Deposed and dumped in a magical town she can't escape from and contemplating the state of well…everything, Clara has had better days.
But it's hard to keep a feisty vampire like her down. When a magical explosion goes off in the middle of the night, Clara and her part-demon BFF investigate only to find a bewildered truck driver with no memory of his arrival and a tantalizing trace of magic swirling through the air.
Clara wants to leave it alone, but Violet warns her not to get complacent. After all, she is (or was) the ruler of all vampire kind, and a lot of people are looking for her. But soon, she has no choice but to get involved. Strange things are happening around her new hometown, and they all have one thing in common.
Her.
When the truth is laid bare, Clara's darkest secrets come home to roost. Will this be the one time she can't scrape by with wit and cunning? And if she does, after all the lies she's told, will she have any allies left standing by her side?
Welcome to a new town parked in the middle of nowhere full of magical misfits, criminals, and some real strange wildlife.
S.E. Babin has a passion for writing books with a paranormal twist. Whether it's romance or mystery, she loves taking the norm and turning it into the extraordinary. Her love of reading turned into a curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own novel.
Beginning with random, terrible poetry and a slightly popular reimagining of Beowulf's Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl spent way too much time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything even remotely cool. Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SEBabin. She loves to hear from readers!
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This book picks up shortly after the events in the Cocktails in Hell series, and you really need to have read that series first, just to get to know Clara, the main character in this book, and several of her friends.
Clara was transported to a small paranormal town in the middle of nowhere, mostly for her own health, and that of her infant son. Once the Queen of the vampires, she is now a fugitive from them, fearing that they plot against her, and hunt her and her son. The town she now inhabits, is supposed to be safe, so she is a little surprised to discover a series of murders, as well as an eerie feeling over the town, and she's determined to figure out the cause.
We're back in Violet's world, only this time with her best friend Clara. Clara is trying to figure things out after her big fight with Dave, and honestly I'm #teamDave all the way, so I really want him to up his game. She is right though, there are a lot of things that come between them, which hopefully they can figure out! Meanwhile, Transylvania is having issues, and fortunately a couple of old friends are visiting and able to help Clara! With a few intriguing new characters, a lot of favourite old friends, and some secrets being revealed (or not), this is an exciting new chapter for fans of Violet and Co., urban and contemporary fantasy lovers.
This is a spin off the the author's Cocktails in Hell paranormal fantasy series of a bar owner in a magical, but low key, fantasy creature inhabited New Orleans.
In this series the bestie character is now the protagonist, and she is upset that her lover was really manipulating her to stab her and her best friend in the back during the prior series, in order to breed a new heir to the king of the ocean (read both series, Cocktails first, to make this make sense). The MC is also demoted from queen of the vampires (which makes sense for the author, for the adventure possibilities, but makes little sense for the character).
Because of the fall out of the main series, the MC is now hiding in a small town trailer park, and for (a really flimsy) reason she gives the backstabbing Poseidon their child to raise while she will check in once per day remotely. I get why the author did that, for the adventure aspects of the new series, but it was clumsy and didn't really fit the characters. So two strikes.
Anyway, supernatural drama ensues and the MC is drawn in to investigate, and the rest of the book unfolds as a pretty good paranormal urban fiction with a lite comic twist.
The book ending suggests the MC was placed there for reasons by Lucifer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This series is an offshoot from the author's Cocktails in Hell series. It is useful to have read that series but not completely needed (that series is eight books long, after all).
Clara is nominally Queen of the vampires, which is a problem since a whole lot of the vampires would like to kill her. And she has a lot of non-vampire traits and abilities -- like being able to eat and drink and walk around in the daytime with no ill effects. The book starts with her getting set up in, for want of a better term, a protected community to lay low while other people sort out the threats to her, er, life.
Violet makes appearances, but Baba Yaga and Neve are the main cross-over characters here from the main series into this Clara book.
The plot goes well and a lot of action happens. And a lot of personal growth and secrets are revealed and all that.
My main problem here (and this is true for the main series as well) is that the powers of the characters change erratically depending on the needs of the plot. Which can get sort of strange. Clara is a lot weaker in this book (which is good because it is hard to set up a good plot with an supercharged character). But it can get confusing.
Anyways, a good story and I will continue reading the series.
First no academy and no sex. The characters are interesting pulling from legends over the world. Clara is looked on as a vampire, but she has interesting differences. Trying to keep her head down suddenly she is being hunted by an old enemy. Unfortunately the small supernatural town she was sent to has had a very bad experience with a vampire. So, the recent deaths are associated with her by default. Top this with navigating a relationship as a single mother who really loves her baby's daddy. To have a vampire as a consort would dethrone him and that she won't let happen. Learning to call on her friends to overcome the old mentor enemy is one of the hardest things she has done.
There are so many threads in these series that it’s sometimes hard to keep track of all the people (or monsters/creatures) & how quickly they come & go & the webs that hide massive secrets. My only criticism is how quickly relationships end & change - the blink of an eye. But keeping the threads woven involves snipping some & tying some off I guess. Doesn’t stop you from not wanting to put the book down. Make sure the pathways in your house are clear so you can walk & read at the same time! And buy lots of charcuterie ingredients as you’ll crave them by at least the second book in Violet’s series & it won’t stop. Maggie Beer does a great selection of tidbits
good but a few inconsistencies from previous series
I liked Clara a lot in the Cocktails in Hell series but this Clara seems wildly different much of the time. I realize that’s because this is her growth arc etc. but it doesn’t really feel like Clara. Not to mention, the big reveal is at odds with her desire for children and heartbreak over it prior to getting pregnant.
I also had problems with her refusing to tell anyone except Baba beforehand even after giving Violet so much grief for so long about keeping secrets and accepting help. Bit hypocritical.
Also in one of the first chapters there’s a mixup with her referring to Violet as Clara.
I recommend that you read the cocktails in hell series before you read this series. It will help you understand the other characters in this book because they were originally mentioned in that series. I liked Clara from the cocktails and hell series and I’m glad that she has her own book to learn more about her. Apparently, there is a lot more to her than just a vampire. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
Clara brings me amusement and joy. I’m also glad to see . Andy seems like a fun new friend and I’m curious to see how she fits in. Another Brewer should make things fun! I’m glad we get a bit more of Clara’s history, too.
I still love Dave and I hope he sorts his shit out and comes through as the awesome guy he was in Violet’s series. Or else.
Clara's story continues, and secrets are revealed. An amazing story, that balances humor and action. The ending hints to the fact Lucifer knew exactly who Clara was and placed in the sanctuary to deal with her past.
So much fun in one story. I am so happy to be back in this world and it doesn’t disappoint. We are learning more about Clara and it’s a wild ride. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Loved it
This book was really good, it had a bit of everything supernatural. A Vampire Queen, Lucifer, Baba Yaga a Kitsune plus gods, Hectate and Posiodon. Plus others. There was murder, mayhem and secrets. I hope there will be more books.
I love that we get to have more of Clara’s story. This was like getting to know a friend a bit more. We get to see the Violet & friends as well. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Really enjoyed the first book in Clara’s series. I read the previous series and loved it this one seems just as good. Exciting characters, funny at times, thrilling adventure and great action.
Clara is such a great character, she is confident and courageous a little compassionate. These are all great traits when dealing with things. I didn’t expect this to be the type of book it was thrilling and exciting.