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The Medusa Files #1
The Medusa Files, Case 1: Written in Stone
Every instinct U.S. Marshal Morgan Jacobs has screams she's dangerous. And all logic says she's crazy. She couldn't have turned that man to stone with her gaze. That's impossible. Except she has no other explanation for what she remembers about that night or how she got away from him four months ago. And when her friend is kidnapped, Morgan must partner with the mysterious FBI agent Alexander Gage and face the truth...
... the monsters of myth are real and she's one of them.
... the monsters of myth are real and she's one of them.
ebook
First published August 24, 2012
91 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
C.I. Black
29 books109 followersC.I. Black has always lived in a world of imagination. When she’s not daydreaming, she puts her flights of fancy down on paper writing urban fantasy and paranormal romance books.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 4, 2021
2.5 stars
June 25, 2023
(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 down a lot. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
I re-organised my shelves and managed to delete some favourite books, so this is a re-add. It's too hot to figure out a more detailed review, sorry!
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
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. :-)
I re-organised my shelves and managed to delete some favourite books, so this is a re-add. It's too hot to figure out a more detailed review, sorry!
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
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. :-)
May 25, 2018
Medusa or crazy
U.S. Marshal Jacobs was attacked in an alley 4 month ago and now she thinks she is thing crazy. It's when he turns to stone that she really thinks it, but there is work to be done and her friend Kate is kidnapped. She has to overcome her fear of turning people into stone, learn about Kin and fund out why someone wants her dead.
A very interesting story with creative characters. Looking forward to the next book
U.S. Marshal Jacobs was attacked in an alley 4 month ago and now she thinks she is thing crazy. It's when he turns to stone that she really thinks it, but there is work to be done and her friend Kate is kidnapped. She has to overcome her fear of turning people into stone, learn about Kin and fund out why someone wants her dead.
A very interesting story with creative characters. Looking forward to the next book
August 23, 2018
I instantly liked tough determined U.S. Marshal Morgan Jacobs. She finds herself trying to learn how to cope with an alarm new lethal condition. Learning how to control this new ability and not destroy her hot sexy partners becomes very challenging. Oh yeah! she also has to stop the bad guys from killing innocents and generally reeking havoc. I can't get enough reading these case files and hope they keep coming. I give this exciting and hilarious story FIVE BIG STARS !!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
Hard to put down
Thus story was a little different from the usual paranormal/urban fantasy stories. I really enjoyed it and found it very difficult to put down. I really love the characters, especially Morgan as she steps into this unknown world. The storyline is captivating and intriguing. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series.
Thus story was a little different from the usual paranormal/urban fantasy stories. I really enjoyed it and found it very difficult to put down. I really love the characters, especially Morgan as she steps into this unknown world. The storyline is captivating and intriguing. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series.
December 23, 2018
Yes yes yes!!!!! This book is just one of the many reasons I love reading!!!! Gorgons and mythology is just up my alley
Love the story and I soo cant wait to read more. I found out that it’s on kindle unlimited so yes I just got the subscription so I can read the rest. Why? Because it’s just that good of a book and I’m so dying to read more!!! Well done!!!!!
Love the story and I soo cant wait to read more. I found out that it’s on kindle unlimited so yes I just got the subscription so I can read the rest. Why? Because it’s just that good of a book and I’m so dying to read more!!! Well done!!!!!
June 25, 2017
Unexpected
Great read . Read it in hours. Started book 2. Looking forward to see if it delivers. Great interaction between characters.
Great read . Read it in hours. Started book 2. Looking forward to see if it delivers. Great interaction between characters.
July 7, 2017
Great read
Can't wait to read the next installment In the series and find out what happens next to Morgan and the team.
Can't wait to read the next installment In the series and find out what happens next to Morgan and the team.
July 13, 2017
*sigh* I now have a new series to add to my collection lol. I enjoyed this so much that I read it in one sitting. I'm looking forward to book two.
September 13, 2017
Fast light read
A good fast read, with interesting characters being introduced. I would expect later books to delve into the characters in more detail.
A good fast read, with interesting characters being introduced. I would expect later books to delve into the characters in more detail.
September 16, 2017
Ok read. Not enough to keep me interested in reading the series.
December 2, 2017
Pretty good read. I found it interesting. However, as a novella with 13 books in the series at $2.99 each, I probably won't continue with the series.
June 2, 2018
This UF is a quick easy read with plenty of action. Nothing that particularly stands out from the others of its genre but a good way to spend several hours.
October 16, 2019
3.5/5
An easy read at 100 pages. Bonus points for being on Kindle Unlimited. I’m intrigued by the MC being a gorgon, and looking forward to who, or what else the series has in store.
An easy read at 100 pages. Bonus points for being on Kindle Unlimited. I’m intrigued by the MC being a gorgon, and looking forward to who, or what else the series has in store.
February 28, 2017
Written in Stone, the first book in The Medusa Files series was an OK start to the series. I didn't feel that the characters were that well done, but hopefully over the series there will be more development of all the characters. The story was interesting enough that I wanted to know what was going to happen at the end.
The only big thing that took away stars for this book was the fact that there was very little background given about anything in the book. Nothing was given away about Morgan's mother, what happened to the rest of the gorgons, anything about the other characters and just any more information about the world of the Kin. I understand that it was done to keep people interested in reading the next books, but there was so little background information about almost everything in the book that it took away from wanting to know more and read the next books. If this is the way the first book reads, then it follows that there won't be a lot of background information in any of the books to keep people coming back. I really don't like when authors offer too little background, there is a delicate balance for giving interesting information and then not giving enough to keep people intrigued. This author hasn't found that balance but hopefully will in the next couple of books.
Overall 2.5 out of 3 stars, lack of background story, very short length and not much character development lost this one stars.
The only big thing that took away stars for this book was the fact that there was very little background given about anything in the book. Nothing was given away about Morgan's mother, what happened to the rest of the gorgons, anything about the other characters and just any more information about the world of the Kin. I understand that it was done to keep people interested in reading the next books, but there was so little background information about almost everything in the book that it took away from wanting to know more and read the next books. If this is the way the first book reads, then it follows that there won't be a lot of background information in any of the books to keep people coming back. I really don't like when authors offer too little background, there is a delicate balance for giving interesting information and then not giving enough to keep people intrigued. This author hasn't found that balance but hopefully will in the next couple of books.
Overall 2.5 out of 3 stars, lack of background story, very short length and not much character development lost this one stars.
September 23, 2012
U.S. Deputy Marshal Morgan Jacobs thinks she's going crazy. She was attacked in an alley and stabbed in the chest. But then it felt as if her eyes caught on fire. The mugger turned to stone, falling apart and crashing bit by anatomical bit to the pavement. He turned into a frigging statue and fell apart.
So when she's released from the hospital, she locks herself in her apartment, doesn't talk to her friends, orders groceries online for delivery, and spends the next four months trying to figure out what happened. But one night when she sneaks downstairs for her mail, she's approached by a law enforcement-type hunk who asks for her help on a case, some impossible man-monster combination smashes through the building's doors, and Morgan is suddenly fighting for her life against a new reality that's determined to kill her.
This is the first installment in a series of novellas, each complete in themselves but best read as a group. Normally I wouldn't start such a series (serious cheapskate here) but there's a reason I'm already hooked on this one. See, I'm becoming addicted to writers who've mastered the art of deep point of view (PoV) and I'm finding I miss it now when reading a book that's lacking this one feature. And yes, that lack does lessen my interest, even if the book in question is otherwise excellent (and cheap or free).
Long story short, the reader will not have that problem with author C.I. Black. This is her second book, and in both her plotlines engage, there's always something going on (no sagging middles), the dialogue is crisp, and her characters and PoV are very deep. Her first book had multiple PoVs, giving the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of several characters; this novella has one, but it's so deep, readers experience the action as it happens. As that character is a strong but vulnerable woman whose reality just got turned upside down, the book fascinated me from the first paragraph.
Best yet is the way Black makes paranormal seem real and possible, not an easy combination. Especially difficult is the ordinary heroine suddenly dropped into it; the reactions of a real person to an impossible event can be frustratingly difficult to capture. Black has done it twice now, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Five strong stars.
So when she's released from the hospital, she locks herself in her apartment, doesn't talk to her friends, orders groceries online for delivery, and spends the next four months trying to figure out what happened. But one night when she sneaks downstairs for her mail, she's approached by a law enforcement-type hunk who asks for her help on a case, some impossible man-monster combination smashes through the building's doors, and Morgan is suddenly fighting for her life against a new reality that's determined to kill her.
This is the first installment in a series of novellas, each complete in themselves but best read as a group. Normally I wouldn't start such a series (serious cheapskate here) but there's a reason I'm already hooked on this one. See, I'm becoming addicted to writers who've mastered the art of deep point of view (PoV) and I'm finding I miss it now when reading a book that's lacking this one feature. And yes, that lack does lessen my interest, even if the book in question is otherwise excellent (and cheap or free).
Long story short, the reader will not have that problem with author C.I. Black. This is her second book, and in both her plotlines engage, there's always something going on (no sagging middles), the dialogue is crisp, and her characters and PoV are very deep. Her first book had multiple PoVs, giving the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of several characters; this novella has one, but it's so deep, readers experience the action as it happens. As that character is a strong but vulnerable woman whose reality just got turned upside down, the book fascinated me from the first paragraph.
Best yet is the way Black makes paranormal seem real and possible, not an easy combination. Especially difficult is the ordinary heroine suddenly dropped into it; the reactions of a real person to an impossible event can be frustratingly difficult to capture. Black has done it twice now, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Five strong stars.
June 30, 2013
Very good considering the length. I thought there were still plenty of issues still unresolved at the end. I know there are 2 more in this series (around 100 pages each in length) that I hope tie up the lose ends. This would have been so much better (IMO) as a full length novel. The concept is a good one. Think similar to Grimm (TV show). Many supernaturals (Kin) living among us and we are none the wiser. Morgan is a bounty hunter who comes into her power the night she is attacked and defends herself. She finds out she is a Gorgon (like Medusa). Different, right?! Bought the next 2.
February 20, 2016
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** I think the book was great but it could have been longer and should have more details like her mother they barely explored the character and all we know is that she was a murderer and killed a lot of kin . I also want to know how everyone knows she's the only gorgon left and why the author doesn't explore that topic in the first book because if he did it would of explained a lot of things concerning Morgan
October 26, 2016
From its explosive opening to its ending this book moves. I had less trouble 'suspending my disbelief' than the heroine did.. Hard to imagine how I'd feel if I discovered that I could turn things and people to stone.The author does a great job with this. And I was swept entirely into the book... I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review..
August 13, 2015
Enjoyable!
I really enjoyed reading the story so far. Hopefully I can read the rest sometime down the road . I have a problem with paying $2.99 for 90 pages of entertainment tho and that's just for one segment of many. Oh well....
I really enjoyed reading the story so far. Hopefully I can read the rest sometime down the road . I have a problem with paying $2.99 for 90 pages of entertainment tho and that's just for one segment of many. Oh well....
September 1, 2017
Lots of dangling pieces to continue in the series, but a great first novel for it.
Paranormals all over the place and someone just learning that they are part of the otherness.
Fast paced thriller, characters have plenty of room for continuing development.
Going to read more.
Paranormals all over the place and someone just learning that they are part of the otherness.
Fast paced thriller, characters have plenty of room for continuing development.
Going to read more.
July 8, 2014
Written in Stone is a thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy set in a different, believable world where 'there be monsters'.
August 28, 2014
A quick, easy to read book, a promising start for a new serie.
December 21, 2014
I absolutely love this Urban fantasy. I read all three novels in this series one right after the other. I am so hoping that C.I. Black continues this series.
August 14, 2015
enjoyed the story
May 5, 2016
Great urban fantasy. Looking forward to reading more books in the series
September 18, 2016
A great deal of potential but lacking in substance to fall in love with the characters.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews