Burning Bright

Ivy Granger #3

by E.J. Stevens

Burning down the house...

Things are not going well at the offices of Private Eye. Jinx is having demon problems, the city is overrun with pyromaniacal imps, and Ivy's wisp powers are burning out of control, attracting the attention of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

Along came a faerie queen... It's the worst possible time for the Green Lady to call in a favor, but Ivy's bound by her deal with the glaistig. Too bad there's no wiggle room in faerie bargains.

Ivy must rid the city of imps, keep Jinx from murdering her one solid link to Hell, and fulfill her bargain with the Green Lady—with sidhe assassins hot on her tail.

Just another day's work for Ivy Granger, psychic detective.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Demons, Audiobook

282 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

E.J. Stevens is the bestselling, award-winning author of the IVY GRANGER, PSYCHIC DETECTIVE urban fantasy series, the SPIRIT GUIDE young adult series, the HUNTERS' GUILD urban fantasy series, and the WHITECHAPEL PARANORMAL SOCIETY Victorian Gothic horror series. She is known for filling pages with quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines. Her novels are available worldwide in multiple languages.

BTS Red Carpet Award winner for Best Novel, Imadjinn Award winner for Best Short Story, Raven Award winner for Best Urban Fantasy Novel, Independent Audiobook Award winner for Best Short Story, SYAE finalist for Best Paranormal Series, Best Novella, and Best Horror, winner of the PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel, Best Young Adult Paranormal Series, Best Urban Fantasy Novel, and finalist for Best Young Adult Paranormal Novel and Best Urban Fantasy Series.

When E.J. isn't at her writing desk, she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

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Website: http://www.EJStevensAuthor.com
Ivy Granger Series: http://IvyGranger.com
Blog: http://www.FromtheShadows.info
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@EJStevensAuthor

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5

*My Thoughts*

Burning Bright is the third installment in the Ivy Granger series by author E.J. Stevens. EJ was kind enough to send me books #1 thru #3 plus (2) novellas in return for an honest review. Mission Accomplished. If you haven't yet read this series, let me summarize for you quickly. The Ivy Granger series is an urban fantasy series set in Harborsmouth. The series is told in the first-person point-of-view by Ivy Granger, a psychic detective who is half-fae (Father is the Willem of the Wisps).

*Full Review Posted July 22, 2015 via Gizmos Reviews

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

Published June 17th 2014 by Sacred Oaks Press

[Loves To Dive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harborsmouth is the home of monsters, but not to worry because Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective is on duty and nothing is going to hurt her town. Things could be going better for Ivy, she’s a woman who can’t come in physical contact with anything without having visions, which makes having a relationship with the king of kelpies, Ceffyl Dur a big tricky. Her best friend and partner, Jinx has some sort of malady that seems to be sucking the life out of her, she owes two boons to the Green Lady and another to the city’s vampire master. Fire imps seem to be setting her city on fire, a sign of things to come. Oh, and if she can’t find her father, Will-o’-the Wisp, to help her reign in her powers before she is exposed to humans she faces a fae firing squad.

Ms. Stevens is the author of a YA series, Spirit Guide, which sadly has come to an end. When she decided to dip her pen into the adult world I had a few moments of worry, could she succeed in a different genre, please the adult reader and maintain the distinct writing style that is hers alone? When I read the first book in the Ivy Granger series, I was relieved that, yes, Ms. Stevens could cross genres. It took a few books for her to come into her stride, each offering in the series getting better and better, the story evolving into more and more adult and urban fantasy. In this book, she has hit her stride full on; she maintains her signature style, a little bit of quirky humor mixed with action and mystery. Now she throws in some adult language, a few bedroom scenes and some slightly graphic fight scenes and instead of being shocked that our beloved YA author would go there, we are thrilled and hanging on every word.

Ivy has grown with each book, she started out as a kick ass heroine who with the exception of Jinx and the witch Kaye, didn’t have many friends to a woman surrounded by friends who love her, a man who would do anything for her and a confidence in herself that has no bounds. We get to see more of Ceff in this book, and I for one, an extremely grateful for that. Forneus, a demon with a crush on Jinx, flits in and out and Torn, the king of cats who likes a good fight and also has an itch for Jinx plays a large part as well. Not to worry though, we still get the quirky characters we love so well, a gargoyle with a sense of humor, a young witch in training, a grumpy hearth brownie and a new addition, a young demon who bonds with Ivy.

While Ms. Stevens is known for mixing humor with serious subjects with well-rounded characters running amuck in her books, she normally keeps the stories on the light side. Burning Bright has all that but is an edgier, darker story with hints of more the same to come. You’ll note there are none of my niggles in this review, there wasn’t a thing I would ask to be changed. I was well pleased, a little exhausted and just a tad surprised when I finished the book. A story well told, what more could a reader ask for?

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

[vvb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy's story continues in book 3 with detective work focused on personal matters - specifically in regards to her best friend and co-worker, Jinx.

The first half of this story introduces a variety of fae, demons and witches. The descriptions and basic lore of each creature gives a good sense of Ivy's otherworld exposure.

The second half of the story has the action scenes that show off Ivy's paranormal and fighting skills. Oh, a bit of Ivy's on-going romance is included as well.

Another, fun summer read to add to your list.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love language. The way it is used by different writers probably explains my reading addiction. Some are given to language so beautiful the flow carries me along in worlds far from my stark reality. Others, use language sharp and modern. One is not better than the other, but they are certainly different. I thought about this while reading BURNING BRIGHT because I also realized that point of view has a lot to do with the way language is used. I'm old-school, never end a sentence with a preposition, with my own caveat that it's OK to break the rules when writing dialog.

E. J. Stevens writes from Ivy Granger's point of view, in other words, in the first person. In essence, the entire book is the dialog of all that is inside the head of the protagonist. Ivy is snarky and hip, and she lives in a modern-day world where the paranormal is everyday business as usual.

Since I started reviewing everything I read, I tend to have at least a partially critical eye open at all times. I am totally aware, at least subconsciously, of the nuances of language. It is the way English is used in a book that drives my personal rating system. If I get lost in a story, if I am entertained by a story, if I can't put the Kindle away until my eyes are so blurred that I can make neither heads nor tails of what I am reading, that book is a 5-star read.

My language thing is closely related to my 'I don't do spoilers' thing. Even though I'm into my fifth Ivy Granger read, you might not be. I hate to give anything away, especially when I'm really into the subject matter. Why do people climb mountains? Because they're there. Why do I read books? For pretty much the same reason. It's all about discovery which is something I believe you must do for yourself.

E. J. Stevens' writing is cinematic which is another big plus. She is really good at painting pictures in your mind's eye, images that would transfer well to the small screen as a series. I can see it all now… "Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective" tonight at 8:00 PM. Hey, Joss Whedon here's a book series for you to option! I would set my DVR to watch in a heartbeat.

If you are already reading the series, you will be happy to know that Ivy's circle, along with her world view, continues to expand as she deals with the life and death issues of Harborsmouth. If you're not reading the series, I highly recommend that you start with book one - SHADOW SIGHT. You won't be sorry.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
There are many great friend moments in this book. Moments that show how important those you keep near are and how you can help them. Ivy gives some great advice in this book, and learns a few things about those she judged harshly. I liked the advice she gave to Arachne and having to face what she did. We don't get to search for Ivy's dad just yet, even though she's trying and wants to. There's a reason for it. Ceff points out that Ivy's search for her father could be used against her, and him, with the war brewing in the supernatural world. All could want him as their secret weapon against all others. Also, the fey courts have caught wind of Ivy and her inability to control her powers around humans. Not a good thing. This is something that leaves a little curiosity in our minds. War brewing. Her father. Hmm. What's to come next?

This is a light Paranormal/Urban Fantasy read. It's easy to follow and quick reading.

****FULL REVIEW****
3.5 Stars
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.

Ivy's debts have to pile up, and suck her friends into the dangerous webs with her. Jinx is... spelled. She woke with glowing kisses on her and growing more and more tired as the minutes pass. Ivy wants to find and stop who's draining her dearest friend's energy. But her debts to the Green Lady and the Vampire leader are called upon and she is compelled to take care of those first. One is harder than the other, and she is going to lose a friend today. One way or another. But maybe, just maybe, these debts can be used to get what Ivy wants. There is always a twist to the fey way, and with her friends, Ivy starts to see a path of how to take care of everything, while she works with Ceff to stop the fire imps starting fires throughout her home town.

I liked this story better than the previous books for a few reasons. The story was a little bit more complex with more than two things happening, tying it all together. And this duo of voices fits for me much better.

I've been listening to this series, and I continue to do so. This novel is narrated by the duo that also voiced a novella. They are Melanie and David. And I do enjoy having both of them for female and male characters. Melanie has the emotions to go with the words as she speaks, and she's not overly bubbly for Ivy. Melanie sounds down to Earth and more real to me for Ivy. Melanie also does an accent from the old world for the Green Lady, a lilt to her words. David is a lovely addition to Melanie's female readings, giving us all the male voices to complement her characters. David's voice for Forneus reminds me of Jack Nicholson. There is one sentence that is repeated, missed in editing. But overall I enjoyed their interpretations of the characters. I do like the slight enhancements such as the sounds of a character on the phone and the echo of a ghost talking!

There is a refresher of what happened previously up front and at the very beginning of the story. As it's nice to be reminded of past events and where everyone stands in at the start, I don't think it's as needed. E.J. does a wonderful job of blending these tidbits in as the story goes. It fills in gaps and continues the three dimensional feel of the world and characters.

The story feels well put together. We have a few troubles happening at one time, and can piece it all together as we go through. I really enjoyed the story here and the avenues it took. I did feel there were a few weak moments in the book, like Torn always bargaining for a deal in his favor and he misses a prime opportunity for one. I can't see him doing that. And with Ivy's power, when she touches someone she sees visions, and once releases that touch to later touch again she's to see visions again... That's forgotten about as when she touches someone again, it's not mentioned of seeing visions again. These are tiny items in a whole novel as a whole. I do enjoy the story and adventure Ivy goes on here.

The characters are fun in the mix too. Ivy is growing as a character. I don't seem to remember Ivy swearing as much, as she does in this book, in previous books. Mind you, it's not as heavy in swearing as other UF books I've read, but more for Ivy. Ivy still has a habit of 'saying' she's not soft of heart, stubborn, or a smart mouth. This always seems to rub me wrong when I hear/read it. She says it, but I don't think I see it as much in her actions. Now when others say it or she does do something, it's okay, it's just when Ivy thinks she's being stubborn after she's being stubborn that feels repetitive for me. E.J. has a way of writing in puns, little jokes, and thought from Ivy that are play on words. They are fun at times, and also a few that have you roll your eyes because it's corny. lol.

Oh! Sparky! He sounds like a cutie. Really. Adorable little thing (that could grow to be so big!). And Forneus. I knew Ivy couldn't keep him away forever. lol. Torn is a fun rival for Forneus and loves dangerous adventure, so he fits so well.

There are many great friend moments in this book. Moments that show how important those you keep near are and how you can help them. Ivy gives some great advice in this book, and learns a few things about those she judged harshly. I liked the advice she gave to Arachne and having to face what she did. We don't get to search for Ivy's dad just yet, even though she's trying and wants to. There's a reason for it. Ceff points out that Ivy's search for her father could be used against her, and him, with the war brewing in the supernatural world. All could want him as their secret weapon against all others. Also, the fey courts have caught wind of Ivy and her inability to control her powers around humans. Not a good thing. This is something that leaves a little curiosity in our minds. War brewing. Her father. Hmm. What's to come next?

This is a light Paranormal/Urban Fantasy read. It's easy to follow and quick reading.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun paranormal mystery to listen to. It’s probably my favorite one so far by Stevens. It’s full of magic, mystery and humor. I love all the different magical beings. The characters are well thought out and the plot keeps you entertained. Its complex and keeps you on your toes. I’ve quickly become sucked into Ivy Granger’s world and can’t wait to listen to all the books in the series.
The narrator does a great job. The characters are easily distinguishable and each of their personalities stand out.

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 reviews - audio followed by Arc

AudioBook Review: Stars: Overall: 5 Narration: 4 Story: 5

I’d read this title back in June of last year, and he series itself never ceases to amuse or entertain. In this fourth installment, now in audio, Ivy is growing into her powers, learning what she can and cannot do, and learning to balance her desire to help with her need for self-preservation.

Many issues have arisen, Jinx seems to be fading away, her relationship is about what one would expect from a girl who can’t touch anyone, the hands are out for boons and tokens, and her father, recently found, is lost again leaving huge gaps in information shared.

Ceff and Ivy’s relationship is developing, despite her own reservations and his habit of disappearing without notice. And did I mention imps? Yes, Imps. As troublesome as one would expect, especially this gang of fire imps who have run amok. Not to mention Jinx and her relationship with the demon Forneus, and Ivy has more than just a few things to occupy her time.

While I noticed that Stevens uses humor and mixes in action to keep the plot moving forward, these elements were even more present in the audo book. Narration by Melanie A. Mason and David Wilson Brown added those moments of hesitation, emphasized dramatic moments, and presented the characters with flair, adding to the emotional moments and increasing their pace of delivery just enough to indicate the frenetic action on the pages. Descriptions and characters come alive, even subtle nuances in delivery and interaction between the narrators manages to convey the character’s reactions to, and subliminal feelings about, each new supernatural they encounter.

A fun and engaging Urban Fantasy series, I’m going to have to get the others in this series in audio to enjoy a second round with the characters.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.


eArc review:
The fourth in this series I have read, Ivy Granger is developing nicely and learning her limits, as the detective for the ‘others’ in the little town of Harborsmouth she has found that her struggles with her little business are only increasing, much to her dismay. Her best friend and partner Jinx seems to be fading in front of her eyes, her relationship with the kelpie king Cefyl is progressing as well as one could expect with Ivy’s peculiar inability to touch anyone or thing without receiving images and stories. The Green Lady is awaiting her two boons, and the city’s Vampire Master has his hand out for one. Her newly found and lost again father didn’t teach her to rein in her powers, and the humans are wondering if she is causing the fire imps to run amok - things are not looking very positive for poor Ivy.

Stevens has managed to develop Ivy in a way that keeps her fresh and new with each book: she is developing her talents and finding more confidence as she learns about herself and manages to solve / settle supernatural conflicts that seem to crop up repeatedly. With more of Ceff in this book, we get to see the slowly developing relationship between them, despite Ivy’s issues and concerns, and Ceff’s apparent habit of disappearing without notice, repeatedly. Jinx is still Ivy’s best and closest friend, and in this story she manages to become a larger issue and her relationship with Forneus the demon with a crush on her has everyone slightly worried.

What I have come to see as Steven’s humor and deft mixing of action, tension and character are all present in this story, with familiar and new supernaturals making appearances all adding to the richness of the world created. Engaging and demanding the reader keep turning the pages, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, even as it held a tone that was a touch darker than the earlier books in the series. This is a fun urban fantasy that works best if you have read the two full-length novels in the series.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Sapphyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been an Ivy Granger fan since Book 1. You can find my reviews of the other books in this series by visiting Goodreads or Amazon.

Ivy is still on the quest to locate her father, Will-o'-the-Wisp, since he seems to be the only one that can help her rein in her developing powers. Plus come to find out, her father may be the local paranormal community's most significant weapon for the war that has been hinted about. Now it's just a matter of time to see which group locates him first. As she progresses with her own search, she discovers that town has been overridden with imps that are setting fire to anything they can get a hold of. Ivy also finds out that her Guild-Hunter friend, Jenna, has been sent abroad for "training." And then there's the problem with Jinx....

After Jinx comes home from Club Nexus with an incubus sucking her life away, Ivy knows that she has to do something to save her. While trying to figure out who the incubus is, Ivy takes Jinx to the Emporium, a shop owned and operated by her friend, and High Witch, Kaye. Keeping Jinx safe inside a circle will only work for so long and Ivy knows this. At the same time, the Green Lady decides to call in one of the two bargains that Ivy owes her.

The bargain is to kill Kaye and the Green Lady, who may or may not have completely set up Ivy in order to force her to see her at the carnival, will spare Jinx's life. Aaand - to top it off, Kaye has completely disappeared without a trace. Now Ivy must figure out how to get around the fairy bargain made with the Green Lady. At the same time, the Vampire Master of the city sends a message to Ivy about collection of her debt to him. Ivy is seriously regretting her decision to make fae bargains with the Green Lady and the Master Vampire.

Holy Mab's Bones ~ how is Ivy going to handle her powers, Jinx, honoring her bargain with the Green Lady by killing Kaye, rounding up the imps (which is also part of her bargain with the Vampire Master), oh...and did I mention that there are sidhe assassins tracking Ivy?

Another action-packed installment of the Ivy Granger series. There are some many story lines that have the illusion of being entirely stand alone then E.J. weaves her magic and next thing you know they are entirely dependent on one another. Her ability to tell a story is amazing. Each story in the series is well developed and pulls the reader in from the very beginning. Burning Bright is very suspenseful in the "how is she going to do (insert something here) and live with herself later?" sort of way.

Ivy is written in such a way that she is still brand new; never becoming stagnant, dull, or predictable. She continues to kick butt in the name of protecting her family, friends, and townsfolk. Ivy does all of this while maintaining safe distances since she has the ability of touching objects or people and being able to discern history of said objects/people. Her relationship with Ceff, while challenging due to the whole touching issue, is progressing along nicely. Ivy manages to make friends wherever she goes, and as such ends up befriending the cutest little imp she names Sparky. Don't let this lull you into a sense of complacency since she makes just as many, if not more, enemies.

Please make sure to read the books in order since the world and character building, plotlines, subjects, and themes build off of the previous books.

Review Copy Courtesy of the author, at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Burning Bright in return for an honest review from the author.

Burning Bright is the third installment in the Ivy Granger Series. Ivy is a private investigator but she’s been doing less investigating and more hunting since Jenna was shipped off to the old country. When she finds her best friend covered in kisses and drained she rushes to Kaye the most powerful witch in Harborsmouth who puts Jinx in a circle to keep the incubus from draining more of her. With the help of her friends Ivy heads off to the carnival where the green lady lives knowing that she’s the one who attacked Jinx only to learn that she’s calling in her favor. The Green lady wants Ivy to kill her friend Kaye or else Jinx will die.

As if that’s the only problem that Ivy has to worry about, fire imps are on the loose starting fires all over the city. The vampires want Ivy to stop the imps, as do the cat Sidhe before it gets out of hand. Plus Ivy needs to figure out how to settle her debt with the green lady without killing her friend. She also needs to avoid the faerie court assassins who are hot on her trail intent on killing her before she can expose them all. Ivy has her hands full will she be able to survive or will her death be the only solution?

I love Ivy she’s been one of my favorite characters since the beginning. Very much like a fine wine keeps getting better with age. Ivy’s life is anything but normal she lives in a world where she sees the monsters unlike her best friend who doesn’t. She is trying to find her father which is far from easy as well as needs to learn how to use her gifts. I also love her friends from human to demon she has a wide range which I think enhance the story perfectly. Plus than there is her love interest Ceff the Kelpie King who I just love he’s perfect for Ivy.

I was super excited to get the opportunity to read the next installment in Ivy Granger’s story. She is one of my favorite Urban Fantasy characters right along with Mercy Thompson they are my top two. Ivy’s lives in a world where supernatural beings exist but humans don’t know that they are real. I love the way the author has taken the private investigator concept and put her own unique twist creating a captivating new series. The whole book is beautifully written from start to finish I was drawn in right from the start unable to put the book down till the last page. Burning Bright is action packed right from the start mixing suspense and romance to create a complex story. I love that the book is mostly story with just little bits of romance that don’t overpower the story I feel like I get the best of both worlds. I loved the story, the book was amazing one of my favorites in the series. I can’t wait for the next installment of Ivy because I just have to know what’s going to happen next.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

E.J. Stevens continues to pull us in with this wonderful world she has built in Harborsmouth. Ivy Granger is deep in the thick of things as she does her best to save the city and her friends while she proves that she is a great friend and a wonderful girlfriend.
The story starts off with Ivy’s best friend, Jinx, getting herself into a bit of trouble at the fae bar, Club Nexus. She wakes up the next morning with glowing lips all over her. Not only are these freaky, but they also seem to be draining her. Add to this issue, there are fire imps terrorizing the city.

Ivy calls in her lover Ceff, the king of the local Kelpies, to help with the fire imps, while Ivy tries to help Jinx. She has to go deal with the Green Lady who wants to call in a favor. Oh, then the vamps want to call in their favor too. Ivy’s witch friend, Kaye, seems to have disappeared, and she is desperately needed. Oh and Forneus, the demonic lawyer (which seems like an oxymoron to me, LOL), who also has a romantic interest in Jinx is trying to help solve the issue with Jinx.

In Burning Bright we got to see a lot of Ceff and Forneus. We also get to see a side of Forneus that we aren’t used to seeing. He was very caring and protective for Jinx. Jinx was out of it for most of the book, so we didn’t get to see much of her. I enjoyed the addition of Arachne, Kaye’s student witch to the story. I loved the addition of Sparky, a young demon even more. I can’t wait to see where the story goes with young Sparky. I thought he was adorable.

Poor, Ivy, she is put into some pretty tight situations in this story. Not only is she struggling with her powers, she also puts a lot on her shoulders. She pretty much tries to protect the city and takes that responsibility entirely on herself. Ivy has proven once again how great of character she is with how she continues to put the city and her friends in front of herself. If you’re looking for a urban fantasy series that is high action with a kick ass heroine, Ivy Granger is a great choice.

Narration
I haven’t listened to a lot of stories with dual narrators. The ones that I have, it featured a different narrator for each chapter. This one the male narrator speaks anytime a male is voiced or thinks. The female narrator does the rest of the narration. It took me a while to get used to this type of narration. Both narrators were good, it was just a different style that I’m not used to. By the end of the book, I was pretty used to the back and forth between the two of them without issue. I’m not sure that it is something that I prefer, but I don’t think I would say that I dislike it either. I think with these two narrators, it is something that I could become accustom to.

[Jason Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, I am reviewing the Urban Fantasy story Burning Bright by E.J. Stevens. The third full novel in the Ivy Granger series, it explores what happens when Ivy’s friend succumbs to fell influence, Ivy herself is drawn into honoring a terrible bargain with a fae queen, and the consequences of our protagonist’s halfbreed heritage come to the fore. As always, Stevens gives an engaging read and a thrilling story. I confess that I bought this book as soon as I found out that it was released, even though I didn’t get to read it until much later.

I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. By now, the characters in the series are familiar, but Stevens continues to reveal new facets of their personalities and show us exactly how the events and environment of Harborsmouth affect them. The interaction between Jinx and Forneus, as limited as it was in this book, is always a thrill, and the evolution of Forneus himself is fascinating to me (how is he keeping his rank in Hell? Does anybody know?). Ivy’s mix of selfish- and selflessness ring true, and I am now utterly terrified of what will happen now that Kaye…
Well, you’ll have to find that out for yourselves ;).

Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Stellar. Gripping. Intense. Stevens is, by now, an expert in keeping her reader engaged in her story. The action is continuous and the tension so palpable that it kept me thinking about the story even when I wasn’t actively reading it. The twists and turns are believable and the sense of verisimilitude is maintained. It’s hard to do that in a long-running fantasy series, but Stevens does an admirable job.

Flow: 5/5. Like a river, Burning Bright carries the reader ever onward. Sometimes it’s fast, sometimes slower, but always moving with nary a dull page…or paragraph! The pacing was phenomenally well done, holding me to the book and bringing me back whenever I had to put it down…which was never by choice!.

Spelling/Grammar: 3.5/5. Burning Bright is plagued with more grammatical and typographical errors than I am accustomed to seeing in E.J. Stevens’s work. They weren’t distracting, but as my own experience grows I am more aware of them, and they were peppered throughout the work – there were a couple of incorrect spellings of glaistig, for instance, and a misplaced period and comma or two. I’ve seen much worse, but I’ve seen much better as well..

Overall: 4.75/5. Stevens continues her efforts to become one of the world’s foremost paranormal/urban fantasy authors by producing material of the highest quality. I favorably compare Burning Bright to works like Harry Potter in its depth and character development. I only hope that, when Stevens hits it big, she doesn’t forget about us, her readers ;)

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I can say it enough, I LOVE THIS SERIES!! And I know I said this would be a 5 Paw review, but I lied... So, Ivy is back, and boy did she have a rough time with this one. And she still can't touch anything without horrible visions, and she has a remarkably totally awesome HAWT boyfriend, and a whole lot of things trying to hurt her. And now, Jinx, her BFF and partner, is in serious trouble. Ivy is willing to give up almost anything, including her own life, to save her best friend. So, to keep Jinx from dying, Ivy literally gets beat up a whole lot in here, but you get to see what kind of person she is, and who is willing to come to her aid for it. Oh, and she owes people, scary people, for help in the past, and it seems that every single one of them wants her help, like right now!

This one had me biting my nails and seriously tired for Ivy LOL Ok, so she needs to save Jinx, then somethings setting the whole town on fire, there's a crazy Green Lady threatening her, and some vampers who are just dirty, all threatening things and people Ivy loves.

Be prepared to get shocked, and mad, and crazy, all at once! AND now that her powers are out and about, she has a price on her head. It has made for one of the best damn books I've read, EVER! This one is action packed and full of mystery, as well as finally getting a glimpse into some romance for Ivy and Ceff. And hot damn if there are some majorly AWESOME fight scenes. You know I love when things blow up and people lose their heads, literally hahahaha :) THRILLING is what I will call this one! And not just that, but Ivy has grown so much and I just wanna hug her, in a body suit so she doesn't have visions of me. :) Her and Jinx, and Kaye, and the brownie in the kitchen, and a funny gargoyle, and the teenage troll, and HAWT Ceff, and the mysteriously bad ass Torn, and Forneus the demon, and so many wonderful characters make this whole series completely necessary to life ;)

6 AMAZING, ACTION PACKED, GRITTY, DOWN AND DIRTY, BEAUTIFUL PAWS!! Because this book freaking earned all those paws! Ms Stevens I can't WAIT for the next one!!! :)

[Tanya Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew Ivy had quite a few "bargains" out there, but wow, did everyone have to start calling them in all at once?! At first I was really overwhelmed with all the tasks on Ivy's to-do list, but it does even out and everything comes together so that those bargains become manageable.

I like Ceff, and I like the relationship that Ivy has managed to have with him, despite him being a king of his people, and her a princess of hers with a pretty annoying power. I should say two powers now. The newest power and controlling it is one of the items at the top of Ivy's to-do list but just may have to take a backseat to the more pressing items that will weaken her if not fulfilled quickly.

I was really scared about the Green Lady's demand. Apparently the glaistig doesn't trust the Fae favor compulsion so she takes a little action that will ensure Ivy fulfills her bargain. This puts Ivy into a really bad position, that may jeopardize the friendships she has built.

Burning Bright has the main mission, (Ivy's bargains) but also takes you on a side mission to retrieve essential ingredients to the grand plan. I really enjoyed this mission and the dangers and unknowns were definitely interesting and kept you on your toes.

My favorite demon gets some recognition which pleased me to no end, and we get a new addition to the group. I have to admit, I find myself much more interested in the side characters. Ivy is working her way up in my book by growing and becoming braver as she adjusts to spending more time in the Fae world, but she still annoys me at times. Forneus is my favorite out of all of them. The more face time with him the better!

Overall, I enjoyed the adventures of Ivy and crew. The world just keeps evolving and growing with each installment. We're all set with a least a couple more story lines that I am sure will bring some great missions!

This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy is up to her neck in trouble! Harborsmouth is under attack, and Ivy has promises to keep. The stakes rise as she becomes embroiled in a multitude of seemingly unrelated urgent problems. Worse yet, she is having difficulty masking her own growing Fae powers which may have dire circumstances since secrecy is paramount.

EJ Continues to entertain and astonish with her imaginative world-building. The supporting characters are endearing and wildly diverse! Even the villains have strong motivations and are multi-faceted. The action is fast-paced as Ivy continues to grow into her powers, forming new alliances, safeguarding her city and her friends, and juggling her many responsibilities. Ivy is a fascinating character whose growth and depth of personality continues to get better and better.

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed by Laurie-J

[Becky Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burning Bright is my favorite book so far in this series. It was packed full of action and had me hooked from page one. I absolutely loved that the storyline between Jinx and Forneus from the prequel Club Nexus was continued on in this book and I love our new character, Sparky. Ivy's life gets extremely complicated in this book, but from what I gather in the clues given to us by this story is that the next book is going to be even more complicated for Ivy and I can't wait! If you still haven't check out this series, I honestly don't know what is wrong with you, because it is a MUST read!

[Abra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the Ivy Granger series. The only reasons I gave this book four stars instead of five is that I have a fairly low angst tolerance and also there are several plot summaries during the course of the book. In the event I tuned out?

I recommend this series if you like books with the heroine in charge, lots of action, a cool boyfriend, and morally ambivalent side characters. I love them and I can't wait for the next book.

[Relina Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.J. Stevens does an awesome job with "Burning Bright", her latest installment in her Ivy Granger series. Ivy is fighting the clock. The summer solstice will be her one and only chance to get to the wisp court. But there are a ton of roadblocks in her way. With Jinx's life in the balance, the Green Lady making an impossible demand, along with a city full of fire imps to contend with, can Ivy survive long enough to claim her throne or does the hand of fate have other plans?

[Lyndi W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting a bit tired of Ivy bumbling around. She's constantly surprised at information she should already know, but she's too stubborn to educate herself. I'm really wondering how the hell she's managed to run a PI business when she's so damn clueless about the world around her.

[Shannon (Twilight Sleep) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing installment in the Ivy Granger series!

[Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book about Ivy Granger, and her undying loyalty to her Friends and her City. Can't wait for the next book in the series and hope that she can find what she's looking for finally.

[Ayanami Faerudo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when a pairing who gets together early in the series continues to grow and develop together and as individuals, for better or worse.

[Cmoore · Rating 4 out of 5]

EJ Stevens, Ivy Granger, and the town of Harborsmouth, occupy the space at the fringes of my wheelhouse. I don't visit very often, but it's a great, lighthearted Urban-Fantasy that's just plain fun. It's full of the fae's magic and antics, and it's just the place to go when you need a break from your daily grind!
In Burning Bright, Ivy is trying to save her friend Jinx from certain death, and that means first finding out who or what is causing Jinx' slow but steady decline. In the course of her investigation, she begins to steadily incur debts in the form of favors owed to the elite fae royalty (never a good predicament to be in), and she finds herself between the proverbial rock and a hard place! Meanwhile Harborsmouth is burning. Fire Imps are running amok, and yeah... it's up to Ivy to stop it, and rid the city of the imp incursion!
Yup, you're gonna want to grab this one!

Oh, and Welcome to Harborsmouth!

I've now listened to several of Ivy Granger's books, and although I'm not a big fan of Melanie A Mason's voice talents, she's a known consequence, and... tolerable. But I think that's probably the main reasons why I haven't devoured the whole series yet!
Now on the other hand, David Wilson Brown is great! Not only is a he a really good voice talent, he has the much harder job of voicing all the male characters and giving each one their own unique voice, at which he does really well!

[David Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was slightly different to the others inasmuch as it felt much more personal when reading it.
After the events at Club Nexus, Ivy is woken by Jinx to discover that her friend is once again living up to her name. What unfolds is a great story full of fun, danger and death.
I love the fact that the characters in this series are really bonding and getting closer at every stage. Having read several of these books, you come to appreciate the quirks of each character and feel for how they would handle a certain situation. That Is what makes this book special right from the off. Having to deal with Jinx from the get go whilst watching her back and being indebted to numerous fae, means that even the mighty Ms Granger appears to have bitten off more than she can chew. There are bargains to make, alliances stretched to breaking and some colourful new fae to add spice to the story. The click is constantly ticking as Ivy tries to unravel the mystery of her past whilst balancing to stay one step ahead whilst her friend is in dire need of her help.
This really opens up the relationships between characters and shows just how far you will go to do what you think is right.

Another great story and a fitting end to the boxed set. Time for 'Hunting In Bruges' to see how The Hunters Guild are faring....

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable story in the Ivy Granger series. Ivy has her hands full when Fire Imps start sprouting up all over the place and leave fires in their wake, Fae assassins are on her tail, the Green Lady calls in her marker, Jinx becomes sick and a supernatural war seems to be brewing on the horizon. Ivy needs the help of Ceff, Torn, Forneus and Kaye to help her find solutions to the growing list of problems. The audiobook has dual narrators, Melanie A. Mason and David Wilson Brown, which out worked well. The narration flowed easily between the two, conveying action, emotion and tension well. The male recording sounded a little tinny at times but his delivery of the characters was great. I love the relationships in this story; from the growing relationship between Ceff and Ivy, the cute little imp, Sparky, and the completion over Jinks between Torn and Forneus. This is a fun engaging story that has action, battles, humour and characters that appeal. I will look forward to seeing where the author takes the us next.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

New characters light up the town as fire imps set Harborsmouth ablaze. This is far from the only battle Ivy and Ceff face as they race to save Jinx, meet face to face with vampires, old friends and enemies, and battle poisonous spider demons.
This series gets better with each new story. Ivy continues to grow into her wisp powers while unable to control her inhuman glow. New dangers threaten from shadows and fog, and old threats are brought into play as urban fantasy and fairy tale monsters clash. Ivy meets, rescues, and adopts Sparky, a demon child who loves sparkly pencils, has floppy dog-like ears, and can open portals to hell. The fast pace, intricate sub plots and complex characterization leaves me breathless.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little predictable.

I unfortunately really struggled with this book. I found it predictable at times, which kept making it hard to really get my teeth into the book. It didn’t help that the land marking for things were so obvious and Ivy just kept noticing them then ignoring the, because ‘I am so blind’ yet continued on blind. It was frustrating. Yes helping friends is important stop making it the only thing out there! I am glad it picked up and became interesting near the end. It was a shame it took the first 2/3 of the book to do so. The series is still interesting and many of the other characters are far more compelling than the main one sadly. I will be interested to see if she can finally learn and be far less whiny.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Granger Psychic Detective

I'm into the 4th book in the series next and I'm HOOKED! SO Stevens perfectly blends urban fantasy with modern day reality and plenty of coffee which is right up my alley! And Kinks is the perfect best friend anyone could want,she deserves a series of her own! Anyone who likes Urban fantasy will love this series! And I plan to read the Hunters Build series next

[Roger]

Burning Bright (Ivy Granger, #3), my tenth read from author E.J. Stevens and my eighth Ivy Granger read. Well-written with intriguing characters. 7-hours 32-minute/282-pages of psychic detective enjoyment. E.J. Stevens has rapidly become a go-to author for me! I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Melanie A. Mason & David Wilson Brown’s narration adds to the book's enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Ivy,she never gets a break.Even when she tries to do good things, they come back to bite her on the butt. She is dealing with a conniving faery queen her demon loving friend,pyromancing demons...luckilly her quit wit and sense of humor is always at the ready. Melanie A. Mason ,and David Wilson Brown are the perfect narrators.I was provided this book by the author,narrator or publisher.