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Julia Ivory, Fae Hunter #1
WINTERSTRUCK
Faeries are stuck in the human world. When a series of murders litters the city, can one woman track down a supernatural psychopath?
Canadian black ops agent Julia Ivory hasn’t recovered from losing her partner. Determined to battle dangerous magical creatures solo, she digs into a new case of burned bodies all over Toronto. And when security footage reveals the culprit is a rogue fae, it’s a race against time to prevent any more fiery deaths.
Keeping her fiancé oblivious to her covert activities, Julia struggles to shield her loved ones from danger. But when a deadly confrontation leads to her worst fears coming true, the beleaguered investigator must break all the rules to end the horrific killings.
Will she stop the homicidal arsonist before her life goes down in flames?
Winterstruck is the fast-paced first book in the Faerie Hunters International urban fantasy series. If you like supernatural crime-fighting, complex heroines, and gritty action, then you’ll love Sara C. Walker’s dark mystery.
Buy Winterstruck today!
Canadian black ops agent Julia Ivory hasn’t recovered from losing her partner. Determined to battle dangerous magical creatures solo, she digs into a new case of burned bodies all over Toronto. And when security footage reveals the culprit is a rogue fae, it’s a race against time to prevent any more fiery deaths.
Keeping her fiancé oblivious to her covert activities, Julia struggles to shield her loved ones from danger. But when a deadly confrontation leads to her worst fears coming true, the beleaguered investigator must break all the rules to end the horrific killings.
Will she stop the homicidal arsonist before her life goes down in flames?
Winterstruck is the fast-paced first book in the Faerie Hunters International urban fantasy series. If you like supernatural crime-fighting, complex heroines, and gritty action, then you’ll love Sara C. Walker’s dark mystery.
Buy Winterstruck today!
- GenresFantasyUrban FantasyFae
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2021
65 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 14, 2022
utterly sad
Dullwitted characters, completely unreal CSIS, totally unrealistic worldbuilding…. Need I go on. Oh, the MC was likeable when she wasn’t being dimwited, but there were so many things that screamed out that the author has no clue about police work, about how CSIS works, about so many things… The weapons? Old handguns not in nearly ever by Canadian soldiers?, Black ops is a U.S. term, not Canadian and an undercover unit is usually better funded than regular units, so driving your own car?, having a gun without even a holster? 3 people in a unit to control the millions of Fae? This would not be a CSIS unit either,but an RCMP unit or a Canadian Forces Unit. Most likely RCMP. CSIS is intelligence gathering and works with RCMP and the Canadian Forces who do most of the action. I could see a mixed unit with all three but no, not CSIS. Sorry, so unreal. I liked the story itself for the most part, but the lack of knowledge in the subject stretched my disbelief. Pass.
Dullwitted characters, completely unreal CSIS, totally unrealistic worldbuilding…. Need I go on. Oh, the MC was likeable when she wasn’t being dimwited, but there were so many things that screamed out that the author has no clue about police work, about how CSIS works, about so many things… The weapons? Old handguns not in nearly ever by Canadian soldiers?, Black ops is a U.S. term, not Canadian and an undercover unit is usually better funded than regular units, so driving your own car?, having a gun without even a holster? 3 people in a unit to control the millions of Fae? This would not be a CSIS unit either,but an RCMP unit or a Canadian Forces Unit. Most likely RCMP. CSIS is intelligence gathering and works with RCMP and the Canadian Forces who do most of the action. I could see a mixed unit with all three but no, not CSIS. Sorry, so unreal. I liked the story itself for the most part, but the lack of knowledge in the subject stretched my disbelief. Pass.
July 19, 2022
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring.)
Could have been good but the MC annoyed me particularly regarding her love interest. I did not like him at all.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: No
Would you recommend?: No
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
Could have been good but the MC annoyed me particularly regarding her love interest. I did not like him at all.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: No
Would you recommend?: No
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
February 11, 2024
I get that this book takes place in Canada, but the Canadian-isms are pushed way too hard. Especially product placement, or super old words that my 80+ year old grandma used.
The mystery was so flat I got confused. Mostly because of the bombardment of people thrown at me. Julia is after Flint. Oh, wait, now Hammond. Dunno where he came from, but okay. Simon had all the flags of "future love interest" but just... disappeared. Leander came out of nowhere for some back story and vanished. Craddock, the new coroner, Oshaun, Harry... like, do any of these people matter?
Julia's mom was just so pointless and dumb. She's the kind of vague villain who is more like an annoying fly than anything else. The drama with her is just pointless filler.
Julia herself is flat, and dumb. The whole story is pretty dumb, honestly. Yeah, sure, I believe that the local police would just shut down a secret federal investigation because... who the hell knows what was the point of it. Nothing makes sense.
And I know this isn't a love story, but holy crap. Are we supposed to be devastated that Luke's memories were erased? The guy was cardboard. The kind of nice dude who would be a great partner in real life, but boring as fuck in a piece of fiction. Actually, he was a doormat. Didn't like his parents, but catered to them. Constantly pushed Julia to reconcile with her mother, who was a caricature of a terrible mom. Went against Julia's boundaries a bunch of times, in fact. Maybe he wouldn't be a good partner after all.
The mystery was so flat I got confused. Mostly because of the bombardment of people thrown at me. Julia is after Flint. Oh, wait, now Hammond. Dunno where he came from, but okay. Simon had all the flags of "future love interest" but just... disappeared. Leander came out of nowhere for some back story and vanished. Craddock, the new coroner, Oshaun, Harry... like, do any of these people matter?
Julia's mom was just so pointless and dumb. She's the kind of vague villain who is more like an annoying fly than anything else. The drama with her is just pointless filler.
Julia herself is flat, and dumb. The whole story is pretty dumb, honestly. Yeah, sure, I believe that the local police would just shut down a secret federal investigation because... who the hell knows what was the point of it. Nothing makes sense.
And I know this isn't a love story, but holy crap. Are we supposed to be devastated that Luke's memories were erased? The guy was cardboard. The kind of nice dude who would be a great partner in real life, but boring as fuck in a piece of fiction. Actually, he was a doormat. Didn't like his parents, but catered to them. Constantly pushed Julia to reconcile with her mother, who was a caricature of a terrible mom. Went against Julia's boundaries a bunch of times, in fact. Maybe he wouldn't be a good partner after all.
July 3, 2025
DNF at 52%. I just couldn't deal with the multiple stupid things that kept happening to the fmc. On a dinner date with her "future-in-laws"? Of course, you have to chase (in heels and a cocktail dress) a fae who happens to be in the same restaurant. Why? Nothing makes sense. She's in a black ops team but they have absolutely no budget and everything is ancient and falling apart. She has a car without heat (in the winter in Toronto) but won't drive the brand new Porsche that her fiancé bought her because she's too independent. Who comes up with this stuff?
April 10, 2021
This is the first book in the series.
Faeries are stuck in the human world.
Julie is hunting a killer which she must do before Humans find out about the Fairies.
This must be kept secret for Faeries to survive.
Will Julie find the murderer before it is to late?
Lots of action and of course magic.
Great characters and a dark mystery.
A great start to a seriously good series.
Cannot wait for more.
Faeries are stuck in the human world.
Julie is hunting a killer which she must do before Humans find out about the Fairies.
This must be kept secret for Faeries to survive.
Will Julie find the murderer before it is to late?
Lots of action and of course magic.
Great characters and a dark mystery.
A great start to a seriously good series.
Cannot wait for more.
February 16, 2021
Falls Short
The romance in this book falls short. The heroine had a understanding boyfriend that she seemed to treat as a after thought. Then there is the main storyline. I got the feeling that she received no training yet supposed to be good at her job. It all felt unbelievable. Then that end. Are you kidding me? This is my first and last book of this series.
The romance in this book falls short. The heroine had a understanding boyfriend that she seemed to treat as a after thought. Then there is the main storyline. I got the feeling that she received no training yet supposed to be good at her job. It all felt unbelievable. Then that end. Are you kidding me? This is my first and last book of this series.
October 15, 2025
DNF. I got 37% of the way into this book and just did not find it engaging at all. She’s running around, feeling unsure of herself, looking for fairies, which are apparently very bad, her boss is a jerk. Her fiancé is lacking. And she is worried about using money, but she needs money. There’s just not enough visceral reaction for me and it’s too technical and dull.
January 6, 2024
While yes, there was no direct smut. But this was a quick, fun story about a fantasy detective protecting the world from fae. Of course there’s more to it but it’s a fun light read for in between those heavy series we love so much.
January 21, 2024
The plot is good but the story doesn't make sense
The story was honestly interesting and I liked the plot. But there were several things that just didn't make sense or didn't fit within the story. I took off one star purely because of one element that just felt icky.
The story was honestly interesting and I liked the plot. But there were several things that just didn't make sense or didn't fit within the story. I took off one star purely because of one element that just felt icky.
February 18, 2024
The book fell short.
There wasn't much complexity in the main character. The story line sounded interesting, and there was potential to reveal more about the Faeries. With only touching on them.
There could have been so much more. Not sure if I will continue this series.
There wasn't much complexity in the main character. The story line sounded interesting, and there was potential to reveal more about the Faeries. With only touching on them.
There could have been so much more. Not sure if I will continue this series.
January 30, 2024
The main character definitely peeked in high school
September 8, 2024
Kept wondering how things could get worse 🫡
August 26, 2025
Good premise but I just wasn’t attached to the characters like I would have liked.
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews