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Affinity Series #2
Reader
After nearly dying at the hands of an uncontrollable ghost, Detective Kim Phillips is finally back to work with the Chicago Police Department. Sure, she's shackled to a desk, sifting through cold cases, but it's better than being stuck in her apartment. It lets her focus on something other than her unreliable powers, the sudden influx of Turned ghosts in the Windy City, and the continuing tension between her and her old partner, Detective Riley Cross.
That all changes when she finds the case file of a missing girl and is sucked into a vision from thirty years ago. Caught between the present and the past, Kim struggles to find answers about the case and herself. Can Kim solve the mystery of her changing powers and find the girl, or will her tenuous grasp on her powers and the investigation spiral out of control?
That all changes when she finds the case file of a missing girl and is sucked into a vision from thirty years ago. Caught between the present and the past, Kim struggles to find answers about the case and herself. Can Kim solve the mystery of her changing powers and find the girl, or will her tenuous grasp on her powers and the investigation spiral out of control?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2018
4 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Lenore
6 books16 followersFrom an early age, J.S. Lenore has always been passionate about books and storytelling, but it wasn’t until high school that she started writing her own stories. Starting with fan fiction, Lenore found some minor success writing under the handle p1013. Burner, the first book in the Affinity Series, is her first foray into novel-length fiction. Set in Chicago, where Lenore was born and raised, it’s a dark tale about life and death, the ways that people define themselves, and how our histories can impact our futures.
J.S. Lenore now lives in Indianapolis with her husband, two children, two cats, and zero ghosts.
J.S. Lenore now lives in Indianapolis with her husband, two children, two cats, and zero ghosts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 12, 2018
*Read my FULL review on Hypable.com*
Let me first start off by saying this: Since finishing 'Burner' last year, I've been not-so-secretly motivating/hounding J.S. Lenore to finish 'Reader'. I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters in this series (especially the sexy and debonair Detective Riley Cross) and found that I couldn't get enough of the series' gritty world -- even though I basically live in Chicago and have been around some of it my whole life. (Obvs not the supernatural stuff, no matter how much I wish that was an actual thing here in the Windy City.)
I was incredibly impatient during the ten months between 'Burner' and 'Reader' (sorry, J.S. Lenore), but that impatience was definitely rewarded. 'Reader' is everything I hoped the second novel in this supernatural mystery series would be.
Not that I knew what I was in for, of course. This novel is quite different from its predecessor in a couple of ways. Most notably, compared to 'Burner', there's not a whole lot of intense action in 'Reader'. But that's to its betterment, not its detriment. While 'Burner' felt like there was a high-stakes action (or horror) sequence every couple of chapters, 'Reader' saves the action and uses it sparingly, emphasizing the characters and their relationships instead.
And, when you think about these books in the context of the novels' emphasized affinities, it makes a lot of sense. The act of burning is very much a physically demanding one, both in the real world and the world of the Affinity Series. It's acting upon something or someone else. So the fact that 'Burner' was a relatively action-heavy novel makes complete sense.
The same idea goes for 'Reader'. Reading, both in the world of the novel and what I did *with* the novel, is a quieter, more thought-provoking process. The act of touching an object (or person) to gain important memories and emotions is a softer action, but no less powerful. And that's exactly how I'd describe 'Reader': softer, but no less powerful.
The combination of the quiet, snowy setting and the focus of interpersonal interactions and relationships give this installment a slightly calmer tone and atmosphere. That's not to say that there aren't any scary or horrifying things going on in this novel. They're just more sinister and threatening in a constant underlying way (rather than a "jump scare" way).
'Reader' does everything the second book in a series should do and so much more. Not only does it build upon all of the events and characterization of the previous novel, but it also broadens the scope of the story in terms of its overall mythology, posing more questions than it answers (but not in a frustrating way).
'Reader' is an addicting read that fans of supernatural mysteries and crime dramas won't be able to put down and I, for one, will be recommending it to anyone and everyone I can.
Let me first start off by saying this: Since finishing 'Burner' last year, I've been not-so-secretly motivating/hounding J.S. Lenore to finish 'Reader'. I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters in this series (especially the sexy and debonair Detective Riley Cross) and found that I couldn't get enough of the series' gritty world -- even though I basically live in Chicago and have been around some of it my whole life. (Obvs not the supernatural stuff, no matter how much I wish that was an actual thing here in the Windy City.)
I was incredibly impatient during the ten months between 'Burner' and 'Reader' (sorry, J.S. Lenore), but that impatience was definitely rewarded. 'Reader' is everything I hoped the second novel in this supernatural mystery series would be.
Not that I knew what I was in for, of course. This novel is quite different from its predecessor in a couple of ways. Most notably, compared to 'Burner', there's not a whole lot of intense action in 'Reader'. But that's to its betterment, not its detriment. While 'Burner' felt like there was a high-stakes action (or horror) sequence every couple of chapters, 'Reader' saves the action and uses it sparingly, emphasizing the characters and their relationships instead.
And, when you think about these books in the context of the novels' emphasized affinities, it makes a lot of sense. The act of burning is very much a physically demanding one, both in the real world and the world of the Affinity Series. It's acting upon something or someone else. So the fact that 'Burner' was a relatively action-heavy novel makes complete sense.
The same idea goes for 'Reader'. Reading, both in the world of the novel and what I did *with* the novel, is a quieter, more thought-provoking process. The act of touching an object (or person) to gain important memories and emotions is a softer action, but no less powerful. And that's exactly how I'd describe 'Reader': softer, but no less powerful.
The combination of the quiet, snowy setting and the focus of interpersonal interactions and relationships give this installment a slightly calmer tone and atmosphere. That's not to say that there aren't any scary or horrifying things going on in this novel. They're just more sinister and threatening in a constant underlying way (rather than a "jump scare" way).
'Reader' does everything the second book in a series should do and so much more. Not only does it build upon all of the events and characterization of the previous novel, but it also broadens the scope of the story in terms of its overall mythology, posing more questions than it answers (but not in a frustrating way).
'Reader' is an addicting read that fans of supernatural mysteries and crime dramas won't be able to put down and I, for one, will be recommending it to anyone and everyone I can.
March 20, 2018
**Actual Rating 4.5 Stars***
Characters
Gosh it was good to see Kim again. Plus I really loved Riley (Cross) in the first book. They made such a crazy good team, which was hard to see them working on different projects...in the beginning. Unlike the first book though, Kim is scarred and struggling. She is still recovering and at first her powers aren't working well. She is terrified by all the changes, which is only made worse when she reads. The one thing I didn't like is how reckless she can still be. That is why Riley is such a good balance for her, he is much more conservative. New character: Andrea Banks, sounds like a ball of fun and I so want Kim and her to be frenemies.
Plot
Like the first book there are a lot of moving parts, but this one was much less violent and action packed. Instead Kim is trying to solve a cold case and it doesn't end the way I expected - huge kudos there. In addition to that Kim is finding all these 'energy wells' that have turned ghosts bound to them. She gets to show down with them and learns some terrifying things about herself. This book is much more character driven. Not to mention all the crazy things going on between her and Cross..and with Cross in general. I won't ruin anything, but just wow! Can't wait to see where that is headed.
Overall
This is a cold case and that sort of matches the quiet subdued force of this book. Unlike Burner (book 1) that was big flames and fast paced, this one was much slower with spurts of fire. It was sort of like Burner was the fire and Reader is the burning coals that the fire leaves behind, still powerful but in a different way. I feel like Reader addresses the fallout of Burner and all that happened there. Plus bringing in new complexities as it focuses more on the characters and their relationships then the action that was in Burner. Always a pleasure to read this author's flowing style, mixed with their punchy dialogue.
My only frustration was this book opened more doors without closing old ones, and felt unnecessarily drawn out as a result. I know Kim has more growing to do, which I hope to see in the future books, but this slow burn left too much unresolved. If the other books were out and I could just pick it up, I probably wouldn't have noticed it...but now is the waiting game. In away multiple open doors are nearly as bad as cliffhangers, which I wouldn't say this book has at all. Though it does have an end that made me laugh out loud!
Rating
4.5 stars (rounded up)
A great second book in the Affinity Series. I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series and seeing where the author takes it. I just hope future books resolve more instead of creating just more questions.
Characters
Gosh it was good to see Kim again. Plus I really loved Riley (Cross) in the first book. They made such a crazy good team, which was hard to see them working on different projects...in the beginning. Unlike the first book though, Kim is scarred and struggling. She is still recovering and at first her powers aren't working well. She is terrified by all the changes, which is only made worse when she reads. The one thing I didn't like is how reckless she can still be. That is why Riley is such a good balance for her, he is much more conservative. New character: Andrea Banks, sounds like a ball of fun and I so want Kim and her to be frenemies.
Plot
Like the first book there are a lot of moving parts, but this one was much less violent and action packed. Instead Kim is trying to solve a cold case and it doesn't end the way I expected - huge kudos there. In addition to that Kim is finding all these 'energy wells' that have turned ghosts bound to them. She gets to show down with them and learns some terrifying things about herself. This book is much more character driven. Not to mention all the crazy things going on between her and Cross..and with Cross in general. I won't ruin anything, but just wow! Can't wait to see where that is headed.
Overall
This is a cold case and that sort of matches the quiet subdued force of this book. Unlike Burner (book 1) that was big flames and fast paced, this one was much slower with spurts of fire. It was sort of like Burner was the fire and Reader is the burning coals that the fire leaves behind, still powerful but in a different way. I feel like Reader addresses the fallout of Burner and all that happened there. Plus bringing in new complexities as it focuses more on the characters and their relationships then the action that was in Burner. Always a pleasure to read this author's flowing style, mixed with their punchy dialogue.
My only frustration was this book opened more doors without closing old ones, and felt unnecessarily drawn out as a result. I know Kim has more growing to do, which I hope to see in the future books, but this slow burn left too much unresolved. If the other books were out and I could just pick it up, I probably wouldn't have noticed it...but now is the waiting game. In away multiple open doors are nearly as bad as cliffhangers, which I wouldn't say this book has at all. Though it does have an end that made me laugh out loud!
Rating
4.5 stars (rounded up)
A great second book in the Affinity Series. I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series and seeing where the author takes it. I just hope future books resolve more instead of creating just more questions.
May 27, 2018
Once again, J.S. Lenore gives us a incredible modern world with a nice share of supernatural activity. If you enjoyed the first book, you're going to enjoy Reader a lot. If you are looking for an awesome protagonist, hilarious and comforting character interactions, and an interesting plot, this book will give you that and much more:
To me, reading about Kim's journey is incredible, not only because she is such a badass character, but also because she is really human and struggles what many characters usually forget to deal with: The need to understand that they have screwed something up, dealing with the consequences of their acts, and do their best to improve no matter what. This seems too normal at first until we get inside Kim's head and we see her fears and personality leads her to show vulnerability when it is often expected that she can deal with everything no matter how hard it is, and again, to me is not that common to read that.
Then we have a new police case, where even if it doesn't have its own action theme as it did in Burner because well, it was a cold case, it moves Kim to a new place that us as readers didn't have a chance to approach because of the urgency of the first events of the series. This lets Kim relax, learn and figure out things in her own terms, something necessary after all the violence she had to handle months ago. It also gives her a second chance to mend the damage done to her friendship with Cross, something she needs to do before it is too late -or awkward, specially awkward.
And now that I'm talking about Cross, it is really weird for me to finally get the chance to get really interested in a male character and their relationship with the protagonist, and once again, Detective Riley Cross surprised me by showing us not only how he is mature enough to let his emotion harm Kim after what she did but still telling her what were the things that were more than wrong. The way she knows Kim so well and cares about her tells us a lot of his personality and convictions and that's amazing, especially when Kim needs guidance and direction in her case, and a bit more in her life so she knows she is not alone. There is of course the chemistry between them, and the author has such a beautiful and natural way to show it without it being forced or the usual description we have in romance, giving us a slow-burn that makes sense to the narrative and to the characters. So in a few words, you go Detective, good luck!
Priya, as always, is the partner we often need in our lives not only because of her caring nature but because of her patience and her way to make people laugh constantly. While there is uncertainty to what Kim experiences at first, Priya tries really hard to take care of her partner and this is not only beautiful but gives us a chance to do not let be down when things are in an awful place. Since the first moment she appears, we fall in love with her, and after losing her in the first book even for a short time, I am more than happy to know she is staying and giving us the chance to smile and feel hope.
What I didn't expect at all was Andrea Banks, such a powerful character in the sense that she show us confidence and wits, and who is not intimidated of this hell of a woman and detective that is Kim. She is the human form of a challenge to our protagonist, knows how to play her cards and, while she may seen as someone "despicable" for her need of getting the truth, she is empathic and it is impossible to blame her when she doesn't seem to know yet what is really going on. Having the chance to explore more about her in the future is incredible, and I'm only hoping that this leads to an incredible friendship -or something more? hey, you can't blame me at all- with Kim.
It is hard to believe that after a lot of revelations made in the first book, there would be so much more to explore in terms of the plot. While we don't exactly see that much, we get to understand that things are only escalating after what Baker did in Burner, and while it isn't something that big, it is something people can notice. Things are still confusing for Kim -and to us as well-, but it doesn't take that long to get that something evil is being cooked, in a slow pace, but it is there and who knows, it make be done before we know it.
It is painful to know that Healer won't be here anytime soon, but this gives me the chance to re read the two books of the series and get to analyze what is coming later.
To me, reading about Kim's journey is incredible, not only because she is such a badass character, but also because she is really human and struggles what many characters usually forget to deal with: The need to understand that they have screwed something up, dealing with the consequences of their acts, and do their best to improve no matter what. This seems too normal at first until we get inside Kim's head and we see her fears and personality leads her to show vulnerability when it is often expected that she can deal with everything no matter how hard it is, and again, to me is not that common to read that.
Then we have a new police case, where even if it doesn't have its own action theme as it did in Burner because well, it was a cold case, it moves Kim to a new place that us as readers didn't have a chance to approach because of the urgency of the first events of the series. This lets Kim relax, learn and figure out things in her own terms, something necessary after all the violence she had to handle months ago. It also gives her a second chance to mend the damage done to her friendship with Cross, something she needs to do before it is too late -or awkward, specially awkward.
And now that I'm talking about Cross, it is really weird for me to finally get the chance to get really interested in a male character and their relationship with the protagonist, and once again, Detective Riley Cross surprised me by showing us not only how he is mature enough to let his emotion harm Kim after what she did but still telling her what were the things that were more than wrong. The way she knows Kim so well and cares about her tells us a lot of his personality and convictions and that's amazing, especially when Kim needs guidance and direction in her case, and a bit more in her life so she knows she is not alone. There is of course the chemistry between them, and the author has such a beautiful and natural way to show it without it being forced or the usual description we have in romance, giving us a slow-burn that makes sense to the narrative and to the characters. So in a few words, you go Detective, good luck!
Priya, as always, is the partner we often need in our lives not only because of her caring nature but because of her patience and her way to make people laugh constantly. While there is uncertainty to what Kim experiences at first, Priya tries really hard to take care of her partner and this is not only beautiful but gives us a chance to do not let be down when things are in an awful place. Since the first moment she appears, we fall in love with her, and after losing her in the first book even for a short time, I am more than happy to know she is staying and giving us the chance to smile and feel hope.
What I didn't expect at all was Andrea Banks, such a powerful character in the sense that she show us confidence and wits, and who is not intimidated of this hell of a woman and detective that is Kim. She is the human form of a challenge to our protagonist, knows how to play her cards and, while she may seen as someone "despicable" for her need of getting the truth, she is empathic and it is impossible to blame her when she doesn't seem to know yet what is really going on. Having the chance to explore more about her in the future is incredible, and I'm only hoping that this leads to an incredible friendship -or something more? hey, you can't blame me at all- with Kim.
It is hard to believe that after a lot of revelations made in the first book, there would be so much more to explore in terms of the plot. While we don't exactly see that much, we get to understand that things are only escalating after what Baker did in Burner, and while it isn't something that big, it is something people can notice. Things are still confusing for Kim -and to us as well-, but it doesn't take that long to get that something evil is being cooked, in a slow pace, but it is there and who knows, it make be done before we know it.
It is painful to know that Healer won't be here anytime soon, but this gives me the chance to re read the two books of the series and get to analyze what is coming later.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
Read our full review on Hypable!
Let me first start off by saying this: Since finishing Burner last year, I’ve been not-so-secretly motivating/hounding J.S. Lenore to finish Reader. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters in this series (especially the sexy and debonair Detective Riley Cross) and found that I couldn’t get enough of the series’ gritty world — even though I basically live in Chicago and have been around some of it my whole life. (Obvs not the supernatural stuff, no matter how much I wish that was an actual thing here in the Windy City.)
I was incredibly impatient during the ten months between Burner and Reader (sorry, J.S. Lenore), but that impatience was definitely rewarded. Reader is everything I hoped the second novel in this paranormal mystery series would be.
Not that I knew what I was in for, of course. This novel is quite different from its predecessor in a couple of ways. Most notably, compared to Burner, there’s not a whole lot of intense action in Reader. But that’s to its betterment, not its detriment. While Burner felt like there was a high-stakes action (or horror) sequence every couple of chapters, Reader saves the action and uses it sparingly, emphasizing the characters and their relationships instead.
Let me first start off by saying this: Since finishing Burner last year, I’ve been not-so-secretly motivating/hounding J.S. Lenore to finish Reader. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters in this series (especially the sexy and debonair Detective Riley Cross) and found that I couldn’t get enough of the series’ gritty world — even though I basically live in Chicago and have been around some of it my whole life. (Obvs not the supernatural stuff, no matter how much I wish that was an actual thing here in the Windy City.)
I was incredibly impatient during the ten months between Burner and Reader (sorry, J.S. Lenore), but that impatience was definitely rewarded. Reader is everything I hoped the second novel in this paranormal mystery series would be.
Not that I knew what I was in for, of course. This novel is quite different from its predecessor in a couple of ways. Most notably, compared to Burner, there’s not a whole lot of intense action in Reader. But that’s to its betterment, not its detriment. While Burner felt like there was a high-stakes action (or horror) sequence every couple of chapters, Reader saves the action and uses it sparingly, emphasizing the characters and their relationships instead.
September 23, 2019
Loved book #2 even more than the first. Twisty mystery with a finish I did not see coming! Love the dynamic between Kim and Priya almost as much as the dynamic between Kim and Cross. ;)
April 10, 2018
I love these books!
So, already having given my overall feelings on the series in my Burner review, I'm very happy to say that the second entry does not disappoint. It actually managed to surprise me rather than just give me more of what I enjoyed about the first book.
So many book series, especially modern supernatural or mystery novels, become formulaic unto themselves. They might break the mold set by their forebears only to have their own mold become par for the course through their successive titles. Thus far, two books into the Affinity series, the storytelling hasn't fallen into a rut. I think it would have been only too easy to attempt to replicate the successful parts of the first book. Thankfully, we get more of the great character interaction and world building, but the overall plot and mystery are a terrific change of pace from book one.
I'm thoroughly excited for the upcoming entries in the series and until book three, Healer, comes out, I'll be recommending and gifting both Burner and Reader to all my friends.
So, already having given my overall feelings on the series in my Burner review, I'm very happy to say that the second entry does not disappoint. It actually managed to surprise me rather than just give me more of what I enjoyed about the first book.
So many book series, especially modern supernatural or mystery novels, become formulaic unto themselves. They might break the mold set by their forebears only to have their own mold become par for the course through their successive titles. Thus far, two books into the Affinity series, the storytelling hasn't fallen into a rut. I think it would have been only too easy to attempt to replicate the successful parts of the first book. Thankfully, we get more of the great character interaction and world building, but the overall plot and mystery are a terrific change of pace from book one.
I'm thoroughly excited for the upcoming entries in the series and until book three, Healer, comes out, I'll be recommending and gifting both Burner and Reader to all my friends.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews