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Winter Solstice #1
Convergence
Intrepid reporter Solstice Winters is about to discover that life has big surprises for her. She's about to discover just how extraordinary she really is...
The first thrilling book in the new paranormal mystery series by #1 bestselling authors J.R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox!
Solstice Winters has spent most of her life halfway between normal society and the world of her magical parents. However, when getting caught between two worlds becomes more than metaphorical, being able to summon light or open locks might not be enough.
Neither her love life nor her professional life are going anywhere in a hurry. Her boyfriend is successful and handsome, but she constantly has to compete with his job for affection. At thirty-two, she works as a photojournalist for The Spiritualist, a small paper dedicated to magic and the supernatural ― that most people regard as a tabloid. Desperate for that ‘one break,’ she’ll do almost anything to get that big story and get into a ‘real’ media outlet.
Years of always not quite fitting in begin to make sense after an error at a particle physics laboratory alters the dimensional alignment of the world, strengthening magic and revealing an unexpected truth to Solstice.
She’s not even human.
In the wake of an event her boss at the paper is calling the Convergence, magical beings are appearing all over the Earth. Solstice doesn’t hesitate, racing to be the first to capture indisputable evidence of mythical beasts. Alas, being a magical creature herself, she soon winds up in the cross-hairs of not only a three-letter government agency, but an ancient sect of mages with dark intentions.
Solstice is about to discover just how powerful she really is...
The first thrilling book in the new paranormal mystery series by #1 bestselling authors J.R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox!
Solstice Winters has spent most of her life halfway between normal society and the world of her magical parents. However, when getting caught between two worlds becomes more than metaphorical, being able to summon light or open locks might not be enough.
Neither her love life nor her professional life are going anywhere in a hurry. Her boyfriend is successful and handsome, but she constantly has to compete with his job for affection. At thirty-two, she works as a photojournalist for The Spiritualist, a small paper dedicated to magic and the supernatural ― that most people regard as a tabloid. Desperate for that ‘one break,’ she’ll do almost anything to get that big story and get into a ‘real’ media outlet.
Years of always not quite fitting in begin to make sense after an error at a particle physics laboratory alters the dimensional alignment of the world, strengthening magic and revealing an unexpected truth to Solstice.
She’s not even human.
In the wake of an event her boss at the paper is calling the Convergence, magical beings are appearing all over the Earth. Solstice doesn’t hesitate, racing to be the first to capture indisputable evidence of mythical beasts. Alas, being a magical creature herself, she soon winds up in the cross-hairs of not only a three-letter government agency, but an ancient sect of mages with dark intentions.
Solstice is about to discover just how powerful she really is...
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2017
671 people are currently reading
493 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Rain
686 books1,728 followersJ.R. Rain is the author of 110 novels and counting. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest, where he's hard at work on his next novel... and fighting off sparkly vampires.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 29, 2017
Convergence (Winter Solstice #1) by Matthew S. Cox and J.R. Rain is such a wonderful and awesome book! I fell in love with this book right away and was glued to it to the end! The world goes nuts after the "Convergence". People are thinking it is caused by the Hadren particle collider opening a portal to another realm. It is increasing the magic that is already in the world. Solstice is a gal that works at a magazine for the supernatural. She is good at it too. She also has a bit of magic and helps the FBI. After the night of the Convergence, she wakes up VERY different....VERY different...LOL, what a hoot this book it! So fun! I loved it, I laughed, I giggled, I can't wait for the next book!!! This is going in my favorite file!
August 16, 2017
liked this a lot. It's like a mystery, chick-lit with elves and potential alternate worlds. I love it when genres are played about with.
Solstice is a photo journalist for a small time paranormal magazine, snapping away at potential entities for a mag that has hardly any readers. She dreams of hitting the big time and moving to a heavy hitter newspaper. What she doesn't dream of is being an elf! After an accident at Cern that ripples across the whole world she wakes up blonder and with pointy ears. Turns out the reason she always felt she didn't fit in was because she actually IS different.
I like Solstice. She's honest with herself (does she love her man or just his waterfall shower?) and has a great take on life. Sometimes she sounds a bit younger than she is but who says who have to act your age anyway? I like the playing around with sexuality - again this is a woman who knows herself (even as an elf that part remains) and happily accepts it.
The other characters are less rounded but then this isn't about them. We have FBI, covert CIA, Solstice is kidnapped and somehow ends up in Russia and finally joins up with another covert operation. This time to save the world and other magical creatures. This is one busy woman.
It moves at a great pace. It has the feel and tone of a chick-lit book with the first person writing style and it's just a bundle of fun. Looking forward to the next one
Free arc from netgalley
Solstice is a photo journalist for a small time paranormal magazine, snapping away at potential entities for a mag that has hardly any readers. She dreams of hitting the big time and moving to a heavy hitter newspaper. What she doesn't dream of is being an elf! After an accident at Cern that ripples across the whole world she wakes up blonder and with pointy ears. Turns out the reason she always felt she didn't fit in was because she actually IS different.
I like Solstice. She's honest with herself (does she love her man or just his waterfall shower?) and has a great take on life. Sometimes she sounds a bit younger than she is but who says who have to act your age anyway? I like the playing around with sexuality - again this is a woman who knows herself (even as an elf that part remains) and happily accepts it.
The other characters are less rounded but then this isn't about them. We have FBI, covert CIA, Solstice is kidnapped and somehow ends up in Russia and finally joins up with another covert operation. This time to save the world and other magical creatures. This is one busy woman.
It moves at a great pace. It has the feel and tone of a chick-lit book with the first person writing style and it's just a bundle of fun. Looking forward to the next one
Free arc from netgalley
October 23, 2017
This doesn't break any new ground, but uses the tropes of urban fantasy (snarky, smart narrative female voice, supernatural creatures in our world, etc.) in a fresh and interesting way. I will happily read the next in the series as soon as it comes out.
August 25, 2017
Wow – what an intro to a huge new world! We’ve got paranormals, MIB, giant bird things, and so much I can’t even wrap my head around. This was definitely a deep dive into the world of magic and mayhem.
Solstice is a reporter for a paranormal paper. It would be pretty strange if she hadn’t grown up around magic. In this world, when normal are confronted with magic they easily rationalize it all away. Some people, however, are more open to seeing it. All of that changes when “the convergence” happens, putting a whole mess of magical beings front and center for all the world to see.
There’s a bunch of madness, kidnapping, magic, and maybe even some romance jammed into this introduction to Solstice’s world. The larger story has to do with nothing big, just saving the world (and herself) from some dark forces. I’m sure that this will end up being a much larger story in the books to come, but this was definitely a satisfying start.
Solstice is a reporter for a paranormal paper. It would be pretty strange if she hadn’t grown up around magic. In this world, when normal are confronted with magic they easily rationalize it all away. Some people, however, are more open to seeing it. All of that changes when “the convergence” happens, putting a whole mess of magical beings front and center for all the world to see.
There’s a bunch of madness, kidnapping, magic, and maybe even some romance jammed into this introduction to Solstice’s world. The larger story has to do with nothing big, just saving the world (and herself) from some dark forces. I’m sure that this will end up being a much larger story in the books to come, but this was definitely a satisfying start.
August 17, 2017
Solstice Winters, not quite human but not just magical, a photojournalist working for a paper. The paper is dedicated to the supernaturals and humans believing it to be a tabloid. She is caught between the two worlds. Magical beings start appearing all over the Earth, she sets out to get irrefutable proof. Solstice winds up wanted by a three-letter government agency and an ancient group of mage since she herself is magical.
August 4, 2017
The first thing you need to know about this book is that I never got bored, not even a little bit! All events happen in a good pace which barely leaves you time to get bored or ask questions. You just want to keep reading!
As soon as you feel like you can catch your breath, you're half-way in the next situation Solstice tumbles into. It's a book that keeps building on the previous layer of the story. I loved that!
There isn't a whole lot of world-building going on, but in this case I thought it worked perfectly. Solstice has yet to find out what exactly she is, so it makes sense you get to find out everything along with her.
As for Solstice as a character... There's no other way to say this then just spill it out. She got on my nerves. Often. She's supposed to be 34 and yet she keeps acting as a teenager. The way she talks, thinks things... It would've probably bothered me less if she'd been pictured as a teenager / young adult, but that wasn't the case.
Apart from that - not really small - note, I did enjoy her in a way as well. She knew what she wanted and fought for it. I also liked her confidence, especially while she was still finding out what she was, what had happened. Truly, if only everybody was that confident and at ease with being "different"...
But then came my biggest disappointment! Remember the good pace? The events following upon one another like crazy? You have no idea how sudden that made the end feel! I was convinced I had at least five more chapters to go, that the really good stuff was just about to happen and then... The end.
Still can't figure out if I like it or not. On the one hand I really don't because I wanted to read more, find out what was going to happen. On the other hand... Well, I guess I have my motivation to want to read the sequel, right?
Yet, I'm going with the "not liking it". I would've loved it if the story got wrapped up a little bit more so you had at least a sense of closure.
I really do look forward to finding out more about Solstice, her world and whatever is going to happen next though.
The frustrations I had with Solstice as a person and the very sudden end of the book make me give Convergence a 3,5 / 5.
Want more of my reviews? Follow my blog!
http://booksandmunches.wordpress.com/
Kathy
I got this book from Clare at Curiosity Quills Press. All opinions are completely my own. I'm not being compensated for reviewing this book in any way.
As soon as you feel like you can catch your breath, you're half-way in the next situation Solstice tumbles into. It's a book that keeps building on the previous layer of the story. I loved that!
There isn't a whole lot of world-building going on, but in this case I thought it worked perfectly. Solstice has yet to find out what exactly she is, so it makes sense you get to find out everything along with her.
"You can probably finda book about sneaking into cultist strongholds on Kindle," says Mr. Moody. "They've got how-tos on almost everything."
As for Solstice as a character... There's no other way to say this then just spill it out. She got on my nerves. Often. She's supposed to be 34 and yet she keeps acting as a teenager. The way she talks, thinks things... It would've probably bothered me less if she'd been pictured as a teenager / young adult, but that wasn't the case.
"Whatevs."
Apart from that - not really small - note, I did enjoy her in a way as well. She knew what she wanted and fought for it. I also liked her confidence, especially while she was still finding out what she was, what had happened. Truly, if only everybody was that confident and at ease with being "different"...
I know a lot of people talk to their cats. I feel special because mine answers.
But then came my biggest disappointment! Remember the good pace? The events following upon one another like crazy? You have no idea how sudden that made the end feel! I was convinced I had at least five more chapters to go, that the really good stuff was just about to happen and then... The end.
Still can't figure out if I like it or not. On the one hand I really don't because I wanted to read more, find out what was going to happen. On the other hand... Well, I guess I have my motivation to want to read the sequel, right?
Yet, I'm going with the "not liking it". I would've loved it if the story got wrapped up a little bit more so you had at least a sense of closure.
I really do look forward to finding out more about Solstice, her world and whatever is going to happen next though.
The frustrations I had with Solstice as a person and the very sudden end of the book make me give Convergence a 3,5 / 5.
Want more of my reviews? Follow my blog!
http://booksandmunches.wordpress.com/
Kathy
I got this book from Clare at Curiosity Quills Press. All opinions are completely my own. I'm not being compensated for reviewing this book in any way.
September 10, 2017
Solstice knows magic exists but she’s one of the few who does - and it doesn’t overly affect her job as a photographer or her relationship. Unfortunately, since neither are doing extremely well.
And then something happens, the Convergence - and Solstice’s career is definitely picking up. Oh, and apparently she’s not even human. While being an elf explains a lot of things, it also makes her very much in demand. Including by some very unethical people...
Ok, shameful confession time - I had pretty low expectations of this book and had all honed my snark ready to take this on. Mainly because of one thing: “Solstice Winters”. Yes the protagonist is called Solstice Winters and in no way was there any indication that this was going to be a parody.
But it is neither a parody and nor taking itself ridiculously seriously and Solstice is duly mocking of her own parent’s silly naming choice.
Instead we have a really interesting world to explore which is light hearted and fun (and with a protagonist who is very much both - I really like her) and pretty much a joy to read.
The concept is one we’ve see a few times - magical realms are getting close to Earth which leads to the normal magical lite Earth suddenly having scads of woo-woo and magical creatures that were never here before which causes some upheaval. What is a really fun take on this is Solstice waking up in this new wash of magic and having the illusion torn aside and realising she’s an elf. It’s one thing to have a world that suddenly becomes magical - we’ve seen that a lot - but to have the protagonist wake up and realise she is a magical creature (and always has been) is a great twist.
In some ways I think it could be a greater twist if adapted, extended or, perhaps, if the book weren’t quite as funny and light as it is. I mean, we have examples of how elven attitudes have always influenced Solstice (casual nudity, connection to nature, not seeing sex as a big deal) but there isn’t much look at her analysing any of her behaviour/attitudes/thoughts and thinking “am I human”? Or even “Am I elven”? Or “where are my people?”. Of course this book is pretty heavy on the action and probably hasn’t given her that much in the terms of introspection.
But related to that there is a moment where Solstice is kidnapped by typical Men In Black and subjected to some deeply invasive testing and then talk about putting you in a cage which is kind of swept under the rug and everyone gets over that really quickly. I mean, she’s a reporter - and she’s not the only humanoid/intelligent Numina out there (after all, she was captured when watching a faun) who may not have the legal protections and police friends that Solstice has. I call shenanigans on this just being skipped over.
On that friend - I do like Jadea lot. She’s mixed-race Black and Asian and is a lesbian in a relationship. She talks about that relationship with Solstice, not because it’s plot relevant but because they’re actually friends and act like it. Jade doesn’t play a huge role and isn’t present a lot but from what we do see it’s clear she has a strong position in Solstice’s life. Solstice also has other friends in the paranormal society, who appear briefly but even in that brief moment we have an insight into their relationships - as well as a good relationship with her boss.
Read More
And then something happens, the Convergence - and Solstice’s career is definitely picking up. Oh, and apparently she’s not even human. While being an elf explains a lot of things, it also makes her very much in demand. Including by some very unethical people...
Ok, shameful confession time - I had pretty low expectations of this book and had all honed my snark ready to take this on. Mainly because of one thing: “Solstice Winters”. Yes the protagonist is called Solstice Winters and in no way was there any indication that this was going to be a parody.
But it is neither a parody and nor taking itself ridiculously seriously and Solstice is duly mocking of her own parent’s silly naming choice.
Instead we have a really interesting world to explore which is light hearted and fun (and with a protagonist who is very much both - I really like her) and pretty much a joy to read.
The concept is one we’ve see a few times - magical realms are getting close to Earth which leads to the normal magical lite Earth suddenly having scads of woo-woo and magical creatures that were never here before which causes some upheaval. What is a really fun take on this is Solstice waking up in this new wash of magic and having the illusion torn aside and realising she’s an elf. It’s one thing to have a world that suddenly becomes magical - we’ve seen that a lot - but to have the protagonist wake up and realise she is a magical creature (and always has been) is a great twist.
In some ways I think it could be a greater twist if adapted, extended or, perhaps, if the book weren’t quite as funny and light as it is. I mean, we have examples of how elven attitudes have always influenced Solstice (casual nudity, connection to nature, not seeing sex as a big deal) but there isn’t much look at her analysing any of her behaviour/attitudes/thoughts and thinking “am I human”? Or even “Am I elven”? Or “where are my people?”. Of course this book is pretty heavy on the action and probably hasn’t given her that much in the terms of introspection.
But related to that there is a moment where Solstice is kidnapped by typical Men In Black and subjected to some deeply invasive testing and then talk about putting you in a cage which is kind of swept under the rug and everyone gets over that really quickly. I mean, she’s a reporter - and she’s not the only humanoid/intelligent Numina out there (after all, she was captured when watching a faun) who may not have the legal protections and police friends that Solstice has. I call shenanigans on this just being skipped over.
On that friend - I do like Jadea lot. She’s mixed-race Black and Asian and is a lesbian in a relationship. She talks about that relationship with Solstice, not because it’s plot relevant but because they’re actually friends and act like it. Jade doesn’t play a huge role and isn’t present a lot but from what we do see it’s clear she has a strong position in Solstice’s life. Solstice also has other friends in the paranormal society, who appear briefly but even in that brief moment we have an insight into their relationships - as well as a good relationship with her boss.
Read More
August 7, 2017
Solstice Winters has spent most of her life halfway between normal society and the world of her magical parents. Neither her love life nor her professional life are going anywhere in a hurry. At thirty-two, she works as a photojournalist for The Spiritualist, a small paper dedicated to magic and the supernatural―that most people regard as a tabloid. Desperate for that ‘one break,’ she’ll do almost anything to get that big story and get into a ‘real’ media outlet.
After an error at a particle physics laboratory alters the dimensional alignment of the world, strengthening magic and revealing an unexpected truth to Solstice. She’s not even human. In the wake of an event her boss at the paper is calling The Convergence, magical beings are appearing all over the Earth. Solstice doesn’t hesitate, racing to be the first to capture indisputable evidence of mythical beasts. Alas, being a magical creature herself, she soon winds up in the cross-hairs of not only a three-letter government agency, but an ancient sect of mages with dark intentions.
This book and me had our ups and downs. It really starts off strong in my opinion, Winter is a hilarious character. From page one I loved her witty banter, and her inner dialogue had me laughing out loud. But when it came to explaining her world, past and present I felt it was slightly lacking. Not that I felt it wasn't pieced together well, the entire book had a good flow to it. It was the hope that there was gonna a little bit more; more on her sister Eva and especially more on her Starbucks friend, even more on Winter herself now that she knows she's an Elf. Then we come to the ending, there's cliffhangers and then there's just a drop off. This unfortunately was a drop off. I am a fan of good cliffhangers where you are frantically checking the internet for the next book release, praying its not to far off. Ya... this is not one of those endings. As much as I want to know what happens next again I felt like there should have been more.
Despite my issues with the book, I still feel like it was an enjoyable read and will be giving book two a shot. Maybe some of my questions will be answered.
Thanks to J.R Rain, Matthew S. Cox, Curiosity Quills Press and netgalley for sending the ARC in exchange for an honest review
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After an error at a particle physics laboratory alters the dimensional alignment of the world, strengthening magic and revealing an unexpected truth to Solstice. She’s not even human. In the wake of an event her boss at the paper is calling The Convergence, magical beings are appearing all over the Earth. Solstice doesn’t hesitate, racing to be the first to capture indisputable evidence of mythical beasts. Alas, being a magical creature herself, she soon winds up in the cross-hairs of not only a three-letter government agency, but an ancient sect of mages with dark intentions.
This book and me had our ups and downs. It really starts off strong in my opinion, Winter is a hilarious character. From page one I loved her witty banter, and her inner dialogue had me laughing out loud. But when it came to explaining her world, past and present I felt it was slightly lacking. Not that I felt it wasn't pieced together well, the entire book had a good flow to it. It was the hope that there was gonna a little bit more; more on her sister Eva and especially more on her Starbucks friend, even more on Winter herself now that she knows she's an Elf. Then we come to the ending, there's cliffhangers and then there's just a drop off. This unfortunately was a drop off. I am a fan of good cliffhangers where you are frantically checking the internet for the next book release, praying its not to far off. Ya... this is not one of those endings. As much as I want to know what happens next again I felt like there should have been more.
Despite my issues with the book, I still feel like it was an enjoyable read and will be giving book two a shot. Maybe some of my questions will be answered.
Thanks to J.R Rain, Matthew S. Cox, Curiosity Quills Press and netgalley for sending the ARC in exchange for an honest review
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September 19, 2017
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Solstice Winters walks between two worlds. The normal world and the magical world her parents brought her up in. Little does she know, she is much closer to that magical world than she ever bargained for. Especially when her cat, Mr. Moody, is as snarky as his name.
J.R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox make a really awesome writing team. The writing was seamless. You honestly wouldn’t know there were two different authors. Clearly, they were on the same track.
Solstice is a great lead character as well. She had a well thought out personality and she had some good lines involving her sense of humour. Especially when the cat started to talk and demand food, at regular intervals, haha. The other supporting characters were well balanced and well written as well.
The only problem I found that this story lacks is world building. While it had great conversational aspects to the story, but a little more focus on the surroundings would have been top notch for the story.
However, I do look forward to more by these two authors and more of Mr. Moody and Solstice.
Please visit me at Shh, I am Reading for reviews & more!
Solstice Winters walks between two worlds. The normal world and the magical world her parents brought her up in. Little does she know, she is much closer to that magical world than she ever bargained for. Especially when her cat, Mr. Moody, is as snarky as his name.
J.R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox make a really awesome writing team. The writing was seamless. You honestly wouldn’t know there were two different authors. Clearly, they were on the same track.
Solstice is a great lead character as well. She had a well thought out personality and she had some good lines involving her sense of humour. Especially when the cat started to talk and demand food, at regular intervals, haha. The other supporting characters were well balanced and well written as well.
The only problem I found that this story lacks is world building. While it had great conversational aspects to the story, but a little more focus on the surroundings would have been top notch for the story.
However, I do look forward to more by these two authors and more of Mr. Moody and Solstice.
Please visit me at Shh, I am Reading for reviews & more!
August 2, 2017
Matthew Cox and J.R. Rain make a wonderful team as proven by Convergence, the first book in the Winter Solstice series. Here we are introduced to Solstice Winters, a photojournalist working for The Spiritualist, a tabloid dedicated to going after magic and paranormal activity. She is also a practitioner who was raised in a world filled with Magic. She is a wonderful character who, like the story, is quirky, witty, strong and hip deep in the results of a convergence of dimensions caused by the Large Hadron Collider. What ensues is a well written story the reaches an exciting climax and a satisfying conclusion. The action is fast paced, the dialogue clever and not for those easily offended (though this is not overdone), and Solstice and the other supporting characters are thoroughly intriguing. I really enjoyed this, recommend it highly, and waiting anxiously for the next installment. I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2017
A strong ensemble of supporting characters and an extraordinary main character
The story is fun too. Sol deals with everyday life struggles. A lack listed career and a boyfriend who puts his career first. Then the unthinkable happens and magic is reintroduced to our world. Sol figures out she isn't your average 30 something woman and then she really finds out who loves her and who doesn't.
The supporting characters are just as interesting as the main character! Oftentimes supporting characters disappear in the background. I want to know more about them!
The story starts off a bit slow but once the ball starts rolling you won't be able to put the book down until you have finished it.
The premise is so original and fun. I look forward to the next book and Sol' s next adventure!
The story is fun too. Sol deals with everyday life struggles. A lack listed career and a boyfriend who puts his career first. Then the unthinkable happens and magic is reintroduced to our world. Sol figures out she isn't your average 30 something woman and then she really finds out who loves her and who doesn't.
The supporting characters are just as interesting as the main character! Oftentimes supporting characters disappear in the background. I want to know more about them!
The story starts off a bit slow but once the ball starts rolling you won't be able to put the book down until you have finished it.
The premise is so original and fun. I look forward to the next book and Sol' s next adventure!
September 11, 2017
James Bond but with boobs and pointy ears
It starts off nice and slow and draws you in. Then you just cannot put it down. When magic seeps into their world some wonderful and some dark and deadly things happen. Elves, Griffin, huge blue eagles, and a talking cat are some of the wonderful. Secret societies are some of the bad. The action scenes are nothing short of Bond quality. The ending is a bit abrupt and left me craving for more. Curse you JR Rain! It's challenging to fluctuate between Solstice Winters and Jim Knighthorse. But I'm up for the challenge.
It starts off nice and slow and draws you in. Then you just cannot put it down. When magic seeps into their world some wonderful and some dark and deadly things happen. Elves, Griffin, huge blue eagles, and a talking cat are some of the wonderful. Secret societies are some of the bad. The action scenes are nothing short of Bond quality. The ending is a bit abrupt and left me craving for more. Curse you JR Rain! It's challenging to fluctuate between Solstice Winters and Jim Knighthorse. But I'm up for the challenge.
September 8, 2017
This book amazed me! I thought the synopsis was interesting, but I thought it would go how most books have been going for me lately... great synopsis, but poor execution. I was never bored with this one. Solstice is an awesome character, with an even more sassier cat. There was intrigue, mystery, and humor. I can't wait until the next story! (I would love this to be an audio book!)
July 30, 2017
I received this book for free for an honest review. Honestly, I wished the book continued and now can't wait for the second in the series. Solstice is baffled at what happened to her after a strange night. She teams up with Mr Moody. A great book and I highly recommend it.
August 2, 2017
Very good
A different take on the paranormal. Great characters and very well written. Really hope that there are more books coming
A different take on the paranormal. Great characters and very well written. Really hope that there are more books coming
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January 8, 2026Another DNF. Nothing particularly wrong with this book, just not invested enough in yet another snarky, flippant urban fantasy FMC. Just... not what I want to read right now.
November 29, 2017
Interesting variance of the paranormal genre. I enjoyed getting to know Solstice Winters and how she deals with the news that she's an elf. The explanation of a rift in the vail and the presence of magic in the world was at least plausible. Generally good J. R. Rain subject matter told in an entertaining way.
September 6, 2017
*I received a free copy by NetGalley
Convergence is not an easy book to summarize. It is weird and shows as much paranormal as a fantasy book should. At first I was kind of meh, but it got better as the plot advanced. So even if you get stuck in the first few pages, you should keep on with it, it's definitely worth it!
Convergence is not an easy book to summarize. It is weird and shows as much paranormal as a fantasy book should. At first I was kind of meh, but it got better as the plot advanced. So even if you get stuck in the first few pages, you should keep on with it, it's definitely worth it!
November 25, 2021
Books 1 and 2:
I have to say that I found this series fairly enjoyable. It is not wow great but definitely an enjoyable read. It is somewhat in the same style as the Vampire for Hire series by the same author. That is, it has an enjoyable main protagonist who is thrown into the world of magic and supernatural and has to cope with it. In the Vampire for Hire series the main protagonist is already aware of magic at the start of the series (she is a vampire after all) but in this one she is thrown into it at the beginning of the first book. Another similarity is that the main protagonist is fairly mundane (too begin with) and never really looses touch with everyday life. It is a good mix between said everyday life, old friends, magical revelations and magical ass kicking without overdoing any of the components.
The first book did have a bit of a wonky start though. First Sol want’s to get noticed by CNN. I so whish authors would use fictional media organizations in today’s biased, unprofessional and fake news ones. At least do not use Communist News Network. Then there was a bit of catering for the woke mob by unnecessary ramblings about sexuality, bisexuality and equally unnecessary wet dreams.
From there the author went into shamelessly using CERN in some, unsuccessful, attempt to plug in something that would sound cool. Of course the authors “scientific” drivel mixing up computers, quantum physics and dimensions is pure ignorant fantasies. For instance “if quantum computing works, it would prove other dimensions exist”. Duh, stupid, quantum computing exists today and it proves nothing of the kind.
Luckily the author doesn’t dwell too much on these things and the book quickly moves on to tell the story of Sol who not only discovers that magic is real but that she is a real elf. This is the part of the book that is fun. Sol is a quite likable person, she doesn’t whine all the time and when she does it is with humor and a sharp tongue.
Another very likable character in the book is her familiar, a talking cat, which is witty and quite cool. They complement each other nicely and their bantering is quite fun read.
I do like to follow Sol when she dives into her small and large adventures and, on the way, learns about her newfound powers and the world of the supernatural in general.
One premise of the main story arc is that magic suddenly got (re)introduced to the world and thus there are plenty of opportunities for these surprise moments and dropping of the jaws of the “mundane”. Unless of course said mundane don’t just roll up their eyes and take a involuntary nap when our pointy eared elf run by with some suitably grotesque magic creature chasing her. I really like those kind of stories.
Of course not all magicals are as likable as Sol and, equally of course, the various three letter agencies sticks their fingers in her life as well. It all adds up to make life rather interesting, but hectic, for Sol. Not surprisingly she is also surrounded with an increasing number of magical and mundane friends.
I quite like how the story moves along at a decent but still not overly exaggerated pace. Small and not so small problems are thrown at Sol at regular intervals but not in a way that make me feel I’m reading a script for a action movie. The “garden gnome” issue was quite funny. Dragging in the infamous mad monk of Russia felt a bit cheap and predictable but at least there was a bit of a twist to it.
Overall, I have to say that I quite enjoyed these two books. As I wrote, not wow great, but still quite enjoyable. For now I would say this is a series that I will continue reading.
I have to say that I found this series fairly enjoyable. It is not wow great but definitely an enjoyable read. It is somewhat in the same style as the Vampire for Hire series by the same author. That is, it has an enjoyable main protagonist who is thrown into the world of magic and supernatural and has to cope with it. In the Vampire for Hire series the main protagonist is already aware of magic at the start of the series (she is a vampire after all) but in this one she is thrown into it at the beginning of the first book. Another similarity is that the main protagonist is fairly mundane (too begin with) and never really looses touch with everyday life. It is a good mix between said everyday life, old friends, magical revelations and magical ass kicking without overdoing any of the components.
The first book did have a bit of a wonky start though. First Sol want’s to get noticed by CNN. I so whish authors would use fictional media organizations in today’s biased, unprofessional and fake news ones. At least do not use Communist News Network. Then there was a bit of catering for the woke mob by unnecessary ramblings about sexuality, bisexuality and equally unnecessary wet dreams.
From there the author went into shamelessly using CERN in some, unsuccessful, attempt to plug in something that would sound cool. Of course the authors “scientific” drivel mixing up computers, quantum physics and dimensions is pure ignorant fantasies. For instance “if quantum computing works, it would prove other dimensions exist”. Duh, stupid, quantum computing exists today and it proves nothing of the kind.
Luckily the author doesn’t dwell too much on these things and the book quickly moves on to tell the story of Sol who not only discovers that magic is real but that she is a real elf. This is the part of the book that is fun. Sol is a quite likable person, she doesn’t whine all the time and when she does it is with humor and a sharp tongue.
Another very likable character in the book is her familiar, a talking cat, which is witty and quite cool. They complement each other nicely and their bantering is quite fun read.
I do like to follow Sol when she dives into her small and large adventures and, on the way, learns about her newfound powers and the world of the supernatural in general.
One premise of the main story arc is that magic suddenly got (re)introduced to the world and thus there are plenty of opportunities for these surprise moments and dropping of the jaws of the “mundane”. Unless of course said mundane don’t just roll up their eyes and take a involuntary nap when our pointy eared elf run by with some suitably grotesque magic creature chasing her. I really like those kind of stories.
Of course not all magicals are as likable as Sol and, equally of course, the various three letter agencies sticks their fingers in her life as well. It all adds up to make life rather interesting, but hectic, for Sol. Not surprisingly she is also surrounded with an increasing number of magical and mundane friends.
I quite like how the story moves along at a decent but still not overly exaggerated pace. Small and not so small problems are thrown at Sol at regular intervals but not in a way that make me feel I’m reading a script for a action movie. The “garden gnome” issue was quite funny. Dragging in the infamous mad monk of Russia felt a bit cheap and predictable but at least there was a bit of a twist to it.
Overall, I have to say that I quite enjoyed these two books. As I wrote, not wow great, but still quite enjoyable. For now I would say this is a series that I will continue reading.
December 9, 2018
I enjoyed this story so much that I read all three of the series (so far) back-to-back on Kindle Unlimited. It's about a magical reawakening of the Earth (which was hurried along ahead of the normal every thousand-years-or-so schedule by technology.) The magic revealed that the heroine (Winter) is actually an elf, and the first book has a lot of other creatures that have crossed over from other dimensions. The characters are all likeable, there's a sprinkle of light-hearted humor, and enough mystery and action to keep the reader on her toes. I highly recommend this series.
April 17, 2018
convergence is a really good book. the main character is excellent, the story is fast paced and holds your attention! I found myself staying up late because I couldnt put the book down! the only thing I did not like was the story was too short and over too soon! you need to write some longer books about these characters! I hope you are starting a new series.
January 18, 2023
quite interesting
This book is not without action, twists and turns; that's for sure. I wasn't sure if it was my kind of thing, then Solstice woke up in her elf body and, with all of the magical beings and elements, I found myself being totally engaged. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.
This book is not without action, twists and turns; that's for sure. I wasn't sure if it was my kind of thing, then Solstice woke up in her elf body and, with all of the magical beings and elements, I found myself being totally engaged. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.
February 15, 2024
What happens when magic invades the earth?
Well, we end up with quite a few creatures and beings we thought were fiction of course.
This is a great start to what I hope is going to be an interesting series of books about the mixing of magic and faith.
It was a fun look at what might happen if we open the path between us and wherever.
Great read.
Well, we end up with quite a few creatures and beings we thought were fiction of course.
This is a great start to what I hope is going to be an interesting series of books about the mixing of magic and faith.
It was a fun look at what might happen if we open the path between us and wherever.
Great read.
November 26, 2017
Convergence
J. R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox have another best seller out! Convergence is a wonderful story of magic, elves and other delightful magical creatures and people. Give this series a read and I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I have.
J. R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox have another best seller out! Convergence is a wonderful story of magic, elves and other delightful magical creatures and people. Give this series a read and I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I have.
September 6, 2018
Unusual, fun book!
I would read a menu written by J.R. Rain. This is a very good book. It was different, humorous, and just plain fun to read. Now I have to read the next book in the series.
I would read a menu written by J.R. Rain. This is a very good book. It was different, humorous, and just plain fun to read. Now I have to read the next book in the series.
February 7, 2019
Can't wait for more
This is starting off as a great series. It's got the magic aspect of some "cozies" and the bite all of them are missing. The storyline is already well developed with the promise of more great things to come.
This is starting off as a great series. It's got the magic aspect of some "cozies" and the bite all of them are missing. The storyline is already well developed with the promise of more great things to come.
August 17, 2023
Elves-not Legolas
Interesting. This is my first experience with Matthew Cox, so I’m going to wait until I read Book 2 to give impressions. But the fact that I’m going to read Book 2 should tell you something.
Interesting. This is my first experience with Matthew Cox, so I’m going to wait until I read Book 2 to give impressions. But the fact that I’m going to read Book 2 should tell you something.
August 7, 2017
stopped after reading 56% . hated it.
January 7, 2019
I love these books so far, almost as much a Samantha Moon!
February 20, 2019
Great story! Always love it when life changes radically for characters and Winter handles it well.
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