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The Other Realm #1
Die Verschollene
Jessica Sharp, genannt Jinx, ist Mitte zwanzig und Privatdetektivin. Ihre geradezu unheimliche Gabe zu spüren, wenn jemand lügt, ist dabei durchaus hilfreich. Doch trotz ihrer übernatürlichen Fähigkeiten ist es ihr bis heute nicht gelungen, den Tod ihrer Eltern aufzuklären, was ihr ziemlich zu schaffen macht. Trost findet sie bei ihrer Dogge Gato, der sie stets beschützt. Als Jinx dem attraktiven Inspektor Stone helfen soll, eine vermisste Studentin zu finden, erfährt sie, dass es neben der realen noch eine Alternativwelt gibt – eine ebenso gefährliche wie aufregende Welt voller Gestaltwandler, Vampire und Zauberer. Eine Welt, in der auch sie zu Hause ist. Doch was hat diese Welt mit ihrem neuen Fall zu tun? Findet sie hier die Antworten auf all die ungeklärten Fragen zum Tod ihrer Eltern? Und muss Inspektor Stone eigentlich so unfassbar sexy sein?
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 809 reviews
August 29, 2023
Buddy read with my favorite RHR gals! A shaky start to another urban fantasy series.
We’ve got all the usual suspects. The FMC, Jessica “Jinx” Sharp (by the way, how the hell do you get “Jinx” from “Jessica”?!) is a private investigator hoping to one day solve her parents’ murder. She gets hired to find a missing girl, a case that throws her unexpectedly into an underworld of vampires, shifters, wizards, and a whole host of magical creatures. So far, this is 95% like every other urban fantasy series out there.
Jinx is also a truthseeker who can tell when others are lying and even compel them to answer her questions. (She’s no Nevada Baylor, but then again… no one is.) She’s also got some intense magic powers she can use to do pretty much anything you can think of. If that’s not enough, her dog is actually a sentient hellhound that can create unlimited time-travel portals at will.
So yeah, Jinx is pretty overpowered. I’d go as far as to call her a Mary Sue. This isn’t the end of the world—I don’t mind Mary Sues unless they spill over into misogynistic pick-me territory, which Jinx does not.
However, her Mary-Sue-ness does cause one issue. The plot kicks off with her pretty much immediately finding out about the Other realm via one several info-dump scenes. She takes this completely in stride. Finding out not only that a whole new paranormal world exists, but also that her dead parents, friends, and neighbors are all secretly not human, should shake you a little, right? Nope. Doesn’t even faze her.
From a plotting perspective, the best and longest part of the book is supposed to be about the protagonist being thrust into a new, unfamiliar reality and struggling to navigate it. I feel like we get robbed of that. Jinx barely struggles at all.
The book reads less like a paranormal romance and more like a crime procedural with some fantasy elements mixed in. It’s fast-paced and entertaining enough that I’ll keep going. It also seems like there might be a new, better love interest taking over in the coming books so that’s another reason to stick around.
We’ve got all the usual suspects. The FMC, Jessica “Jinx” Sharp (by the way, how the hell do you get “Jinx” from “Jessica”?!) is a private investigator hoping to one day solve her parents’ murder. She gets hired to find a missing girl, a case that throws her unexpectedly into an underworld of vampires, shifters, wizards, and a whole host of magical creatures. So far, this is 95% like every other urban fantasy series out there.
Jinx is also a truthseeker who can tell when others are lying and even compel them to answer her questions. (She’s no Nevada Baylor, but then again… no one is.) She’s also got some intense magic powers she can use to do pretty much anything you can think of. If that’s not enough, her dog is actually a sentient hellhound that can create unlimited time-travel portals at will.
So yeah, Jinx is pretty overpowered. I’d go as far as to call her a Mary Sue. This isn’t the end of the world—I don’t mind Mary Sues unless they spill over into misogynistic pick-me territory, which Jinx does not.
However, her Mary-Sue-ness does cause one issue. The plot kicks off with her pretty much immediately finding out about the Other realm via one several info-dump scenes. She takes this completely in stride. Finding out not only that a whole new paranormal world exists, but also that her dead parents, friends, and neighbors are all secretly not human, should shake you a little, right? Nope. Doesn’t even faze her.
From a plotting perspective, the best and longest part of the book is supposed to be about the protagonist being thrust into a new, unfamiliar reality and struggling to navigate it. I feel like we get robbed of that. Jinx barely struggles at all.
The book reads less like a paranormal romance and more like a crime procedural with some fantasy elements mixed in. It’s fast-paced and entertaining enough that I’ll keep going. It also seems like there might be a new, better love interest taking over in the coming books so that’s another reason to stick around.
October 3, 2023
The short prequel to this book Glimmer of Dragons definitely paved the way for this one, both were amazing...
This world is pretty unique in the way it works, not something I have ever come across before and the way the author describes this is easily addictive...
I love the characters; Jinx and Stone are a lethal combination but what the hell is going on there? Of course my favourite is obviously Gato the hellhound pet, he is somewhat amazing...
I am excited to get to the next book, it's been a little while since a series has sparked my interest and this one definitely has!
This world is pretty unique in the way it works, not something I have ever come across before and the way the author describes this is easily addictive...
I love the characters; Jinx and Stone are a lethal combination but what the hell is going on there? Of course my favourite is obviously Gato the hellhound pet, he is somewhat amazing...
I am excited to get to the next book, it's been a little while since a series has sparked my interest and this one definitely has!
April 21, 2022
I took a chance and it paid off. There's a lot of premise-granting for me, but once there it flowed smoothly and with a lot of fun at its heart (which is a strange thing to say given the grief at the core of Jinx's background).
I liked getting to know the protagonist. She's a bit of a special-girl lonewolf if you want to look at it cynically. And you can probably make a case for a Mary Sue, though I didn't get that vibe at all. But I liked how she had carved a place for herself as an investigator (grant the premise that a lone eighteen year-old could get that kind of credential as given) and that she had molded the grief at losing her parents into creating her own stability, even as at least part of her efforts was a drive to find the truth behind what had happened to them.
The supernatural world was great to discover, too, and I loved her attitude towards it. She's not exactly gung-ho so much as she's eager to see what can and can't be done (by herself and by others). She's an experimenter in attitude and I appreciate that. It doesn't hurt that she's the right amount of brash and that she's conscious of being willing to pay the price for failure in order to advance her knowledge and skills.
And I got to really like the supporting characters, too. They were evocative and interesting and with enough originality that I felt like I was in as much discovery mode as Jinx was. Plus, it was nice getting to know Stone as they bond over their passion for getting to the bottom of the mystery.
Speaking of which, the pace was great and I love the twist that slipped right past me until the reveal, even as I could totally see it in retrospect. I love when that happens! So the story had a cohesion that I appreciated as well.
I'd like to give it five stars, but it's just awkward enough that I'm having a hard time committing to it. There's a little too much special about our girl and taking a step back and counting up the convenience of some developments begins to show the bones of author intrusion. So I'll go with a solid four stars and say if you're willing to put up with a little awkwardness in the story, you might be as delighted as I was with it.
A note about Chaste: Jinx throws in with Stone rather easily and they face a lot of very involved hardship right off. So feelings develop, but with no time for actual shenanigans. Well, okay, there's an "only one bed" scene, but by that point they were exhausted and nothing happened. So I consider this very chaste because you get nothing beyond some yearning.
I liked getting to know the protagonist. She's a bit of a special-girl lonewolf if you want to look at it cynically. And you can probably make a case for a Mary Sue, though I didn't get that vibe at all. But I liked how she had carved a place for herself as an investigator (grant the premise that a lone eighteen year-old could get that kind of credential as given) and that she had molded the grief at losing her parents into creating her own stability, even as at least part of her efforts was a drive to find the truth behind what had happened to them.
The supernatural world was great to discover, too, and I loved her attitude towards it. She's not exactly gung-ho so much as she's eager to see what can and can't be done (by herself and by others). She's an experimenter in attitude and I appreciate that. It doesn't hurt that she's the right amount of brash and that she's conscious of being willing to pay the price for failure in order to advance her knowledge and skills.
And I got to really like the supporting characters, too. They were evocative and interesting and with enough originality that I felt like I was in as much discovery mode as Jinx was. Plus, it was nice getting to know Stone as they bond over their passion for getting to the bottom of the mystery.
Speaking of which, the pace was great and I love the twist that slipped right past me until the reveal, even as I could totally see it in retrospect. I love when that happens! So the story had a cohesion that I appreciated as well.
I'd like to give it five stars, but it's just awkward enough that I'm having a hard time committing to it. There's a little too much special about our girl and taking a step back and counting up the convenience of some developments begins to show the bones of author intrusion. So I'll go with a solid four stars and say if you're willing to put up with a little awkwardness in the story, you might be as delighted as I was with it.
A note about Chaste: Jinx throws in with Stone rather easily and they face a lot of very involved hardship right off. So feelings develop, but with no time for actual shenanigans. Well, okay, there's an "only one bed" scene, but by that point they were exhausted and nothing happened. So I consider this very chaste because you get nothing beyond some yearning.
February 10, 2022
She slays🦸♀️
uses her brain💅
and she's NOT a self-destructive PI and actually enlists the help of people before heading into trouble 💯💥 I was beginning to think that wasn't possible for PIs in urban fantasies
Very cool world building and the mystery was a fun ride. I'm looking forward to more of the series
uses her brain💅
and she's NOT a self-destructive PI and actually enlists the help of people before heading into trouble 💯💥 I was beginning to think that wasn't possible for PIs in urban fantasies
Very cool world building and the mystery was a fun ride. I'm looking forward to more of the series
November 9, 2021
3.75 "me and my muggle morkie are going to have words" stars
Jinx is my kinda woman. And Gato is my kinda sassy pupper—but don't tell my dog I said that.
I love fantasy series like this, that are just pure fun/funny and jam-packed with mystery and top-notch world-building.
This was my first read by Heather G. Harris and I was pretty pleased. In fact, I started this the Sunday evening before a shit-show of a jam-packed Monday, and I was reluctant as hell to adult properly and put it down...which feels like a good, albeit self-destructive sign.
Dontcha just love books that whisper sweet nothings about not needing sleep in your ear?
Yoda, my man, you good? 😂
My intent was not to give anyone nightmares with that gif, and yet, they're incoming—I have no doubt.
But damn do I digress... anyway , I had a lot of love for Jinx and Stone. They were a great team—flirtatious, witty, and gave off this entertaining apprentice/master, sherlock/watson energy that worked really well with their dynamic.
Typically lone wolves, they fell into a seamless partnership that was strengthened by the respective qualities they brought to it.
Stone was a complex mix between a badass warrior wizard/buttoned up suit who's a stickler for rules, whereas Jinx was a clever jack-of-all-trades who operated off of practically no rule book whatsoever. You'd think the two would clash pretty hard, but they actually grounded each other quite well.
For a debut, I'm quite impressed and eager to continue the series. However, I will warn of an odd shift in pace/quality in the last 1/8th of the book. There was just SO much going on and the author seemed to be rushing through events in an oddly detached manner. Things didn't always feel consistent and we got a lot more "telling" vs "showing" that took quite a bit of the fun out of the climax.
But, again, as a debut I feel like that ending shouldn't overshadow the strong start this story and its characters had.
And if you're looking for more series like this, pleeeease do yourself a favour and read Annette Marie. She's an OG fave, and her backlist will keep you cozy through all 11.5 months of Canadian winter. *Cries in "eh"*
Off to the next! xx
Jinx is my kinda woman. And Gato is my kinda sassy pupper—but don't tell my dog I said that.
I love fantasy series like this, that are just pure fun/funny and jam-packed with mystery and top-notch world-building.
This was my first read by Heather G. Harris and I was pretty pleased. In fact, I started this the Sunday evening before a shit-show of a jam-packed Monday, and I was reluctant as hell to adult properly and put it down...which feels like a good, albeit self-destructive sign.
Dontcha just love books that whisper sweet nothings about not needing sleep in your ear?
Yoda, my man, you good? 😂
My intent was not to give anyone nightmares with that gif, and yet, they're incoming—I have no doubt.
But damn do I digress... anyway , I had a lot of love for Jinx and Stone. They were a great team—flirtatious, witty, and gave off this entertaining apprentice/master, sherlock/watson energy that worked really well with their dynamic.
Typically lone wolves, they fell into a seamless partnership that was strengthened by the respective qualities they brought to it.
Stone was a complex mix between a badass warrior wizard/buttoned up suit who's a stickler for rules, whereas Jinx was a clever jack-of-all-trades who operated off of practically no rule book whatsoever. You'd think the two would clash pretty hard, but they actually grounded each other quite well.
For a debut, I'm quite impressed and eager to continue the series. However, I will warn of an odd shift in pace/quality in the last 1/8th of the book. There was just SO much going on and the author seemed to be rushing through events in an oddly detached manner. Things didn't always feel consistent and we got a lot more "telling" vs "showing" that took quite a bit of the fun out of the climax.
But, again, as a debut I feel like that ending shouldn't overshadow the strong start this story and its characters had.
And if you're looking for more series like this, pleeeease do yourself a favour and read Annette Marie. She's an OG fave, and her backlist will keep you cozy through all 11.5 months of Canadian winter. *Cries in "eh"*
Off to the next! xx
July 12, 2025
Bardzo zgrabne urban fantasy. Przyznam, że początek podobał mi się najbardziej, bo czułam się mocno zaintrygowana stworzonym przez autorkę światem. Potem było przyzwoicie. Zaś samo zakończenie pozostawiło mnie z apetytem na więcej. Nie jest łatwo stworzyć coś odkrywczego w tym segmencie, dlatego doceniam pomysł i liczę, że kolejny tom mnie nie rozczaruję.
June 12, 2022
This is so good!!! It’s the perfect urban fantasy read for when you want something light but aren’t willing to sacrifice a good plot and characters. I loved every second of it on my first read, and thoroughly enjoyed my second read - although my thoughts on certain characters have definitely changed.
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jinx is forced to team up with Stone to find a missing girl. Much to Jinx's surprise, her investigation takes her to another realm where magical secrets are revealed.
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jinx is truly a breath of fresh air. As her name would suggest, she's a quirky main character. Her unflappable nature makes her stand out from a lot of the female leads I've read about. She takes everything in her stride and has a unique perspective as well as a sense of humour. Oh, and did I mention she has a hellhound as a pet??? He's awesome.
I never thought I'd find myself liking a character called Stone, but I do. The connection between him and Jinx is obvious, and I'm really interested to see where it goes. Their banter is hilarious at times, and they work really well together.
Pacing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The pacing is perfect, the story moves fast but not in a way that leaves you feeling like you can't keep up. A lot of ground was covered yet I was able to relax while reading. There's action as well as moments of humour that keep the atmosphere light.
World-building ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I thought the world was very interesting. It's distinct from others and described very well. However, it’s similarity to the real world may put some readers off. There are so many different supernatural types; pretty much every magical being seems to be included, yet it's perfectly coherent. Jinx's abilities are also really interesting (and useful). I can't wait to see if more develop.
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really wish I had book two right now. This is too good to wait for, but I will - albeit, not very patiently. The story doesn't end on a massive cliffhanger (in my opinion anyway) but at the same time I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen next. There were a few plot twists - one I suspected, one I definitely didn't - that I really want to know more about.
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jinx is forced to team up with Stone to find a missing girl. Much to Jinx's surprise, her investigation takes her to another realm where magical secrets are revealed.
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jinx is truly a breath of fresh air. As her name would suggest, she's a quirky main character. Her unflappable nature makes her stand out from a lot of the female leads I've read about. She takes everything in her stride and has a unique perspective as well as a sense of humour. Oh, and did I mention she has a hellhound as a pet??? He's awesome.
I never thought I'd find myself liking a character called Stone, but I do. The connection between him and Jinx is obvious, and I'm really interested to see where it goes. Their banter is hilarious at times, and they work really well together.
Pacing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The pacing is perfect, the story moves fast but not in a way that leaves you feeling like you can't keep up. A lot of ground was covered yet I was able to relax while reading. There's action as well as moments of humour that keep the atmosphere light.
World-building ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I thought the world was very interesting. It's distinct from others and described very well. However, it’s similarity to the real world may put some readers off. There are so many different supernatural types; pretty much every magical being seems to be included, yet it's perfectly coherent. Jinx's abilities are also really interesting (and useful). I can't wait to see if more develop.
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really wish I had book two right now. This is too good to wait for, but I will - albeit, not very patiently. The story doesn't end on a massive cliffhanger (in my opinion anyway) but at the same time I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen next. There were a few plot twists - one I suspected, one I definitely didn't - that I really want to know more about.
February 11, 2022
DNF @ 46%
I know it’s the first book of a new world so info dumping is a given but I think my final straw was the skydiving info dump...
I know it’s the first book of a new world so info dumping is a given but I think my final straw was the skydiving info dump...
May 1, 2022
2.5 stars
******
Book 10 on my quest to find the next great UF series with Fran 😄
******
Book 10 on my quest to find the next great UF series with Fran 😄
November 29, 2025
Klasyczne urban fantasy trochę podobny do książek typu Innkeeper Chronicles Ilony Andrews czy innych powieści w tym gatunku. Nic odkrywczego, ale fanom tego typu książek pewnie się spodoba. Ja raczej nie planuje kontynuować tej serii, bo mam już lekki przesyt książkami pisanymi na jedno kopyto.
August 24, 2021
If you love a world filled with realms, wizards, dragons, trolls, vampires, werewolves, and a cuddly and sweet hell hound, welcome to Glimmer of The Other by @heathergharrisauthor !
The story is about a young, self-employed PI. Jinx is her name and lie detecting is her game! She is a walking lie detector. She can tell if you are lying every time!
Jinx is hired to find a a girl who has gone missing while attending college. Jinx isn't going to do this alone. She's been teamed up with Inspector Zach Stone who reveals to Jinx what she truly is and shows her a realm where magic and all its creatures are real.
Who has taken the girl and why? A must read to find out!
This urban fantasy is epic! The characters and world building are phenomenal! Throw in some crime solving and it's like the cherry on top!
Available 9/1/2021!
Thank you Heather G. Harris for giving me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review!
The story is about a young, self-employed PI. Jinx is her name and lie detecting is her game! She is a walking lie detector. She can tell if you are lying every time!
Jinx is hired to find a a girl who has gone missing while attending college. Jinx isn't going to do this alone. She's been teamed up with Inspector Zach Stone who reveals to Jinx what she truly is and shows her a realm where magic and all its creatures are real.
Who has taken the girl and why? A must read to find out!
This urban fantasy is epic! The characters and world building are phenomenal! Throw in some crime solving and it's like the cherry on top!
Available 9/1/2021!
Thank you Heather G. Harris for giving me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review!
May 20, 2022
Please, read Jacob’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and you’ll find all the good reasons to like this book.
I think it had a good plot, but in my eyes lacked all the rest: worldbuilding was shakey and characterization was lacking or rather it wasn’t that coherent in my eyes. Because, yes there’s the final trick that explain some tiny bit, but it didn’t cover up the huge personality transplant that is the FMC. From lone wolf to basically “girl in love” (without any frigging reason BTW, because yes trust was coerced and trust is the base of love, but all those feeling feel are absolutely out of the blue and out of character).
All the book seemed to be on the fluffy light of the spectrum where there’s all those “but he’s so hot” that should cover all the bases. Some of that type of banter got really stuck in my crow.
And you need to eat a lot of crow if you read this book and yes, there are way more fantastical things than vampyres… like an 18 year old girl putting up a PI business. Yea, that’s really believable. And no, passing as your adult mother doesn’t make it any more real. Interning may have been a stretch, but it’s a small leap of faith. At 18 your own successful PI office, by no stretch of imagination it’s believable. As I said vampires are more so…
But I’m reading book 2. We’ll see
I think it had a good plot, but in my eyes lacked all the rest: worldbuilding was shakey and characterization was lacking or rather it wasn’t that coherent in my eyes. Because, yes there’s the final trick that explain some tiny bit, but it didn’t cover up the huge personality transplant that is the FMC. From lone wolf to basically “girl in love” (without any frigging reason BTW, because yes trust was coerced and trust is the base of love, but all those feeling feel are absolutely out of the blue and out of character).
All the book seemed to be on the fluffy light of the spectrum where there’s all those “but he’s so hot” that should cover all the bases. Some of that type of banter got really stuck in my crow.
And you need to eat a lot of crow if you read this book and yes, there are way more fantastical things than vampyres… like an 18 year old girl putting up a PI business. Yea, that’s really believable. And no, passing as your adult mother doesn’t make it any more real. Interning may have been a stretch, but it’s a small leap of faith. At 18 your own successful PI office, by no stretch of imagination it’s believable. As I said vampires are more so…
But I’m reading book 2. We’ll see
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
This was such a fun book! Jinx is a private investigator determined to solve her parents' murders. She has a special gift, the ability to tell if someone is lying or telling the truth.
When she's hired to find a missing girl, Jinx finds herself thrown into a world of vampires, werewolves, trolls...and to top it all off, her trusted fury friend isn't just a dog but a hellhound.
She teams up with hottie Inspector Zachary Stone. What starts out as a missing person case turns into something larger and more nefarious.
From the first page I felt immersed in the world of the Other. I enjoyed learning the magic system and meeting the characters. Jinx is one badass girl. I kept thinking "she's so cool! I want to hang with her sometime". She and Stone were a great match. I enjoyed their romantic tension.
I just have to say, the opening scene of this book was one of the funniest I've ever read. I couldn't stop laughing.
I'm so excited to see what happens next!
When she's hired to find a missing girl, Jinx finds herself thrown into a world of vampires, werewolves, trolls...and to top it all off, her trusted fury friend isn't just a dog but a hellhound.
She teams up with hottie Inspector Zachary Stone. What starts out as a missing person case turns into something larger and more nefarious.
From the first page I felt immersed in the world of the Other. I enjoyed learning the magic system and meeting the characters. Jinx is one badass girl. I kept thinking "she's so cool! I want to hang with her sometime". She and Stone were a great match. I enjoyed their romantic tension.
I just have to say, the opening scene of this book was one of the funniest I've ever read. I couldn't stop laughing.
I'm so excited to see what happens next!
June 25, 2022
This was fun to read and entertaining, but the MC had absolutely no idea of how to keep a secret. She kept telling everyone about her truthtelling powers and then 'swearing them to secrecy', but at some point, she'll have told everyone in town.
I also didn't really like that she started out Special and only got Speshuler. I get that main characters have to have something to make them the Main Character, but by the end, it was a bit ridiculous.
Also, and this might just be that I'm twice Jinx's age and far far more cynical, but she was amazingly trusting throughout the whole story. She wasn't ever truly TSTL, but she was never quite sharp enough to make me believe she was capable of being an actual investigator. Everything sort of fell into her lap.
I'll read the second one, but I'm not sure how many of the series I'll be able to stomach.
I also didn't really like that she started out Special and only got Speshuler. I get that main characters have to have something to make them the Main Character, but by the end, it was a bit ridiculous.
Also, and this might just be that I'm twice Jinx's age and far far more cynical, but she was amazingly trusting throughout the whole story. She wasn't ever truly TSTL, but she was never quite sharp enough to make me believe she was capable of being an actual investigator. Everything sort of fell into her lap.
I'll read the second one, but I'm not sure how many of the series I'll be able to stomach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2022
4.5 stars.
This is so good! 😍
It reminds me of Ms. Wright earlier books.
A fabulous storyline with a strong and smart heroine.
Wow! That twist is unexpected 😳😬.
Also, the author is Brit, it’s nice to read places which I familiar with! 😘.
She have written something that I missed from Ms. Wright’s books 😍
Continue to book #2
❤️❤️❤️
This is so good! 😍
It reminds me of Ms. Wright earlier books.
A fabulous storyline with a strong and smart heroine.
Wow! That twist is unexpected 😳😬.
Also, the author is Brit, it’s nice to read places which I familiar with! 😘.
She have written something that I missed from Ms. Wright’s books 😍
Continue to book #2
❤️❤️❤️
September 9, 2021
4.5/5
Glimmer Of The Other by Heather G. Harris is a wonderful beginning - the first book, in the new urban fantasy series Glimmer Of The Other. I LOVED reading this book because it was thoroughly entertaining and very, very well-written.
This book has everything - I mean EVERYTHING, right from dragons to vampires, wizards to trolls & werewolves and all this on top of other paranormal beings and phenomenons. This book was one hell of a rollercoaster ride in well-developed and beautifully executed urban fantasy settings.
The characters were very strong and I was able to connect to all of them (even the secondary ones.) I loved reading this book and seeing how things turned out for the characters and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series (hopefully soon!)
I'd recommend this book to all fantasy readers.
You can also read this review on thereadingbud.com
Glimmer Of The Other by Heather G. Harris is a wonderful beginning - the first book, in the new urban fantasy series Glimmer Of The Other. I LOVED reading this book because it was thoroughly entertaining and very, very well-written.
This book has everything - I mean EVERYTHING, right from dragons to vampires, wizards to trolls & werewolves and all this on top of other paranormal beings and phenomenons. This book was one hell of a rollercoaster ride in well-developed and beautifully executed urban fantasy settings.
The characters were very strong and I was able to connect to all of them (even the secondary ones.) I loved reading this book and seeing how things turned out for the characters and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series (hopefully soon!)
I'd recommend this book to all fantasy readers.
You can also read this review on thereadingbud.com
December 20, 2021
I loved this
This is something a bit different and I sensationally loved it. The characters are colourful and varied, built with great imagination and dedication. I loved the main character and am rushing right on to the next novel.
This is something a bit different and I sensationally loved it. The characters are colourful and varied, built with great imagination and dedication. I loved the main character and am rushing right on to the next novel.
May 8, 2024
Die Knickerbocker-Bande ist anspruchsvoller.
August 1, 2023
I really really wanted to like this book. *sigh*
I gave up at 90% - yes, 90%. "But why quit when you're that close to the end," you ask. Because I realized that I just didn't care about anything that was going on. Woke up this morning and just couldn't bring myself to waste more time.
Avert your eyes, dear reader, because I'm going to spoil the crap out of all of this. So, let's get right into something that bothered the hell out of me...
Mrs. H is the villain.
Surprise! The kind, neighborly older woman who was only present in the beginning of the book - a character who was never alluded to or creatively woven into the mystery or even marginally made real sense? Perfect. Oh, and MWAHAHA! She's been planning this and keeping tabs on Jinx for years, and she admits everything in an epically long and ridiculously convenient villain monologue.
I just can't.
But that's kind of the formula for the whole book. Most issues are resolved immediately and without any true conflict or complexity. Details that should be subtly mentioned in the moment are almost exclusively inserted retrospectively:
What should be an intricate and structured magical society becomes this farce of a construct Jinx easily navigates despite it being all new to her. Magic is used as the author's easy peasy problem solver in all things (*yawn*).
Jinx is chronically described as being "unflappable," which is likely a weird projection of what the author wishes they themselves could be, but instead of coming across as a strong, quirky individual... She's. Just. Fucking. Boring.
And she's not the only one - Stone is just as tedious and forgettable. Whatever romantic angle is being attempted feels a little ooky since Jinx and Stone read more like siblings than love interests. (I'd be more likely to root for Jinx and the dragon than her and Stone.)
And then, of course, there's the fact that the author uses the book as some sort of bizarre outlet to brag about how much they know about skydiving. Honestly, why did the reader need to know any of those detail... unless, of course, this is actually a book about skydiving and I didn't realize it? Page after page of this nonsense. A good editor would have yanked ALL of that bs.
All in all, this was a laborious read - or, should I say, it was a bit of a faff.
I gave up at 90% - yes, 90%. "But why quit when you're that close to the end," you ask. Because I realized that I just didn't care about anything that was going on. Woke up this morning and just couldn't bring myself to waste more time.
Avert your eyes, dear reader, because I'm going to spoil the crap out of all of this. So, let's get right into something that bothered the hell out of me...
Mrs. H is the villain.
Surprise! The kind, neighborly older woman who was only present in the beginning of the book - a character who was never alluded to or creatively woven into the mystery or even marginally made real sense? Perfect. Oh, and MWAHAHA! She's been planning this and keeping tabs on Jinx for years, and she admits everything in an epically long and ridiculously convenient villain monologue.
I just can't.
But that's kind of the formula for the whole book. Most issues are resolved immediately and without any true conflict or complexity. Details that should be subtly mentioned in the moment are almost exclusively inserted retrospectively:
"With hindsight, there had been something too knowing in Volderiss's eyes during our second meeting."
What should be an intricate and structured magical society becomes this farce of a construct Jinx easily navigates despite it being all new to her. Magic is used as the author's easy peasy problem solver in all things (*yawn*).
Jinx is chronically described as being "unflappable," which is likely a weird projection of what the author wishes they themselves could be, but instead of coming across as a strong, quirky individual... She's. Just. Fucking. Boring.
And she's not the only one - Stone is just as tedious and forgettable. Whatever romantic angle is being attempted feels a little ooky since Jinx and Stone read more like siblings than love interests. (I'd be more likely to root for Jinx and the dragon than her and Stone.)
And then, of course, there's the fact that the author uses the book as some sort of bizarre outlet to brag about how much they know about skydiving. Honestly, why did the reader need to know any of those detail... unless, of course, this is actually a book about skydiving and I didn't realize it? Page after page of this nonsense. A good editor would have yanked ALL of that bs.
All in all, this was a laborious read - or, should I say, it was a bit of a faff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2022
*Very minor spoilers*
Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea. I found a lot of the writing to lean more towards 'telling' as opposed to 'showing', I hated the use of apostrophes as quotation marks for dialogue, was not a fan of Jinx's rapidly growing emotions towards Stone after only TWO DAYS, and really didn't find the plot exciting. The climax scene at the end was lackluster, and I really had to force myself not to DNF the book. There were also multiple instances of typos, which irked me...
That all being said, I know there are many people who enjoyed this book. It simply wasn't something that worked for me, but please don't let my words stave you off from giving this novel a try. I was definitely a big fan of Gato, our main character's Great Dane/Hellhound :)
Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea. I found a lot of the writing to lean more towards 'telling' as opposed to 'showing', I hated the use of apostrophes as quotation marks for dialogue, was not a fan of Jinx's rapidly growing emotions towards Stone after only TWO DAYS, and really didn't find the plot exciting. The climax scene at the end was lackluster, and I really had to force myself not to DNF the book. There were also multiple instances of typos, which irked me...
That all being said, I know there are many people who enjoyed this book. It simply wasn't something that worked for me, but please don't let my words stave you off from giving this novel a try. I was definitely a big fan of Gato, our main character's Great Dane/Hellhound :)
September 10, 2023
This is not perhaps a 4 star read. It was a little on the fluffy side and Jinx is a little too much of a special snowflake....
But I loved it!
These are quick reads and although there are times of stress in the story, it never lasts long.
Jinx tends to glide through life with a pretty even keel, no matter what kinda crazy gets tossed her way.
After her parents sudden deaths when she was 18 she became a private investigator. Here she is 25 and now has a reputation as a PI but she has never been able to find out who killed her parents.
This story however involves a missing girl (Hester) she is hired to find.
Her pursuit leads her down a proverbial rabbit hole she didn't know existed. A whole other world.
At the start of her investigation she finds that she wasn't the only person hired to find Hester.
And he's handsome, but he also has a notorious reputation.
Jinx is super relatable. She doesn't get weirded out easily, which is almost a super power considering how much weirdness she has to deal with in her life.
I love her trusty dog(?) Gateau who always has her back.
The world building is nicely done but at times a little convenient.
Safety is fine and there's not much romance in this one, just a sexy guy who has potential. He also has a lady who considers him as her own future property...
But I loved it!
These are quick reads and although there are times of stress in the story, it never lasts long.
Jinx tends to glide through life with a pretty even keel, no matter what kinda crazy gets tossed her way.
After her parents sudden deaths when she was 18 she became a private investigator. Here she is 25 and now has a reputation as a PI but she has never been able to find out who killed her parents.
This story however involves a missing girl (Hester) she is hired to find.
Her pursuit leads her down a proverbial rabbit hole she didn't know existed. A whole other world.
At the start of her investigation she finds that she wasn't the only person hired to find Hester.
And he's handsome, but he also has a notorious reputation.
Jinx is super relatable. She doesn't get weirded out easily, which is almost a super power considering how much weirdness she has to deal with in her life.
I love her trusty dog(?) Gateau who always has her back.
The world building is nicely done but at times a little convenient.
Safety is fine and there's not much romance in this one, just a sexy guy who has potential. He also has a lady who considers him as her own future property...
February 11, 2024
Jessica alias Jinx hat die Gabe, Lügen zu spüren, aber sie hatte keine Ahnung, dass es eine ganze Welt voller Übernatürlicher gibt! Plötzlich entdeckt sie die Existenz von Vampiren, Gestaltwandlern, Zauberern und vielen anderen Wesen. Und inmitten all dieser neuen Entdeckungen soll sie eine verschollene Studentin wiederfinden, die sich womöglich mit den falschen Personen abgegeben hat.
Da alles neu für Jinx ist, entdeckt man die Welt gemeinsam mit ihr und kommt besonders am Anfang sehr gut mit, aber es kommt auch sehr viel auf einmal und das war mir an manchen Stellen schon ein bisschen zu viel. Jinx scheint zunächst ein wenig überfordert, aber dann kommt sie doch ausgezeichnet mit den neuen Regeln klar. Genug, um einen Fall zu lösen, der durch verschiedene Zeiten führt.
Viele der Kreaturen und Fähigkeiten sind schon bekannt, aber trotzdem hat die Welt auch etwas originelles und bietet neue Ideen, die auch clever kombiniert sind. Bei den wenigen Seiten des Buches ist immer etwas los und die Zeit ist gut aufgeteilt zwischen den verschiedenen Themen: Es gibt magische Ermittlungen, ganz neue Erfahrungen und neue Beziehungen, und manche Charaktere sieht man mit ganz anderen Augen, wenn man plötzlich neuen Geheimnissen auf die Schliche kommt. Auch Jinx‘ eigener Magie, Lügen zu erspüren, bin ich schon in anderen Büchern begegnet, aber ich finde sie immer wieder faszinierend und auch hier sehr gut gelungen.
Fazit
Insgesamt fand ich Jinx‘ erstes Abenteuer in der Welt des Übernatürlichen sehr spannend. Es gab gelungene Wendungen und unerwartete Entwicklungen, weil auch immer wieder etwas Neues dazukam. Ich freue mich auf mehr!
Da alles neu für Jinx ist, entdeckt man die Welt gemeinsam mit ihr und kommt besonders am Anfang sehr gut mit, aber es kommt auch sehr viel auf einmal und das war mir an manchen Stellen schon ein bisschen zu viel. Jinx scheint zunächst ein wenig überfordert, aber dann kommt sie doch ausgezeichnet mit den neuen Regeln klar. Genug, um einen Fall zu lösen, der durch verschiedene Zeiten führt.
Viele der Kreaturen und Fähigkeiten sind schon bekannt, aber trotzdem hat die Welt auch etwas originelles und bietet neue Ideen, die auch clever kombiniert sind. Bei den wenigen Seiten des Buches ist immer etwas los und die Zeit ist gut aufgeteilt zwischen den verschiedenen Themen: Es gibt magische Ermittlungen, ganz neue Erfahrungen und neue Beziehungen, und manche Charaktere sieht man mit ganz anderen Augen, wenn man plötzlich neuen Geheimnissen auf die Schliche kommt. Auch Jinx‘ eigener Magie, Lügen zu erspüren, bin ich schon in anderen Büchern begegnet, aber ich finde sie immer wieder faszinierend und auch hier sehr gut gelungen.
Fazit
Insgesamt fand ich Jinx‘ erstes Abenteuer in der Welt des Übernatürlichen sehr spannend. Es gab gelungene Wendungen und unerwartete Entwicklungen, weil auch immer wieder etwas Neues dazukam. Ich freue mich auf mehr!
August 31, 2024
GLIMMER OF THE OTHER by HEATHER G HARRIS
This book was my introduction to the awesomeness of this author, once I picked this book up, I was literally salivating for the next book in the series! We start off by meeting a young woman who has a dog.... she's a PI... pretty normal, right? NO, NOT ONE BIT NORMAL! This is NOT a normal detective story in the slightest! Firstly, she has the uncanny knack of being able to tell truth from lie, a very cool ability! Except, she's a heck of a lot more than just a human lie detector! A case of a missing young girl thrusts her into uncharted territory, the Other Realm and as she wraps her head around this and the Other Realm she finds herself in, well, all sorts of wonder and wonderous events take place! Scary ones too.
But let's start at the beginning, Jessica is on a case and boy did I laugh in the very first chapter! Trying to take pictures inconspicuously is a skill Jess doesn't have... from here we get a taste of who Jess is and that taste only made me more hungry. She is a cool cucumber, taking everything in her stride, determined to make a success of being a PI, but it's challenging to say the least. And when she's hired to locate a missing varsity student, she could never have imaged where this would lead to, straight into another world, one that blew her mind. One where there are all types of magical creatures, one where her sense of awe and wonder was so realistically portrayed by the author. In fact, as I was reading it, the characters all stood out to me, from the gentle and kind Mrs Harding, to Lucy who's Jessica's bff, to Stone who I really thought was a real hunk! The spark between him and Jess was awesome and so sweet.
I loved Lucy's character, she's strong but vulnerable, she's tough but gentle, she's the best friend anyone could wish for, she has great problem solving skills and her love of Gato, her puppy, is gorgeous. Even though she's still hurting from the loss of her parents, she's basically a ray of sunshine! I loved her almost father/daughter relationship with lord Samuel, a client she frequently works for. Well, now she apparently has Stone as a partner and lo and behold, HE'S the one that introduces her to her new reality. But this opens up way more questions, a need for Jinx to discover the truth of who she is. Nothing is as it seems, not even her beloved Gato....
The storyline is brilliant and so well paced, as well as totally cool, it had me glued. Although Jinx is the empath, the author managed to get me to empathize with her! From being orphaned at 18, to starting her own PI agency, to learning who or what she is, to her interactions with various beings, to utilizing her skills, I felt it all! A real tribute to the author for her skill!
September 9, 2025
Jinx, główna bohaterka jest żywym wykrywaczem kłamstw. Jej niewyjaśnione zdolności są jej bardzo przydatne w codziennej pracy detektywa. Jedno z jej zleceń sprawia, że odkrywa istnienie Innego, świata, gdzie żyją nieludzie.
Książka jest dość standardowym pierwszym tomem z serii w tym podgatunku fantastyki. Przygody Jinx pozwalają czytelnikowi poznać bardzo ciekawy świat, gdzie żyją orki, smoki, czy nawet trytony z którymi nie spotkałem się w żadnej innej książce.
Historia jest bardzo angażująca. Czyta się ją szybko i przyjemnie, co zdecydowanie przyćmiewa jedyny moim zdaniem mankament fabularny - łatwowierność głównej bohaterki i akceptację istnienia świata innego niż ludzi, co właściwie przychodzi Jinx bez mrugnięcia okiem. Zagadka nie jest łatwa do rozwiązania, a choć niektóre puzzle fabularne łączą się ze sobą zbyt łatwo, tworzy to jednak naprawdę ciekawą historię.
To zdecydowanie seria, która może spodobać się fanom Kate Daniels, Mercedes Thompson, Jima Dresdena czy Petera Granta.
Jestem bardzo ciekawy dalszych losów Jinx i jej uroczego psiaka, dlatego mam nadzieję, że na drugi tom nie przyjdzie nam czekać długo!
Książka jest dość standardowym pierwszym tomem z serii w tym podgatunku fantastyki. Przygody Jinx pozwalają czytelnikowi poznać bardzo ciekawy świat, gdzie żyją orki, smoki, czy nawet trytony z którymi nie spotkałem się w żadnej innej książce.
Historia jest bardzo angażująca. Czyta się ją szybko i przyjemnie, co zdecydowanie przyćmiewa jedyny moim zdaniem mankament fabularny - łatwowierność głównej bohaterki i akceptację istnienia świata innego niż ludzi, co właściwie przychodzi Jinx bez mrugnięcia okiem. Zagadka nie jest łatwa do rozwiązania, a choć niektóre puzzle fabularne łączą się ze sobą zbyt łatwo, tworzy to jednak naprawdę ciekawą historię.
To zdecydowanie seria, która może spodobać się fanom Kate Daniels, Mercedes Thompson, Jima Dresdena czy Petera Granta.
Jestem bardzo ciekawy dalszych losów Jinx i jej uroczego psiaka, dlatego mam nadzieję, że na drugi tom nie przyjdzie nam czekać długo!
July 21, 2023
This was a really fun start to the series. I like the FMC a lot, though I'll say she borders on Mary Sue (she's just really good at everything she tries, even though she's known about magic for like 15 min - she uses it repeatedly to do stuff that other much more experienced folks are apparently unable to do). But she's really clever, I like her personality a lot, and her dog Gato is awesome.
I liked the setup a lot, and I'm hoping it pays off across the series.
Also:
I liked the setup a lot, and I'm hoping it pays off across the series.
Also:
October 17, 2025
It is great fun binging on a series like this. I have read and loved the whole series already but this time it's read to me by the incredibly talented Alyse Gibbs. Audiobooks are a fun way to experience a book, it's new and exciting, again.
Glimmer of the Others is an urban fantasy that's everything lovers of the genre could ask for. The characters and world building are creative and original.
The FMC is realistic, smart and loyal. She has found herself in a whole new reality and has little time to assimilate to her new world, find a missing girl and save everyone before another person's grief destroys everything.
A Fantastic story.
Glimmer of the Others is an urban fantasy that's everything lovers of the genre could ask for. The characters and world building are creative and original.
The FMC is realistic, smart and loyal. She has found herself in a whole new reality and has little time to assimilate to her new world, find a missing girl and save everyone before another person's grief destroys everything.
A Fantastic story.
May 17, 2022
A nice introduction to the world. I was enthralled from the moment I started reading. The characters and world are fascinating. The PI aspect was fun and the hunt for the missing girl had me captivated.
We are introduced to a unique world full of mythical and magic creatures. Our lead, Jinks, is a lot of fun, smart, witty, and intelligent. I had fun reading and look forward to more and learning more. Things are left open and the overall big ARC is progressing and not complete. Can’t wait.
Rated: 4 Stars
We are introduced to a unique world full of mythical and magic creatures. Our lead, Jinks, is a lot of fun, smart, witty, and intelligent. I had fun reading and look forward to more and learning more. Things are left open and the overall big ARC is progressing and not complete. Can’t wait.
Rated: 4 Stars
January 7, 2023
Read the whole series last year and just forgot to rate it. I really like the heroine. She has a good head on her shoulders. Her dog's really cool too. Sad about her parents, though.
August 17, 2023
'Watch out, Other-realm - Jinx is in the house.'
Kicking ass and taking names.
Jinx is fun and sassy, smart, and as badass as it gets. And before you even know it, she'll have you so deep into the pages of her tale that you'll be tap dancing on them.
Jinx is my kinda girl. And Gato is my kind of hellhound. I kid you not people. I'm calling dibs on him. He is such an absolutely adorable big baby! The snarling fanged kind of sweetheart you don't really want to mess with. :D
I WANT GATO!!
But I'm supposed to write a review not gush about an adorable puppy.
So here we go. With the review I mean.
This first book in the Other Realm series is one you don't want to miss if you're a fan of good Urban Fantasy. Or puppies. Or badass female leads with balls and brains.
It's really well written, with cool magic and awesome wordbuilding, an intriguing mystery and fabulous characters. Fast paced and lighthearted, despite the dark themes it centers on, this is one of those books that will have you get all snarly when interrupted from reading. Been there, done that. And then came the damn cliffhanger. Thank fuck the series is completed and I was able to grab the sequel on the spot. If not my snarling would have put Gato's to shame.
Different, imaginative and sassy, not to mention pretty damn cool, Glimmer of the Other is a real bookish treat.
So take a leap of faith and pick it up.
You can thank me later.😘
Kicking ass and taking names.
Jinx is fun and sassy, smart, and as badass as it gets. And before you even know it, she'll have you so deep into the pages of her tale that you'll be tap dancing on them.
Jinx is my kinda girl. And Gato is my kind of hellhound. I kid you not people. I'm calling dibs on him. He is such an absolutely adorable big baby! The snarling fanged kind of sweetheart you don't really want to mess with. :D
I WANT GATO!!
But I'm supposed to write a review not gush about an adorable puppy.
So here we go. With the review I mean.
This first book in the Other Realm series is one you don't want to miss if you're a fan of good Urban Fantasy. Or puppies. Or badass female leads with balls and brains.
It's really well written, with cool magic and awesome wordbuilding, an intriguing mystery and fabulous characters. Fast paced and lighthearted, despite the dark themes it centers on, this is one of those books that will have you get all snarly when interrupted from reading. Been there, done that. And then came the damn cliffhanger. Thank fuck the series is completed and I was able to grab the sequel on the spot. If not my snarling would have put Gato's to shame.
Different, imaginative and sassy, not to mention pretty damn cool, Glimmer of the Other is a real bookish treat.
So take a leap of faith and pick it up.
You can thank me later.😘
November 25, 2025
Private investigator, Jinx, has her world turned upside down, when she takes on a missing person case. She begins the book, knowing she is human – though always feeling a bit different, as she can always tell when someone is lying. Her parents had been murdered years ago. She has serious trust issues – only her bestie, Lucy, and her Great Dane, Gato, pass the ‘family’ test.
Suddenly, she finds out she is Other – an empath, truth-seeker and wizard no less. Gato is a hell hound. Fire Elementals, Vampyrs, Dryads, Trolls, Ogres, Elves, Dragons …. and so many other Others are real. The Other and Common world co-exist.
Wizard, Stone – a detective/enforcer with the Other police force, the Connection – is also assigned to the case, and acts as her guide to this fabulous new world. Stone is a real alpha-male, and very easy on the eye. Jinx lets her guard down, and soon falls for him.
But this case is not even normal for the Other world, and it soon becomes apparent, that there is much more going on than anyone had foreseen. There is a plot of apocalyptic proportions – that could blow up all worlds, if Jinx, Stone and their colleagues can’t stop it.
An excellent book, written with humour and a mild dose of romance. Highly recommended.
Suddenly, she finds out she is Other – an empath, truth-seeker and wizard no less. Gato is a hell hound. Fire Elementals, Vampyrs, Dryads, Trolls, Ogres, Elves, Dragons …. and so many other Others are real. The Other and Common world co-exist.
Wizard, Stone – a detective/enforcer with the Other police force, the Connection – is also assigned to the case, and acts as her guide to this fabulous new world. Stone is a real alpha-male, and very easy on the eye. Jinx lets her guard down, and soon falls for him.
But this case is not even normal for the Other world, and it soon becomes apparent, that there is much more going on than anyone had foreseen. There is a plot of apocalyptic proportions – that could blow up all worlds, if Jinx, Stone and their colleagues can’t stop it.
An excellent book, written with humour and a mild dose of romance. Highly recommended.
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