City In Embers

Collector #1

by Stacey Marie Brown

Zoey Daniels has been tossed from foster home to foster home, where she grows up fast and tough. When she is placed in her “last-chance” home, she finds a reason to stay and turn her life around: her foster sister, Lexie, who is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Zoey will do anything to keep her safe.

After high school, Zoey is hired by a special government agency, the Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG), where she meets the other reason to remain: Daniel, her co-worker. The man she loves.

But there is something unique about Zoey. She can see fae. Because of this, the DMG hires her to work as a Collector: catching, researching, testing, and using the fae to save human lives. The work never registers on her sympathy radar. She was raised to think of fae as beasts that feed on humans and want to destroy them.

When devastation hits Seattle, Zoey's whole world is turned upside down. The electric storm connects her to a ruthless fae, a Wanderer named Ryker, whose dealings expose them to even more trouble and danger. They embark on a journey, running and hiding from both the government and fae, both of which threaten their lives and those they love.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, New Adult, Fae, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2015

About the author

Stacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.

Reviews

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩ 4 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Enemies-to-TBD
➼ Found Family
➼ Brooding Hero
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Slow Burn
➼ One Bed
➼ Fae x Human
➼ Urban Fantasy
➼ Lovable Monkey Sprite
➼ Narrated by Amy Landon
➼ First Person POV

I’ve been craving a good Urban Fantasy lately, and this one hit the spot! If you’re like me and you love the look of Vikings but aren’t a big fan of the Vikings themselves, this book is for you! The FMC is one of a rare few who can see the Fae. She has been conditioned to hate all Fae on the grounds that they are a danger to humanity and had been actively working towards capturing them for experimentation by a top secret organization. She believed said organization was working towards curing human illnesses and saving lives, a cause that was very personal to her since her foster sister was paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, she learns that things were not quite what they seemed…

In the course of a few minutes, Zoey’s whole life is turned upside down. In the middle of a high stress situation with a group of Fae, a freak electrical storm hits causing devastation to the whole city and to her loved ones. A bolt or lightning hits a nearby Fae Warrior before hitting her and somehow transferring his powers to her. She quickly realizes that the very same people she worked for now see her as a threat and since the Fae Warrior desperately wants his powers to be returned, they are now linked. Hating the Fae as she does, she also wants to rid herself of these foreign powers. They fight through their intense dislike in hopes of finding a solution but it is no easy task.

This was slow burn to such an extreme that I’m still not 100% sure these MC’s will end up together. The signs are definitely there, but because of their hatred for each other and the fact that they both had other love interests when they met, it made sense that it would take them each some time. I personally thought this approach was a really nice change from the typical insta love. There is definitely a lot of forced proximity tension and I personally love it when two jaded headstrong characters come together like this. I’m sure the wait will pay off!

This author really excels in her ability to write lovable side characters. This book featured an adorable monkey sprite who added both comedic relief and heart to the story. I loved watching the FMC’s stance on the Fae slowly shift as she grew closer to both the MMC and the sprite as they created an unexpected little family. The stage is set for a very interesting sequel. I’m excited to continue this series and see where the sexual tension between these two MC’s will lead. 🔥

Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: I loved Savage Lands (still need to finish the series!) so I was really excited when I was offered a free copy of this book. I’ve been craving paranormal/urban fantasy lately, so this came at the perfect time. 💖 This was actually released in 2021 if you’re interested in reading it. I hadn’t heard of it before, but the ratings are high!

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not bad, but still not good enough*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Re-read: 17.06.2018
The book centers around Zoey Daniels (22, turns 23 at the end of the book though she is actually a year older) and a ruthless dark fae, a Wanderer (a jumper. They can blink in and out of time and space. Travel anywhere they want in the world in an instant.) named Ryker. Zoey's life turned up side down and will never be the same after devastation hits Seattle. The one who hunted and collected, is now being hunted and wanted. Her loved ones is gone, parts of herself that she's kept hidden resurfaces, and her companion is a fae, and Zoey has grown up to hate faes... Overall, it wasn't a bad re-read, though Zoey did annoy me at times, she got better as the book went. I do love Ryker do. I always - I think/if I remember correctly - love men with the names of Ryker or Ryder ;)

Only a few months ago, I was a collector. I hunted fae.
Now, I am the one hunted.
If death didn’t beat them to it first.

Facts about the Fae:
— Fae was the general term for them, like calling all of humans 'human'. There are different races and species under the fae umbrella: shape-shifters, fairies, demons, incubus, leprechauns, gnomes, sprites, and the list goes on and on.
— There were the Dark side (Unseelie) and the Light (Seelie). They once lived among humans until the world turned against magic, saying it was the devil’s work. Some fae went into hiding in the Otherworld, but other fae inhabited the Earth, as they needed humans to live. Humans were a buffet to the Dark. They stole humans life forces through sex, dreams, sins, and other ways humans expended energy. There were even some who ate them. They were nothing more than food to them.
— Fae could mend wounds and broken bones in a matter of hours.
— Fae were virtually immortal. They weren’t immune to death, just extremely hard to kill. If you wanted to exterminate a fae, and make sure it stayed that way, it was safest to slay it with a special fae-welded metal, like the bullets in my gun.
— Goblin-crafted weapons were the best. They were poison to them. Zoey had heard rumors that at certain times of year, when the layer between her worlds was at its thinnest, fae were susceptible to both human and fae ways of dying. She also heard beheading, breaking their necks, or continuously cutting them so their skin never has a chance to heal and they bleed to death, were others.

My mouth and mind were no longer connected because I suddenly uttered, “Your sister was right. You keep toes warm.”
I could have sworn I heard him utter, “And what about your heart?” But sleep took me under its wing, taking all comprehension between reality and the dreamworld away.

Description of Ryker: (This needed to be a part of my review just because.)
‘But he was the one who captured my attention. A large battle axe stuck up over his shoulder, harnessed across his back. The blade was so sharp it glinted under the streetlight. His dark blond hair looked long, but lines of tight braids were snug on either side of his head, causing the top to look like a Mohawk. His face was thick with stubble and hard cheeks and bones. He had a tattoo on one side of his neck, disappearing under his shirt. Scars lined both his eyebrows, causing me to wonder if they were on purpose. The man had to be at least six-three and two hundred pounds of solid muscle. He was harsh and terrifying—a modern Viking.
The man turned, his pale eyes stared through the window and locked with mine. Breath halted in my lungs. His irises were so light blue they looked white. The pinprick of the black pupils secured the middle of the stormy sea. His focus caused me to shiver, and I closed my eyes under his intense gaze. When I opened them... the couple was gone.’

Other characters:
↦ Daniel Holt (40), Zoey's co-worker of three years and the man she loves. A Fae kills him 12% into the book.
↦ Dr. Boris Rapava (mid-50s), the director of DMG (a special government agency, the Department of Molecular Genetics), who had made a discovery fifteen years earlier showing the value of fae cells in helping humans. Their testing had advanced finding a cure for things like cancer and birth defects. Imagine someday no child would die from cancer or suffer from a birth defect. Like Zoey's sister.
↦ Lexie (12), not her real sister. She was a fellow foster kid, but the closest thing Zoey could ever imagine to having a sibling. The thought of her stuck in a wheelchair the rest of her life made Zoey crazy. It was not her fault her mother was a druggie, which may have been the reason Lexie had been born crippled. If there was a chance Zoey could help her walk someday, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do. The electric storm of sorts kills Lexie/burned the house with her and Jo in it 14% into the book.
↦ Joanna ‘Jo’ Wilcox, the foster parent.
↦ Kate Grier, a scientist who works at DMG.
↦ Liam (early 30s) and Sera (mid-20s), another collector team like Zoey and Daniel.
↦ Sprig, a sprite that looks like a little monkey. Sprites mostly stay in the Otherworld. They were tiny, no more than four or five inches. They were long-eared, round-faced, adorable little things with wings. They were exceptional because they had the consistency of a ghost. Sprite is derived from the Latin word spirit, and they do appear more ghostly than a real being, but you could hold them and catch them like a solid organism. Sprig is a narcoleptic: he tends to fall asleep at the most inopportune moments.
↦ Elthia, a fae and a healer.
↦ Marcello, the leader of a gang. Smart one; thinks everything through before doing it. Maria, his sister. She was the one who told him what was going on and got it organized, but she let his fragile male ego believe it was all his doing.
↦ Garrett, a fae and is after Ryker because of The Stone.

Ryker huffed and grabbed several plastic packets of honey and shoved them in with Sprig.
A gleeful monkey chirped in response.
“Ryker,” I exclaimed, glaring at him with disbelief. “I told him no.”
“It’ll shut him up.” He shrugged. “It’s only honey. What’s it really going to hurt?”
Again, the surrealness of the moment sank in. A smile slowly curled my mouth. “If we’re not consistent with him, he’s not going to learn.” I used my best “mother” voice. “He needs rules, and you cannot undermine me when I tell him no.”
Ryker eyes widened slightly before he got my joke. He snorted, looking back at his plate. “Guess we know who the fun parent is.”
I laughed—an actual belly laugh. It was the first time since Daniel’s and Lexie’s deaths.
It felt good.

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (New Adult?) Paranormal Romance.
Series: - Series, Book One.
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - No.
Favorite character? - Ryker.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably not.
New Rating - 3 stars.

First read: 01.05.2015
Ah man, this book could have been perfect, but something just didn't work for me.. I think it has something with the way it was written perhaps? I will still read next book because I'm super nervous for what will happen to Ryker and Zoey :D
Rate: 3.5/3 stars.

[Ben Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a brilliant book! i HAVE FALLEN INLOVE WITH THESE CHARACTERS AND I CAN NOT WAIT TO READ THE NEXT BOOK OMG SO GOOD

[Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

R A T I N G: 4 stars to City in Embers ★ ★ ★ ★

‘Keeping my multiple lives straight and the lies accurate to the right people was a constant dance.’

‘Horrific dreams layered the surface of my sleep, keeping me from truly falling under.’

City in Embers is written by Stacey Marie Brown, who also authored the Darkness series. I didn’t have the best start with the latter series but it was one that inevitably grew on my skin, soon calling to me like the night does the moon, and as an author who wrote my darlings Eli and Ember, I knew Stacey wouldn’t disappoint in giving me promising characters that have much to offer to this world and story – set in the same universe as the Darkness series. In City in Embers we meet a fae Wanderer – Ryker – and a seer – Zoey Daniels – who become embroiled in each other’s lives on a day that calls for ruin and a day that pitches the poise from under them… because the city truly does fall to embers.

‘Blood and tears soaked the streets.’

‘My home was burning into embers and ash.’

22-year-old Zoey Daniels grew up through the adversity of the foster care system. She knows about poverty first-hand. She knows what life on the streets is like as a solitary fighter. She knows what survival is when she has only ever had herself to depend on. She’s been hurt, damaged and rejected many times through. She’s been the worst and seen the worse… but that all changed when she was given a reason to live an honest life and find some meaning in her gutter-worthy world; a purpose that took her from the shameless dark to embers of light.

“The things I went through would not heal immediately, but by letting them go for the first time, I felt there was a chance.”

Those purposes are two people who come to mean dreams and promises, a life worth something, and a future lit with verve: Lexie – her foster sister - and Daniel – Zoey’s mentor and partner, and somebody she has loved for nearly three years. Fending for herself, protecting Lexie from neglect and harm, and imagining a life with Daniel are all that matter to her. Hope is strong, but it’s brittle nature can be shattered with just as much force…

‘There were no words to explain the sound or the violence as the world shook and Seattle’s icon made contact with the ground.’

Zoey works for the DMG (the Department of Molecular Genetics) as a collector; collecting the fae for research. Ex-military, Daniel Holt has been Zoey’s best friend and trainer for the best part of three years at DMG…but Zoey has been in love with him for nearly the same amount of time. Alongside Lexie, Daniel became an exhorting reason for Zoey to step away from a crook’s sewer channels and imagine a life of balance and stability.

‘When you grew up on the streets, it was hard to see beyond what you knew. But he made me look at life differently. Want more. I could escape the harsh world and free myself from poverty and the dark events from my past’

Zoey has promised herself that she will do everything she can to show Lexie a better life. As Lexie’s protector, mother-figure, sister, confidant, Zoey loves her and with Daniel standing tall beside her side she knows she can do anything. Zoey has dedicated her life to making sure that Lexie lives a life through the system unlike her own, because she doesn’t want her sister to live through the suffering and stressful ordeals she had.

‘Humans were as dangerous as fae, a different danger, but probably even more terrifying.’

Zoey is heartily intrepid because she’s had no choice but to be. She has hardened and formed into a survivor because of a past that was callously horrid to her. She had to save herself with nobody to trust or rely on – and the streets are a lonely place, a dog eat dog world - which is why Lexie’s wellbeing is everything to her. She doesn’t want Lexie to follow in her dirty footsteps or suffer the same consequences that Zoey learned the hard way.

‘I learned people didn’t really want me to be myself, and I learned to adapt and play whatever role I needed to survive. Still, there were times when the violent nature, the dark side of me, would boil to the surface.’

On an energy-suffused, lightning-filled night that speaks of ominous acuity, Zoey loses everything that gave her life significance, and it isn’t only her life that lies in ruin, because the city does too. On a day where loss is unfathomable, her life takes the unfortunate turn of binding her to the creatures who most likely split her world apart and most definitely broke her heart. She is now captive to a violent fae, Ryker, who loathes humans just as much as Zoey despises his kind, and wants back what she took from him.

‘He was harsh and terrifying – a modern Viking.’

If Zoey’s shady past needs a timely reason to surface, it’s in the midst of a destructive apocalypse…because Seattle is literallyburning. With a moment’s worth of regret, and an instant that preys on ‘what ifs’, Zoey’s crummy life morphs into a desolate one. With nobody in her pockets left to trust, Zoey is yet again on her own, challenging an intense and burly fae whose rage matches her own. Zoey and Ryker – much to their deep dissatisfaction – are stuck with each other, outrunning and fighting the many people who are now after them.

‘There was something volatile and charged within him, like if he let himself off the leash, he would obliterate everything around him.’

Survival is Zoey’s first nature, if anyone can grab it by its unruly horns and run with its taxing energy it’s her, but with dreadful anguish impeding her and loss playing havoc on her life, Zoey is lonelier than ever. A life’s wish is fine to hold on to when your life is anything but perfect, but a wish is worth nothing when all hope of said wish has no kindling left to keep burning. And Zoey’s candles are all out like a light.

‘The darkness hung around, suffocating, brewing an edgy and frightening chill into my bones. I hated the dark. Too many evils hid in the corners.’

Zoey now runs with outsiders like herself (in many ways): Ryker, though punishing and unfriendly, becomes her only protector, and Sprig the narcoleptic monkey sprite who lives to be an adorable nuisance. Seattle is a disaster zone and not a soul knows where to start to begin picking up the pieces, but Ryker and Zoey have much bigger problems, because Ryker carries an object that many would kill for, and Zoey has something Ryker would kill her for.

“Stop pouting, human,” He swivelled and started for the building. “Or I’ll-“
“Most likely kill me in the morning?” I derided, cutting him off with one of my favourite movie quotes.
He looked over his shoulder, his lids narrowed. “I wish.”
He really was a killjoy.’

From hate, to uncomfortable acceptance, and forbearance to companionship, Ryker and Zoey build an uneasy bond as they travel together, understanding each other, while the non-stop clashing and fighting lives to be their thirsty life source. Zoey is persistently strong willed, and I like everything about her character. Stacey Marie Brown has drawn out both Zoey’s and Ryker’s characters well, Zoey is full of depth and although Ryker is as surreptitious as the next fae, he certainly comes across as a complex character with a lot to give in this story!

‘In desperation, right and wrong were not so definite.’

Zoey has similar traits to Ember, but where Ember had the tendency to make rash and impulsive decisions, Zoey is headstrong and rational and maintains a clear head in the type of situations that Ember didn’t. I liked Ember through the Darkness series, but I think I like Zoey a teensy bit more. Ryker riled my anger much like Eli Dragen did to begin with, but he was more tolerable and quicker to ease my prickling skin when times got tough. If you have read the Darkness series you will have more insight into the situation, and why exactly this ‘natural’ disaster takes place, but you don’t necessarily have to read the Darkness series to understand this story. It’s fun however to feel privy to certain secrets!

‘Fighting always made me feel alive, especially dirty fighting.’

‘Not only did I not like playing by the rules, but I enjoyed the fire breaking them put in my belly.’

With a past full of lingering memories and feral sins, a future splintered with broken dreams and empty unpredictability, and a present lashed with burning fires, lost hearts and latent desires, Zoey is a compact, adaptable lead, still scarred from her years in care, still carrying said burdens with her but arbitrarily finds succour in her hard-hearted companion and honey-obsessed little friend.

“You are cut off.” Ryker pointed at me, making my relentless bounce deflate a bit.
“No! Why?” Caffeine. He couldn’t take my caffeine away.
“How many did you eat?”
“Twenty…or maybe it was closer to thirty.”
Ryker laid his head back on the seat.
“Maybe he should have some?” Sprig fake whispered to me, and I nodded.’

City in Embers is about Zoey, a victim in her past who found ways to outrun her problems. She’s a woman who’s known abuse at the hands of men, she’s known exploitation and tyranny, strung along by those who came in and walked out of her life. The truth is that Zoey is resilient and can cope with most anything, but she is lost -quick to hide her vulnerability - and has hopes that seem nothing more than fruitless, charred, just like the streets around her.

‘But I was far from a victim.’

City in Embers is also about Ryker who has his own story to tell, and his own walkway to run, but maybe this ‘human’ will make him see beyond his own fears, because both certainly have what it takes to learn from the other and outlive their angst… which is already happening. Denial will only push you together harder my friends!

“Maybe we are feeble compared to fae, but I would rather live a short time and let myself love someone than live thousands of years and be alone.”

There was something about this story however that didn’t sit right with me, perhaps it was the pacing or storytelling, but something was missing for me. I think it was that Stacey Marie Brown quality that characteristically doesn't hit the mark or reach an expected calibre. This story has immense potential, but I don’t think it reached the kind of stratums it could have. There isn’t much information or involvement from government forces in this dystopian world as it’s more focussed on the individuals living in the carnage and gangs competing rather than the higher influences organising the order. But an educing read this was nonetheless…

City in Embers as I’m sure you can imagine (hence the title) is about a city in embers. Stacey Marie Brown has crafted an action-centred story with descriptions that pronounce a dystopian atmosphere while making this a fun adventure of fights and rescues, secrets and grief, tension and angst. I can’t wait to ram my face into the next instalment…hopefully without hurting myself.

From hidden secrets that will change Zoey’s life, to unproductive endeavours that Infuriate Ryker’s, ‘City in Embers’ is a marvellous start to the ‘Collector’ series, an urban fantasy with an ambiance that tastes just like that of compelling fantasy….and it’s all about the fae! Need I say more?

“And why is it important?” He looked at me, his voice low but steady. “Because we are at war. The day will come when the human race will have to fight. And I want you ready for it.”

‘I was no longer the collector. I was the collected…’

Trigger Warning: Zoey is a rape survivor and the story mentions her abuse, though not in any detail. Attempted rapes, harassment and swearing.

Note: There are writing inconsistencies and some errors in grammar which I also noticed in the ‘Darkness’ series.

[ Website ]

Thoughts/Favourite Parts:

1) Because my hope had no bounds for Daniel, I kept desperately hoping that Stacey found a way to bring his character back from the dead! I keep hoping but after that ending I think my hope is be fruitless ☹
2) What Ryker does on Zoey’s birthday.
3) “I love you Zoey Daniels, no matter how you came to this Earth.”
4) Daniel’s video
5) Sprig!
6) So glad we got to see a glimpse into Zoey’s street fighter life, and I hope to see more!

Quotes:

‘..I had never experienced anything close to him. It almost hurt to look. Not in the way it hurt to peer at the sun, but that he almost couldn’t be held within my vision.’

“You’re tenacious, aren’t you?”
I smirked. “Tenacious…I like it. I usually get bitch.”
“You’re that too.”
“And you’re a fucking ray of sunshine.”
His lips quirked with amusement.

‘The Avenging Angel would come out with her talons sharp and ready to attack.’

[Casey Ann Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book of Staceys that I’m reading and it won’t be the last. This women talent for writing is impeccable. She is a pro. let me tell you why - From the first page the reader is thrown into a battle of good vs. evil.

Relationships!!!! Stacey can write relationships so addictively. Ryker and Zoey are my spirit animals! the pace in their two relationships made for a great hot exciting read. The plot was fantastic. I really enjoyed how Stacey describes the destruction in Seattle… it set the tone for the book and I couldn’t stop from the first page.

Can I just start by saying that Zoe Daniels is one of my favourite badass heroines of all time. She is a member of the DMG, a secret government service helping capture and collect the evil Fae from the streets of Seattle. She thinks she's on the good side… but that isn’t the case.

I don’t want to talk to much about the book without spoiling it for you but I will say this: If you’re a fan of Fae stories that are action filled then this is a book for you. If you love amazing character and relationship development this is one for you. Cassandra Claire fans will lap this book up!!!

[Kathylill · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise this book was in the end. It has all I’ve wanted: I spunky female lead, a ferocious fae warrior, an apocalyptical setting in today’s USA, a fast moving plot with some surprising turns and an adorable fae familiar in the guise of a monkey. The little guy made my day, every fucking time. And take a closer look at the cover! Aint't it beautiful? Better as some covers that I have seen lately with male nippels in the center.

Oh and the romance was brilliant. Even though they are not even kissing there were several moments when you could feel the heat coming of the pages. What I love most about this book? There is no insta-love, not even an instant attraction. They are both standing on opposite sides: Zoey is like the fae equivalent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and La Femme Nikita. Zoey is hired by a special government agency, the Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG) to find and collect fae in Seattle because of her special talent: She is one of the few humans who can actually see through the glamour. Ryker is the fae warrior she is paired up with, a freak mix somewhere between V’lane from the Fever series, Merle Dixon from The Walking Dead and Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok in The Vikings. Zoe hates fae and Ryker hates the humans. Unfortunately for both, they have no other choice but to work together. Bit by bit their prejudices and hate for each other vanish and there is a growing respect and a fragile friendship blooming instead. I am so much looking forward to see how this will ripen in the next book.

The only thing that I have to criticize is the bumpy beginning. I almost gave up reading the book to be honest. There was just so much info-dumping in the first few chapters! The first person narration did not help in that moment either and there were so many confusing bits and pieces: Daniel her instructor with whom Zoey has fallen in love, her sister who is disabled and sick, the crazy professor from DMG, Zoeys backstory a foster kid… On and on it went this telling and not showing, recounting past events. I felt breathless alone from reading it. I feel like a different approach to telling the background history and kind of starting the book a little bit later might have been better. But 15% into the story the action really takes off and makes for an enjoyable, suspenseful read.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pleasantly surprised by this book and this author.
The book doesn't end up in any major cliffhanger but nothing is really resolved, so there is the plotline from this book to be continued in the next book. I am interested in reading more.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

City in Embers is a marvelous new urban fantasy.

Zoey Daniels', a survivor caught in a fae created electrical storm, life is turned upside down when the very organization she worked form DMG, turns against her. Her job, collect fae for a highly secretive government organization in attempts to build weapons against them as well as use them to develop medical advancements for humans.

On the run from the DMG, Zoey find herself in a positon to lean on the very creatures she’s come to detest, the fae…especially Ryker, a highly skilled and leathal fae. It seems a mishap during the storm has transferred something vital between Zoey and Ryker, keeping them connected in a way no one could ever imagine.

This non-stop adventure will keep you on your toes as Zoey and Ryker seem to jump from the frying pan right into the fire. Balancing suspense and humor, Brown has created a great read.

I loved how the hate the was nurtured between fae and human slowly turns to appreciation and understand. Brown miraculously transforms her characters right before your eyes. The changes are wonderfully but very realistically developed and not rushed.

This is my first read by Stacey Marie Brown but won’t be my last.

I received this ARC copy of City in Embers from Mark My Words Book Publicity in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication Feb. 4, 2015.

[Meg (booksandwinewithmeg.blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STFU Stars

Do you want to know my problem with this book, Zoey, Zoey was my problem! She was Horrible! She went on rants about psychological issues regarding other characters, but that chick was fucked up. "She tried so hard to be the woman Daniel would love and be proud of"
Shut up! You stupid stupid girl. We get it, you had a shitty upbringing, horrible in fact, but trying to please someone else or meet up to their standards by not being you is dumb to me.

Before we get into the meat and potatoes, can we talk about Ryker the "Viking" with the braided Mohawk.. Did anyone else picture this:


What about the honey loving Sprig:

Zoey had so many stories about her childhood, how she was an infamous street rat with crazy good fighting skills. Not classically trained, but dirty in-you-face-hood fighting skills. She was raped, she was in a knife fight, she shot a guy, she drank to find herself, she fucked to find herself. We get it, you are ghetto AF! What would have made me respect her more would be, A.) She overcame that life or B.) The bitch embraced it.

She was so insecure it was exhausting! She would ever be a victim again, Daniel didn't want to be with a street rat, he deserved a woman, that girl hasn't shown herself in a while, she has seen a lot of men die, she used to be very dangerous, people used to fear her, fighting made her feel alive, especially dirty fighting. GAH STFU already.

There was so much death in the beginning, and some scenes were so graphically explained, and if I am being honest not explained tastefully so either. "His head hit first, exploding like a pumpkin. Blood and brain matter splashed on the flood," There were parts I really enjoyed, and I will read book two just so I can see what happens with Ryker, but Zoey annoys me to no end!

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My original City in Embers audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Zoey, a tough and independent young woman, who has learned to fight for herself growing up in various foster homes, is a Collector working for a secret part of the government called the Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG). Together with her co-worker Daniel, with whom Zoey is desperately in love although he is considerably older and hasn’t been reciprocating her advances, they track and collect fae. However, when Seattle is devastated by a powerful, magical electrical storm, Zoey’s entire life changes, as she finds herself thrown together with Ryker, who is a Wanderer, a merciless and intimidating fae. Ryker hates humans. Zoey catches fae. Not a promising basis for a functioning relationship that both of them suddenly have to rely on.

City in Embers started out a bit strange in the way the characters, their backgrounds, and the world around them were introduced. It sort of threw you into the action and then took a step back, which was confusing at first, but in hindsight, actually worked well with regards to the plot development. I knew I had to listen to the second book long before finishing this one. I became so enthralled with the characters, the dystopian setting (cleverly linked to the author’s Darkness series), and the mystery surrounding the DMG, Daniel, and Zoey. I loved Sprig, the talking, narcoleptic monkey fae! His obsession with honey, his love for his cuddly toy, and some of his remarks were just absolutely adorable and so funny. There is no insta-love in this and no love triangle. Instead, there is a totally enthralling budding romance with a lot of sexual tension. Age-wise, I think this is New Adult material and should appeal to anybody who enjoys paranormal romances. I’ve previously listened to Stacey Marie Brown’s Darkness series. If you enjoyed that series, you are bound to love this one, too.

The narration by Amy Landon was excellent. She was a very good fit for Zoey, and I was happy with her male voices, too. Good acting, in particular when voicing Sprig, without overdoing it. Nice pacing and delivery. There were no problems with the quality of the audio production.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*s
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...

Stacey Marie Brown wowed me with her Darkness series so I was thrilled to see that she has started a new series and she really comes through with this one too.
City in Embers is set in the same world as the Darkness series so we are already aware of what kind of people/species that we will meet and the tensions that start to happen between humans, Fae and such. What we didn’t know was that some humans already knew of the Fae’s existence – the government in fact – and has a special government agency which captures Fae and uses them for experiments that will better humankind and hopefully create cures for all that ails them. In order to catch them, they first have to see them and that is where our heroine – Zoey Daniels – comes into play, she has the sight, she can recognise Fae from their aura and along with her partner – Daniel – they make an awesome team who always get their mark. Zoey’s homelife isn’t great and the only things that keep her where she is, is Daniel – who she secretly loves – and her foster sister Lexie who is paralysed and in a wheelchair and the driving force of her taking the job with the agency because if there’s a cure to be found for Lexie, then she’s in the best place to make sure she gets it.
Whilst Zoey and Daniel are out on the hunt for a Fae, they uncover something big happening but also find themselves outnumbered and needing to fight for their lives…… but then the storm hits and the lightning strikes and Zoey’s world is turned upside down so that not only is she dealing with devastating loss, she ends up running for her life…. With one hot Fae wanderer known as Ryker on her tail because she has something of his…. And he wants it back!
Zoey was a cool character, very tough and a ‘what you see, is what you get’ kind of girl. She is not a soft woman who needs love or a man to make her complete, she is more than capable of looking after herself but her love for her foster sister and partner add a softness to her that shows us a vulnerable side so that the reader can connect to her. She’s had it bad but will be a better person for those she considers family, she is selfless and will risk it all regardless of consequence. The way she sees Fae is put to the test with the arrival of Ryker, she has something of his that he wants and will stalk her until he gets it, Zoey is forced to run from everything she knows and ends up having to team up with the enemy making them an unlikely pairing – both can’t stand each other and they aren’t afraid to let that show but over the course of the book will start to understand and soften their views about each other.
As I mentioned earlier, I was thrilled to find out about this series because I adored the Darkness series and know what the author can do. I was even more excited when I saw that we were in a different part of the world we had already heard about in the other series and that they were connected by the massive storm which gives us some common ground and a sense of familiarity to the story. This also gave us a view into the aftermath of the storm and how it affected peoples’ lives giving the story a dystopian feel. I liked the fact that it shows us how others know about the Fae, I had no idea that the government knew and even had their own agency to ‘deal’ with them which will automatically make a ‘them against us’ scenario for humans and Fae. I also liked that the story challenges the characters view and beliefs, in stories such as these, there a never clear cut good guys and bad guys – it’s a matter of perspective and knowledge and that is what Zoey must find out. She is predisposed to think that all Fae are evil just as Ryker is against humans but what happens when neither can count on their ‘side’? The lines become blurred and it’s a matter of survival until all of the dots can be connected. The story is very much a run and chase scenario, many enemies are hunting for Zoey and Ryker which has them in a LOT of life threatening situations that really amps up the excitement and tension in the book and the action and fight scenes are awesome too. Zoey and Ryker need to count on each other and those type of situations form strong bonds and through this we also see them softening towards each other but there wasn’t much in the way of romance….. but knowing Stacey… there will be a lot of tension before we get to see any sexytime. This is a fab read though and if you loved the Darkness series, you will love this too.

[Lanie (Lanies Book Thoughts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:

I was blown away by this book. I absolutely loved Zoey and Ryker along with their little buddy Sprig.

Zoey is in her early twenties which means she's still trying to find her place in this world, she's still trying to figure out exactly who she is. Most of her life has been spent hopping from home to home, with time spent on the streets. It wasn't nice or safe anywhere Zoey happened to get placed, she was always made to be a victim, except she got tired of being one. She got tired of being targeted and being taken advantage of so she became a survivor. She lived for herself until she met Lexie, her disabled little sister. Because of Lexi, Zoey wanted to be better, she wanted to create a real life for them. This kinda leads us into the present and the current state Zoey finds herself in. She's pretending to be someone she's not all in the hopes of being better and maybe settling down with one man in particular. However, it takes a disgruntled Viking man to show her maybe the real her isn't so bad.

Ryker's past is a mystery and his future is still unwritten. He's wanted by many, feared by even more and has no idea what patience is. He's pretty much the all around alpha we've come to love in this genre. He's sexy, he's fae, and he hates humans. Yikes! Being attached to Zoey may be more dangerous for this duo than everyone else chasing him.

The synopsis pretty much covers this story, so I'm not going to go into that. I am going to say this is a pretty gritty and violent at times Urban Fantasy that I really enjoyed. I'd recommend giving this a try, and yes, there is some sexual tension that'll drive you nuts!

My Rating:5 of 5

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Simply Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm shit on writing reviews at the moment so here's a short recap on my feelings:

1. Zoey annoyed me. She was supposed to be some badass street fighter chick but, for some reason, she could never get herself out of any situation. Ryker has to come to the rescue a million times. Example A: They are running, she falls off a bridge or some shit, she can't swim (of course), so he dives in and saves her from drowning and hypothermia. Example B: They are hiding from bad guys, a guy gets shot, Zoey starts to freak out, and Ryker literally has to hold her mouth shut to keep them from getting caught. Plus, she would talk about her "street instincts" like, "my street instincts are telling me to do this thing but I'm not going to do it because it's not worth it anyway." Stop freaking telling me you're a badass and SHOW me you're a badass instead. Sheesh. She did improve somewhat towards the end but the first 80%....man. I think maybe part of the issue is that this story is told in first person from Zoey's POV so we got a lot of inner monologue and angst. I do get that this situation was a horrible one, especially for her, and I do empathize with her, but it was a little too much. A hundred pages could have been cut from this book if her agonizing over everything wasn't rehashed a bunch of times.

2. Sprig was so incredibly cute and his beginning in the story was a pretty sad one. I hate that she laughed at him about his "friends," seeing as she, herself, was an orphan and all. I also hate that she equated him to a pet. He is a sprite trapped in an animal body, NOT an animal. Anyway, his appearance throughout the story added some much needed humor. The other MCs were pretty non-humorous.

3. Ryker, well, there's not much to say about him. He was pretty okay ;) Ha. He was maybe a little bit more than okay. I maybe kinda developed a book crush on him. He's exactly the type of male lead I like (looking like a Viking also helped a tad). I really liked that he called Zoey out on her shit. I also really liked that the author had him do that, because that meant even the author knew when Zoey was being annoying. I kinda want to know more...

The story was okay. It starts off with a fae induced electrical storm (which they cheesily refer to as the ES), that takes out all the power in Seattle and apparently there's no getting it back? Some pretty traumatic things happen to Zoey right off the bat (so I guess I should cut her some slack, right? I'll think about it) Anyway, a series of events lead Zoey and Ryker together and on a mission to get to the bottom of said series of events. Like I said before, it was a little too long. There were parts that felt intentionally prolonged. But, as much as I hate to admit it because Zoey was not my favorite character, by the end of the story I actually started to feel invested. Maybe it has something to do with the smoking hot viking? Maybe? Probably. And that's okay, too. You may continue for other reasons but if I continue it will totally be because of Ryker.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously I probably should warn you: I am a devoted and loyal fan to the Stacey Marie Brown because seriously, how can you not? Just to give you an example - her books are huge, filled with adventure, challenges, excitement, sexy, tension, amazing unique and fantastic characters. There isn't just one huge problem, there is so much but its never overwhelming, it never feels like it is over stretching either, like stretched too thin. Okay before I just go all i wanna have a baby with this book...not that i do *nervous giggle* (but i totally do)


so partly because im becoming lazy, and partly because i just change style of reviews time to time, this might not be exactly like my other reviews but i will try

So this takes place in the same universe as Stacey's other drool fucking worthy series which im sorry but i need to gush for a second, i loved. i hated to see it end because simply it had to end :/ i didn't want to ever say good bye to those characters, but thankfully we get to stay in their world and feel a little closer ;) so moving on!

With a whole new slew of characters and a totally different side of this story because if you aren't aware of what happened but Settle is devastated and we get to see people in the heart of it - in the other series we didn't get to see that. I think that Stacey did a wonderful job with this book. I was just blown away (not that shocking really) by the characters, the new story that is being told and just the awesome-ness of it.

So overall plot: There is a lot going on here, this is the first in what i am hoping is more than a two part series XD there is so much we need to learn in this book and so much that starts us off running. Ryker *swoon* modern fey Viking with a badass attitude and has so much more to him then we realize. Its more than getting his powers back and honestly i was sort of dying to read in his pov, i just want to know what he is thinking. Eli was pretty open compared to Ryker and if you know Eli you know how insane that sounds XD sorry im so weird i know...anyways! Ryker has more on his plate then just getting his powers back which have been transported into Zoey. Zoey is a fey hating and hunting seer who works for the government. but there is so much more to her beginnings then we realize. this really just gets just into the feel of the new Settle, and the characters and how they work together. please don't take that as this book is boring and nothing happens because there is so much excitement and so much going on. There are gangs, other fey looking for Ryker, and there is the government as well...there is so much! ahhhh it was awesome. the pacing was again insanely well done never once did i feel like we were dragging or there was unnecessary scenes. the tension between Ryker and Zoey is just off the charts awesome.

So the characters! Move over Ember because Zoey is in town - wait no... i love them equally i really do. They are both amazing strong characters. Zoey is so amazing, she isn't perfect, she is broken, beaten and has a huge chip on her shoulder. her past holds her hostage but she is breaking free, she is becoming so much more. I think that with all her lost i would have been done just done but she keeps fighting, she is a survivor its what she does. Ryker, seriously. Hot Viking, just YUM-MY. but angst, and anger rule him. i just don't really know where i stand with him. part of me thinks i know but there is still so much more we have yet to learn about him i just don't know but i am damn curious to find out - like i said i am dying to read his pov *wink wink, nudge nudge* Sprig! what a cutie! i loved his character, he adds in a much needed comic relief without it feeling forced or awkward. he is so just odd to what i would expect but this book sort of threw me through some loops that i just wasn't expecting all good things i promise!

Overall writing: The emotions and tensions in this book are raw, they hit on a particular deep level that will grip you and hold onto you way after you finished reading.

I think if you are a fan of Stacey's other works this is a no brainer. if you are a newbie to her, here let me put it this way: Do it! you won't regret it.

I am dying for the next one. PLEASE. NOW? is it out now? how about now?
Not like this author is my crack or anything.... *nervous giggle*

oh ps: I got this with the West content -
Oh West!!! Can I have more of his story? Please i miss my dark dwellers and he was always a favorite of mine
and ohhh hit me right in the feels!!!

For more Becca-ness check me out here: https://theviolethourbookreviews.word...

[itsmeesahara❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐⭐⭐

Zoey & Ryker’s story is much better compared to the first two books of Eli & Ember. It has a great start and an interesting concept. It’s just that there were too many enemies, it was all over the place. No insta love between Zoey & Ryker and has a love hate relationship. Then Zoey was supposed to be a badass (with her being a Collector and was a famous fighter) but Ryker ended up saving her all the time 🙄. Good thing we have Sprig the best sidekick ever, he made reading this fun 🤗.

I can’t help but compare the stories as it has a lot of similarities. All in all it was still okay and I can’t wait to see what happens with Zoey, Ryker and Sprig.😁

“Hey! Hey!” Sprig came out of the pouch, pushing between us. “Time-out, kiddies. I am too young to see Mommy and Daddy using whips and chains on each other, especially if it’s not in the fun way.”

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes on the rare occasion I read a book that's out of my normal genre. This book was one of them. This is the first book I've read by this author. It was a little slow for me at the beginning but maybe that's because I had to read slower and kinda concentrate (and maybe look up some words in the dictionary).
However once I got my head into it I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading book two.
This book has taught me that I should branch out to different genres as this was an unexpected good surprise for me.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[pearl. · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this Advanced Reader Copy from publisher in exchange for my honest review*



I hadn't read too many books about fae in the past, but City in Embers was definitely a great introduction to that world! The mystery behind DMG intrigued me, the romance had my stomach fluttering, and the end had me worried for what is yet to come! When The Barrier Between (Collector #2) comes out, you can bet I'm going to get my hands on it ASAP!


What I enjoyed:

Ryker. (spoilers ahead) In all honestly, I was pleased after reading the passage that would end Zoey and Daniel's relationship. I'm sorry but a 22 year old madly in love with a 40 year old-- it was a little awkward for me. Little did I know, the best part of that romance ending was the introduction of Ryker. *Swoon. Ryker, sigh. At first, I remember thinking "he sounds like a caveman on steroids". Silly me. Stacey Marie Brown, must be some kind of wonderful because by the end, I was thinking "good lord, Ryker is perfection".

The steaminess. The sexual tension between Zoey and Ryker had me giggling like a giddy little schoolgirl. There was something so satisfying in picturing myself as Zoey, curled up against a rugged, muscular man with my head perfectly fitting in the crook of his arm. Sigh, bliss.

No insta-love. In City in Embers there is no love lost between humans and fae. Sure enough, when Zoey and Ryker first met, they spent most of their time insulting each other. With time, conversations were had, secrets and pasts were shared, and you could see the walls coming down. I enjoyed the slow progression of their relationship. It was a nice change from the various insta-romances I have read in the past.

Sprig. Who wouldn't love a narcoleptic, honey fiending, comic relief providing half-monkey, half-sprite?

The plot twist. I don't want to give anything away, so let me just say I read that particular passage with my mouth wide open in shock. I really hope they find a way around this!


What could have been a bit better:

The beginning. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I had to read a few pages before I became used to the writing style. I read the first page, felt confused as to what I had just read, and had to reread the page again. The first few pages are very action-packed, however, so this may have a lot to do with it.

Lexie & Daniel. (spoilers ahead) I feel a little regret in saying that I felt nothing in their deaths. I don't want to feel this way! I want to care! I want to shed a tear or two! It was just difficult to care for characters whose time in the book was so short-lived because of the storm. I do understand, though. There was a lot of story to tell after the storm.


Overall, an enjoyable read! I'm looking forward to book two and I will be searching through Goodreads soon for another fae book to read in the meantime!


Visit my blog, asteriskpearl's book blog

[Pam Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 City of Embers Stars

Holy Smokes!

I gotta say I wasn’t expecting to like this story as much as I did. I am all for paranormal but Fae is a paranormal I just don’t seem to like much.

So I really wasn’t sure how I was going to like this. But hot damn I am impressed. The world really unfolds well. And I am hooked I need to know what is going to happen to Zoey.

It did take me a little bit to get into the book but once I was in I was IN!

DMG an organization of people who do testing and research on the fae and Zoey and her partner’s job is to catch and bring in the fae.

The world goes to shit and a hand basket because the fae are fighting back and Zoey is forced to see who the DMG really are.
Oh also she has to interact with a fae named Ryker. Total badass, pretty grouchy too but hella hot. ;)

I am quiet liking the banter these two have. The hot and cold its pretty great.

I am going to start book 2 cause who am I kidding I need to and I have to say Amy Landon’s narration is pretty fab, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not. But I totally do she gives Zoey that distinguished female vibe and not some young teenie which makes me very happy.

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again Stacey has delivered a book that sucked me in! City of Embers is a book that will take you on a adventure you will not forget!

Zoey oh Zoey what a bad break this chick gets. I felt so sorry for her but loved that she was so strong through most of it! After losing everything and being stuck with the one thing she has been trained to hate, Zoey will have to find a way to stay alive with a Fae named Ryker after a event that transfers his powers to her.

Oh this book is just that good, from the first page to the last it will leave you breathless and excited and much more! I love books like that, and I think everything I have read from Stacey is like that! You get a world after it’s destroyed and a girl looking for answers to her life she always thought she knew.

Ryker, the wanderer, and Zoey the human what a pair! They will fight there true self and the others to get answers and its so FUN to read! There journey is one to not miss and I cant wait to read book 2 because I know its only going to be that much better!! ;) Thanks Stacey for another amazing read!

[Rachel Beamin' · Rating 4 out of 5]

There isn't anything I can say that hasn't already been said.

With that, let's make this short and sweet -

It was a good book, fast read, enjoyable.

I would lean more toward YA Genre than NA.

The MC is a badass fighter.



The main male is a hot-broody-alpha, so of course sign me up.

All in all, worth a gander.

[mith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Rant to come.

[Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Loved Zoey, Ryker, and omg Sprig! I need a Sprig!

[★Me Myshelf and I★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

PNR perfection

Couldn’t find anything to mark this down for!

Listened to on audio and I’m moving swiftly onto book 2, no time for reviewing sorry. Not sorry.

[Vaso · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this was a waste of time. *sigh*

I just finished the "Fever" series by Karen Marie Moning and I must say that they were one hundred percent the best series I have ever read. I immediately tried to find another series to erase them from my mind and stumbled upon these. I read the description, I liked it and so I began reading them asap.

First off, these series were about fae. I love all things fae. Their otherworldly beauty, their allure, how lethal yet sexy they are. This book did not do the fae population justice.

Apart from the beauty, fae didn't seem to possess anything special. They had to eat like humans, they had to sleep like humans, they weren't particularly strong or fast. A human could take them down with the right training. They healed pretty slowly. They were easy to capture, easy to kill. I mean, what's the point then? Fae, in this book, were presented like humans just slightly different. Disappointing.

Zoey, the heroine, was a big child. She whined 60% of the time about how she grew up in foster homes, she was beaten, she was raped, she was pushed around but they didn't break her. She came out stronger than ever. *snort*.
She possesses the strength of a new born baby. You want me to believe that this girl had such a tough childhood? And she used to fight illegally for money when she was just a teenager? And she was so good that people nicknamed her "The Avenging Angel", called her legendary and adored her? What the fuck! This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read and trust me, I have read a lot of crap lately. Zoey stumbled on her own feet and couldn't defend herself in any situation. Someone always had to come around and rescue her.

Now about Ryker. A fae, hundreds of years old and supposedly a badass. He was just as ridiculous as Zoey.

For a man his age he wasn't particularly wise, controlled and smart. He swore, looked angrily at everyone and grunted 90% of the time. The things he said were ridiculous. He couldn't say something witty or funny even if his life depended on it. And about him being a "badass". He was a powerful fae for Christ's shake and humans took him down repeatedly.

Other things that made this book even more ridiculous:
*Zoey was in love with Daniel for 3 years. Daniel dies. She cried for, like, one day and then suddenly Ryker appears and she acts like nothing happened. Suddenly she lusts after him.

*Ryker hated Zoey and then after forty pages or so he suddenly is enamored with her for no reason. They haven't exchanged more than ten words but he says things to her like: "You are the strongest human I have ever met". Give me a break!

*Ryker lost his powers and Zoey took them somehow? It was all very blury and confusing. I never really understood the way it all happened. Ryker wanted his powers back so he kidnapped Zoey and tried to keep her alive so he could have his powers back. Yet, Zoey didn't seem like a kidnap victim to me. She went wherever she wanted, whenever she felt like it. Ryker followed her around like a puppy and helped her search for clues to reveal her mysterious past. I mean...why? Ryker had no compassion for humans whatsoever, no ulterior motive to help Zoey and wanted her alive at any cost in order to have his powers back. So it doesn't make any sense as to why he let her wander around doing whatever she felt like. After a while Ryker's powers felt like a ridiculous excuse to make him stick with Zoey so the love story would progress.

Anyway. The only thing good about this book was the monkey sprite. He was adorable! Everything else about it was utter nonsense.

[Jax O · Rating 5 out of 5]

City in Embers will be that book of 2015 to which I compare all others. This is a debut novel for The Collector's series that can be shortly summarized in a paranormal novel about human Collectors and the Fae. Zoey is an amazing character packed full of spice and vinegar. Having learned to be a survivor at a young age she is a force to be reckoned with. There are two other main characters, but this was a unique twist that had us following a main character about half way through, and then it switches up on us. I was not quite sure what to think of this at the moment, but as the story builds and familiarity increases in the second half I was fully supportive. I think this was essential to building this story so creatively, and I think it was excellent risk to take. The conclusion definitely full the remaining holes, and solidify the story line in detail. It has been a very long time since I delved into a paranormal novel that builds a story for the ages, and leaves me anticipating a series that will most likely cover many installments. I see the web of framework that this one powerful novel as spread, and I am so thrilled to see where it will go. Ryker and Zoey definitely have the friction that leaves us eager for more, but be aware it will not happen here. While I can always enjoy a nice smutty book this is not one of them. This is not just a story it is an adventure, or better yet an alternate reality for readers. Packed full of fascinating characters and side lined with this invigorating story line this series is not a choice, but an addiction you must explore. Stacey Marie is not an author that I am familiar with, but she most definitely made her mark. I see that she has some other series, and it will be my mission to read them as well. If her other works prove as successful as this experience she will be my new favorite. It has been a long time coming, but talented work such as this are rare. Not everyone can create stories of such perfection. ~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

City in Embers is an action-packed urban fantasy featuring lots of fascinating magical creatures and an addicting plot. Zoey is a kick-ass heroine with a traumatic past, coupled with an uncommon ability to see fae when most humans can't. Add in an adorable half-sprite/half monkey sidekick and you have the makings of a fun read.

The beginning of the novel was almost overwhelming. So much information so quickly, like massive info-dump. Whew-- it was rather exhausting. Once I was past this rocky start, things settled down into a better pace. The story was so interesting: the DMG, fae existing among humans, government experiments, and most of all Ryker.

What can I say about Ryker? He was the total alpha male-- you know the kind you hate at first due to his masculine nonsense but come to love by the end. The romance between Ryker and Zoey was hot and progressed over time. Considering they started off on opposite sides, the slower progression was needed to be believable.

I enjoyed the intriguing fantasy world created by Ms. Brown-- our world yet so very different. Nonstop action and unfolding secrets kept the pages turning. There were times when I found Zoey's backstory to be a tad draining... let's just say she had a rough life. Thank goodness there was the little sidekick to lighten the mood.

If you're an urban fantasy fan, especially one of fae stories, then I think you'll enjoy City in Embers.

[Kandace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't understand myself sometimes...

I loved Stacey Brown's Darkness series, so I'm not sure why I didn't just hop into another one of her series before now? She's easily become one of my favorite authors. And that's a short list.

I honest liked Zoey much better once I learned about the hardships shes gone through in her life. Ms Stacey really brings these character's emotions from the page, straight to my heart. When she throws in those moments of comedy, I really just sit there laughing out loud. When a book can make you feel an assortment of feelings.. you know the writing is commendable.

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/13/2020: Reread!

This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

OMG, the struggle is real! This is my first venture into the waters of Stacey Marie Brown and I honestly didn't have any expectations going into this book. The synopsis of this book really called to me, and I am happy to say that I was blown away by this book! I am so glad that all the books in this series have already been released because I do not think that I could contain myself if I had to wait to finish this series.

I was completely immersed in this world. The world-building was entirely convincing. This is an urban fantasy, so this story takes place in our world but has fantasy and paranormal elements on top of our own world. I really liked the blending of both worlds. It was very seamless and shown in such a way that I felt this could actually happen. The realisticness was overpowering. I also liked the subtle blending of genres. This is urban fantasy, but there are elements of paranormal and dystopia as well.

I loved these characters. I felt very connected to them and their character growth was amazing. I loved how the coming together of the two main characters, going from enemies to companions (and maybe more?), not only advanced the romance in the book in a profound way but also strengthened each character individually. Both main characters have difficult pasts and personal demons that they need to overcome. Connecting with the other has brought them something that they didn't have before. The hate-to-love (or at least friendship if not yet love) aspect in the book was very well written. It was a slow burn progression from enemies to respecting each other. And the romance is the same since the hate-to-love trope in the story connects to that as well. We don't get any actual romance between the two main characters, but the romantic and sexual tension is some of the best that I have read. I normally like some actual romance in my books, but if this tension continues between the two main characters then I will gladly delay gratification.

The premise of this book is what really hooked me from the start. I was really impressed by the ideas in the story. I am such a fan of original and interesting ideas in fantasy and urban fantasy, and Stacey Marie Brown is a breath of fresh air. The plot was very consuming. I was compelled to keep reading and I was entranced by how smooth and clever the plot was. I started this book at bedtime and stayed up through the night until morning just to finish it.

Overall, I can just say that I have discovered a new favorite author and I am so thrilled! I can't wait to finish this series and start in on Stacey Marie Brown's backlist of books. Brown is a wonderful storyteller. If you enjoy moving urban fantasy or paranormal stories with complex characters and serious romantic tension then you will love this book!

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Reading

I mean it's Stacey Marie Brown... so umm, HELL YES I will read this.

After Reading

She has done it again ILOVETHIS and that ending was fantastic.

Zoey: fae hater (collector)
In the beginning, she is in love with Daniel



Then, shit happens and she meets Ryker


Ryker: fae (the Wanderer)


Zoey and Ryker


You can just imagine the love-hate relationship that ensues. It's great.