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Revelations #1
Taming Shadows
Four years ago, crime beat reporter Riley O’Rourke changed the world. To be fair, it wasn’t entirely her fault. Tucson police headquarters was destroyed during a fight with a sorcerer, a vampire, and a giant. Footage of the fight went viral on the internet, and the existence of Preternaturals—vampires, witches, and other were-animals like Riley—was revealed. Not all the Preternaturals are happy with this new world order, however. The Queen of the Winter Fae worries that exposing her hidden world will destroy it, and sends the nastiest storybook characters imaginable to kill Riley before she can out the Fair Folk, too. The Summer Queen promises to protect Riley if she does her a teeny-weeny favor. Riley agrees—what choice does she have? But dealing with the Fae is always a double-edged sword, and the Summer Queen neglected to explain that if Riley successfully pulls off the favor, the entire world might end up on the edge of destruction.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2013
3 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Skye
21 books75 followersFiona Skye is a fantasy author, currently living in the deserts of Southern Arizona. She shares a home with her husband, three kids, three cats, and a Border Collie.
Fiona’s passion for storytelling began early in life. As a child, she loved playing make-believe and inventing elaborate fantasy worlds to explore. At age twelve, she wrote her first short story, which was based on a song by a 1980s hair band. Since then, she has dedicated her life to story craft, only to be occasionally distracted by the dogged pursuit of the perfect plate of cheese enchiladas.
She counts Diana Gabaldon and Jim Butcher as her favorite authors and biggest influences. Joining these two on the list of people she would wait in queue for a week to have a coffee with are Neil Peart, Kevin Hearne, and Brandon Sanderson.
Fiona’s passion for storytelling began early in life. As a child, she loved playing make-believe and inventing elaborate fantasy worlds to explore. At age twelve, she wrote her first short story, which was based on a song by a 1980s hair band. Since then, she has dedicated her life to story craft, only to be occasionally distracted by the dogged pursuit of the perfect plate of cheese enchiladas.
She counts Diana Gabaldon and Jim Butcher as her favorite authors and biggest influences. Joining these two on the list of people she would wait in queue for a week to have a coffee with are Neil Peart, Kevin Hearne, and Brandon Sanderson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 21, 2014
Favorite Lines “You did a good thing. But all social changes bring upheaval. People need to get used to the idea, and then life needs to adjust and get back to normal.”
“I did have an unhealthy appetite for men in uniform.”
“I can't say that I won't ever do something stupid, or forget your birthday or our anniversary or your favorite flavor of ice cream. I'm fallible; I'm gonna make mistakes. But I can promise you that I won't lie to you, and I'll never cheat on you. Your Cat is a part of you. She makes you who you are. I can't ignore that, and even if I could, I wouldn't want to. All you need to do is trust me, Riley. That's all I'm asking.”
“For as long as I live, I will never forget the scent of your hair,”
“Even covered in faerie shit, you'll still be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”
FINALLY SOMEONE WRITES AN AMAZING BOOK AND TUCSON IS WHERE IT TAKES PLACE!
Yes I am from Tucson, AZ and this book is about a Jaguar shifter that was part of telling the world (starting with Tucson) that PARANORMALS walk along side humans.
Riley is a reporter who shares paranormal news with the world. She gets a visit from a very angry UnSeelie Queen and things get weirder from there. I loved the energy of this book, the action, the romance, and the paranormal in this book. I've loved any and all things Faerie, so when I got that, vampires, shifters, and A HOT GOLEM OMG I'm in heaven! This is something different and it's fabulous! I am dying to see what this author comes up with next!!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Carrie of FaeBooks)
FOUR FAERIE FAIRIES
“I did have an unhealthy appetite for men in uniform.”
“I can't say that I won't ever do something stupid, or forget your birthday or our anniversary or your favorite flavor of ice cream. I'm fallible; I'm gonna make mistakes. But I can promise you that I won't lie to you, and I'll never cheat on you. Your Cat is a part of you. She makes you who you are. I can't ignore that, and even if I could, I wouldn't want to. All you need to do is trust me, Riley. That's all I'm asking.”
“For as long as I live, I will never forget the scent of your hair,”
“Even covered in faerie shit, you'll still be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”
FINALLY SOMEONE WRITES AN AMAZING BOOK AND TUCSON IS WHERE IT TAKES PLACE!
Yes I am from Tucson, AZ and this book is about a Jaguar shifter that was part of telling the world (starting with Tucson) that PARANORMALS walk along side humans.
Riley is a reporter who shares paranormal news with the world. She gets a visit from a very angry UnSeelie Queen and things get weirder from there. I loved the energy of this book, the action, the romance, and the paranormal in this book. I've loved any and all things Faerie, so when I got that, vampires, shifters, and A HOT GOLEM OMG I'm in heaven! This is something different and it's fabulous! I am dying to see what this author comes up with next!!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Carrie of FaeBooks)
FOUR FAERIE FAIRIES
April 25, 2014
I enjoyed this dance through Tuscon and the Winter Court. It was a slow start, and the ending, though satisfying, felt a little rushed; however, Ms. Skye has a hand with wonderful descriptions of landscapes, icky monsters, and delicious food. I liked the characters, particularly the colorful supporting cast, very well. Consistently charming and nicely executed.
I recommend this book to readers of romance or urban fantasy featuring weres and/or Fae, especially (surprise) the Dresden Files.
I recommend this book to readers of romance or urban fantasy featuring weres and/or Fae, especially (surprise) the Dresden Files.
August 10, 2016
My original Taming Shadows audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Some secrets are best left in the dark; but sometimes they have a way of coming out with a vengeance. Riley O’Rourke, a crime beat reporter and Jaguar, was present when a bystander video-taped and released proof of supernatural creatures that roam the earth, mixing and mingling with humans. Exposing the preternatural world placed Riley into the lime light making her a spokesperson and specialist of the preternatural. However, not everyone was exposed and those creatures that remain hidden from the human world have an agenda – their agenda involves Riley, her boyfriend and Onyx (her vampire friend/ruler of the preternatural world of Arizona).
The fairy world, both the winter and summer courts, are feuding and draw Riley deep into the depths of their war. She must steal a valuable artifact from the winter court. Bargaining with a fairy is a complicated and dangerous maneuver but Riley does so to protect her and her family/friends. The question is not can she do it but will the fairy world leave her alone afterwards? That’s a chance Riley takes with the support of her friends.
Fiona Skye, author, has a well-developed story that brings into it many different aspects of the current myths and legends of vampires, fairies, werewolves, shape shifters and more. The characters grow at a solid pace. The use of myths/legends is well done also. Although it brings in the entire preternatural world, it quickly narrows it down to one section and focuses not on the human element but rather on the preternatural.
The narrator, P.J. Morgan provides an excellent performance. At first I was a bit thrown off because I did not expect Riley to have a Brooklyn like accent but it is explained in the story very well and subtly. Morgan plays all the parts well executing difficult accents and twangs. Very entertaining and a great fit for the book. The emotions were projected very well, drawing the audience in captivating them.
Not only is Skye a very talented words crafter and masterful story-teller, but Morgan is equally talented at narration. This is one book that should not be missed; it is by far an excellent book.
There were no issues with production. Everything was clear and well done.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog
Some secrets are best left in the dark; but sometimes they have a way of coming out with a vengeance. Riley O’Rourke, a crime beat reporter and Jaguar, was present when a bystander video-taped and released proof of supernatural creatures that roam the earth, mixing and mingling with humans. Exposing the preternatural world placed Riley into the lime light making her a spokesperson and specialist of the preternatural. However, not everyone was exposed and those creatures that remain hidden from the human world have an agenda – their agenda involves Riley, her boyfriend and Onyx (her vampire friend/ruler of the preternatural world of Arizona).
The fairy world, both the winter and summer courts, are feuding and draw Riley deep into the depths of their war. She must steal a valuable artifact from the winter court. Bargaining with a fairy is a complicated and dangerous maneuver but Riley does so to protect her and her family/friends. The question is not can she do it but will the fairy world leave her alone afterwards? That’s a chance Riley takes with the support of her friends.
Fiona Skye, author, has a well-developed story that brings into it many different aspects of the current myths and legends of vampires, fairies, werewolves, shape shifters and more. The characters grow at a solid pace. The use of myths/legends is well done also. Although it brings in the entire preternatural world, it quickly narrows it down to one section and focuses not on the human element but rather on the preternatural.
The narrator, P.J. Morgan provides an excellent performance. At first I was a bit thrown off because I did not expect Riley to have a Brooklyn like accent but it is explained in the story very well and subtly. Morgan plays all the parts well executing difficult accents and twangs. Very entertaining and a great fit for the book. The emotions were projected very well, drawing the audience in captivating them.
Not only is Skye a very talented words crafter and masterful story-teller, but Morgan is equally talented at narration. This is one book that should not be missed; it is by far an excellent book.
There were no issues with production. Everything was clear and well done.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog
September 30, 2016
This book is way better than more than a couple of traditionally published bestsellers I've read last years. I loved Jaguar, (the protagonist alter ego), the characters, the plot, the world, and the story inspired recipes at the end of the book.
October 30, 2014
Wonderfully fun read from Fiona Skye, that leaves me longing for the next part in the series to see what happens next! (And hey, there were even recipes!)
October 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I'd agree there was something about it that had a "Dresdenish" feel, but that isn't a bad thing in my opinion. Taking an idea and making it into something new that is your own is the sign of a good story, and that's what was done here.
Riley O'Rourke is a "Critter". Once a month, during the full moon, she transforms into a jaguar. Even in other times, she has the ability to use the senses and abilities of her other form. One of my favorite parts about this book was the concept of making magical creatures (Preternaturals, as the author calls them) public knowledge. Riley has become the face of Preternaturals due to her role in revealing their existence to the public at large, and she thrives in that role.
I found the characters interesting, including Riley's relationship to the fae, and like many others, I enjoyed what the author did with Riley's love interest.
I do agree that I would have liked to see the Night of Revelations included in this book, perhaps as a prologue, but the author caught us up soon enough.
All in all, I found this to be a very good read and I look forward into seeing what happens next.
Riley O'Rourke is a "Critter". Once a month, during the full moon, she transforms into a jaguar. Even in other times, she has the ability to use the senses and abilities of her other form. One of my favorite parts about this book was the concept of making magical creatures (Preternaturals, as the author calls them) public knowledge. Riley has become the face of Preternaturals due to her role in revealing their existence to the public at large, and she thrives in that role.
I found the characters interesting, including Riley's relationship to the fae, and like many others, I enjoyed what the author did with Riley's love interest.
I do agree that I would have liked to see the Night of Revelations included in this book, perhaps as a prologue, but the author caught us up soon enough.
All in all, I found this to be a very good read and I look forward into seeing what happens next.
October 8, 2013
The story opens with a recap of what happened during and after the Night of Revelations. The narrator, an unknown person at this moment, recounts their role in the whole affair. The first two chapters are a bit of an info dump. Though the information is necessary, it could have been told in a better way, such as through a T.V. interview.
The story starts to move along after that. We find out that the main character and our point of view is Riley O’Rouke, a werejaguar. I found the plot in and of itself to be very interesting. Four years after the Night of Revelations, the Queen of the Winter court threatens Riley. Riley is now tangled in the very tricky affairs of the Fae folk. Turning to various sources, she creates new friendships and attempts to defend herself. After an attack, Riley decides to do a quest for the Summer Queen in exchange for protection.
Check out the rest of my review here!
The story starts to move along after that. We find out that the main character and our point of view is Riley O’Rouke, a werejaguar. I found the plot in and of itself to be very interesting. Four years after the Night of Revelations, the Queen of the Winter court threatens Riley. Riley is now tangled in the very tricky affairs of the Fae folk. Turning to various sources, she creates new friendships and attempts to defend herself. After an attack, Riley decides to do a quest for the Summer Queen in exchange for protection.
Check out the rest of my review here!
December 31, 2015
I enjoyed diving into this world where Preternaturals are known and not in hiding. They seem to co-exist well enough with the rest of society, minus what happened on the night of Revelations. This story follows a news reporter, who seems to be the one responsible for the entire world finding out about the existence of shape-shifters; such as wolves, cats, and ominous foxes. As well as Vampires. The arc of the story is nice and the new kind of 'creeper' were just grotesque enough to make me squirm. The fight between the Summer Court and Winter Court of Fairies was different as well. The author helped me see Tuscon through her words and I didn't feel as if I was bombarded with too much details. I was well into a trance until wee hours of the morning finishing this, the last half of the book will definitely grab at you and hold you down. I look forward to seeing how the story continues in the next one.
Also loooking forward to try some of those recipes this weekend! Yum!!
Also loooking forward to try some of those recipes this weekend! Yum!!
January 3, 2016
Vampires, Shape shifters, Faeries; and even a man made of clay! If you enjoy ready about any of these preternatural being, Taming Shadows has you covered. With continuous action and excitement, this book is a quick read.
Skye’s writing style makes for an easy read, as well. Personally I related to Riley, and I’m sure every reader will relate to one of the many interesting characters.
Taming Shadows is part of a series, but also reads well as a standalone book. However, I will be reading more about Riley, and I’m sure future readers will want to read more of this series too! I give this 4 boundless stars, I really enjoyed it....Beth
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Skye’s writing style makes for an easy read, as well. Personally I related to Riley, and I’m sure every reader will relate to one of the many interesting characters.
Taming Shadows is part of a series, but also reads well as a standalone book. However, I will be reading more about Riley, and I’m sure future readers will want to read more of this series too! I give this 4 boundless stars, I really enjoyed it....Beth
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
January 8, 2016
Imagine, if you will, a world where the Preternatural existed. In this world it had always been hidden. Now further imagine that something occurred which forced its acknowledge. The world became aware of things that it had scoffed at only a day previously. What would it take to make that happen? What would the effects of simply acknowledging the existence of something that had always been mocked be? What if not everything was known about and brought forward ? What if the still -unknown wanted to stay unknown? What if Fiona Skye wrote a book named Taming Shadows and explored these same topics. Well, she did and I enjoyed it.
The Revelations (as they're known) were put forth after a massive confrontation was caught on tape. Our heroine, Riley O'Rourke got caught up in some bad stuff and it made the news. Instead of calling the Men In Black she decided to let the world know about her (she's a were-jaguar) and others like her. She stops hiding what she is. I know I don't usually do spoilers but this all happens in the prologue so I figure it's okay this time. Riley's entire life and the lives of everyone on Earth all change in mere minutes.
What makes Taming Shadows enjoyable is that it's not a novel built on a grand scale. The story focuses very tightly on the life of Riley. We see her day to day, her love interest and her improved lifestyle. She gets her own talk show and the big house and expensive car to go with it, but there's more than that. We see her dealing with the regular and mundane and with the Preternatural in much the same fashion. For Riley, her exceptional nature is a fact of life that must be dealt with but that doesn't keep her from being her. All this despite the fact that she never asked to be a Critter and was changed without her consent.
The world that Skye builds is impressive. There is an entire hierarchy of Preternatural beings. One of Riley's intimates is the Duke of Tucson. Another owns a bar that caters to the Preternatural. Along the way she meets more people and realizes that the previously hidden world that she revealed. Skye did well here because we learn about the way Riley's world works as Riley does. Sometimes with new fantasy worlds things can be a bit disconcerting but Skye pulled it off. She gets enough details in to make things make sense and keep us interesting without slowing the plot down and boring us all to death. Kudos to her. Surprises abound and I won't reveal too much. One does wonder if Skye may have read a bit of Jim Butcher however.
Riley is simultaneously near the bottom (as are all the Critters/were-creatures) and near the top (being friends with the local nobility.) She ends up stuck in the middle of a fight between factions that she never knew existed and spends as much time worrying about what effect it will have on her livelihood as she does wondering whether she will survive it. She still has a young woman's natural appetites and she is not afraid to assuage them when she can and if she falls in love easily, well... It works for the plot.
I've remarked before on my love for a strong female protagonist and Riley certainly is one of those. She can scrap with the best of them. She has the personal courage to reveal an entirely new world to the rest of humanity. She goes toe to toe with some seriously scary stuff and the details of how she got Changed... I'll leave that for the book but it's not something anyone would come through unscathed, physically or emotionally. Having said that much though, she's not always sure of what comes next. She doubts her choices and doesn't always know what she should do. In short, she feels more human than most other characters that I've read. Skye really does a good job selling her protagonist. Not only do I feel like I could hang out with Riley and friends, I feel like I already have.
That's actually a really good thing and it's something that gets overlooked by many other writers. The Duke of Tucson, aka Onyx, is a vampire that's been around for several millennia. He makes sense though. Onyx is not the wantonly cruel Count Dracula, but neither is he some Stephanie Meyers spawned sparkly wimp. Riley's boyfriend is a cop. He's not some insufferable hardcore stereotype. Nor is he a superheroic ass-stomper. He's a man with a job and a woman that he cares about. Skye's supporting cast is well thought out and written.
Skye put some research into this book and it shows. I've been avoiding about what though. Suffice it to say that she seems to have done some reading of non-standard sources but it works. Some of what's in the book is trope based, but the roots are in folklore. If some old superstitions weren't really superstitions in a world where the existence the Preternatural were hidden that makes sense, especially if those old superstitions regard protection against the undead.
My one complaint about the books involves the villains. There are two groups of them and their motivations are a bit unclear. I mean, on one hand their motivation seems obvious, but maybe too obvious. Riley gets suckered in right on cue but I wonder... I don't want to give up too much. Let's just say that one of the two groups could have prevented the entire problem by remaining out of the picture and didn't. Given the fact that their intervention drives Riley into the arms of their opposition and creates a problem they would have been better off to avoid, it seems a bit pointless. Then again, no one is perfect and maybe they knew more than I knew they knew or something. That much being said, I really did like this book and look forward to the sequels. It's book one of a trilogy.
The Revelations (as they're known) were put forth after a massive confrontation was caught on tape. Our heroine, Riley O'Rourke got caught up in some bad stuff and it made the news. Instead of calling the Men In Black she decided to let the world know about her (she's a were-jaguar) and others like her. She stops hiding what she is. I know I don't usually do spoilers but this all happens in the prologue so I figure it's okay this time. Riley's entire life and the lives of everyone on Earth all change in mere minutes.
What makes Taming Shadows enjoyable is that it's not a novel built on a grand scale. The story focuses very tightly on the life of Riley. We see her day to day, her love interest and her improved lifestyle. She gets her own talk show and the big house and expensive car to go with it, but there's more than that. We see her dealing with the regular and mundane and with the Preternatural in much the same fashion. For Riley, her exceptional nature is a fact of life that must be dealt with but that doesn't keep her from being her. All this despite the fact that she never asked to be a Critter and was changed without her consent.
The world that Skye builds is impressive. There is an entire hierarchy of Preternatural beings. One of Riley's intimates is the Duke of Tucson. Another owns a bar that caters to the Preternatural. Along the way she meets more people and realizes that the previously hidden world that she revealed. Skye did well here because we learn about the way Riley's world works as Riley does. Sometimes with new fantasy worlds things can be a bit disconcerting but Skye pulled it off. She gets enough details in to make things make sense and keep us interesting without slowing the plot down and boring us all to death. Kudos to her. Surprises abound and I won't reveal too much. One does wonder if Skye may have read a bit of Jim Butcher however.
Riley is simultaneously near the bottom (as are all the Critters/were-creatures) and near the top (being friends with the local nobility.) She ends up stuck in the middle of a fight between factions that she never knew existed and spends as much time worrying about what effect it will have on her livelihood as she does wondering whether she will survive it. She still has a young woman's natural appetites and she is not afraid to assuage them when she can and if she falls in love easily, well... It works for the plot.
I've remarked before on my love for a strong female protagonist and Riley certainly is one of those. She can scrap with the best of them. She has the personal courage to reveal an entirely new world to the rest of humanity. She goes toe to toe with some seriously scary stuff and the details of how she got Changed... I'll leave that for the book but it's not something anyone would come through unscathed, physically or emotionally. Having said that much though, she's not always sure of what comes next. She doubts her choices and doesn't always know what she should do. In short, she feels more human than most other characters that I've read. Skye really does a good job selling her protagonist. Not only do I feel like I could hang out with Riley and friends, I feel like I already have.
That's actually a really good thing and it's something that gets overlooked by many other writers. The Duke of Tucson, aka Onyx, is a vampire that's been around for several millennia. He makes sense though. Onyx is not the wantonly cruel Count Dracula, but neither is he some Stephanie Meyers spawned sparkly wimp. Riley's boyfriend is a cop. He's not some insufferable hardcore stereotype. Nor is he a superheroic ass-stomper. He's a man with a job and a woman that he cares about. Skye's supporting cast is well thought out and written.
Skye put some research into this book and it shows. I've been avoiding about what though. Suffice it to say that she seems to have done some reading of non-standard sources but it works. Some of what's in the book is trope based, but the roots are in folklore. If some old superstitions weren't really superstitions in a world where the existence the Preternatural were hidden that makes sense, especially if those old superstitions regard protection against the undead.
My one complaint about the books involves the villains. There are two groups of them and their motivations are a bit unclear. I mean, on one hand their motivation seems obvious, but maybe too obvious. Riley gets suckered in right on cue but I wonder... I don't want to give up too much. Let's just say that one of the two groups could have prevented the entire problem by remaining out of the picture and didn't. Given the fact that their intervention drives Riley into the arms of their opposition and creates a problem they would have been better off to avoid, it seems a bit pointless. Then again, no one is perfect and maybe they knew more than I knew they knew or something. That much being said, I really did like this book and look forward to the sequels. It's book one of a trilogy.
April 12, 2017
I can't really call myself a fan of the urban fantasy genre. My reading selections are largely limited to action thrillers (most of them from friends of mine) and research for my own novels.
My friend Fiona Skye's first entry in the Revelations Trilogy, TAMING SHADOWS (previously known as FAERIE TALES) sat on my shelf for a couple of years until I ran into her at a promotional event and bought her second one. She made me promise that I would sit down and read her works soon. Feeling bad I had procrastinated on giving her work an honest shake and with a recently freed-up reading schedule, I dusted off my copy of the first print run and gave it a read.
I may not be a fan of the urban fantasy genre, but if anybody is on track to change that, it is definitely Fiona Skye.
TAMING SHADOWS revolves around Riley O'Rourke, a former crime beat reporter who was bitten by a were-jaguar and now suffers not only from having to change every full moon, but also having her were-personality coincide within her psyche. After a massive battle that destroys the Tucson Police headquarters, Riley and her mentor, Onyx (a vampire who is the Duke of Tucson and responsible for all supernatural creatures within his jurisdiction) decided to come clean and reveal the presence of the supernatural world to humans.
This "coming out" results in many good things, such as the government putting in protections for what they term as "preternatural creatures" and establishing a law enforcement agency specifically for dealing with preternatural criminals (the Preternatural Law Enforcement Bureau, whose agents are called Plebs). However, it also results in many bad things, such as violence against suspected preternatural creatures and drawing the ire of some preternatural creatures who were content to remain in the shadows.
One of those vexed is the Queen of the Unseelie (Winter) Faeries, who threatens Riley if she continues to be a public figure and bring the preternatural world to the public eye. The Unseelie Queen is a powerful figure, more than capable of destroying Riley. What we then find is that the Unseelie Queen's rival, the Seelie (Summer) Faerie Queen, is willing to provide Riley with protection, should she sneak into the Unseelie court and steal a magical item that will give the Seelies an edge in their perpetual war against the Unseelies.
TAMING SHADOWS grabbed my interest from page one and held it up until the end. Skye is a masterful storyteller who knows how to paint vivid characters. Whether we are talking about Onyx; David Lo, the recently appointed special agent in charge of the PLEB's Tucson Field Office; Baron, a former Papal preternatural hunter and owner of Tucson's premiere preternatural drinking hole; or even Riley and her Jaguar, each page breathes life into the characters and compels the reader to push forward to learn more.
To build a secret world from scratch is no small feat, even when that secret world is beneath the surface of our own. Skye gives the reader exactly what they need to know to push forward in the book and shows them the preternatural world. Simultaneously, she expertly puts the reader in Tucson through her description of the scenery. Any resident or native of Tucson will recognize many of the locales.
As icing on the cake, Skye includes recipes for the foods mentioned throughout the book, as Riley is a big eater (who is blessed and cursed with a hyperactive metabolism due to her preternatural capabilities). So, if you are like me and like to enjoy some food while you read, Skye has provided the knowledge necessary to eat what the characters eat in real time. For a foodie like me, that's absolutely awesome.
One of the ways one knows that they've got talent is when they manage to win over somebody who does not usually read their genre. Fiona Skye has done that with TAMING SHADOWS, and I'm definitely itching to get my hands on more of Riley O'Rourke's adventures.
My friend Fiona Skye's first entry in the Revelations Trilogy, TAMING SHADOWS (previously known as FAERIE TALES) sat on my shelf for a couple of years until I ran into her at a promotional event and bought her second one. She made me promise that I would sit down and read her works soon. Feeling bad I had procrastinated on giving her work an honest shake and with a recently freed-up reading schedule, I dusted off my copy of the first print run and gave it a read.
I may not be a fan of the urban fantasy genre, but if anybody is on track to change that, it is definitely Fiona Skye.
TAMING SHADOWS revolves around Riley O'Rourke, a former crime beat reporter who was bitten by a were-jaguar and now suffers not only from having to change every full moon, but also having her were-personality coincide within her psyche. After a massive battle that destroys the Tucson Police headquarters, Riley and her mentor, Onyx (a vampire who is the Duke of Tucson and responsible for all supernatural creatures within his jurisdiction) decided to come clean and reveal the presence of the supernatural world to humans.
This "coming out" results in many good things, such as the government putting in protections for what they term as "preternatural creatures" and establishing a law enforcement agency specifically for dealing with preternatural criminals (the Preternatural Law Enforcement Bureau, whose agents are called Plebs). However, it also results in many bad things, such as violence against suspected preternatural creatures and drawing the ire of some preternatural creatures who were content to remain in the shadows.
One of those vexed is the Queen of the Unseelie (Winter) Faeries, who threatens Riley if she continues to be a public figure and bring the preternatural world to the public eye. The Unseelie Queen is a powerful figure, more than capable of destroying Riley. What we then find is that the Unseelie Queen's rival, the Seelie (Summer) Faerie Queen, is willing to provide Riley with protection, should she sneak into the Unseelie court and steal a magical item that will give the Seelies an edge in their perpetual war against the Unseelies.
TAMING SHADOWS grabbed my interest from page one and held it up until the end. Skye is a masterful storyteller who knows how to paint vivid characters. Whether we are talking about Onyx; David Lo, the recently appointed special agent in charge of the PLEB's Tucson Field Office; Baron, a former Papal preternatural hunter and owner of Tucson's premiere preternatural drinking hole; or even Riley and her Jaguar, each page breathes life into the characters and compels the reader to push forward to learn more.
To build a secret world from scratch is no small feat, even when that secret world is beneath the surface of our own. Skye gives the reader exactly what they need to know to push forward in the book and shows them the preternatural world. Simultaneously, she expertly puts the reader in Tucson through her description of the scenery. Any resident or native of Tucson will recognize many of the locales.
As icing on the cake, Skye includes recipes for the foods mentioned throughout the book, as Riley is a big eater (who is blessed and cursed with a hyperactive metabolism due to her preternatural capabilities). So, if you are like me and like to enjoy some food while you read, Skye has provided the knowledge necessary to eat what the characters eat in real time. For a foodie like me, that's absolutely awesome.
One of the ways one knows that they've got talent is when they manage to win over somebody who does not usually read their genre. Fiona Skye has done that with TAMING SHADOWS, and I'm definitely itching to get my hands on more of Riley O'Rourke's adventures.
April 1, 2014
Faerie Tales is the first book of the "Revelations" trilogy by Fiona Skye. Ms. Skye can be found on Twitter (@FionaSkyeWriter), Google+ (+Fiona Skye) or at her blog (http://fiona-skye.com/). I met her on Twitter and she gave me a copy of Faerie Tales for an honest review. You can find the book on Amazon (http://amzn.to/1imESg0).
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Riley O'Rourke is a werejaguar responsible for exposing the world of the Preternatural to the rest of Humanity. But not all the things that go bump in the night are happy with the new world order.
The Queen of the Winter Court, a cruel and vicious faerie, is determined to punish Riley for her role in the Night of Revelations and sends some of the nastiest storybook characters imaginable after her.
Salvation comes from the Summer Queen, who asks Riley to steal a magical artifact from the Winter Queen, a mirror that will determine the winner in the eternal war between the Fae Courts. Riley's reward for returning the mirror is the protection of the Summer Court.
Joining Riley on this quest are her mentor, a 3,000-year-old vampire, and Riley's lover, a federal law enforcement agent with a secret of his own.
Their successful completion of this quest has unexpected consequences that could doom the entire world.
***************************
Fiona Skye writes well in Faerie Tales. She has a sharp command of language, and the book comes across well edited. I was impressed with how Ms. Skye's prose flows throughout the book.
As I read this book, I most enjoyed the way Ms. Skye intertwines several different types of modern fantasy details into the novel. There are were-creatures (not just wolves either, but many animal types), vampires, faeries, and magicians. Magic exists, both old and new. Ms. Skye takes the time to mix various real life myths and superstitions into one universe, and I found it worked to move the story along.
The book is written in the first person, from Riley's point of view. It makes sense then, when Riley transforms, so does the author's writing style. The character changes to something more primal and instinctual, no longer concerned with telling a story. The glimpses of "Jaguar's" motivations and understanding of the world added to Riley's own emotions about being a preternatural.
If there was one part of the book I had trouble connecting with, it is with Riley and her romantic relationships. As a man married most of my adult life, I could not relate to Riley in this regard. Riley struggles with her feelings toward a love interest throughout the book. Still, Ms. Skye spends ample time explaining Riley's troubled past, which helps put Riley's struggles into perspective.
I wonder if in the future Riley will come to realize some of her issues with relationships are actually based in how the character approaches relationships and sexuality in the first place. It would be interesting to see her grow in this regard in future books, and not fall into some sort of "love conquers all" simple solution.
While the book is a little slow to build up to the action, I was satisfied in the end. I felt the book successfully sets up the world in which Riley lives and builds the necessary tensions and antagonists that will take the trilogy forward into book two.
I am excited to see how Fiona Skye continues the Revelations Trilogy. She most impressed me with her clean writing style and ability to intertwine a number of disparate elements into a cohesive world.
I recommend Faerie Tales to anyone looking for a modern fantasy tale of magic and preternatural action with a little romance thrown in, and look forward to seeing more of Ms. Skye's work in the future.
***************************
Riley O'Rourke is a werejaguar responsible for exposing the world of the Preternatural to the rest of Humanity. But not all the things that go bump in the night are happy with the new world order.
The Queen of the Winter Court, a cruel and vicious faerie, is determined to punish Riley for her role in the Night of Revelations and sends some of the nastiest storybook characters imaginable after her.
Salvation comes from the Summer Queen, who asks Riley to steal a magical artifact from the Winter Queen, a mirror that will determine the winner in the eternal war between the Fae Courts. Riley's reward for returning the mirror is the protection of the Summer Court.
Joining Riley on this quest are her mentor, a 3,000-year-old vampire, and Riley's lover, a federal law enforcement agent with a secret of his own.
Their successful completion of this quest has unexpected consequences that could doom the entire world.
***************************
Fiona Skye writes well in Faerie Tales. She has a sharp command of language, and the book comes across well edited. I was impressed with how Ms. Skye's prose flows throughout the book.
As I read this book, I most enjoyed the way Ms. Skye intertwines several different types of modern fantasy details into the novel. There are were-creatures (not just wolves either, but many animal types), vampires, faeries, and magicians. Magic exists, both old and new. Ms. Skye takes the time to mix various real life myths and superstitions into one universe, and I found it worked to move the story along.
The book is written in the first person, from Riley's point of view. It makes sense then, when Riley transforms, so does the author's writing style. The character changes to something more primal and instinctual, no longer concerned with telling a story. The glimpses of "Jaguar's" motivations and understanding of the world added to Riley's own emotions about being a preternatural.
If there was one part of the book I had trouble connecting with, it is with Riley and her romantic relationships. As a man married most of my adult life, I could not relate to Riley in this regard. Riley struggles with her feelings toward a love interest throughout the book. Still, Ms. Skye spends ample time explaining Riley's troubled past, which helps put Riley's struggles into perspective.
I wonder if in the future Riley will come to realize some of her issues with relationships are actually based in how the character approaches relationships and sexuality in the first place. It would be interesting to see her grow in this regard in future books, and not fall into some sort of "love conquers all" simple solution.
While the book is a little slow to build up to the action, I was satisfied in the end. I felt the book successfully sets up the world in which Riley lives and builds the necessary tensions and antagonists that will take the trilogy forward into book two.
I am excited to see how Fiona Skye continues the Revelations Trilogy. She most impressed me with her clean writing style and ability to intertwine a number of disparate elements into a cohesive world.
I recommend Faerie Tales to anyone looking for a modern fantasy tale of magic and preternatural action with a little romance thrown in, and look forward to seeing more of Ms. Skye's work in the future.
January 23, 2016
Alas that I cannot rate 3.5 stars. I would, and it'll round up to 4 for Amazon. So there.
Paranormal fantasy is the breakfast cereal of my reading menu: a default choice, a guaranteed, all-nutrients-included basic entertainment value. It feeds the hungry imagination even when there's nothing outstanding to make it memorable.
This book is a nice, full bowl of Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. That is praise. I LOVE CFSBs. I ate up Taming Shadows in an evening (what, don't you eat cereal for dessert? I do.) Then I went right to Amazon for Silver Shackles that night, and gobbled it down the next day. I even rummaged around the bottom of the box, so to speak, wishing there was more.
Any paranormal that makes me sit up and say, "Oo!" is a pleasant surprise. Taming Shadows satisfied my appetite for story without leaving a stereotype aftertaste, and I especially liked the well-rounded characters and world-building that hinted at a lot of serious background research.
The story pours out with the ease of tipping the box. (I have an analogy here. I will beat it to death.)
A main character with tragedy in their past, touched by the supernatural, working with old allies and new friends, wrestling with personal as well as magical problems, facing some peril and personal issues at once...yeah. This book has all of that, along with some excellent original touches that kept me waiting to see what would happen next.
This is not to say it astonished me. All the paranormals I've read, from erotic romance to noir mystery or even portal crossovers, have so many elements in common that I accidentally take books home from the library twice, not realizing from the description & cover that I've read them already. This one stands out, but it doesn't break away from the pack entirely. That's part of what made it a comforable read.
This is not the book for someone looking for "something different, something totally original, something daring and a little outrageous." It isn't slices of salmon sautéed in garlic served with a pear vinagrette reduction and toasted almond slices. Nope. It's a big tasty bowl of yummy, crunchy, could eat it every morning all week with no regrets tastiness.
Extra points for a remarkable lack of the usual indie-book rough spots in sentence structure, basic grammar & word choice. That was like getting a secret toy surprise in the box! Dig in, and enjoy it for yourself.
Paranormal fantasy is the breakfast cereal of my reading menu: a default choice, a guaranteed, all-nutrients-included basic entertainment value. It feeds the hungry imagination even when there's nothing outstanding to make it memorable.
This book is a nice, full bowl of Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. That is praise. I LOVE CFSBs. I ate up Taming Shadows in an evening (what, don't you eat cereal for dessert? I do.) Then I went right to Amazon for Silver Shackles that night, and gobbled it down the next day. I even rummaged around the bottom of the box, so to speak, wishing there was more.
Any paranormal that makes me sit up and say, "Oo!" is a pleasant surprise. Taming Shadows satisfied my appetite for story without leaving a stereotype aftertaste, and I especially liked the well-rounded characters and world-building that hinted at a lot of serious background research.
The story pours out with the ease of tipping the box. (I have an analogy here. I will beat it to death.)
A main character with tragedy in their past, touched by the supernatural, working with old allies and new friends, wrestling with personal as well as magical problems, facing some peril and personal issues at once...yeah. This book has all of that, along with some excellent original touches that kept me waiting to see what would happen next.
This is not to say it astonished me. All the paranormals I've read, from erotic romance to noir mystery or even portal crossovers, have so many elements in common that I accidentally take books home from the library twice, not realizing from the description & cover that I've read them already. This one stands out, but it doesn't break away from the pack entirely. That's part of what made it a comforable read.
This is not the book for someone looking for "something different, something totally original, something daring and a little outrageous." It isn't slices of salmon sautéed in garlic served with a pear vinagrette reduction and toasted almond slices. Nope. It's a big tasty bowl of yummy, crunchy, could eat it every morning all week with no regrets tastiness.
Extra points for a remarkable lack of the usual indie-book rough spots in sentence structure, basic grammar & word choice. That was like getting a secret toy surprise in the box! Dig in, and enjoy it for yourself.
October 16, 2014
It took me less than 24 hours to finish this story, which is a testament to how entertaining it is.
Riley O'Rourke (forgive me if my spelling's off) is a reporter in Tuscon who covers the city's crime beat. She's also a Critter, which means she turns into a Jaguar if her life is threatened, or the moon is full. She successfully keeps her condition secret, until a well-publicized incident involving her mentor and friend--a 3,000-year-old vampire named Onyx--outs the existence of preternatural beings. The incident become known as the Night of Revelation.
Now it's four years later and Riley is a celebrity, and an advocate for preternatural rights. She meets David, an FBI agent for the Preternatural Law Enforcement Bureau (And I chuckled mightily that they were called PLEBs), and the attraction is intense, as well as mutual.
Unfortunately, the Faerie folk are displeased with the outing of magical creatures. Humans' belief is upsetting the balance of power between the Summer and Winter Courts.
And they blame Riley.
The story has steamy love scenes, animal magnetism, magic, and lore. It reminded me of the Harry Dresden series, and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Riley O'Rourke (forgive me if my spelling's off) is a reporter in Tuscon who covers the city's crime beat. She's also a Critter, which means she turns into a Jaguar if her life is threatened, or the moon is full. She successfully keeps her condition secret, until a well-publicized incident involving her mentor and friend--a 3,000-year-old vampire named Onyx--outs the existence of preternatural beings. The incident become known as the Night of Revelation.
Now it's four years later and Riley is a celebrity, and an advocate for preternatural rights. She meets David, an FBI agent for the Preternatural Law Enforcement Bureau (And I chuckled mightily that they were called PLEBs), and the attraction is intense, as well as mutual.
Unfortunately, the Faerie folk are displeased with the outing of magical creatures. Humans' belief is upsetting the balance of power between the Summer and Winter Courts.
And they blame Riley.
The story has steamy love scenes, animal magnetism, magic, and lore. It reminded me of the Harry Dresden series, and I can't wait to read the next installment.
December 22, 2013
** I received this book in exchange for an honest review. ** I loved this book from start to finish! I even loved it after I finished since it included all of the recipes from the food described within the story! I am all about books and food!! The plot of the story was something that was original, even if it contained the usually type of characters (vampires, werewolves, humans, shape shifters). It took on so many different twists and turns and had even the requisite romance that most stories have. I felt like I could totally relate to the characters and their insecurities and problems. I enjoyed the way the story line was developed and the chapters leave you wanting more, it is a hard book to stop reading, as it keeps drawing you in! I highly recommend that you give this book a try, I don't think that you will be disappointed! I am already eagerly anticipating the next book in this new series!
**This review has been done in conjunction with A Girl Amongst Books Blog. For more information on our reviews, please visit our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/agirlamongstbooks**
**This review has been done in conjunction with A Girl Amongst Books Blog. For more information on our reviews, please visit our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/agirlamongstbooks**
February 8, 2016
Taming Shadows by Fiona Skye is an exciting urban fantasy full of some of my favorite creatures and is served with a side of sizzling romance. Riley is a strong female character, but I love that she still has personal demons to slay to make her even stronger. David is a fantastic character with just the right mix of sweet and strong. All of the characters are well written, and the minor characters, such as Aine and Orla, are every bit as enjoyable as the main characters. Some of the fantasy creatures were not what I was expecting, while others were exactly what I expected, and that made the story even more enjoyable to me. This story has action, romance, and most importantly, otherworldly creatures, which makes this book a must-read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book, Silver Shackles.
December 20, 2013
*I was given a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
First, I absolutely LOVED this book. It kept me hooked the whole way through it. Fiona did such an amazing job with everything in this book. I could hear the dialects in my head they were so well written out. I also loved the titles of the chapters, they got me hooked on the chapter and I would tell myself okay one more then I will go to bed. I found myself falling asleep reading more then once because I just had to read one more chapter. Then to include all the food porn recipes into the book was great.
B. *This review has been done in conjunction with A Girl Amongst Books Blog. For more information on our reviews, please visit our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/agirlamongstbooks*
First, I absolutely LOVED this book. It kept me hooked the whole way through it. Fiona did such an amazing job with everything in this book. I could hear the dialects in my head they were so well written out. I also loved the titles of the chapters, they got me hooked on the chapter and I would tell myself okay one more then I will go to bed. I found myself falling asleep reading more then once because I just had to read one more chapter. Then to include all the food porn recipes into the book was great.
B. *This review has been done in conjunction with A Girl Amongst Books Blog. For more information on our reviews, please visit our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/agirlamongstbooks*
November 4, 2013
I can't wait for Silver Shackles!!! I had the opportunity to read the story before its completion, and I have to say I'm very happy with how it turned out. One of my favorite parts of this story is the way the author described her jaguar-side. I LOVE getting little tidbits about how she thinks and feels compared to her Human side and that's something I feel is often left out in supernatural books I have read. This was a great, catchy and quick read with lots of lore and suspense woven into it. If you like supernatural and lore, this is a good book for you ;) I look forward to the next novel's debut!
December 25, 2013
Fiona is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to fill up my Kindle with her books! Thrilling and detailed, this story follows the life of a shifter that is both familiar and new. I finished this book in less than a week. I couldn't put it down! Even the quirks of the main character seeped into my subconscious and after reading the book picked up a bag of gummy worms. Take a chance on Riley O'Rourke and you will not be disappointment. She kicks butt and has a healthy love of food. There's even a recipe appendix in the back that I plan to use.
February 10, 2014
This is a fun story about Riley O'Rourke, a news reporter who inadvertently revealed to the world the existence of preternatural creatures.
The enjoyable part of the book, for me, was the relatable character of Riley and Daniel, the main love interest of Riley. Riley is a werejaguar and David is human. Or is he?
The world building was interesting, the characters believable and engaging and the tension well-crafted. That I have to wait now, for the next, is a bummer. So, Ms. Skye, write faster!
Those of you who enjoy Faith Hunter will probably dig Riley and her jaguar self.
The enjoyable part of the book, for me, was the relatable character of Riley and Daniel, the main love interest of Riley. Riley is a werejaguar and David is human. Or is he?
The world building was interesting, the characters believable and engaging and the tension well-crafted. That I have to wait now, for the next, is a bummer. So, Ms. Skye, write faster!
Those of you who enjoy Faith Hunter will probably dig Riley and her jaguar self.
February 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this Urban Fantasy. The characters are set in the real world though at one point they enter an alternative realm that is well set up. I liked that this is based after humans have discovered that preternatural creatures exist. Actually that bit fascinated me and I hope the author might go back and explore the immediate effects of this phenomena in another book. This one sets our hero, a jaguar shifter, on a mission that involves shifters, vampires and the most aggressive carries I have ever come across. Enjoyable characters and impeccable detail to the lore in this story.
January 15, 2016
With carefully developed characters, intricate plot, and twists that I never saw coming... "Taming Shadows" does not cease to entertain. The start of the book threw me off track in terms of predicting plot and Skye came up with something I could not have thought of for where the first chapter began. I loved that she was able to do that. Minus a few stylized writing preferences that I was not a fan of, this book will definitely hook you in quickly and keep you there through to the end!
June 13, 2014
This is no typical Snow White. The heroine in this tale is a shapeshifter with ties to the Fae. A story with interesting ideas and lovable characters. A fun and exciting read!
There were a lot of formatting issues, but I may've gotten an older copy because the cover art on mine is different than the current one available.
There were a lot of formatting issues, but I may've gotten an older copy because the cover art on mine is different than the current one available.
Read
December 28, 2014This has some really great recipes at the end of the book!
This book was completely not my cup of tea...I liked the concepts and they were quite interesting, but I also prefer young adult.
I'm not going to rate. I think it would be unfair and misleading to give it any rating because she was not writing to my audience.
This book was completely not my cup of tea...I liked the concepts and they were quite interesting, but I also prefer young adult.
I'm not going to rate. I think it would be unfair and misleading to give it any rating because she was not writing to my audience.
March 26, 2015
This story was really good. I adore Riley and love where Fiona Skye took the story. I like the relationships and interactions and how Riley is woman enough to stand up for herself but still be afraid sometimes. This story is very catchy and I was glad I got it as an audiobook so I could listen on the long rides home and get it done faster than I would have normally this week. Love it!
September 16, 2013
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Bibliophile Raven's review of Faerie Tales>
Bibliophile Raven's review of Faerie Tales>
May 23, 2014
I'll keep this one short. I really loved this book! One enjoyable ride from start to finish.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good contemporary fantasy featuring shape-shifters, witches, vampires, and faeries. I'm so looking forward to book 2!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good contemporary fantasy featuring shape-shifters, witches, vampires, and faeries. I'm so looking forward to book 2!
September 3, 2016
I have a wish list with books I want to give family when they ask what i want. This book was at the top of my wish list when I won it. The book started out slow for me then picked up speed. Personally i would have liked more action, but on the whole it was a god read.
April 3, 2014
Great world building filled with rich, well thought out characters. In the crowded field of Modern Fantasy, this one stand out for all the right reasons.
June 26, 2016
This story was compelling enough that I finished it, but there were too many little things that annoyed me, particularly once she meets the Sidhe.
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