Wednesday #Review - Death and Relaxation by Devon Monk #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Ordinary Magic # 1
Format: Kindle, 326 pages
Release Date: June 17, 2017
Publisher: Odd House Press 
Source: Booklending.com
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Monsters, gods, and mayhem...
Police Chief Delaney Reed can handle the Valkyries, werewolves, gill-men and other paranormal creatures who call the small beach town of Ordinary, Oregon their home. It’s the vacationing gods who keep her up at night.

With the famous rhubarb festival right around the corner, small-town tensions, tempers, and godly tantrums are at an all-time high. The last thing Delaney needs is her ex-boyfriend reappearing just when she's finally caught the attention of Ryder Bailey, the one man she should never love.

No, scratch that. The actual last thing she needs is a dead body washing ashore, especially since the dead body is a god.

Catching a murderer, wrestling a god power, and re-scheduling the apocalypse? Just another day on the job in Ordinary. Falling in love with her childhood friend while trying to keep the secrets of her town secret? That’s gonna take some work.

Death and Relaxation, by author Devon Monk, is the first installment in the Ordinary Magic series. Police Chief Delaney Reed has been in the position of “bridge” since her father passed away a year ago. Luckily for Delaney, she has two wonderful, and supportive sisters in Myra and Jean who are also on the force. Plus, she's never had to use her abilities as the bridge. Until now. Ordinary, Oregon is anything but Ordinary. It is a place that has become the place where Gods and Monsters go when they really need a vacation.

Delaney wears several hats outside of being a bridge. She's the towns Peacekeeper, Guardian, and Law Enforcement for everyone. Everyone which includes Gods like Odin, Thor, Frigg, Zeus, Hera and Ares who use other names so as to not let mortals knows Gods really do exist. There are also others living in Ordinary as well. Vampires, werewolves, Valkyries and gillmen just to name drop a few. The most curious aspect of this story is that in order to vacation in Ordinary, all gods and monsters must give up their powers and live like ordinary humans. They must also find jobs to support themselves. If they choose to leave, they can't return for a full year. 

Laney's primary job is to keep the peace and solve the murder of a rather important God. But, with the annual Rhubarb festival coming up, she has to split her time of discovering who murdered the God, judging the Rhubarb contest, and at the same time, finding a way to transfer the Gods's power to a mortal who is willing to become a God. So, you think you have a hard life? Laney must also deal with the return of Ben Rossi, a man who makes her shiver, and carries a secret which the author hasn't touched on yet, and the return of her former boyfriend Cooper Clark who walked out on her after her father died. If that weren't exciting enough for you, how about the arrival of Thanatos, the God of Death to Ordinary's doorstep? Oh baby.

I have been told that there is eerie similarities to this series and Ilona Andrews Innkeeper series. I haven't read said series, so I won't be able to accept or deny the comparison. If you have read both series, and do, drop me a line. Despite all that is happening in this story, I think the best aspect of the story was the relationship between the sisters. I haven't read a story where the sisters got along so well without being cutthroat, or causing issues for the others. When something happens, they all come together and work things out. But, whenever Ryder is around Delaney, she acts like a totally different character. A character that I really don't care for to be honest. I am hoping to get a copy of the sequel of this story shortly. I want to be able to pick up the threads that have been left behind and follow them to their conclusion. If you have the next two books, and wouldn't mind sharing them with me via Amazon, please let me know. Thanks!

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#Friday Review - Crucible Zero by Devon Monk (Science Fiction)

Series: House Immortal # 3
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Roc
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Dystopia

Matilda Case never thought of herself as a hero. But because she is galvanized—and nearly immortal in her stitched, endlessly healing body—she doesn’t have much of a choice. Even if she doesn’t want to save the world, she’s the only one capable of traveling in time to do so.

But her rescue attempt hasn’t gone as planned. She’s stuck in an alternate universe, and her world is in danger of disappearing. Worst of all, an unfathomably powerful man who can also travel through history doesn’t want her to put things to rights. He’s willing to wage bloody war to stop Matilda, unless she surrenders control of time to him.

Now, with the minutes ticking, Matilda must make impossible decisions, knowing that one wrong choice will destroy her—and any chance of saving everything she loves...

Crucible Zero is the final installment of Devon Monk's House Immortal Trilogy. I'll attempt not to spoil anything important for you, so, if you haven't already read House Immortal, I ask that you do so now! Series protagonist Matilda Case doesn't necessarily consider herself to be any sort of hero, but her actions speak louder than words. As a so called stitched person, or galvanized, she is hard to kill, and has seen those around her fall by the way side by the evil megalomaniac Slater Orange who wants to rule the world. 

As Crucible Zero starts, Matilda finds herself in an alternate reality with all the people that she loves, including her brother Quinten, alive and well and facing Slater's deadly machinations. Matilda's attempt at stopping the Wings of Mercury project by going back in time to 1910, seems to have caused a major break in the time continuum. The world is totally different from Matilda's own. Two houses (Water and Fire) now control all the worlds resources instead of Eleven. This universes Quinten and Evelyn Case (aka Matilda) are members of House Earth. 

If you haven't read the first two novels, I'll summarize. One hundred years ago, eleven powerful ruling Houses consolidated all of the world’s resources and authority into their own grasping hands. Only one power wasn’t placed under the command of a single House: the control over the immortal galvanized. The galvanized are survivors of an experiment called Wings of Mercury, and have lived for 300 years. Matilda/Evelyn is her own unique galvanized created by her brother Quinten when she was 8 years old. Matilda like her brother and sister galvanized, is incredibly strong and near impossible to kill. 

It's a final cat and mouse game between Matilda and the man who started a war between the houses, Slater Orange. Matilda will be required to decide which reality she wants to live in and ensure it isn't destroyed. She'll also have to work with Abraham and Foster to ensure the survival of House Earth. Pick the wrong reality, and everything she knows, and everyone she loves, won't be there waiting for her. Slater wants her dead, and he will do everything he can to make it so unless Matilda can find a way to end him first.

I almost want to rate this book with 5 stars it was that good. I loved the twists, and turns, and action, and playful banter, and world where things are entirely opposite of Matilda's own world. I loved how awesome Matilda Case is in this story. I loved her determination, and her drive. She's a character who would do anything to save her brother and galvanized friends she's come to know and respect. I loved that she went at Slater with both barrels loaded, and took her best shot. I absolutely adore Foster! I adored that he remembered the little 8 year old Matilda who came to him for help, and ended up being absolutely supportive of Matilda's revenge and may even have had a hand in the family she ended up with. I adore that he and Wenten Yellow remained friends in both worlds. I loved the quirky twist that Monk surprised readers with about Matilda's grandmother. Didn't see that coming, did you?

I am once again happy with the way things are wrapped up by author Devon Monk. I don't remember any unanswered riddles, or questions being left opened. I loved that Abraham had a bit of a crush on Matilda, and traveled around the world for hundreds of years to find her. His crush, his giving her a sentimental jacket to her, means that their love will last for all eternity.

**I received this book for free from (Publisher) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

Previous Books in Series:

     

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*Book Review* House Immortal by Devon Monk

Series: House Immortal # 1
Publisher: Penguin Group
Released: September 2, 2014
Source: Amazon purchase
Format: Ebook, 368 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy

One hundred years ago, eleven powerful ruling Houses consolidated all of the world’s resources and authority into their own grasping hands. Only one power wasn’t placed under the command of a single House: the control over the immortal galvanized....  

Matilda Case isn’t like most folk. In fact, she’s unique in the world, the crowning achievement of her father’s experiments, a girl pieced together from bits. Or so she believes, until Abraham Seventh shows up at her door, stitched with life thread just like her and insisting that enemies are coming to kill them all.  

Tilly is one of thirteen incredible creations known as the galvanized, stitched together beings immortal and unfathomably strong. For a century, each House has fought for control over the galvanized. Now the Houses are also tangled in a deadly struggle for dominion over death—and Tilly and her kind hold the key to unlocking eternity.

House Immortal is the first installment in a brand new series by Devon Monk. The story is mostly told in the first person narrative by Matilda "Tilly" Case, but also contains several chapters from the villains perspective. What a way to start out a series. Monk has created a semi-Doctor Moreau feel to the story with his mixture of stitched animals. Animals like Lizard (part Iguana, Crocodile, and Kimono Dragon). You have the leapers who are Tree Octopuses that eat apples. There's Pony (horse, zebra, bison, unicorn combination). Then there are the cockatrice which is a cobbling together of a chicken, lizard and bat.

Mix in together a bit of Dr. Frankenstein's world, and you get the 12 Galvanized men and women who are immortal, are basically indestructible, have been cobbled together with other body parts, and have been around since the early 20th century thanks to an experiment gone wrong. Monks world is always interesting to check out, as are her characters. This is a world that is about a century into the future. One could perhaps call this science fiction/dystopian, and not be wrong. It is a world that is run by 12 houses who rule the universe. There are no more countries. The houses govern all aspects from water, agriculture, medical, entertainment, and technology.

But, it is Matilda (Tilly) Case that is the most impressive. She, like the Galvanized, has a body that has been stitched together. She, however, was raised human, and saved by her brother Quinton. Quinton kept her a secret from the Houses that would do anything to use her, control her, while controlling Quinton's technology which can make them Immortal. Tilly is a wonderful character. She in basically self-sufficient while watching over her grandmother on her families farm. She even hired a 2 headed man named Neds to help her out. As an independent member of the powerless House Brown, she brings together resources where ever she can find them.

With the arrival of Abraham Seventh to her doorstep, Tilly's world turns upside down. No longer can feel safe in the world. Especially when Abraham claims that he's there to protect her from the other houses, and offers House Gray's strength and resources to help keep her safe. I think Tilly's character is definitely interesting. She puts her trust in someone she barely knows, but isn't afraid to kick ass and take names. She leaves her farm and ventures into a world where the Galvanized, like her, have no rights, and houses demand loyalty and servitude from them.

But, she never forgets about protecting what is hers; Quinton and her Grandmother Lara Case. I did worry, for a minute, that Tilly was a bit naive, but that works. How can you truly not expect a heroine who hasn't ventured outside of her farm for years, to not act a bit pensive, nervous, or worried about what will happen to her family & friends? There are also plenty of family secrets to keep readers entertained, including brief passages by someone named LUC. <--No secret as to who this is.

House Immortal is a story filled with nuisances. You must have patience as Monk explains the houses, what they control, and what color the people who work for them wear. You must have patience when Monk introduces you to the 12 Galvanized Immortals who don't have any rights or freedoms of their own. But, you can always count on Monk to provide readers their share of conspiracies, betrayals, secrets and revelations throughout the story. In fact, it is the ending that has me most looking forward to reading Infinity Bell next.

There is a bit, I say a bit, of romance, but not enough to take away from the storyline, or the intense feeling that something horrific will happen at any moment. I do enjoy reading books that explore new things, and Monk has definitely done that with House Immortal. I shall also say that the villain of this story is particularly nasty, and I wouldn't send my worst enemy into his house for anything in this world, or the next.

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