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Ivy Granger #5
Hound's Bite
PRG Reviewer's Choice Award finalist for Best Urban Fantasy series.
Ivy Granger thought she left the worst of Mab's creations behind when she escaped Faerie. She thought wrong.
In a cruel twist of fate, Ivy has unleashed a powerful horde of Unseelie beasts upon her city, turning her homecoming into a potential slaughter of innocents. Now Ivy must gather her allies to fight a reputedly unstoppable force--The Wild Hunt.
Will the training Ivy received in her father's court be enough to save her city, or will Harborsmouth be forced to kneel before the Lord of the Hunt? She is willing risk her own life, but some sacrifices come at a cost worse than death. When an ally is bitten by one of The Wild Hunt's hounds, Ivy must face the possibility that winning this battle may mean killing the one person she has come to love most.
Hound's Bite is the fifth full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. The world of Ivy Granger, including the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series and Hunters' Guild series, is filled with action, mystery, magic, dark humor, quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, flirtatious demons, sarcastic gargoyles, sexy shifters, temperamental witches, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines.
Ivy Granger thought she left the worst of Mab's creations behind when she escaped Faerie. She thought wrong.
In a cruel twist of fate, Ivy has unleashed a powerful horde of Unseelie beasts upon her city, turning her homecoming into a potential slaughter of innocents. Now Ivy must gather her allies to fight a reputedly unstoppable force--The Wild Hunt.
Will the training Ivy received in her father's court be enough to save her city, or will Harborsmouth be forced to kneel before the Lord of the Hunt? She is willing risk her own life, but some sacrifices come at a cost worse than death. When an ally is bitten by one of The Wild Hunt's hounds, Ivy must face the possibility that winning this battle may mean killing the one person she has come to love most.
Hound's Bite is the fifth full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. The world of Ivy Granger, including the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series and Hunters' Guild series, is filled with action, mystery, magic, dark humor, quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, flirtatious demons, sarcastic gargoyles, sexy shifters, temperamental witches, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2016
59 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Stevens
53 books1,663 followersE.J. Stevens is the bestselling, award-winning author of the IVY GRANGER, PSYCHIC DETECTIVE urban fantasy series, the SPIRIT GUIDE young adult series, the HUNTERS' GUILD urban fantasy series, and the WHITECHAPEL PARANORMAL SOCIETY Victorian Gothic horror series. She is known for filling pages with quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines. Her novels are available worldwide in multiple languages.
BTS Red Carpet Award winner for Best Novel, Imadjinn Award winner for Best Short Story, Raven Award winner for Best Urban Fantasy Novel, Independent Audiobook Award winner for Best Short Story, SYAE finalist for Best Paranormal Series, Best Novella, and Best Horror, winner of the PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel, Best Young Adult Paranormal Series, Best Urban Fantasy Novel, and finalist for Best Young Adult Paranormal Novel and Best Urban Fantasy Series.
When E.J. isn't at her writing desk, she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.
Join the E.J. Stevens newsletter and learn about news, events, and receive a free book. http://www.subscribepage.com/n6k1a5 Monthly news updates, tour photos, and exclusive reader perks (FREE reads & giveaways!).
Website: http://www.EJStevensAuthor.com
Ivy Granger Series: http://IvyGranger.com
Blog: http://www.FromtheShadows.info
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EJStevensAuthor
@EJStevensAuthor
BTS Red Carpet Award winner for Best Novel, Imadjinn Award winner for Best Short Story, Raven Award winner for Best Urban Fantasy Novel, Independent Audiobook Award winner for Best Short Story, SYAE finalist for Best Paranormal Series, Best Novella, and Best Horror, winner of the PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel, Best Young Adult Paranormal Series, Best Urban Fantasy Novel, and finalist for Best Young Adult Paranormal Novel and Best Urban Fantasy Series.
When E.J. isn't at her writing desk, she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.
Join the E.J. Stevens newsletter and learn about news, events, and receive a free book. http://www.subscribepage.com/n6k1a5 Monthly news updates, tour photos, and exclusive reader perks (FREE reads & giveaways!).
Website: http://www.EJStevensAuthor.com
Ivy Granger Series: http://IvyGranger.com
Blog: http://www.FromtheShadows.info
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EJStevensAuthor
@EJStevensAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 18, 2017
My original Hound's Bite audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
As if Ivy Granger doesn't have enough problems with her mom being Queen Mab, her father is Will of the Wisp, her fiancé is The king of Kelpies, her adopted son is full on demon and she's a full blown fey; but now one of her trusted friends has gone evil rogue and The Wild Hunt is on the prowl. Can she save her friends and the town she loves? Who amongst her friends will suffer if she loses?
EJ Stevens crafts an action-packed tale which challenges each character to do what is right instead of what is expected. I loved how the various forms of fey/supernaturals were involved demonstrating that differences can be put aside for the good of all.
Character development was solid as was the plot. There were a couple of times where things seemed to take a leap and she had more aces up her sleeve than a casino has chips. That phrase was overused however the story itself was solid and engaging.
This was a bit of a theatrical presentation with sounds and music; often getting in the way of the story. Narrators Melanie Mason and Anthony Bowling did an amazing job of owning the book with their talented and crafted voices. They never stumbled over one another and their voices fit each character.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook. Although I felt the sound effects are more of a hindrance than a help.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
As if Ivy Granger doesn't have enough problems with her mom being Queen Mab, her father is Will of the Wisp, her fiancé is The king of Kelpies, her adopted son is full on demon and she's a full blown fey; but now one of her trusted friends has gone evil rogue and The Wild Hunt is on the prowl. Can she save her friends and the town she loves? Who amongst her friends will suffer if she loses?
EJ Stevens crafts an action-packed tale which challenges each character to do what is right instead of what is expected. I loved how the various forms of fey/supernaturals were involved demonstrating that differences can be put aside for the good of all.
Character development was solid as was the plot. There were a couple of times where things seemed to take a leap and she had more aces up her sleeve than a casino has chips. That phrase was overused however the story itself was solid and engaging.
This was a bit of a theatrical presentation with sounds and music; often getting in the way of the story. Narrators Melanie Mason and Anthony Bowling did an amazing job of owning the book with their talented and crafted voices. They never stumbled over one another and their voices fit each character.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook. Although I felt the sound effects are more of a hindrance than a help.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
July 14, 2016
Ivy, Ceff, and Torn are back from their jaunt to Faerie. Unbeknownst to them, they weren't the only ones that slipped through the portal. Apparently their re-entry into Harborsmouth unleashed The Wild Hunt lead by Herne the Hunted. Herne is only interested in causing as much bloodshed as possible and now Ivy must figure out a way to end The Hunt. As the evening draws near, and The Hunt is soon to begin, so many things happen in Harborsmouth. Ivy must face Jinx after disappearing into Fairie without telling her and then inform her of the impending doom. There are also issue with Kaye, the local witch that Ivy finds she must take care of before Herne signals for the start of the bloodshed.
I devoured this novel. I couldn't help it...really! I told myself to read slowly and enjoy the story but there was just no way to do that. As soon as I started reading chapter one I was all in and that didn't bode well for the whole "reading it slow" thing. After having been part of the series for as long as I have, I feel like Ivy, Ceff, Torn, and Jinx are my friends. I've grown to care about their characters and the author did a great job reuniting me with them.
As noted in the reviews I've posted for other books in the series, Ivy is written in a way that she is still brand new; never becoming stagnant, dull, or predictable. She continues to kick butt in the name of protecting her family, friends, and townsfolk. Ivy does all of this while maintaining safe distances since she has the ability of touching objects or people and being able to discern history of said objects/people.
Many things are revealed in Hound's Bite; things that have been plaguing Ivy for a long time. The revelations are not all good or bad, either. There is a fine mix of joy and dread woven into the pages of book 5.
I have enjoyed the world of Ivy Granger since Book 1. The series is easy to read, understand, and follow. The characters are a hoot - Torn is absolutely hilarious at times. He is written with just the right amount of inappropriateness. The good guys and gals are likable and you definitely find yourself rooting for them. The baddies are also well written and sometimes give the reader the shivers ~ which means the author did her job! :)
Please make sure to read the books in order since the world and character building, plotlines, subjects, and themes build off of the previous books.
Review copy courtesy of the author, at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.
I devoured this novel. I couldn't help it...really! I told myself to read slowly and enjoy the story but there was just no way to do that. As soon as I started reading chapter one I was all in and that didn't bode well for the whole "reading it slow" thing. After having been part of the series for as long as I have, I feel like Ivy, Ceff, Torn, and Jinx are my friends. I've grown to care about their characters and the author did a great job reuniting me with them.
As noted in the reviews I've posted for other books in the series, Ivy is written in a way that she is still brand new; never becoming stagnant, dull, or predictable. She continues to kick butt in the name of protecting her family, friends, and townsfolk. Ivy does all of this while maintaining safe distances since she has the ability of touching objects or people and being able to discern history of said objects/people.
Many things are revealed in Hound's Bite; things that have been plaguing Ivy for a long time. The revelations are not all good or bad, either. There is a fine mix of joy and dread woven into the pages of book 5.
I have enjoyed the world of Ivy Granger since Book 1. The series is easy to read, understand, and follow. The characters are a hoot - Torn is absolutely hilarious at times. He is written with just the right amount of inappropriateness. The good guys and gals are likable and you definitely find yourself rooting for them. The baddies are also well written and sometimes give the reader the shivers ~ which means the author did her job! :)
Please make sure to read the books in order since the world and character building, plotlines, subjects, and themes build off of the previous books.
Review copy courtesy of the author, at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2016
*Source* Author
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Hound's Bite is the FIFTH installment in E.J. Stevens Ivy Granger Urban Fantasy series. Hound's Bite picks up right where Birthright left off. Ivy, her lover Ceff, King of the Kelpie, and Torn, King of the Cat Sidhe, have managed to survive Fairie relatively unscathed and have returned to Harborsmouth. But, if you were expecting Ivy, Ceff, and Torn to have an easy time upon their return, then you really don't know author E.J. Stevens all that well. Ivy, who learned more about her parentage than one would like to in Faerie, and succeeded in clearing her name, must face yet another dangerous foe.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews 07/12/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: July 12th 2016 by Sacred Oaks Press
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Hound's Bite is the FIFTH installment in E.J. Stevens Ivy Granger Urban Fantasy series. Hound's Bite picks up right where Birthright left off. Ivy, her lover Ceff, King of the Kelpie, and Torn, King of the Cat Sidhe, have managed to survive Fairie relatively unscathed and have returned to Harborsmouth. But, if you were expecting Ivy, Ceff, and Torn to have an easy time upon their return, then you really don't know author E.J. Stevens all that well. Ivy, who learned more about her parentage than one would like to in Faerie, and succeeded in clearing her name, must face yet another dangerous foe.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews 07/12/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: July 12th 2016 by Sacred Oaks Press
July 13, 2016
(RabidReads.com)**There may be spoilers in this review due to it being book 5 in the series**
Oh Ivy, what a situation you’ve gotten yourself into this time! Ivy Granger, paranormal detective extraordinaire, has just come back from her latest adventure-literally minutes before-when she realizes that The Wild Hunt has followed her through the portal from Faerie. She’s back in Harborsmouth after what was a year for her, her fiance Ceff( the Kelpie King), and Torn (the lord of the Cat Sidhe), only to find that in the human world it’s only been a week. It’s right before dawn and they have only until dark of that same day, before the leader of the Wild Hunt, Herne, will blow his magical horn signaling the start of the battle. It’s a battle to take over Harborsmouth(just the first step to take over much more) and to rid the world of Ivy, while they are at it. It seems Ivy’s mother-that’s a whole other story-has backed the Wild Hunt with her magic and now she wants rid of Ivy. Ivy is new to her full powers and it’s growing steadily. She’s not about to let The Wild Hunt take over anything, much less kill her. After all, this is Ivy we are talking about!
Ivy wears me out-in a good way. She is a total bad ass and is seemingly never sits still. I adore her character and she is definitely one that grows with each book. Even though she has gone through everything that happened to her in Faerie and has just returned to Harborsmouth after a year, she doesn’t rest, eat, or even go to her home. She’s pulled immediately into the action, along with Cleff and Torn. And Cleff and Torn had an even worse time of it while in Faerie. A good friend of Ivy’s(and a witch), has now become pretty insane with power. When she kidnaps someone newly close to Ivy to use for a spell on this same day, Ivy drops everything to find her friend and thwart the witch. So not only do we have the Wild Hunt premise, we have the witches’s insane plot, as well. Also back for this installment are Jinx, Ivy’s best(and human)friend, and Forneus, the demon that Jinx loves, among many other familiar faces.
E.J. Stevens is brilliant at writing stories that include just about every kind of supernatural being and then some, all the while keeping it mainly about Ivy and her close circle of friends. She has written a character that is admirable in her tenaciousness towards keeping people safe, almost to the point of the loss of her own life, and still keeps Ivy down to earth and caring. Each book is another adventure in Ivy’s life in Harborsmouth, and each is part of an ongoing back story about Ivy finding out what she is supernaturally, growing into that role, and her quest to find her father. In doing so, she gets further and further involved with the supernatural creatures/characters of the city, and has long since become a hero to the supernaturals that reside in Harborsmouth.
I am always up for reading another Ivy adventure, as they are always well written, feature fun characters, and unusual premise’s. Sure, it’s urban fantasy, but it’s really different(and good)urban fantasy. Very refreshing in a reading world that has an over abundance of that type of read. To top it off, there is a couple of really sweet romances going on in this series, as well. While the romances are good, the main focus of the stories are the action, the supernatural characters, Harborsmouth, and Ivy herself. Keep in mind, they do follow a reading order, so I would suggest starting with book 1, Shadow Sight. I highly recommend this whole series to people 15 plus.
4.5/5 stars
Oh Ivy, what a situation you’ve gotten yourself into this time! Ivy Granger, paranormal detective extraordinaire, has just come back from her latest adventure-literally minutes before-when she realizes that The Wild Hunt has followed her through the portal from Faerie. She’s back in Harborsmouth after what was a year for her, her fiance Ceff( the Kelpie King), and Torn (the lord of the Cat Sidhe), only to find that in the human world it’s only been a week. It’s right before dawn and they have only until dark of that same day, before the leader of the Wild Hunt, Herne, will blow his magical horn signaling the start of the battle. It’s a battle to take over Harborsmouth(just the first step to take over much more) and to rid the world of Ivy, while they are at it. It seems Ivy’s mother-that’s a whole other story-has backed the Wild Hunt with her magic and now she wants rid of Ivy. Ivy is new to her full powers and it’s growing steadily. She’s not about to let The Wild Hunt take over anything, much less kill her. After all, this is Ivy we are talking about!
Ivy wears me out-in a good way. She is a total bad ass and is seemingly never sits still. I adore her character and she is definitely one that grows with each book. Even though she has gone through everything that happened to her in Faerie and has just returned to Harborsmouth after a year, she doesn’t rest, eat, or even go to her home. She’s pulled immediately into the action, along with Cleff and Torn. And Cleff and Torn had an even worse time of it while in Faerie. A good friend of Ivy’s(and a witch), has now become pretty insane with power. When she kidnaps someone newly close to Ivy to use for a spell on this same day, Ivy drops everything to find her friend and thwart the witch. So not only do we have the Wild Hunt premise, we have the witches’s insane plot, as well. Also back for this installment are Jinx, Ivy’s best(and human)friend, and Forneus, the demon that Jinx loves, among many other familiar faces.
E.J. Stevens is brilliant at writing stories that include just about every kind of supernatural being and then some, all the while keeping it mainly about Ivy and her close circle of friends. She has written a character that is admirable in her tenaciousness towards keeping people safe, almost to the point of the loss of her own life, and still keeps Ivy down to earth and caring. Each book is another adventure in Ivy’s life in Harborsmouth, and each is part of an ongoing back story about Ivy finding out what she is supernaturally, growing into that role, and her quest to find her father. In doing so, she gets further and further involved with the supernatural creatures/characters of the city, and has long since become a hero to the supernaturals that reside in Harborsmouth.
I am always up for reading another Ivy adventure, as they are always well written, feature fun characters, and unusual premise’s. Sure, it’s urban fantasy, but it’s really different(and good)urban fantasy. Very refreshing in a reading world that has an over abundance of that type of read. To top it off, there is a couple of really sweet romances going on in this series, as well. While the romances are good, the main focus of the stories are the action, the supernatural characters, Harborsmouth, and Ivy herself. Keep in mind, they do follow a reading order, so I would suggest starting with book 1, Shadow Sight. I highly recommend this whole series to people 15 plus.
4.5/5 stars
July 12, 2016
This newest Ivy Granger novel is one of the best in this series from EJ Stevens. Exciting and fast paced, Ivy and her friends in Harborsmouth must face and somehow defeat one of the most crafty and deadly foes ever. Ivy has a knack for encouraging others to work together in order to protect the innocent and to stop the insidious blight that is fast encroaching.
I have truly been impressed with the quality material that percolates from the amazing imagination of EJ Stevens. I have watched her technical proficiency and storytelling ability progress steadily with each new book. EJ sets the scene and builds a believable context for her characters' actions that always manages to make sense in her fantastical world. I am always excited to read the latest adventure – this book blew me away! The uplifting themes of loyalty, compassion, and inclusiveness send the types of underlying message in each new story that helps me maintain a positive and cheerful attitude in my daily activities and relationships.
This tale kept me entertained and engaged from the first scene to the last paragraph.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
I have truly been impressed with the quality material that percolates from the amazing imagination of EJ Stevens. I have watched her technical proficiency and storytelling ability progress steadily with each new book. EJ sets the scene and builds a believable context for her characters' actions that always manages to make sense in her fantastical world. I am always excited to read the latest adventure – this book blew me away! The uplifting themes of loyalty, compassion, and inclusiveness send the types of underlying message in each new story that helps me maintain a positive and cheerful attitude in my daily activities and relationships.
This tale kept me entertained and engaged from the first scene to the last paragraph.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
October 30, 2017
AudioBook Review
Stars: Overall 5 Narration 5 Story 5
From the first, I’ve been in Ivy’s corner as one weird and otherworldly element has appeared in her world, and she’s adjusted. It’s not enough that around every corner there is something new for her to encounter, adjust to or overcome, but her own personal growth has brought her own history, affected her friends, and brought endless challenges into her life. Stevens has brought fey, witches, fairies, vampires, ghouls and more into this little town of Harborsmouth, and Ivy has always managed to find some sort of solution or accommodation to keep the town safe. But now, a hoarde of unseelie beasts are threatening the city and Ivy must find a way to remove the threat while keeping the Lord of the Hunt and his hounds at bay.
Ivy has SO much to deal with: her father is Will o’ the Wisp, her mother is Mab, the child she adopted is a demon and her significant other is the King of the Kelpies. If that wasn’t enough, one of her friends has been bitten by one of the hounds from the hunt, and is now gone rogue, in all the worst ways. While each book has me empathizing with Ivy, and hoping she’ll pull something out from her sleeve that settles a problem, this book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Much of Ivy’s path has been an ‘oops’ moment, where one of her actions unleashes something horrible, and then she scrambles to get back in control – this is nothing different, but you have to admire her determination and lateral thinking when she is trying out solutions. Her growth through this series has been exponential, and through it all – good and bad, she manages to hold onto a sense of humor and a belief that things will work out because the good should prevail.
Narration in this story is provided by Melanie Mason and Anthony Bowling and their dual narration brings the characters to light, adding appropriate emotion, tension and weight to the moments as they appear. Clear enunciation, pauses where required, never overstepping on each other’s performance and allowing the words and action to stand forward, even as music was added to bring an atmospheric influence. I’m not against music in stories, and there were some clever compositional choices that did add auditory interest. I love this combination of story and narration, and the series is a unique and interconnected series of events in one small town – a favorite of mine and a great treat for those looking for something different this Halloween season.
I received an audiobook copy of the title via AudioBook Jukebox for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Stars: Overall 5 Narration 5 Story 5
From the first, I’ve been in Ivy’s corner as one weird and otherworldly element has appeared in her world, and she’s adjusted. It’s not enough that around every corner there is something new for her to encounter, adjust to or overcome, but her own personal growth has brought her own history, affected her friends, and brought endless challenges into her life. Stevens has brought fey, witches, fairies, vampires, ghouls and more into this little town of Harborsmouth, and Ivy has always managed to find some sort of solution or accommodation to keep the town safe. But now, a hoarde of unseelie beasts are threatening the city and Ivy must find a way to remove the threat while keeping the Lord of the Hunt and his hounds at bay.
Ivy has SO much to deal with: her father is Will o’ the Wisp, her mother is Mab, the child she adopted is a demon and her significant other is the King of the Kelpies. If that wasn’t enough, one of her friends has been bitten by one of the hounds from the hunt, and is now gone rogue, in all the worst ways. While each book has me empathizing with Ivy, and hoping she’ll pull something out from her sleeve that settles a problem, this book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Much of Ivy’s path has been an ‘oops’ moment, where one of her actions unleashes something horrible, and then she scrambles to get back in control – this is nothing different, but you have to admire her determination and lateral thinking when she is trying out solutions. Her growth through this series has been exponential, and through it all – good and bad, she manages to hold onto a sense of humor and a belief that things will work out because the good should prevail.
Narration in this story is provided by Melanie Mason and Anthony Bowling and their dual narration brings the characters to light, adding appropriate emotion, tension and weight to the moments as they appear. Clear enunciation, pauses where required, never overstepping on each other’s performance and allowing the words and action to stand forward, even as music was added to bring an atmospheric influence. I’m not against music in stories, and there were some clever compositional choices that did add auditory interest. I love this combination of story and narration, and the series is a unique and interconnected series of events in one small town – a favorite of mine and a great treat for those looking for something different this Halloween season.
I received an audiobook copy of the title via AudioBook Jukebox for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
August 2, 2017
I have not read any other books in this series, which probably detracted from my enjoyment of the story. However, overall the story was still very entertaining.
Some of the sound effects were a little distracting & I don't really think that they added anything to the narration. Both narrators did an excellent job & I liked the use of a male narrator for the male characters & a female for the female characters.
The story was good, but I found the number of supernatural creatures a bit overwhelming. Just about every supernatural known to UF readers was in this book. In an audiobook, this was a little confusing, trying to keep track of the unfamiliar names & creatures.
All in all, a fun book, with action, adventure, humor, romance & just a little violence. I will definitely check out the other books in the series.
I was offered an audiobook version of this book by the narrator/publisher/author & chose to review it.
Some of the sound effects were a little distracting & I don't really think that they added anything to the narration. Both narrators did an excellent job & I liked the use of a male narrator for the male characters & a female for the female characters.
The story was good, but I found the number of supernatural creatures a bit overwhelming. Just about every supernatural known to UF readers was in this book. In an audiobook, this was a little confusing, trying to keep track of the unfamiliar names & creatures.
All in all, a fun book, with action, adventure, humor, romance & just a little violence. I will definitely check out the other books in the series.
I was offered an audiobook version of this book by the narrator/publisher/author & chose to review it.
October 11, 2017
Audible; This is a great series.I enjoy all the books so far.Ivy,psychic detective has so many things going on in this one that she loses sight of those closest to her.Can she trust her friends or her enemies?Melanie A. Mason , Anthony A. Bowlin are terrific narrators.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
May 20, 2017
Powers Abound..
This book centers around the female lead, Ivy, and her quest to "Right" a "Wrong".
The story line was action packed and heart pounding.
Overall, an adventurous read.
Melanie A. Mason and Anthony A. Bowlin did well with the narration.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."
July 18, 2016
Hound's Bite is the fifth book in the Ivy Granger series by E.J. Stevens. If you haven't read the first four, I highly suggest you do.
Ivy's life has progressed a lot during this series. She's had a lot of growth and discovered a lot about herself. This knowledge has not come without a price. She's been put through hell, and sometimes for nothing more than accidentally doing some things she didn't know she could do.
After Birthright, Ivy comes back knowing a lot more about her heritage and what she can do. Now she should be able to navigate the supernatural world with fewer mishaps. Despite how long Ivy, Ceff and Torn were in Fairy, only a week has past in the human world. Ivy left Jinx without a word so she is expecting some backlash from that. Problem is, Ivy isn't given time to do anything like explain herself.
Ivy returns to the human world, and finds out she's been followed. The Wild Hunt has followed her from Fairy and the possibility of total war and destruction is very real. Ivy and her friends are on the run right from the start. She goes straight to her long-time friend and local witch, Kaye. Kaye's been acting strange since her powers have been rejuvenated and Ivy is really concerned. She needs Kaye's help to stop the Wild Hunt and plans to worry about Kaye later.
Nothing ever goes as Ivy plans. She gets hit with problem after problem without relief. I always leave these books out of breath, like I've run a race. The action never stops and there are so many ups and downs you are basically on a roller coaster from the word "go". I love how strategic Ivy is, and how everyone looks to her for a plan. She knows a lot of people and how to include them in her plans.
There are some moments in Hound's Bite that I was left with my heart in my throat. The tears were threatening. Oh, who am I kidding, I may have shed a tear or two. What is Ivy prepared to lose to save the world from the upcoming war?
We end up with some surprises that may lead to some interesting upcoming information. I'm excited to see how the romantic portions play out as well. Everyone has paired off except for Torn. I would really be interested in seeing if a character could pull off having a relationship with him. Then again, I don't want him to change. His antics always leave me laughing.
The Ivy Granger series is one that will keep you rushing to try and keep up with all the turmoil surrounding Ivy. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order. I did have a hard time remembering some of the past events referred to in the story. Possibly because so much action happens so quickly it is hard to absorb all the details that are going to come back and bite Ivy.
Hound's Bite was thrilling and exciting basically from start to finish. I highly recommend it! (After the first four books that is!)This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
Ivy's life has progressed a lot during this series. She's had a lot of growth and discovered a lot about herself. This knowledge has not come without a price. She's been put through hell, and sometimes for nothing more than accidentally doing some things she didn't know she could do.
After Birthright, Ivy comes back knowing a lot more about her heritage and what she can do. Now she should be able to navigate the supernatural world with fewer mishaps. Despite how long Ivy, Ceff and Torn were in Fairy, only a week has past in the human world. Ivy left Jinx without a word so she is expecting some backlash from that. Problem is, Ivy isn't given time to do anything like explain herself.
Ivy returns to the human world, and finds out she's been followed. The Wild Hunt has followed her from Fairy and the possibility of total war and destruction is very real. Ivy and her friends are on the run right from the start. She goes straight to her long-time friend and local witch, Kaye. Kaye's been acting strange since her powers have been rejuvenated and Ivy is really concerned. She needs Kaye's help to stop the Wild Hunt and plans to worry about Kaye later.
Nothing ever goes as Ivy plans. She gets hit with problem after problem without relief. I always leave these books out of breath, like I've run a race. The action never stops and there are so many ups and downs you are basically on a roller coaster from the word "go". I love how strategic Ivy is, and how everyone looks to her for a plan. She knows a lot of people and how to include them in her plans.
There are some moments in Hound's Bite that I was left with my heart in my throat. The tears were threatening. Oh, who am I kidding, I may have shed a tear or two. What is Ivy prepared to lose to save the world from the upcoming war?
We end up with some surprises that may lead to some interesting upcoming information. I'm excited to see how the romantic portions play out as well. Everyone has paired off except for Torn. I would really be interested in seeing if a character could pull off having a relationship with him. Then again, I don't want him to change. His antics always leave me laughing.
The Ivy Granger series is one that will keep you rushing to try and keep up with all the turmoil surrounding Ivy. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order. I did have a hard time remembering some of the past events referred to in the story. Possibly because so much action happens so quickly it is hard to absorb all the details that are going to come back and bite Ivy.
Hound's Bite was thrilling and exciting basically from start to finish. I highly recommend it! (After the first four books that is!)This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
August 27, 2016
I really like the Ivy Granger books. She's matured a lot over the course of the novels and, while I loved the earlier books, I'm glad that she's gotten over her tendency to whine.
Hound's Bite starts with Ivy, Ceff, and Torn returning from Faerie. To them a year has passed, but for everyone else only a few days have gone by. Unfortunately, when they came through the portal the Wild Hunt came through with them. The hunt wants to kill everyone in Harborsmouth. It's very difficult to fight against the Hunter and the hounds since anyone who is bitten by a hound becomes one and is enslaved to the will of Herne the hunter. Ivy rushes to the Emporium to consult with her friend Kaye. Kaye has changed quite a bit since she died and came back to life and Ivy is very cautious around her. Kaye asks Ivy to bring her something of the Huntsman to bind him and keep him from blowing his horn and starting the battle.
Ivy now knows that she isn't human at all, but sidhe and is slowly growing in power. I liked that she didn't get a new power every time she got in trouble, but just got better at using her existing ones.
As with all Ivy Granger books there are a lot of characters, interesting complications, and great action. There was one passage at the start of the final battle that really caught my attention.
Not only did we rush headlong toward those gaping, slavering, teeth-filled jaws, we did so with smiles on our faces . . . Hunters pounded swords against shields as we ran and dark shadows arced over our heads as bowmen launched a volley of arrows at the hounds.
Can't you see the chaos of battle and hear the sounds of the swords pounding on shields as well as the whistle of arrows?
My only criticism of this book is the same one I had of the last one. What happened to Ceff? In the last book he was an helper along with Torn, but in this book he just follows orders and is more of an assistant. Ceff started off as such a great character! He had depth and his actions demonstrated his love for Ivy. Now we're told they're in love because they're engaged, but there's not much of an emotional connection between them that actually makes it into the book. There is a little "don't die because I love you" and "stay away from her, Torn", but nothing original, nothing personal to them as a couple. This is a classic case of telling instead of showing. I like that Ivy and Ceff aren't joined at the hip and can't always be together, but his character has lost so much depth that even Torn, a relatively new character, is more interesting than he is. As an example, Ceff rarely shows up in conversations and I sometimes forget whether he's supposed to be around or not.
Hound's Bite starts with Ivy, Ceff, and Torn returning from Faerie. To them a year has passed, but for everyone else only a few days have gone by. Unfortunately, when they came through the portal the Wild Hunt came through with them. The hunt wants to kill everyone in Harborsmouth. It's very difficult to fight against the Hunter and the hounds since anyone who is bitten by a hound becomes one and is enslaved to the will of Herne the hunter. Ivy rushes to the Emporium to consult with her friend Kaye. Kaye has changed quite a bit since she died and came back to life and Ivy is very cautious around her. Kaye asks Ivy to bring her something of the Huntsman to bind him and keep him from blowing his horn and starting the battle.
Ivy now knows that she isn't human at all, but sidhe and is slowly growing in power. I liked that she didn't get a new power every time she got in trouble, but just got better at using her existing ones.
As with all Ivy Granger books there are a lot of characters, interesting complications, and great action. There was one passage at the start of the final battle that really caught my attention.
Not only did we rush headlong toward those gaping, slavering, teeth-filled jaws, we did so with smiles on our faces . . . Hunters pounded swords against shields as we ran and dark shadows arced over our heads as bowmen launched a volley of arrows at the hounds.
Can't you see the chaos of battle and hear the sounds of the swords pounding on shields as well as the whistle of arrows?
My only criticism of this book is the same one I had of the last one. What happened to Ceff? In the last book he was an helper along with Torn, but in this book he just follows orders and is more of an assistant. Ceff started off as such a great character! He had depth and his actions demonstrated his love for Ivy. Now we're told they're in love because they're engaged, but there's not much of an emotional connection between them that actually makes it into the book. There is a little "don't die because I love you" and "stay away from her, Torn", but nothing original, nothing personal to them as a couple. This is a classic case of telling instead of showing. I like that Ivy and Ceff aren't joined at the hip and can't always be together, but his character has lost so much depth that even Torn, a relatively new character, is more interesting than he is. As an example, Ceff rarely shows up in conversations and I sometimes forget whether he's supposed to be around or not.
July 20, 2016
The non-stop action was a little over the top, and since the entire plot ocurred over a span of about 24 hours (not counting the last chapter), the story didn't evolve that much. The story in this book, could easily have been edited down, the same as the previous, and both storielines could have fitted nicely in one book. There was a lot of superfluous descriptions and parts, and I feel a bit cheated after the last two books
July 12, 2016
This series gets better with each story. Wow... It's a powerful writer who can blend together fantasy, story telling and teach a lesson. A strong female character with the ability to stand for what she believes and bring together enemies to stand side by side in battle against extreme evil. This is a pager turner, that leaves you on a roller coaster of emotions, cheering for the underdog's victories and feeling sad for their loses.
July 29, 2016
I absolutely love hounds bite the action started right from very 1st chapter & never stopped I even found myself holding my breath near end & im sure my blood pressure shot up,I tried to read as slow as possible as i didn't want it to end & now I have to wait a year for next book gutted
June 18, 2017
Note: While this is Book 5 in the series, I feel that one could enjoy it as a stand alone.
Ivy Granger has returned from the Unseelie Faerie Court after learning some earth-shattering news about her parentage. But there’s no time to rest and deal with that because the Lord of the Hunt is about to hit Harborsmouth. She must call upon her allies, her latest training, and her friends to combat the Wild Hunt or suffer the loss of her beloved city.
This was a gripping read! I really enjoyed this installment in the series. First, there’s the great characters and they’re all written so well in this book, with great lines and actions that give them depth. Then there’s more than one crisis Ivy has to deal with, so it’s not just one long meandering battle with the Wild Hunt. Lastly, there are consequences and some of them are a bit rough. I like it when my urban fantasy drags talons across some of the major characters.
Jinx is still a big part of Ivy’s life and I’m very glad these two friends were able to deal with their recent falling out. And, yes, Jinx still has her crossbow. She and Forneus (who is a demon and a lawyer) are still together. Then there’s Torn, the cat sidhe, who flirts with both Ivy and Jinx, which really irritates both Forneus and Ceff (Ivy’s kelpie lord boyfriend). Then toss in Sparky, Ivy’s adopted demon child. Father Michael gets called in to babysit while the heroes work on a game plan to deal with Hearn, Lord of the Hunt.
Yet before they get too far along, Sparky goes missing. Now a powerful witch, Kaye, has a plan to save Harborsmouth from the Wild Hunt but things are going disastrously wrong there. Ivy and her friends will need the help of the mysterious Circle before they can regroup and get back to dealing with Hearn. I loved this part of the book. It was a bit of a detour from the big event but I really enjoyed how it added to several of the characters. Ariadne, a witchling who is in training to Kaye, really gets to be in the spotlight for part of it. Then there’s Ivy’s new Faerie and Wisp powers to put on display. Also the beetles! The next time I get something stuck in my throat, I will be looking for beetles.
So then we get past that and allies must be gathered for the big fight. Now the thing about the Wild Hunt is that if a hound of the Wild Hunt bites you, you turn into a hound yourself and you’re bound to serve the Lord of the Hunt. Armor! Bring me my armor! Obviously, things don’t go well for everyone involved and Ivy faces the very real danger of losing people she loves to the Wild Hunt.
I was very satisfied with the ending. Not everyone got everything they wanted but there’s still enough good stuff that people can pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. I especially like how far the Pooka came in this series, despite their choice of condom hats.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Once again, Melanie Mason narrates the bulk of this story, being the perfect voice for Ivy. I also love her Jinx voice. Anthony Bowling has all the male character lines and he does a great job with Torn (a flirtatious snot) and Father Michael (a sincere man). Most of the time, Bowling’s lines are inserted smoothly into the recording but other times it definitely felt like these two narrators weren’t in the same room during the recording. There were a few sound effects mixed in, and for the most part they worked. There were a few that I wasn’t sure what they were until the story told me what they were.
Ivy Granger has returned from the Unseelie Faerie Court after learning some earth-shattering news about her parentage. But there’s no time to rest and deal with that because the Lord of the Hunt is about to hit Harborsmouth. She must call upon her allies, her latest training, and her friends to combat the Wild Hunt or suffer the loss of her beloved city.
This was a gripping read! I really enjoyed this installment in the series. First, there’s the great characters and they’re all written so well in this book, with great lines and actions that give them depth. Then there’s more than one crisis Ivy has to deal with, so it’s not just one long meandering battle with the Wild Hunt. Lastly, there are consequences and some of them are a bit rough. I like it when my urban fantasy drags talons across some of the major characters.
Jinx is still a big part of Ivy’s life and I’m very glad these two friends were able to deal with their recent falling out. And, yes, Jinx still has her crossbow. She and Forneus (who is a demon and a lawyer) are still together. Then there’s Torn, the cat sidhe, who flirts with both Ivy and Jinx, which really irritates both Forneus and Ceff (Ivy’s kelpie lord boyfriend). Then toss in Sparky, Ivy’s adopted demon child. Father Michael gets called in to babysit while the heroes work on a game plan to deal with Hearn, Lord of the Hunt.
Yet before they get too far along, Sparky goes missing. Now a powerful witch, Kaye, has a plan to save Harborsmouth from the Wild Hunt but things are going disastrously wrong there. Ivy and her friends will need the help of the mysterious Circle before they can regroup and get back to dealing with Hearn. I loved this part of the book. It was a bit of a detour from the big event but I really enjoyed how it added to several of the characters. Ariadne, a witchling who is in training to Kaye, really gets to be in the spotlight for part of it. Then there’s Ivy’s new Faerie and Wisp powers to put on display. Also the beetles! The next time I get something stuck in my throat, I will be looking for beetles.
So then we get past that and allies must be gathered for the big fight. Now the thing about the Wild Hunt is that if a hound of the Wild Hunt bites you, you turn into a hound yourself and you’re bound to serve the Lord of the Hunt. Armor! Bring me my armor! Obviously, things don’t go well for everyone involved and Ivy faces the very real danger of losing people she loves to the Wild Hunt.
I was very satisfied with the ending. Not everyone got everything they wanted but there’s still enough good stuff that people can pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. I especially like how far the Pooka came in this series, despite their choice of condom hats.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Once again, Melanie Mason narrates the bulk of this story, being the perfect voice for Ivy. I also love her Jinx voice. Anthony Bowling has all the male character lines and he does a great job with Torn (a flirtatious snot) and Father Michael (a sincere man). Most of the time, Bowling’s lines are inserted smoothly into the recording but other times it definitely felt like these two narrators weren’t in the same room during the recording. There were a few sound effects mixed in, and for the most part they worked. There were a few that I wasn’t sure what they were until the story told me what they were.
June 12, 2017
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I was very excited to back in the world of Ivy Granger. This is a series that I’ve really enjoyed and this book was no exception. Ivy is back from her trip to Faerie. Her powers are growing. After spending a year in Faerie (which was only a week in Harborsmouth, since time travels differently between the two), Ivy finds herself not able to slow down a bit.
The Wild Hunt has followed Ivy back from Faerie and they only have until sundown to defeat them or they will tear through Harborsmouth and kill many innocent (and naive) humans. Ivy goes to her friend and mentor, the witch Kaye. Kaye has helped Ivy several times, but this time, she seems to be different. She seems a little power hungry. Ivy learns that Kaye has been up to no good while she was gone.
So, Ivy has to figure out how to defeat The Wild Hunt and help get Kaye under control without killing her friend. Luckily, now that Ivy is back in Harborsmouth, she has her full cast of friends to help her. Ceff and Torn have come back with her from Faerie. Even though they were treated very poorly by Ivy’s family, they stand by her side and do what is needed to help her. She also has Jinx and her man, Forneus the demonic lawyer, to help too.
Again, there are other, smaller characters, that make an appearance and I loved seeing them again. Humphrey (the gargoyle), Sparky (Ivy’s adopted full demon child), Hob (Kaye’s kitchen brownie) and Marvin (a young troll), Father Michael and Kaye’s apprentice, Arachne.
This story gives new meaning to “fast-paced”. Ivy and her friends don’t have a chance to catch their breath. The whole story takes place in about a single day (since they have to fight The Wild Hunt before the end of the next sundown).
I really enjoy this world that Ms. Stevens has created. I think the characters are a lot of fun. I think the world is very creative and interesting. I love the action (and boy is there a lot of action). There is snark. I just can’t say enough about this ragtag group. They all fit perfectly together. I’m very interested to see where this series goes next.
Narration
I really like both Melanie A Mason and Anthony Bowling. I think they both have nice voices and do a good job voicing the characters. This duet style of narration, where the female voices all female characters and the male narrates all the male characters is something that I’m getting more accustomed to. I will say that the sound effects that are included were a turnoff for me. With some, it was hard to hear the voices. The one example that stood out to me the most was when they were fighting with a wall of fire, the sounds of the fire overtook the voices. My personal opinion would be to just let the narrators use their great voices to make the story without the sound effects.
**I like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited to back in the world of Ivy Granger. This is a series that I’ve really enjoyed and this book was no exception. Ivy is back from her trip to Faerie. Her powers are growing. After spending a year in Faerie (which was only a week in Harborsmouth, since time travels differently between the two), Ivy finds herself not able to slow down a bit.
The Wild Hunt has followed Ivy back from Faerie and they only have until sundown to defeat them or they will tear through Harborsmouth and kill many innocent (and naive) humans. Ivy goes to her friend and mentor, the witch Kaye. Kaye has helped Ivy several times, but this time, she seems to be different. She seems a little power hungry. Ivy learns that Kaye has been up to no good while she was gone.
So, Ivy has to figure out how to defeat The Wild Hunt and help get Kaye under control without killing her friend. Luckily, now that Ivy is back in Harborsmouth, she has her full cast of friends to help her. Ceff and Torn have come back with her from Faerie. Even though they were treated very poorly by Ivy’s family, they stand by her side and do what is needed to help her. She also has Jinx and her man, Forneus the demonic lawyer, to help too.
Again, there are other, smaller characters, that make an appearance and I loved seeing them again. Humphrey (the gargoyle), Sparky (Ivy’s adopted full demon child), Hob (Kaye’s kitchen brownie) and Marvin (a young troll), Father Michael and Kaye’s apprentice, Arachne.
This story gives new meaning to “fast-paced”. Ivy and her friends don’t have a chance to catch their breath. The whole story takes place in about a single day (since they have to fight The Wild Hunt before the end of the next sundown).
I really enjoy this world that Ms. Stevens has created. I think the characters are a lot of fun. I think the world is very creative and interesting. I love the action (and boy is there a lot of action). There is snark. I just can’t say enough about this ragtag group. They all fit perfectly together. I’m very interested to see where this series goes next.
Narration
I really like both Melanie A Mason and Anthony Bowling. I think they both have nice voices and do a good job voicing the characters. This duet style of narration, where the female voices all female characters and the male narrates all the male characters is something that I’m getting more accustomed to. I will say that the sound effects that are included were a turnoff for me. With some, it was hard to hear the voices. The one example that stood out to me the most was when they were fighting with a wall of fire, the sounds of the fire overtook the voices. My personal opinion would be to just let the narrators use their great voices to make the story without the sound effects.
**I like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2020
A thrilling, fast paced continuation of the Ivy Granger series. Having just returned from the Faerie after discovering some shocking news about her parentage, Ivy and her cohorts find a year has passed in the mortal world. Not only have things changed with her friends but the Wild Hunt has managed to follow them back and is now threatening everything Ivy holds dear. This is an action-packed tale with great character interactions, epic battles and humorous dialogue. I loved how the different supernatural put aside their differences and worked together for the greater good, and I especially liked how the author developed the condom hat wearing Pooka in this book. As in all the books in the series, Torn’s witty flirting with both Ivy and Jinx, and all the snarky banter with Forneus was enjoyable. I also found the idea of having a priest, Father Michael, baby sitting Sparky, Ivy’s adopted demon child, hilarious. The battle scenes in this story have you on the edge of your seat as you did not know who would survive, and you are saddened by the losses. I really like the world the author has created and I am thoroughly enjoying how Ivy’s character is continuing to develop and grow into a strong leader. The dual narrators of the audiobook, Melanie A. Mason and Anthony Bowling, did a great job of bringing out the tension and anxiety in the story. Their voices fit each character and they kept the fast pace of the story well without making it seem rushed. The transition between the two narrators was much better than in prior books and I even enjoyed the sound effects. This is a well written, gripping story and I look forward to seeing where Ivy and her friend’s lives will go from here. This book is a continuation of past occurrences in the series and would therefore be best if it was read in order.
June 15, 2017
Ivy Granger has returned from the journey of a lifetime only to be faced with a battle that will test her skills and her new found magical abilities. With her boyfriend Kef and best friend Jinx by her side, will Ivy win the fight over evil or will evil take its toll?
Ivy and the gang have come full circle now with fighting battles, winning in love, friendship and respect but they have also gained more to lose. When Ivy returns after discovering who she really is, she now faces the challenge of controlling that power yet still keeping her loved ones safe. When the hounds come howling, Ivy gathers the troops and prepares for an epic battle, and in the process shit goes wrong, very wrong. Ivy is a born leader, she knows just how to call the shots when the chips are down like a true leader. The story, the battle only strengthens the bonds and seals an emotional attachment for the reader. How could you not love Sparky, the demon she has adopted, or Kef, the Kelpie King boyfriend who never judges her but just loves her and Sparky. It has been my pure pleasure to read as Ivy comes into a wonderful and powerful leader as well as a strong, brave woman. The ending left me with questions, but ones that show how fascinated I am with Ivy’s life and where it will go from here.
Narrators Review
Narrated by Melanie A. Mason and Anthony A. Bowlin. Both Mason and Bowlin have done a wonderful job with their narration. The sound quality was excellent, the tone was pleasant to my ears, and the emotion/acting was most entertaining! I can honestly say that listening to this duo was a treat, and made the story come alive. Thank you for a job well done.
**Audiobook provided by the author for an honest review**
Ivy and the gang have come full circle now with fighting battles, winning in love, friendship and respect but they have also gained more to lose. When Ivy returns after discovering who she really is, she now faces the challenge of controlling that power yet still keeping her loved ones safe. When the hounds come howling, Ivy gathers the troops and prepares for an epic battle, and in the process shit goes wrong, very wrong. Ivy is a born leader, she knows just how to call the shots when the chips are down like a true leader. The story, the battle only strengthens the bonds and seals an emotional attachment for the reader. How could you not love Sparky, the demon she has adopted, or Kef, the Kelpie King boyfriend who never judges her but just loves her and Sparky. It has been my pure pleasure to read as Ivy comes into a wonderful and powerful leader as well as a strong, brave woman. The ending left me with questions, but ones that show how fascinated I am with Ivy’s life and where it will go from here.
Narrators Review
Narrated by Melanie A. Mason and Anthony A. Bowlin. Both Mason and Bowlin have done a wonderful job with their narration. The sound quality was excellent, the tone was pleasant to my ears, and the emotion/acting was most entertaining! I can honestly say that listening to this duo was a treat, and made the story come alive. Thank you for a job well done.
**Audiobook provided by the author for an honest review**
June 30, 2017
Fast paced action brings friends to Ivy's side! My rating 4.25.
Ivy escaped from the land of Faerie with her fiancé, Ceffyl, and a testy friend, king of the Cat Sidhe, Sir Torn. But as they return, they discover that an evil force followed them into Ivy’s home town, Harborsmouth. The Huntsman and his powerful Barguest are bringing the Wild Hunt to Ivy and her community. The Huntsman will blow his horn at sundown to loose the dark hounds on the city. Any bite from the hounds turns the victim into a new black hound.
Ivy would normally call on her witch friend, Kaye, to help prepare a defense but Kaye has gone off the deep end on a power trip and may be as dangerous as the Huntsman. Ivy has to deal with Kaye before she can gather allies to face the Wild Hunt.
I enjoyed the action and the usual characters, plus extra creatures, brought in to help in each of the crisis that Ivy faces. I was a little distracted by some repetition of Ivy sort of whining. Still, she is growing and those around her recognize her special ability to bring adversaries together to face a common foe. She’s done it before and hopes to do it again to protect the city from the Wild Hunt. She tries to protect those she loves but can she save all her friends, including Ceff when he gets caught by the hounds? There are threads from prior books, and a few surprises, that get tied in nicely here. I liked how the friends come together in this good adventure.
Audio Notes: Melanie A. Mason and Anthony A. Bowlin do a nice job with the character voices. Their back and forth combination works well to make this a fun and entertaining listen.
I received this audiobook from the author as part of release tour.
Ivy escaped from the land of Faerie with her fiancé, Ceffyl, and a testy friend, king of the Cat Sidhe, Sir Torn. But as they return, they discover that an evil force followed them into Ivy’s home town, Harborsmouth. The Huntsman and his powerful Barguest are bringing the Wild Hunt to Ivy and her community. The Huntsman will blow his horn at sundown to loose the dark hounds on the city. Any bite from the hounds turns the victim into a new black hound.
Ivy would normally call on her witch friend, Kaye, to help prepare a defense but Kaye has gone off the deep end on a power trip and may be as dangerous as the Huntsman. Ivy has to deal with Kaye before she can gather allies to face the Wild Hunt.
I enjoyed the action and the usual characters, plus extra creatures, brought in to help in each of the crisis that Ivy faces. I was a little distracted by some repetition of Ivy sort of whining. Still, she is growing and those around her recognize her special ability to bring adversaries together to face a common foe. She’s done it before and hopes to do it again to protect the city from the Wild Hunt. She tries to protect those she loves but can she save all her friends, including Ceff when he gets caught by the hounds? There are threads from prior books, and a few surprises, that get tied in nicely here. I liked how the friends come together in this good adventure.
Audio Notes: Melanie A. Mason and Anthony A. Bowlin do a nice job with the character voices. Their back and forth combination works well to make this a fun and entertaining listen.
I received this audiobook from the author as part of release tour.
October 21, 2019
This is the fifth full-length novel in the Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective series by E.J. Stevens. This story is a continuation of past entries in the series and would therefore be best read in order, although it is written so that it could be enjoyed on its own.
This was an exciting, fast-paced book with lots of action. I really enjoy the character interactions and humorous dialog in this series, and this particular book was interesting because it brings together so many of Ivy’s allies. It is, however, more about combat than conversation and seemed a bit chaotic at times because there is so much to keep track of. For a psychic detective, Ivy was sometimes a bit slow to put together clues, but she also had her clever moments.
The author does a nice job breaking the tension with moments of levity. As an example, I was amused when Ivy’s friends teased her about her housekeeping, and Torn’s flirting is always fun.
I really appreciated the narration by Melanie A. Mason and Anthony Bowling. Their performances were well paced and easy to understand, and I enjoyed the character voices. It was especially fun to hear the howls from the Wild Hunt and Herne’s creepy laughter, or the voice of the witch Kaye when she was juiced up on power.
If you enjoy snarky urban fantasy, I recommend this book and the entire series, and I think it’s a great choice for listening. There is some sexual suggestiveness and some swearing, but it’s generally terms like “Mab’s bones” or “Oberon’s eyes,” which I found amusing.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook by the author and volunteered to provide an honest review.
This was an exciting, fast-paced book with lots of action. I really enjoy the character interactions and humorous dialog in this series, and this particular book was interesting because it brings together so many of Ivy’s allies. It is, however, more about combat than conversation and seemed a bit chaotic at times because there is so much to keep track of. For a psychic detective, Ivy was sometimes a bit slow to put together clues, but she also had her clever moments.
The author does a nice job breaking the tension with moments of levity. As an example, I was amused when Ivy’s friends teased her about her housekeeping, and Torn’s flirting is always fun.
I really appreciated the narration by Melanie A. Mason and Anthony Bowling. Their performances were well paced and easy to understand, and I enjoyed the character voices. It was especially fun to hear the howls from the Wild Hunt and Herne’s creepy laughter, or the voice of the witch Kaye when she was juiced up on power.
If you enjoy snarky urban fantasy, I recommend this book and the entire series, and I think it’s a great choice for listening. There is some sexual suggestiveness and some swearing, but it’s generally terms like “Mab’s bones” or “Oberon’s eyes,” which I found amusing.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook by the author and volunteered to provide an honest review.
August 28, 2017
Ivy Granger's continuing saga is a morality tale replete with all the baggage that implies. Is killing an enemy the thing to do? If a friend becomes an enemy, how does that change the answer? Do I save the child or do I save everyone else? Because I can, should I?
HOUND'S BITE is an emotional rollercoaster ride. If you are anything like me, a person who cries at the movies, or when your favorite song plays, you'll need a hanky to get through some parts of this book. As I was reading Ivy's response to endangering a child, any child, whether human or fae or demon, the tears welled up in my eyes.
Harborsmouth finds itself, once more, under siege on several fronts. The battle is all blood and guts and horror, and written with such clarity as to tear your heart out. I read this book through tears of anguish at the potential for loss. Let me tell you, reading through tears may make the page a bit blurry, but putting the book down was not an option.
E. J. Stevens has created an alternate universe in which suspension of disbelief comes easily. Traveling there is as easy as turning the first page. Her characters are all so very real and believable because they are all so perfectly and uniquely flawed.
Stevens has carved her own personal niche in the horror/urban fantasy genre with the continuing saga of a strong female lead that is more developed with each new book. This is a series that you want to start with book one, SHADOW SIGHT, and work your way through them all. That is exactly what I plan to do… read them all!
HOUND'S BITE is an emotional rollercoaster ride. If you are anything like me, a person who cries at the movies, or when your favorite song plays, you'll need a hanky to get through some parts of this book. As I was reading Ivy's response to endangering a child, any child, whether human or fae or demon, the tears welled up in my eyes.
Harborsmouth finds itself, once more, under siege on several fronts. The battle is all blood and guts and horror, and written with such clarity as to tear your heart out. I read this book through tears of anguish at the potential for loss. Let me tell you, reading through tears may make the page a bit blurry, but putting the book down was not an option.
E. J. Stevens has created an alternate universe in which suspension of disbelief comes easily. Traveling there is as easy as turning the first page. Her characters are all so very real and believable because they are all so perfectly and uniquely flawed.
Stevens has carved her own personal niche in the horror/urban fantasy genre with the continuing saga of a strong female lead that is more developed with each new book. This is a series that you want to start with book one, SHADOW SIGHT, and work your way through them all. That is exactly what I plan to do… read them all!
May 26, 2017
The Ivy Granger series is above average when compared to other UF out there.
The flip flopping of the verb tenses was irritating.
If this was written in third person, the descriptions of the battle (is she really not concerned about her welfare, she can narrate a four minute battle happening to Hendrix in such vivid detail?)
And she also talks about others' thoughts or reasons for their actions that could only be explained if she was sharing their bodies or minds.
And ffs, how many times does she have to mention her mom is Mab and her dad is a Wisp and Ceff is King of Kelpie? Once every other chapter? And yes, tell me 'one more time' what happens when a hound bites someone....
I could listen to this duo narrate another book by E.J. Stevens; they made it very entertaining! The duo Melanie A Mason and Anthony A Bowlin gave this book the high ranking. They portrayed the characters with more depth than the writing.
*SPOILER: When Ceff was bitten, I was shocked. But Ivy's solution within twenty seconds didn't provide enough time to feel sorrow, worry, or a choked sob.*
I've read reviews in which it was recommended reading the books in order. I can say my rating was •not• due to not being able to follow the story.
Ms Stevens touched on previous adventures but gently explained anything a reader/listener needed to know. I never felt lost or confused by the story and plot.
This similar review is posted on Audible.
The flip flopping of the verb tenses was irritating.
If this was written in third person, the descriptions of the battle (is she really not concerned about her welfare, she can narrate a four minute battle happening to Hendrix in such vivid detail?)
And she also talks about others' thoughts or reasons for their actions that could only be explained if she was sharing their bodies or minds.
And ffs, how many times does she have to mention her mom is Mab and her dad is a Wisp and Ceff is King of Kelpie? Once every other chapter? And yes, tell me 'one more time' what happens when a hound bites someone....
I could listen to this duo narrate another book by E.J. Stevens; they made it very entertaining! The duo Melanie A Mason and Anthony A Bowlin gave this book the high ranking. They portrayed the characters with more depth than the writing.
*SPOILER: When Ceff was bitten, I was shocked. But Ivy's solution within twenty seconds didn't provide enough time to feel sorrow, worry, or a choked sob.*
I've read reviews in which it was recommended reading the books in order. I can say my rating was •not• due to not being able to follow the story.
Ms Stevens touched on previous adventures but gently explained anything a reader/listener needed to know. I never felt lost or confused by the story and plot.
This similar review is posted on Audible.
October 2, 2019
I find myself picking up Ivy Granger books because I know what I'm getting, they're addictive and like junk food, you can't eat just one!
This time, Ivy has her work cut out for her... she must somehow stop the Wild Hunt, and she can only do it with the help of the magical comunity... the allies that she's been grooming since the beginning of the series.
If I have one complaint about EJ Stevens writing style it's her overuse of Dialogue Tags... Maybe she feels like it's necessary in the written format but it can completely throw me out of the story in the audio version having the character tag themselves at the end of a spoken thought with, he said/she said (of course they said it, I just heard 'em)... It's so unnecessary! Once the talking ends, the book settles into a very enjoyable and rollicking, fast paced, action fantasy adventure!
The narration blends into the story without detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story, though I personally found the sound effects to be a bit abrasive and unnecessary.
So grab yourself an Ivy Granger book today. Not this one, you really should start with book 1, and have a blast, following the whole series ARC!
This time, Ivy has her work cut out for her... she must somehow stop the Wild Hunt, and she can only do it with the help of the magical comunity... the allies that she's been grooming since the beginning of the series.
If I have one complaint about EJ Stevens writing style it's her overuse of Dialogue Tags... Maybe she feels like it's necessary in the written format but it can completely throw me out of the story in the audio version having the character tag themselves at the end of a spoken thought with, he said/she said (of course they said it, I just heard 'em)... It's so unnecessary! Once the talking ends, the book settles into a very enjoyable and rollicking, fast paced, action fantasy adventure!
The narration blends into the story without detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story, though I personally found the sound effects to be a bit abrasive and unnecessary.
So grab yourself an Ivy Granger book today. Not this one, you really should start with book 1, and have a blast, following the whole series ARC!
June 1, 2017
I love this series more with every book; the world that E.J. Stevens has created is amazing, detailed and so vividly conveyed. I don’t want to give away what happens; there will be no spoilers here. But I’m continually amazed by the situations that Ivy Granger is put through and the emotional response it creates in me as I listen to the story unfold. Stevens is incredibly creative and there is never a dull moment.
The narration was good but I don’t like the background sounds that are added at times especially when they don’t totally match what’s happening. At one point the book says, the horn sounds three times and we hear a horn but only twice, if you’re going to add sounds, at least get it right. There are also strange sound shifts used to show things that are remembered and I really didn’t like this, I found it jarring. At times the dual narration is jarring as well and while Melanie and Anthony do a decent job, I want Traci Odom back!
This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
The narration was good but I don’t like the background sounds that are added at times especially when they don’t totally match what’s happening. At one point the book says, the horn sounds three times and we hear a horn but only twice, if you’re going to add sounds, at least get it right. There are also strange sound shifts used to show things that are remembered and I really didn’t like this, I found it jarring. At times the dual narration is jarring as well and while Melanie and Anthony do a decent job, I want Traci Odom back!
This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
November 8, 2019
I have to say I was a little disappointed by this one. The overall storyline I found to be fun but it is definitely geared to a young adult crowd due to quite a bit of language and sexual inuendos and even direct comments made. It does a good job of giving a short overview of the first four books but I did still feel a bit lost at times and really think this is not the best standalone book that it should really be read in order. The basis of this story is an adventure to save Harborsmouth from the demigod Herne the Hunter and his hounds. The main character Ivy is a strong and snarky faerie princess who is dating a shape-shifting Kelpie. There are also occult references due to the nature of the mythology focused story.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
July 5, 2021
Audible listen. Fun narration! There’s sound effects and voice modulation going on. The female narrator did a good job too. There’s also some male narration; a little stiff at times, but still good.
Entertaining magical adventure for Ivy and all her friends! For the best reading experience, I recommend reading the previous books, but this book does have its own complete adventure. In this one, the Wild Hunt is after Ivy, and someone has kidnapped someone Ivy considers family. Lots of danger going on! The story does move a bit slow at times; lots of planning and lots of characters to deal with, but I still enjoy the read. Love all the Fae aspects, and I enjoy the light, fun vibe to the story. I’d like a bit more depth of emotion, more romance; what is there is really sweet though, and some more action, but overall, this series has been great!
Entertaining magical adventure for Ivy and all her friends! For the best reading experience, I recommend reading the previous books, but this book does have its own complete adventure. In this one, the Wild Hunt is after Ivy, and someone has kidnapped someone Ivy considers family. Lots of danger going on! The story does move a bit slow at times; lots of planning and lots of characters to deal with, but I still enjoy the read. Love all the Fae aspects, and I enjoy the light, fun vibe to the story. I’d like a bit more depth of emotion, more romance; what is there is really sweet though, and some more action, but overall, this series has been great!
January 2, 2020
Boy was that a wild ride! There were some intense twists in this book. Lots of stuff happened really quickly and if you’ve been following the series you’re in for a surprise. I was able to figure it out pretty early on and it was revealed shortly after but that didn’t lessen the excitement of what was happening throughout the rest of the book. It just heightened the anticipation. As always the array of magical characters is delightful. Sparky is one of my favorites. The book is full off quick witted humor and snarky banter. My only regret is that I didn’t listen to book 4 before listening to this one so that’s on the docket for next year. I need to catch up and move forward in the right order. 4 stars.
May 5, 2018
I really love the Ivyverse for itself and for the way it ties other ones into and around it--exceptionally well populated with other supernatural beings both good and bad. Ivy Granger is simply the best kind of supernatural role model and is supportive of any who have goodness and death to any who promote wickedness. She is as loyal to her friends as they are to her. The first four paragraphs of the publisher's blurb gives hints and is useful, and there are no spoilers here. If you already know Ivy Granger you'll want to get this one in your collection, and if you don't, what are you waiting for!
I get the audios, and the team of Mason and Bowlin are perfect!
I get the audios, and the team of Mason and Bowlin are perfect!
March 10, 2019
Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective Series
I just finished binge reading the 5 books with a book of short stories that fit before, between and after the main story line. WOW!!!
Ivy is a smart, wise-cracking and withdrawn young person with the ability to touch an object and see its past as well as having "second sight" that allows her to see past the facade of monsters so she knows about fear,horror and rejection.
As her character grows, we receive answers to the different sub-plot questions that run throughout the series.
Ivy has good friends and allies whose abilities are unique.
This is a great series--hope you enjoy!!!
I just finished binge reading the 5 books with a book of short stories that fit before, between and after the main story line. WOW!!!
Ivy is a smart, wise-cracking and withdrawn young person with the ability to touch an object and see its past as well as having "second sight" that allows her to see past the facade of monsters so she knows about fear,horror and rejection.
As her character grows, we receive answers to the different sub-plot questions that run throughout the series.
Ivy has good friends and allies whose abilities are unique.
This is a great series--hope you enjoy!!!
August 15, 2019
Hound’s Bite is an exciting supernatural adventure with cool characters, lots of action, and a bit of romance. This is part of a series, but works just fine as a standalone. If you are looking for a detective novel though, this particular book probably isn’t what you’re after.
Suitable for teens and adults. May be too violent or scary for younger readers.
The narrators have a fun time with the book and include sound effects in with the narration to make things a bit more exciting.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Suitable for teens and adults. May be too violent or scary for younger readers.
The narrators have a fun time with the book and include sound effects in with the narration to make things a bit more exciting.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
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