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How did Everson Croft end up with a talking cat?

For that story, we go back to his early years as a wizard.

With New York City in the dumps, the red light is back on in Times Square. Vampires, dark fae, and exotic entertainers have set up shop, promising pleasures beyond the wildest imagination. But now male clients are turning up stiff … all over.

Everson suspects a supernatural predator, even as the clues keep drawing him back to Tabitha: a mysterious call girl who is one hundred percent mortal. As he struggles to solve the case, Everson finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into her dangerously tantalizing world.

Which is exactly what Tabitha seems to want...

120 pages, ebook

First published July 1, 2018

5 people are currently reading
164 people want to read

About the author

Brad Magnarella

50 books379 followers
Brad Magnarella writes urban fantasy for the same reason most read it – to explore worlds where magic crackles from fingertips, vampires and shifters walk city streets, cats talk (some excessively), and good prevails against all odds. It’s shamelessly fun.

His three main series, Prof Croft, Blue Wolf, and Maddy Deeds, make up the growing Croftverse, with nearly a half-million books sold to date and an Independent Audiobook Award nomination.

Hopelessly nomadic, Brad can be found in a rented room overseas or hiking America's backcountry.

To learn more about the Croftverse, and download two free prequel novellas, visit his website at bradmagnarella.com

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5 stars
75 (35%)
4 stars
81 (38%)
3 stars
45 (21%)
2 stars
10 (4%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,213 reviews2,341 followers
April 20, 2022
Siren Call
By Brad Magnarella
This was a great story where Croft is searching for a serial killer. Oh, he found her all right but she is a very strong being. She becomes her cat in future books! So this is how he gets his cat! Story is good too!
Profile Image for Holly Stone.
904 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2021
Haha, this is the book that explains how Everson has a succubus definitely need to read the 2 prequels before starting the series. Good Narration and good writing.
Profile Image for Emmalynn.
2,938 reviews29 followers
July 2, 2023
The introduction of Tabitha! I swear Croft loved to dash headlong into trouble!’ It was great seeing how Tab and Croft connected 😂😂
Profile Image for Todd.
2,226 reviews8 followers
May 11, 2021
Another prequel novella for the Professor Croft series, this is the story behind his meeting up with the succubus Tabitha
Profile Image for Jan van Es.
343 reviews2 followers
February 12, 2019
Another AWESOME book filled with Magic and mythology. There’s even a cat, my favorite animal, in it!

This prequel kept me thoroughly entertained.
Profile Image for Rev Gary.
223 reviews4 followers
August 18, 2019
I am really enjoying these books. It was a great and fun read. Learning a new vocabulary
Profile Image for Krys.
1,366 reviews8 followers
August 20, 2021
I think I’ve tuckered myself out on this author for the day. This is the 4th book from him I’ve listened to today, and, while I enjoyed another prequel for the MC, it sounded a lot like Pox You. I’m definitely starting to get a Sam and Dean Winchester/Geralt of Rivia kind of vibe without the woman troubles and llama drama. I love both of those storylines and all 3 of those characters, but the Supernatural series got stale for me because the creators fell into this formula for each episode and altered it only slightly between seasons, and I’m afraid that’s what is happening with the Croft serieses. There wasn’t really anything compelling about the story in this book, we were told the punchline in Pox You, so all the wandering about the MC does in this book is kinda pointless or at least not as interesting as it would have been if I didn’t already know the ending.

I also realized each book that I’ve listened to so far far be listened to independently and out of order, which is usually great, but the same major spells, the same descriptions of the MC’s fight moves, the same general idea of the MC bumbling through an investigation with occasional on point insight is repeated throughout all 4 books I’ve read and doesn’t develop in any way. He hasn’t leaned any crazy new spells, the fight scenes have gotten a little less imaginative, and there’s not really any character development. Yes, we get more of his backstory, but what about where the entire series is going? What’s his larger purpose? His goal? Where does all this monster slaying lead? I don’t see any indication, and while that’s not off-putting, it is a little discouraging. I think I need to take a step back from Croft for a bit, maybe read some other books by this author, or just take a break from him completely, so I can be sure I’d be making the right decision for my sanity as a reader. I’d rather drop the series entirely than see it’s ruin.
Profile Image for Kat Lebo.
855 reviews15 followers
July 29, 2019
Siren Call, Prof Croft, #0.75
by Brad Magnarella

I picked this novella, a second prequel to the first book in this series, "Demon Moon," from a link in the first prequel novella. Thank you, Brad Magnarella. This prequel takes place 5 years after the action in "Book of Souls," and 5 years before the action in "Demon Moon."

In this episode, Croft is already working as a mythology and lore professor at a NY university, and moonlighting as a paranormal hunter. He is still training as a wizard, but has honed his skills enough to be able to hunt and destroy paranormal creatures who show up in our world. This time, he's on the trail of a soul-eating paranormal working out of the Time Square area. In the world of the Croft books, this area is currently seedy, a great spot to purchase whatever perversion floats your boat. Specifically, Croft is looking for a succubus that goes by the name of Tabitha. Will he find her? What surprises await him when he does? And what "souvenir" of the adventure will become a regular part of his life?

Another quick and easy read, leading up to the first full novel in the series, "Demon Moon."
Profile Image for Marci.
965 reviews
January 11, 2025
Maybe 1.5 and rounded up to 2. I mean, I feel like after the first prequel and feeling like maybe I could enjoy a man writing urban fantasy, this one veered into territory of me rolling my eyes and seemed vastly different. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but I don’t understand why we had to immediately go to succubus and show her being evil yet the incubus from the first prequel was not. Then showing women having only exotic dancing or sex work to get out of plans not working out. I don’t know, this feels smarmy and belittling. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but it’s how I feel. Prof Croft seems like he’s nothing more than a horny teenager so far, it’s just lost its intrigue going in the direction it is. Is he like a warlock Batman or something? I’m going to try another book or two, but we’ll see how many more of these I’ll read if the entire series will be this way.
1,306 reviews4 followers
March 11, 2025
Another short (120 pages) prequel to the Prof Croft series, this starts 5 years after the first book. Everson spent a year with the order learning about being a mage and has returned to New York to fight supernatural incursions. He still has his incubus inside but doesn’t seem to have any problems with it.
Drawn to an incursion in a broken-down part of New York, Everson finds a body missing part of its soul. During the search for the culprit, he is directed to a prostitute by the name of Tabitha. In his search for her, he meets a few other people including vampires. Being helped by another girl, he has many leads to follow including another body.
His spells aren’t all that helpful at times, (he is still learning), but the search is interesting.
Again, I enjoyed this book and will now go onto the first main novel.
623 reviews12 followers
November 19, 2022
I really enjoy this author and as it was how the main character met my favourite character I just had to read it!
It flowed really well and I loved the concept of it. It did not take long to read either. I hope the real Tabitha returns one day! Everson deserves her.
I will definitely continue reading this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
75 reviews
June 3, 2022
I think I said in a review for book 1 that I wanted to know about the cat. So I guess that's me told then :)

The cat has a better origin story than I do, it's just a shame about the relationships Prof lost along the way.
Profile Image for Gianni Pratico.
111 reviews
June 11, 2023
As I get more into Brad Magnarella's work, I'm finding I'm enjoying this urban magic New York more and more. Read the two prequels after book 1 in my opinion. It helps lay context and attachment to the characters before you learn their origins
Profile Image for Fallen Prince.
18 reviews2 followers
July 12, 2021
I really had a good time and plot was super amazing but in middle for 5-6 pages it got a bit boring 😅 but other than that it's quite fun....
Profile Image for Donna.
1,751 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2021
Read in March 2020 along with Book of Souls, where I left a comment.
Profile Image for Desdemona Dreadless.
365 reviews10 followers
November 18, 2021
A cute little story in the world of Prof Croft. Unfortunately I don't like the main series much. So not gonna finish it. But it was a decent UF.
Profile Image for Leslie.
2,113 reviews25 followers
June 7, 2022
A young man with magic in his blood, raised in ignorance, thrust in to protecting an entire city with just months of preparation... it's no wonder he bumbles his way through the story.
Profile Image for Riana Elizabeth.
887 reviews73 followers
February 12, 2025
Though the writing was clean, the plot wasn't as well-put-together as the previous novel in the series. I'm still invested, though! Just hoping for a return to the craft of the first book.
Profile Image for Megan Cutter.
383 reviews
July 3, 2025
This short little book tells me how our erstwhile MC got his cat who harbors a succubus. Very cute! Definitely going to read the series.
Profile Image for S.S. Scott | Romance Author and Fiction Story Coach.
501 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2022
Oh, this is a perfect little novella, and I feel like I'm gonna find that it will make all the difference in the world going forward in the series. A succubus-possessed cat? How many ways can that go wrong? Or is it how many ways can that go right!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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