#Review - Hell's Acre by Lilith Saintcrow #Gaslamp #Fantasy

Series: Unknown
Format: E-Book, 372 pages
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Gas Lamp Fantasy

New Rome perches upon the shores of the Thamis River, and in its soot-stained depths a teeming mass of humanity lives under the iron fist of an Empire that never fell to Vandals or Christianity. In the shadows, assassins congregate and secret societies bloom—the Priory, dedicated to worship of the criminal Dead God, and the Hellions, thieves and murderers whose aim is mere freedom.

Or so they say.

Gemma Dove arrives in New Rome with a small independence and a burning desire: to gain revenge upon those who murdered her parents and drove her beloved aunt to a premature death. The city is a dangerous place, but Gemma has her own secret skills and isn't afraid to use them. She longs to complete her vengeance and return to her safe, beautiful estate across the Channel, but fate has other ideas.

His name is Avery Black, but they call him the Rook. The young Hellion has sunk himself in vice and treachery, and he knows there's more to Miss Dove than meets the eye. He also knows she's playing a dangerous game, one which will end in her death—unless he takes a hand in matters. It might even be connected to his own vengeance against the Priory, but that's fast becoming a secondary consideration.

Under soot-stained skies and flickering gaslamps, from the crowd of thieves and gin-soaked tenements to the glittering whirl of Society, plans, treachery and counter-betrayal are afoot. Gemma and Avery can defeat the Priory, but that ancient organization has its own plans for Miss Dove, and the Rook might be her only defense. 

Lilith Saintcrow's Hell's Acre is an alternative reality Gaslamp fantasy novel that features Gemma Dove (Not her real name), and Avery Black leader known as the Rook. This story has an interesting mixture of Victorian England and Fantasy Rome. New Rome perches upon the shores of the Thamis River, and in its soot-stained depths, a teeming mass of humanity lives under the iron fist of an Empire that never fell to Vandals or Christianity. 

In the shadows, assassins congregate and secret societies bloom—the Priory, dedicated to the worship of the criminal Dead God, and the Hellions, thieves and murderers whose aim is mere freedom. Gemma Dove arrives in New Rome with a small independence and a burning desire: to gain revenge upon those who murdered her parents and drove her beloved aunt to a premature death. The city is a dangerous place, but Gemma has her own secret skills and isn't afraid to use them.

She longs to complete her vengeance and return to her safe, beautiful estate across the Channel, but fate has other ideas. With the help of her "uncle" who is a fallen Priory member known as Father Nossorten, Gemma finds work as a governess at Imanuel orphanage filled with boys. Gemma isn't a Karen. Gemma was trained very well by a man known as Sampson, apparently not his real name either. Gemma is driven to find the man responsible for murdering her parents but finds more trouble.

His name is Avery Black, but they call him the Rook. The young Hellion has sunk himself in vice and treachery with his own crew, and he knows there's more to Miss Dove than meets the eye. Especially after she runs into trouble to save children who had been taken by kidnappers. He also knows she's playing a dangerous game, one which will end in her death—unless he takes a hand in matters. It might even be connected to his own vengeance against the Priory, but that's fast becoming a secondary consideration. 

Under soot-stained skies and flickering gaslamps, from the crowd of thieves and gin-soaked tenements to the glittering whirl of Society, plans, treachery and counter-betrayal are afoot. Gemma and Avery can defeat the Priory, but that ancient organization has its own plans for Miss Dove, and the Rook might be her only defense. While their paths cross several times throughout the book, they have no idea that they are likely on the same side, and have the same goal of ending not only the Priory but the man who killed her parents. There is no romance, and the book does end on a cliffhanger which should have been provided to readers before posting it to request and review. 

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#Review - The Fall of Waterstone by Lilith Saintcrow #Epic/#Fantasy

Series: Black Land's Bane (#2)
Format: Paperback, 416 pages
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Publisher
Genre: Epic Fantasy

An elemental witch and her shieldmaiden navigate a dangerous world of forgotten myth and deep magic in the second volume of New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow’s sweeping Norse-inspired epic fantasy series.

Solveig and her shieldmaid have finally reached the fabled Elder sanctuary of Waterstone—a city of healing, restful beauty hidden from the Enemy’s gaze. Yet whispers race through the palace halls, and those they have come to tentatively trust have hidden intentions. For not only is the city a refuge for an elementalist, her protector, and a mortal prince, it also holds a great weapon, one that only Solveig’s kind may wield.
 
Yet Sol’s faith in her own magic is perilously fractured. She can rely only her wits and skills of negotiation to be heard, or she will become a pawn in a dark game played by Elder and Enemy alike. The lord of the Black Land is mighty; treachery slithers amid Waterstone’s many wonders, and time is growing short.
 
Before the darkness finds a way in, Sol must decide who to trust, where to turn for aid, and if she will take up a power she cannot hope to control. Even the right choice may doom not just the home she has left behind, but the entire world…

Lilith Saintcrow's The Fall of Waterstone is the second installment in the author's Black Land's Bane series. Norse-inspired worlds are evergreen in fantasy, with a recent resurgence in popularity as seen by the success of Shadow of the Gods and films like The Northman. The quest-like structure of the book and the emphasis on old legends and myths will also appeal to fans of epics like Lord of the Rings.

 

This story is told in the first person narrative by Solveig of Don Rithell, who along with her shieldmaiden Arneior, continue to find all sorts of trouble on their way to what is supposed to be sanctuary from the Enemy's forces that have laid siege to every place that they have visited. Solveig and her shieldmaiden have finally made it to Waterstone, a fabled city hidden in a world of frost by ancient magic where Solveig is supposed to be safe with her unique abilities. 

 

Shrouded from the Enemy’s gaze, they are safe to rest and regroup—or so they think until a betrayal no one sees coming once again sends the travelers searching for safety. Waterstone is supposed to be a city of healing, and restful beauty hidden from the Enemy’s gaze. Yet whispers race through the palace halls, and those they have come to tentatively trust have hidden intentions. For not only is the city a refuge for an elementalist, her protector, and a mortal prince, it also holds a great weapon, one that only Solveig’s kind may wield. 

 

Yet Sol’s faith in her own magic is perilously fractured. She can rely only her wits and skills of negotiation to be heard, or she will become a pawn in a dark game played by Elder and Enemy alike. The lord of the Black Land is mighty; treachery slithers amid Waterstone’s many wonders, and time is growing short. Before the darkness finds a way in, Sol must decide who to trust, where to turn for aid, and if she will take up a power she cannot hope to control. 

 

Even the right choice may doom not just the home she has left behind, but the entire world. Sol suspects their hosts are not as benevolent as they seem. Whispers race through the halls, hinting at self-serving agendas and secret plots. So, as Sol attempts to harness her awakened magic, she must fight for her voice to be heard or risk being used like a pawn in the greater game. But as our heroine's soon learn. the Enemy always watching and nowhere is truly safe.Before the darkness finds a way in, Sol must decide if she will take up the mantle of power to save not just the home she’s left behind, but the future of the world. 

 

*Thoughts* While the pacing of the book is once again slow, the action scenes make up for the peaceful scenes. In many ways, this book follows in the footsteps of Lords of The Rings, and similar books that have long epic journeys where the key players and her allies are hounded at every turn. No matter where Solveig goes, it seems that the Enemy knows exactly where she is and what she is collecting along her journey. The rest of the cast consists of Elders, and Wolves from Naras who have vowed to protect Solveig. The book once again ends on a cliffhanger, and yet another new place for Solveig to investigate.
 

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#Review - A Flame in the North by Lilith Saintcrow #Fantasy #Mythology

Series: Black Land's Bane (#1)
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
Release Date: February 13, 2024
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology / Fantasy

From New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow comes a thrilling Norse-inspired epic fantasy about ancient myth and magical destiny.
 
The Black Land is a myth: Centuries have passed since that Great Enemy was slain. Yet old fears linger, and on the longest night of the year, people in the South still light ritual bonfires to banish the dark.
 
In her village, this duty falls to Solveig, a girl favored by the gods with powerful fire magic. But when her brother kills a Northern lord’s son during the ritual, it is Sol who faces punishment, by being weregild—part hostage, part guest—in the North for a year and a day.
 
As she journeys to her captivity, Sol starts to realize that the Black Land is no myth. The forests teem with foul beasts. Her travel companions are not what they seem, and their plans for her magic are shrouded in secrecy.
 
With only her loyal shield-maiden and her own wits to rely upon, Sol must learn to master her powers and wrest control of her fate. For the Black Land’s army stirs, ready to cover the world in darkness—unless Sol can find the courage to stop it.

Lilith Saintcrow's A Flame in the North is the first in the authors Black Land's Bane trilogy with the second book releasing in 2025, and the finale in 2026. Norse-inspired worlds are evergreen in fantasy, with a recent resurgence in popularity as seen by the success of Shadow of the Gods and films like The Northman. The quest-like structure of the book and the emphasis on old legends and myths will also appeal to fans of epics like Lord of the Rings.  

Female-centered stories are a staple in the genre! A Flame in the North features two smart, capable women--a witch and her shield maiden--who must rely on each other and their own power as they face an unexpected and dangerous destiny. Solveig’s duty to call the flame during the night is her village’s most important duty to stave off the dark. However, after her brother Bjorn kills an emissary from the Northern lands, she ends up being offered as weregild to atone for her brother’s foul deed. She and her shield maiden Arneior must venture north. 

As she journeys to her captivity, Sol starts to realize that the Black Land is no myth. The forests are filled with foul beasts. Her travel companions are not what they seem, and their plans for her magic are shrouded in secrecy. The journey north is slow and painful, which reminded me of the Lord of the Rings saga. Every where they went, the Enemy seems to be stalking them, ready to pounce when they least expect it. Sol's companions from the North include a man who could be an Elder, and several others that shift into wolves. 

While you are reading this book, note that Solveig is telling you what happened in the past as a recollection of events. She even hints that her journey is one that likely won't see her returning to her home any time soon, or at all. The author also gives you hints along the way at the beginning of each chapter of things to come. The story is filled with Norse mythology references throughout the story like Odin, Freja, Thor, Loki, and Hel. Solveig and Arneior are bound together for life, and Arn's story is even more interesting in that she's similar to a Valkyrie.  

Much like Tolkien’s writing, this book is rather heavy handed in some cases when it comes to describing things in great detail or spoken dialog which dragged down my rating. The book also ends on a cliffhanger ending, and I will have to think about whether or not to continue. We still don't know what Solveig's real purpose is for being chosen over her brother Bjorn. 

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#Review - Urban Enemies by Joseph Nassise (Editor) #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Collections & Anthologies
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Collections & Anthologies

Villains have all the fun—everyone knows that—and this anthology takes you on a wild ride through the dark side! The top villains from seventeen urban fantasy series get their own stories—including the baddies of New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire, and Jonathan Maberry.

For every hero trying to save the world, there’s a villain trying to tear it all down.

In this can’t-miss anthology edited by Joseph Nassise (The Templar Chronicles), you get to plot world domination with the best of the evildoers we love to hate! This outstanding collection brings you stories told from the villains' point of view, imparting a fresh and unique take on the evil masterminds, wicked witches, and infernal personalities that skulk in the pages of today’s most popular series.

The full anthology features stories by Jim Butcher (the Dresden Files), Kelley Armstrong (Cainsville), Seanan McGuire (October Daye), Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles), Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger), Lilith Saintcrow (Jill Kismet), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles), Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock), and Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches). 

Jim Butcher's "Even Hand" (The Dresden Files #11.6 ) was previously part of Dark and Stormy Nights collection. Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has face more than his fair share of villains amid the supernatural underbelly of Chicago's dark streets, but none has proven more vexing than Gentleman John Marcone. In this story, Marcone sets aside his plans to kill Harry to go head to head with a more pressing, extremely dangerous situation.

Kelley Armstrong's "Hounded" (Cainsville #4.5) takes place in the Cainsville Universe featuring the Huntsman. The Cainsville series takes place in a town settled by refuge fae. Welsh fae (Tylwyth Teg) and the Cŵn Annwn, the Welsh version of the Wild Hunt, who are tasked with hunting killers and sending their souls to the afterlife. Huntsman appeared in the story Betrayals when he lost his hound to the protagonist. He's out to replace his missing canine companion in a very twisted way.

 

Lilith Saintcrow's "Kiss" (Jill Kismet #6.5) takes readers back to the Jill Kismet series. Readers of the Jill Kismet series will recognize Perry, a character of who the author has often said makes her ant to scrub herself with a wire brush every time he shows up. Santa Luz's resident hellbreed leader has a long history, and a long entanglement with Jill's line going back to 1945. The hunters battle the things that go bump in the night, and Jill herself made a bargain with her own person devil to gain the strength to bump back. What she didn't know, of course, was just how far that bargain would take her.

Kevin Hearne's "The Naughtiest Cherub" (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8.7) is a story, narrated by Loki, that takes place after Staked, book 8 in The Iron Druid Chronicles. The road to hell is not, as they say, paved with good intentions. Loki visits Lucifer to ask for help with his rebellion and ends up fighting for his life against some dangerous creatures. Nobody, however, is as dangerous as Loki. This is a series I've been wanting to read, but haven't had time to get caught up. Maybe one day.

 

Caitlin Kittredge's "The Resurrectionist" (Hellhound Chronicles #1.5) is set in the continuity of Hellhound Chronicles during the early 1920s. Lee Grey is a monster hunter, a man who would probably be considered a hero for protecting humanity. But Ava and other characters populating Hellhound Chronicles are monsters, and to them, a man like Lee, with special abilities designed to kill their kind, would be the ultimate enemy. This is the first meeting between Lee and Ava, but not the last.

 

Carrie Vaughan's "Bellum Romanum" (Kitty Norville #13.5) is set in the Kitty Norville universe. Kitty started out as a werewolf who had a radio talk show. The more Kitty delves into the supernatural world, meeting powerful vampires, and sinister magicians, the more she realizes the world isn't what it seems and a deep, dangerous conspiracy is afoot of this conspiracy is a mystery vampire named Roman. Before he because Kitty's nemesis, Roman was Gaius Albinus, a centurion of Rome, and two thousand years ago, he was dragged into the supernatural world against his will. He's been seeking revenge every since. 

 

Jonathan Maberry's Altar Boy" (Joe Ledger #9.1) is set in the world of the Joe Ledger weird science thrillers. This story, however, does not feature Ledger, but instead focuses on Toys, a character introduced in the first volume as a villain and who continues in the series as a "recovering bad guy," fighting for his soul every step along the rocky path to redemption. Toys is no one's idea of a hero, but he isn't quite the villain he used to be. Maybe.

Faith Hunter's "Make It Snappy" is set in the Jane Yellowrock world. Leo Pellissier is the vampire Master of the City of New Orleans. He's attacked from a direction and by an enemy he never expected. One that nearly sends him to the land of the true dead. This story introduces Katie (Leo's vampire heir), George (his human primo), the outclan priestess, Bethany, and Leo before Jane and her Beast began to tame the MOC.  It is a time when Leo's hubris runs free and his humans are little more than cattle.

Diana Pharaoh Francis's "Unexpected Choices" (Horngate Witches #4.5) takes place in the Horngate Witches series world. In the Horngate Witches series, the magical apocalypse has struck. A vast amount of destructive wild magic has washed over the earth, unleashed by the Guardians, a group of elemental beings with extraordinary power, in order to restore the balance of magic and magical creatures in the world. Giselle is a witch who established the Horngate convenstead. Shoftiel is an angel of Justice. After making his second mistake, seeking vengeance on Max, one of Giselle's supernatural warriors, he was imprisoned in the Mistlands. Both Giselle and Shoftiel are villains. Both are seeking redemption. Can either of them overcome their hatred and suspicion of each other? 

Seanan McGuire's "Balance" is set in the world of the authors InCryptid universe. Most of the cryptids in the universe are perfectly lovely people. But then there are the cuckoos. Telepathic ambush predators who will steal everything you are, and laugh while your world falls apart around you. They live for math. They live for malice. We got a real glimpse into the way the creature thinks. This is truly the most evil villain in the entire story. 

Skipped: Joseph Nassise (Templar Chronicles), Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw), Steven Savile (Glasstown), Jeffrey Somers (The Ustari Cycle), Sam Witt (Pitchfork County), Craig Schaefer (Daniel Faust), Jon F. Merz (Lawson Vampire).

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#Review - The Society by Lilith Saintcrow (Paranormal Romance)

Series: Society # 1
Format: E-Galley, 232 pages
Release Date: July 31, 2015
Publisher: BelleBooks
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Will she be the Society’s salvation...or its downfall? 

The black-ops government agency called Sigma broke Justin Delgado, trained his psionic talent, and turned him into a killer. Then he escaped and joined the Society, an underground resistance movement of psions determined to use their talents to bring Sigma down. Competent, cold, and cruelly efficient, he’s the best operative the Society has, a legend among the psions who fight a shadow war against an enemy that owns the courts, the press, and the police. Feared even by his own teammates, hunted by the government, and too damaged to feel anything but clinical rage, he is utterly alone—until he meets Rowan. 

When Rowan Price stumbles across Delgado’s team in an abandoned house, he is assigned to make contact with her, bring her in, and keep her alive—because Rowan is one of the most powerful psychics the resistance has ever encountered. If the government gets its hands on her, she could very well mean the downfall of the resistance, because nobody, not even Rowan, is quite sure how far her talents extend. 

The Society will welcome Rowan, if she can stay alive long enough to join them. Unfortunately, there’s a traitor buried in the ranks. If the Society goes down, Rowan is at risk. God alone knows what Delgado will do to keep her safe, because Rowan is fast becoming the only thing in the world he cares about.

The Society is the first book in the Society series by author Lilith Saintcrow who also wrote the Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet series which I have read. This story features two entirely different characters who are brought together by a group known as The Society to fight back against a government black ops group known as Sigma. Unlike The Society, Sigma collects and brainwashes those who have psychic abilities. This series is apparently being re-released under a new publisher, BelleBooks.

Let's get the introductions out of the way: Justin Delgado managed to somehow break his addiction to a mind altering drug given to him by the black-ops government agency called Sigma and escaped. He is now second-in-command to Commander Daniel Henderson in an attempt to stay one step ahead of Sigma, while protecting psychics. Justin, as the lead male protagonist, literally gets a hard on for the female protagonist. So much so, that he doesn't think about the villainous black ops group that is tracking them down like Seal Team 6 and Bin Laden which leads to bad times. 

He huffs and puffs and blows nothing but hot air. We get some idea of what he was before he joined The Society, but not enough to know how he was able to leave in the first place. We get a glimpse into his capabilities as a powerful psychic, but not what he did for Sigma who has deep pockets and is protected at every level of government. Justin also ends up deep in Kimche which means that YES, there is a cliffhanger ending to this story. 

Female protagonist Rowan Price does an awful lot of whining over the course of this book. OK, so, there is a point where she was entitled to. There is a point where she's thinking about why me? instead of adjusting her expectations and fighting tooth and nail against those who disrupted her life. There is a point where she becomes so much more than a nurse who has the powers to settle people down, and relax them. I do hope the synopsis for book # 2 is correct, because a badass Rowan is a good idea. A heroine who runs away and hides from her abilities is definitely not someone I am eager to continue to read about 

Obviously there was a traitor in The Society. It was SOOOOOOO glaring that I said so about 60 percent in. You have to TRUST someone who says that a certain person makes her head ache, and stalks her. When you tell someone that person makes you feel agitated and they don't look into it, call 911 folks, because dead bodies stack up quickly otherwise. 

Very immature characters. Both protagonists are in their 30's but act like love struck teenagers who haven't seen the world. Would love to finish this series, I would. I think the secondary characters are interesting enough to continue. I think the villain is interesting enough to continue. Thanks to this being a re-release, the synopsis for book # 2, Hunter, Healer pretty much gave away what happens in this book. So, if you care to join me in reading this series, please do yourself a favor and remain ignorant that there is a book # 2.

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

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