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Harmony Black #3
Glass Predator
For Harmony Black, practicing witch and government agent, defeating criminal masterminds and eliminating supernatural threats are all in a day’s work. She’s ready to fight, as long as she can count on her partner, Jessie Temple; her team at off-the-books special FBI unit Vigilant Lock; and her magic. But her latest case threatens it all.
A high-profile bank robbery reveals thieves with the same unnatural strength and turquoise eyes as Jessie, who was touched by the King of Wolves. Jessie becomes unstable, struggling with her inner Beast, and Harmony’s magic is threatened by unexpected interference. Even worse, the women uncover a secret their own handler may kill to protect, forcing Vigilant Lock to go off the grid.
From the smoky back rooms of Washington, DC, inhabited by the crooked elite, to the astonishing high-rises of corrupt upper-crust Manhattan, Harmony and Jessie fight to uncover and halt a mass conspiracy threatening US soil in a race against time—and hell.
A high-profile bank robbery reveals thieves with the same unnatural strength and turquoise eyes as Jessie, who was touched by the King of Wolves. Jessie becomes unstable, struggling with her inner Beast, and Harmony’s magic is threatened by unexpected interference. Even worse, the women uncover a secret their own handler may kill to protect, forcing Vigilant Lock to go off the grid.
From the smoky back rooms of Washington, DC, inhabited by the crooked elite, to the astonishing high-rises of corrupt upper-crust Manhattan, Harmony and Jessie fight to uncover and halt a mass conspiracy threatening US soil in a race against time—and hell.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2017
364 people are currently reading
769 people want to read
About the author
Craig Schaefer
43 books1,332 followersCraig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
August 4, 2020
Need to get my hands on the next one.
Q: “I’m sorry,” Jessie told him. “When we said, ‘Open up, FBI,’ were you under the impression that doing so was optional?” (c)
Q: “I might have gotten access to his bank account,” Tucker said, dipping his head.
“I like how you keep confessing to new crimes,” Jessie told him. “It makes our jobs so much easier.” (c)
Q: “Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
She gestured at my suit and tie. “Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”(c)
Q: “She probably sees that guy every single day, and she’s still primed to blow him away if he pulls anything. There’s some professional-grade paranoia for you.” (c)
Q: You know who went down when Snowden blew the whistle on NSA surveillance? Nobody but Snowden. (c)
Q: “Jessie,” I said, hearing my own exhaustion in my voice, “are you making up reasons to go in there and mess with a bunch of racist tweakers?” (с)
Q: "You’re a special type of crazy, aren’t you?”
“A very special type." (c)
Q: You don’t find him. He finds you. (c)
Q: Government memorandums tended to be overwritten and obtuse, and a program like Glass Predator doubled down on expectations: the binder held at least two hundred pages of tiny type and jargon, acronyms that pointed to a glossary filled with new acronyms that pointed to a second glossary. Worse, the page order was scrambled.
“Camouflage, Washington-style,” April said as I divided the dossier into four stacks and passed them out. “Make it dense enough, someone might not even realize what they’re reading.” (c)
Q: I knew we were dancing on a razor’s edge. But tonight, we were just dancing. (c)
Q: And you need to lighten up a little, baby. Eternity’s a long, long time. Gotta take things easy, see the humor in life. (c)
Q: Now, you and I are generally copacetic, are we not? (c)
Q: You just made your business my business. (c)
Q: “I’m sorry,” Jessie told him. “When we said, ‘Open up, FBI,’ were you under the impression that doing so was optional?” (c)
Q: “I might have gotten access to his bank account,” Tucker said, dipping his head.
“I like how you keep confessing to new crimes,” Jessie told him. “It makes our jobs so much easier.” (c)
Q: “Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
She gestured at my suit and tie. “Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”(c)
Q: “She probably sees that guy every single day, and she’s still primed to blow him away if he pulls anything. There’s some professional-grade paranoia for you.” (c)
Q: You know who went down when Snowden blew the whistle on NSA surveillance? Nobody but Snowden. (c)
Q: “Jessie,” I said, hearing my own exhaustion in my voice, “are you making up reasons to go in there and mess with a bunch of racist tweakers?” (с)
Q: "You’re a special type of crazy, aren’t you?”
“A very special type." (c)
Q: You don’t find him. He finds you. (c)
Q: Government memorandums tended to be overwritten and obtuse, and a program like Glass Predator doubled down on expectations: the binder held at least two hundred pages of tiny type and jargon, acronyms that pointed to a glossary filled with new acronyms that pointed to a second glossary. Worse, the page order was scrambled.
“Camouflage, Washington-style,” April said as I divided the dossier into four stacks and passed them out. “Make it dense enough, someone might not even realize what they’re reading.” (c)
Q: I knew we were dancing on a razor’s edge. But tonight, we were just dancing. (c)
Q: And you need to lighten up a little, baby. Eternity’s a long, long time. Gotta take things easy, see the humor in life. (c)
Q: Now, you and I are generally copacetic, are we not? (c)
Q: You just made your business my business. (c)
June 10, 2020
*** 4.25 ***
A buddy read with my friends @ BB&B! Because we love the crazy magic of Craig Schaefer!
Now this is a great third book in a series! I knew I loved Special Agent Harmony Black with her meagre witch abilities and stick in the mud personality, but this time around I began to truly appreciate her partner, the 🐺y and charming Jesse, who tends to take the spotlight when on page. It so happens that the rambunctious FED has been dealing with keeping her beast under control in difficult situations, reaching critical mass when one of the bad guys is an unexpected family member. That little detail puts a big glitch in the already compromised case the team is forced to conduct mostly off the grid. There is a mole in the organization and the four team members can only trust each other.
As always, the team is dealing with Demons, Robot-zombies, and humans with enhanced senses. As always, Jesse is the hot-headed muscle, Harmony is the cool head who employees some defensive Magic, and we have the think-tank and computer specialist in a safe place behind the scenes providing support and information. However, something happens and Harmony 's Magic becomes glitchy and misfires, while other circumstances prevent Jesse from being reliable and good old fashioned fire-power in the shape of guns and ammunition, has to decide the battle in one way or another... I don't want to give anything away, but it gets tense and ends in somewhat of a cliffy...
For the fans of Urban Fantasy and just a fun shoot-out action, I would strongly recommend this series! It is a fast and easy read 😊...
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!!!
A buddy read with my friends @ BB&B! Because we love the crazy magic of Craig Schaefer!
Now this is a great third book in a series! I knew I loved Special Agent Harmony Black with her meagre witch abilities and stick in the mud personality, but this time around I began to truly appreciate her partner, the 🐺y and charming Jesse, who tends to take the spotlight when on page. It so happens that the rambunctious FED has been dealing with keeping her beast under control in difficult situations, reaching critical mass when one of the bad guys is an unexpected family member. That little detail puts a big glitch in the already compromised case the team is forced to conduct mostly off the grid. There is a mole in the organization and the four team members can only trust each other.
As always, the team is dealing with Demons, Robot-zombies, and humans with enhanced senses. As always, Jesse is the hot-headed muscle, Harmony is the cool head who employees some defensive Magic, and we have the think-tank and computer specialist in a safe place behind the scenes providing support and information. However, something happens and Harmony 's Magic becomes glitchy and misfires, while other circumstances prevent Jesse from being reliable and good old fashioned fire-power in the shape of guns and ammunition, has to decide the battle in one way or another... I don't want to give anything away, but it gets tense and ends in somewhat of a cliffy...
For the fans of Urban Fantasy and just a fun shoot-out action, I would strongly recommend this series! It is a fast and easy read 😊...
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!!!
December 12, 2024
🐺 We're Off to See the Wizard Pet Some Super Cuddly Wolves Buddy Reread (WOtStWPSSCWBR™) with the MacHalos and Stuff 🐺
➽ And the moral of this reread is: Invited to a barbecue hosted by Harmony Black? Kindly decline. Say your pet shrimp just died, that the exclusive holiday you booked at the Mariana Trench Nefarious Inn Resort for the date of the barbecue is non-refundable and that no-shows are punishable by death, or that you got kidnapped by a bunch of feral barnacles and will be unavailable until further notice. Anything. Just don't go. Trust me on that one.
Yeah, Elmo accepted the invite, and look at where it got him.
💌 A very private message for Harmony Black: See? You, too, can kick deliciousass exoskeleton when you put your revoltingly straight-laced mind to it. It's as easy as 123 doing the Daniel Faust, getting your beautifully fished-up moral compass out of storage, and beating the shrimp out of everyone in sight! Yay and stuff!
[February 2017]
· Holy Fragging Mary of Anabolic Grace It Was High Time Harmony Black Showed Some Holy Fragging MC Potential Buddy Read (HFMoAGIWHTHBSSHFMCPBR™) with the BB&B Schaefer Chicks ·
☢Friendly warning: the gif is strong in this one. You're welcome.
Actual rating: 3.7321 stars. More or less.
Okay, the Schaefer Fangirling Fever (SFF™) seems to have subsidedlittle, I can see mostly clearly now ♫ the rain is gone ♫ Meaning I am lowering my rating to 4 pathetic little stars. More or less.
I know this must come as a shock, given that this is supposed to be Schaeferliciously Schaerferlistic, like all things Scharferslistically Schaeferlicious are, you know, supposed to be and stuff. And yet it isn't. Schaeferliciously Schaerferlistic, I mean. And to be disgustingly honest, I'm pretty sure I would have gone for a revolting 3.5-star rating , had this book not been written by the Ever So Slightly Awesome Craig Schaefer (ESSACS™). And it's a good thing I finally decided to work on this crappy non review, because the more I think about Glass Predator, the more I am inclined to lower my rating for the book.
Worry you not, my LovelyArthropods Accipitridae, for I am as marginally flabbergasted by this sad state of affairs as you are. Life will never be the same and all that crap.
To be disgustingly honest again , this is my least favourite series in the Schaeferverse {insert screams of dismay and outrage here} I mean, it's still gloriously enjoyable compared to 99% of the crap I usually read, but it's a bit, I don't know, despicably light and stuff. Not quite dark and twisted enough for my slaughterish taste I'm afraid. I think the main problem I have with this series is that it's more Urban than it is Fantasy. Okay, so there are demons and magic and stuff, but most of the stories read more like police procedurals than like Urban Fantasy. And this is especially true when it comes to the first part of this book. Which I didn't like that much *gasps* Because it felt kinda sorta mundane *slightly faints* And a littleboring uninteresting *starts convulsing a little* Things improve a lot in the second half of the book *heaves huge sigh of nefarious relief* but more on that later.
I bet the anticipation is killing you right now.
To be disgustingly honest again again , there is a characterization problem here, in that the MC for the series isn't the person it should be . And it's pretty problematic when your main protagonisthas less personality than a barnacle is constantly outshined by a supporting character. Because Jessie Temple is Slightly Scrumptious (JSiSS™) has been stealing the show since book 1 in this series, and I don't think it's a fight Poor Harmony Black (PHB™) can win. Her character just doesn't seem to have the potential. I don't mind that she's straight-laced and a bit standoffish and uptight and emotional as a brick and stuff. The problem isn't her character in itself, it's just that, compared to JSiSS™, she's pretty…flat. And lackluster. Besides being slightly scrumptious for all kinds of reasons I won't mention here because spoiler spoiler spoiler, JSiSS™ has an amazing, complex, deliciously wolfish personality. And some very minor beautiful mommy/daddy issues. And a hilarious sense of humor. She kicks ass, too. Plus, she's black. And a lesbian. No wonder PHB™ can't win this fight. I mean, I'm totally awesome and nefarious and glorious and stuff, but even I wouldn't be able to steal the show from under Jessie's nose. Yeah, that's how wondrously wondrous she is, my Comely Branchiopoda.
And this right here is when I try and confuse the shrimp out of you again. Because Harmony does steal the show back from Jessie at some point in the book. Some later point in the book. Some very later point in the book. And she doesn't steal it all. The show I mean. She steals it a little. The show I mean. And only because Jessie is otherwise engaged. Doing, you know, otherwise engaging stuff. Anyway, from the 70% mark on, Schaefer works his Most Luscious Writing Magic (MLWM™), and, just like that,I'm home again Harmony starts magically displaying some Truly Splendid MC Potential (TSMCP™). Not a moment too soon, dear girl, not a moment too soon! So that was pretty cool and awesome while it lasted, but what worries me is that I'm not sure whether she'll be able to hold her own in the next instalment. When Jessie is done being otherwise engaged and stuff, and comes back full force. But hey, in Schaefer I trust. He is, after all, a long-standing member of my Holy Quadrinity of Utter Awesomeness (HQoUA™). So if anyone can turn Poor Harmony into an Authentically Authentic Legitimately Legitimate Lickably Lickable MC (AALLLLMC™), it's him.
Right.
Sooooo, even though all of this up here ↑↑ means this instalment isthe less fangirl-worthy Schaeferistic book I have read to date a little disappointing almost as slightly awesome as Schaefer's other books , there is still some Unequivocally Yummilicious Stuff (UYS™) to be had here. UYS™ like:
✔ Jessie Temple. DUH.
✔ Ritual slaughter and neo-Nazi murder cults.
✔ My delicious boyfriend Fontaine. He's so positivelydemonic exquisite, I'm sure he'd do wonders for Harmony. The girl needs to –hum- lighten up. Really badly. Unfortunately, Fontaine is currently locked up in my harem forever after, and therefore unable to help in this matter. Life sucks.
✔ Secret spoiler spoiler spoiler programs.
✔ A most wondrous, charmingly ruthless female evil nemesis.
✔ Delectably cunning and cunningly delectable demons. Yummy in my tummy and stuff.
✔ Hahaha dialogues. Courtesy of my girl Jessie. Obviously.
✔ Technosorcerous zombies.
✔ Chicken and waffles.
✔ Blood and gore .
✔ A potentially awesome series arcthat needs to get past the "potential" stage NOW and get bloody shrimping GOING.
✔ The End
» And the moral of this If I Wasn't So Full of Crap I Probably Would Have Given this Book a 3-star Rating More or Less Crappy Non Review (IIWSFoCIPWHGtBa3SRMoLCNR™ ) is: Harmony Black, grow up a little and there's a slight chance you might possibly become almost half as awesome as my Daniel Faust. Maybe. One day. When pigs fly and crayfish whistle.
· Book 1: Harmony Black ★★★★
· Book 2: Red Knight Falling ★★★
· Book 4: Cold Spectrum ★★★★
· Book 5: Right to the Kill ★★★
· Book 6: Black Tie Required ★★★★
· Book 7: Never Send Roses ★★★★★
· Book 8: Snake Oil Bullet ★★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
Actual rating: 4.89999 stars. More or less.
Before reading the second half of this book, I was thinking of going for a pathetic 3 star-rating. I kid you not. A very unworthy Schaefer fangirl I momentarily was. But that was only, you know, momentary. Because then stuff, you know, happened. And then Harmony Black turned into, you know, the most wondrous MC I'd been waiting for her to, you know, turn into and stuff. Ergo, I slightly raised my rating. And started dancing. Obviously.
![]()
►► Full Oh Wow Oh Wow Oh Wow Crappy Non Review (OWOWOWCNR™) to come.
➽ And the moral of this reread is: Invited to a barbecue hosted by Harmony Black? Kindly decline. Say your pet shrimp just died, that the exclusive holiday you booked at the Mariana Trench Nefarious Inn Resort for the date of the barbecue is non-refundable and that no-shows are punishable by death, or that you got kidnapped by a bunch of feral barnacles and will be unavailable until further notice. Anything. Just don't go. Trust me on that one.
Yeah, Elmo accepted the invite, and look at where it got him.
💌 A very private message for Harmony Black: See? You, too, can kick delicious
[February 2017]
· Holy Fragging Mary of Anabolic Grace It Was High Time Harmony Black Showed Some Holy Fragging MC Potential Buddy Read (HFMoAGIWHTHBSSHFMCPBR™) with the BB&B Schaefer Chicks ·
☢
Actual rating: 3.7321 stars. More or less.
Okay, the Schaefer Fangirling Fever (SFF™) seems to have subsided
I know this must come as a shock, given that this is supposed to be Schaeferliciously Schaerferlistic, like all things Scharferslistically Schaeferlicious are, you know, supposed to be and stuff. And yet it isn't. Schaeferliciously Schaerferlistic, I mean. And to be disgustingly honest, I'm pretty sure I would have gone for a revolting 3.5-star rating , had this book not been written by the Ever So Slightly Awesome Craig Schaefer (ESSACS™). And it's a good thing I finally decided to work on this crappy non review, because the more I think about Glass Predator, the more I am inclined to lower my rating for the book.
Worry you not, my Lovely
To be disgustingly honest again , this is my least favourite series in the Schaeferverse {insert screams of dismay and outrage here} I mean, it's still gloriously enjoyable compared to 99% of the crap I usually read, but it's a bit, I don't know, despicably light and stuff. Not quite dark and twisted enough for my slaughterish taste I'm afraid. I think the main problem I have with this series is that it's more Urban than it is Fantasy. Okay, so there are demons and magic and stuff, but most of the stories read more like police procedurals than like Urban Fantasy. And this is especially true when it comes to the first part of this book. Which I didn't like that much *gasps* Because it felt kinda sorta mundane *slightly faints* And a little
I bet the anticipation is killing you right now.
To be disgustingly honest again again , there is a characterization problem here, in that the MC for the series isn't the person it should be . And it's pretty problematic when your main protagonist
And this right here is when I try and confuse the shrimp out of you again. Because Harmony does steal the show back from Jessie at some point in the book. Some later point in the book. Some very later point in the book. And she doesn't steal it all. The show I mean. She steals it a little. The show I mean. And only because Jessie is otherwise engaged. Doing, you know, otherwise engaging stuff. Anyway, from the 70% mark on, Schaefer works his Most Luscious Writing Magic (MLWM™), and, just like that,
Right.
Sooooo, even though all of this up here ↑↑ means this instalment is
✔ Jessie Temple. DUH.
✔ Ritual slaughter and neo-Nazi murder cults.
✔ My delicious boyfriend Fontaine. He's so positively
✔ Secret spoiler spoiler spoiler programs.
✔ A most wondrous, charmingly ruthless female evil nemesis.
✔ Delectably cunning and cunningly delectable demons. Yummy in my tummy and stuff.
✔ Hahaha dialogues. Courtesy of my girl Jessie. Obviously.
✔ Technosorcerous zombies.
✔ Chicken and waffles.
✔ Blood and gore .
✔ A potentially awesome series arc
✔ The End
» And the moral of this If I Wasn't So Full of Crap I Probably Would Have Given this Book a 3-star Rating More or Less Crappy Non Review (IIWSFoCIPWHGtBa3SRMoLCNR™ ) is: Harmony Black, grow up a little and there's a slight chance you might possibly become almost half as awesome as my Daniel Faust. Maybe. One day. When pigs fly and crayfish whistle.
· Book 1: Harmony Black ★★★★
· Book 2: Red Knight Falling ★★★
· Book 4: Cold Spectrum ★★★★
· Book 5: Right to the Kill ★★★
· Book 6: Black Tie Required ★★★★
· Book 7: Never Send Roses ★★★★★
· Book 8: Snake Oil Bullet ★★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
Actual rating: 4.89999 stars. More or less.
Before reading the second half of this book, I was thinking of going for a pathetic 3 star-rating. I kid you not. A very unworthy Schaefer fangirl I momentarily was. But that was only, you know, momentary. Because then stuff, you know, happened. And then Harmony Black turned into, you know, the most wondrous MC I'd been waiting for her to, you know, turn into and stuff. Ergo, I slightly raised my rating. And started dancing. Obviously.
►► Full Oh Wow Oh Wow Oh Wow Crappy Non Review (OWOWOWCNR™) to come.
April 17, 2017
I want to thank Gavin for introducing me to Harmony and Jessy! :)
“The only person in control of your choices is you.”
Woot, another crazy ride with Harmony and Jessy! Though, I must admit that this book was darker, more psychological and at the same time more heart-wrenching. It was devoted mainly to Jessy. The humor aspect was also quite strange as the first half of the book was more serious and there were not much fun there. On the other hand, the other half of the book was more entertaining to read.
Characters. Earlier 2 books in the series were devoted to present other characters more thoroughly, so it was really a great experience to see a more revealing picture of Jessy. It was great to know her more, have a sneak into her early past years, meet her family, reveal the secrets of her past. Jessy is an amazing character, her ability to build herself scrap-by-scrap, cherishing the precious seed of humanity.. oh my, I was stunned.
Harmony had her tough share, too. I was so sorry for her struggle to fight the lethal charm, which ruined her magic powers at first.
As always I loved the interaction between Harmony and Jessy. Their bond is one of the main things that I love in this series and the challenges their friendship has, well, I doubt that I’ve read anything similar!
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
She gestured at my suit and tie.
“Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”
“Brace yourself, Harmony. We have to find . . . dresses.”
“What about the pack-scent thing?”
Jessie glanced my way, giving me a lopsided smile.
“Funny thing. I can still smell it . . . but it’s a lot less like roses now, and a lot more like bullshit.”
While reading I met characters from the first two books and it was so great to meet them again. Also there were a couple characters from Daniel Faust series mentioned. It was intriguing to watch the outcome of the romance for Harmony, I didn’t like the dull cop and I just hope that Mr. Schaefer has some really great love interest for both girls in the sequel(s).
The main villains were entertaining to follow and to my joy they both continue to live. I rarely have so nasty, wicked villains with twisted insane mind, so it was great to find one old and one new in the third book :)
Narrative. Mainly, I read this series like one book. Like in previous books, events unfold in strange twists, interesting action, some magic and some gripping revelations. The third book carries on with the special case we had sneak peaks from the first book . I must admit, I felt a little pang as I wanted to know more about the main villainous organization and thought that it’ll be given more light in this book. But it wasn’t and I add one off my earlier complaint – I wanted more of magical world.
One of really tasty gems I found there. Woot for Lithuanian werewolves!
“Mostly. But not everywhere. Did you know, in Lithuania, there’s folklore about good-hearted werewolves? They watch over villages. Protect people.”
“Do I look Lithuanian to you?”
We pulled into the motel parking lot, wheels rumbling over loose gravel. I stopped just outside our door.
“I’m only saying, it’s not about the power, it’s about the person who wields it. The King of Wolves didn’t create the woman you are today, and neither did your father. You did. And I believe in you.”
To sum up, “Glass Predator” is a great read, with it’s tasty share of action, great character development, a wonderful pair of kickass heroines and of course a mind-blowing ending! Can’t wait for the fourth book to be released :)
“The only person in control of your choices is you.”
Woot, another crazy ride with Harmony and Jessy! Though, I must admit that this book was darker, more psychological and at the same time more heart-wrenching. It was devoted mainly to Jessy. The humor aspect was also quite strange as the first half of the book was more serious and there were not much fun there. On the other hand, the other half of the book was more entertaining to read.
Characters. Earlier 2 books in the series were devoted to present other characters more thoroughly, so it was really a great experience to see a more revealing picture of Jessy. It was great to know her more, have a sneak into her early past years, meet her family, reveal the secrets of her past. Jessy is an amazing character, her ability to build herself scrap-by-scrap, cherishing the precious seed of humanity.. oh my, I was stunned.
Harmony had her tough share, too. I was so sorry for her struggle to fight the lethal charm, which ruined her magic powers at first.
As always I loved the interaction between Harmony and Jessy. Their bond is one of the main things that I love in this series and the challenges their friendship has, well, I doubt that I’ve read anything similar!
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
She gestured at my suit and tie.
“Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”
“Brace yourself, Harmony. We have to find . . . dresses.”
“What about the pack-scent thing?”
Jessie glanced my way, giving me a lopsided smile.
“Funny thing. I can still smell it . . . but it’s a lot less like roses now, and a lot more like bullshit.”
While reading I met characters from the first two books and it was so great to meet them again. Also there were a couple characters from Daniel Faust series mentioned. It was intriguing to watch the outcome of the romance for Harmony, I didn’t like the dull cop and I just hope that Mr. Schaefer has some really great love interest for both girls in the sequel(s).
The main villains were entertaining to follow and to my joy they both continue to live. I rarely have so nasty, wicked villains with twisted insane mind, so it was great to find one old and one new in the third book :)
Narrative. Mainly, I read this series like one book. Like in previous books, events unfold in strange twists, interesting action, some magic and some gripping revelations. The third book carries on with the special case we had sneak peaks from the first book . I must admit, I felt a little pang as I wanted to know more about the main villainous organization and thought that it’ll be given more light in this book. But it wasn’t and I add one off my earlier complaint – I wanted more of magical world.
One of really tasty gems I found there. Woot for Lithuanian werewolves!
“Mostly. But not everywhere. Did you know, in Lithuania, there’s folklore about good-hearted werewolves? They watch over villages. Protect people.”
“Do I look Lithuanian to you?”
We pulled into the motel parking lot, wheels rumbling over loose gravel. I stopped just outside our door.
“I’m only saying, it’s not about the power, it’s about the person who wields it. The King of Wolves didn’t create the woman you are today, and neither did your father. You did. And I believe in you.”
To sum up, “Glass Predator” is a great read, with it’s tasty share of action, great character development, a wonderful pair of kickass heroines and of course a mind-blowing ending! Can’t wait for the fourth book to be released :)
April 26, 2017
This was another great instalment in the Harmony Black series. It was packed with the exact same mix of action, humour, likeable characters, and engaging plot that I've come to expect from a Craig Schaefer book.
Harmony and her Vigilant Lock team were back with a new mission. This time they were sent to investigate a bank robbery in New York. Vigilant Lock were called in because the bank robbers looked a little less human than they should have!
The story was a good one. The bank robbers turned out to have links to Jessie's dark, and ever so interesting, past and the item they sought to steal had links back to Cold Spectrum. The best bit of all was the fact that Harmony and Jessie ended up poking their noses into the dealings of a whole bunch of the series long term villains. The most notable were Senator Roth and Nadine, but crazy Bobby Deal made some noise as well. We got another visit to the Bask Club. Which is always cool:)
I felt like this was a little darker than the first few Harmony books. Both Harmony and Jessie had quite a few stuff to deal with from a personal standpoint and we got to see a bit more of their ruthless side surface. Luckily the story always had humor to balance the darker happenings. My favourite was this gem as Harmony and Jessie burst into an Aryan bar in pursuit of a suspect:
We flashed our FBI credentials at the same time. Two of the thugs, the smarter-looking ones, took a step back.
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
She gestured at my suit and tie.
“Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”
Harmony and Jessie really are the best crime fighting partnership of the lot!
All in all I really enjoyed this one and cannot wait to see what Harmony and Co get up to in the next one.
Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Audio Note: Christina Traister did a great job with the audio. Initially I was a little disappointed with her voice for Jessie but now that I've had time to grow accustomed to it I find I quite like it.
Harmony and her Vigilant Lock team were back with a new mission. This time they were sent to investigate a bank robbery in New York. Vigilant Lock were called in because the bank robbers looked a little less human than they should have!
The story was a good one. The bank robbers turned out to have links to Jessie's dark, and ever so interesting, past and the item they sought to steal had links back to Cold Spectrum. The best bit of all was the fact that Harmony and Jessie ended up poking their noses into the dealings of a whole bunch of the series long term villains. The most notable were Senator Roth and Nadine, but crazy Bobby Deal made some noise as well. We got another visit to the Bask Club. Which is always cool:)
I felt like this was a little darker than the first few Harmony books. Both Harmony and Jessie had quite a few stuff to deal with from a personal standpoint and we got to see a bit more of their ruthless side surface. Luckily the story always had humor to balance the darker happenings. My favourite was this gem as Harmony and Jessie burst into an Aryan bar in pursuit of a suspect:
We flashed our FBI credentials at the same time. Two of the thugs, the smarter-looking ones, took a step back.
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
She gestured at my suit and tie.
“Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”
Harmony and Jessie really are the best crime fighting partnership of the lot!
All in all I really enjoyed this one and cannot wait to see what Harmony and Co get up to in the next one.
Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Audio Note: Christina Traister did a great job with the audio. Initially I was a little disappointed with her voice for Jessie but now that I've had time to grow accustomed to it I find I quite like it.
December 3, 2023
Life in the clandestine services means a new challenge every day. Sometimes it's an endless stakeout, waiting hours for a suspect to make a move. Sometimes it's combing through reams of accounting ledgers, looking for a single out-of-place digit that points toward the truth. And sometimes you find yourself in a burning building, ducking behind an overturned hospital gurney while the Phantom of the Opera throws bolts of fire at you.
Glass Predator might be my favourite in the series - due to a combination of gutwrenching circumstances (and I loved how the deeply traumatic was handled in this book - consequences are also still hanging around from the rest of the series instead of conveniently vanishing!), Harmony finally unleashes her backbone and stands up for not just herself but her friends and her team.
The friendship between Jessie and Harmony is as strong and real as ever - I love them - and it gets around that really annoying habit so many other characters have of not talking to each other in order to keep the plot point alive. Instead - these women talk when something is wrong, and though it doesn't fix everything (good, because it rarely does) it lets them know that someone has their back.
Love this series, love this book, and wouldn't hesitate to strongly recommend to any UF fans.
Glass Predator might be my favourite in the series - due to a combination of gutwrenching circumstances (and I loved how the deeply traumatic was handled in this book - consequences are also still hanging around from the rest of the series instead of conveniently vanishing!), Harmony finally unleashes her backbone and stands up for not just herself but her friends and her team.
The friendship between Jessie and Harmony is as strong and real as ever - I love them - and it gets around that really annoying habit so many other characters have of not talking to each other in order to keep the plot point alive. Instead - these women talk when something is wrong, and though it doesn't fix everything (good, because it rarely does) it lets them know that someone has their back.
Love this series, love this book, and wouldn't hesitate to strongly recommend to any UF fans.
April 3, 2018
Sale Alert 03Apr18: Amazon daily deal $1.99
3.5 A Little Bit Howly Stars
Once upon a time an OCD witch grew up and joined the FBI. She met a really nice wolf lady who sometimes goes a little bit howly, a head shrinking woman in a wheelchair and a tech nerd hacker who chose the wrong people to hack. They teamed up to get the bad guys and save the world one exorcism at a time, until they found out they might not always be the good guys because things aren’t always black and white.
Harmony is an interesting character in that she is uptight, straight laced and so repressed that I think she might just explode. Apparently I’m not the only one who feels this way.
I’m really waiting for the day that Harmony takes off the reigns and just let loose I really want to see that chick. So I spend most of this book just waiting for that to happen and wondering why the story is told from her PoV because Jesse the howly one is the chick whose head I want to be inside of.
The Best Parts of This:
Fontaine - I totally love that body borrowing demon and so I was really happy to see him again in this book as he comes to give the dynamic duo a heads up on the new player in town and what she has planned for the girls.
We get to meet Nyx’s momma and she is totally a piece of work. I do not want to be on her bad side. The girls have got their work out for them there for sure.
The Wo-mance between Jesse and Harmony. I’m honestly waiting for the moment that our repressed Harmony figures out that she is really more into girls, or at least Jesse. She seems to care about her way more than that guy they keep calling her boyfriend. I’m not saying that every woman who chooses to dress in the same black slacks, black jacket, white shirt and colored tie is secretly a lesbian BUT….if the oxford fits. I totally kidding, there really isn’t any chick on chick vibes going on at all, but I’d be okay with it if there was.
Jesse and the Wolf King’s backstory was something that I was happy to get a little more insight into. It makes Jesse just that much cooler and I love that she isn’t a shifter or anything like that but has a piece of a deity inside her. That is awesome even if it makes her a little scary sometimes.
The other thing that I won’t really say I like but that I respect is that in this series there is some real fear of characters dying. At anytime and sometimes out of nowhere someone bites the big one. Sometimes it is in very brutal ways. This is a little darker than some of the UF I read and I enjoy that it straddles that line.
What I didn’t like:
Honestly there wasn’t much but I struggle with the fact that it seems like the future plots seem like they are going to be more interesting than the book I’m currently reading.
I want to read that book. What do Caitlin and Royce want them to do? Will it be in this series or some of it happening in the Daniel Faust series??? I’m slightly irritated at myself that I cared more about that story than what was happening here.
The lack of love. It again isn’t a big deal but I can’t even picture Harmony getting it on with Cody and I want to. She just seems like she is all work all the time and that a physical/emotional relationship with anyone just isn’t ever going to happen. I mean it is a bad sign for the love interest when I think that she has more chemistry with her partner than with him. I’m not sure that Cody will make it in that category. So I’m going to throw out my own wish and hope that Harmony falls for Fontaine, because as demons go I love him. Plus I really want to learn more about what he does for Hell.
Overall:
I think I was still sorta on a high from reading Strange the Dreamer and falling in love with it that this was a huge shift and I didn’t like it quite as much as the others in this series. Harmony pulled off some huge things towards the end and I really enjoy a lot of things about her and Jesse working together. While some nice sized reveals were made in this some parts just felt a little like a filler book before getting into some deeper stuff.
I do like all the girl power in this and so I’m mostly on the side of loving this series.
3.5 A Little Bit Howly Stars
Once upon a time an OCD witch grew up and joined the FBI. She met a really nice wolf lady who sometimes goes a little bit howly, a head shrinking woman in a wheelchair and a tech nerd hacker who chose the wrong people to hack. They teamed up to get the bad guys and save the world one exorcism at a time, until they found out they might not always be the good guys because things aren’t always black and white.
Harmony is an interesting character in that she is uptight, straight laced and so repressed that I think she might just explode. Apparently I’m not the only one who feels this way.
“You do understand that I’m trying to get Harmony laid, right?”
“I am aware, yes.”
“As your fearless leader,” Jessie said, “the mental and physical well-being of my team is extremely important to me.”
“Duly noted,” April replied.
“Given that you are a psychologist of considerable renown, you’ll surely agree with my diagnosis: that given her emotional state and generally high-strung personality, if Harmony doesn’t get some high-quality boning as soon as possible, she may literally explode. Literally.”
I’m really waiting for the day that Harmony takes off the reigns and just let loose I really want to see that chick. So I spend most of this book just waiting for that to happen and wondering why the story is told from her PoV because Jesse the howly one is the chick whose head I want to be inside of.
The Best Parts of This:
Fontaine - I totally love that body borrowing demon and so I was really happy to see him again in this book as he comes to give the dynamic duo a heads up on the new player in town and what she has planned for the girls.
Fontaine chuckled. “When you’ve got all eternity ahead of you—and half of it behind you—nothing matters more than face. She could send her boys after you, or just kill you with her own hands, but a noblewoman with Nadine’s standing is expected to have . . . style. A certain panache.
We get to meet Nyx’s momma and she is totally a piece of work. I do not want to be on her bad side. The girls have got their work out for them there for sure.
The Wo-mance between Jesse and Harmony. I’m honestly waiting for the moment that our repressed Harmony figures out that she is really more into girls, or at least Jesse. She seems to care about her way more than that guy they keep calling her boyfriend. I’m not saying that every woman who chooses to dress in the same black slacks, black jacket, white shirt and colored tie is secretly a lesbian BUT….if the oxford fits. I totally kidding, there really isn’t any chick on chick vibes going on at all, but I’d be okay with it if there was.
Jesse and the Wolf King’s backstory was something that I was happy to get a little more insight into. It makes Jesse just that much cooler and I love that she isn’t a shifter or anything like that but has a piece of a deity inside her. That is awesome even if it makes her a little scary sometimes.
The other thing that I won’t really say I like but that I respect is that in this series there is some real fear of characters dying. At anytime and sometimes out of nowhere someone bites the big one. Sometimes it is in very brutal ways. This is a little darker than some of the UF I read and I enjoy that it straddles that line.
What I didn’t like:
Honestly there wasn’t much but I struggle with the fact that it seems like the future plots seem like they are going to be more interesting than the book I’m currently reading.
Don’t get too relaxed, by the way. That’s only two courts out of seven—in the United States alone—and your amnesty will only last so long as you’re useful. As soon as that’s over and done, they’ll probably send assassins after you.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “You’re useful. Just don’t know what you’re useful for. Caitlin and Royce are formidable on their own; on the rare occasion when they team up, well . . . something big is in the wings. They need something done, and they’re under the impression that you and the ferocious Ms. Temple are in the perfect position to accomplish it for them.
I want to read that book. What do Caitlin and Royce want them to do? Will it be in this series or some of it happening in the Daniel Faust series??? I’m slightly irritated at myself that I cared more about that story than what was happening here.
The lack of love. It again isn’t a big deal but I can’t even picture Harmony getting it on with Cody and I want to. She just seems like she is all work all the time and that a physical/emotional relationship with anyone just isn’t ever going to happen. I mean it is a bad sign for the love interest when I think that she has more chemistry with her partner than with him. I’m not sure that Cody will make it in that category. So I’m going to throw out my own wish and hope that Harmony falls for Fontaine, because as demons go I love him. Plus I really want to learn more about what he does for Hell.
Overall:
I think I was still sorta on a high from reading Strange the Dreamer and falling in love with it that this was a huge shift and I didn’t like it quite as much as the others in this series. Harmony pulled off some huge things towards the end and I really enjoy a lot of things about her and Jesse working together. While some nice sized reveals were made in this some parts just felt a little like a filler book before getting into some deeper stuff.
I do like all the girl power in this and so I’m mostly on the side of loving this series.
April 7, 2017
Book 1 was different to my usual Urban Fantasy fare, so it was interesting immediately. Book 2 was still good. But I bemoaned the lack of character development. And despite having an entertaining plot, it felt one-dimensional.
Book 3, well... no character development whatsoever. Same old, same old. Jesse and Harmony do their thing, Abby and Kevin get barely mentioned. Only the third installment and it's boring already. The plot is ok, I guess, but it never grabbed me. Very much cardboard characters with a straight forward plot. Predictable, no mystery.
Harmony's magical abilities are also not interesting. She is very much a one-trick pony. It was like that in the previous books, but I had hoped she would develop more intriguing skills eventually. Nope. It's like a token magical trick thrown in about twice a book, to elevate it from the usual crime and thriller fare.
And the demons are not scary or creepy either. Nadine is downright silly. Nix from the previous books had potential, but all the other supes are not much to write home about.
I spent enough time not getting anywhere fast with this. Thanks, but no thanks. My buddies keep telling me it gets more exciting after the halfway mark. Don't care, sorry. DNF at 54%.
Book 3, well... no character development whatsoever. Same old, same old. Jesse and Harmony do their thing, Abby and Kevin get barely mentioned. Only the third installment and it's boring already. The plot is ok, I guess, but it never grabbed me. Very much cardboard characters with a straight forward plot. Predictable, no mystery.
Harmony's magical abilities are also not interesting. She is very much a one-trick pony. It was like that in the previous books, but I had hoped she would develop more intriguing skills eventually. Nope. It's like a token magical trick thrown in about twice a book, to elevate it from the usual crime and thriller fare.
And the demons are not scary or creepy either. Nadine is downright silly. Nix from the previous books had potential, but all the other supes are not much to write home about.
I spent enough time not getting anywhere fast with this. Thanks, but no thanks. My buddies keep telling me it gets more exciting after the halfway mark. Don't care, sorry. DNF at 54%.
March 24, 2018
Glass Predator WAS SO FREAKING GOOD! I'm in love with these audio books because they keep me so freaking interested and definitely on the edge of my seats.
I love Jesse more and more in each book. Even though she isn't the main character she is still probably my favorite person out of the whole book.. maybe the series. So in this book you basically find out that Jesse has the worst parents in the world. EVER. They love to kill... they even have creepy picture taken with them killing people. Now if that doesn't scream parents of the year.. well.. uh.. yeah, I got nothing for that.
Then there's Harmony, the MC, who is dealing with the bullshit from Cody and then trying to be a supportive partner towards Jesse. Besides all of that, well there's an annoying villain walking around. Nadine (I think that's how you spell it?) was just not a good villain but it could just be me. Now Jesse's parents.. GOOD VILLAINS. Because they are crazy and creepy AF.
Overall, I loved the book. I have a sneaky suspicion that Jesse's dad might appear in the next book but that's only really based off of the epilogue. I WANT NO SPOILERS FOR THAT BOOK THOUGH! I can't wait to listen to the audio at work!! I'm so freaking pumped! Bring on the magical mysteries people!
I love Jesse more and more in each book. Even though she isn't the main character she is still probably my favorite person out of the whole book.. maybe the series. So in this book you basically find out that Jesse has the worst parents in the world. EVER. They love to kill... they even have creepy picture taken with them killing people. Now if that doesn't scream parents of the year.. well.. uh.. yeah, I got nothing for that.
Then there's Harmony, the MC, who is dealing with the bullshit from Cody and then trying to be a supportive partner towards Jesse. Besides all of that, well there's an annoying villain walking around. Nadine (I think that's how you spell it?) was just not a good villain but it could just be me. Now Jesse's parents.. GOOD VILLAINS. Because they are crazy and creepy AF.
Overall, I loved the book. I have a sneaky suspicion that Jesse's dad might appear in the next book but that's only really based off of the epilogue. I WANT NO SPOILERS FOR THAT BOOK THOUGH! I can't wait to listen to the audio at work!! I'm so freaking pumped! Bring on the magical mysteries people!
April 16, 2020
Full review over at Fanatasy Book Critic
Overall rating = 3.5 stars
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Glass Predator was one of my most anticipated books for 2017 because of two reasons primarily it was written by Craig Schaefer, who has become one of my favorite authors after I read through almost all of his titles in the past year or so. Secondarily this book would give us a peek into Jessie’s past who has been a spectacular character (so far) and I was hoping that it would expand the worldview and world-building in all areas. The previous two books have been different from each other with regards to their genre scope and yet have propelled the main series story forward in an exciting way.
The previous two books also highlighted the past of Harmony & Kevin and with this one, Jessie Temple gets her turn. I was very excited by this prospect as you rarely get to read about characters who were trained by their father figures to be a serial killer vis-à-vis becoming a literal monster. Jessie’s past has been beyond tragic however she’s a terrific character in herself as to how she was able to rehabilitate herself and her mental orientation. Also this book further dwells into the whole Operation Cold Spectrum business that has been the main series arc since book one. All in all, this was one book from which I had sky-high expectations and I was a tad worried that how the author might be able to overcome them.
The prologue brings us a fascinating encounter between the patron of the Bast club in Chicago and one of the demons who call Chicago their home. In a way, both these characters serve as bridge for the Circus team’s activities in both books. We get an inkling of what’s on the agenda for Harmony and her team. Presently then the story shifts its narrative to Nashville, Tennessee wherein Harmony, and Jessie are trying to capture & nullify Hostile Entity #138 (readers of the previous books can easily guess who this is). Events unfold in a weird pattern as they usually do and soon the team is pulled off to head to New York because of a strange bank robbery. The reason why it’s so strange is because of the nature of the robbery and the robbers themselves. Showing characteristics similar to Jessie with her lupine edge, this immediately brings into question the nature of the ritual that created Jessie’s current nature and what really happened with her father.
Soon thereafter the team is forced to race everywhere as certain events unfold and Harmony & Jessie both find their powers to be checked due to reasons specifically mentioned in the book. The main plot of the book deals with Jessie and her past but the author also inserts a lot of threads from the past books as well those from the main series arc. This book has a lot of payoff for the readers as things have been building up since the first volume and not only in this series but the world (readers of the Daniel Faust series will vocally vouch for this). The world has been in a state of flux due to certain past events that have been mentioned in this series as well those that have recently occurred in Faust’s region. There’s something building up and the author very crucially mentions events in this book as well as The Castle Doctrine (Daniel Faust #6) that seem to hearken the same. Another cool factor was that the events of both books occur concurrently (or at least within the same timeframe give or take a few weeks). There are things that occurred within that book whose importance we only find out in this one, also certain events that are mentioned within The Castle Doctrine, the reader will get to see them played out first hand over here.
This book also brings back characters from the first two books, some of them fan favorite ones, others not so much. I loved how one such character is given a spotlight and I can’t wait to read more about him in Craig’s short story that will be featured in URBAN ENEMIES anthology that will be out later this year. Also the author brings to a crucial end to a budding romance that Harmony had enjoyed so far and while I wasn’t a fan, it didn’t detract much from the story. However with this certain change, I believe it stands truer to Harmony’s character and the difficult path that lies ahead. Lastly this is a minor spoiler but there’s a character introduced called Marie Reinhardt, as a fan of Craig’s previous work The Revanche Cycle, I was beyond thrilled to see Marie’s introduction and fans will certainly find out more about her in future works by Craig.
This series so far has been a fun one in spite of certain dark moments that we readers have seen so far. One crucial aspect of this has been the friendship between Harmony and Jessie and the hilarious banter that Jessie fosters on Harmony. Their bond is one of the main thing that the author explores and in this book, it gets severely tested (but not for the usual reasons seen between two females in the urban fantasy sub-genre). Kudos to Craig Schaefer for bucking the trend and giving us characters who seem real and don’t’ get subjected to genre tropes. Another aspect of this book which I must highlight is the action, in the previous two books it was less in person and more generalized. This book brings it all down to the person (particularly apt with the on-goings of the story).
Now on the drawbacks of this book, there are only two that I could think of. One of the most crucial aspects that the main plot hinges upon is what happened to Jessie in the past vis-à-vis her father’s proclivities. I would have loved to see some flashbacks that dwelled upon this or even those that focused upon her rehabilitation and rescue via another member of the Circus team. I believe the readers would have gotten a fuller picture and because no such extensive flashbacks exist, some readers like myself might feel a tad disappointed. I think the author mentioned in one of his correspondences that the main reason for doing so was because of the plot pacing. I understand that but was disappointed nonetheless.
Another minor drawback for me was that we still don’t know much about Operation Cold Spectrum, this has been strung along since the past three books and I was expecting that we get to know more. Not the case and it seems that Craig Schaefer will be revealing everything in the fourth volume aptly titled Cold Spectrum. One key tidbit is delivered in this book and it relates to Douglass Bradford so please be on the lookout for the line whenever Douglass Bradford is remembered.
CONCLUSION: Glass Predator is a book that managed to upend my expectations and made me even more excited for the sequel. It's one of the few books that while seemingly a thriller, also is a story about friendship and the bonds that bind a team. Glass Predator is definitely one story that most readers shouldn't miss and especially one of the most exciting stories I've read early this year.
Overall rating = 3.5 stars
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Glass Predator was one of my most anticipated books for 2017 because of two reasons primarily it was written by Craig Schaefer, who has become one of my favorite authors after I read through almost all of his titles in the past year or so. Secondarily this book would give us a peek into Jessie’s past who has been a spectacular character (so far) and I was hoping that it would expand the worldview and world-building in all areas. The previous two books have been different from each other with regards to their genre scope and yet have propelled the main series story forward in an exciting way.
The previous two books also highlighted the past of Harmony & Kevin and with this one, Jessie Temple gets her turn. I was very excited by this prospect as you rarely get to read about characters who were trained by their father figures to be a serial killer vis-à-vis becoming a literal monster. Jessie’s past has been beyond tragic however she’s a terrific character in herself as to how she was able to rehabilitate herself and her mental orientation. Also this book further dwells into the whole Operation Cold Spectrum business that has been the main series arc since book one. All in all, this was one book from which I had sky-high expectations and I was a tad worried that how the author might be able to overcome them.
The prologue brings us a fascinating encounter between the patron of the Bast club in Chicago and one of the demons who call Chicago their home. In a way, both these characters serve as bridge for the Circus team’s activities in both books. We get an inkling of what’s on the agenda for Harmony and her team. Presently then the story shifts its narrative to Nashville, Tennessee wherein Harmony, and Jessie are trying to capture & nullify Hostile Entity #138 (readers of the previous books can easily guess who this is). Events unfold in a weird pattern as they usually do and soon the team is pulled off to head to New York because of a strange bank robbery. The reason why it’s so strange is because of the nature of the robbery and the robbers themselves. Showing characteristics similar to Jessie with her lupine edge, this immediately brings into question the nature of the ritual that created Jessie’s current nature and what really happened with her father.
Soon thereafter the team is forced to race everywhere as certain events unfold and Harmony & Jessie both find their powers to be checked due to reasons specifically mentioned in the book. The main plot of the book deals with Jessie and her past but the author also inserts a lot of threads from the past books as well those from the main series arc. This book has a lot of payoff for the readers as things have been building up since the first volume and not only in this series but the world (readers of the Daniel Faust series will vocally vouch for this). The world has been in a state of flux due to certain past events that have been mentioned in this series as well those that have recently occurred in Faust’s region. There’s something building up and the author very crucially mentions events in this book as well as The Castle Doctrine (Daniel Faust #6) that seem to hearken the same. Another cool factor was that the events of both books occur concurrently (or at least within the same timeframe give or take a few weeks). There are things that occurred within that book whose importance we only find out in this one, also certain events that are mentioned within The Castle Doctrine, the reader will get to see them played out first hand over here.
This book also brings back characters from the first two books, some of them fan favorite ones, others not so much. I loved how one such character is given a spotlight and I can’t wait to read more about him in Craig’s short story that will be featured in URBAN ENEMIES anthology that will be out later this year. Also the author brings to a crucial end to a budding romance that Harmony had enjoyed so far and while I wasn’t a fan, it didn’t detract much from the story. However with this certain change, I believe it stands truer to Harmony’s character and the difficult path that lies ahead. Lastly this is a minor spoiler but there’s a character introduced called Marie Reinhardt, as a fan of Craig’s previous work The Revanche Cycle, I was beyond thrilled to see Marie’s introduction and fans will certainly find out more about her in future works by Craig.
This series so far has been a fun one in spite of certain dark moments that we readers have seen so far. One crucial aspect of this has been the friendship between Harmony and Jessie and the hilarious banter that Jessie fosters on Harmony. Their bond is one of the main thing that the author explores and in this book, it gets severely tested (but not for the usual reasons seen between two females in the urban fantasy sub-genre). Kudos to Craig Schaefer for bucking the trend and giving us characters who seem real and don’t’ get subjected to genre tropes. Another aspect of this book which I must highlight is the action, in the previous two books it was less in person and more generalized. This book brings it all down to the person (particularly apt with the on-goings of the story).
Now on the drawbacks of this book, there are only two that I could think of. One of the most crucial aspects that the main plot hinges upon is what happened to Jessie in the past vis-à-vis her father’s proclivities. I would have loved to see some flashbacks that dwelled upon this or even those that focused upon her rehabilitation and rescue via another member of the Circus team. I believe the readers would have gotten a fuller picture and because no such extensive flashbacks exist, some readers like myself might feel a tad disappointed. I think the author mentioned in one of his correspondences that the main reason for doing so was because of the plot pacing. I understand that but was disappointed nonetheless.
Another minor drawback for me was that we still don’t know much about Operation Cold Spectrum, this has been strung along since the past three books and I was expecting that we get to know more. Not the case and it seems that Craig Schaefer will be revealing everything in the fourth volume aptly titled Cold Spectrum. One key tidbit is delivered in this book and it relates to Douglass Bradford so please be on the lookout for the line whenever Douglass Bradford is remembered.
CONCLUSION: Glass Predator is a book that managed to upend my expectations and made me even more excited for the sequel. It's one of the few books that while seemingly a thriller, also is a story about friendship and the bonds that bind a team. Glass Predator is definitely one story that most readers shouldn't miss and especially one of the most exciting stories I've read early this year.
March 23, 2019
Glass Predator by Craig Schaefer and narrated by Christina Traister is book 3 in the series. Full of action, adventure, emotions, suspense, and a touch of terror and humor! Fast paced and full of excitement, this series is sure to please! The narration is excellent too!
August 24, 2017
“Glass Predator” is the third in the Harmony Black series. The first book established Harmony joining the Vigilant Lock secret government team that fights occult threats to the nation. The second book introduced subplots about other secret government teams and assorted baddies. The third book makes me wish I’d rated books one and two lower, so I could rate “Glass Predator” dramatically higher!
Wow, what a ride!! The conspiracies, secret pasts and uncertain loyalties ramp up dramatically! Nyx’s demon mother Nadine is a great character and worthwhile match for Harmony and team. Nadine’s interaction with Harmony was both surprising and interesting…no further comment possible without a spoiler.
For a fundraiser, lesbian Jesse is forced to wear a dress, while Harmony opts for a tuxedo….and in the dressing room Harmony observes that all the dresses look good on Jesse. Hmmmm….still hoping, still hoping!
More of Jesse’s dark past is revealed…and WOW does it fit within the storyline. Demon Fontaine makes a reappearance, as does small town cop Cody.
The book ends not exactly with a cliffhanger, but certainly teases for book four, “Cold Spectrum”, due out October 31st. Aaargh I don’t want to wait! This is the first series that I’ve listened to three books in a row without getting burned out and needing to take a break. I cannot wait for book four! Well, at least the audiobook is being released simultaneously with the Kindle version. I wonder if Halloween parties can be scheduled for November 1st this year to give me a full day with “Cold Spectrum”?
5* for “Glass Predator”! It’s free on Kindle Unlimited as both the book, AND the audiobook! But be sure to read the series in order - the books stories are sequential.
Wow, what a ride!! The conspiracies, secret pasts and uncertain loyalties ramp up dramatically! Nyx’s demon mother Nadine is a great character and worthwhile match for Harmony and team. Nadine’s interaction with Harmony was both surprising and interesting…no further comment possible without a spoiler.
For a fundraiser, lesbian Jesse is forced to wear a dress, while Harmony opts for a tuxedo….and in the dressing room Harmony observes that all the dresses look good on Jesse. Hmmmm….still hoping, still hoping!
More of Jesse’s dark past is revealed…and WOW does it fit within the storyline. Demon Fontaine makes a reappearance, as does small town cop Cody.
The book ends not exactly with a cliffhanger, but certainly teases for book four, “Cold Spectrum”, due out October 31st. Aaargh I don’t want to wait! This is the first series that I’ve listened to three books in a row without getting burned out and needing to take a break. I cannot wait for book four! Well, at least the audiobook is being released simultaneously with the Kindle version. I wonder if Halloween parties can be scheduled for November 1st this year to give me a full day with “Cold Spectrum”?
5* for “Glass Predator”! It’s free on Kindle Unlimited as both the book, AND the audiobook! But be sure to read the series in order - the books stories are sequential.
October 19, 2018
3.5/5 stars
Same problem from my last review except worse...
Same problem from my last review except worse...
August 20, 2017
Definitely one of my favorite series in a while. I'm bummed that book 4 doesn't come out until October :(
This is a great crime series with supernatural heroines. Harmony and Jessie are a fun kick -ass duo.
One of my favorite quotes:
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.” She gestured at my suit and tie. “Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”
Definitely recommend. (and its kindle unlimited free audio! )
This is a great crime series with supernatural heroines. Harmony and Jessie are a fun kick -ass duo.
One of my favorite quotes:
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.” She gestured at my suit and tie. “Yeah, she dresses like that, but I’m the gay one. I know, it’s confusing.”
Definitely recommend. (and its kindle unlimited free audio! )
November 22, 2018
Note:
Quit @ 35%
I was hoping that I could overlook the aspects of the story that are awkward and finish off the books in the series but I can't. While the ideas for Schaefer's books are cool, I do not enjoy his writing, characters or plot progression. The setting is nebulous because there's barely a description for them other than a name and generic mock up. This is another author that I really wanted to like but do not enjoy reading.
Quit @ 35%
I was hoping that I could overlook the aspects of the story that are awkward and finish off the books in the series but I can't. While the ideas for Schaefer's books are cool, I do not enjoy his writing, characters or plot progression. The setting is nebulous because there's barely a description for them other than a name and generic mock up. This is another author that I really wanted to like but do not enjoy reading.
January 5, 2021
Not nearly as good as the first two books. I think the main problem was a complete lack of character development. I get that this is the third in an established series (and a spin-off of another very successful series), but it felt extremely flat.
July 7, 2020
I’ve loved getting to know the characters throughout the three books and can only say I’m loving it more and more as I continue reading! It’s been great seeing the blossoming relationships and the friendship between Harmony and Jessie and I can’t wait to read more. It was action packed with a great story (which is the same for all of the authors books I’ve found so far) and I’ve no doubt that the next one will be just as exciting! Another great instalment to the Harmony Black series!
November 17, 2022
Something happened around the 80% mark and Harmony morphed into a badass. Can we keep her?
I'm really enjoying the crossover angle between this series and Faust - the mention of that flamethrower in Castle Doctrine had me like 👀 and the follow-through did not disappoint. Jessie's arc was exciting, and I appreciated Cody's angle too; giving everyone their own agency worked well. And Nadine, ugh ❤️ Dare I say I'm looking forward to Cold Spectrum?
I'm really enjoying the crossover angle between this series and Faust - the mention of that flamethrower in Castle Doctrine had me like 👀 and the follow-through did not disappoint. Jessie's arc was exciting, and I appreciated Cody's angle too; giving everyone their own agency worked well. And Nadine, ugh ❤️ Dare I say I'm looking forward to Cold Spectrum?
August 25, 2017
4.5*
Darker and less humorous than previous books but full of intense action and unexpected twists. I enjoyed Harmony’s and Jessie’s character development in this one and the suspense of engrossing and volatile mystery. Looking forward to the next one!
P.S. It was interesting to see characters we know from Daniel Faust series from a different perspective.
“Bitch, you got a hearing problem?” He stared Jessie down. “We don’t serve your kind. Now get out of here before you get hurt.”
We flashed our FBI credentials at the same time. Two of the thugs, the smarter-looking ones, took a step back.
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
“Black-tie affair, a thousand dollars a plate, and the rich and famous in attendance. We can’t go in there looking like FBI agents.” Jessie put her hand on my shoulder, her face grave, like a doctor about to deliver a terminal diagnosis. “Brace yourself, Harmony. We have to find . . . dresses.”
Sometimes on a mission, I’d find a strange moment of tranquillity. A place where I really felt like myself. Alive. At peace. It was always just before the moment of truth: the moment when the hammer thundered down, the first bullet flew, and the blood began to spill.
Darker and less humorous than previous books but full of intense action and unexpected twists. I enjoyed Harmony’s and Jessie’s character development in this one and the suspense of engrossing and volatile mystery. Looking forward to the next one!
P.S. It was interesting to see characters we know from Daniel Faust series from a different perspective.
“Bitch, you got a hearing problem?” He stared Jessie down. “We don’t serve your kind. Now get out of here before you get hurt.”
We flashed our FBI credentials at the same time. Two of the thugs, the smarter-looking ones, took a step back.
“Boys,” Jessie said, “you’re looking at your worst nightmare. I’m a black lesbian from the government, and I’m here to take away your guns.”
“Black-tie affair, a thousand dollars a plate, and the rich and famous in attendance. We can’t go in there looking like FBI agents.” Jessie put her hand on my shoulder, her face grave, like a doctor about to deliver a terminal diagnosis. “Brace yourself, Harmony. We have to find . . . dresses.”
Sometimes on a mission, I’d find a strange moment of tranquillity. A place where I really felt like myself. Alive. At peace. It was always just before the moment of truth: the moment when the hammer thundered down, the first bullet flew, and the blood began to spill.
April 26, 2017
Harmony and Jessie have become one of my favorite crime fighting duos, so I was excited to read Glass Predator. Their partnership has interesting dynamics, and it has been fun to watch their friendship evolve and grow.
Jessie plays a central role in this story, perhaps overshadowing Harmony at times. I don't say that as a criticism, since I truly like both characters. We delve into Jessie's dark and shadowy past, learning a bit more of her history. We watch as she grapples to control her inner beast, with help and support from Harmony.
As with all the Harmony Black books, the plot mixes real world crime with magical forces. I would put this in the 'magical realism' category, because the story always feels rooted in reality. Even though I know (or assume) that people don't have the ability to conjure fire or unleash beasts from their inner being, as I'm reading these books I always feel it's a perfectly legitimate possibility within the realm of our world.
My only complaint with this book is that the story doesn't stand on its own. Much of the plot is pulled from various threads within the first two books, so you might feel lost if you haven't read those. Then we are left hanging on how this will all resolve, forcing us to move on to book 4 for answers. Even though I have read this series from the start, I don't necessarily remember all the subtleties and intricacies of this complex, drawn-out plot. While I love the series, I'd prefer each story stood on its own merits.
Jessie plays a central role in this story, perhaps overshadowing Harmony at times. I don't say that as a criticism, since I truly like both characters. We delve into Jessie's dark and shadowy past, learning a bit more of her history. We watch as she grapples to control her inner beast, with help and support from Harmony.
As with all the Harmony Black books, the plot mixes real world crime with magical forces. I would put this in the 'magical realism' category, because the story always feels rooted in reality. Even though I know (or assume) that people don't have the ability to conjure fire or unleash beasts from their inner being, as I'm reading these books I always feel it's a perfectly legitimate possibility within the realm of our world.
My only complaint with this book is that the story doesn't stand on its own. Much of the plot is pulled from various threads within the first two books, so you might feel lost if you haven't read those. Then we are left hanging on how this will all resolve, forcing us to move on to book 4 for answers. Even though I have read this series from the start, I don't necessarily remember all the subtleties and intricacies of this complex, drawn-out plot. While I love the series, I'd prefer each story stood on its own merits.
May 8, 2018
4 Stars
Craig Schaefer does it again, delivering another exciting entry in the Harmony Black series with all the usual action and fun.
The action starts off as Harmony and Jessie and the rest of Vigilant Lock are sent to investigate a bank robbery with an unusual twist. All of the robbers have the same turquoise eyes as Jessie, meaning they have all been touched by the King of Wolves just like her. The robbery is just the beginning of the plot, as the story takes the team all over, racing from one crisis to the next, fighting to stop a deadly team intent on unleashing destruction.
As always, the author kept things moving at a fast, almost breakneck pace. The action is furious, as Vigilant Lock squares off against a deadly team infected by the King of Wolves, minions from hell, and at times their own government. In the middle of the chaos, Schaefer manages to make time to continue developing his characters, specifically Harmony and Jessie. Harmony is hit with an unexpected struggle that threatens to shake her confidence and her magic while Jessie has to confront her connection to the team of robbers and deal with her own battle against her inner beast.
This was a really fun book, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. The author did a great job wrapping up this story while leaving plenty of loose threads for the next book.
Craig Schaefer does it again, delivering another exciting entry in the Harmony Black series with all the usual action and fun.
The action starts off as Harmony and Jessie and the rest of Vigilant Lock are sent to investigate a bank robbery with an unusual twist. All of the robbers have the same turquoise eyes as Jessie, meaning they have all been touched by the King of Wolves just like her. The robbery is just the beginning of the plot, as the story takes the team all over, racing from one crisis to the next, fighting to stop a deadly team intent on unleashing destruction.
As always, the author kept things moving at a fast, almost breakneck pace. The action is furious, as Vigilant Lock squares off against a deadly team infected by the King of Wolves, minions from hell, and at times their own government. In the middle of the chaos, Schaefer manages to make time to continue developing his characters, specifically Harmony and Jessie. Harmony is hit with an unexpected struggle that threatens to shake her confidence and her magic while Jessie has to confront her connection to the team of robbers and deal with her own battle against her inner beast.
This was a really fun book, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. The author did a great job wrapping up this story while leaving plenty of loose threads for the next book.
June 15, 2025
4.5 stars
November 19, 2018
5 Stars
Glass Predator Harmony Black #3 by Craig Schaefer is the third book in a series that is tailor made for my likes. I cannot get enough urban fantasy detective stories these days and Harmony Black strikes all the right chords.
This book are has hot FBI lead agents. Paranormal story lines. A witch or two. A sleeping beast. Demons and things that go bump in the night. And more...
I loved the characters, the writing, the world, and the story..
Glass Predator Harmony Black #3 by Craig Schaefer is the third book in a series that is tailor made for my likes. I cannot get enough urban fantasy detective stories these days and Harmony Black strikes all the right chords.
This book are has hot FBI lead agents. Paranormal story lines. A witch or two. A sleeping beast. Demons and things that go bump in the night. And more...
I loved the characters, the writing, the world, and the story..
January 25, 2018
There’s nothing like a violent pulp read.
Jessie and Harmony are back in this breakneck adventure that doesn’t let you stop for breath.
Jessie and her troubled past play a central role in this story. We learn more about King of the Wolves and her psychotic parents. Her story and past are tied to the secret program called Glass Predator. The program should be closed years ago. But increasing body count suggests things are more complicated than that.
The plot mixes real-world crime and occult threats. Glass Predator ties strongly with Daniel Faust novels and some of the jokes (million dollar hat) and characters will be more recognizable by those who follow both series. Nadine appears and she wants to break Harmony and Jessie. Calypso appears and he’s a character I enjoy a lot.
All in all, an entertaining read. I guess that at this point things will get only more dangerous.
Jessie and Harmony are back in this breakneck adventure that doesn’t let you stop for breath.
Jessie and her troubled past play a central role in this story. We learn more about King of the Wolves and her psychotic parents. Her story and past are tied to the secret program called Glass Predator. The program should be closed years ago. But increasing body count suggests things are more complicated than that.
The plot mixes real-world crime and occult threats. Glass Predator ties strongly with Daniel Faust novels and some of the jokes (million dollar hat) and characters will be more recognizable by those who follow both series. Nadine appears and she wants to break Harmony and Jessie. Calypso appears and he’s a character I enjoy a lot.
All in all, an entertaining read. I guess that at this point things will get only more dangerous.
March 8, 2018
I'm really enjoying this series.
Harmony and Jesse are given a new assignment - a bank robbery in NYC. The robbers appear to have the same powers as Jesse, but something about the robbery just doesn't add up. When one of the safe deposit boxes reveals a familiar name, the team is put back on the trail of Cold Spectrum. They end up finding out about a different government program along the way, called Glass Predator. The handlers of Glass Predator are being targeted for assassination. As the names are revealed, Jesse and Harmony must decide if they want to interfere.
Prior characters make appearances. Both Jesse and Harmony have control issues with their powers. And we are all left wondering if justice will prevail.
Lots more character building in this book since both our main characters are laid vulnerable. They are getting closer to solving the mystery presented in book one (I like progress!). I'll be interested to see what happens in the next book!
Harmony and Jesse are given a new assignment - a bank robbery in NYC. The robbers appear to have the same powers as Jesse, but something about the robbery just doesn't add up. When one of the safe deposit boxes reveals a familiar name, the team is put back on the trail of Cold Spectrum. They end up finding out about a different government program along the way, called Glass Predator. The handlers of Glass Predator are being targeted for assassination. As the names are revealed, Jesse and Harmony must decide if they want to interfere.
Prior characters make appearances. Both Jesse and Harmony have control issues with their powers. And we are all left wondering if justice will prevail.
Lots more character building in this book since both our main characters are laid vulnerable. They are getting closer to solving the mystery presented in book one (I like progress!). I'll be interested to see what happens in the next book!
March 2, 2018
Previous book in the series, I'd said I planned to stop, but went ahead and picked this one up in a moment of forgetfulness. I scanned over the gory parts and it didn't go as deep into horror as had been hinted at (gory is still there). But, the line between setting up the next story and a cliff hanger ending is pretty thin here - leaning towards cliff hanger that I always take a point off for.
This book - the action moved well but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Nothing grabbed me and I wasn't invested. Finishing was more akin to a homework assignment than immersing myself in another universe.
This book - the action moved well but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Nothing grabbed me and I wasn't invested. Finishing was more akin to a homework assignment than immersing myself in another universe.
November 13, 2017
Excellent continuation of Harmony Black and her operation. Ties nicely into the Daniel Faust universe. A must read of Faust fans!
May 21, 2020
This was the best one yet; Harmony gets a bit grittier, something I've been waiting for!
March 2, 2018
This one had me on the edge of my seat especially after finding out the identities of the bank robbers and how the whole mission connects to Jessy's dark past. I mean that photo reveal at the end, I couldn't read fast enough! On to the next book!
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