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Preternatural Affairs #8
Bitter Thirst
Cèsar Hawke works for the Office of Preternatural Affairs, and until now, his detective work has been a secret to the nation. But a Senator has been publicly assassinated in Washington DC…by a demon. Now America knows that the preternatural are real. Everyone knows it's real.
The doomsday clock is ticking. A change is coming. And if Cèsar doesn't stop the Apple cult from sating their bitter thirst for power, then all Americans will end up fodder to feed hungry angels.
The doomsday clock is ticking. A change is coming. And if Cèsar doesn't stop the Apple cult from sating their bitter thirst for power, then all Americans will end up fodder to feed hungry angels.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2017
72 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Reine
114 books2,007 followersHi everyone! My name is Sara, and I write urban fantasy and paranormal novels as SM Reine. I collect swords, cat hair, and typewriters (which I do use for writing!). It's a good day when those three things have nothing to do with each other.
If you would like to know the instant my next book is available, you should enlist in my Army of Evil! We have a wicked cool secret handshake, but you'll have to sign up to learn it. ;) Check it out -- http://smarturl.it/armyofevil
If you would like to know the instant my next book is available, you should enlist in my Army of Evil! We have a wicked cool secret handshake, but you'll have to sign up to learn it. ;) Check it out -- http://smarturl.it/armyofevil
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 28, 2019
Polyamorous crap + relationship drama + cheating assholes + slightly bewildering personality transplants + emotional flatland + no depth = WTF?! What the bloody shrimping fish happened here? How could one of the very few entertaining UF series with a male lead turn into a pathetically ridiculous soap opera?!
Adios, Cèsar Hawke. It was fun while it lasted.
· Book 1: Witch Hunt ★★★★
· Book 2: Silver Bullet ★★★
· Book 3: Hotter than Helltown ★★★★
· Book 4: Shadow Burns ★★★★★
· Book 5: Deadly Wrong ★★★★
· Book 6: Ashes and Arsenic ★★★★
· Book 7: Once Darkness Falls ★★★★★
[January 2017]
Cèsar is baaaaaccccckkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!
Adios, Cèsar Hawke. It was fun while it lasted.
· Book 1: Witch Hunt ★★★★
· Book 2: Silver Bullet ★★★
· Book 3: Hotter than Helltown ★★★★
· Book 4: Shadow Burns ★★★★★
· Book 5: Deadly Wrong ★★★★
· Book 6: Ashes and Arsenic ★★★★
· Book 7: Once Darkness Falls ★★★★★
[January 2017]
Cèsar is baaaaaccccckkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!
May 18, 2017
Convoluted and messy and a lot of out of character behavior. 2.5 stars.
April 22, 2017
Well... I never saw that one coming. Another 'how in the heck am I gonna review this' masterpiece. *sigh*
Things got crazy... people who have been absent suddenly showed up... the good guys and the bad guys switched places regularly... something that I've been waiting to happen since this series began finally did and then... You get the picture, right? Just another crazy tour through the multi-level/series world created by S.M. Reine.
I've always known how interwoven this world is, but for some reason it hit me hard in Bitter Thirst. The timeline between all these series goes back and forth so much, I'm amazed that Reine can keep it straight. As it is, I know I'll have to do a re-read to get the full scope of what's happening when, and to who not to mention by who... I know, it sounds confusing, but it's really not. There are just a lot of 'oh yeah' and déjà vu moments thrown into the mix. Those are the moments that you feel the need to back track to the point that other characters experienced the same moments in time.
The thing is, I have my favorite characters in this world and somehow their perspective is always going to win out. Cèsar just happens to be one of those characters. What I didn't expect was where he ended up and the alliances he chose by the end of Bitter Thirst. I gotta trust him though because he's Cèsar, right? I should have learned by now that when it comes to this author, it's best to expect the unexpected... ;)
I received Bitter Thirst in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Things got crazy... people who have been absent suddenly showed up... the good guys and the bad guys switched places regularly... something that I've been waiting to happen since this series began finally did and then... You get the picture, right? Just another crazy tour through the multi-level/series world created by S.M. Reine.
I've always known how interwoven this world is, but for some reason it hit me hard in Bitter Thirst. The timeline between all these series goes back and forth so much, I'm amazed that Reine can keep it straight. As it is, I know I'll have to do a re-read to get the full scope of what's happening when, and to who not to mention by who... I know, it sounds confusing, but it's really not. There are just a lot of 'oh yeah' and déjà vu moments thrown into the mix. Those are the moments that you feel the need to back track to the point that other characters experienced the same moments in time.
The thing is, I have my favorite characters in this world and somehow their perspective is always going to win out. Cèsar just happens to be one of those characters. What I didn't expect was where he ended up and the alliances he chose by the end of Bitter Thirst. I gotta trust him though because he's Cèsar, right? I should have learned by now that when it comes to this author, it's best to expect the unexpected... ;)
I received Bitter Thirst in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 13, 2017
AHAHAHA! Oh, dear gawd! Cèsar certainly knows how to get himself dead center of the absolute WEIRDEST things that could possibly pop up, doesn't he? Like accidentally pissing off the two women in his life in vastly different and yet incredibly similar ways. Oh, and that whole demon-raising, preternatural craziness going on. You know, little stuff.
Right. So this book gave us the return of Suzy. And she's just as abrasively charming as ever. Cèsar's family puts in an appearance and there's the requisite backstabbing and political maneuvering one comes to expect from the Union and OPA. And possibly some you won't expect.
(For those that haven't read the other interconnected series set in this universe, you might want to look away.)
(Did you look away? Because I'm going to talk about things. Sort of.)
(Okay. I'm going in.)
I've been curious as to what happened to Cèsar down the line. In Marion's series, we get glimpses of Fritz, but Cèsar has been curiously absent. I AM SO INTRIGUED TO SEE WHERE HE ENDS UP. Because things are in motion and this world likes to throw me for a loop whenever possible. Something I look forward to, mind you.
All in all, Cèsar is a fairly moral guy. Or, he was. He did what had to be done, but he usually took the more morally correct path to get there. It feels like that internal compass is shifting a bit. He's looking at things differently (good job on that, Suzy) and he's not immune to the betrayals stacking up against him.
Times, they are a'changin' and Cèsar looks to be changing with them.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Right. So this book gave us the return of Suzy. And she's just as abrasively charming as ever. Cèsar's family puts in an appearance and there's the requisite backstabbing and political maneuvering one comes to expect from the Union and OPA. And possibly some you won't expect.
(For those that haven't read the other interconnected series set in this universe, you might want to look away.)
(Did you look away? Because I'm going to talk about things. Sort of.)
(Okay. I'm going in.)
I've been curious as to what happened to Cèsar down the line. In Marion's series, we get glimpses of Fritz, but Cèsar has been curiously absent. I AM SO INTRIGUED TO SEE WHERE HE ENDS UP. Because things are in motion and this world likes to throw me for a loop whenever possible. Something I look forward to, mind you.
All in all, Cèsar is a fairly moral guy. Or, he was. He did what had to be done, but he usually took the more morally correct path to get there. It feels like that internal compass is shifting a bit. He's looking at things differently (good job on that, Suzy) and he's not immune to the betrayals stacking up against him.
Times, they are a'changin' and Cèsar looks to be changing with them.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
September 24, 2025
Deel acht van de levensgebeurtenissen van Cèsar Hawke, en jammer genoeg meer van hetzelfde seksisme. Al is er nu nog meer een donkere ondertoon in aan het sluipen.
Na de desastreuze gebeurtenissen in Reno wordt de PRAY opgesteld, een wet die in de USA de rechten van Preternaturals sterk aan banden legt: een verplichte registratie, maar ook een verbod op voortplanting enz. enz. Het hoofd van de OPA heeft dit opgesteld, maar ook witches gaan er het slachtoffer van worden. Hawke moet de PRAY zien tegen te houden, al twijfelt hij daar zelf over, want veel misdaden en moorden komen wel degelijk op het conto van de Preternaturals. De OPA is niet langer een geheime organisatie, wat ook voor hem één en ander verandert. Er komt heel veel protest tegen de PRAY, en wanneer Hawkes familie in het kamp van het protest zit, wordt het moeilijk voor hem. En dan zijn er nog de geheimen binnen de geheimen. Wie chanteert enkele protesteerders zodat ze de boel verstoren? Vanwaar komen de wapens? Wie creëert de enorme magische cirkels? Hoe zit het met The Apple, de cultus die de kop opsteekt? Wie is de grote manipulator?
Hawke wordt er niet gelukkig van, en nog minder wanneer ook een resem persoonlijke problemen hem het leven moeilijk maken.
Hmm. Ik weet niet goed wat ik ervan moet denken. De plot zit knap in elkaar, maar de personages blijven nogal vlak en het seksisme blijft me dwars zitten. Het begint ook Amerikaanser en Amerikaanser te worden, en ook dat stemt me niet gelukkig. Maar het blijft wel hersenloos amusement, dat wel.
April 22, 2018
Can't really recommend this book, although there are some interesting parts to it.
Most of all it's the characters that killed the story for me, those and a completly pointless family drama, poly amorous soap opera sidestory that did nothing at all for the plot and took up way too much space for it.
Cèsar is this time outdoing himself in terms of chauvinistic sexist assholery, and yet has two women fight over him like he's some sort of worthy price. I guess the best part in there is Cèsar passing his usual, by not using so much words, slut remarks over how women dress, while at the same time ogling them and in practically the same breath claiming to be nice to women - I guess one does have to hand it to the author that with the character of Cèsar she got the obnoxious hypocrisy of certain males down to a t.
Suzy, who I always liked, has now become a completly unlikable sexmaniac who his little else to do than curse no-stop and get Cèsar layed.
Izzy got finally turned into an outright caricature of a Playboy cartoon character, playing sexy domestic housewife.
Add to that nauseous amounts of pointless, less than sexy, sex scenes, over which Cèsar behaves with all the maturity of a ripe ten year old, and a plot line that makes only remote sense if you happened to have read at the very least Cain Chronicles before.
Most of all it's the characters that killed the story for me, those and a completly pointless family drama, poly amorous soap opera sidestory that did nothing at all for the plot and took up way too much space for it.
Cèsar is this time outdoing himself in terms of chauvinistic sexist assholery, and yet has two women fight over him like he's some sort of worthy price. I guess the best part in there is Cèsar passing his usual, by not using so much words, slut remarks over how women dress, while at the same time ogling them and in practically the same breath claiming to be nice to women - I guess one does have to hand it to the author that with the character of Cèsar she got the obnoxious hypocrisy of certain males down to a t.
Suzy, who I always liked, has now become a completly unlikable sexmaniac who his little else to do than curse no-stop and get Cèsar layed.
Izzy got finally turned into an outright caricature of a Playboy cartoon character, playing sexy domestic housewife.
Add to that nauseous amounts of pointless, less than sexy, sex scenes, over which Cèsar behaves with all the maturity of a ripe ten year old, and a plot line that makes only remote sense if you happened to have read at the very least Cain Chronicles before.
October 24, 2017
I was sent this book by the publisher to read in preparation for the next book in this series which is being released very soon. Although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, I met Cesar Hawke in the Dana McIntyre Must Die series by the same author so I knew who he was, or at least I thought I did.
This book gave me a very different insight to Cesar. I liked him so much more in this series than I did in Dana's series. We find out a lot more about him and his relationships with other characters who were not in the Dana series. Here he works for the OPA still but is not the same rude, almost arrogant character. He is caring, a bit of an idiot at times and much more likeable. He knows that there are many secrets within this organisation and he wants to bring it down, but that's not an easy task when another secret group of people called The Apple get involved.
Although this series was new to me, the twist and turns were surprising and I guess the major one at the end was completely out of character for that particular person as well. Looking forward to reading the next book now to see what goes on between Cesar and his partner now!
This book gave me a very different insight to Cesar. I liked him so much more in this series than I did in Dana's series. We find out a lot more about him and his relationships with other characters who were not in the Dana series. Here he works for the OPA still but is not the same rude, almost arrogant character. He is caring, a bit of an idiot at times and much more likeable. He knows that there are many secrets within this organisation and he wants to bring it down, but that's not an easy task when another secret group of people called The Apple get involved.
Although this series was new to me, the twist and turns were surprising and I guess the major one at the end was completely out of character for that particular person as well. Looking forward to reading the next book now to see what goes on between Cesar and his partner now!
August 20, 2020
Just ridiculously twisty..
..to the point where you've no idea who is on which side of any of the lines.. no idea what anyone hopes to gain..
Four years have passed. Now there's a new law being forced through the courts. It's called PRAY for short and it relates to registering every single preternatural being, stopping them from procreating, banning coven magic, and it's full of loopholes that will allow the OPA to incarcerate without trial. If this passes the mundane population will have rights and the preternatural won't.
Lucrezia is president of the OPA, Zettel is UNION Secretary working in the Whitehouse, Fritz and Cèsar are still running the OPA and trying to find proof of their bosses malpractice. Fritz wants Zettel and Lucrezia gone, and the law with them, Zettel wants Lucrezia gone and the law passed, Lucrezia wants Zettel gone etc, etc.. but there's weird stuff hitting the fan as protesters clash and a rogue witch seems to be weaponising supporters to attack pretty much everyone involved in it including other protesters. But they're using OPA/Union weapons and how did they get them.. I almost gave up but I've already bought the rest of the series..
..to the point where you've no idea who is on which side of any of the lines.. no idea what anyone hopes to gain..
Four years have passed. Now there's a new law being forced through the courts. It's called PRAY for short and it relates to registering every single preternatural being, stopping them from procreating, banning coven magic, and it's full of loopholes that will allow the OPA to incarcerate without trial. If this passes the mundane population will have rights and the preternatural won't.
Lucrezia is president of the OPA, Zettel is UNION Secretary working in the Whitehouse, Fritz and Cèsar are still running the OPA and trying to find proof of their bosses malpractice. Fritz wants Zettel and Lucrezia gone, and the law with them, Zettel wants Lucrezia gone and the law passed, Lucrezia wants Zettel gone etc, etc.. but there's weird stuff hitting the fan as protesters clash and a rogue witch seems to be weaponising supporters to attack pretty much everyone involved in it including other protesters. But they're using OPA/Union weapons and how did they get them.. I almost gave up but I've already bought the rest of the series..
June 12, 2021
This book was great, was good to see a different perspective of the government regulations, compared to what's in the Cain Chronicles.
But I found a few things that were confusing me in the whole perspective of the 'decentverse'. First, yes they did acknowledge it occurred, but seriously, how did Zettel get back from Coccoytus / the flying meteor dimension (forming a planet) when he was chasing James in 'Defying Fate'.
Then everyone is saying that Scott Whyte is dead but I'm pretty sure he would be a zombie at this point and probably not advertising to everyone that he is dead... So okay.
Also I know the book 'Dark Moon' takes place over a few months but I feel that the PRAY legislations were passed, Tate went on his tour, found out Levi was a werewolf then accepted him as a probable relationship. But from what I can tell in this book 'Butter Thirst', the legislation is passing and Tate is GOING on his tour, but still says he has a werewolf boyfriend back home (who I would assume is Levi), which he hasn't found out about yet...
If anyone has any ideas on this time line stuff in the big universe, that would be great, my head is struggling to comprehend.
But I found a few things that were confusing me in the whole perspective of the 'decentverse'. First, yes they did acknowledge it occurred, but seriously, how did Zettel get back from Coccoytus / the flying meteor dimension (forming a planet) when he was chasing James in 'Defying Fate'.
Then everyone is saying that Scott Whyte is dead but I'm pretty sure he would be a zombie at this point and probably not advertising to everyone that he is dead... So okay.
Also I know the book 'Dark Moon' takes place over a few months but I feel that the PRAY legislations were passed, Tate went on his tour, found out Levi was a werewolf then accepted him as a probable relationship. But from what I can tell in this book 'Butter Thirst', the legislation is passing and Tate is GOING on his tour, but still says he has a werewolf boyfriend back home (who I would assume is Levi), which he hasn't found out about yet...
If anyone has any ideas on this time line stuff in the big universe, that would be great, my head is struggling to comprehend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2017
Have to read if you love urban fantasy.
Caesar Hawke is employed by the OPA, and it's no longer a secret government organization. To make Caesar's life even better, his mortal enemy, Gary Zettel is the Secretary of OPA. Yep, this is gonna be a hoot! At least his loops, Fritz Feiderling and Fritz's wife, Isobelle Stonecrow are still in his corner.
When a new law is written to limit paranormal citizens rights, Caesar must choose if he will support the law or not. His ex-partner Suzy shows up, there's more to this but you need to read the book. Lucrezia de Angelas needs to be found and so Secretary Zettel sends Caesar hot on her trail. Caesar has to face work troubles, partner troubles, lady troubles, family troubles, personal troubles, magical troubles, and believe it or not, kopis and aspis troubles. Heck, he has so many troubles he even comes face to face with a werewolf named Trouble.
This is a great urban fantasy read. It's fast paced with interesting relatable characters. This book is also a good thriller, it always keeps you guessing.
Caesar Hawke is employed by the OPA, and it's no longer a secret government organization. To make Caesar's life even better, his mortal enemy, Gary Zettel is the Secretary of OPA. Yep, this is gonna be a hoot! At least his loops, Fritz Feiderling and Fritz's wife, Isobelle Stonecrow are still in his corner.
When a new law is written to limit paranormal citizens rights, Caesar must choose if he will support the law or not. His ex-partner Suzy shows up, there's more to this but you need to read the book. Lucrezia de Angelas needs to be found and so Secretary Zettel sends Caesar hot on her trail. Caesar has to face work troubles, partner troubles, lady troubles, family troubles, personal troubles, magical troubles, and believe it or not, kopis and aspis troubles. Heck, he has so many troubles he even comes face to face with a werewolf named Trouble.
This is a great urban fantasy read. It's fast paced with interesting relatable characters. This book is also a good thriller, it always keeps you guessing.
September 21, 2023
Well it took until book 8 at least
Authors of series that reach beyond....5 is about right..have to get all those spinning plates do more than spin. Add Sidhe and all that follows, check. But the complexity of the back and forth of allegiances, etc....quantum jump here. I'd need a flow chart to make sense of things. It's all still an interesting universe, with more or less consistent rules. Frankly by the end I'd given up keeping track of people. I'll follow thru the next book, or start it. But if 10 books is all she wrote there needs to be some simplifying. Reine seems on the cusp of yanking the reader's chain...or mine at least. Footnote to that: Caesar and Fritz better end in bed together at least once. Blame it on a spell maybe. But the tension there, the back and forth happens, uhm, 4 times in this book. If it's not foreshadowing then it's of a same piece that is making me feel a wee manipulated.
Authors of series that reach beyond....5 is about right..have to get all those spinning plates do more than spin. Add Sidhe and all that follows, check. But the complexity of the back and forth of allegiances, etc....quantum jump here. I'd need a flow chart to make sense of things. It's all still an interesting universe, with more or less consistent rules. Frankly by the end I'd given up keeping track of people. I'll follow thru the next book, or start it. But if 10 books is all she wrote there needs to be some simplifying. Reine seems on the cusp of yanking the reader's chain...or mine at least. Footnote to that: Caesar and Fritz better end in bed together at least once. Blame it on a spell maybe. But the tension there, the back and forth happens, uhm, 4 times in this book. If it's not foreshadowing then it's of a same piece that is making me feel a wee manipulated.
June 1, 2017
Oh my gosh, have I missed Cesar! I was a bit worried that I wouldn't remember what had happened previously, but Sara does such a good job of catching us up that I felt like I was jumping straight back in.
For anyone who's read all of her other books, this is almost a jaunt back in time, pre-breaking, pre-Genesis and I really enjoyed seeing how things played out for other characters in the before.
The crossover between Ofelia and Cooper added a really cool dynamic, even grumpy old Pops played an interesting part.
The relationship tension between Cesar, Fitz and Izzy, then later, Suzy, was well done and I love that this is an author who isn't afraid to visit different relationship constructs such as polyamory. Sometimes you hate the characters, sometimes you love them, but I for one am always eager to see what comes next!
For anyone who's read all of her other books, this is almost a jaunt back in time, pre-breaking, pre-Genesis and I really enjoyed seeing how things played out for other characters in the before.
The crossover between Ofelia and Cooper added a really cool dynamic, even grumpy old Pops played an interesting part.
The relationship tension between Cesar, Fitz and Izzy, then later, Suzy, was well done and I love that this is an author who isn't afraid to visit different relationship constructs such as polyamory. Sometimes you hate the characters, sometimes you love them, but I for one am always eager to see what comes next!
December 13, 2020
(Read in Kobo epub.) Things just got weird & serious, though I started to back out on being able to follow the office politics. Lots of action, and a number of laugh-out-loud moments. Compulsively readable.
(Too bad I detest werewolf stuff, because I will not be reading the other series, which are part of this universe. And have any of the urban fantasy writers explained why usually there are no indigenous supernatural folks in the fantasy U. S.? It's vampires & werewolves & This Court & That Court, & Eurotrash fey folk, all transported to a landscape that was already populated with supernatural beings. But I digress.)
(Too bad I detest werewolf stuff, because I will not be reading the other series, which are part of this universe. And have any of the urban fantasy writers explained why usually there are no indigenous supernatural folks in the fantasy U. S.? It's vampires & werewolves & This Court & That Court, & Eurotrash fey folk, all transported to a landscape that was already populated with supernatural beings. But I digress.)
July 28, 2017
Waiting!
Love me some Cesar Hawke and that rascally Suzy! I need more Ophelia and Cooper! I need more Elise! SM Reine....get to writing these awesome books that I anxiously and impatiently wait for then devour! 💜😉🌟📚
Love me some Cesar Hawke and that rascally Suzy! I need more Ophelia and Cooper! I need more Elise! SM Reine....get to writing these awesome books that I anxiously and impatiently wait for then devour! 💜😉🌟📚
January 4, 2018
Fantastic
Still a little predictable at times. This book has renewed my faith in the series after the last book crushed my views. Ultimately i am left confused how to feel about everything. Loved this book.
Still a little predictable at times. This book has renewed my faith in the series after the last book crushed my views. Ultimately i am left confused how to feel about everything. Loved this book.
June 23, 2018
Not-So Bitter
I’m gonna need a minute to digest this one. A lot of stuff packed into those pages, and a lot of it I wasn’t fully expecting. Really sad I only have one Cèsar book to go.
I’m gonna need a minute to digest this one. A lot of stuff packed into those pages, and a lot of it I wasn’t fully expecting. Really sad I only have one Cèsar book to go.
July 20, 2018
What a ride!!!!!!
A really great piece of the story. Trust no one in this story!!! Great read. I love this series and am going to buy Road to Helltown now! You have to read this series-start at the beginning-you won’t regret it!
A really great piece of the story. Trust no one in this story!!! Great read. I love this series and am going to buy Road to Helltown now! You have to read this series-start at the beginning-you won’t regret it!
October 18, 2018
UGH!
Story wise, this one was really really good, but everything in it pissed me off, from people telling grown ass adults what they can and can't do (I HATE that shit) to betrayals and twists and turns. It was good, but it just pissed me off a lot. Still, I'll probably read more.
Story wise, this one was really really good, but everything in it pissed me off, from people telling grown ass adults what they can and can't do (I HATE that shit) to betrayals and twists and turns. It was good, but it just pissed me off a lot. Still, I'll probably read more.
August 11, 2017
Another fine series
Picked up the first 3 books for free on Kindle and then bought the rest, that says it all. Now just waiting for the last one.
Picked up the first 3 books for free on Kindle and then bought the rest, that says it all. Now just waiting for the last one.
September 15, 2017
This series was getting better with each book...loving Cesar Hawke.
November 11, 2020
3.5 stars
Read
February 4, 2022This was rocking fun
So juicy...you'll Definitely be finishing in one go if you have time. Man. The surprises are plentiful...and so are th 3 betrayals. DANG!!
So juicy...you'll Definitely be finishing in one go if you have time. Man. The surprises are plentiful...and so are th 3 betrayals. DANG!!
July 30, 2025
This one was muuuch better, more expansion on the Apple yippeee but generally bit bored icl
November 18, 2017
I picked up this book in the Nook store on my tablet because I had to know what "C`esar" was up to. My personal review of the book is as follows:
I had yet to see "C`esar" put his foot in his mouth so many times in a row as I had with this book. He does(in my personal opinion) figure some stuff out romance wise towards the middle half of the book, as I was reading it I was thinking "finally" however pretty much right after it started getting to a good moment it takes the storyline into another plot twist and more problems have to be dealt with.
The last half of the book half a lot of plot twists that I personally didn't really like however I did enjoy the character development between "C`esar" and his family I am also glad that he finally made some choices.
I am excited to see how everything ends in the next book(I've downloaded the last two books in the series already). Overall I personally rate this book a 6 and a half out 10 mostly because of how much I liked the the last few chapters.
I had yet to see "C`esar" put his foot in his mouth so many times in a row as I had with this book. He does(in my personal opinion) figure some stuff out romance wise towards the middle half of the book, as I was reading it I was thinking "finally" however pretty much right after it started getting to a good moment it takes the storyline into another plot twist and more problems have to be dealt with.
The last half of the book half a lot of plot twists that I personally didn't really like however I did enjoy the character development between "C`esar" and his family I am also glad that he finally made some choices.
I am excited to see how everything ends in the next book(I've downloaded the last two books in the series already). Overall I personally rate this book a 6 and a half out 10 mostly because of how much I liked the the last few chapters.
May 13, 2023
I really liked this book lots and lots.
It started off slow for me and I hadn’t finished the Descent or the first few books of the Ascend series when I had first got it so I put it on hold until I did. I’m glad I did because it was a really nifty way to see the events of what occurred in those books for sure.
I love that Suzy is back. I loved the appearance of the Hawk family (Ophelia and Cooper included for sure there.)I still think The relationshipish thing going on between Cesar, Fritz, and Izzy is just weird though I will say watching how he explains it to Pops made me do a big LOL.
The thing with the apple and all involved just made me do a big “huh??” in previous books it was a bad cult yadda yadda and now it is questionable. That is one thing that drives me batty, but I still love, about everything Reine writes nothing is as what it seems. In one book you hate this person in another you get to see why they acted that way or get clued into something else you didn’t know which ends up making you like the person instead. For instance look at Tate from back in the beginning of the series with Riley, then the later books, and now in this series. Anyone else notice the progression that his character makes? I think the same as Cesar thought at the end of the book that that man just needs a damn hug.
I love Cesar and his view point about most things though his morality is sort of questionable in this book. The betrayals that man has to go through…. Some I never saw coming to be honest and some I had an idea that they were going to it would just be a matter of time till they showed themselves.
A bunch of twists, turns, laughs, and oh noes! I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next. Especially with the morality vacuums Izzy and Fritz live in. I so want to see what the heck he is planning. I go through moods where I like him then I hate him. It happens a lot more than other characters she has written.
That probably didn’t make much sense, but I’m still in a state of “omg that was so awesome” after reading the book. I can’t recommend everything S. M. Reine writes enough. One of the best storytellers I’ve found ever.
It started off slow for me and I hadn’t finished the Descent or the first few books of the Ascend series when I had first got it so I put it on hold until I did. I’m glad I did because it was a really nifty way to see the events of what occurred in those books for sure.
I love that Suzy is back. I loved the appearance of the Hawk family (Ophelia and Cooper included for sure there.)I still think The relationshipish thing going on between Cesar, Fritz, and Izzy is just weird though I will say watching how he explains it to Pops made me do a big LOL.
The thing with the apple and all involved just made me do a big “huh??” in previous books it was a bad cult yadda yadda and now it is questionable. That is one thing that drives me batty, but I still love, about everything Reine writes nothing is as what it seems. In one book you hate this person in another you get to see why they acted that way or get clued into something else you didn’t know which ends up making you like the person instead. For instance look at Tate from back in the beginning of the series with Riley, then the later books, and now in this series. Anyone else notice the progression that his character makes? I think the same as Cesar thought at the end of the book that that man just needs a damn hug.
I love Cesar and his view point about most things though his morality is sort of questionable in this book. The betrayals that man has to go through…. Some I never saw coming to be honest and some I had an idea that they were going to it would just be a matter of time till they showed themselves.
A bunch of twists, turns, laughs, and oh noes! I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next. Especially with the morality vacuums Izzy and Fritz live in. I so want to see what the heck he is planning. I go through moods where I like him then I hate him. It happens a lot more than other characters she has written.
That probably didn’t make much sense, but I’m still in a state of “omg that was so awesome” after reading the book. I can’t recommend everything S. M. Reine writes enough. One of the best storytellers I’ve found ever.
April 10, 2017
These books are awesome and make my head hurt at the same time. Having read through all the other books in this universe (and does it still count as the same universe if it has been remade?), there are oodles of connections and references thrown around liberally in Cesar’s story. That being said, I’m sure I’m missing a ton of them, but I still strain to figure out all the links and timeline parallels.
Cesar is still… himself. He’s gruff and chauvinistic, but somehow still loveable. Through no devious plan of his own, he ends up thrown into some gigantic political intrigue that involves the OPA becoming a big player in a bill for preternatural registry. We (or most of us) know how this ultimately ends, but it was still nice to see the inner workings at play. I was particularly entertained by Tate, which is something I might never have expected to say. We get lots of familiar faces and even more backstabbing than before. Cesar just keeps finding new and interesting ways to be screwed in almost all situations (and even in some fun ways, too).
The overall story? That’s a little complicated. While chasing down leads for a senator’s murder case, he ends up tasked with some “off the record” work that leads him back to the evil apple group. Remember them? He’s also forced to confront the lack of any clear good/bad in pretty much all these situations. Oh, and to make matters worse, his family is up in arms about his choices lately. Poor Cesar. I can’t wait to see how his story wraps up.
Cesar is still… himself. He’s gruff and chauvinistic, but somehow still loveable. Through no devious plan of his own, he ends up thrown into some gigantic political intrigue that involves the OPA becoming a big player in a bill for preternatural registry. We (or most of us) know how this ultimately ends, but it was still nice to see the inner workings at play. I was particularly entertained by Tate, which is something I might never have expected to say. We get lots of familiar faces and even more backstabbing than before. Cesar just keeps finding new and interesting ways to be screwed in almost all situations (and even in some fun ways, too).
The overall story? That’s a little complicated. While chasing down leads for a senator’s murder case, he ends up tasked with some “off the record” work that leads him back to the evil apple group. Remember them? He’s also forced to confront the lack of any clear good/bad in pretty much all these situations. Oh, and to make matters worse, his family is up in arms about his choices lately. Poor Cesar. I can’t wait to see how his story wraps up.
April 10, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange of a review. I feel like it's been forever since I've hung out with Cesar. This book was action packed and didn't have the ending I was expecting and can't wait to see where it goes from here. I've always enjoyed this series because Cesar makes me laugh every time his allergies get the better of him.
July 1, 2017
Sometimes I just want to curse my brain for not being able to keep up with the complexities of this huge, amazing world that Ms Reine has created. The various plot bunnies chase off and intertwine like a map of the British waterways.
This book not only has the threat from the Apple, but also issues with family AND a complicated romantic situation. The last two are reasonably straightforward, but it is with the Apple where the waters become most definitely muddied. And what appeared to be black and white in terms of good guys and bad guys from other books in this universe, with this volume, we are presented with varying shades of grey.
As always, Cesar seems to be (along with me) a little bit off the leading edge of the curve. I quite like that - it makes him more relatable, but also makes the plot reveal much more organic.
I derive great enjoyment from these tales, despite my occasional inability to keep up. Ms Reine continues to produce books which both entertain and enthrall. And long may that state of affairs continue.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
This book not only has the threat from the Apple, but also issues with family AND a complicated romantic situation. The last two are reasonably straightforward, but it is with the Apple where the waters become most definitely muddied. And what appeared to be black and white in terms of good guys and bad guys from other books in this universe, with this volume, we are presented with varying shades of grey.
As always, Cesar seems to be (along with me) a little bit off the leading edge of the curve. I quite like that - it makes him more relatable, but also makes the plot reveal much more organic.
I derive great enjoyment from these tales, despite my occasional inability to keep up. Ms Reine continues to produce books which both entertain and enthrall. And long may that state of affairs continue.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 13, 2017
Will Cesar's Thirst Finally be Quenched?
Given to me by SM in exchange for an honest review.
Book 8 of the Prenatural Affairs series, plops Cesar Hawke and Fritz Friederling in the land of all things political. Called into DC by their new boss, Gary Zettel (yup he's now the Office of Prenatural Affairs big shot), the aspis and kopis dynamic duo (think of Batman and Robin minus the tights) race against the clock trying to figure out which 'child of Lilith' wanted Senator Peterson's head (and I mean in the literal sense).
Helping to traffic human slaves into the fiery pits of Hell, you would have thought Peterson would have been worshipped by the demons. Well if you call crucifying and vivisecting him (oh and that little thing they did with his head), I guess they didn't.
Not only do they need to solve Peterson's death, they also need to stop the passing of PRAY. A law that if it goes into effect will make the Office of Prenatural Affairs a globally known entity (right now they "don't exist") and all prenaturals freedom will cease to exist. We're talking witches, werewolves, aspis, kopis, etc. won't even be able to go to the bathroom without getting someone's approval (just a little sarcasm, but not much).
Oh and Cesar finds out why he's allergic to magic, what prevents the Hawke women from 'doing' witchcraft and the reason his heart goes pitter patter when the evil Lucrezia comes around.
Bitter Thirst provides answers to many secrets and serves as closure for books 1-7. Don't worry though, some mysteries still remain intact for future story lines to build off of :)
Given to me by SM in exchange for an honest review.
Book 8 of the Prenatural Affairs series, plops Cesar Hawke and Fritz Friederling in the land of all things political. Called into DC by their new boss, Gary Zettel (yup he's now the Office of Prenatural Affairs big shot), the aspis and kopis dynamic duo (think of Batman and Robin minus the tights) race against the clock trying to figure out which 'child of Lilith' wanted Senator Peterson's head (and I mean in the literal sense).
Helping to traffic human slaves into the fiery pits of Hell, you would have thought Peterson would have been worshipped by the demons. Well if you call crucifying and vivisecting him (oh and that little thing they did with his head), I guess they didn't.
Not only do they need to solve Peterson's death, they also need to stop the passing of PRAY. A law that if it goes into effect will make the Office of Prenatural Affairs a globally known entity (right now they "don't exist") and all prenaturals freedom will cease to exist. We're talking witches, werewolves, aspis, kopis, etc. won't even be able to go to the bathroom without getting someone's approval (just a little sarcasm, but not much).
Oh and Cesar finds out why he's allergic to magic, what prevents the Hawke women from 'doing' witchcraft and the reason his heart goes pitter patter when the evil Lucrezia comes around.
Bitter Thirst provides answers to many secrets and serves as closure for books 1-7. Don't worry though, some mysteries still remain intact for future story lines to build off of :)
April 14, 2017
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
This book was a really nice welcome back to Cesar. It feels like a long time since I read a book featuring him and his allergy to magic, odd romantic entanglements and magically enhanced strength. In this installment not only is Cesar sent down an investigative path we don't expect we also get to read him interact with his sister Ophelia (of the Tarot Witches) and his grandpa.
This book also really made my head hurt at times. I have read all of the books in this universe so I kept trying to think of the crossovers especially with Zettel and the Apple. It was an action packed read. and I am excited to see where it goes from here.
This book was a really nice welcome back to Cesar. It feels like a long time since I read a book featuring him and his allergy to magic, odd romantic entanglements and magically enhanced strength. In this installment not only is Cesar sent down an investigative path we don't expect we also get to read him interact with his sister Ophelia (of the Tarot Witches) and his grandpa.
This book also really made my head hurt at times. I have read all of the books in this universe so I kept trying to think of the crossovers especially with Zettel and the Apple. It was an action packed read. and I am excited to see where it goes from here.
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