trillian (a Svartan, one of the Charming Fae), along with Morio (a Japanese Fox Demon) are a formidable foursome. But, once they figure out that they will have to venture into the land of the dead, they delve into their treasure trove of extended family and face their nemesis head on.

Once again, Galenorn has written an intriguing tale of good versus evil. The list of supporting characters in this series is long and varied, and awesome. Usually, once I read the blurb about a book and I see the word Fae, I glaze over, but for some reason, this series works for me. I love it. I have from the first. She writes with passion and the story that she weaves leaves you anxiously waiting for the next. The stories are action packed and hot as hell. Even though each book centers on one sister, you get to see interaction with all of them. You don’t have to wait for two more books to see what’s going on with any of them. I can’t wait for the next one!!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied by publisher through Netgalley

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