Seeing Things

Kit Melbourne #1

by Kater Cheek

Coffee shop barista (and part time treemaker) Kit Melbourne's life turns upside down when her tea-leaf reading brother predicts that someone will rob her, break her heart, and oh yeah, murder her.
Kit suspects it has something to do with the priceless jewel she inherited from their infamous witch uncle. As the jewel's powers begin to reveal the secret, supernatural side of the town of Seabingen, Kit realizes she has to uncover the mysteries of her uncle's past, to find out which of his many enemies wants the jewel badly enough to kill for it.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Ebooks, Paranormal, Fiction

ebook

First published June 14, 2011

About the author

Kater Cheek is the author of the urban fantasy Kit Melbourne series, the Alternate Susan series, and the chicken comic Coop de Grace. Her short work has appeared in The Steampunk User’s Manual, The Living Dead anthology, Weird Tales, Fantasy Magazine, and some other forums including foreign textbooks. Kater Cheek is a graduate of 2007 Clarion San Diego. www.catherinecheek.com. When not writing, she enjoys dangling in the air and making the sort of art that requires safety glasses and good ventilation.
To follow her email newsletter, sign up at www.catherinecheek.com.

Reviews

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars -English Ebook - 🦋🌹🦋
It is a YA book. That is clear to me. But than the struggle begins what more you can find in this book. The first in his series. Coming of age ?check, witchcraft? check, vampires? check. Bad childhood ? check, were-bear? check, one-way love and broken heart? check. Finding new love? check. People who what to kill you? Check. Do you understand my difficulty for painting out what kind of book this is? And al is worked out good! Check it yourself. 🦋🌹🦋

[Helen Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch’s Jewel grabbed my attention from the very first line and held it until the last pages. The novel is fast-paced and light in tone, which is a perfect combination for a good urban fantasy novel.

It becomes clear early on in the book that this world that Kater Cheek has created is unique and like no other. This first instalment in the series seems to only scratch the surface, and I’m looking forward to delving deeper into how magic works in the sequel.

I love a sassy and bad-ass protagonist who is not necessarily the “chosen one” trope, but has something special about her. In this case, Kit Melbourne is an ordinary human, but she inherits a jewel that has magical powers--enabling her to see the magic and supernatural beings in her midst. As you would expect, this puts her in danger, because there are those who want this unique jewel.  When her brother, James, who is a witch, reads her tea leaves, he tells her that someone is going to try to murder her.  Much of the book is Kit trying to figure out who this is, while navigating the realization that magic truly exists and finding out that many of the people in her life are not quite who (or what) she thought they were.  It also seemed like everyone is out to get her (or, more specifically, her stone), and this made for a thrilling read.

While Kit is an “ordinary” human, she’s far from boring. She has a tragic past, she’s proficient in Karate, and she makes questionable (yet relatable) decisions throughout the book that make her interesting and kept me on my toes.

The novel features a very sweet romance subplot. I fell in love with Fenwick, and the friends turned lovers plot nicely compliments the novel’s mystery.  The side characters are surprisingly three-dimensional.  I particularly liked Silvara and Ulrich, and I’m hoping they continue to make appearances in this series.



I recommend this book to those who love books that blend mystery, fantasy, and romance.

*Thank you to the author for the ebook to review*



This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/

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My 2020 Reading Challenge

[Kater Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, I wrote this book. It's available on Kindle and Draft2Digital and also in paperback. It's the first in a trilogy, and as of 2020 there are 8 books with more on the way. It was my first published novel, though not my first publication.

Witch's Jewel (Originally called SEEING THINGS) is an urban fantasy, which means that it's a fantasy set in a realistic world. If you think you don't like fantasy, but you liked "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or "True Blood," you will probably like this book. It has vampires, but the vampires don't have magical superpowers. It has witches, but they are real witches, that is, they are based on modern Pagans and Wiccans. The magic is subtle. My aim was to make it subtle enough that you could presume after reading this that your own town could have a similar magical second side.

The main plot of this novel is a murder mystery in which the heroine, Kit Melbourne, has to discover who is trying to murder her. She's just inherited a magical jewel from her late uncle, a witch who had more than his share of enemies in town. Everyone wants the jewel, but she can't sell it because...well, it's complicated. Kit also has guy troubles. She's in love with a guy who doesn't notice she exists, and she hopes that one day he'll fall in love with her too. Like many of us, she doesn't really see what's right in front of her.

The story is told in first person, and it's as simply told as I could manage. I based my storytelling style on some of the old paperback westerns, where the plot is completely linear. Expect few flashbacks, few scene changes, no metaphorical dream sequences or snippets of poetry shoved into the prose. It's easy to read, and even though the protagonist is adult rather than teen, people who like YA (young adult) novels may find Witch's Jewel their cup of tea (pun gleefully intended.) There's one sex scene, not graphic, and some violence, also not graphic. There's very little swearing.

Even though this is a trilogy, the plots begun in this novel are ended by the last page: no cliffhangers. I promise. Also, every novel has its own plot, which is resolved by the last page of that novel.

I recommend this for people who want a light, fast read. I recommend it for people who like urban fantasy, for people who like mystery, and for people who like YA. I recommend it for witches who want to see their religion depicted in a more realistic manner. I recommend it for martial artists who want karate depicted in a more realistic manner. I recommend it for anyone who has the secret fantasy that there really are magical creatures living in your city. I recommend it for people who love coffee shops, and for people who are in now or have attended college. I recommend it for endothermic vertebrates, especially mammals of the primate branch. I recommend it for book lovers. You may fit into more than one category.

I especially recommend it for any author who didn't like a review I wrote for your book, because NOW IS YOUR CHANCE FOR VENGEANCE. Please give me an honest review. I promise to be a good sport.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witch’s Jewel is the first book in the Kit Melbourne series. A fast-paced urban fantasy, Witch’s Jewel is the story of Kit, a young woman who has inherited a magical bindi from her uncle. This enchanted jewel allows the wearer to see all things paranormal – witches, vampires, were-creatures, spells, enchantments, and more. Of course, a powerful object like that is highly coveted, and, as Kit soon learns, some people will stop at nothing for the power of the witch’s jewel.

The plot begins with a foreboding prophesy that sets the tone for the rest of the story. Kit knows her life is in danger, and she is determined to uncover who wants to harm her. Luckily, she has her skill in martial arts as well as her loyal brother and best friend to help her survive the prophecy.

The character development in this story is fantastic. Kit is a complex and dynamic protagonist who remains fierce and undaunted by adversity. I love her toughness and determination. Down on her luck and in need of money, Kit thinks about conducting some devious business. Her morally grey actions, as well as her sometimes selfish attitude, contribute to her realistic and complex personality.

Other characters in the story are as well developed as Kit. Her brother James, her best friend, her roommate, even her deceased uncle are well-rounded, dynamically developed, and interesting characters. The variety of paranormal beings are vividly constructed as well. Plus the story includes a friends-to-lovers romance which I loved! I’m a sucker for romance, and the relationship that develops throughout the story is fabulous!

The plot is as well developed and complex as the characters. The main story centers around Kit trying to stave off the predators after her inheritance. However, the plot also delves into complicated family relationships, budding romances, money problems, and learning to adapt to a whole new world of supernatural people.

This is a wonderful start to what promises to be an epic urban fantasy series. Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - English ebook
Its is a Ya book. That is clear to me. But than the struggle begins. What more can you find in this book?
Coming of age? Check
Witchcraft? Check
Vampires? Check
Bad childhood? Check
Were-bear? Check
One-way love and broken heart? Check
Finding New love? Check
People who want to killed you? Check
Do you understand my difficulty for painting out what kind of book this was?
Did I enjoyed it a lot? Check

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of the Kit Melbourne series and follows the main character as she struggles to make a living from her artistic dreams making decorative wooden pieces to sell through a local florist shop run by a friend. But she has to take more shifts at her older brother’s coffee shop just to survive. He is a good few years older than her and left her at home which was not a great situation, when he went to university and ended up staying with their uncle. Upon their uncle’s death recently, he got his house, which he had to sell to settle all the debts, but which helped him to buy the coffee shop. Kit only got a letter and a small jewel called a bindi, which is worn on the forehead on the Indian continent, but has become a bit of a fashion trend everywhere now.

The letter tells her not to sell it, but she desperately needs money and soon. Her brother James doesn’t want her to sell it and since he can read tea leaves, he makes her drink a number of cups, reading the leaves each time. His powers tell him that she will soon experience thieves, a broken heart and also that someone will try to kill her! No wonder he made her redo it so many times. He is a witch, but Kit has never really believed in the paranormal or that he can do anything other than read tea leaves! She suddenly gets lots of people wanting to buy the jewel from her, one saying her uncle actually stole it from her own family, but each request gets more and more extreme. It seems there are very different stories about her uncle and what he did in his past, leaving her confused as to who is actually telling the truth.

But there is more to come when she researches her uncle’s past and the history of the jewel, to find out that it has a strange power, which only a female relative can possess and use. The only way that this can be broken, is if the person who inherited it, dies! With Kit knowing a good bit of karate, going to lesson weekly, she gets surprised quite often and finds herself helpless to retaliate. One thing the jewel is suddenly allowing her a view of, is the real identity of the paranormals around her. Some of her and her brother’s friends, she finds out are actually paranormal beings and is utterly fascinated by this new view of her world. But wearing the jewel puts a target on her back, as those wanting the jewel are relentless in their pursuit to own it for themselves.

She ends up with a group of vampires on her side and they act as powerful allies against witches and other paranormals who want what she has been left by her uncle. They are willing to kill, use spells or even set deadly curses in her path, all for their own gain. If she won’t sell it, they will obtain it by any means they can. I couldn’t believe this book is nearly three hundred pages long, as it was a really quick read and the action males it really fun to read as well. Well written and a fascinating view into the world of the paranormal from a non-believer suddenly dropped amongst its midst. I can’t wait to read the next two books in this series, Dryad’s Blade and Vampire’s Dayrunner. I have bought the first two books whilst on offer as this first one was so good, even though I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 2 out of 5]

Intressant grepp: en karaktärs sätt att förebygga sitt eget förutspådda mord.

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Kit starts off seeming a bit naive, but begins to grow as the book progresses. A good grounding for future books. The story moves well and I liked the subject matter, it brings in both mythological creatures and witches. All round a good mix. I was sent this book to read via Voracious Readers Only, thank you.

[Rosie Wylor-Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book slapped me square in the face. I don’t know how else to describe it!

For one thing, Witch’s Jewel is ridiculously page-turnable. I got thoroughly irritated whenever I had to put this book down. (Just ask my husband if you don’t believe me).

Kit Melbourne is a barista who aspires to be a full-time florist, with a troubled past and serious boy trouble. The guy she fell in love with is one of her best friends but he’s all over his girlfriend, perfect Julie.

Kit always thought that her brother was crazy for practicing withcraft. But when she inherits a magical heirloom that allows her to see every magical creature, Kit quickly changes her mind. Problem is, there are people in their town who are more than willing to kill Kit to take this heirloom off her hands.

With the help of the magical community, Kit learns just how much danger she is in and how to protect herself. But with an attempt on her life every five minutes, she wonders how she can go on living in Seabringen.

Kit’s character is wonderfully immersive. Her childhood was traumatic and she has developed a lot of complex issues as a result. Now she has the support of her brother and her best friends, she can concentrate on making her life the way she wants it. Kit is so full of love but at a loss as to what to do with it because of the abuse she suffered as a child. I love that she’s a dedicated martial artist, too!

One of my favourite parts about this book was the romance (no spoilers: I won’t tell you who it’s with!). This romance was masterfully crafted and made me feel all the right things at just the right moments. Better yet, it helped Kit realise her self-worth and how much she had to offer her friends and family.

The story was thoroughly unpredictable. There were so many twists and turns and from one minute to the next, I didn’t know who was friend and who was foe. Witch’s Jewel was a total roller-coaster and I can’t wait to read book two!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting start to a story series!
It starts with Kit receiving a bindi from her uncle and her brother begging her not to sell. She pretty hard up for cash, and when she gets some pretty lucrative offers...she's tempted.
I liked the world building the author did. Kit started out simply thinking the Pagan community was only a group of people that held the same beliefs as her uncle. Though, that changes as the story flows. The author sprinkles the magical elements throughout the story, from learning about her brother to her new roommate. I enjoyed the relationship she had with her brother and her roommate, it helped smooth out some of Kit's edges.
One draw back is the romance part, Kit stays hung up on someone for awhile and it gets a little boring. And honestly a little annoying because she's like "does he not like me because I'm not like other girls?" and I find that pretty tedious and a little sexist. Other romantic elements: it is closed door, so there's nothing explicit.

All in all, it's an interesting start to a series with some great world building and interesting characters!

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Witch’s Jewel” the first installment in the “Kit Melbourne Series” by Kater Cheek follows the eponymous heroine joggling her dream to become an artist and her everyday reality working at her brother’s coffeehouse to be able to somehow pay the bills. As the opportunity comes calling embodied into an unknown woman weaving a hefty check to buy the jewel Kit just inherited from her uncle it seems just to good to be true, and of course it is. Confronted to a deadly warning and intended to unearth the story of the jewel, Kit will embark into an adventure that will put her own resilience to the test.

With a very well-crafted verse, a relatable main character, very well drawn secondary ones, a good story with several side plots that combine to weave a rich tapestry with fast-paced action and unexpected twist, the book is a solid start into the series.

Kater Cheek storytelling is a jewel in itself, blending action and realistic description into a mix that becomes the background for a very interesting story weaving multitude elements into a fast-paced page-turner that keeps the reader interested at all times. Kit Melbourne is an instant likeable character that immediately bonds with the reader and takes us with into the adventure, someone we can relate to into a very credible urban fantasy setting. A veritable great addiction to the genre and a must read for all fans and those looking for a smart story with interesting ramifications, multidimensional characters and a gripping plot.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly inheritance. Kit inherited a bindi, an indian jewely for the middle of the forehead. But this one is magic and allows the wearer to see spells, runes, and supernatural creatures. Many people have offered her huge sums of money for it, and they are willing to kill for it. Her brother has foreseen her murder in the tea leaves. But the only way for a new person to us the jewel is for Kit to be dead. It is tied to the women of her family unless they are dead. Now what does she do? And if that isn’t all she lost her apartment, and the man she has loved for years is now engaged. Her life is falling apart. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE UNEXPECTED BLOCK BUSTER!!!
Holy hell! Kater dropped the bomb, blowing me clean out of the water with this thrilling bad boy, switching gears and revving up the fears with this brilliantly composed dynamo, breaking out the heavy artillery, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Rolling with the drama, intrigue, turmoil, underlying threats, revelations, danger, spiraling suspense and nailbiting situations, along with a boatload of chaos while dodging calamity, you have one intoxicating masterpiece. One blazing action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping, block busting bombshell, displaying a perfectly compelling spin, imparting a killer storyline and gripping plot, bursting it into a frenzy with a life-altering culmination. The characters, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuinely approachable personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive talent and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel to life, making the storyline pop. Awesome job Kater, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment. The first half is pretty good and I mean literally the first half because once I hit 50% on my Kindle it all fell apart from there. The second half has a lot of inconsistencies, weird pacing and a lot of pointless, boring parts that don't serve the story or the character at all. To be honest, Kit is annoying. She has sever self esteem issues to the point where I have to wonder if it's Kit with the problem or the author herself. Too much time was spent on it without it being important to the story or truly serving any character development.

It honestly feels like the 2 halves were written by different people or the author had no real plans for the full story..or something. Elaine is weird, Kit's relationship with her brother seems a bit gross because they talk about way too personal of things. And again, all this happens in the second half of the book. If I could get the actual second half that should go with the first half, the book would probably be much better.

At this rate, I won't be continuing the series. I have too many other, better, books to read.

[Gregory Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It was a slow afternoon in Café Ishmael when James read the tea leaves that predicted my murder."

With this grabber of an opening line, author Kater Cheek sweeps you into a delightful Young Adult fantasy-mystery novel. Highly recommended.

[Catherine Girard-Veilleux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction

When I was offered the chance to review this book, the first in the Kit Melbourne series, not only was I thrilled but it would be nearly a euphemism to say I jumped on it. An urban fantasy with a strong young woman with an intriguing, magical plot, a promise of action and a pretty good time?

How could I say no?

*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Kater Cheek!*

The Positive Sides

Oh my God, the introduction! The very first sentence is intriguing, gripping, and full of mystery. That’s the first thing I notice (besides the gorgeous and colourful cover, that is)! The writing is smooth, entertaining, light, and funny but honest and dark at moments. I really enjoyed reading this book—it’s like a nice breeze on a warm summer day. As for the dialogues, they hit me as natural with the real expressions we use to tell things and it flows. It’s rather lovely and engaging.

Moreover, I love Kitley’s honest, friendly, and sassy voice. She injects jokes and cynicism here and there, which are loads of fun to read. Plus, I find entertaining how Kit isn’t always honest because she’s desperate for money as she’s broke. She might not be morally ambiguous, but sometimes she’ll take advantage of others or situations so she can have nice things, you know? Like food, for example. It was different from what I’m used to reading (and sick of as well!), but so refreshing! I really love the main character’s flaws and I can relate to her better. In addition to this, the way the subplots are all there, pushing the main plot is fantastic. This book reads so well!

As for the bindi, the magic jewel, I love how the things Kitley sees with it increase in intensity and clarity. It makes for good twists and turns that made me laugh and smile a few times. I also love that the author, Kater Cheek, uses creatures from foreign folklore like Kappa and Rusalka, which adds a nice diversity to the supernatural. She even explains why there are creatures from folklore and how come they’re here if they’re from overseas and frankly that was priceless. We’d all ask that and the way it was answered made me laugh in a beautiful way: I giggle snorted. Fabulous!

May I add something? I took this note in my Kobo, directing it personally to Kitley, the main character: “Omg gurl! You’re so oblivious to Fenwick! I ship them!” Isn’t that beautiful?! Come on, it’s sweet. I wanted to throw this note at Kitley’s head so bad, but alas. The romance really drew me in with so many feels and I’m not one for romance in stories. But it was very well laid out with a sad starting point I can relate to too well: too many bad heartbreaks and unrequited love.

Truthfully, I haven’t been this invested in a book and characters for a long, long while. Precisely a year, when my grandparents became ill and my grandma died. So this book is definitely a breath of fresh air—much needed in my case. And I am thankful for it. It made me smile, laugh, and anticipate the reading.

The Negative Sides

The only thing about this book is its middle. It’s not sluggish per se, since most of the subplots come together (and it’s brilliant!), but it was at a slower pace than what I prefer. I’m not taking any star off because of it, it’s more of a personal preference, yet I figured it was worth mentioning. Let’s move on!



In Conclusion

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars for the refreshing heroine, the gripping story, the pleasure I had looking forward to reading it, and the way I continuously thought about the story and its characters—even when I wasn’t reading! It gave me something to look forward to in a hard time, and I am grateful. The author also gave us a thrilling action-filled fantasy book with tastes for everyone, in my opinion. Finally, I loved it so much I am going to purchase the paperback version to place much lovingly into my “favourite books” bookshelf. I recommend it to those who love action, fantasy, different heroines (and quite strong!), and a touch of romance.

What are you waiting for? Go on and read Witch’s Jewel to find out what Kitley’s going to do with the bindi… and what happens to her.

[S.D. Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars (rounded up for amazon)

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.

Something is missing in modern fantasy today. The lion’s share that forms the bulwark of the genre’s ground troops seem lacking – like they are missing an important piece of their equipment. As if in haste, they all decided to leave their helmets back home before they went a-sieging the castle. Oh, there are several of the usual tropes. Fey creatures. Magic. However, the stories lack gravitas; the weight that these otherworldly things should bring. And this is where I find myself with Kater Cheek’s The Witch’s Jewel (Kit Melbourne book 1). Excellently written, with engaging characters, but a setting where encountering of the unusual has all the significance of suddenly deciding to order a different cup of coffee.

Kit Melbourne has inherited a magical bindi from an uncle she hardly knew. Overtures from prospective buyers, quickly turn into burglary attempts as the mystical trinket’s reappearance has set the magical community abuzz. Can Kit discover the secret of the jewel, and save her own life?
The Witch’s Jewel has something going for it that a lot of other novels don’t: a strong start. The first seven chapters are excellent. Kater really takes her time to establish the scene, set the characters, feel, and build tension (and romantic tension). Based on the opening, I really felt that this was going to be a book to break the mould of carbon-copy and fluffy witch-sorcerer-magic so-and-so in training (most of them throw in a school like Hogwarts, then stir in nonsense until done) that inundate the scene. To some extent that is still true, but the later chapters seem to break down as if in a rush.

Chapter eight is where this changes. Here the previous foreshadowing is thrown out the door, as well as any potential gravitas to the various reveals. Characters, bestiary, setting and themes– mostly of which are of course, supernatural in origin – are thrown at us willy-nilly, without any development. Chapters eight through ten seem to be a catwalk of otherworldly characters with little breath between. Getting past these, the plot seems to plod a bit, as if trying to digest a huge thanksgiving meal. This all eventually evens out, however, the damage is done; I never regain that sense of the “other” so necessary in these sort of books to build mystique.

Despite this, The Witch’s Jewel (Kit Melbourne book 1) is a strong enough opener to warrant further progression into the series. Kater Cheek understands character development, and this will be key later to bridge the mid-book problems that this first novel fell victim too. I am curious to see how it all turns out, and I am sure most potential readers will too.

[Assaph Mehr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review supplied by my 15 year-old daughter :-)
-------------------------------------------------------
Witch’s Jewel is a fast-paced book full of mystery, and a fantastic sub-plot of love. This novel kept my attention throughout and kept me enraptured up to the last word. Witch's Jewel is a great set up to Kit Melbourne's world for any following books.

From the beginning of the book we are introduced to this new world that Kater Cheek has created, a unique world that offers many stories and ideas. In this first novel, we get only a glimpse of the world, leaving more to be untangled in later books.

Kit, an ordinary human, who owns a magical jewel, one that enables her to see and interact with the supernatural. This, of course, lands her in trouble with people who want the jewel for themselves. Kit’s sarcasm and quick wit lightens the plot of the novel and oftentimes diffuses a situation; either that or makes it much much worse. I also enjoyed the side characters Silvara and Ulrich, who were not just there to add characters, but also actively interacted with the other characters and the fantasy world. The use of a romantic sub-plot was also nice, as it never overpowered the true story.

Overall it’s a good novel that sticks to its plot and is filled with three-dimensional characters.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.

[Jessica Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Concept.

I was really interested in this book based on the synopsis but I felt like it didn't quite live up to the hype in the start of the book. The storyline sort of meanders along and even though there's action throughout it feels a little ill paced at times. It didn't really hold my interest until the last 50% of the book and I felt really bad because I was genuinely invested in the characters.

Kit is without a doubt a hilarious character. She's a little artsy, a little bit messy and a little out of control but she's got some genuinely strong people in her life. Her best friend Fenwick, her brother James all of them are sitting in her corner waiting for her to just get her life together. She battles a lot of internal struggles and moments of sort of grief for the life that she wants. But in the end she kind of figures it out, sort of manages to level up.

I really appreciated her story arc with Fenwick, it didn't feel forced or out of place. There wasn't a lot of like yep that's exactly it love, it was more of a hey I've been here all along in love with you and you're just now noticing me. But it really got me in the feels.

Definitely would recommend but give the book some time to catch up to the story line because the beginning felt off to me but it redeemed itself as the book progressed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ilona Nurmela · Rating 5 out of 5]

468 pages
5⭐️ Loved it!

Found a new fave indie author, yay! Fast-paced read, awesome characters, could not put this down!

Kit inherits a small bindi (bejeweled dot on your forehead) from her uncle and before long she is running from thieves and muggers as everyone tries to get her jewel with magical properties.

Omg, this was a fun read that draws you in and doesn’t let you go - from immigrating monsters like the kappa and rusalki to the will-she-won’t-she sell out starving artist angle. I loved Kit and her independence, the way she related to humans and magical folk and especially her relationship with Fenwick, the bear-shifter. I absolutely adored Elaina, her roomie with stinky feet. A completely believeable magical realism book, with a solid plot, excellent characters and mashup of genres. Can’t wait to read the next book!

Recommended for lovers of YA PNR similar to Phaedra Weldon, action-adventure, witch stories with a (almost-murder)-mystery and magical friends, and suggested for aficionados of the friends-to-lovers trope.

[Alexis Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to any teenager looking for a great new series to start. Kater Cheek heaves readers into her fantasy world full of magic, mystery, and murderous ploys. I loved that there was a female lead in this book but having it written in the first person made it slightly predictable for me. This could be because I read a lot though.
I liked the mystery behind Kits Uncle and the newness to mystical creatures like vampires, faeries, and even some new creatures I have never heard of before. Kater Cheek did a good job of taking the stereotypes out of paganism and the fantasy world out of the picture. Too many times I have read the same version of mystical creatures, so it was nice to see a new take. It was well written and perfect for someone in their teens. However, it may not be able to catch the attention of adult readers.

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deadly inheritance…

Kit is surviving hand-to-mouth as she tries to develop her own business. She lives in a run-down area of town and struggles to make ends meet. All this makes it very tempting to sell the bindi that she inherited from her uncle in spite of his warning. Some idle curiosity and a few visits to interested parties set off a chain of violence and mayhem. Kit may not want to sell the bindi but she may not survive owning it either.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters have depth and the story has good plot twists and intrigue. Kater Cheek creates an imaginative world with a wide array of paranormals, witches, and sorcerers. I received an advance copy but my review is honest and voluntary. This is a great series starter!

[Holly Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit inherited a bindi from her deceased uncle Frederick, who was a witch. The bindi lets her see things that she wouldn’t see with her regular human eyes. She has been told that she can see magical creatures and can see magic it’s self. She must figure it out and she must decide if she will keep it our sell it. Someone wants it bad enough that they are trying to kill her for it. She likes Rob. Alan likes Kit. Who will Kit end up with Rob or Alan? Will she figure out who is trying to kill her? Will she figure out how to use the bindi? Will she sell it?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I was so excited to get my hands on this book since I had been hearing great things about the series. I have to say first off that I was not disappointed. I love Kit and the way she does things. She is just a girl that wants to live out her artistic dreams. Then she inherits a bindi from her uncle. She thinks about selling it but promised to protect it with everything she has to give. This book was such a smooth reading experience. I can't wait to read the others. It will keep you turning the pages. She has people after her and others with her along for the adventure.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this story twice and still find it interesting and a relaxing read. A seemingly insignificant bindi, yet both the otherworld and the 'wannabees', all seem to be aware of it's existence. Those who have no power of their own, crave it's magical abilities that it imparts to the female wearer.
My book came as an ARC from the author, and I am willingly submitting my review for the benefit of others

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not read paranormal/urban fantasy that often, but when the author contacted me I thought it sounded like a fun read. And it was!

This novel, the first book in the Kit Melbourne series, sits somewhere between YA and New Adult. Our main character inherits a bindi from her uncle and craziness ensues, as several parties try and get their hands on this bit of bling. I really enjoyed this take on witches, monsters and vampires and it did not really felt forced or overdone anywhere. This book does not take itself that seriously and I really appreciated that.

There is some sex, but unlike in too many other books in this genre, love is really not the centre point of the story. It is more a side plot as Kit grows as a person.

There is enough drama, action and fun to keep you reading and I ended up really enjoying the read. Is it really my kind of jam? No, not quite, but it was well enough plotted and written for me to enjoy the ride.

If you like your paranorma/urban fantasy books light hearted andones that do not sexualize every vampire they come across, you will likely enjoy this book. Will I personally continue the series? To be honest, probably not any time soon, but you never know. I would definitely not rule it out!

[Chrystal Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool

This was a really fun book to read. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in it, especially Kit. The storyline was interesting and surprised me a few times. I am really looking forward to the next book.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the theme of this storyline it’s well worth the time to read. The characters are engaging and well developed with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy me.


I received a copy and am voluntary leaving my honest review.

[Patty Mele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for free thru an ARC, Advanced Review Copy with an honest review given honestly.

I thought the story line was a great one after reading the book and the characters were the right ones for the story in my opinion.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inheritance

Witches, vampires, a were-bear, a bindi, Goddess, fairies, and slippery things that sleep under the bridge…. All come together neatly in this story that kept me entertained all afternoon.