Friday, August 25, 2017

Saturday #Review - Head Above Water by Hailey Edwards (Urban Fantasy)

Series: Gemini # 2
Format: Kindle, 258 pages
Release Date: April 30, 2016
Publisher: Amazon Digital
Source: Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Camille Ellis has tracked many killers during her career, but this time it's personal. Cut off from conclave resources, she won't let a small thing like a suspension keep her from accepting Cord Graeson's offer of help.
Pretending to be mated to him is one way to secure allies, but the best that can be said of the Chandler Pack is they haven't killed or eaten her. Yet. Between the alpha's displeasure and the pack's distrust of fae, she's working overtime to keep her head above water.
Just when the fur starts to fly, a tip cracks her case--and her life--wide open.




Head Above Water is the second installment in author Hailey Edwards Gemini trilogy. Picking up right where Dead in the Water left off, protagonist Camille "Cam' Ellis is facing a forced leave of absence from the Earthen Conclave after what happened in the previous story. Her friend Harlow Bevans is missing having been taken right from under Cam's nose as she was chasing after one of the more dangerous villains she's had to face. Charybdis is still out there and Cam knows that it's just a matter of time before he comes for her. 

The story moves to the home of the Chandler Warg Park where Cord Graeson has returned home after discovering the person responsible for killing his sister. The trip to the Pack introduces readers to new characters, some returning characters like Dell Preston and Cord's six, who showed up in the previous installment. Plus, we get new storylines, and we also see how dysfunctional the the Chandler pack really is. 

With her Aunt Dot, and cousin Isaac along for the ride, Cam has to pretend that she's mated to Cord, which causes all sorts of issues and challenges. Cord's pack isn't exactly open minded or welcoming when it comes to a Fae being mated to one of their own. Even if she is able to show that she's more than capable of standing on her own without Cord's help. What's worse, Cord is facing conflicts as the packs Beta which have caused rifts within the pack. Rifts that lead to Cam being challenged to the right to stand by Cord's side. 

In this story, we have an entire new cast of characters, and even more twisted challenges that have nothing to do with finding Harlow or Charybdis. The mystery is less of a factor in this story. It's more about Cam becoming more. More aware of her abilities. More of what being Gemini means and how lost she was without her sister, and parents. She's now more open to allowing people into her life. She's also determined that she will never leave Harlow behind. Without the conclave's help, and only Thierry Thackeray's as an ally, Cam has to find a way to track down Charybdis who has a particular interest in Cam. 

Edwards isn't afraid to use characters from her Black Dog series. I already mentioned Thierry, but we are introduced, or reintroduced to Mai Hayashi. Mai has access to a certain mental health institute where Cam might find answers about Harlow and Charybdis. She is also a badass who really added spice to the already deep story. There really is a lot going on in this book, and the ending just blasts you in the face and says, come see what happens in the sequel! 





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