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Pandora's Pride #1
Double Down on Demons
My father talked about Atlantic City the way some women talk about their ex-boyfriends. No good. Avoid at all costs. Soul-sucking even without the demons. Never mind that we lived across the country where, by day we worked as mountain guides, and at night he trained me to use my magic—not that I was allowed to showcase it. That was a hard no. So I hid my powers the way he hid his bourbon—until his murder.
With nothing to lose, I hightail it to—you guessed it—Atlantic City, where I make a deal with a group of monster hunters, including Saxon, a hot hybrid that ignites a helluva lot more than celestial fire. If I survive the takedown of an all-powerful demon, they’ll help me investigate my father’s murder. So what’s a girl to do when the chips are down?
Be the Wild Card they never saw coming.
Double Down on Demons is the first book in Pandora's Pride, an urban fantasy series featuring a heroine with a tongue as sharp as her blade, magical adventures, and havoc-wreaking demons.
With nothing to lose, I hightail it to—you guessed it—Atlantic City, where I make a deal with a group of monster hunters, including Saxon, a hot hybrid that ignites a helluva lot more than celestial fire. If I survive the takedown of an all-powerful demon, they’ll help me investigate my father’s murder. So what’s a girl to do when the chips are down?
Be the Wild Card they never saw coming.
Double Down on Demons is the first book in Pandora's Pride, an urban fantasy series featuring a heroine with a tongue as sharp as her blade, magical adventures, and havoc-wreaking demons.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2020
895 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Annabel Chase
166 books1,479 followersAnnabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Annabel-Chas... or on her website at www.annabelchase.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 18, 2020
I really wanted to like this one but it couldn't deliver.
The heroine witnesses the murder of her father. As he lays dying he tells her to take her medicine and not trust anyone.
The heroine vows to avenge her father, she finds a clue that leads her to a casino. The owner of the casino offers her a job and then gives her to a different set of people . They are agents in the war against demons and they offer to help her find her father if she helps them with a mission.
Immediately she meets this people, she reveal all her secrets. She tells them all her life story, yet in her inner monologue she is reticent about revealing her secrets. This drove me crazy, why tell the secrets and then be upset that you told the secret , then wishing you didn't reveal so much, it was a rollercoaster of back and forths.
The heroine is also very jokey. For someone that wants to avenge her dad she seems to forget he was murdered. I know people can use humor as a defense against certain emotion but it didn't feel like she had time to grieve. She was immediately thrust into this group and her father's death went on the backburner only brought forward when the heroine needs to have some emotions.
There wasn't any romance in this book but there is an implication that Saxon might be the hero. I don't know how that would work considering Saxon doesn't seem to look at her with any kind of lust. So I can already imagine the chemistry being manufactured to drive the plot.
This is where the series and I part ways.
The heroine witnesses the murder of her father. As he lays dying he tells her to take her medicine and not trust anyone.
The heroine vows to avenge her father, she finds a clue that leads her to a casino. The owner of the casino offers her a job and then gives her to a different set of people . They are agents in the war against demons and they offer to help her find her father if she helps them with a mission.
Immediately she meets this people, she reveal all her secrets. She tells them all her life story, yet in her inner monologue she is reticent about revealing her secrets. This drove me crazy, why tell the secrets and then be upset that you told the secret , then wishing you didn't reveal so much, it was a rollercoaster of back and forths.
The heroine is also very jokey. For someone that wants to avenge her dad she seems to forget he was murdered. I know people can use humor as a defense against certain emotion but it didn't feel like she had time to grieve. She was immediately thrust into this group and her father's death went on the backburner only brought forward when the heroine needs to have some emotions.
There wasn't any romance in this book but there is an implication that Saxon might be the hero. I don't know how that would work considering Saxon doesn't seem to look at her with any kind of lust. So I can already imagine the chemistry being manufactured to drive the plot.
This is where the series and I part ways.
May 14, 2020
I love the unique world that Chase created in Double Down, it was so interesting and such a fun original take on the supernatural world.
The characters were intriguing and the story line was engaging. I'm really looking forward to reading more.
The characters were intriguing and the story line was engaging. I'm really looking forward to reading more.
October 12, 2023
Main character lost her father but her reaction and how she acted after that didn't feel 100 % believable. Secondary characters were pretty flat and it wasn't easy to feel for them.
I liked the setting but had thought there would be more scenes at the casino. This was light and fun.
There was a lot of action but I hoped several times to be able to feel more. Characters lacked some depthness.
I liked the setting but had thought there would be more scenes at the casino. This was light and fun.
There was a lot of action but I hoped several times to be able to feel more. Characters lacked some depthness.
August 23, 2022
Sometimes, you find the best books in the most unexpected places
And other times...
You find dud after dud after dud.
After dud.
I think it's my 3rd book in a row that leaves me completely feeling-less and bored to the brim. So, I decided to DNF this one at about 30%.
It's not the worst thing I've read, but it's far from the best as well.
The MC felt like a little kid running around in the woods, doing all sorts of stupid things for no reason. I mean, even a 3-year-old knows it's not ok to talk to strangers. Yes, maybe they're good, but really? Your dad tells you, , and what do you do? You go and do exactly that.
I mean, yes, go, get your revenge, bloody your enemies, whatever, but use your brain! Don't be the reason they think humans are weird and stupid (even though you're not human).
Grr.
I really don't like idiots.
Besides this, though, the idea was ok and there's potential for a dystopian world if you have the patience to deal with annoying characters.
And other times...
You find dud after dud after dud.
After dud.
I think it's my 3rd book in a row that leaves me completely feeling-less and bored to the brim. So, I decided to DNF this one at about 30%.
It's not the worst thing I've read, but it's far from the best as well.
The MC felt like a little kid running around in the woods, doing all sorts of stupid things for no reason. I mean, even a 3-year-old knows it's not ok to talk to strangers. Yes, maybe they're good, but really? Your dad tells you, , and what do you do? You go and do exactly that.
I mean, yes, go, get your revenge, bloody your enemies, whatever, but use your brain! Don't be the reason they think humans are weird and stupid (even though you're not human).
Grr.
I really don't like idiots.
Besides this, though, the idea was ok and there's potential for a dystopian world if you have the patience to deal with annoying characters.
September 14, 2021
There were some choppy moments in the beginning, but once it was set up the story flowed very smoothly.
I liked the heroine and the rest of the cast. Their live in gang of supernatural police was cute. But the direction this story is headed just doesn't interest me; it's another "save the whole world" type of trilogy. The romance is flat and the mystery of the heroine's past is too slow moving.
I liked the heroine and the rest of the cast. Their live in gang of supernatural police was cute. But the direction this story is headed just doesn't interest me; it's another "save the whole world" type of trilogy. The romance is flat and the mystery of the heroine's past is too slow moving.
July 12, 2020
42% in and had to stop. I wanted to like this book, but I really struggled with it. The author rushed the murder of her father, which should have set up the entire book for her motivation and her backstory. I thought the vampire who runs the hotel was stupid, and the Pandora Pride is juvenile. She blunders through each interview, by turns showing everyone her necklace and talking about her father, even though that was supposed to be a secret. Dumb. Not finding anything to like about this one.
April 16, 2020
2.5? Started out decent ... MC father is murdered. MC goes to AC seeking revenge. MC meets a few cool people and then the book stops being decent a turns stupid. Of course nothing is really resolved in book one. I doubt I will read book two.
April 10, 2020
Stunning, slow burn Urban Fantasy! It’s got some bad ass characters but the main one is your girl! She’s got spunk, can take care of herself and some really interesting secrets to come out yet . Chase has you covered in every way possible and all I can really say is “give me more of Pandora’s Pride please?”
October 31, 2021
New series with lots of potential.
August 28, 2023
This is like eating a dessert you didn't know you were craving.
October 5, 2021
I wanted this book to be so much more and it wasn’t.
Summary: A 25-year old girl witnesses the brutal murder of her father. Having lived her life in mountains, in post-magical apocalypse world, with limited interactions with most of society apart from a few small towns, she goes to Atlantic(a) City, and fits in seamlessly. She gets a room at a big hotel and they ask zero questions or even for a credit card. One day into living in new city after spending her entire life camping in the mountains, she’s met all the biggest crime lords in the city and has been recruited into a super secret demon fighting organizations that seems to only have 10 people in this part of the world to fight every demon; and 5 of them just act like dumbledores (unnecessarily mysterious, don’t do anything to help fight the demons, just tell the kids to solve everything , were apparently bad asses in the past, and they only like powerful orphans)
The problem was that this book was teen academy book, disguised in the form of pseudo-adult characters. What do I mean by this? The people who run this organization are actually the grandparents, uncles, legal guardians of the the “children”. The “children” are all in their mid-late 20s but can’t take a day trip without getting scolded. They hide their plans from the “adults” and sneak around. The “adults” withhold vital information “for their own good” They all live together live by the schedules the adults set. All their outings are as a group, and they seem to have no real personal lives and the romance is mostly sneaking around so the adults don’t find out.
If you are looking for a book with characters who make their own decisions without a panel of parental figures criticizing their every decision (and I mean every), this is not a book for you.
The plot was meh. The main character’s primary quest to find her father’s murderer is basically sidelined for a demon hunt. Every time she tries to solve it she’s told she should focus on more important things. She saw father brutally murdered in front of her face literally a week ago. Even corporate America has better bereavement policies. I cared nothing about the demon plot. And along the way the FL got every condescending remark female fantasy protagonists gets: you have powers but no idea how to use them; how can you have emotions about things like a person, don’t you know mass child trafficking is not as important as an angry demon?; and my favorite, most other people are better than you but you are the rare precious soul who has courage/a good heart.
This book had so much potential. I was hoping it would catapult me into a new urban fantasy wave, but I guess I’ll just go back to rereading JD Robb books for the millionth time.
Summary: A 25-year old girl witnesses the brutal murder of her father. Having lived her life in mountains, in post-magical apocalypse world, with limited interactions with most of society apart from a few small towns, she goes to Atlantic(a) City, and fits in seamlessly. She gets a room at a big hotel and they ask zero questions or even for a credit card. One day into living in new city after spending her entire life camping in the mountains, she’s met all the biggest crime lords in the city and has been recruited into a super secret demon fighting organizations that seems to only have 10 people in this part of the world to fight every demon; and 5 of them just act like dumbledores (unnecessarily mysterious, don’t do anything to help fight the demons, just tell the kids to solve everything , were apparently bad asses in the past, and they only like powerful orphans)
The problem was that this book was teen academy book, disguised in the form of pseudo-adult characters. What do I mean by this? The people who run this organization are actually the grandparents, uncles, legal guardians of the the “children”. The “children” are all in their mid-late 20s but can’t take a day trip without getting scolded. They hide their plans from the “adults” and sneak around. The “adults” withhold vital information “for their own good” They all live together live by the schedules the adults set. All their outings are as a group, and they seem to have no real personal lives and the romance is mostly sneaking around so the adults don’t find out.
If you are looking for a book with characters who make their own decisions without a panel of parental figures criticizing their every decision (and I mean every), this is not a book for you.
The plot was meh. The main character’s primary quest to find her father’s murderer is basically sidelined for a demon hunt. Every time she tries to solve it she’s told she should focus on more important things. She saw father brutally murdered in front of her face literally a week ago. Even corporate America has better bereavement policies. I cared nothing about the demon plot. And along the way the FL got every condescending remark female fantasy protagonists gets: you have powers but no idea how to use them; how can you have emotions about things like a person, don’t you know mass child trafficking is not as important as an angry demon?; and my favorite, most other people are better than you but you are the rare precious soul who has courage/a good heart.
This book had so much potential. I was hoping it would catapult me into a new urban fantasy wave, but I guess I’ll just go back to rereading JD Robb books for the millionth time.
March 10, 2023
I was between 2 and 3 stars, I am not sure this is the book for me or not. I settled on 3 stars because there is enough left unsaid in the book that it MIGHT be enough to get me to continue, just to get some answers. I'm not yet sure but we'll see. Honestly if there was an option to read a summary of all the books just to get my answers I'd do that instead.
16% - I'm a little confused...She went the whole time talking about how everything needed to be kept secret other than the chip cause she hoped someone would recognize it and save her the hassle of asking questions. Then she uses her real name to get into the casino, they give her a room without any kind of card or cash, and after she lies to everyone else about where she got the chip she dives straight in with Ingemar and tells him all about the chip and how she got it...
31% - Her dad's last words were "trust no one" and she goes with a random vampire to a supernatural military team headquarters and joins them so long as they agree to find her dad's killer. While her decision makes sense, all the pages of buildup to not trust anyone and do this on her own don't jive well with it. She also just changed into a hospital gown for a blood draw allowing the healer to see her back she CLEARLY specified needed to stay secret...And it's such a rare mark that the healer didn't even know what it was but I'm sure documented it so it can be a problem later.
How easily she gets over the "stress test" illusion of her father's death is insane to me. Personally I'd have more words for the whole council.
The meeting with Kingsley felt abrupt and strange.
Handing over the rest of the potion to Harmony seems like a questionable decision. I'd want answers too, but not from the healer at a suspicious organization I don't trust at all.
They throw a fit about Callie and Saxon going on a day trip but NO ONE said you aren't allowed to go anywhere.
I'm hoping Harmony is a good person and actually helps Callie, but Callie sure gives away a lot of information after spending half the book intent on keeping everything secret.
16% - I'm a little confused...She went the whole time talking about how everything needed to be kept secret other than the chip cause she hoped someone would recognize it and save her the hassle of asking questions. Then she uses her real name to get into the casino, they give her a room without any kind of card or cash, and after she lies to everyone else about where she got the chip she dives straight in with Ingemar and tells him all about the chip and how she got it...
31% - Her dad's last words were "trust no one" and she goes with a random vampire to a supernatural military team headquarters and joins them so long as they agree to find her dad's killer. While her decision makes sense, all the pages of buildup to not trust anyone and do this on her own don't jive well with it. She also just changed into a hospital gown for a blood draw allowing the healer to see her back she CLEARLY specified needed to stay secret...And it's such a rare mark that the healer didn't even know what it was but I'm sure documented it so it can be a problem later.
How easily she gets over the "stress test" illusion of her father's death is insane to me. Personally I'd have more words for the whole council.
The meeting with Kingsley felt abrupt and strange.
Handing over the rest of the potion to Harmony seems like a questionable decision. I'd want answers too, but not from the healer at a suspicious organization I don't trust at all.
They throw a fit about Callie and Saxon going on a day trip but NO ONE said you aren't allowed to go anywhere.
I'm hoping Harmony is a good person and actually helps Callie, but Callie sure gives away a lot of information after spending half the book intent on keeping everything secret.
October 6, 2020
2 The author made a valiant effort Stars
An abundance of characters with little depth & a boring plot. I’m going to cut my loses.
An abundance of characters with little depth & a boring plot. I’m going to cut my loses.
September 5, 2024
I liked the setting of the story. The idea of demons that had been locked up by the gods but escaped and then threatened to overrun the earth so all the supernaturals had to come into the open and band together to fight them was interesting.
The world building was OK, but a bit superficial. There are still many questions and missing explanations.
Same with the characters. The only character who felt reasonably well developed was the main character. All the others felt flat and there wasn't much information about them in this first book of the series.
One thing that I found really annoying was the team of elite supernatural agents that the main character joins or rather the improbability of this team being the elite. Two of the team members have a personality that is absolutely unsuitable to teamwork. They are incapable of working together and sticking to the plan or orders. They are immature, unprofessional, egocentric and every mission is an ego trip for them. As expected that attitude and behaviour often leads to failed missions and mistakes. The team leader is very ineffective and can't keep them in check. All the team members regularly experience glitches in their magic because they are all hybrids. Yet throughout the book it is always stressed how elite and powerful and superior and experienced they are. And that made no sense. If this team is supposed to save humanity from the apocalypse, then humanity is definitely doomed.
What kept me reading were the mysteries surrounding the main character. Even though they are the typical/clichéd ones that you find in a lot of fantasy novels like What kind of creature is she really? What secrets did her father/parent keep and why? What was her parents' deal? But it still made me want to read the next books in the series. Especially since the book is a quick and entertaining read.
The world building was OK, but a bit superficial. There are still many questions and missing explanations.
Same with the characters. The only character who felt reasonably well developed was the main character. All the others felt flat and there wasn't much information about them in this first book of the series.
One thing that I found really annoying was the team of elite supernatural agents that the main character joins or rather the improbability of this team being the elite. Two of the team members have a personality that is absolutely unsuitable to teamwork. They are incapable of working together and sticking to the plan or orders. They are immature, unprofessional, egocentric and every mission is an ego trip for them. As expected that attitude and behaviour often leads to failed missions and mistakes. The team leader is very ineffective and can't keep them in check. All the team members regularly experience glitches in their magic because they are all hybrids. Yet throughout the book it is always stressed how elite and powerful and superior and experienced they are. And that made no sense. If this team is supposed to save humanity from the apocalypse, then humanity is definitely doomed.
What kept me reading were the mysteries surrounding the main character. Even though they are the typical/clichéd ones that you find in a lot of fantasy novels like What kind of creature is she really? What secrets did her father/parent keep and why? What was her parents' deal? But it still made me want to read the next books in the series. Especially since the book is a quick and entertaining read.
Read
July 2, 2020DNF
The premise sounded very exciting but the execution was lacking. The writing is mediocre but the world building was pretty interesting. There is a strong case of character soup and we are introduced to way too many side characters all at once, none of which stood out to me.
Considering that the book starts with the MC's father dying, the book has a very light tone with jokes in every conversation. I don't mind funny books (in fact I prefer them) but jokes at a funeral pyre are in poor taste. If someone has made a vow to find their father's killer I expect something a bit more dark and gritty. My biggest issue was the main character. Besides he jokes and relaxed attitude about her father's death she is also super naive. She believes everything her father said, but then completely ignores his "don't trust anyone" advice and immediately falls in with the first group of people she meets and starts revealing her secrets left and right.
The premise sounded very exciting but the execution was lacking. The writing is mediocre but the world building was pretty interesting. There is a strong case of character soup and we are introduced to way too many side characters all at once, none of which stood out to me.
Considering that the book starts with the MC's father dying, the book has a very light tone with jokes in every conversation. I don't mind funny books (in fact I prefer them) but jokes at a funeral pyre are in poor taste. If someone has made a vow to find their father's killer I expect something a bit more dark and gritty. My biggest issue was the main character. Besides he jokes and relaxed attitude about her father's death she is also super naive. She believes everything her father said, but then completely ignores his "don't trust anyone" advice and immediately falls in with the first group of people she meets and starts revealing her secrets left and right.
July 6, 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.)
3.25*
First time read the author's work?: No
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. :-)
3.25*
First time read the author's work?: No
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. :-)
January 5, 2021
Callie learns she's odd.
Callandra Wendell and her father Quinn are mountain guides. She doesn't remember her mother or living any other way. Her dad 's a mage and so is she and he's taught her. Then a demon attacks their camp, killing three customers and her dad. Using a poker chip in a chain the demon has, she goes to Atlantica City. Vampires run it now, and she headed straight for the Salt, the casino in the chip. While headed to see the other, she restrains a large demon destroying slot machines, protecting an older lady. That got the attention of both the head vampire and a supernatural protection group called Pandora's Pride. When they promise to help her find who wanted he father dad, after the current mission, she agrees. Then things get a little on the magic and crazy magic against demons and demons stealing children side.
Callandra Wendell and her father Quinn are mountain guides. She doesn't remember her mother or living any other way. Her dad 's a mage and so is she and he's taught her. Then a demon attacks their camp, killing three customers and her dad. Using a poker chip in a chain the demon has, she goes to Atlantica City. Vampires run it now, and she headed straight for the Salt, the casino in the chip. While headed to see the other, she restrains a large demon destroying slot machines, protecting an older lady. That got the attention of both the head vampire and a supernatural protection group called Pandora's Pride. When they promise to help her find who wanted he father dad, after the current mission, she agrees. Then things get a little on the magic and crazy magic against demons and demons stealing children side.
June 1, 2024
This was a good start into another urban fantasy quartet by Annabel Chase. We were thrown right into the action in Chapter 1, and the pace didn't slow down. Callandra "Callie" lives in a somewhat dystopian world, where 30 years ago supernaturals became known to the human world. Now they are in charge, and while some are able to become responsible members of society, others are feral and dangerous. Callie meets a very interesting and diverse group of characters when she heads to Atlantica City (renamed from Atlantic City). She learns more about her own increasing magical powers, and she solves a case of missing children. This story was very edge-of-my-seat, un-put-downable, and I will be continuing to book 2 right away.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited and used T2S text-to-speech app for audio.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited and used T2S text-to-speech app for audio.
April 9, 2020
A freaking extraordinarily awesome new urban fantasy series. An extraordinarily outstanding cast of characters and an awesome storyline. A great plague hit the earth three decades ago bringing demons and the Apocalypse to earth. The only thing that stopped humanity from being wiped out completely with the existence of supernatural’s who lived among us and hid their gifts at the time.
They battled the demons and to this day are keeping them at bay from destroying what is left of humanity in the world. Follow the adventures of a young mage named Kelly as she searches for answers and discovers more about herself then she knew. And entertaining and action pack story that will thrill you from beginning to end. Check it out
They battled the demons and to this day are keeping them at bay from destroying what is left of humanity in the world. Follow the adventures of a young mage named Kelly as she searches for answers and discovers more about herself then she knew. And entertaining and action pack story that will thrill you from beginning to end. Check it out
November 24, 2021
Calandra is a really pretty name, first off. And I relate heavily to the oversalting of her food, lol; seeing as it's one of my favorite bad habits.
Book was off to a good start and I was anticipating digging into & getting invested in the series as a whole but midway through, it ended up falling flat for me. I didn't connect to the characters and Liam drove me absolutely bonkers by being an overgrown man-child. So damn juvenile, yuck. Wasn't feeling any chemistry between Fmc & Saxton whatsoever, either. They read as sort of mechanical to me.
Almost DNF'd this story but thought I'd skim the rest for curiosity's sake. I absolutely loved the Wild Knight book and curious to see what that world holds but I don't think I'll be seeing this one through, unfortunately.
Book was off to a good start and I was anticipating digging into & getting invested in the series as a whole but midway through, it ended up falling flat for me. I didn't connect to the characters and Liam drove me absolutely bonkers by being an overgrown man-child. So damn juvenile, yuck. Wasn't feeling any chemistry between Fmc & Saxton whatsoever, either. They read as sort of mechanical to me.
Almost DNF'd this story but thought I'd skim the rest for curiosity's sake. I absolutely loved the Wild Knight book and curious to see what that world holds but I don't think I'll be seeing this one through, unfortunately.
July 10, 2024
This whole series was well-written and quite a good read.
The main character was charming and funny. She was also a badass, if maybe a bit stereotypically overpowered. The other characters were likeable, as well. It was a fast-paced and fun series to read.
Perhaps the only off note I'd mention is
There's also a part later on in the series where someone finds out something crucial and is so astounded that... they simply just refuse to impart the information to the others. They're given multiple opportunities to do so, and they refuse, for no reason at all. This feels forced just to move the story in a certain direction.
The main character was charming and funny. She was also a badass, if maybe a bit stereotypically overpowered. The other characters were likeable, as well. It was a fast-paced and fun series to read.
Perhaps the only off note I'd mention is
There's also a part later on in the series where someone finds out something crucial and is so astounded that... they simply just refuse to impart the information to the others. They're given multiple opportunities to do so, and they refuse, for no reason at all. This feels forced just to move the story in a certain direction.
December 27, 2020
I got 60% through before I dnf. The plot was promising and the first 30% of the book was decent. Then came Atlantica and the fake training and the poor dialogue and unbelievable character arcs so, done.
It would have made more sense for Callie to be assessed through real-time altercations (it's a war, right?) and we're to be believe that it's "so serious" but that facsimile of danger felt very contrived. Too forced, just like the humor in the "banter" was forced.
I think Callie's background and how she behaved in the backwoods was more believable, it just didn't fit as the story continued.
It would have made more sense for Callie to be assessed through real-time altercations (it's a war, right?) and we're to be believe that it's "so serious" but that facsimile of danger felt very contrived. Too forced, just like the humor in the "banter" was forced.
I think Callie's background and how she behaved in the backwoods was more believable, it just didn't fit as the story continued.
January 5, 2021
A coming of age magical...
Callie as a half human/ half mage, has been raised as a mage and trained to fight and survive by a paranoid over protective mage father. They live in the mountains escorting tourists and all is well until one day her father is killed under mysterious circumstances. Callie begins a journey to find her fathers killer and along the way she uncovers more about herself then she could have imagined.
This is a nice coming of age story, and the subsequent books in the series will no doubt chronicle her journey and the battles she must have to uncover the truth about her father’s death and ultimately about herself and her powers.
Callie as a half human/ half mage, has been raised as a mage and trained to fight and survive by a paranoid over protective mage father. They live in the mountains escorting tourists and all is well until one day her father is killed under mysterious circumstances. Callie begins a journey to find her fathers killer and along the way she uncovers more about herself then she could have imagined.
This is a nice coming of age story, and the subsequent books in the series will no doubt chronicle her journey and the battles she must have to uncover the truth about her father’s death and ultimately about herself and her powers.
February 7, 2021
Good
When Callie’s Dad is murdered in front of her, she sets off for Atlantica City to find out why.
There she meets a special paranormal group, whose job it is to fight against evil paranormal beings.
This is a fast paced book, with a mysterious heroine who doesn’t even know her own background. The world building was well done, and enthralling, hopefully we learn more as the series progresses!
The abrupt finish was rather startling, which is a positive sign for an author... it means I was engrossed in the story 😉
An entertaining urban fantasy, with a fantastic post apocalyptic setting, and unique vision of a magical world.
Recommended for urban fantasy fans.
When Callie’s Dad is murdered in front of her, she sets off for Atlantica City to find out why.
There she meets a special paranormal group, whose job it is to fight against evil paranormal beings.
This is a fast paced book, with a mysterious heroine who doesn’t even know her own background. The world building was well done, and enthralling, hopefully we learn more as the series progresses!
The abrupt finish was rather startling, which is a positive sign for an author... it means I was engrossed in the story 😉
An entertaining urban fantasy, with a fantastic post apocalyptic setting, and unique vision of a magical world.
Recommended for urban fantasy fans.
November 5, 2022
Strong Concept & Plot
Good urban fantasy with likeable lead. One thing that was really annoying however was the disconnect between growing up with a father who taught her to hide her identity and trust no one off the grid, and then immediately trusting everyone and revealing way too much about herself as soon as she was on her own. She literally has a huge tattoo she’s told to never show anyone and then when someone sees it she tells them she was supposed to hide it and that it’s a birthmark instead of letting them believe it’s a tattoo. I wish a little more romance as well, but story was entertaining otherwise.
Good urban fantasy with likeable lead. One thing that was really annoying however was the disconnect between growing up with a father who taught her to hide her identity and trust no one off the grid, and then immediately trusting everyone and revealing way too much about herself as soon as she was on her own. She literally has a huge tattoo she’s told to never show anyone and then when someone sees it she tells them she was supposed to hide it and that it’s a birthmark instead of letting them believe it’s a tattoo. I wish a little more romance as well, but story was entertaining otherwise.
April 12, 2020
Calandra (Callie) Wendell wasn't there when her father was attacked, but she was there to end the life of the K’uei demon that killed him. But Callie knew, to the depths of her soul, that the assassin was sent... That someone else has demanded the death of her father, and Callie was determined to find out who, why and exact revenge.... And her path started in Atlantica City....
What an amazing and intriguing tale! Paranormal and urban fantasy combined into a story that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let go!
What an amazing and intriguing tale! Paranormal and urban fantasy combined into a story that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let go!
Read
August 19, 2020Amazing!
I've read a lot of things by Annabel Chase, but this has to be my hands down favorite! I really enjoy her cozy paranormal mysteries, they are light hearted and fun, but this was urban fantasy at its best. Callie is an interesting character and her quest for vengeance has brought her down from the rocky mountains to Atlantica City. There she's recruited by the Pride to fill in for a team member in quarantine. What happens next is fantastic, but since I don't want to give away spoilers, that's all I can say. A definite must read!
I've read a lot of things by Annabel Chase, but this has to be my hands down favorite! I really enjoy her cozy paranormal mysteries, they are light hearted and fun, but this was urban fantasy at its best. Callie is an interesting character and her quest for vengeance has brought her down from the rocky mountains to Atlantica City. There she's recruited by the Pride to fill in for a team member in quarantine. What happens next is fantastic, but since I don't want to give away spoilers, that's all I can say. A definite must read!
March 29, 2021
Not For Me
This was a strange reading experience for me. I read the first chapter in a sponsored ad on FB and was immediately intrigued. While I stayed interested in the mysteries surrounding Callie, everything else felt vague and or convenient. None of the characters were well fleshed out and they didn't speak or act in ways that felt realistic. It was odd. I don't really know how to explain it. Everything was very surface level with very little detail. I want to know what Callie is but I don't believe I will continue with the series.
This was a strange reading experience for me. I read the first chapter in a sponsored ad on FB and was immediately intrigued. While I stayed interested in the mysteries surrounding Callie, everything else felt vague and or convenient. None of the characters were well fleshed out and they didn't speak or act in ways that felt realistic. It was odd. I don't really know how to explain it. Everything was very surface level with very little detail. I want to know what Callie is but I don't believe I will continue with the series.
January 9, 2022
Low rating I think because I went in with such high expectations.
Really sad this didn't live up to how I know the author can write (currently on tenterhooks for wild Knight #4) maybe this was an earlier book, I don't know? Either way a world and plot that could have felt fresh and interesting but the constant unrealistic and juvenile nature of the main group of characters both in dialogue and in actions when they're meant to be some badass best of the best was so grating I couldn't finish the book.
Really sad this didn't live up to how I know the author can write (currently on tenterhooks for wild Knight #4) maybe this was an earlier book, I don't know? Either way a world and plot that could have felt fresh and interesting but the constant unrealistic and juvenile nature of the main group of characters both in dialogue and in actions when they're meant to be some badass best of the best was so grating I couldn't finish the book.
November 19, 2023
okay
A premise that caught my attention while reading reviews continued through the book in a fairly awkward way maybe because the heroine was awkward due to her upbringing. Callie is looking to avenge the killing of her father. Along the way she is recruited to help rid the world of bad demons and discovers she has magical talents beyond what she knew. All that is fine. The dialogue, however was fairly juvenile as was many of the various team members behaviors. I have no patience for this. I will not continue the series.
A premise that caught my attention while reading reviews continued through the book in a fairly awkward way maybe because the heroine was awkward due to her upbringing. Callie is looking to avenge the killing of her father. Along the way she is recruited to help rid the world of bad demons and discovers she has magical talents beyond what she knew. All that is fine. The dialogue, however was fairly juvenile as was many of the various team members behaviors. I have no patience for this. I will not continue the series.
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