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Conexus Chronicles #1
Much of Madness
Seraphina Pearce doesn’t know what’s more frustrating: her magic’s affinity for death, her best friend’s transformation into an albino Sin Eater, or that simply touching a guy she loves means someone’s headed to the morgue.
After a sin-eating job goes awry, she casts a risky spell and butts heads with a handsome stranger in order to win an infamous grimoire.
Marceau L’Argent is the last person she should confide in because the occult cat burglar has a mysterious past, and he’s made it no secret he also wants the grimoire. He recognizes her dark magic and offers his unique help as a rare curse breaker. If all that weren’t enough, Marceau causes butterflies in her stomach—a feeling she’d long thought dead.
Seraphina was only trying to break her curse—not piss off Death himself.
MUCH OF MADNESS is a Southern Gothic Horror story about loyalty, sacrifice, and maintaining hope no matter the odds.
After a sin-eating job goes awry, she casts a risky spell and butts heads with a handsome stranger in order to win an infamous grimoire.
Marceau L’Argent is the last person she should confide in because the occult cat burglar has a mysterious past, and he’s made it no secret he also wants the grimoire. He recognizes her dark magic and offers his unique help as a rare curse breaker. If all that weren’t enough, Marceau causes butterflies in her stomach—a feeling she’d long thought dead.
Seraphina was only trying to break her curse—not piss off Death himself.
MUCH OF MADNESS is a Southern Gothic Horror story about loyalty, sacrifice, and maintaining hope no matter the odds.
ebook
Published January 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Summa
6 books30 followersNocturnal author, designer, lover of all things strange and unusual, and proud winner of the“Most Enthusiastic” superlative in the sixth grade.
S. E. Summa lives in Tennessee with her husband and a menagerie of spoiled pets. Growing up in Nashville, she always felt the city’s unique culture and landmarks would be the perfect setting for monsters to play.
S.E. is a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a member of her local chapter, the Music City Romance Writers (MCRW). She graduated magna cum laude from Belmont University.
S. E. started The Debut Collective-a group of writers, editors, and graphic artists- which published a series of five anthologies with seventy-five stories in 2016.
Inkmancy, an upcoming design business, will soon to offer her premade book designs and custom graphic design. More info forthcoming.
S. E. Summa lives in Tennessee with her husband and a menagerie of spoiled pets. Growing up in Nashville, she always felt the city’s unique culture and landmarks would be the perfect setting for monsters to play.
S.E. is a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a member of her local chapter, the Music City Romance Writers (MCRW). She graduated magna cum laude from Belmont University.
S. E. started The Debut Collective-a group of writers, editors, and graphic artists- which published a series of five anthologies with seventy-five stories in 2016.
Inkmancy, an upcoming design business, will soon to offer her premade book designs and custom graphic design. More info forthcoming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 24, 2016
I discovered this book via my friend Jenny from Supernatural Snark & Seedlings Studio, because she's the talented cover designer that did the gorgeous cover for this one! Cover lust made me check the summary and I was intrigued, so when I saw it up for request on Netgalley, I jumped to the chance of reading it.
Much of Madness is a different twist of a paranormal story, with Sin Eaters, Spellcasters, Djinn and ghosts and Curse-Breakers! It was quite refreshing to see a story full of different paranormal types but without vampires or werewolves!
The story is told in dual POVs and at first the separation was done more clearly, one chapter per POV, getting Marceu's and Seraphina's story as they come to intersect and I really enjoyed their voices and individual stories. I loved seeing their different worlds and the way the interactions with their close circle of either friends or associates show their personalities.
When they met and started interacting I liked how their differences were showcased and how the worlds could collide, but I wasn't so keen on how their voices mixed up on the narrative... they were different enough to know when they switched even in the same chapter, but it seemed to muddy things a bit and confuse the narrative a bit.
Plot wise, it seemed quite clear where things would come to a point but I was pleasantly surprised that I still got some unexpected twists here and there. Some of the intersecting plots felt a bit forced to come together, even if when they did mix, it all seemed to work out pretty well.
I must confess the romance didn't really work for me. It wasn't insta love or underdeveloped, but I just never felt the chemistry or tension between the characters, so I never really connected with their romance. I did connect much more with the romance between two of the secondary characters. I cannot say why or why not... it just happened!
I really enjoyed all the NOLA and Nashville references and really felt like the atmosphere was so very realistic, even if I've never been to any of the places. It made ME want to visit there for sure! And made me crave beignets & chicory coffee like mad, dammit!
All in all, I'm pretty torn because I really enjoyed the first half of the book and then things became a lil messy in the second half and although I liked the ending and I'd probably read the sequel, I was not blown away by the book as a whole. I guess it'd be fair to give it a 3 star rating as it can stand as a quite unique paranormal.
Much of Madness is a different twist of a paranormal story, with Sin Eaters, Spellcasters, Djinn and ghosts and Curse-Breakers! It was quite refreshing to see a story full of different paranormal types but without vampires or werewolves!
The story is told in dual POVs and at first the separation was done more clearly, one chapter per POV, getting Marceu's and Seraphina's story as they come to intersect and I really enjoyed their voices and individual stories. I loved seeing their different worlds and the way the interactions with their close circle of either friends or associates show their personalities.
When they met and started interacting I liked how their differences were showcased and how the worlds could collide, but I wasn't so keen on how their voices mixed up on the narrative... they were different enough to know when they switched even in the same chapter, but it seemed to muddy things a bit and confuse the narrative a bit.
Plot wise, it seemed quite clear where things would come to a point but I was pleasantly surprised that I still got some unexpected twists here and there. Some of the intersecting plots felt a bit forced to come together, even if when they did mix, it all seemed to work out pretty well.
I must confess the romance didn't really work for me. It wasn't insta love or underdeveloped, but I just never felt the chemistry or tension between the characters, so I never really connected with their romance. I did connect much more with the romance between two of the secondary characters. I cannot say why or why not... it just happened!
I really enjoyed all the NOLA and Nashville references and really felt like the atmosphere was so very realistic, even if I've never been to any of the places. It made ME want to visit there for sure! And made me crave beignets & chicory coffee like mad, dammit!
All in all, I'm pretty torn because I really enjoyed the first half of the book and then things became a lil messy in the second half and although I liked the ending and I'd probably read the sequel, I was not blown away by the book as a whole. I guess it'd be fair to give it a 3 star rating as it can stand as a quite unique paranormal.
July 8, 2016
**I received this ebook via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Right off the bat I want to say that I am a sucker for Southern Gothic. Maybe this can be blamed on the Coven season of American Horror Story, or maybe the genre is just super intriguing to me, who knows? Ramblings on my affinity to the genre aside, that is what drew me to Much of Madness (Conexus Chronicles #1) by S.E. Summa (also holy crap what a great cover!). The story is set in New Orleans and Nashville and revolves mainly around a young girl named Seraphina Pierce. Not only does she have magic abilities but she also happens to be cursed to never be able to love someone, lest her curse kill them with one touch, and is best friends with a sin-eater (it is how it sounds, someone who can eat another person’s sins to unburden them). The only way to break the curse binding her is to acquire an ancient grimoire, a book also sought by a young man, Marceau, for his very dangerous and sinister boss. When Seraphina and Marceau meet at the auction for the grimoire, their lives collide in a drastic and dangerous way.
My favourite thing about Much of Madness was the storyline. It was out of the box and intriguing and I pretty much enjoyed every second of it. The characters are likable (the good ones at least) and they are also all flawed, which makes relating to them (as much as you can relate to someone with magical capabilities) that much easier. Not to mention the chemistry between all the characters was just brilliantly done. Those who were friends in the book seemed to have genuine friendships, and were just like any group of people who are close in real life and get together for movie nights and take-out nights. Something about the closeness and realism between the friends in the book just made me really fall for it that much more. As for the antagonist and all his cronies in the book, man do you hate them. I am not sure about you, but when there is a character in a book who is supposed to be bad, I really want to get an aura of evil that makes me completely despise them. In the case of Much of Madness, that is how I felt about the bad guy.
The setting descriptions were hit or miss for me. On one hand you would have an area, like the apartment or auction house, that were described so well I could picture everything in my head as if I were there. Then on the other hand you would have areas, like many of the outside spaces in Nashville, that I found the descriptions lacking and not vivid enough to give me a good visualization. The dialogue was quite good, and I adored a lot of the cute and witty banter between the characters. For the most part, the character interactions came off quite natural and the emotions they felt towards one another were easy to read. There is a romance aspect to the book but it is completely pivotal to the story and done in the right way, not overly dramatic or romancy but enough to make you care.
As for the Southern Gothic part of this story, yeah I did not get as much of that as I had hoped. The South (especially the New Orleans area) is so deeply rooted in myth and lore (hoodoo, paranormal, the grotesque, etc.) that, when done right, can add so much to a story. Not only does it contribute history and culture, but it has a whole level of creepiness that can send shivers up your spine. Unfortunately, there was not as much of that as I would have liked in Much of Madness. I would say it is more of a YA Paranormal Fantasy book with some loose influence from Southern Gothic, and to be honest, that did let me down a bit. The book had the basic themes of the genre but I feel it would have benefited from more detailed lore in the story. My only other issue was that about 90% into the book the story took a turn that kind of came out of left field for me and it all got a little convoluted. I felt like it was a little rushed and not explained as well as I would have liked.
Overall I really enjoyed the book. I was torn between 3 1/2 and 4 stars, but felt it just leaned more towards a 4 star rating for me. It was creepy, smart, funny, well-written, and exciting, and I had a hard time putting it down. I found myself charmed by the story, at moments disturbed, and wishing I could hang out with the main characters in the book. It was well-done and the ending was not a huge cliffhanger, yet still left me wanting more, so I will definitely be continuing on with the series. If you are a fan or paranormal and are looking for something a little different then I would definitely recommend Much of Madness.
Check out this review and others on Double Letters Book Club
Right off the bat I want to say that I am a sucker for Southern Gothic. Maybe this can be blamed on the Coven season of American Horror Story, or maybe the genre is just super intriguing to me, who knows? Ramblings on my affinity to the genre aside, that is what drew me to Much of Madness (Conexus Chronicles #1) by S.E. Summa (also holy crap what a great cover!). The story is set in New Orleans and Nashville and revolves mainly around a young girl named Seraphina Pierce. Not only does she have magic abilities but she also happens to be cursed to never be able to love someone, lest her curse kill them with one touch, and is best friends with a sin-eater (it is how it sounds, someone who can eat another person’s sins to unburden them). The only way to break the curse binding her is to acquire an ancient grimoire, a book also sought by a young man, Marceau, for his very dangerous and sinister boss. When Seraphina and Marceau meet at the auction for the grimoire, their lives collide in a drastic and dangerous way.
My favourite thing about Much of Madness was the storyline. It was out of the box and intriguing and I pretty much enjoyed every second of it. The characters are likable (the good ones at least) and they are also all flawed, which makes relating to them (as much as you can relate to someone with magical capabilities) that much easier. Not to mention the chemistry between all the characters was just brilliantly done. Those who were friends in the book seemed to have genuine friendships, and were just like any group of people who are close in real life and get together for movie nights and take-out nights. Something about the closeness and realism between the friends in the book just made me really fall for it that much more. As for the antagonist and all his cronies in the book, man do you hate them. I am not sure about you, but when there is a character in a book who is supposed to be bad, I really want to get an aura of evil that makes me completely despise them. In the case of Much of Madness, that is how I felt about the bad guy.
The setting descriptions were hit or miss for me. On one hand you would have an area, like the apartment or auction house, that were described so well I could picture everything in my head as if I were there. Then on the other hand you would have areas, like many of the outside spaces in Nashville, that I found the descriptions lacking and not vivid enough to give me a good visualization. The dialogue was quite good, and I adored a lot of the cute and witty banter between the characters. For the most part, the character interactions came off quite natural and the emotions they felt towards one another were easy to read. There is a romance aspect to the book but it is completely pivotal to the story and done in the right way, not overly dramatic or romancy but enough to make you care.
As for the Southern Gothic part of this story, yeah I did not get as much of that as I had hoped. The South (especially the New Orleans area) is so deeply rooted in myth and lore (hoodoo, paranormal, the grotesque, etc.) that, when done right, can add so much to a story. Not only does it contribute history and culture, but it has a whole level of creepiness that can send shivers up your spine. Unfortunately, there was not as much of that as I would have liked in Much of Madness. I would say it is more of a YA Paranormal Fantasy book with some loose influence from Southern Gothic, and to be honest, that did let me down a bit. The book had the basic themes of the genre but I feel it would have benefited from more detailed lore in the story. My only other issue was that about 90% into the book the story took a turn that kind of came out of left field for me and it all got a little convoluted. I felt like it was a little rushed and not explained as well as I would have liked.
Overall I really enjoyed the book. I was torn between 3 1/2 and 4 stars, but felt it just leaned more towards a 4 star rating for me. It was creepy, smart, funny, well-written, and exciting, and I had a hard time putting it down. I found myself charmed by the story, at moments disturbed, and wishing I could hang out with the main characters in the book. It was well-done and the ending was not a huge cliffhanger, yet still left me wanting more, so I will definitely be continuing on with the series. If you are a fan or paranormal and are looking for something a little different then I would definitely recommend Much of Madness.
Check out this review and others on Double Letters Book Club
March 17, 2016
Review @ Book Is Glee
Look at Much of Madness. Now imagine you attending the most awesome, most all-out, and definitely the craziest Mardi Gras you can. That, my friend, you have just experienced how awesome this book is.
I have a real soft spot for books about New Orleans and Voodoo Magic ever since I first saw the new Princess and the Frog (no shame). Mystical creatures that live among you, magical spells and dangerous curses, fascinating things that seem to alluring to be safe… That is the world of Much of Madness.
So, let’s start from the beginning.
I. Love. This. Book.
I read it in one sitting, half-skipping dinner, and almost hit my head twice. And I’m telling you, it was totally worth it.
The best thing about Much of Madness, arguably, is its supernatural backdrop. It’s absolutely captivating and undoubtedly fascinating. Creatures of all kinds come to life, with Sin Eaters and Spell Casters, reanimated corpses and seducing Djinn, and of course, even Death himself (capital D, mind you). S.E. Summa did an amazing job created a spellbinding world with magic, curses, and hidden disguises.
“Beautiful masquerade costumes and the intoxicating music made anything possible last night.”
The characters’ relationships to one another is beautiful and greatly admirable. The love between the two main protagonist, Seraphina and Marceaus, progressed quite naturally and enjoyable, which definitely add up points to the book. Although the developments for all the characters were somewhat abruptly, it was very well executed and successfully capture my attention. The actions are gripping and captivating, and before I noticed, I realized I’ve fallen for Much of Madness.
Much of Madness is undoubtedly a great read. The ending was enjoyable and very much so satisfying. It can be easily seen as an end of a new beginning, and I just can’t wait for the 2nd installment. Recommend it? Totally!
*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an for an honest review. This in no way can affect my opinion on the book and its content.
-o-o-o-
Look at Much of Madness. Now imagine you attending the most awesome, most all-out, and definitely the craziest Mardi Gras you can. That, my friend, you have just experienced how awesome this book is.
I have a real soft spot for books about New Orleans and Voodoo Magic ever since I first saw the new Princess and the Frog (no shame). Mystical creatures that live among you, magical spells and dangerous curses, fascinating things that seem to alluring to be safe… That is the world of Much of Madness.
So, let’s start from the beginning.
I. Love. This. Book.
I read it in one sitting, half-skipping dinner, and almost hit my head twice. And I’m telling you, it was totally worth it.
The best thing about Much of Madness, arguably, is its supernatural backdrop. It’s absolutely captivating and undoubtedly fascinating. Creatures of all kinds come to life, with Sin Eaters and Spell Casters, reanimated corpses and seducing Djinn, and of course, even Death himself (capital D, mind you). S.E. Summa did an amazing job created a spellbinding world with magic, curses, and hidden disguises.
“Beautiful masquerade costumes and the intoxicating music made anything possible last night.”
The characters’ relationships to one another is beautiful and greatly admirable. The love between the two main protagonist, Seraphina and Marceaus, progressed quite naturally and enjoyable, which definitely add up points to the book. Although the developments for all the characters were somewhat abruptly, it was very well executed and successfully capture my attention. The actions are gripping and captivating, and before I noticed, I realized I’ve fallen for Much of Madness.
Much of Madness is undoubtedly a great read. The ending was enjoyable and very much so satisfying. It can be easily seen as an end of a new beginning, and I just can’t wait for the 2nd installment. Recommend it? Totally!
*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an for an honest review. This in no way can affect my opinion on the book and its content.
-o-o-o-
June 26, 2016
Oh, boy, OH BOY! What did I just read?! Is this for real?!
Seraphina Pearce and Marceau L'Argent are the main characters of this extraordinarily unique story. The first one is a spellcaster, the second one a thief specializing in solving hex puzzles and solving curses. Both of them way too close to Death for comfort - each in their own way. When these two find each other and bond, they set in motion a plan that took place more years than one could live to count.
Let me tell you now, I'm not planning on giving tons of details. Just that this book combined all the spooky stuff that hexes deal with, things that take us for an impressive trip through magic the way we've seen in southern movies.
More than that, it was so full of delightful plot twists, there was nothing I could take for granted. Be it a curse or a hex or even a character's true abilities and loyalties. Everything kept changing places and states, that if you didn't pay attention, even a little, you'd be lost. I find this an interesting factor - the ability to sort of force the reader to keep a close eye on the text, to make sure nothing is left unnoticed.
All in all, I'm dying to meet the cast of this series again - no pun intended. Especially Kandy. I knew from the first moment she opened her mouth I would adore her, and damn I was right. I want more of her and Finn and certainly more of the main couple, Seraphina and Marceau. Because, come on, they can finally be together, it's only that we get to witness it, right?
(a little more of Kandy's awesomeness because I seriously love that woman)
"Okay, a huge pile of blankets, you are both covered in awesome glowing tattoos, and Finn's hair is standing out in every possible angle, which means you really freaked him out. I hate when I miss the good stuff."
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
Seraphina Pearce and Marceau L'Argent are the main characters of this extraordinarily unique story. The first one is a spellcaster, the second one a thief specializing in solving hex puzzles and solving curses. Both of them way too close to Death for comfort - each in their own way. When these two find each other and bond, they set in motion a plan that took place more years than one could live to count.
Let me tell you now, I'm not planning on giving tons of details. Just that this book combined all the spooky stuff that hexes deal with, things that take us for an impressive trip through magic the way we've seen in southern movies.
More than that, it was so full of delightful plot twists, there was nothing I could take for granted. Be it a curse or a hex or even a character's true abilities and loyalties. Everything kept changing places and states, that if you didn't pay attention, even a little, you'd be lost. I find this an interesting factor - the ability to sort of force the reader to keep a close eye on the text, to make sure nothing is left unnoticed.
All in all, I'm dying to meet the cast of this series again - no pun intended. Especially Kandy. I knew from the first moment she opened her mouth I would adore her, and damn I was right. I want more of her and Finn and certainly more of the main couple, Seraphina and Marceau. Because, come on, they can finally be together, it's only that we get to witness it, right?
(a little more of Kandy's awesomeness because I seriously love that woman)
"Okay, a huge pile of blankets, you are both covered in awesome glowing tattoos, and Finn's hair is standing out in every possible angle, which means you really freaked him out. I hate when I miss the good stuff."
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
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May 27, 2016 All Things Urban Fantasy
MUCH OF MADNESS wraps you up in a magical world full of mystery and suspense. I really enjoyed this story although my one issue was that I kept feeling like I was missing some key information that was covered in a previous book which is odd since this is the first book in a series. I understand why certain plot points were kept hidden to keep up the suspense, it just made for a confusing read for a section of the story until everything was revealed.
Aside from that confusion the story really kept me entertained and captivated with interesting supernatural characters including a sin-eater, curse breaker, spell caster, and djinn. They all felt pretty repeatable and were pretty funny together. I enjoyed seeing the story of how Seraphina and Finn became cursed and how that curse connected to the rest of the cast of characters in some way. It was a really clever way the story threads were brought together so slowly leading up to a surprising reveal. I also really enjoyed how the relationship between Seraphina, Finn, and Marceau did not turn into some sort of love triangle. Finn is her Seraphina's dear friend who really cares for her and does have some issues with Marceau not due to some unrequited love but do to his platonic love for her. The budding romance between Seraphina and Marceau is sweet and very chaste.
MUCH OF MADNESS is a wonderfully slow burn with magic, strong friendships, curses, and even a touch of time travel. The ending of the book includes some fascinating paranormal changes for our characters that I am interested in seeing evolve in the next book.
MUCH OF MADNESS wraps you up in a magical world full of mystery and suspense. I really enjoyed this story although my one issue was that I kept feeling like I was missing some key information that was covered in a previous book which is odd since this is the first book in a series. I understand why certain plot points were kept hidden to keep up the suspense, it just made for a confusing read for a section of the story until everything was revealed.
Aside from that confusion the story really kept me entertained and captivated with interesting supernatural characters including a sin-eater, curse breaker, spell caster, and djinn. They all felt pretty repeatable and were pretty funny together. I enjoyed seeing the story of how Seraphina and Finn became cursed and how that curse connected to the rest of the cast of characters in some way. It was a really clever way the story threads were brought together so slowly leading up to a surprising reveal. I also really enjoyed how the relationship between Seraphina, Finn, and Marceau did not turn into some sort of love triangle. Finn is her Seraphina's dear friend who really cares for her and does have some issues with Marceau not due to some unrequited love but do to his platonic love for her. The budding romance between Seraphina and Marceau is sweet and very chaste.
MUCH OF MADNESS is a wonderfully slow burn with magic, strong friendships, curses, and even a touch of time travel. The ending of the book includes some fascinating paranormal changes for our characters that I am interested in seeing evolve in the next book.
May 22, 2018
This book was quite the pleasant read with lots of little surprises in a supernatural world. It captivated me from the very first chapter and held me through to the end. The only reason this book gets 4 stars rather than 5 is that I felt the beginning and middle were much, much stronger than the end. To be honest, I didn’t like the last three chapters. I felt this awesome story fell short an equally awesome ending (or until next book). However, even in saying that, I’ll read book two. While the characters weren’t of the human variety, they were very relatable and very likable. Honestly, there isn’t one I can say a bad thing about, including the progression of their story.
October 30, 2016
***** 5 Cranky Stars *****
S.E. Summa’s “Much of Madness” is a book that crawls under your skin and haunts, even when you’ve turned the last page.
The author’s descriptions and world building really brings the story alive.
“Much of Madness” is familiar because it features archetypes we know: witches, sin eaters, and the undead. The characters in Summa’s stories are representatives of these roles: Seraphina, Marceau, Katereh, Finn, Lynette and Babette. All have their own troubles and torments to endure, roles to play in lives where they didn’t ask for their fates.
Then there is Maximilian, who has his own role to play.
This is a gripping and wonderful tale of a supernatural quest. Twists and turns abound and the ending leaves you reeling.
August 28, 2018
As a reader, I found enjoyment in the diverse nature of the characters. As a writer, I could only aspire to produce a novel this interesting. It may not be the most perfectly polished diamond, but its shine is eye catching, nonetheless. Would love to see where a sequel would take the story.
July 28, 2016
There were things to like about this book. I kind of liked the main characters. Kind of. I didn't mind the setup of the magic, with the covers they've developed to "pass" in the real world.
Unfortunately, the writing did not quite carry the load, and the villain of the piece is so very Comic Book Villainous, taken to a such a truly disgusting and uncomfortable level that it just wasn't enjoyable.
There were things I liked. (Example: “Hope you like my new recipe. They’re called Shut the Fucupcakes.”) But the writing suffered from the usual ailments, Idtimwytim, Comma Abuse and Neglect, Sentence Fragment, and lightning bug syndromes. It was on Kindle, so of course I have examples to illustrate why the book was not much fun to read (keeping in mind that I had a review galley there's a very slim chance that some stuff was fixed when the book was published)…
"drawing haggard breaths" – not how "haggard" should be used
"his normal pallid white" – redundant
"long (comma) red hair"
"small (comma) iron tables"
"You never (lack of comma) know this may be a great opportunity…"
"Finn sat relaxed. His fingers splayed on his lap and his face neutral." – I hate badly used sentence fragments.
"The hex seemed familiar after examining its patterns on both Seraphina and Finn." – The hex is not doing the examining.
"which helped him win at poker and perfect bootlegging record" – what?
"she lives in a one-bedroom studio apartment" – which? Not the same thing. Trust me.
“I highly suggest you step away, slow and steady.” Strongly, not highly.
"Khat rose and swooned while almost falling back onto the bed again." Awkward.
"What havoc would she have reeked in the mortal realm?" – God, I hope that was fixed.
The narrator's voice becomes a bit juvenile at times -
"But then Khat clapped and nodded so fast she looked like a bobble-head."
"Seraphina was human, well, sort of"
The club called "Absinthe and Alchemy" is nicknamed "Triple A" or something like that, and someone says “Okay, I get the first two A’s, but what’s the third?” And the joke is that it's "Ass", because: strippers. Except … do I really need to point it out? All right, I will: A bsinthe A nd A lchemy. So. Um.
A big part of the story is that if Seraphina touches someone under certain circumstances, she pretty much does a Rogue on them. You'd think those around her would remember to wear gloves, or she would. You'd think wrong.
Another ailment the book, er, ails from is "Oh, Good, a Recap, Because I Forgot What I Read Four Minutes Ago" Disorder. It doesn't do it as often as some, but … really, a badly done once is enough.
And I'm not sure what Desdemona was doing singing "Ave Maria" in a production of Othello, but … whatever.
Marceau muses about what it would be like to be ordinary, "to work a normal job, spend free time with friends and family, to not bear the weight of Maximilian’s cruel demands"… Well, I'll tell you, buddy, except for that last little bit it sucks. Shut up.
So, again, there was a nugget of something in there which with a lot more work could have been … something. But (to recap!) between the sometimes terrible writing lapses and just really … gross violence (it wasn't scary horror you're-gonna-want-a-light-on writing – it was just nauseating)… And some silly plot turns… no. Sorry. It just wasn't much fun.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
Unfortunately, the writing did not quite carry the load, and the villain of the piece is so very Comic Book Villainous, taken to a such a truly disgusting and uncomfortable level that it just wasn't enjoyable.
There were things I liked. (Example: “Hope you like my new recipe. They’re called Shut the Fucupcakes.”) But the writing suffered from the usual ailments, Idtimwytim, Comma Abuse and Neglect, Sentence Fragment, and lightning bug syndromes. It was on Kindle, so of course I have examples to illustrate why the book was not much fun to read (keeping in mind that I had a review galley there's a very slim chance that some stuff was fixed when the book was published)…
"drawing haggard breaths" – not how "haggard" should be used
"his normal pallid white" – redundant
"long (comma) red hair"
"small (comma) iron tables"
"You never (lack of comma) know this may be a great opportunity…"
"Finn sat relaxed. His fingers splayed on his lap and his face neutral." – I hate badly used sentence fragments.
"The hex seemed familiar after examining its patterns on both Seraphina and Finn." – The hex is not doing the examining.
"which helped him win at poker and perfect bootlegging record" – what?
"she lives in a one-bedroom studio apartment" – which? Not the same thing. Trust me.
“I highly suggest you step away, slow and steady.” Strongly, not highly.
"Khat rose and swooned while almost falling back onto the bed again." Awkward.
"What havoc would she have reeked in the mortal realm?" – God, I hope that was fixed.
The narrator's voice becomes a bit juvenile at times -
"But then Khat clapped and nodded so fast she looked like a bobble-head."
"Seraphina was human, well, sort of"
The club called "Absinthe and Alchemy" is nicknamed "Triple A" or something like that, and someone says “Okay, I get the first two A’s, but what’s the third?” And the joke is that it's "Ass", because: strippers. Except … do I really need to point it out? All right, I will: A bsinthe A nd A lchemy. So. Um.
A big part of the story is that if Seraphina touches someone under certain circumstances, she pretty much does a Rogue on them. You'd think those around her would remember to wear gloves, or she would. You'd think wrong.
Another ailment the book, er, ails from is "Oh, Good, a Recap, Because I Forgot What I Read Four Minutes Ago" Disorder. It doesn't do it as often as some, but … really, a badly done once is enough.
And I'm not sure what Desdemona was doing singing "Ave Maria" in a production of Othello, but … whatever.
Marceau muses about what it would be like to be ordinary, "to work a normal job, spend free time with friends and family, to not bear the weight of Maximilian’s cruel demands"… Well, I'll tell you, buddy, except for that last little bit it sucks. Shut up.
So, again, there was a nugget of something in there which with a lot more work could have been … something. But (to recap!) between the sometimes terrible writing lapses and just really … gross violence (it wasn't scary horror you're-gonna-want-a-light-on writing – it was just nauseating)… And some silly plot turns… no. Sorry. It just wasn't much fun.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
March 24, 2016
**Thanks to Inkmancy, the publisher, for providing the book in exchange for an honest review. Crossposted on Amazon and Goodreads.**
Like many other reviewers, I was initally drawn to the gorgeous cover art of Much of Madness. The themes of the book are richly illustrated on the cover, and several aspects of the book are subtly included as well in the dahlias and the chosen color scheme. The cover definitely has an appeal that I think readers will respond to.
As far as the story, I have some mixed feelings, though I was generally pleased with the book and could not put it down once I started. (I literally missed my stop on public transit this morning and was almost late for work because I was reading the last chapters!) The characters are engaging and sweet, though I found the male characters to be generally more fleshed out and "real" than the female. I loved the relationship between Seraphina and Finn, and appreciated that there was no late reveal of secret feelings between the two. Marceau started out very strong, but I felt like, once the action started, he became a little more of a caricature of himself than he was at the beginning. Khat frankly grated on me a bit, but I think that's partially that I don't understand why so many writers force supernatural characters to be surrounded solely by supernatural characters. I think I might have enjoyed Khat more as a human being swept up in the world of supernatural beings and running with it because of her love for Finn. I liked Seraphina, but I think the book did a lot of "saying instead of showing" how great she is.
None of this means I didn't like the characters, or the book. On the contrary, I enjoyed it a lot. This is a book you read for fun when you're the type of person who likes things a little creepy but covered in a sheen of djinn-style glimmer. There's some macabre stuff that goes down in this book, such as Seraphina and Marceau's visit to the museum and the introduction of Babette. There's also some genuine beauty and sweetness to the book. I'm a sucker for a love story, especially those rich in atmosphere. In that area, Much of Madness did not disappoint. The development of Marceau and Seraphina's relationship was very sweet, as was Finn and Khat's. I loved Seraphina and Rolf's relationship.
My (I hope constructive) criticism basically boils down to:
- There's some bad editing work with grammar and punctuation. That immediately removed me from the story when I came across it, which was frustrating. Not a knock against the book itself, however.
- It felt like too many stories were happening at once a lot of the time. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I still had trouble remembering a few details about things that happened earlier, such as Virgil Woodard's Sins.
- After a certain point, right around when I felt Marceau becoming less defined, the story just felt like it was whipping along very rapidly. This can be really great! In this case, it felt a little rushed, though. I would have loved to spend more time developing the world around them, maybe having things happen in the apothecary. I also would have liked to get to know Vespa a little better, but I'm hoping that happens in the next book. She was... she was somethin else.
All in all, the book was a good and engaging read. I'd definitely suggest it to my friends that enjoy paranormal romance. Just don't expect smut. This is a super chaste and sweet relationship. I look forward to the next book.
Like many other reviewers, I was initally drawn to the gorgeous cover art of Much of Madness. The themes of the book are richly illustrated on the cover, and several aspects of the book are subtly included as well in the dahlias and the chosen color scheme. The cover definitely has an appeal that I think readers will respond to.
As far as the story, I have some mixed feelings, though I was generally pleased with the book and could not put it down once I started. (I literally missed my stop on public transit this morning and was almost late for work because I was reading the last chapters!) The characters are engaging and sweet, though I found the male characters to be generally more fleshed out and "real" than the female. I loved the relationship between Seraphina and Finn, and appreciated that there was no late reveal of secret feelings between the two. Marceau started out very strong, but I felt like, once the action started, he became a little more of a caricature of himself than he was at the beginning. Khat frankly grated on me a bit, but I think that's partially that I don't understand why so many writers force supernatural characters to be surrounded solely by supernatural characters. I think I might have enjoyed Khat more as a human being swept up in the world of supernatural beings and running with it because of her love for Finn. I liked Seraphina, but I think the book did a lot of "saying instead of showing" how great she is.
None of this means I didn't like the characters, or the book. On the contrary, I enjoyed it a lot. This is a book you read for fun when you're the type of person who likes things a little creepy but covered in a sheen of djinn-style glimmer. There's some macabre stuff that goes down in this book, such as Seraphina and Marceau's visit to the museum and the introduction of Babette. There's also some genuine beauty and sweetness to the book. I'm a sucker for a love story, especially those rich in atmosphere. In that area, Much of Madness did not disappoint. The development of Marceau and Seraphina's relationship was very sweet, as was Finn and Khat's. I loved Seraphina and Rolf's relationship.
My (I hope constructive) criticism basically boils down to:
- There's some bad editing work with grammar and punctuation. That immediately removed me from the story when I came across it, which was frustrating. Not a knock against the book itself, however.
- It felt like too many stories were happening at once a lot of the time. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I still had trouble remembering a few details about things that happened earlier, such as Virgil Woodard's Sins.
- After a certain point, right around when I felt Marceau becoming less defined, the story just felt like it was whipping along very rapidly. This can be really great! In this case, it felt a little rushed, though. I would have loved to spend more time developing the world around them, maybe having things happen in the apothecary. I also would have liked to get to know Vespa a little better, but I'm hoping that happens in the next book. She was... she was somethin else.
All in all, the book was a good and engaging read. I'd definitely suggest it to my friends that enjoy paranormal romance. Just don't expect smut. This is a super chaste and sweet relationship. I look forward to the next book.
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March 20, 2016
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A beautiful cover, an interesting premise, and a death curse all tempted me towards reading Much of Madness by SE Summa. Thankfully, it all comes together for a wonderful payoff! If this was a standalone book, I would have given this a full five stars, but as it’s only the first in a series, it’s getting four since I know the next one will likely (hopefully?) expand on the wonderful foundation work laid here.
Summa does a fantastic job with the setting. You can tell she knows what she’s talking about as I was able to visualize the areas of New Orleans she spoke about, recognizing it from my visits there. The way she describes Nashville is just as vivid and really makes me want to book a trip there to learn about all of these fantastic areas. I want to see more of the city, and even the nature part of Nola and Nashville. Maybe in the second book??
The characters are fun. The relationship between Seraphina and Finn kills me. I just love it so much. It’s perfect. I especially love that Summa avoids creating ANY love triangles. Like wow, what a novelty, a male and female relationship that is platonic! Secretly, I kinda hope that it will always be Seraphina and Finn as the main priority in life, regardless of relationships. Then there’s Khat, Finn’s girlfriend. Seraphina dislikes Khat at the start, but then, she actually gets to know her and they actually become friends! Wow again! Women able to be friends instead of trying to fight with each other and mark their territory. It’s fantastic and feels so refreshing to read! The fourth main, Marceau, is good. He’s not as fun/flashy as Finn or Khat, but he seems perfect for Seraphina. He’s sweet and old-fashioned, but also has a great dark side (though who knows if its his dark side, or a by-product of his benefactor).
Now, to the story itself! It was super interesting! I think it was the perfect opening story to a series because it brings all four characters together and to an understanding. Seraphina wants to get rid of her curse. Finn wants her to be safe and happy. The other two are there to make that happen. Then, there’re the side stories between Marceau and Death, and Seraphina and Death, which will prove to be the greater story to come in the series.
Much of Madness by SE Summa is a really solid story with four likeable characters and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
// I received this title for free in exchange for an honest review //
July 2, 2016
[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
Quite a few original ideas in this one. Ultimately, though, I found it too disjointed, in plot as well as in writing, and while I shall acknowledge its premise as definitely interesting, it wasn't a novel I really enjoyed.
To be fair, some background information is delivered little by little, not as huge info-dumps. The problem was mostly the order in which everything was disclosed: more than once, I felt that “this information should have come sooner”, or “that revelation deserved being held for just a little longer”. I could feel that in the characters, for instance; in the nature of Seraphina's powers, her relation with Rolf, the way she wove her spell to get the book; in the way Kath's background was introduced (kind of “oh yes, by the way, I'm this species and I come from that family”); or Max's nature—it looked like Marceau was the one doing all the work from beginning to end? Had such tidbits been handled differently, I suspect I would've enjoyed them more.
(And what exactly is the Conexus? Some kind of supernatural government or body, obviously, but it seemed oddly absent, only mentioned in passing in the beginning and at the end.)
In general, I didn't really connect with the characters. Partly because their presence wasn't always justified—I'm still wondering what was the point in having Vespa hang around. And partly because of the book's “tell not show” tendency and stilted dialogues; the way Marceau address Seraphina was often pretty unnatural, which easily turns into suspension of disbelief as far as I'm concerned. (As a side note: the names. Sera, Finn and Khat are amlrights, but “Marceau” immediately conjures images of old French mimes, and “Vespa” that of Italian scooters. I couldn't get that out of my mind. It was... distracting.)
As for the plot, well, for me (again) it was shadowed by the romance. The latter was of course important when it came to the curse, I won't deny that; only the “telling” and dialogues didn't spoke of chemistry between Sera and Marc. And the “daily life snippets” were too long and several too many—as in, they eclipsed the Big Bad of the story, and the threat he was supposed to pose, in such a way that all feeling of urgency was lost. I could almost picture him popping out of a box at times, saying “muhaha, wait, I'm still here, let's not forget me.”
Conclusion: Interesting types of supernaturals and magic (Sin Eaters, magic boosts, necromancy...) but plot- and character-wise, it just didn't work for me. Not so much madness in there...
Quite a few original ideas in this one. Ultimately, though, I found it too disjointed, in plot as well as in writing, and while I shall acknowledge its premise as definitely interesting, it wasn't a novel I really enjoyed.
To be fair, some background information is delivered little by little, not as huge info-dumps. The problem was mostly the order in which everything was disclosed: more than once, I felt that “this information should have come sooner”, or “that revelation deserved being held for just a little longer”. I could feel that in the characters, for instance; in the nature of Seraphina's powers, her relation with Rolf, the way she wove her spell to get the book; in the way Kath's background was introduced (kind of “oh yes, by the way, I'm this species and I come from that family”); or Max's nature—it looked like Marceau was the one doing all the work from beginning to end? Had such tidbits been handled differently, I suspect I would've enjoyed them more.
(And what exactly is the Conexus? Some kind of supernatural government or body, obviously, but it seemed oddly absent, only mentioned in passing in the beginning and at the end.)
In general, I didn't really connect with the characters. Partly because their presence wasn't always justified—I'm still wondering what was the point in having Vespa hang around. And partly because of the book's “tell not show” tendency and stilted dialogues; the way Marceau address Seraphina was often pretty unnatural, which easily turns into suspension of disbelief as far as I'm concerned. (As a side note: the names. Sera, Finn and Khat are amlrights, but “Marceau” immediately conjures images of old French mimes, and “Vespa” that of Italian scooters. I couldn't get that out of my mind. It was... distracting.)
As for the plot, well, for me (again) it was shadowed by the romance. The latter was of course important when it came to the curse, I won't deny that; only the “telling” and dialogues didn't spoke of chemistry between Sera and Marc. And the “daily life snippets” were too long and several too many—as in, they eclipsed the Big Bad of the story, and the threat he was supposed to pose, in such a way that all feeling of urgency was lost. I could almost picture him popping out of a box at times, saying “muhaha, wait, I'm still here, let's not forget me.”
Conclusion: Interesting types of supernaturals and magic (Sin Eaters, magic boosts, necromancy...) but plot- and character-wise, it just didn't work for me. Not so much madness in there...
August 29, 2016
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.25 of 5
Behind this attractive cover is a cute 'buddy' story featuring a djinn, a sin-easter, a spell-caster, Death, and a few other paranormal figures.
Seraphina is an immortal who is cursed with a hex. She currently lives with a good friend Finn, a Sin-Eater. Finn's girlfriend is Khat. Seraphina meets Marceau who is an accomplished spell-unweaver - someone who is able to see a spell and trace it and unravel it, freeing the person who was hexed. But the spell around Seraphina is complicated and reacts in a very different way, which will stretch Marceau's power. But Marceau has a benefactor who wants something else from group.
While reading this I generally enjoyed myself and the characters involved. It read quite easily, and there was enough of a story to keep me interested.
But there were moments throughout that kept this a bit pedestrian.
Sometimes the characters expressed themselves in ways that made them childish ("Stop it, you two. You can bond in a minute, right now I am busy having a hissy fit.") instead of dangerous supernaturals.
The flow of the story was uneven. Things would move along nicely, but with mostly character-building as the point of the action. And then we'd get a big info dump (most of Chapter 17 was a very convenient package of information), or a too easy confession ("...I admit it, okay? I wronged you all those years ago. ... I get it now. I was young and jealous."
As I say, I liked the characters themselves, but the relationship between them isn't nearly as strong as author S.E. Summa wants us to believe. The romances don't feel real, and the danger that we should sense periodically never seems like it is imminent (even when it is) or final. The danger seems like just another minor obstacle to the four being able to hang out together.
And a minor, quibbling point. When I read "Lynette turned ... and mouthed, 'Danger. Stay here.'" I stopped, thought about it. Seriously...try mouthing those words. Do you think anyone would understand what you're mouthing?
I liked the book well enough that I would read a second volume, but not so much that I would recommend it enthusiastically.
Looking for a good book? Much of Madness, by S.E. Summa is a light, friendly (perhaps 'cozy') paranormal story that is entertaining but lacks depth or bite.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Behind this attractive cover is a cute 'buddy' story featuring a djinn, a sin-easter, a spell-caster, Death, and a few other paranormal figures.
Seraphina is an immortal who is cursed with a hex. She currently lives with a good friend Finn, a Sin-Eater. Finn's girlfriend is Khat. Seraphina meets Marceau who is an accomplished spell-unweaver - someone who is able to see a spell and trace it and unravel it, freeing the person who was hexed. But the spell around Seraphina is complicated and reacts in a very different way, which will stretch Marceau's power. But Marceau has a benefactor who wants something else from group.
While reading this I generally enjoyed myself and the characters involved. It read quite easily, and there was enough of a story to keep me interested.
But there were moments throughout that kept this a bit pedestrian.
Sometimes the characters expressed themselves in ways that made them childish ("Stop it, you two. You can bond in a minute, right now I am busy having a hissy fit.") instead of dangerous supernaturals.
The flow of the story was uneven. Things would move along nicely, but with mostly character-building as the point of the action. And then we'd get a big info dump (most of Chapter 17 was a very convenient package of information), or a too easy confession ("...I admit it, okay? I wronged you all those years ago. ... I get it now. I was young and jealous."
As I say, I liked the characters themselves, but the relationship between them isn't nearly as strong as author S.E. Summa wants us to believe. The romances don't feel real, and the danger that we should sense periodically never seems like it is imminent (even when it is) or final. The danger seems like just another minor obstacle to the four being able to hang out together.
And a minor, quibbling point. When I read "Lynette turned ... and mouthed, 'Danger. Stay here.'" I stopped, thought about it. Seriously...try mouthing those words. Do you think anyone would understand what you're mouthing?
I liked the book well enough that I would read a second volume, but not so much that I would recommend it enthusiastically.
Looking for a good book? Much of Madness, by S.E. Summa is a light, friendly (perhaps 'cozy') paranormal story that is entertaining but lacks depth or bite.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2017
Much Of Madness has everything a paranormal reader wants. Death eaters, spell casters, djinns, and hex weavers. Even Death itself. From mystery to revenge to forbidden love you won’t be left disappointed. The story follows two main characters with two different POVs.
The characters are well developed as each has their own defined personality with finely constructed backgrounds. The plot it interesting and leaves you wanting more as each character has their own secrets.
Seraphina, the leading lady, has been cursed by her power hungry father, which leads straight to her death…but this hex doesn’t only affect her. Her best friend, Finn get dragged along with it. Finn goes from a conniving spell caster to a sickly death eater. Whereas, Seraphina can’t touch the person she loves or else she dies. And she die, but only to come back fifty years later when a deal is struck with death. Since coming back fifty years after the first and only time she died she hasn’t aged. Neither has Finn. With the help of the grimoire Seraphina sets out to undo the hex before she slips up and dies…again.
The other POV is from a male character by the name Marceau. Marceau’s past is complicated as he was raised by a benefactor, Maximillian. He ‘collects’ individuals with great powers to benefit him, such as Lady Vespa a serpent like woman along with individuals that he killed and had Marceau ‘bring back’ to life. Marceau’s hex weaving and unweaving are perfect for Max, but his reanimation skills is what seals the deal. Max sends Marceau to an auction where the grimoire is. However, Marceau has his own plans with the book.
And that’s where Seraphina’s and Marceau’s worlds collide as they both manage to obtain the grimoire, but only one of them can walk away with it. And Seraphina is at the ready. She curses the book making anyone that wants to place a bid on it sick resulting in her winning the bid. But Marceau is desperate and offers her an exchange. Little did either of them know that his exchange could either break her hex or kill her.
But as the story progresses things aren’t as they seem and they have been played by a master manipulator. When secrets are spilled and Death comes to collect what he’s been wanting for years, what will happen to the Seraphina, Finn, and Marceau? Even when wishes come true there’s always something in the way stopping their happily ever after.
I’m not a spoiler type of person, but the twists and turns will keep you entertained all the way to the end!
The characters are well developed as each has their own defined personality with finely constructed backgrounds. The plot it interesting and leaves you wanting more as each character has their own secrets.
Seraphina, the leading lady, has been cursed by her power hungry father, which leads straight to her death…but this hex doesn’t only affect her. Her best friend, Finn get dragged along with it. Finn goes from a conniving spell caster to a sickly death eater. Whereas, Seraphina can’t touch the person she loves or else she dies. And she die, but only to come back fifty years later when a deal is struck with death. Since coming back fifty years after the first and only time she died she hasn’t aged. Neither has Finn. With the help of the grimoire Seraphina sets out to undo the hex before she slips up and dies…again.
The other POV is from a male character by the name Marceau. Marceau’s past is complicated as he was raised by a benefactor, Maximillian. He ‘collects’ individuals with great powers to benefit him, such as Lady Vespa a serpent like woman along with individuals that he killed and had Marceau ‘bring back’ to life. Marceau’s hex weaving and unweaving are perfect for Max, but his reanimation skills is what seals the deal. Max sends Marceau to an auction where the grimoire is. However, Marceau has his own plans with the book.
And that’s where Seraphina’s and Marceau’s worlds collide as they both manage to obtain the grimoire, but only one of them can walk away with it. And Seraphina is at the ready. She curses the book making anyone that wants to place a bid on it sick resulting in her winning the bid. But Marceau is desperate and offers her an exchange. Little did either of them know that his exchange could either break her hex or kill her.
But as the story progresses things aren’t as they seem and they have been played by a master manipulator. When secrets are spilled and Death comes to collect what he’s been wanting for years, what will happen to the Seraphina, Finn, and Marceau? Even when wishes come true there’s always something in the way stopping their happily ever after.
I’m not a spoiler type of person, but the twists and turns will keep you entertained all the way to the end!
September 10, 2016
Ever read a book that creeps you out, crawls under your skin, and threatens to haunt your thoughts day and night? Well, S.E. Summa’s “Much of Madness” is one of those books.
Oh my gosh! I just loved the descriptions, the details… I literally looked up every landmark reference and even food and drink mentioned. Now, mind you, I don’t normally do that with a book. This book begged me to do it. One, I’ve been to Nashville a few times and wanted to see if the references ran true. Second, I wanted to see how Summa handled real references in fiction. Talk about excellent world building! Her details helped the story come alive for me.
I absolutely loved Summa’s characters. Every single one of them resonated in some way. I’m torn over who I liked the most. Seraphina, a Spellcaster, was determined and troubled. Marceau, a Curseweaver, was tormented and intelligent. Khatereh, half djinn, was secretive and feisty. Finn, a Sin Eater, was a protective being who conducted a hazardous, emotional job with relative ease. Lynette and Babette, reanimates, were demented beings who didn’t ask for their fates. And speaking of fate… Maximilian. I won’t tell you what his role is. If you figure it out before it’s revealed, good for you. Despite how despicable he was, I loved his elegance. Out of all the characters, Vespa may have been my ultimate favorite. I’m still trying to figure out what type of being she’s supposed to be.
The plot of “Much of Madness” is divine. There’s a supernatural quest embedded with revenge. It twists and culminates with a ‘didn’t see that coming’ ending. Once you find out what role Max plays, you might be tempted to wonder how Marceau didn’t see how things would happen. I’ll just say that Max is a deceptive being and shouldn’t have ever been trusted. And then when you learn the whole story, you’re left thinking ‘now I get it’. It’s easy to see how poor Marceau was deceived.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Don’t forget you can read short stories related to “Much of Madness” in the Debut Collective anthologies—“Secret Identity” and “Underdogs”.
Oh my gosh! I just loved the descriptions, the details… I literally looked up every landmark reference and even food and drink mentioned. Now, mind you, I don’t normally do that with a book. This book begged me to do it. One, I’ve been to Nashville a few times and wanted to see if the references ran true. Second, I wanted to see how Summa handled real references in fiction. Talk about excellent world building! Her details helped the story come alive for me.
I absolutely loved Summa’s characters. Every single one of them resonated in some way. I’m torn over who I liked the most. Seraphina, a Spellcaster, was determined and troubled. Marceau, a Curseweaver, was tormented and intelligent. Khatereh, half djinn, was secretive and feisty. Finn, a Sin Eater, was a protective being who conducted a hazardous, emotional job with relative ease. Lynette and Babette, reanimates, were demented beings who didn’t ask for their fates. And speaking of fate… Maximilian. I won’t tell you what his role is. If you figure it out before it’s revealed, good for you. Despite how despicable he was, I loved his elegance. Out of all the characters, Vespa may have been my ultimate favorite. I’m still trying to figure out what type of being she’s supposed to be.
The plot of “Much of Madness” is divine. There’s a supernatural quest embedded with revenge. It twists and culminates with a ‘didn’t see that coming’ ending. Once you find out what role Max plays, you might be tempted to wonder how Marceau didn’t see how things would happen. I’ll just say that Max is a deceptive being and shouldn’t have ever been trusted. And then when you learn the whole story, you’re left thinking ‘now I get it’. It’s easy to see how poor Marceau was deceived.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Don’t forget you can read short stories related to “Much of Madness” in the Debut Collective anthologies—“Secret Identity” and “Underdogs”.
August 9, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Ok so firstly, is that cover not simply eye-gasmically gorgeous!? I certainly think so, and I’m not ashamed to admit that sometimes I do judge a book by its cover and bright things entrance me. Does this mean I should have been born a cat? Possibly.
Now let’s talk about what I liked. When I read the book description it was insta-lust, I just had to have it. And then I did because the publisher graced my humble Netgalley account with a copy, thank you book giving god! Magic. Death, sin eaters, handsome strangers and New Orleans, what’s not to love, right? The story revolves around Seraphina and Marceau for the most part. Seraphina and her guardian Finn are bound to each other through a curse and Marceau, cat burglar extraordinaire and curse breaker blows into Seraphina’s life and pretty much turns it upside down.
I really enjoyed how Finn and Seraphina had a totally platonic relationship and how while she dislikes Finn’s girlfriend initially the two of them really bond and become friends. I adored Rolf the friendly ghost and thought he was adorable even if his interaction with Seraphina seemed a bit too contrived.
This book promises a lot, and it delivers a great deal too, but I couldn’t get completely on board with it. This is mostly to do with the interaction between the characters. There is a lot of telling rather than showing here and this made it hard to identify with the characters. Apart from that the way Marceau talks to Seraphina, all formal and age old, like he’s a 100 year old vampire instead of a normally aging human being got too bland. I’m supposed to find him hot and mysterious and delicious and I did not, in fact I found Finn far more intriguing. I couldn’t connect all that much with Seraphina either and while I liked Khat I found the interaction between the two women to be too affected.
My overall feeling about this book is that the ideas are fantastic but the execution needs work. The characters need to be better developed and the language needs to be less clunky.
Recommend this for lovers of supernatural Y.A who enjoy stories with a love-at-first site romantic bent.
Ok so firstly, is that cover not simply eye-gasmically gorgeous!? I certainly think so, and I’m not ashamed to admit that sometimes I do judge a book by its cover and bright things entrance me. Does this mean I should have been born a cat? Possibly.
Now let’s talk about what I liked. When I read the book description it was insta-lust, I just had to have it. And then I did because the publisher graced my humble Netgalley account with a copy, thank you book giving god! Magic. Death, sin eaters, handsome strangers and New Orleans, what’s not to love, right? The story revolves around Seraphina and Marceau for the most part. Seraphina and her guardian Finn are bound to each other through a curse and Marceau, cat burglar extraordinaire and curse breaker blows into Seraphina’s life and pretty much turns it upside down.
I really enjoyed how Finn and Seraphina had a totally platonic relationship and how while she dislikes Finn’s girlfriend initially the two of them really bond and become friends. I adored Rolf the friendly ghost and thought he was adorable even if his interaction with Seraphina seemed a bit too contrived.
This book promises a lot, and it delivers a great deal too, but I couldn’t get completely on board with it. This is mostly to do with the interaction between the characters. There is a lot of telling rather than showing here and this made it hard to identify with the characters. Apart from that the way Marceau talks to Seraphina, all formal and age old, like he’s a 100 year old vampire instead of a normally aging human being got too bland. I’m supposed to find him hot and mysterious and delicious and I did not, in fact I found Finn far more intriguing. I couldn’t connect all that much with Seraphina either and while I liked Khat I found the interaction between the two women to be too affected.
My overall feeling about this book is that the ideas are fantastic but the execution needs work. The characters need to be better developed and the language needs to be less clunky.
Recommend this for lovers of supernatural Y.A who enjoy stories with a love-at-first site romantic bent.
March 13, 2016
I got this book from Net Galley to review...
I quite enjoyed this book. Very unique. I very much liked how the curse worked, how Marc could see-read--them. And the underlying plot with Death.
The idea as a whole was really good. It just needed a bit more work to be fantastic. But the possibilities here, the ground work and the potential really stand out. I was engrossed, very interested in where the story was going, and somewhat attached to the characters.
The issues that came about were that there was not enough character development. You have a few main characters that do not have much in the way of personality, solid backstory, or even solidity within the read.
Most of the plot and understanding of what is taking place is rushed. Things unfold quickly without much guidance, so things kind of come out of the blue. There are slight connections, but nothing that really suggests any of this should be happening--or why any of it is.
What you are told, does make sense, in a way, but I think elaboration was needed, and perhaps time spent fleshing out motives and backstories on more than just Sera and Finn.
I would have liked to have known a lot more about Finn's Sin Eating, and been shown more than I was. You're told most of it, I think I would have liked to feel it, see it, and decide for myself.
I also would have liked to have seen a bit more about Marc and his relationship with Max, Lynette, and even Vespa. You get a little bit of emotion here and there, but again, it's more telling rather than showing.
Max and his past--ambitions, and overall plans really needed more spotlight than it was given. Even the happenings with the Mistress of Death aren't what they could be because most of it was done behind the scenes, so you don't witness any of it. Again, you're just told.
This could have been a phenomenal read. It has the right elements, it has the right direction, and it has the right imagination--it just needs more.
I would still read the next one. And I'd be inclined to watch Summa and see where the potential ends up.
I quite enjoyed this book. Very unique. I very much liked how the curse worked, how Marc could see-read--them. And the underlying plot with Death.
The idea as a whole was really good. It just needed a bit more work to be fantastic. But the possibilities here, the ground work and the potential really stand out. I was engrossed, very interested in where the story was going, and somewhat attached to the characters.
The issues that came about were that there was not enough character development. You have a few main characters that do not have much in the way of personality, solid backstory, or even solidity within the read.
Most of the plot and understanding of what is taking place is rushed. Things unfold quickly without much guidance, so things kind of come out of the blue. There are slight connections, but nothing that really suggests any of this should be happening--or why any of it is.
What you are told, does make sense, in a way, but I think elaboration was needed, and perhaps time spent fleshing out motives and backstories on more than just Sera and Finn.
I would have liked to have known a lot more about Finn's Sin Eating, and been shown more than I was. You're told most of it, I think I would have liked to feel it, see it, and decide for myself.
I also would have liked to have seen a bit more about Marc and his relationship with Max, Lynette, and even Vespa. You get a little bit of emotion here and there, but again, it's more telling rather than showing.
Max and his past--ambitions, and overall plans really needed more spotlight than it was given. Even the happenings with the Mistress of Death aren't what they could be because most of it was done behind the scenes, so you don't witness any of it. Again, you're just told.
This could have been a phenomenal read. It has the right elements, it has the right direction, and it has the right imagination--it just needs more.
I would still read the next one. And I'd be inclined to watch Summa and see where the potential ends up.
May 25, 2016
This was one of the most interesting stories I've read involving the supernatural. It has some very intriguing characters. There was a spellcaster and sin eater, bound together by a hex that was many years old. A djinn and a curse weaver that enter the story and become friends of the other supernaturals and Death himself and a character. The story grabs your attention and you slowly see the relationships build between the characters. Some of these supernaturals I had never heard about before and was interested in learning about their abilities and what they did in the story. Fascinating!!
The story has plenty of twists and turns and a very deep back story that slowly reveals itself. The relationship between Seraphina (spellcaster) and Finn (sin eater) is a deep friendship that goes back a long time. Kat enters as Finn's girlfriend and it is revealed that she is also a supernatural (a djinn) and she is plenty powerful. Marceau is a curseweaver, sent to Nashville to procur a mystical supernatural book at an auction that Sera is determined to win. The two meet up at this auction and Marceau is instantly attracted to her. As they become acquaintances, and then friends, he learns of a hex that she has been carrying for years and is trying to break. He offers his assistance in exchange for information on the book, which he is secretly sending back to his benefactor, Death.
Over the next days, many events take place and relationships build and connections are slowly beginning to come into focus. The ending shows webs that have been in place for years and a plan that was put in place by Death himself that manages to backfire. Don't want to spoil this wonderul story. Very good ending.
The story has plenty of twists and turns and a very deep back story that slowly reveals itself. The relationship between Seraphina (spellcaster) and Finn (sin eater) is a deep friendship that goes back a long time. Kat enters as Finn's girlfriend and it is revealed that she is also a supernatural (a djinn) and she is plenty powerful. Marceau is a curseweaver, sent to Nashville to procur a mystical supernatural book at an auction that Sera is determined to win. The two meet up at this auction and Marceau is instantly attracted to her. As they become acquaintances, and then friends, he learns of a hex that she has been carrying for years and is trying to break. He offers his assistance in exchange for information on the book, which he is secretly sending back to his benefactor, Death.
Over the next days, many events take place and relationships build and connections are slowly beginning to come into focus. The ending shows webs that have been in place for years and a plan that was put in place by Death himself that manages to backfire. Don't want to spoil this wonderul story. Very good ending.
May 29, 2016
Normally, I'm not drawn to covers, but this book's cover is really interesting and almost perfectly fits what this book is about: magic, horror, hope, and evil, as well as few other extra emotions thrown in. After getting past the cover and starting the book, the book's plot quickly drew me in and wouldn't let go. It was hard to stop at times. The book was fast-paced and entertaining, with a dash of humor tossed in with the horror. The humor and horror was never heavy-handed, and it all fit together perfectly. Marceau is a very complex and interesting character and I found I liked him from the very beginning. When we met Seraphina, on the other hand, it took me longer to get to know her, but I did get to know her. I just wish I could have clicked with her as fast as I did with Marceau. Although, to be honest, the book could have used a little more backstory and fleshing out of the characters. I would like to know Vespa a little better; she intrigued me. But, I bet we get to know more in the next books. But, back to the point, don't let this minor annoyance deter you. The book is well-worth a read and I am really looking forward to the next one. Highly recommend!
Thanks to Inkmancy Press/Pikko's House for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This exact review will also be posted on Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks to Inkmancy Press/Pikko's House for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This exact review will also be posted on Amazon and Goodreads.
April 18, 2016
First, I have to comment on this beautiful cover - so eye-catching and perfect for the story within. Second - I'm such a sucker for a Southern Gothic horror story - and this one introduced me to supernatural characters I've never read about.
A sin eater, spell caster, curse breaker and djinn - as far as supernatural stories go, all of these were new to me, so I enjoyed learning about each of them. And Death as a character? The only time I'd seen that was when Death played games with Bill and Ted during their bogus journey; however, Death in this novel definitely isn't the type to play Twister. The characters are so easy to like and it's nice to see a loving, platonic friendship between a man and woman that doesn't evolve into a romance. I especially enjoyed Marceau - I like the way his mind works, his understated sense of humor, and how he keeps his cards close, only revealing them when necessary. His gentlemanly ways are a throwback to another era. There are some unforeseen events in the plot and an ending I never saw coming.
The only negatives I encountered were some missing words and misplaced commas overlooked in final editing, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this novel.
If you're a fan of books with engaging, supernatural characters, magic and curses, strong friendships, surprising twists and a touch of the macabre, this is your book.
A sin eater, spell caster, curse breaker and djinn - as far as supernatural stories go, all of these were new to me, so I enjoyed learning about each of them. And Death as a character? The only time I'd seen that was when Death played games with Bill and Ted during their bogus journey; however, Death in this novel definitely isn't the type to play Twister. The characters are so easy to like and it's nice to see a loving, platonic friendship between a man and woman that doesn't evolve into a romance. I especially enjoyed Marceau - I like the way his mind works, his understated sense of humor, and how he keeps his cards close, only revealing them when necessary. His gentlemanly ways are a throwback to another era. There are some unforeseen events in the plot and an ending I never saw coming.
The only negatives I encountered were some missing words and misplaced commas overlooked in final editing, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this novel.
If you're a fan of books with engaging, supernatural characters, magic and curses, strong friendships, surprising twists and a touch of the macabre, this is your book.
April 27, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, thanks to them and Ms Summa for signing my copy!
The story of Seraphina and her friends is absolutely enthralling, from start to finish. We follow along as Sera's best friend, Finn the Sin Eater, his girlfriend Khat and the new guy Marceau all conspire to help break the curse that has held Sera captive all these many years.
Sera meets Marceau when they are bidding on an ancient grimoire at an auction. Sera uses her magic to help her win, and Marceau needs the information from the grimoire for his boss (wait until you find out who he is!) or he will be punished.
Once Seraphina wins the grimoire, Marceau makes friends with her to study it. He also mentions his abilities as a curse breaker and offers to try to help her. Along the way, Marceau and Sera start to develop feelings for each other, which is incredibly dangerous given the nature of her curse.
No spoilers in this review, just a suggestion....read this book! Action and emotions on almost every page. Great characters you really connect with, who let you fall gracefully into their world and tag along for the wild ride that is "Much of Madness."
The story of Seraphina and her friends is absolutely enthralling, from start to finish. We follow along as Sera's best friend, Finn the Sin Eater, his girlfriend Khat and the new guy Marceau all conspire to help break the curse that has held Sera captive all these many years.
Sera meets Marceau when they are bidding on an ancient grimoire at an auction. Sera uses her magic to help her win, and Marceau needs the information from the grimoire for his boss (wait until you find out who he is!) or he will be punished.
Once Seraphina wins the grimoire, Marceau makes friends with her to study it. He also mentions his abilities as a curse breaker and offers to try to help her. Along the way, Marceau and Sera start to develop feelings for each other, which is incredibly dangerous given the nature of her curse.
No spoilers in this review, just a suggestion....read this book! Action and emotions on almost every page. Great characters you really connect with, who let you fall gracefully into their world and tag along for the wild ride that is "Much of Madness."
March 5, 2016
I could not put this book down. The story is great, the characters are great and I think this is a great beginning to a new and exciting series. There are just so many lovable things - magic, curses, love, friendship, voodoo, creatures of all kinds, twisted minds and death. Awesome!
I loved all the supernatural things and the backdrop of New Orleans and Nashville contributed to the Gothic horror feel that I really enjoyed. I thought there were many fascinating beings, such as Finn, Seraphina's BFF, who was a Sin Eater (a shit job really), the zombie-ish slaves and the personification of Death. The world was really cool.
Something I'm allergic to in books is when characters fall in love way to quickly without spending any time together. It's just very rarely believable. That did NOT happen in this book and that's one of the reasons I liked it so much. The relationship between Seraphina and Marceau progressed so naturally and lovely, and since the story is told through both of their eyes it became very real. They were interesting and complex characters and I read this book mainly for them.
A lot of shit went down by the end of this book and I can't wait to find out what happens now. So give me more please. Preferably soon.
I loved all the supernatural things and the backdrop of New Orleans and Nashville contributed to the Gothic horror feel that I really enjoyed. I thought there were many fascinating beings, such as Finn, Seraphina's BFF, who was a Sin Eater (a shit job really), the zombie-ish slaves and the personification of Death. The world was really cool.
Something I'm allergic to in books is when characters fall in love way to quickly without spending any time together. It's just very rarely believable. That did NOT happen in this book and that's one of the reasons I liked it so much. The relationship between Seraphina and Marceau progressed so naturally and lovely, and since the story is told through both of their eyes it became very real. They were interesting and complex characters and I read this book mainly for them.
A lot of shit went down by the end of this book and I can't wait to find out what happens now. So give me more please. Preferably soon.
February 28, 2016
I fell in love with this cover the moment I saw it. So lush. So vivid. I'm pleased to share that the story inside is just as mesmerizing. Told from Seraphina and Marceau's points of view, I absolutely connected to both of these characters. They are interesting, they are flawed, they are real. S.E. does an amazing job with her world building and character development, thrusting the reader into a world of intrigue, magic, and danger, but balanced with hope, friendship, love and possibility.
The story changes locations from New Orleans to Nashville, TN. No matter where you are, the scenes are vividly painted and played through my mind like snippets from a movie. I found that I really had a hard time putting this book down, and for that reason, I finished it quickly. Although it concludes in a satisfying way, I was left wanting more of these characters and this world. I think you will find it does that to you too. I highly recommend this stunning debut novel.
The story changes locations from New Orleans to Nashville, TN. No matter where you are, the scenes are vividly painted and played through my mind like snippets from a movie. I found that I really had a hard time putting this book down, and for that reason, I finished it quickly. Although it concludes in a satisfying way, I was left wanting more of these characters and this world. I think you will find it does that to you too. I highly recommend this stunning debut novel.
March 29, 2016
I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting take on magic, voodoo, etc. I liked it. The story itself was good and intriguing. The writing was fine. Didn't pay much attention to it. The characters were very well done. In my own opinion I believe they're the best part of this book. The world is a close second though. The world felt realistic.
A secret supernatural community is where you start. You have a nice guy stealing something and a psychotic female creature of some sort sucking out souls. Then you have a sin eater, a guy who eats your sins before death so you go peacefully and your empty body doesn't get possessed. And his friend a young woman who can't touch anyone she loves or cares for or she will kill them or herself.
Over all this was a good book. And I'm curious to see where the story goes. The ending wrapped up a bit too nicely but even so I still really liked the ending and the set up for the next book.
This was an interesting take on magic, voodoo, etc. I liked it. The story itself was good and intriguing. The writing was fine. Didn't pay much attention to it. The characters were very well done. In my own opinion I believe they're the best part of this book. The world is a close second though. The world felt realistic.
A secret supernatural community is where you start. You have a nice guy stealing something and a psychotic female creature of some sort sucking out souls. Then you have a sin eater, a guy who eats your sins before death so you go peacefully and your empty body doesn't get possessed. And his friend a young woman who can't touch anyone she loves or cares for or she will kill them or herself.
Over all this was a good book. And I'm curious to see where the story goes. The ending wrapped up a bit too nicely but even so I still really liked the ending and the set up for the next book.
May 1, 2016
Much of Madness is an ebullient supernatural fantasy with more than a touch of romance. I found the beginning of the story to be trite and superficial. I'm glad I continued reading, because the writing improved as the story unfolded. It took me a while to get a clear picture of who and what the characters were. Summa mentions the "conexus" a few times, but does nothing with it, which made me wish it was omitted as it felt like a distracting loose end. What seemed at first to be a vapid tale, turned into a fun, original story with characters that are endearing. Much of Madness is not scary, but it was a bit creepy at times, which added to its allure.
July 20, 2016
This book is well written and enchanting from the beginning. This story was so intricately weaved and full of surprises. I'm usually pretty good at predicting storybook outcomes, but this one was such a refreshing read. I can't give away spoilers and you still have the same experience I had so I'll just tell you to read this book. You won't be sorry. It's on my favorites list and I cannot wait until the next book in the series releases!
May 8, 2016
Much of Madness (Conexus Chronicles, #1) by S.E. Summa
4 star rating
Reviewed by Sara
Southern Gothic horror story, I absolutely loved it. It had me page turning from start to finish leaving me wanting more books by this author. I loved all the different supernatural characters they introduced. I enjoyed all the surprising twists they threw at me. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Reviewed by Late Night Books Reviewer Sara
4 star rating
Reviewed by Sara
Southern Gothic horror story, I absolutely loved it. It had me page turning from start to finish leaving me wanting more books by this author. I loved all the different supernatural characters they introduced. I enjoyed all the surprising twists they threw at me. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Reviewed by Late Night Books Reviewer Sara
August 5, 2016
Much of Madness is an edge of your seat read. I chewed my nails off through the unexpected twists and turns of the story. The imagery was vivid and the characters grab your attention right away. I truly loved the ups and downs, and the heart stopping moments that ceased my breathing! I can't wait for the next in this series. It's hands down a complicated Web of Madness.
May 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for the rest of the series.
Full review will be on fangfreakintasticreviews.com
Full review will be on fangfreakintasticreviews.com
June 2, 2016
Unique
I absolutely loved this book!! I've been to Nashville and you described it perfectly. The story itself was awesome and very unique. I can't wait for book two!
I absolutely loved this book!! I've been to Nashville and you described it perfectly. The story itself was awesome and very unique. I can't wait for book two!
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