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Colbana Files #6
Haunted Blade
Haunted, Hunted…and harassed.
Never let it be said that Kit Colbana had ever been given the easy road. Or even the semi-paved road. Only weeks after dealing with the mysterious—and murderous—being called Puck, she’s got another killer on her hands. Perhaps even two.
Some of the bodies turning up bring up haunting memories of a past she longs to forget, but as always, that past is chasing her at her heels, like a hated shadow.
As the body count racks up, there’s an imbalance of power, particularly among the vampire population, and Kit must yet again deal with ugly memories as one of the monsters who tried to break her is set free to deal with the imbalance of power. Yet while a power struggle rages in East Orlando, there’s another, more subtle battle taking place and Kit feels like the center of it all.
Arrogant? Maybe. But the dead bodies don’t bear the mark of her grandmother’s pet killer by sheer coincidence…and she doubts her nemesis being released is either.
Never let it be said that Kit Colbana had ever been given the easy road. Or even the semi-paved road. Only weeks after dealing with the mysterious—and murderous—being called Puck, she’s got another killer on her hands. Perhaps even two.
Some of the bodies turning up bring up haunting memories of a past she longs to forget, but as always, that past is chasing her at her heels, like a hated shadow.
As the body count racks up, there’s an imbalance of power, particularly among the vampire population, and Kit must yet again deal with ugly memories as one of the monsters who tried to break her is set free to deal with the imbalance of power. Yet while a power struggle rages in East Orlando, there’s another, more subtle battle taking place and Kit feels like the center of it all.
Arrogant? Maybe. But the dead bodies don’t bear the mark of her grandmother’s pet killer by sheer coincidence…and she doubts her nemesis being released is either.
568 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2017
193 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Daniels
36 books643 followersI read, I write and you can find more about me here at my other author name...
Shiloh Walker
My professional bio:
J.C. Daniels is the alter ego of author Shiloh Walker. J.C./Shiloh has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She writes urban fantasy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance, among other things.
Shiloh Walker
My professional bio:
J.C. Daniels is the alter ego of author Shiloh Walker. J.C./Shiloh has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She writes urban fantasy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance, among other things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
October 16, 2017
Why did the author not bother to get a proof reader or editor? It could have been a half decent read if it wasn't for the numerous spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, missing and incorrect words. Also, Kit needs to calm down with the never ending angst and fear and constant nightmares, it was beyond boring to read about how scared and sad she was.
October 1, 2017
3.5 stars
I'm a huge fan of this series so I loved the chance to dive back into Kit's world and see what's going on with her now. Her relationship with Damon is stronger than ever so she's in a pretty good place personally but things in Orlando aren't running quite as smoothly. It starts with the murders of powerful vampires from several of the largest houses and the power vacuum causes a lot of the younger vampires to lose control resulting in a number of killing sprees. As the bloodlust spreads more vampires are drawn to the area and it's not long before the situation is dire.
This instalment gives us a chance to learn more about Kit's background as a face from her past puts in an appearance and it looks like her grandmother has finally decided that it's time to come after her because there are a few too many things coming at her for it all to be a coincidence. I have a feeling this is just the beginning though and we're obviously building up for a huge showdown in the next couple of books.
It's no secret that I love these books so it pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I hoped to. I really struggled in the beginning because the story didn't seem to flow very well and that made it very hard to get into. Some scenes seemed to just end halfway through and then you'd be dropped into the middle of another scene and there were several times when I found myself backtracking trying to figure out what I'd missed. That was something completely unexpected from this author because I've never had that problem with any of the previous books. It did improve a lot in the second half though and at that point the pace picked up a lot and I found myself swept away in the story. This may not be the strongest instalment but it was still an enjoyable read and there were a lot of interesting revelations that have set things up nicely for the series going forward.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and I'm hoping we're going to start to discover even more about Kit's family as we go on.
I'm a huge fan of this series so I loved the chance to dive back into Kit's world and see what's going on with her now. Her relationship with Damon is stronger than ever so she's in a pretty good place personally but things in Orlando aren't running quite as smoothly. It starts with the murders of powerful vampires from several of the largest houses and the power vacuum causes a lot of the younger vampires to lose control resulting in a number of killing sprees. As the bloodlust spreads more vampires are drawn to the area and it's not long before the situation is dire.
This instalment gives us a chance to learn more about Kit's background as a face from her past puts in an appearance and it looks like her grandmother has finally decided that it's time to come after her because there are a few too many things coming at her for it all to be a coincidence. I have a feeling this is just the beginning though and we're obviously building up for a huge showdown in the next couple of books.
It's no secret that I love these books so it pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I hoped to. I really struggled in the beginning because the story didn't seem to flow very well and that made it very hard to get into. Some scenes seemed to just end halfway through and then you'd be dropped into the middle of another scene and there were several times when I found myself backtracking trying to figure out what I'd missed. That was something completely unexpected from this author because I've never had that problem with any of the previous books. It did improve a lot in the second half though and at that point the pace picked up a lot and I found myself swept away in the story. This may not be the strongest instalment but it was still an enjoyable read and there were a lot of interesting revelations that have set things up nicely for the series going forward.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and I'm hoping we're going to start to discover even more about Kit's family as we go on.
October 5, 2017
Haunted Blade, by J.C. Daniels, is the 6th book in her Colbana Files series.
Weeks after dealing with Puck, a heinous character, Kit Colbana is faced with another killer. Only this one brings up haunting memories of her past that she has long since tried to forget.
As the murders increase there's an imbalance of power among the vampire population in East Orlando. Kits worst enemy is set free to deal with this power struggle and Kit, no longer alone, must deal with him.
Kickass Kit and her thrilling paranormal world make this novel another suspenseful action-packed adventure.
Weeks after dealing with Puck, a heinous character, Kit Colbana is faced with another killer. Only this one brings up haunting memories of her past that she has long since tried to forget.
As the murders increase there's an imbalance of power among the vampire population in East Orlando. Kits worst enemy is set free to deal with this power struggle and Kit, no longer alone, must deal with him.
Kickass Kit and her thrilling paranormal world make this novel another suspenseful action-packed adventure.
January 11, 2018
One of the leaders of the Assembly has a strange fascination with Kit Colbana. This isn't a good time for that as Kit is experiencing ever more frequent and vivid nightmares featuring her grandmother. And then on top of all that, something strange is going on with the vampire clans of East Orlando.
The latest in this long-running urban fantasy series is better than the last entry, but desperately needed editing, both in terms of fixing errors and in terms of fixing the story-telling. Some parts needed fleshing out, and others were overly repetitive, particularly around how angry, scared and depressed Kit is.
The latest in this long-running urban fantasy series is better than the last entry, but desperately needed editing, both in terms of fixing errors and in terms of fixing the story-telling. Some parts needed fleshing out, and others were overly repetitive, particularly around how angry, scared and depressed Kit is.
October 7, 2017
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2017/10/review-...
Grade: C+
Favorite Quote: ‘I am yours. You are mine. We are one…’
Haunted Blade picks up a few weeks after Shadowed Blade. Kit Colbana battled for her life and is now recovering both physically and mentally, along with her friends. Kit has regained possession of her gift after Jude had it magically blocked and has learned more about her family and the reasons behind their hatred when her Aunt Rana comes to town. Now, a new danger has infested Orlando. An unknown assassin is murdering supernaturals. When the bodies begin to pile up and Assembly decides to fight fire with fire, Kit finds herself once again in the middle and if she isn’t careful, she’ll burn for sure this time.
I’m a huge fan of this series with its complicated female lead, strong urban fantasy elements, and thorny romance. I don’t recommend reading these out of order, the arc is long reaching and the characters evolve and bleed over into each book. Bites of humor and a deeply rooted romance help to alleviate the overall darkness of the storyline. A well-developed secondary cast adds depth and definition to the arc and to the main lead herself. Kit is a solidly built entity in her own right but is made stronger by those who stand beside her and against her. From the beginning, I have laughed, cried, and raged while reading this series. Since book four, we have known that the battle between Kit and her grandmother is coming and it will probably be to the death. Each installment has given us more clues in Kit’s background and lays the groundwork for the final showdown between Kit and her grandmother.
“If it’s yours then call it, old woman.”
As the story unfolds, a series of murders are rocking the supernatural community. Powerful vampires are being taken out by an unknown force. The Assembly’s solution to that problem forces Kit to relive a horrific time in her life as she is commanded by the Assembly to find the killer and stop them. Kit also finds herself in the crosshairs of one of the Assembly’s Regents when she refuses to do his bidding. Daniel’s picks up the thread left hanging from book five and continues it in here, focusing on strengthening the ongoing arc that will be taking us to the end of the series.
“There is a battle coming, Kit…I don’t know what set it off, how it ends, or anything else. But it’s coming. And soon.”
Kit has physically healed from her time spent with Jude but she still bears the scars and nightmares. Nightmares heightened by her grandmother’s threats of retribution. Luckily for Kit, she has an unknowingly built a strong base of allies who come to her aid when she least expects it. She still struggles to accept her worth; especially after the events in Night Blade, but she is slowly coming to understand that she is a person worthy of love, respect, and friendship, no matter what her grandmother or Jude tried to convince her of. I did find her attitude extremely antagonistic in this novel. Far more than normal. She fights against everything and everyone to her own detriment and I’m not sure why.
Daniel’s builds a layered storyline, intertwining old and new plotlines and allowing them to play off one another. A strong political base helps Daniel’s too close up a major story thread while opening a new one. Plenty of action and dialogue helps to keep the story moving along though I found the pace choppy and rushed at times. The first half is noticeably weaker than the second half. It’s almost as if Daniels was unsure what she wanted the main focus to be so multiple plotlines were opened only to end up going nowhere while others wander around with no solid development or resolution. Rapid head and scene hopping added to my confusion.
The ending is an action-packed and informative resolution that confirms war is coming to Orlando and Kit won’t be fighting it alone. While this wasn’t the strongest of the series, it is still an adventurous read and I am looking forward to book seven, title and release date to be announced.
Grade: C+
Favorite Quote: ‘I am yours. You are mine. We are one…’
Haunted Blade picks up a few weeks after Shadowed Blade. Kit Colbana battled for her life and is now recovering both physically and mentally, along with her friends. Kit has regained possession of her gift after Jude had it magically blocked and has learned more about her family and the reasons behind their hatred when her Aunt Rana comes to town. Now, a new danger has infested Orlando. An unknown assassin is murdering supernaturals. When the bodies begin to pile up and Assembly decides to fight fire with fire, Kit finds herself once again in the middle and if she isn’t careful, she’ll burn for sure this time.
I’m a huge fan of this series with its complicated female lead, strong urban fantasy elements, and thorny romance. I don’t recommend reading these out of order, the arc is long reaching and the characters evolve and bleed over into each book. Bites of humor and a deeply rooted romance help to alleviate the overall darkness of the storyline. A well-developed secondary cast adds depth and definition to the arc and to the main lead herself. Kit is a solidly built entity in her own right but is made stronger by those who stand beside her and against her. From the beginning, I have laughed, cried, and raged while reading this series. Since book four, we have known that the battle between Kit and her grandmother is coming and it will probably be to the death. Each installment has given us more clues in Kit’s background and lays the groundwork for the final showdown between Kit and her grandmother.
“If it’s yours then call it, old woman.”
As the story unfolds, a series of murders are rocking the supernatural community. Powerful vampires are being taken out by an unknown force. The Assembly’s solution to that problem forces Kit to relive a horrific time in her life as she is commanded by the Assembly to find the killer and stop them. Kit also finds herself in the crosshairs of one of the Assembly’s Regents when she refuses to do his bidding. Daniel’s picks up the thread left hanging from book five and continues it in here, focusing on strengthening the ongoing arc that will be taking us to the end of the series.
“There is a battle coming, Kit…I don’t know what set it off, how it ends, or anything else. But it’s coming. And soon.”
Kit has physically healed from her time spent with Jude but she still bears the scars and nightmares. Nightmares heightened by her grandmother’s threats of retribution. Luckily for Kit, she has an unknowingly built a strong base of allies who come to her aid when she least expects it. She still struggles to accept her worth; especially after the events in Night Blade, but she is slowly coming to understand that she is a person worthy of love, respect, and friendship, no matter what her grandmother or Jude tried to convince her of. I did find her attitude extremely antagonistic in this novel. Far more than normal. She fights against everything and everyone to her own detriment and I’m not sure why.
Daniel’s builds a layered storyline, intertwining old and new plotlines and allowing them to play off one another. A strong political base helps Daniel’s too close up a major story thread while opening a new one. Plenty of action and dialogue helps to keep the story moving along though I found the pace choppy and rushed at times. The first half is noticeably weaker than the second half. It’s almost as if Daniels was unsure what she wanted the main focus to be so multiple plotlines were opened only to end up going nowhere while others wander around with no solid development or resolution. Rapid head and scene hopping added to my confusion.
The ending is an action-packed and informative resolution that confirms war is coming to Orlando and Kit won’t be fighting it alone. While this wasn’t the strongest of the series, it is still an adventurous read and I am looking forward to book seven, title and release date to be announced.
December 26, 2017
Between the lack of proof-reading editing, the plot that didn't entirely make sense, and the lack of much action until the very end of the book - I'm not going to continue with reading any future books in this series. Books 1 and 2 were great, but since then it has been downhill.
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September 13, 2017No rating. There was no real plot to the story, and no cohesion. It just meandered from one random scene to the next. Some stuff happened. More problems with the Assembly and especially with Kit’s evil grandmother. Kit and Damon have a lot of sex.
I've quite enjoyed some of the earlier books in this series. I like the UF world, and I really like the kickass Kit...although she was bristly to the point of being bitchy here; but the rambling, wandering writing style is killing me. This book (and the last) read like a first draft before any editing.
The story itself isn't bad; I just can't get on board with the Daniel/Walker writing style. Parts of the book were quite interesting, and there are some major repercussions threatening Kit’s life and world. Unfortunately, other parts weren't so interesting.
The last part of the book was intriguing, as was the ending (another cliffhanger); but I think I'm going to make my break from this series. Others may well love it; I'll just say it wasn't for me and leave it at that.
I've quite enjoyed some of the earlier books in this series. I like the UF world, and I really like the kickass Kit...although she was bristly to the point of being bitchy here; but the rambling, wandering writing style is killing me. This book (and the last) read like a first draft before any editing.
The story itself isn't bad; I just can't get on board with the Daniel/Walker writing style. Parts of the book were quite interesting, and there are some major repercussions threatening Kit’s life and world. Unfortunately, other parts weren't so interesting.
The last part of the book was intriguing, as was the ending (another cliffhanger); but I think I'm going to make my break from this series. Others may well love it; I'll just say it wasn't for me and leave it at that.
December 20, 2017
It's quite difficult to forgive an author for the total lack of editing and proof reading. One book may be a temporary glitch, due to health problems, more than one it smacks of unprofessional behavior. But Ms Daniels/Walker isn't the new girl on the block. Unfair maybe, but you can't stop thinking it's a money thing.
There was a good story somewhere in this book. Pity.
There was a good story somewhere in this book. Pity.
April 18, 2018
This was a great book that ended well but has a cliffhanger in the epilogue? Lol Love this series.
October 29, 2017
I recently recommended this series, now, after reading the sixth book in the series, I definitely stand by my recommendation. Kit Colbana hasn’t had life easy and in the latest book life decides to come back and kick her in the teeth again. There are mounting threats from her evil grandmother, a menacing presence in the Assembly and lingering trauma from her abuse at the hands of Jude, the vampire who kidnapped abused and raped her. Only, unlike before, she now has friends at her back who are willing to back her up and do whatever it takes to protect her. Especially a certain alpha cat. Not to mention the witches and even some of the vampires have her back. Now Kit just needs to learn to accept it.
I really liked Haunted Blade there are so many things that appeal to me about this book and this series. I love the heroine and the characters surrounding her and I love the world. Nothing changed about that when I read this. But, before I start singing their praises I need to get the negative out the way.
The plot for this one seemed a little slammed together and jumpy. It didn’t smoothly transition from thing to the next. Things would just…happen and I would happily go along for the ride. I would be in one place with Kit, to suddenly jump somewhere else abruptly and I wouldn’t realise until a paragraph in that the scene had changed. Now some of this may be because I had an ARC and it isn’t all perfectly set up with line breaks etc to let a reader know that scene has ended and another one has begun. However, I believe even with those indicators sometime a scene felt unfinished. Basically, Haunted Blade seemed to have lost some of the polish present in the previous books.
Although the above points stopped me from giving me top stars, that didn’t mean that I didn’t really enjoy this book. The characters and relationships within the Kit Colbana series are really strong and in the case of Haunted Blade it carried the book. Especially Kit, she’s been through a lot in her life, not much of it good and Daniels does a great job of infusing her books with genuine emotional pain and trauma. I’m not a fan of angst in general, all the whining just annoys me, but Daniels manages to do it in a way where it feels less like angst and self-pity and more like real life pain.
Even though this wasn’t the best in the Kit Colbana series, it was still a really good book. Full of action and emotion and all the characters we have come to know and love (or loath) throughout the series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
February 18, 2023
Kit comes face to face with one of her worst nightmares
There's a new Regent on town and he seems very insistent on Kit's taking on a job for him, after just having dealt with Puck, Kit is in no mood to get involved with someone she suspects of being Fae no good has ever come from getting involved in the affairs of the Fae. But Malcom is just as determined that Kit will comply. While this is all happening disaster strikes Florida. Specifically Orlando, the strongest of the vampires who live in town are being murdered and without them to control the weaker vampires the streets are running red with blood. It's all hands on deck as the Assembly calls on every available operative to work with the remaining sane Vampires. Enemies both old and new have come together to destroy Kit once and for all. Even her nightmares are coming back to haunt her. It will take ever but if skill and guile Kit has to survive the coming confrontation. One of the best Urban Fantasy series around.
Merged review:
The thing Kit has been dreading has.co.e to pass, Jude Whittier. The vampire who kidnapped and kept her prisoner beating, abusing and raping her,but even worse than all of that destroying her bond with her blade, destroying the essence of who she was deep down inside. Now Kit was able to come back from those horrific events aided by her friends some as close as family but the two who did most were Justin her first love and a war witch and Damon her last love, her forever love. Without those two very different men it's doubtful how great a recovery Kit would have made. So now when events are forcing the authorities to release Nude from his i.imprisonment after only just over a year ................... Well, Kit is left reeling, but to show weakness would be to grant Jude his victory something Kit isn't prepared to do................... What she will.do.is work to find out who caused the.nightmare situation that resulted in Whittiers release.......................
There's a new Regent on town and he seems very insistent on Kit's taking on a job for him, after just having dealt with Puck, Kit is in no mood to get involved with someone she suspects of being Fae no good has ever come from getting involved in the affairs of the Fae. But Malcom is just as determined that Kit will comply. While this is all happening disaster strikes Florida. Specifically Orlando, the strongest of the vampires who live in town are being murdered and without them to control the weaker vampires the streets are running red with blood. It's all hands on deck as the Assembly calls on every available operative to work with the remaining sane Vampires. Enemies both old and new have come together to destroy Kit once and for all. Even her nightmares are coming back to haunt her. It will take ever but if skill and guile Kit has to survive the coming confrontation. One of the best Urban Fantasy series around.
Merged review:
The thing Kit has been dreading has.co.e to pass, Jude Whittier. The vampire who kidnapped and kept her prisoner beating, abusing and raping her,but even worse than all of that destroying her bond with her blade, destroying the essence of who she was deep down inside. Now Kit was able to come back from those horrific events aided by her friends some as close as family but the two who did most were Justin her first love and a war witch and Damon her last love, her forever love. Without those two very different men it's doubtful how great a recovery Kit would have made. So now when events are forcing the authorities to release Nude from his i.imprisonment after only just over a year ................... Well, Kit is left reeling, but to show weakness would be to grant Jude his victory something Kit isn't prepared to do................... What she will.do.is work to find out who caused the.nightmare situation that resulted in Whittiers release.......................
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2018
When I started reading Colbana Files series I though I found a good fill-in while I wait for the next Kate Daniels installment (my all time fav uf). But as Kit Colbana series progresses it’s flaws are becoming more and more obvious.
✗ Main couple is stuck on a same relationship issue.
✗ It irritates me that Damon calls Kit ‘baby girl’.
✗ While the issue in the book is partially resolved it reveals a bigger problem that stays as a cliffhanger for the next book.
✗ Slow start. First half of the book is always scattered and unfocused with Kit doing a lot of different tasks. And while some of them connect later others are just filler. And this book had enough pages without them.
✗ After six book most secondary characters, even those from regular cast, are flat. It seems that J.C.Daniels decides to add life to secondary character only if she plans to hurt him or kill him (so it hurts us more).
✗ Cheap tricks to maintain tension. Kit finds out something but we are not told what. And then you have to watch them prepare and everyone know whats going on (except you).
✗ No humor, banter or quirky side characters.
Hey it’s not so bad. It’s got:
✓ Kick ass heroine
✓ Kit is sometimes afraid. I like it. It gives her humanity. But of course she soldiers on.
✓ Main characters are in a loving supporting relationship. Without cheating.
✓ Shifters. I like their pack dynamics.
✓ We finally find out a bit more about vampires and how their hierarchy is organized.
So I am on the fence about this series. The bad starts to outweighs the good and it was annoying me while reading for the book 5 and 6. Not sure if I will read the sequel when it comes out.
✗ Main couple is stuck on a same relationship issue.
✗ It irritates me that Damon calls Kit ‘baby girl’.
✗ While the issue in the book is partially resolved it reveals a bigger problem that stays as a cliffhanger for the next book.
✗ Slow start. First half of the book is always scattered and unfocused with Kit doing a lot of different tasks. And while some of them connect later others are just filler. And this book had enough pages without them.
✗ After six book most secondary characters, even those from regular cast, are flat. It seems that J.C.Daniels decides to add life to secondary character only if she plans to hurt him or kill him (so it hurts us more).
✗ Cheap tricks to maintain tension. Kit finds out something but we are not told what. And then you have to watch them prepare and everyone know whats going on (except you).
✗ No humor, banter or quirky side characters.
Hey it’s not so bad. It’s got:
✓ Kick ass heroine
✓ Kit is sometimes afraid. I like it. It gives her humanity. But of course she soldiers on.
✓ Main characters are in a loving supporting relationship. Without cheating.
✓ Shifters. I like their pack dynamics.
✓ We finally find out a bit more about vampires and how their hierarchy is organized.
So I am on the fence about this series. The bad starts to outweighs the good and it was annoying me while reading for the book 5 and 6. Not sure if I will read the sequel when it comes out.
October 14, 2017
I really had a hard time reading this one. Would often put it down and had a hard time picking it back up, unusual for me as I can read a book in one sitting. I have a hard time pin pointing what made me feel this way, maybe just everything.
I did love the support that Kit found through out the book, loved that when it really mattered so many people had her back, those she expected and some she didn't. It was especially nice when an old foe popped back up. The only good thing about that was that the person got theirs in the end.
With everything that happened the landscape for NH's is very changed, it will be interesting to see what happens next, along with how Kit and those that care for her deal with Kit's family that has now come back with a vengeance.
I did love the support that Kit found through out the book, loved that when it really mattered so many people had her back, those she expected and some she didn't. It was especially nice when an old foe popped back up. The only good thing about that was that the person got theirs in the end.
With everything that happened the landscape for NH's is very changed, it will be interesting to see what happens next, along with how Kit and those that care for her deal with Kit's family that has now come back with a vengeance.
Read
December 26, 2017Review originally posted at RabidReads.ca.
This review is really hard for me to write. This is a series that I’ve followed and loved since book one, Blade Song, which I read back in 2012. Kit Colbana was a kickass heroine that fans of Kate Daniels would really love. Kit is a unique character. She is half Aneria, a race descended from the Amazons and half human. Her mother died when she is young. Her grandmother raises her, but sees Kit as her mother’s downfall. She frequently has Kit beaten and starved.
Anyway, Kit escapes. She moves to Orlando, which has a large NH, or non-human, population. She quickly befriends many of the different supernatural creatures. She’s friends with shifters and witches. Independents quickly learn to trust her. She works with some of the vampires, though they are a tough group to get along with. There are also fae and others.
The first four books in this series, I really loved (though book four has a huge cliffhanger). I even listed it in one review as, “most underrated urban fantasy series”. Then book five came out. I wasn’t able to get a ARC of book five, so I grabbed it on release day from Amazon. I quickly started to read it and was very disappointed in the editing. There were issues everywhere and the first two-ish chapters were very confusing. Overall, I still enjoyed the story, though the editing issues drew me out of the story.
I was able to get an ARC from NetGalley for this book and quickly started it. However, I quickly noticed a bunch of editing issues.
But this is an unfinished ARC. So I decided to go and buy the book. I was so hoping that it would be better. And it was. I looked at the two issues mentioned above and they were both fixed (there were several others, I just listed these as examples). However, there are still several issues.
For instance, there is a scene where Kit is going to talk to some witches about this really big thing. Witches from all the groups were there and even some independent witches were there. They were all gathering to hear her tell them about it. There is this big build up and then nothing happens. The speech is over and she’s leaving.
Then it was over. Nothing about her talking to them. Really nothing about their reactions. There was this whole thing with her threatening the shifters that they were going to have to help. Nothing here about that. Just move on with the story.
There are also a few of the editing issues that I mentioned before that weren’t fixed in the copy that I bought. Nothing as bad as the ARC, but I just kept finding myself rereading sections to make sure i was reading it right.
It makes me sad to write this review. It makes me even sadder that I couldn’t finish the book. I made it all the way to 40%, but I just couldn’t get myself to keep going. I kept putting it off and that was when I knew it was time. Letting the book sit isn’t going to help it or me. This isn’t just a mood thing, which happens.
I do still highly recommend the first three books in this series. The second book is truly amazing. While, I enjoyed the fourth book there is a big cliffhanger and since I wouldn’t recommend the fifth book, it might be best to not attempt the fourth. Maybe the author has updated it, but after reading this one, I don’t know.
**Book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway.
This review is really hard for me to write. This is a series that I’ve followed and loved since book one, Blade Song, which I read back in 2012. Kit Colbana was a kickass heroine that fans of Kate Daniels would really love. Kit is a unique character. She is half Aneria, a race descended from the Amazons and half human. Her mother died when she is young. Her grandmother raises her, but sees Kit as her mother’s downfall. She frequently has Kit beaten and starved.
Anyway, Kit escapes. She moves to Orlando, which has a large NH, or non-human, population. She quickly befriends many of the different supernatural creatures. She’s friends with shifters and witches. Independents quickly learn to trust her. She works with some of the vampires, though they are a tough group to get along with. There are also fae and others.
The first four books in this series, I really loved (though book four has a huge cliffhanger). I even listed it in one review as, “most underrated urban fantasy series”. Then book five came out. I wasn’t able to get a ARC of book five, so I grabbed it on release day from Amazon. I quickly started to read it and was very disappointed in the editing. There were issues everywhere and the first two-ish chapters were very confusing. Overall, I still enjoyed the story, though the editing issues drew me out of the story.
I was able to get an ARC from NetGalley for this book and quickly started it. However, I quickly noticed a bunch of editing issues.
Damon dropped a kiss on top of my and I could feel his amusement.
They’d been doing to me more and more lately.
But this is an unfinished ARC. So I decided to go and buy the book. I was so hoping that it would be better. And it was. I looked at the two issues mentioned above and they were both fixed (there were several others, I just listed these as examples). However, there are still several issues.
For instance, there is a scene where Kit is going to talk to some witches about this really big thing. Witches from all the groups were there and even some independent witches were there. They were all gathering to hear her tell them about it. There is this big build up and then nothing happens. The speech is over and she’s leaving.
As he swung around to face the group, I swallowed my shock and smoothed out my features.
That was a story I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
I guess we all had issues.
Then it was over. Nothing about her talking to them. Really nothing about their reactions. There was this whole thing with her threatening the shifters that they were going to have to help. Nothing here about that. Just move on with the story.
There are also a few of the editing issues that I mentioned before that weren’t fixed in the copy that I bought. Nothing as bad as the ARC, but I just kept finding myself rereading sections to make sure i was reading it right.
It makes me sad to write this review. It makes me even sadder that I couldn’t finish the book. I made it all the way to 40%, but I just couldn’t get myself to keep going. I kept putting it off and that was when I knew it was time. Letting the book sit isn’t going to help it or me. This isn’t just a mood thing, which happens.
I do still highly recommend the first three books in this series. The second book is truly amazing. While, I enjoyed the fourth book there is a big cliffhanger and since I wouldn’t recommend the fifth book, it might be best to not attempt the fourth. Maybe the author has updated it, but after reading this one, I don’t know.
**Book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway.
October 7, 2017
Kit´s life isn´t one with dull moments, and this is no exception. With Damon and her gang at her back she´s taking on a new investigation, when the Vampire community is being targeted, her old antagonist comes back, and her grandmother ramps up her attention.
Full speed ahead, and can´t wait to read the next one!
PNR action, suspense and smut in a great combo.
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to be gifted an arc <3
Full speed ahead, and can´t wait to read the next one!
PNR action, suspense and smut in a great combo.
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to be gifted an arc <3
September 15, 2017
Diving back into Kit's world reminded me how very much I enjoy her particular brand of crazy and I ended up picking up book 1 and rereading the whole shebang from the beginning. It was wild. It was intense. It broke my heart a little.
Through it all, it kept me completely enraptured.
This book gives us a deeper look into the vampire houses and Kit's past. As usual, things are just as insanely intense and bloody as any situation Kit finds herself in. Beyond all that, Kit's been told repeatedly that she's no longer alone as she fights against the things out there and I think it's finally starting to sink in. She's not alone. Not only does she have Damon and the cats, but she's helped so many others over the years that she has a virtual army willing to stand beside her if she needed them.
Given where she came from and what she had to go through to survive, this is huge for her.
This series kills me. In the best possible way, mind you. Kit and Damon fight and push and love hard enough to move mountains. Kit's place in the world might be one she clawed out by grit and sheer determination, but she has allies and a family by choice now who would do anything for her. All things considered, I think she's going to need all the help she can get down the road because she never takes the easy path when the lives of innocents are on the line.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Through it all, it kept me completely enraptured.
This book gives us a deeper look into the vampire houses and Kit's past. As usual, things are just as insanely intense and bloody as any situation Kit finds herself in. Beyond all that, Kit's been told repeatedly that she's no longer alone as she fights against the things out there and I think it's finally starting to sink in. She's not alone. Not only does she have Damon and the cats, but she's helped so many others over the years that she has a virtual army willing to stand beside her if she needed them.
Given where she came from and what she had to go through to survive, this is huge for her.
This series kills me. In the best possible way, mind you. Kit and Damon fight and push and love hard enough to move mountains. Kit's place in the world might be one she clawed out by grit and sheer determination, but she has allies and a family by choice now who would do anything for her. All things considered, I think she's going to need all the help she can get down the road because she never takes the easy path when the lives of innocents are on the line.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
February 7, 2018
I was such a fan of the early books in this series, but the last Kit Colbana story was a bit of a train wreck. While this installment was head and shoulders above that one, it didn’t quite rise to the level I know these books are capable of.
I kind of expected this book to really bring Kit’s family and history to the forefront, and while it did advance that part of the story, it was not in the overt way I expected. Someone has orchestrated a master plan in the city to turn the supernatural community into chaos. The vampire houses are going nuts; it’s affecting the shifters. And it’s all tied somehow to a mysterious fae dude named Malcolm, who Kit is sure has ties to her grandmother.
Let me talk about what I liked first, because there were lots of good things going on here. First of all, the Kit and Damon love is going strong. This relationship is a great one and I enjoyed Damon staying front and center. I also really liked Doyle’s growth and that he is being incorporated more into Kit’s world. Big props for how many old characters make appearances… from Justin to TJ and more. But I think what worked best for me was how the author really evoked strong feelings from me as Kit faced some of her old demons. One of the things that has always been compelling about her character is how her broken pieces are never shied away from or ignored. They’re part of her and the only way she can get stronger is to meet them head-on. So big kudos there.
Unfortunately, there are still editing issues afoot. Not nearly to the degree as the last book, but at least a dozen or more mistakes jumped out at me. In the early books, I don’t think there were any at all. Another gripe: I know I said I liked the Damon and Kit relationship (and I do) but the two of them had a ton of throwaway sex here. By that, I mean they do it a lot, but the scenes are superficial. And finally, I found myself getting lost in some of the action. When the you-know-what hit the fan and all the violence was going down, I really didn’t completely understand what was happening. Maybe it was just me, but the action was unrelenting at one point… everyone was dying… and the characters were making all kinds of connections and I was just scratching my head, wondering what I was missing.
Despite my problems, I enjoyed the book as a whole. I am still very invested in Kit as a character. I want to see her break the chains of her past and to wipe the floor with her grandmother. And I want Damon by her side as she does it.
I will keep reading to see how it all ends.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC provided by author
I kind of expected this book to really bring Kit’s family and history to the forefront, and while it did advance that part of the story, it was not in the overt way I expected. Someone has orchestrated a master plan in the city to turn the supernatural community into chaos. The vampire houses are going nuts; it’s affecting the shifters. And it’s all tied somehow to a mysterious fae dude named Malcolm, who Kit is sure has ties to her grandmother.
Let me talk about what I liked first, because there were lots of good things going on here. First of all, the Kit and Damon love is going strong. This relationship is a great one and I enjoyed Damon staying front and center. I also really liked Doyle’s growth and that he is being incorporated more into Kit’s world. Big props for how many old characters make appearances… from Justin to TJ and more. But I think what worked best for me was how the author really evoked strong feelings from me as Kit faced some of her old demons. One of the things that has always been compelling about her character is how her broken pieces are never shied away from or ignored. They’re part of her and the only way she can get stronger is to meet them head-on. So big kudos there.
Unfortunately, there are still editing issues afoot. Not nearly to the degree as the last book, but at least a dozen or more mistakes jumped out at me. In the early books, I don’t think there were any at all. Another gripe: I know I said I liked the Damon and Kit relationship (and I do) but the two of them had a ton of throwaway sex here. By that, I mean they do it a lot, but the scenes are superficial. And finally, I found myself getting lost in some of the action. When the you-know-what hit the fan and all the violence was going down, I really didn’t completely understand what was happening. Maybe it was just me, but the action was unrelenting at one point… everyone was dying… and the characters were making all kinds of connections and I was just scratching my head, wondering what I was missing.
Despite my problems, I enjoyed the book as a whole. I am still very invested in Kit as a character. I want to see her break the chains of her past and to wipe the floor with her grandmother. And I want Damon by her side as she does it.
I will keep reading to see how it all ends.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC provided by author
October 23, 2017
I don't understand. This series used to be written so well. The writing in this book and the last was absolutely abhorrent. J.C. Daniels is not some small time author who can't afford a good editor. She writes books as Shiloh Walker. Surely, she can afford to spend some time and money on getting the book edited. Or if they are edited, then being edited by someone with better credentials.
1 page into the book and I noticed a spelling mistake. 1 page. It is utterly unbelievable. And I could have ignored it and read on, owing to the fact that this used to be one of my favourite UF series, but there were some scenes which just ended abruptly, with no explanation what so ever. Maybe the author was trying to create suspense, but it came off like she couldn't be bothered finishing that scene before moving on. The writing was disjointed, not at all descriptive and just so basic. I couldn't understand what was going on, and so I just stopped following the dialogue and the writing and just skim read it. It was that bad.
I am done with this author. Spending hard earned money on shit like this isn't worth it.
1 page into the book and I noticed a spelling mistake. 1 page. It is utterly unbelievable. And I could have ignored it and read on, owing to the fact that this used to be one of my favourite UF series, but there were some scenes which just ended abruptly, with no explanation what so ever. Maybe the author was trying to create suspense, but it came off like she couldn't be bothered finishing that scene before moving on. The writing was disjointed, not at all descriptive and just so basic. I couldn't understand what was going on, and so I just stopped following the dialogue and the writing and just skim read it. It was that bad.
I am done with this author. Spending hard earned money on shit like this isn't worth it.
October 5, 2017
4 Stars for the story and 2 stars for the editing.
December 25, 2017
I usually like these books, but for some reason I struggled with this one. I think part of my problem was for most of the book the story didn’t hold together, there were lots of incidents and hints about what was happening, but at times it just didn’t seem to make sense. On top of that, I got a bit fed up of the nightmares and the author’s need to pile more and more misery onto Kit.
Also, it might be just me, but the author’s writing style seems to have changed since the start of the series. I found the early books easy to read, but now I find them quite annoying. At times they can be long winded and take absolutely ages to get to the point, but at other times the narrative jumps and I am sure I have somehow missed a paragraph. Plus, although it doesn’t really bother me, the number of spelling and grammar mistakes seems to have grown exponentially.
This felt like a book where the author has got carried away by her own ‘cleverness’ and hasn’t really planned what she is writing, some of the action makes no sense. The plot definitely needs more careful editing and it would certainly benefit from losing quite a few pages.
Then we come to the ending, I really hate cliffhanger endings. I nearly gave this book just 1 star, but there were a few interesting sections, so I have generously given it 2 stars.
Also, it might be just me, but the author’s writing style seems to have changed since the start of the series. I found the early books easy to read, but now I find them quite annoying. At times they can be long winded and take absolutely ages to get to the point, but at other times the narrative jumps and I am sure I have somehow missed a paragraph. Plus, although it doesn’t really bother me, the number of spelling and grammar mistakes seems to have grown exponentially.
This felt like a book where the author has got carried away by her own ‘cleverness’ and hasn’t really planned what she is writing, some of the action makes no sense. The plot definitely needs more careful editing and it would certainly benefit from losing quite a few pages.
Then we come to the ending, I really hate cliffhanger endings. I nearly gave this book just 1 star, but there were a few interesting sections, so I have generously given it 2 stars.
September 25, 2017
There were a few issues with this book. I feel like we were left with some unanswered questions, which I am not sure will get addressed in the next book. There were quite a few grammatical errors but I expect that will get fixed before the final is released. I felt a bit confused at times but what it really comes down to and why I gave it such a high rating is that I was so highly entertained. From beginning to end there was something going on action, emotion, the full gamut and that for me left me wanting more and excitement for the next installment (whenever that may be). I thoroughly enjoy this series, it's one of my favorites. I even did a re-read of the entire series to prep me for this installment and I enjoyed every bit of it. Its an emotional action packed series, one that I can see any lover of PNR or UF loving.
November 13, 2017
Fabulous! as usual, a great addition to the series. I love where this went and and the direction it seems to be heading in......also that ending 😮 .....somethings going to hit the fan!
December 2, 2017
I've been a huge fan of this series from the start. It's probably in my top three favorite UF series, up there with the Hidden Legacy series and Dorina Basarab. So after reading some of the more negative review for this newest book, I've put off reading it until now.
It was actually a lot better than I expected. I think if the editing was on par, this would easily have been an amazing 5 star book.
Things I loved:
1. Kit and Damon Romance is make or break for me in most novels, and Kit and Damon are unquestionably top tier. They are in a fully comitted relationship by the end of the first novel. In other series, this lack of will-they-wont-they tension almost always results in either a perfect but boring relationship or in a relationship full of contrived drama. Daniels however is unique in the way she really builds their relationship in a mature and logical way but keeps them as exciting as they were in the first novel. She does this so well that I actually liked them more than ever in this book. Both Kit and Damon have grown exceptionally but they never got too comfortable.
2. The Politics Shifter politics, vampire politics, Banner politics, and even Aneria politics are explored heavily in this book. Again, never in a boring way. A lot of new characters are introduced as Kit becomes more of a heavy weight in East Florida. The really interesting thing is that no one ever acts human. Kit is still the closest thing to human in her world and I love it. The contrast between her false bravado and empathy and their general apathy, amusement, or pity towards her is very well done. I love that Kit, despite her best efforts, is still "weak" so she never becomes a corny "world on my unlikely shoulders" character. The book stays real and the power stuggles are realistic. Her allies, although strong and protective, are far from the only powerful beings in the city.
3. New Female Characters I loved that a whole group of strong and likable female characters were introduced. It was refreshing to see Kit joke around with other girls. This is one place editing was sorely needed though.
4. New Revelations You can tell that Daniels planned her series out really well from the start. We get a lot of very interesting insight into things that were only hinted at or alluded to from the first novel. In this novel, Kit is finally actually admiting to and facing a lot of things from her past that she has been burying for the sake of sanity. She continues to grow from her trauma in the second book and none of it was superfluous, rushed, or repetitive. We also learn more about other characters like Damon and Chang.
5. No Mystery of the Week This is a theme that always bores me in UF and I'm glad it was avoided in this novel. Instead, all of the action in this novel is building up to a possible war in the future. The action definitely wasn't filler stuff though and after a lag near the start of the novel (between 30-45%), the pacing was good and kept me on the edge of my seat.
6. The writing Despite the editing, the writing is still as good as ever. It was very enjoyable to read.
7. Emotional Intelligence The thing that sets this series above many others for me is that everything always makes logical and emotional sense. No stupid actions by anyone, no mishaps at all in exploring the complicated emotions in this novel. It was almost masterful. Daniels understands how people work and she is able to translate it flawlessly on paper, which is very rare in this genre.
The Bad
1. Too many Characters I think that while the story pacing was great for one novel, all the new characters introduced and old characters making an appearance would have worked better throughout 2 novels. It got confusing. Other than Damon, no supporting character stays consistently there throughout the story. The novel began with a lot of Doyle (who I loved) and Dair, but eventually they disappeared completely into the background as too many other characters are introduced. I believe that Rana is Doyle's mother, so why wasn't he mentioned at all when she became involved near the end of the story? Doyle is very protective, so his disappearance didn't make sense in certain parts. Other characters like TJ and Colleen left strong impressions, but they were kept at a distance where we weren't able to explore it and give it enough weight. I liked Shanelle, but there was no real explanation for her presence in Kit's life...it would've been nice to know how they became friends. And horrifyingly, she is renamed Sam halfway through her appearance. I like the characters of this world but it didn't make sense to see them all in one book this way.
2. The Editing I think there were a lot of things that could've been edited by even a casual reader, if not a professional. I strongly believe that if Daniels had as good of an editor as she did for the first few books, Haunted Blade would've packed a punch even bigger than Night Blade did. It seems like the unedited copy of a really amazing book, which is a shame.
Overall though, this was still a very good book. I've been reading a lot of urban fantasy recently and it's hard to find something like this series. Even with the editing issues, it was an enjoyable and captivating story. Definitely worth continuing this series, but I hope the author takes time if necessary to make the next one polished. I wouldn't mind reading the next installment a year or two later than expected because Kit's story is definitely worth being told in the best way.
It was actually a lot better than I expected. I think if the editing was on par, this would easily have been an amazing 5 star book.
Things I loved:
1. Kit and Damon Romance is make or break for me in most novels, and Kit and Damon are unquestionably top tier. They are in a fully comitted relationship by the end of the first novel. In other series, this lack of will-they-wont-they tension almost always results in either a perfect but boring relationship or in a relationship full of contrived drama. Daniels however is unique in the way she really builds their relationship in a mature and logical way but keeps them as exciting as they were in the first novel. She does this so well that I actually liked them more than ever in this book. Both Kit and Damon have grown exceptionally but they never got too comfortable.
2. The Politics Shifter politics, vampire politics, Banner politics, and even Aneria politics are explored heavily in this book. Again, never in a boring way. A lot of new characters are introduced as Kit becomes more of a heavy weight in East Florida. The really interesting thing is that no one ever acts human. Kit is still the closest thing to human in her world and I love it. The contrast between her false bravado and empathy and their general apathy, amusement, or pity towards her is very well done. I love that Kit, despite her best efforts, is still "weak" so she never becomes a corny "world on my unlikely shoulders" character. The book stays real and the power stuggles are realistic. Her allies, although strong and protective, are far from the only powerful beings in the city.
3. New Female Characters I loved that a whole group of strong and likable female characters were introduced. It was refreshing to see Kit joke around with other girls. This is one place editing was sorely needed though.
4. New Revelations You can tell that Daniels planned her series out really well from the start. We get a lot of very interesting insight into things that were only hinted at or alluded to from the first novel. In this novel, Kit is finally actually admiting to and facing a lot of things from her past that she has been burying for the sake of sanity. She continues to grow from her trauma in the second book and none of it was superfluous, rushed, or repetitive. We also learn more about other characters like Damon and Chang.
5. No Mystery of the Week This is a theme that always bores me in UF and I'm glad it was avoided in this novel. Instead, all of the action in this novel is building up to a possible war in the future. The action definitely wasn't filler stuff though and after a lag near the start of the novel (between 30-45%), the pacing was good and kept me on the edge of my seat.
6. The writing Despite the editing, the writing is still as good as ever. It was very enjoyable to read.
7. Emotional Intelligence The thing that sets this series above many others for me is that everything always makes logical and emotional sense. No stupid actions by anyone, no mishaps at all in exploring the complicated emotions in this novel. It was almost masterful. Daniels understands how people work and she is able to translate it flawlessly on paper, which is very rare in this genre.
The Bad
1. Too many Characters I think that while the story pacing was great for one novel, all the new characters introduced and old characters making an appearance would have worked better throughout 2 novels. It got confusing. Other than Damon, no supporting character stays consistently there throughout the story. The novel began with a lot of Doyle (who I loved) and Dair, but eventually they disappeared completely into the background as too many other characters are introduced. I believe that Rana is Doyle's mother, so why wasn't he mentioned at all when she became involved near the end of the story? Doyle is very protective, so his disappearance didn't make sense in certain parts. Other characters like TJ and Colleen left strong impressions, but they were kept at a distance where we weren't able to explore it and give it enough weight. I liked Shanelle, but there was no real explanation for her presence in Kit's life...it would've been nice to know how they became friends. And horrifyingly, she is renamed Sam halfway through her appearance. I like the characters of this world but it didn't make sense to see them all in one book this way.
2. The Editing I think there were a lot of things that could've been edited by even a casual reader, if not a professional. I strongly believe that if Daniels had as good of an editor as she did for the first few books, Haunted Blade would've packed a punch even bigger than Night Blade did. It seems like the unedited copy of a really amazing book, which is a shame.
Overall though, this was still a very good book. I've been reading a lot of urban fantasy recently and it's hard to find something like this series. Even with the editing issues, it was an enjoyable and captivating story. Definitely worth continuing this series, but I hope the author takes time if necessary to make the next one polished. I wouldn't mind reading the next installment a year or two later than expected because Kit's story is definitely worth being told in the best way.
September 21, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Full Review Pending*
Holy Dayuuuummmmm! What was that ending? Definitely need the next installment to find out if this is the book Kit and her grandmother finally go to war.
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Full Review Pending*
Holy Dayuuuummmmm! What was that ending? Definitely need the next installment to find out if this is the book Kit and her grandmother finally go to war.
October 5, 2017
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-haunte...
The sixth installment of the Colbana Files sees Kit once again fighting off foes right and left. It’s been roughly a year and a half since the release of Shadowed Blade, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting to see what comes next for Kit as well as Damon, Justin, and well everyone. Doyle, Chang, Colleen, just everyone I’ve grown to know and love.
On a personal front Kit seems to be doing well. She and Damon are in a good place and there is no doubt that they’ve worked through many of their problems. They are in love and protective of each other. On a professional front, Kit and Doyle are working as a team and are being sent out all over Orlando and beyond to handle any number of problems. Which is when they run into the mysterious Malcolm. They aren’t quite sure who or what he is, but they do know there is no way they are willing to work with him. He just feels wrong. Not too long after that confrontation a leader of a vampire house willingly let’s himself fade and die, but not before he summons Kit to him to let her know to get the word out that shit is about to hit the fan. And it does when several other powerful vampires heads are assassinated and a power vacuum hits the Orlando vampire population. Blood lust reins and Kit is called out by the Assembly to put down any that even show an inkling of being out of control. As you can imagine the shifters and witches don’t take too kindly to being left in the dark about just what is going on.
Admittedly, it took me a while to piece all these events together to what they actually meant. There is a lot going on and despite the feeling that it all felt jumbled, it all comes together at the end and I had that big aha moment. There were a lot of familiar faces, and I had to kind of go back and skim through the last five books to remind myself who everyone was and what parts they’ve played in the past. What I do know is that Kit has a lot of allies willing to take her back in any confrontation and it’s a damn good thing. Something big is coming. Bigger than any of the events of the past five books, and she just might be in the right place and frame of mind to finally deal with it.
In Haunted Blade Kit finally comes face to face once again with Jude. Yes, he’s still a monster. But there are hints that he might even be a bigger monster than we’ve all seen. He has a part in not only Kit’s past, but it seemed like maybe Damon’s as well. What kind of left me a reeling, and a bit agitated if I’m being honest, is his sudden appearance and the adrenaline fueled, blood soaked last 20% that left me with more questions than answers. Because, damn it, I know it’ll be a while before the next book and now I’m dying to find out what comes next.
This isn’t my favorite installment in this series, but it was solid and I did very much enjoy my time back in this world and with these characters. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series. Final Grade- B-
Favorite Quote:
The sixth installment of the Colbana Files sees Kit once again fighting off foes right and left. It’s been roughly a year and a half since the release of Shadowed Blade, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting to see what comes next for Kit as well as Damon, Justin, and well everyone. Doyle, Chang, Colleen, just everyone I’ve grown to know and love.
On a personal front Kit seems to be doing well. She and Damon are in a good place and there is no doubt that they’ve worked through many of their problems. They are in love and protective of each other. On a professional front, Kit and Doyle are working as a team and are being sent out all over Orlando and beyond to handle any number of problems. Which is when they run into the mysterious Malcolm. They aren’t quite sure who or what he is, but they do know there is no way they are willing to work with him. He just feels wrong. Not too long after that confrontation a leader of a vampire house willingly let’s himself fade and die, but not before he summons Kit to him to let her know to get the word out that shit is about to hit the fan. And it does when several other powerful vampires heads are assassinated and a power vacuum hits the Orlando vampire population. Blood lust reins and Kit is called out by the Assembly to put down any that even show an inkling of being out of control. As you can imagine the shifters and witches don’t take too kindly to being left in the dark about just what is going on.
Admittedly, it took me a while to piece all these events together to what they actually meant. There is a lot going on and despite the feeling that it all felt jumbled, it all comes together at the end and I had that big aha moment. There were a lot of familiar faces, and I had to kind of go back and skim through the last five books to remind myself who everyone was and what parts they’ve played in the past. What I do know is that Kit has a lot of allies willing to take her back in any confrontation and it’s a damn good thing. Something big is coming. Bigger than any of the events of the past five books, and she just might be in the right place and frame of mind to finally deal with it.
In Haunted Blade Kit finally comes face to face once again with Jude. Yes, he’s still a monster. But there are hints that he might even be a bigger monster than we’ve all seen. He has a part in not only Kit’s past, but it seemed like maybe Damon’s as well. What kind of left me a reeling, and a bit agitated if I’m being honest, is his sudden appearance and the adrenaline fueled, blood soaked last 20% that left me with more questions than answers. Because, damn it, I know it’ll be a while before the next book and now I’m dying to find out what comes next.
This isn’t my favorite installment in this series, but it was solid and I did very much enjoy my time back in this world and with these characters. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series. Final Grade- B-
Favorite Quote:
“You are stronger than every single blood sucker you’ll see in there, Kit.” He covered my chest with his hand, the heel of it pushing down until I felt my heart bumping against his touch. “In here. Now if I need to pick a fight with you and make you mad so you don’t go in there shaking, I will. But I think you can control it on your own.”
November 25, 2022
ARC REVIEW
Kit Colbana book six. I love this series it has been one emotional action packed adventure. Haunted Blade is more so on the emotional side, what happens in this book is very hard for Kit to deal with a lot of it has to deal with her grandmother and what happened when she escaped. This is not a book to start the series with if you are interested in Kit then start at the beginning.
Kit and Doyle are working together doing odd jobs and such for the Assembly and trying to avoid the loathsome fae known as Malcolm, who has been asking Kit to do a job one she has been delightfully refusing. Kit knows Malcolm is up to something what he says and does leads her to believe he might be working with her grandmother, so Kit decides to dig deeper. Something bad is about to happen and Kit can feel it, she gets called in to one of the few vampire masters she can tolerate and told a bit of news now she knows and she must warn all of Orlando or else. What precedes next is a bloodbath. The aftermath reveals that something from Kit's nightmares has been turned loose on Orlando. Kit is starting to remember things she would rather be left forgotten, and has to reveal more about her past to Damon; not without Damon kind of bullying it out of her. Top it all off with the sudden necessity the Vampires have for Jude, the sudden reappearance of her Aunt Rana, and Kit is forced to face something she just can't beat up and kill with a sword, her emotions.
Overall, this book is as emotional as it is violent and bloody, and I really got a kick out of it. Kit never really knows how to process her emotions so she gets mad at Damon and Damon get mad and the have sex and then talk and get mad and have sex and talk. I think Kit is finally realizing that if and when something happens the whole of the NH Orlando will be standing with her to face it.
Kit Colbana book six. I love this series it has been one emotional action packed adventure. Haunted Blade is more so on the emotional side, what happens in this book is very hard for Kit to deal with a lot of it has to deal with her grandmother and what happened when she escaped. This is not a book to start the series with if you are interested in Kit then start at the beginning.
Kit and Doyle are working together doing odd jobs and such for the Assembly and trying to avoid the loathsome fae known as Malcolm, who has been asking Kit to do a job one she has been delightfully refusing. Kit knows Malcolm is up to something what he says and does leads her to believe he might be working with her grandmother, so Kit decides to dig deeper. Something bad is about to happen and Kit can feel it, she gets called in to one of the few vampire masters she can tolerate and told a bit of news now she knows and she must warn all of Orlando or else. What precedes next is a bloodbath. The aftermath reveals that something from Kit's nightmares has been turned loose on Orlando. Kit is starting to remember things she would rather be left forgotten, and has to reveal more about her past to Damon; not without Damon kind of bullying it out of her. Top it all off with the sudden necessity the Vampires have for Jude, the sudden reappearance of her Aunt Rana, and Kit is forced to face something she just can't beat up and kill with a sword, her emotions.
Overall, this book is as emotional as it is violent and bloody, and I really got a kick out of it. Kit never really knows how to process her emotions so she gets mad at Damon and Damon get mad and the have sex and then talk and get mad and have sex and talk. I think Kit is finally realizing that if and when something happens the whole of the NH Orlando will be standing with her to face it.
February 22, 2021
Haunted Blade(Colbana Files #6)
At ling, long last it arrived. Worth every minute of the wait. Non-stop action. Interspersed politics at it's worst. Someone nasty is playing evil games and Kit is the target. Ends on a cliffhanger. Hope this author writes fast. Last read in 2017. Re-read February, 2021. Still no sequel unfortunately. Sigh.
At ling, long last it arrived. Worth every minute of the wait. Non-stop action. Interspersed politics at it's worst. Someone nasty is playing evil games and Kit is the target. Ends on a cliffhanger. Hope this author writes fast. Last read in 2017. Re-read February, 2021. Still no sequel unfortunately. Sigh.
October 2, 2018
Typos!
The editing was horrendous. Story seemed choppy. Definitely would have enjoyed it more without the typos. Still not the greatest though.
The editing was horrendous. Story seemed choppy. Definitely would have enjoyed it more without the typos. Still not the greatest though.
October 1, 2017
Haunted Blade, J.C. Daniels
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, Romance
I love this series but somehow I missed the last book...don't know how that happened? So many books, so little time...
Still, it didn't affect this installment for me, I was able to keep up, even understood the references to what happened in that one because of the context. I might buy it and read when the series is finished. I love to do a whole back to back read of series, totally immerse myself.
Kit's come a long way from book one, where she was so alone even though she had a very small group of trusted acquaintences. Now she has Damon, and through him the Cats, though many have become friends with her in her own right.
And she's well respected and has gained friends and allies that way from different groups of non-humans. No longer the isolated person she was back then, she's stronger both physically and mentally. That's good because Fate - or perhaps not Fate but Smeone directing things - has much in store for her.
She's still recovering from her last brush with death when weird events start stacking up. She's not one to believe in co-incidences, and somehow all these supposed isolated events seem aimed at her.
Its a time when she really does need her friends and allies. Can she convince the others though that these events are connected, that its not just random crimes, mindless violence, but a concerted, orchestrated string of events with one aim in mind?
Trouble is she's not certain of what that is, who exactly is the enemy apart from her family, and mostly how on earth she can defeat them, when she begins to understand exactly who and what is pushing the power struggle.
I love Kit, she's very genuine, has moments when she's bitchy, though with all the strain she's under she's very composed most of the time, a little letting out has to come.
She's been through so much and her murderous family don't seem to want to let her go. Its hard to understand who or what exactly they are, though as the books continue more comes out and I'm beginning to grasp it.
Damon, he's perfect for her. Protective and yet he knows she doesn't want wrapping in a blanket, tucked away from danger - it's hard though as an Alpha and an alpha, to let her run into danger when he just wants to keep it from her.
He's learned though from the past, is a terrific support when she needs it, cheerleader and motivator when she needs it, and of course the closeness they have, not just the erotic sexual connection but that melding of minds, that two becoming one connection they have is getting deeper all the while.
That's important as she faces something she thought was years away, the release of some-one who she thought she wouldn't need to see for a long, long while. Sadly all the murders have brought the vampire population into chaos, and to prevent even more bloodshed the powers that be have decided he needs to be released early.....
Its another great read, full of mayhem, murders, dangers, deceptions, plots, plans, it seems non stop at times and yet its inching closer to a kind of grand finale battle between her and her grandmother.
She's going to need every ally, every favour, every connection she's made these last few years if she's to stop a catastrophe.
We catch up with characters from earlier books and meet a few more new ones. The ending is a kind of cliffhanger, but given we've been expecting things to move in this direction from an early stage its not totally unexpected.
Stars: Five, great read, fantastic series.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, Romance
I love this series but somehow I missed the last book...don't know how that happened? So many books, so little time...
Still, it didn't affect this installment for me, I was able to keep up, even understood the references to what happened in that one because of the context. I might buy it and read when the series is finished. I love to do a whole back to back read of series, totally immerse myself.
Kit's come a long way from book one, where she was so alone even though she had a very small group of trusted acquaintences. Now she has Damon, and through him the Cats, though many have become friends with her in her own right.
And she's well respected and has gained friends and allies that way from different groups of non-humans. No longer the isolated person she was back then, she's stronger both physically and mentally. That's good because Fate - or perhaps not Fate but Smeone directing things - has much in store for her.
She's still recovering from her last brush with death when weird events start stacking up. She's not one to believe in co-incidences, and somehow all these supposed isolated events seem aimed at her.
Its a time when she really does need her friends and allies. Can she convince the others though that these events are connected, that its not just random crimes, mindless violence, but a concerted, orchestrated string of events with one aim in mind?
Trouble is she's not certain of what that is, who exactly is the enemy apart from her family, and mostly how on earth she can defeat them, when she begins to understand exactly who and what is pushing the power struggle.
I love Kit, she's very genuine, has moments when she's bitchy, though with all the strain she's under she's very composed most of the time, a little letting out has to come.
She's been through so much and her murderous family don't seem to want to let her go. Its hard to understand who or what exactly they are, though as the books continue more comes out and I'm beginning to grasp it.
Damon, he's perfect for her. Protective and yet he knows she doesn't want wrapping in a blanket, tucked away from danger - it's hard though as an Alpha and an alpha, to let her run into danger when he just wants to keep it from her.
He's learned though from the past, is a terrific support when she needs it, cheerleader and motivator when she needs it, and of course the closeness they have, not just the erotic sexual connection but that melding of minds, that two becoming one connection they have is getting deeper all the while.
That's important as she faces something she thought was years away, the release of some-one who she thought she wouldn't need to see for a long, long while. Sadly all the murders have brought the vampire population into chaos, and to prevent even more bloodshed the powers that be have decided he needs to be released early.....
Its another great read, full of mayhem, murders, dangers, deceptions, plots, plans, it seems non stop at times and yet its inching closer to a kind of grand finale battle between her and her grandmother.
She's going to need every ally, every favour, every connection she's made these last few years if she's to stop a catastrophe.
We catch up with characters from earlier books and meet a few more new ones. The ending is a kind of cliffhanger, but given we've been expecting things to move in this direction from an early stage its not totally unexpected.
Stars: Five, great read, fantastic series.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
May 28, 2018
This book is: ... #%*!?! I am so mad! This book could have been so good!
The plot is: great, but it is hidden behind poor, poor, terrible editing. There are so many spelling mistakes, sentence fragments, word-order mistakes etc. I lost count. English is not my native language and I found about 10 mistakes/page. I should not be able to do so, but what's more, this book is not an author's first published book. No, it is one book in a line of many, many, many other books. It is also the sixth book in a series (not to mention all the novellas here and there...). This book should not have been (allowed to be) published in this condition. This book needs an editor; a qualified, good editor). If an editor has worked on this book already, that editor should not be working as one and should let a more competent editor take over. In addition to poor editing, this book also lacks structure. The storyline is choppy and the reader is having to jump from one scene to another without a cohesive flow. Most scenes also feel rushed and as though the author couldn't decide on what she wanted the book to be about. With lots of idéas that led nowhere (yet), rushed scenes, choppy storyline, and poor editing, this book is a disaster. The only reason that I'm giving this book two stars is because there is a good story behind all the bad editing and what not. Also, because you finally got to learn a bit more about Kit's past.
The beginning is: ok. A bit slow and boring, but like the other books in this series.
The middle is: promising.
The crescendo is: rushed, but exciting. If it hadn't been rushed, I think the story and the action-packed scenes could have been amazing.
The finish/ending is: promising, but alas, It ended with a cliff-hanger. I hate cliff-hangers! If an author can't keep her readers interested in the following book/books when a series is six books along without a cliff-hanger, they are doing something wrong. If one book in a series ends with a cliff-hanger, fine, but more than one in a series, that is annoying as #%*@!
The characters are: alright, but the secondary characters need more depth this far along in the series. The main cast is sort of good, but Kit need's more "umpf" and backbone at this point. I know she has seen and been subjected to many horrors, but she needs to stop hiding, throwing up, and be a quivering mess. Especially since she keeps proclaiming to be a strong independent woman who doesn't need a babysitter/bodyguard because she can take care of herself. Well then, she better start acting like it!
The language is: ... well... see my rant above. ;)
Would I recommend this book? Yes/no? Why/why not? I'm torn, this series is good, but this book is awful. I'm looking forward to reading the next book because I want to know how it will end (however many books there might be left), but I'm not sure the writing/editing will be any better which would only make me mad again... I would recommend reading the first three books in this series, but the following three are a bit of a disappointment for me (this book, the sixth, being the worst, but with the best plot of the three, if that makes any sense what so ever).
The plot is: great, but it is hidden behind poor, poor, terrible editing. There are so many spelling mistakes, sentence fragments, word-order mistakes etc. I lost count. English is not my native language and I found about 10 mistakes/page. I should not be able to do so, but what's more, this book is not an author's first published book. No, it is one book in a line of many, many, many other books. It is also the sixth book in a series (not to mention all the novellas here and there...). This book should not have been (allowed to be) published in this condition. This book needs an editor; a qualified, good editor). If an editor has worked on this book already, that editor should not be working as one and should let a more competent editor take over. In addition to poor editing, this book also lacks structure. The storyline is choppy and the reader is having to jump from one scene to another without a cohesive flow. Most scenes also feel rushed and as though the author couldn't decide on what she wanted the book to be about. With lots of idéas that led nowhere (yet), rushed scenes, choppy storyline, and poor editing, this book is a disaster. The only reason that I'm giving this book two stars is because there is a good story behind all the bad editing and what not. Also, because you finally got to learn a bit more about Kit's past.
The beginning is: ok. A bit slow and boring, but like the other books in this series.
The middle is: promising.
The crescendo is: rushed, but exciting. If it hadn't been rushed, I think the story and the action-packed scenes could have been amazing.
The finish/ending is: promising, but alas, It ended with a cliff-hanger. I hate cliff-hangers! If an author can't keep her readers interested in the following book/books when a series is six books along without a cliff-hanger, they are doing something wrong. If one book in a series ends with a cliff-hanger, fine, but more than one in a series, that is annoying as #%*@!
The characters are: alright, but the secondary characters need more depth this far along in the series. The main cast is sort of good, but Kit need's more "umpf" and backbone at this point. I know she has seen and been subjected to many horrors, but she needs to stop hiding, throwing up, and be a quivering mess. Especially since she keeps proclaiming to be a strong independent woman who doesn't need a babysitter/bodyguard because she can take care of herself. Well then, she better start acting like it!
The language is: ... well... see my rant above. ;)
Would I recommend this book? Yes/no? Why/why not? I'm torn, this series is good, but this book is awful. I'm looking forward to reading the next book because I want to know how it will end (however many books there might be left), but I'm not sure the writing/editing will be any better which would only make me mad again... I would recommend reading the first three books in this series, but the following three are a bit of a disappointment for me (this book, the sixth, being the worst, but with the best plot of the three, if that makes any sense what so ever).
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