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The Phantom Queen Diaries #1
Whiskey Ginger
Everything was going fine for Quinn MacKenna… until she accidentally stole from Nate Temple. She knows how to drink, fight, and steal dangerous magical artifacts – but not for money. For favors. Because all her life she’s wanted only one thing – a secret so dangerous and well-guarded that no one will give it up. A ticket to the Land of the Fae so she can find her dad and finally get some answers about her past. So she doesn’t ask questions of her clients, only favors, hoping that they will eventually add up to get her what she so desperately desires. And with her unique ability to nullify magic, the world’s deadliest artifacts – or the clients who demand them – don’t really impress her very much. But that all changes when she accidentally robs the infamous Nate Temple, and finds herself in a much deeper world of monsters and conspiracies than she ever knew existed. Because Nate Temple and his friends aren’t the only things to be afraid of. Now she has to worry about his enemies , too… The newest antihero in the Worldwide Bestselling Nate Temple Universe by Shayne Silvers. Join Cameron O’Connell and Shayne at the literary bar to sip a dirty cocktail of feisty Irish brogue – with an unhealthy splash of monsters – TODAY! If you like KF Breene, Shannon Mayer, CN Crawford, Ilona Andrews, or Patricia Briggs, you will LOVE the FIRST installment of the Phantom Queen Diaries.
268 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2018
1823 people are currently reading
693 people want to read
About the author
Shayne Silvers
56 books2,126 followersLet's cut to the chase. You read stuff. I write stuff. So, If you want to nab a few of my free Amazon Best Selling Urban Fantasy books to test the waters, go here: http://www.shaynesilvers.com
Now, let's talk about this specimen of a man named Shayne...
Shayne Silvers writes the "Nate Temple Series" which features a foul-mouthed, flawed, young wizard with a chip on his shoulder attempting to protect St. Louis from the various nasties we all know and fear from our childhood bedtime stories.
Nate's been known to suckerpunch an Angel, cow-tip the Minotaur, and steal Death's horse in order to prove his point. His utter disregard for consequences and self-preservation will have you laughing and cringing on the edge of your seat.
But he has a lot to learn. Namely, how not to be so big of an A-Hole.
Get your FREE Nate Temple Starter Library TODAY at www.shaynesilvers.com.
Shayne holds two high-ranking black belts, and enjoys conversing about anything Marvel, Magical, or Mythological. You might find him writing in a coffee shop near you, cackling madly into his computer screen while pounding shots of espresso.
Now, let's talk about this specimen of a man named Shayne...
Shayne Silvers writes the "Nate Temple Series" which features a foul-mouthed, flawed, young wizard with a chip on his shoulder attempting to protect St. Louis from the various nasties we all know and fear from our childhood bedtime stories.
Nate's been known to suckerpunch an Angel, cow-tip the Minotaur, and steal Death's horse in order to prove his point. His utter disregard for consequences and self-preservation will have you laughing and cringing on the edge of your seat.
But he has a lot to learn. Namely, how not to be so big of an A-Hole.
Get your FREE Nate Temple Starter Library TODAY at www.shaynesilvers.com.
Shayne holds two high-ranking black belts, and enjoys conversing about anything Marvel, Magical, or Mythological. You might find him writing in a coffee shop near you, cackling madly into his computer screen while pounding shots of espresso.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
January 12, 2020
I don't know about this one. l LOVE my heroines,the badass the better. While this chick -whose name I just forgot- was ok, I didn't really enjoy the book.
From the blurb it talks about her stealing from a Nate Temple, I'm here thinking this is the hero of the book but then enters in Jimmy. I'm still reading hoping Jimmy is a fling especially since she met him off page which I absolutely hate in a book, somehow the book ended without me knowing. Oh and the Nate Temple, was just in a page, I kid you not. Why even mention the name at all. I only realized afterwards that this is a sequel to the book where Nate Temple apparently features in. Still it was confusing enough to anger me a little.
At this point I don't know if I'll continue with the series.
From the blurb it talks about her stealing from a Nate Temple, I'm here thinking this is the hero of the book but then enters in Jimmy. I'm still reading hoping Jimmy is a fling especially since she met him off page which I absolutely hate in a book, somehow the book ended without me knowing. Oh and the Nate Temple, was just in a page, I kid you not. Why even mention the name at all. I only realized afterwards that this is a sequel to the book where Nate Temple apparently features in. Still it was confusing enough to anger me a little.
At this point I don't know if I'll continue with the series.
May 28, 2018
Quinn steals magical artifacts. Her price isn't always money, but a chance to enter fae and find about her heritage. The latest job brings her nothing but trouble. Vampires, wizards, the local police, and more diety's involved than she would like. As the promise to protect someone settles about her shoulders like a cape, she will make the ultimate choice to save an old friend. This new entry into the Templeverse settles right in like a favorite pair of worn shoes. Filled with mysteries and action, this is a book you will love. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of the book from the author.
July 14, 2023
Whiskey Ginger is book 1 in the Phantom Queen Diaries. It is an Urban Fantasy set in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a slow start to the book and I was about to DNF it until about 40 minutes in when it started to get interesting. It wasn’t my favorite book, but I think it piqued my interest enough that I may be interested in checking out the second book in the series and giving that a try.
Some of the things that didn’t work for me were the tell, not show, writing style. We don’t see anything that would show us why [hang on I forgot her name and have to go look] Quinn feels strongly about Jimmy or even her aunt who raised her. We are told they grew up together but we don’t see interactions that lead us to believe she has an emotional bond with either of them. She does hook up with Jimmy but again it was just physical and no emotions were shown surrounding it. There is no character development. The Irish accent and vernacular bothered me too. It wasn’t believable and seems like the author did it solely to create interest with her and make her unique. It was dumb though because she supposedly got the accent from being raised by her Irish aunt, but she was raised in Boston, in the United States. She went to school with the rest of the Americans, she had friends, teachers, etc all who speak American English, yet she says “ye” for “you” and other things that don’t make sense for her to say. If she was partially raised in Ireland and spent her childhood there, it would make a little more sense, but she never even visited Ireland. There were some scenes that didn’t make sense too. We are told that her aunt is so important to her but then when she is kidnapped, Quinn spends the evening hooking up with Jimmy instead of worrying or doing something about it. The hooking up was done off page.
There were some imaginative things and while this book was mediocre for me, it definitely set the ground work and opened up the possibility for book two being even better. I liked the variety of supernatural and fae beings. Even though he wasn’t in a lot of the book, my favorite character was Dobby. I want to know more about him, and the fact that he is in book two makes it more enticing. This is the first book I have read by this author. I will give him one more try. Idk when I will listen to book two, but I will keep it on my list for when I see it in an audible sale.
The narration was good. I can’t blame the narrator for how incredibly annoying I found the main character’s unnecessary Irish accent.
Overall, I will give this book 3 stars.
Some of the things that didn’t work for me were the tell, not show, writing style. We don’t see anything that would show us why [hang on I forgot her name and have to go look] Quinn feels strongly about Jimmy or even her aunt who raised her. We are told they grew up together but we don’t see interactions that lead us to believe she has an emotional bond with either of them. She does hook up with Jimmy but again it was just physical and no emotions were shown surrounding it. There is no character development. The Irish accent and vernacular bothered me too. It wasn’t believable and seems like the author did it solely to create interest with her and make her unique. It was dumb though because she supposedly got the accent from being raised by her Irish aunt, but she was raised in Boston, in the United States. She went to school with the rest of the Americans, she had friends, teachers, etc all who speak American English, yet she says “ye” for “you” and other things that don’t make sense for her to say. If she was partially raised in Ireland and spent her childhood there, it would make a little more sense, but she never even visited Ireland. There were some scenes that didn’t make sense too. We are told that her aunt is so important to her but then when she is kidnapped, Quinn spends the evening hooking up with Jimmy instead of worrying or doing something about it. The hooking up was done off page.
There were some imaginative things and while this book was mediocre for me, it definitely set the ground work and opened up the possibility for book two being even better. I liked the variety of supernatural and fae beings. Even though he wasn’t in a lot of the book, my favorite character was Dobby. I want to know more about him, and the fact that he is in book two makes it more enticing. This is the first book I have read by this author. I will give him one more try. Idk when I will listen to book two, but I will keep it on my list for when I see it in an audible sale.
The narration was good. I can’t blame the narrator for how incredibly annoying I found the main character’s unnecessary Irish accent.
Overall, I will give this book 3 stars.
June 23, 2018
This is definitely a series starter, but it packs in plenty of worldbuilding and plot. I admit the strong accents in the dialogue bugged me a bit, particularly given the Cockney one didn't quite ring right to my ear. Other than that, it was good fun. I enjoyed the characters and will be diving straight into book 2.
The main story does end at the 90% mark.
The main story does end at the 90% mark.
June 25, 2018
Nowhere near the standard of Nate and Cassie stories
Hugely disappointing. Doesn’t flow or feel like a story in the Nate and Cassie universe even though it’s set there. Stilted and clunky.
Hugely disappointing. Doesn’t flow or feel like a story in the Nate and Cassie universe even though it’s set there. Stilted and clunky.
January 4, 2022
This was so much fun. I liked how this series is set in the world of The Temple Chronicles but it has a distinct feel of it's own. The problem I had with another Shayne Silver series Feathers and Fire set in this same universe was that it felt a lot like TTC and the moment Nate Temple was introduced in the first book Unchained he took all the limelight. No other character could outshine Nate when he is in a scene and because of that I couldn't connect with Callie. She just felt flat in front of Nate's outrageousness. I am glad that Nate, even though I love him, didn't appeared in this book. He was mentioned a couple of times and that was enough.
But I would love to see Quinn and Nate interact with each other at some point in the series since it's set in the same universe. I'm sure that would be very entertaining. Quinn do have a lot in common with Nate. She's outrageous kickass and brash. A thief who steals magical artifacts and I loved her Irish accent. Going to start the second book.
But I would love to see Quinn and Nate interact with each other at some point in the series since it's set in the same universe. I'm sure that would be very entertaining. Quinn do have a lot in common with Nate. She's outrageous kickass and brash. A thief who steals magical artifacts and I loved her Irish accent. Going to start the second book.
January 22, 2022
Nice addition to the templeverse
Quinn is a fun new character to read. I was unsure about this series as I enjoyed the mate temple books so much but I did enjoy this book, it's definitely a good addition to the temple universe with a great new character to read about. I will be continuing this series.
Quinn is a fun new character to read. I was unsure about this series as I enjoyed the mate temple books so much but I did enjoy this book, it's definitely a good addition to the temple universe with a great new character to read about. I will be continuing this series.
January 1, 2019
Gutsy,Sexy, Irish Chick,with Lethal Kick A** Attitude,but don't let her know I said that!
I just finished the first book in the Phantom Queen series ,and was very impressed with it. The books title being Whiskey Ginger ,and the main character being a sexy ,lethal,and totally independent woman of Irish nationality was exceedingly appealing as far role models are concerned.It was also an interesting development finding that her mother had been in the IRA ,and her becoming a black magic arms dealer seemed only natural. Quinn's aunt who ended up raising her was also a unique individual similar to Stephanie Plum's pistol packing grandmother,and Alex Cross's grandmother at least as far as the intimidating attitude go's. The whole array of character's,and creative's was just fantastic with keeping you captivated to the very end of the novel. Borrowing from several different culture's myth's, and legend's only helped to add atmosphere of the story. I am relatively sure that speaker's are a part of American Indian myth, and the monkey king is either a creature of myth belonging to the chinese,or Japanese culture. I realize a lot of the character's were connected to the Nate Temple Eddie's of novel's,and if I had read any of those novel's i might have recognized some of the character's from those previous novel's. I do intend on reading a few of those novel's but at this moment I am still pretty much wrapped up in seeing what comes next with this series. With so many fine novel's to choose from on Amazon it is difficult to choose what you want to read next. I do however recommend everyone giving this serie's a look.
I just finished the first book in the Phantom Queen series ,and was very impressed with it. The books title being Whiskey Ginger ,and the main character being a sexy ,lethal,and totally independent woman of Irish nationality was exceedingly appealing as far role models are concerned.It was also an interesting development finding that her mother had been in the IRA ,and her becoming a black magic arms dealer seemed only natural. Quinn's aunt who ended up raising her was also a unique individual similar to Stephanie Plum's pistol packing grandmother,and Alex Cross's grandmother at least as far as the intimidating attitude go's. The whole array of character's,and creative's was just fantastic with keeping you captivated to the very end of the novel. Borrowing from several different culture's myth's, and legend's only helped to add atmosphere of the story. I am relatively sure that speaker's are a part of American Indian myth, and the monkey king is either a creature of myth belonging to the chinese,or Japanese culture. I realize a lot of the character's were connected to the Nate Temple Eddie's of novel's,and if I had read any of those novel's i might have recognized some of the character's from those previous novel's. I do intend on reading a few of those novel's but at this moment I am still pretty much wrapped up in seeing what comes next with this series. With so many fine novel's to choose from on Amazon it is difficult to choose what you want to read next. I do however recommend everyone giving this serie's a look.
August 1, 2018
No magic
Awesome read fast paced and lots of fun with plenty of humor and action love the interaction between the characters and the storyline is great really like it
Awesome read fast paced and lots of fun with plenty of humor and action love the interaction between the characters and the storyline is great really like it
December 24, 2018
This is a new style for a Templeverse novel. It took me a while to appreciate the new cast of characters, but I ended up loving it. Looking forward to the rest.
January 1, 2019
I don't really know what just happened.... I liked reading with an Irish accent in my head though, that part was fun.
June 12, 2018
In addition to the beginning of an entirely new sub-series to the broader universe of Shayne Silvers' novels, we also have the answer to the long held question of "How far does Silvers have to go before a diet of liquid crack, espresso and whiskey isn't even enough to maintain his output in a mere mortal shell?"
The book itself feels like a microcosm of all the flavors and textures of Silvers' established Templeverse but arranged and structured in new author Cameron O'Connell's own literary perspective. It is entertaining, engaging and elaborate in all the usual ways Silvers' work typically is, but the execution is just different enough to evoke a very subtly tweaked sense of narrative deja vu. The characters are distinct in voice and identity and there is enough lore given without weighing down the pace in exposition to distract from events as they occur moment to moment.
That said, it is at the same time a question of whether it could benefit from such distraction, or at least a bit more leeway between one event and another. The book seems to straddle the line between fast paced and rushed, again in a very different feeling than Silvers' own typical breakneck yet detailed narrative structure. This is by and far the "shortest" Templeverse novel I've read as of yet, and while the story's plot is distinct, the details of each individual event jump from one to the next so quickly that there is little time to absorb them and establish a given sense of time and placement for everything and everyone. In the span of a single chapter we see the introduction of not one but two villain forces and two opposing heroic forces, their manner of introduction being scathingly shy of deus ex machina given they all show up right at the plot's climax, only to be all but disregarded entirely just minutes afterward.
The start of a new series always engages some growing pains, especially those in an already established larger canon, so I am hopeful that the succeeding books in the series will have a bit more breathing room for things to develop now that the first book has set a status quo for the plot and characters.
The book itself feels like a microcosm of all the flavors and textures of Silvers' established Templeverse but arranged and structured in new author Cameron O'Connell's own literary perspective. It is entertaining, engaging and elaborate in all the usual ways Silvers' work typically is, but the execution is just different enough to evoke a very subtly tweaked sense of narrative deja vu. The characters are distinct in voice and identity and there is enough lore given without weighing down the pace in exposition to distract from events as they occur moment to moment.
That said, it is at the same time a question of whether it could benefit from such distraction, or at least a bit more leeway between one event and another. The book seems to straddle the line between fast paced and rushed, again in a very different feeling than Silvers' own typical breakneck yet detailed narrative structure. This is by and far the "shortest" Templeverse novel I've read as of yet, and while the story's plot is distinct, the details of each individual event jump from one to the next so quickly that there is little time to absorb them and establish a given sense of time and placement for everything and everyone. In the span of a single chapter we see the introduction of not one but two villain forces and two opposing heroic forces, their manner of introduction being scathingly shy of deus ex machina given they all show up right at the plot's climax, only to be all but disregarded entirely just minutes afterward.
The start of a new series always engages some growing pains, especially those in an already established larger canon, so I am hopeful that the succeeding books in the series will have a bit more breathing room for things to develop now that the first book has set a status quo for the plot and characters.
March 20, 2020
Whiskey Ginger - a review by Rosemary Kenny
A new series set alongside Nate Temple's Templeverse, Phantom Queen (The Phantom Queen Diaries) commences with Whiskey Ginger as its initial offering, from Master of Supernatural Fantasy, Shayne Silvers and his new creative partner Cameron O'Connell, in an adventure full of wonderful characters, epic adventure, supernatural beings of all kinds, that will keep you on your toes as you race to keep up with who's who, or how they relate to Nate and/or MC Quinn McKenna.Six feet tall and with the Ginger of the title describing her brightly coloured mane of hair, Quinn is one of the so-called Freaks - mutants and street people who have gathered together on the edge of so-called society. Quinn's also a 'Null', meaning that although she doesn't have any magic powers of her own, she can 'tap into' those of anyone who is nearby, including when she's being attacked. This makes her extremely sought after by others with shady intentions.A thief by necessity, feisty MMA expert Quinn undertakes a 'commission', when she's forced by a Dark Wizard,(who doesn't exactly have Nate Temple's best interests at heart, to say the least) into stealing something of Nate's, that her tormentor believes is his. Will Nate understand her actions are not those of her choosing? Does Quinn go through with her orders? Can she escape from the quandary she faces?
A companion to the Feathers and Fire series (also set in the Templeverse), starring Callie Penrose, Phantom Queen (The Phantom Queen Diaries Book 1), Whiskey Ginger will enthral you and 'whisk'(ey) you away to another time and realm and melt all your coronaviral fears away. Incredibly, there are already 10, yes,TEN in this series so far,that will put your reading enjoyment levels up on Cloud 9. Go for all Shayne Silvers' others too!
A new series set alongside Nate Temple's Templeverse, Phantom Queen (The Phantom Queen Diaries) commences with Whiskey Ginger as its initial offering, from Master of Supernatural Fantasy, Shayne Silvers and his new creative partner Cameron O'Connell, in an adventure full of wonderful characters, epic adventure, supernatural beings of all kinds, that will keep you on your toes as you race to keep up with who's who, or how they relate to Nate and/or MC Quinn McKenna.Six feet tall and with the Ginger of the title describing her brightly coloured mane of hair, Quinn is one of the so-called Freaks - mutants and street people who have gathered together on the edge of so-called society. Quinn's also a 'Null', meaning that although she doesn't have any magic powers of her own, she can 'tap into' those of anyone who is nearby, including when she's being attacked. This makes her extremely sought after by others with shady intentions.A thief by necessity, feisty MMA expert Quinn undertakes a 'commission', when she's forced by a Dark Wizard,(who doesn't exactly have Nate Temple's best interests at heart, to say the least) into stealing something of Nate's, that her tormentor believes is his. Will Nate understand her actions are not those of her choosing? Does Quinn go through with her orders? Can she escape from the quandary she faces?
A companion to the Feathers and Fire series (also set in the Templeverse), starring Callie Penrose, Phantom Queen (The Phantom Queen Diaries Book 1), Whiskey Ginger will enthral you and 'whisk'(ey) you away to another time and realm and melt all your coronaviral fears away. Incredibly, there are already 10, yes,TEN in this series so far,that will put your reading enjoyment levels up on Cloud 9. Go for all Shayne Silvers' others too!
June 13, 2018
Whiskey Ginger was a fun book. Despite the ferocious nature of some of the bad guys, there were a lot of pithy observations – um, well, snark – on the part of the main characters. And the story flowed well from beginning to end. I liked that the backstories of some of the characters were given in some detail (not Quinn’s, of course; I suspect that the series will be in part a long discovery on her part of who and what she really is).
Tales of the Phantom Queen is a new series in the world of Nate Temple. This one features Quinn MacKenna, who lives in Boston and deals in artifacts of Black Magic. She is familiar with what they call Freaks of all kinds – vampires, were-animals, Fae, trolls, and so on – but had never heard more than rumors of Nate Temple until now.
An evil wizard (no, this one’s not Nate, but there is a connection) thinks Quinn has robbed him, or otherwise interfered with his business, and kidnaps the woman who raised her, forcing her to steal a briefcase for him that turns out to belong to Nate’s company, Grimm Tech.
Things quickly get very bad. People are killed and seriously hurt. There is a trip into an alternate dimension where the evil wizard tries to hire a fox demon to kill somebody – a demon who seems pretty determined not to be satisfied with killing just one somebody. There is a god involved – a Chinese monkey god – and a hellacious fight.
Quinn appears to be, or at least to think of herself at this point as, a fairly average player among the Freaks of Boston. But the determination with which she steps up to protect the Freak community of her hometown leads one to suspect that she is about to take on a much more active role there.
Tales of the Phantom Queen is a new series in the world of Nate Temple. This one features Quinn MacKenna, who lives in Boston and deals in artifacts of Black Magic. She is familiar with what they call Freaks of all kinds – vampires, were-animals, Fae, trolls, and so on – but had never heard more than rumors of Nate Temple until now.
An evil wizard (no, this one’s not Nate, but there is a connection) thinks Quinn has robbed him, or otherwise interfered with his business, and kidnaps the woman who raised her, forcing her to steal a briefcase for him that turns out to belong to Nate’s company, Grimm Tech.
Things quickly get very bad. People are killed and seriously hurt. There is a trip into an alternate dimension where the evil wizard tries to hire a fox demon to kill somebody – a demon who seems pretty determined not to be satisfied with killing just one somebody. There is a god involved – a Chinese monkey god – and a hellacious fight.
Quinn appears to be, or at least to think of herself at this point as, a fairly average player among the Freaks of Boston. But the determination with which she steps up to protect the Freak community of her hometown leads one to suspect that she is about to take on a much more active role there.
June 13, 2018
First let me say I am a HUGE fan of Shayne Silvers. I am completely enamored with his Nate Temple series and every spinoff series that followed. However, I am unfamiliar with Cameron O'Connell's work.
Whiskey Ginger seems to carry on the tradition of the Nate Temple books with a new character coming into play; Quinn MacKenna. She is brash and tough and of all things, a black magic arms dealer. Throughout the book we see Shayne's signature wit in Quinn. She's a mouthy Freak with an unusual power. Apparently she's a null. Which confounds everyone because their powers disappear when they get close to her. It's a wonderfully odd power and plays beautifully with all the Freaks she works around. Even Nate felt it.
I guess the only problem I had with the book is it seems a bit disjointed. We go from incident to incident so quickly that it gets hard to follow them all. With every one it seems a new character gets introduced. It's a little hard to keep track of all of them. It's also a bit difficult to keep all the separate incidents together in my mind while reading so I remember them all when they resurface or when the end of the book comes. Towards the end I finally put it all together. Except Jimmy. Everything surrounding Jimmy was enigmatic and unresolved at the end. I'm hoping that will be addressed in Cosmopolitan.
To sum it up, it feels like a Shayne Silver book, yet it doesn't. I"m not sure yet whether I like Cameron O'Connell so I'm reserving judgment. I was left with the desire to read the next book, which I will do just as soon as it comes out. In the end, even were I to consider this not one of his best, and not even one solely by him, it still manages to be heads above the rest.
Whiskey Ginger seems to carry on the tradition of the Nate Temple books with a new character coming into play; Quinn MacKenna. She is brash and tough and of all things, a black magic arms dealer. Throughout the book we see Shayne's signature wit in Quinn. She's a mouthy Freak with an unusual power. Apparently she's a null. Which confounds everyone because their powers disappear when they get close to her. It's a wonderfully odd power and plays beautifully with all the Freaks she works around. Even Nate felt it.
I guess the only problem I had with the book is it seems a bit disjointed. We go from incident to incident so quickly that it gets hard to follow them all. With every one it seems a new character gets introduced. It's a little hard to keep track of all of them. It's also a bit difficult to keep all the separate incidents together in my mind while reading so I remember them all when they resurface or when the end of the book comes. Towards the end I finally put it all together. Except Jimmy. Everything surrounding Jimmy was enigmatic and unresolved at the end. I'm hoping that will be addressed in Cosmopolitan.
To sum it up, it feels like a Shayne Silver book, yet it doesn't. I"m not sure yet whether I like Cameron O'Connell so I'm reserving judgment. I was left with the desire to read the next book, which I will do just as soon as it comes out. In the end, even were I to consider this not one of his best, and not even one solely by him, it still manages to be heads above the rest.
July 30, 2018
So lets cut to the chase, this series is fast moving, full of adventure, violence and of course magic. However, it is also incredibly funny and sassy with Quinn at the centre of all this madness and mayhem.
I have read all four books in the series so far and because I'm a lazy fucker I'm going to review the series so far in total. If you enjoyed The Nate Temple Chronicles and then followed on with Feathers and Fire series you will enjoy these books. Cameron O'Connell I'm suspecting is the one to introduce a very Irish flavour to these books and he blends his own style in with Shayne Silvers already established Templeverse with the skill of a master craftsman. I suspect you can/should read these in tandem with the other series, I however did not. Having said that it takes nothing away from these books if you have done the same as I and read them one after the other.
I would say that a great many more of Nate's connections appear in this series than did in Feathers and Fire books (although Nate himself makes only a couple of brief appearances). Quinn Mackenna is an puzzle and a feisty one at that, she's a Black Magic Arms dealer with a temper not unlike our friend Nate Temple's and she protects her own with often no thought for her own safety. She is not sure what she is, or even if she is truly human, this is the story of how she finds herself and what she truly is. I found these books well written and very entertaining and am looking forward to the next book in the series, keep up the good work guys.
I have read all four books in the series so far and because I'm a lazy fucker I'm going to review the series so far in total. If you enjoyed The Nate Temple Chronicles and then followed on with Feathers and Fire series you will enjoy these books. Cameron O'Connell I'm suspecting is the one to introduce a very Irish flavour to these books and he blends his own style in with Shayne Silvers already established Templeverse with the skill of a master craftsman. I suspect you can/should read these in tandem with the other series, I however did not. Having said that it takes nothing away from these books if you have done the same as I and read them one after the other.
I would say that a great many more of Nate's connections appear in this series than did in Feathers and Fire books (although Nate himself makes only a couple of brief appearances). Quinn Mackenna is an puzzle and a feisty one at that, she's a Black Magic Arms dealer with a temper not unlike our friend Nate Temple's and she protects her own with often no thought for her own safety. She is not sure what she is, or even if she is truly human, this is the story of how she finds herself and what she truly is. I found these books well written and very entertaining and am looking forward to the next book in the series, keep up the good work guys.
June 12, 2018
Birth Announcement!!!! The Templeverse would like to announce the emergence of a BRAND NEW member! Meet Quinn MacKenna, a fiery redehead, Irish born, black magic arms dealer. She's who you don't want to meet in a back alley if you don't plan on paying for the goods. From the first chapter, new co-author Cameron O'Connell and Templeverse creator Shayne Silvers take us on a wild romp in the first installment of the new Phantom Queen series. With Boston, Go Sox, as the background, we get to go along for the ride as Quinn struggles to protect those she cares about from the "others", all while trying to unravel the mystery of who her father was/is and exactly what that makes Quinn. What she discovers, all while trying to stop a power hungry wizard from opening a portal allowing Hell on Earth, is that the more clues she gets about her heritage, the deeper and more confusing the mystery becomes. With a fantastic effort on a debut novel, the writing team of Silvers and O'Connell give the perfect combination of a new world, with just enough of our favorite characters from Nate Temple and Callie Penrose's worlds to make it feel like home. This redhead is unstoppable in her quest--let's just hope those she cares about are just as resilient. Grab a shot glass and join us for a toast as we celebrate the birth of Quinn MacKenna, our very own Whiskey Ginger!
June 29, 2018
Whiskey Ginger : Phantom Queen Book 1
This is the start of a whole new series by two authors, one I love and know very well, Shayne Silvers and the new guy on the block Cameron O'Connell. They have combined their writing talents to offer up one heck of a first book in the series.
Now first off I've read a few comments about the language used by the main character Quinn MacKenna. She is Irish and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. I am part Irish and lived 1 hour away from Boston most of my many years and I of course had no trouble reading and understanding our dear Quinn. 😀
The story is about Quinn, a 6 foot tall, red headed young woman, also a Freak and her job which is stealing or some how obtaining black market priceless relics, artifacts and any other in need items for those who pay her for this dangerous work. Pay her..... sometimes - maybe - not. The story includes Nate, a very short appearance, and some of his partners in the Nate Temple series, which I especially loved! She has an aunt who brought her up and her cop friend Jimmy otherwise Quinn is sort of a loner.
It is a wonderful, believable, enchanting and intriguing story that totally kept my interest and enjoyment.
Thank you Shayne and Cameron for a fantastic start of your new series. Now on to book 2.
Kathy Barber Doyle - 6/28/2018
This is the start of a whole new series by two authors, one I love and know very well, Shayne Silvers and the new guy on the block Cameron O'Connell. They have combined their writing talents to offer up one heck of a first book in the series.
Now first off I've read a few comments about the language used by the main character Quinn MacKenna. She is Irish and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. I am part Irish and lived 1 hour away from Boston most of my many years and I of course had no trouble reading and understanding our dear Quinn. 😀
The story is about Quinn, a 6 foot tall, red headed young woman, also a Freak and her job which is stealing or some how obtaining black market priceless relics, artifacts and any other in need items for those who pay her for this dangerous work. Pay her..... sometimes - maybe - not. The story includes Nate, a very short appearance, and some of his partners in the Nate Temple series, which I especially loved! She has an aunt who brought her up and her cop friend Jimmy otherwise Quinn is sort of a loner.
It is a wonderful, believable, enchanting and intriguing story that totally kept my interest and enjoyment.
Thank you Shayne and Cameron for a fantastic start of your new series. Now on to book 2.
Kathy Barber Doyle - 6/28/2018
June 12, 2018
Everything I've been waiting for!!
It was Crazyyyy reading this book! I can't even say how much I laughed at the stupid convos or Nate's cameo(he just can't seem to help rubbing people the wrong way!😂) not to mention how amazing it was seeing everything come together in a weird, tangled, Perfect bow. There's so many questions (so many!!), yet some from the previous books have -if not slightly-PARTLY!?-been answered😂 Shayne mahn you're killing us here!! This story is so twisted I can't see where on earth it's going, but from past experience, I know to just strap in and enjoy the ride. One word to describe the book? Brilliant! I also enjoyed how through the slight changes in the banter or perhaps characteristics of the characters as either Shayne added his unique touch or the brave soul who dared venture into the storm with him added his hot sauce, it all meshed perfectly, it wasn't jarringly different, it flowed and gave it that something-something that made it just right x. I thoroughly enjoyed this book pick it up immediately but read with caution, as is a must with all the Templeverse books😂😂 Now it's time to hop over to fb and watch chaos ensue, as we all question if Shayne really wants us to remain sane with all his Shaynanigans 😂😂 ENJOY!!x
It was Crazyyyy reading this book! I can't even say how much I laughed at the stupid convos or Nate's cameo(he just can't seem to help rubbing people the wrong way!😂) not to mention how amazing it was seeing everything come together in a weird, tangled, Perfect bow. There's so many questions (so many!!), yet some from the previous books have -if not slightly-PARTLY!?-been answered😂 Shayne mahn you're killing us here!! This story is so twisted I can't see where on earth it's going, but from past experience, I know to just strap in and enjoy the ride. One word to describe the book? Brilliant! I also enjoyed how through the slight changes in the banter or perhaps characteristics of the characters as either Shayne added his unique touch or the brave soul who dared venture into the storm with him added his hot sauce, it all meshed perfectly, it wasn't jarringly different, it flowed and gave it that something-something that made it just right x. I thoroughly enjoyed this book pick it up immediately but read with caution, as is a must with all the Templeverse books😂😂 Now it's time to hop over to fb and watch chaos ensue, as we all question if Shayne really wants us to remain sane with all his Shaynanigans 😂😂 ENJOY!!x
April 23, 2019
After seeing multiple of the Phantom Queen Diaries books mentioned on more that one social media platform, I decided to give Whiskey Ginger a chance during my Christmas holiday. As a reader with no knowledge of the well established Templeverse, I found it very easy to get into the book and immerse with the story line.
Quinn is a very relatable character that perfectly fits in to today's world, Cameron isn't afraid to create a female character that is a realistic representation of what a strong female can be, which no longer means a prim and proper woman with impeccable manners and all of the other characteristics synonymous with a debutante. There are also definite differences between this female lead and the protagonist of the sister Feathers and Fire series.
This book pulled me in all on its own and it what ultimately launched me into reading the rest of the books in the series. Looking back, there are enough subtle elements that help tie this character to the world of Nate Temple but still allow Quinn to stand on her own with her views of the Fae and other flavors of Freak. This book is a definite recommendation whether you are looking to take your time and read in your free time or take the weekend and plow through the whole thing.
Quinn is a very relatable character that perfectly fits in to today's world, Cameron isn't afraid to create a female character that is a realistic representation of what a strong female can be, which no longer means a prim and proper woman with impeccable manners and all of the other characteristics synonymous with a debutante. There are also definite differences between this female lead and the protagonist of the sister Feathers and Fire series.
This book pulled me in all on its own and it what ultimately launched me into reading the rest of the books in the series. Looking back, there are enough subtle elements that help tie this character to the world of Nate Temple but still allow Quinn to stand on her own with her views of the Fae and other flavors of Freak. This book is a definite recommendation whether you are looking to take your time and read in your free time or take the weekend and plow through the whole thing.
June 14, 2018
I have read and totally adored everything I’ve seen that was written by Shayne Silvers, and I think that I’ve grabbed onto everything written by this talented author. Now he is back with a new series, The Phantom Queen Diaries, co-written with Cameron O'Connell (who is new to me). Set in Silvers fantastic Nate Temple story universe (abs, as an aside, let me just note that if you’ve missed the various Nate Temple stories you have missed one of the best sets of urban fantasy books there is), the new series is a worthy addition. I adore Quinn MacKenna, “black magic arms dealer from the mean streets of Boston”, and had a blast following along in the rousing and well written tale. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, and I’m now going to have to look for more Cameron O'Connell tales.
June 9, 2018
I’m a big fan of the Nate Temple series, and I wasn’t really sure I would like this book. I was very pleasantly surprised! This book takes place alongside the Templeverse with only cameos of some of the characters from Mr. Silvers’ series. Yes, the plot revolves around something of Nate Temple’s, but he really isn’t the focus. I am sure the two series will intersect at some point, how can it not, but this book can stand alone so far. Mr. O’Connell is an excellent writer, really drawing you into the book right away. I really liked Quinn, the main character; she’s competent, strong, and fun. I also enjoyed the minor characters, and I am eager to see more of all of them. I think we are going to enjoy this new series, and I can’t wait to find out more about the characters in this great series. I know I said you could read this as a standalone, but I do think you will enjoy the other series, as well. Highly recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
June 12, 2018
Meet Quinn. When you need a magical item, she is the one you call. She will get you what you want, for a price. Quinn has connections and contacts all through her native boston, and she will use them to get what she truely wants.....answers. Who was her father? Why does she seem to have the strange ability to nullify magic? And in this story, who is the fool clueless enough to kidnap her adoptive aunt? To get her answers, Quinn will have to undertake one of her most dangerous aquisitions yet. She will have to steal from none other than Nate Temple himself. Join Quinn as we explore the mystical side of Boston, meet some new friends, quip and snark at some new enemies, and maybe see a few familliar faces. Shayne Silvers and Cameron O'Connell have crafted a new entry to the Templeverse that show us a new and grittier side of the magical community. Are you brave enough to walk these streets?
June 13, 2018
An exquisite addition to the Templeverse., adding a touch o' the Irish. Quinn MacKenna, a lone-wolf (that's a saying, not a hint) black magic artifact dealer, has always done things her way. No details, no names, no backup, and pay up! But, with the new world order that seems to be originating from St. Louis and Kansas City but has implications affecting her Boston and beyond, she is finding it more difficult to maintain her loner persona as well as her life. When their brand of chaos lands in Boston, she finds herself trying to differentiate between potential friend and definite foe. Add in a kidnapping, blackmail, theft, her unique "powers," and random "What was that?!?!" and you have the makings of a fine read. I welcome the cast of new characters joining some of our favorites to deliver this story, firmly diving into the Temple mythos while simultaneously delivering an entirely new voice. Loved it!
June 17, 2018
What a great start to a new spin of in the Temple world, I just love how Quinn has a no $hits given attitude and just gets on with things and does the job she is paid for, you get to see some great action, twists, lol moments along with meeting more of the wondrous Freaks that live among us. It took a little bit to get use to reading her accent but after a bit it wasn't a bother and it did give the book a little something else due to it. This book establishes the link between Quinns world and Nate's and yup the introduction between worlds is a smooth as a 40 grit sandpaper. Getting to know Quinn's work was great as you get a really good feel for her, makes you ensure not to meet her down an ally and see what drives her as well as her flaws, her friends what few she has are kept at arms reach and they vice versa.
October 12, 2018
I really love the Temple Chronicles and Feathers and Fire series by Shayne Silvers and was hoping/expecting to enjoy this series just as much sadly that was not the case.
The book was well written, the character is interesting but frankly the story was really boring and while I wonder about a few things, wont mention what to avoid spoilers, this felt more like a short story that was stretched out into a full book. I also found the "interaction" with the other two series quite lacking.
Frankly I just want to get back to the Callie and Nate story lines.
Will give book two a try as I am reading the Temple Verse in chronological order but I if things don't pick up and the next book feels as "empty" these are going to be more of a "chore" than a "damn can't wait" to read the next one thing.
The book was well written, the character is interesting but frankly the story was really boring and while I wonder about a few things, wont mention what to avoid spoilers, this felt more like a short story that was stretched out into a full book. I also found the "interaction" with the other two series quite lacking.
Frankly I just want to get back to the Callie and Nate story lines.
Will give book two a try as I am reading the Temple Verse in chronological order but I if things don't pick up and the next book feels as "empty" these are going to be more of a "chore" than a "damn can't wait" to read the next one thing.
June 14, 2018
Top notch
Anyone familiar with the work of Shayne Silvers will appreciate the veiled references to events in the Templeverse and cameos from a few of its more colorful characters in the first book of this new companion series. Fortunately, Boston comes fully equipped with its own cohort of memorable characters, led by Quinn MacKenna, who has no desire to visit the Midwest, thank you very much. I completely fell in love with Quinn and her smart mouth and jaded point of view before the end of chapter1. I'm already compiling a mental list of questions I would like to see answered in future books. I can't wait to read the next installment to discover what twists and turns we're going to get hit with next.
Anyone familiar with the work of Shayne Silvers will appreciate the veiled references to events in the Templeverse and cameos from a few of its more colorful characters in the first book of this new companion series. Fortunately, Boston comes fully equipped with its own cohort of memorable characters, led by Quinn MacKenna, who has no desire to visit the Midwest, thank you very much. I completely fell in love with Quinn and her smart mouth and jaded point of view before the end of chapter1. I'm already compiling a mental list of questions I would like to see answered in future books. I can't wait to read the next installment to discover what twists and turns we're going to get hit with next.
June 26, 2018
Just when you thought you understood the world...
That's when Shayne Silvers finds Cameron... And the Templeverse grows. If you're already a fan of the series, this set will give you a peek at The world from another perspective. If you've never read any of the Temple or Callie books, this will be a genuine treat and give you a different way to view the remarkable universe that's been created.
It's difficult to review this series without giving away too much. Suffice to say that you'll be hooked from the beginning and won't want to let go even when you get to the end. Thankfully the series is being released almost all at once. Now excuse me, I have to see what happens next...
That's when Shayne Silvers finds Cameron... And the Templeverse grows. If you're already a fan of the series, this set will give you a peek at The world from another perspective. If you've never read any of the Temple or Callie books, this will be a genuine treat and give you a different way to view the remarkable universe that's been created.
It's difficult to review this series without giving away too much. Suffice to say that you'll be hooked from the beginning and won't want to let go even when you get to the end. Thankfully the series is being released almost all at once. Now excuse me, I have to see what happens next...
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January 16, 2024Quinn. I think I may have found my new girl crush. Wow! What a woman. She is badassery in a Beautiful Irish body. Such an attitude. What sass. Let’s not even get started on the fighting skills.
This book was everything the Den of Freaks said it was and more. As usual Shayne Silvers did not disappont. This book is fast paced and funny at times. Sometimes you just gotta suck your teeth and groan at the amount of pain and suffering bestowed on, well…everybody. The good. The bad. And the ugly. No one is exempt.
I am so happy this book was recommended so highly. Can’t wait to get into the next one. If you aren’t sure what to read next…WHISKEY GINGER is the book for you. Oh and buckle up because you are going on a ride!!!
This book was everything the Den of Freaks said it was and more. As usual Shayne Silvers did not disappont. This book is fast paced and funny at times. Sometimes you just gotta suck your teeth and groan at the amount of pain and suffering bestowed on, well…everybody. The good. The bad. And the ugly. No one is exempt.
I am so happy this book was recommended so highly. Can’t wait to get into the next one. If you aren’t sure what to read next…WHISKEY GINGER is the book for you. Oh and buckle up because you are going on a ride!!!
June 13, 2018
Quinn MacKenna is a black magic arms dealer in Boston, trying to find a way to enter the land of the Fae to locate her dad and get some answers about her past. Yes, bring on the Fae! But she’s messing with the wrong crazy person, and that can only lead to a non-stop, action-packed chaotic romp that could take the reader absolutely anywhere! I love the fast pace of the author’s previous books, and am glad to see it continue in this new series of adventures. All of the characters will draw the reader in, dragged along happily by the perfect frenetic pacing in the story line, and an all-around awesome read!
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