Ginger Storm

The Scarlet Dragon Saga #1

by J.P. Rice

I'm the most notorious magic thief in the world.

I shouldn’t have let the Morrigan teach me how to steal black magic through blood rituals. Now that I’m filled with deadly magic, I struggle to control the darkness.

My powers also make me a prime target for jealous Gods and the stupid magic councils.

But when an enchanted relic that has haunted me for most of my life goes missing in my old city, I shove fear aside and return to the place where everyone wants me dead.

To find Lugh’s Spear, I’ll need to team up with former enemies and figure out which one of my allies is lying to me. The Bounty Huntress from the Supreme Magic Council is hot on my heels too.

With several powerful entities closing in on me, I could leave town and take the easy way out.

To the chagrin of some supernatural tough guys, that’s not happening. I never take the easy path. I plan to find Lugh’s Spear and return it to the Celtic Gods.

My black magic blood can turn me into a murderous maniac at the drop of a hat. If I can control my inner darkness, I might be able to solve the mystery.

Ginger Storm is a page-turning urban fantasy adventure featuring a take-charge heroine who chases bad guys instead of boyfriends.

This new urban fantasy series features unique characters like a balding alpha wolf, a talking dagger, an alcoholic guardian angel, an excitable dragonfly and backstabbing Gods and Goddesses from various pantheons. Great for fans of Linsey Hall, Shayne Silvers, McKenzie Hunter, John P. Logsdon and Stephanie Foxe.

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Suitable Book Categories:
Wizards and Witches, Paranormal Mystery, Supernatural Thriller, Shapeshifters, Angels and Demons, Mythology and Fairy Tales, Metaphysical and Visionary, Vampires and Werewolves, Dark Fantasy, Fae and Faeries, Superhero, Snarky Urban Fantasy, Urban Fantasy Adventure

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2018

Reviews

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a delicious goulash of all mythology and folklore. We got Zues, we got Thor, we got Irish deities. They are all here! The characters are really fun and entertaining. (owen!) The story is very well put together and kept my attention. I liked Juniper, she is definitely nor perfect and she has her flaws but she's working on it.
Liz Brand did a perfect job narrating. The quality was great, no problems here.

**This is my honest thoughts on the book. However, i did receive a free copy of the audio book. Thank you Mr. Rice. **

[LaShawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, quick read. The characters are interesting, but the style of humor is very stereotypical male, which was both odd and interesting in a female character. The use of ancient gods in a modern world is fun.
I do have to admit that I was unclear on what exactly Juniper was, and how her parentage plays into that, but hopefully that will be cleared up in later books.

(I was given this audiobook in exchange for a review.)

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to say it (especially since what I actually have is the compilation of books 1-3), but I was not a fan of Ginger Storm. Is this a spin-off of another series, or something? I really feel like nothing was developed enough for me to be invested in...or sometimes even understand. Mythical characters came and went, creating a disconcerting soup and no notable world-construction.

Plus, I spent most of the book waiting and waiting and waiting for a plot to pop up. And when it finally did (way, way, way late in the book) June seemed able to manifest abilities at will. I didn't feel like she was a well-delineated character, so much as if the author just randomly pulled whatever out of their hat when they needed it.

But worst of all—for me—was that it's so cliched in the way every man either loves or perves on June (for real or with ulterior motives) and almost every single woman in the book (other than June) is either nameless arm candy, slutty, murderous, or just vile in some other way. I don't actually know anything about J.P. Rice, but I'd bet dollars to donuts they're a man. The unconscious male-gaze is that kind of strong in this one. Not misogynistic, just subtly but clearly from the mind of a man. Which isn't a bad thing, in and of itself. But it's not something I enjoy, personally.

I don't know that I hated this enough to not finish the compilation (because unfinished audiobooks linger and annoy me). But I disliked it enough to not want to listen to another right now.

[Ryan Mangrum · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading at approximately the 12% mark. It was like the author wasn't really a fan of the genre and took a bunch of fantasy elements in a bag, shook it up, dumped it out, and tried to write a narrative to connect the randomly oriented pieces. There's lots of name drops (Zeus, Morrigan, Spear of Destiny, Lugh's Spear, Tuatha De Dannan) and fantastical creatures within the first couple of chapters, but not clear picture if these things are well-known in that world or scoffed at.

The main character is also a mess. She's half dragon/goddess or something to that effect, it wasn't really clear, angry that the Celtic Gods overlooked her for divinity status, but also gets her magic by stealing it from others. Well, is she a magic thief or a demigod? She's a black market arms dealer, but also a detective...or something like it. She desperately wants a family, but can't get over the husband that went missing more than 2 centuries prior.

PICK A PLOT LINE! This feels like throwing things at a wall until something stick to write about.

[Deedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible:This was a good book,not a great book.June is the daughter of a god,but no one seems to know this.She is shunned and friendless.Her one friend is the Morrigan,who helps her discover her power and sort of abuses it.Everyone seems to be after her.It gets iffy beyond this for me. Liz Brand is a fine narrator.
I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

[Cmoore · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having just finished off reviewing the disapointing book "Dragon Horn" in the Bloodline Awakened series, I had no small amount of trepidation about starting another story by JP Rice, but I was hopeful too, since we had a new protagonist and a WAY different narrator.
I found myself really enjoying this book! Surprisingly, it's a spin-off from Bloodline Awakened series, this time told from a very different type of protagonist's view point! That protagonist is Juniper, and I absolutely loved her... the book takes place in Pittsburgh so it's unsurprising that she crosses paths with Mike Merlino (the protagonist from Dragon Horn), and I enjoyed her "difficult" exchanges with him. All culminating in their final uneasy truce, because they really are on the same side. Maybe on the same side for different reasons, but both wanting to do what's right!
Liz Brand was a pretty good choice for narrator too, although she didn't quit hit the mark on one or two of the character's voices in the book.
I find myself actually looking forward to the next book. It ought to be fun!

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of a great new urban fantasy series. Introducing wonderful new characters blended together with well loved ones from the Bloodline Awakened series and a typical J. P. Rice plot full of mayhem. This series is sure to be an instant hit!

Meet Junipher. She used to trade in the magical artefact. For the past ten years she has been laying low, much of the time spent recovering from being covered in lava while in the Red Cavern.

All of her old friends and enemies think her dead, but that is about to change. Pittsburgh used to be her city. Now it has a new protector Junipher keeps hearing about, Mike Merlino. She isn’t very happy that some young hotshot is in her old stomping grounds. It might be about time to head home, even if a lot of people there would still like to see Junipher dead.

Grab Ginger Storm and join the exciting action.

Kindle Unlimited edition

[Voracious Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Ginger Storm but due to the holiday season I have just finished reading it. J.P. Rice introduces Junipher, a new character and story arc occurring in the Bloodline Awakened world. Junipher is quite an interesting character. She has done things in the past that she now starts finding herself feeling a little ashamed of and starting to feel some remorse as well. She wants to become a better person initially because she wants to be invited to join the gods pantheon but seems like she will never manage to get that illusive invitation. Events make her start questioning her past actions and looking at things differently.

I enjoyed reading about her and the events that took place in this book. I look forward to reading her next adventure and learning more about her and the events in her background that has molded her and seeing how she continues to evolve.

[Brianna Belbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great start to a new urban fantasy series! It’s full of action, mythology, magic, and betrayal. I loved the mixture of Greek and Celtic mythology along with many mythical beings. There was honestly a lot going on between finding Lugh’s Spear, a wolf-vampire war, and the mix of so many gods, goddesses, and mythical/ magical beings that it kept you wanting more. The heroine was smart and sassy and I enjoyed her movie references that no one else understood and her journey throughout the book.
I’ve never listened to a narration by Liz before, but she did a really good job with Ginger Storm. She gave a lot of personality to each character and kept me very entertained that I couldn’t put it down.
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[bluepits73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this book.

Really like Juniper as a character. Very interesting world that the author has built for this series, but the dynamic of the world was a little much to keep up with, I personally would have benefited from a better outline of how everything connects. Enjoyed the journey to find the spear we go on, and I love a strong kick*ss main female character who is very relatable and well written. This was a great start to the series and it is definitely intense!

I thought the narrator gave a great performance and made this story ever better. A great match to play Juniper and kept me intrigued throughout.

I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

[Curly's Ramblings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review: Ginger Storm is book 1 in the Scarlet Dragon series that Rice has built on from his Bloodline Awakened series. I love it when authors build multiple series on the same world. Ginger Storm is an entertaining and interesting take on mythology and paranormal urban fantasy in the world that Rice has created previously. The main character, Juniper, is complex with a dark past but she wants to be and do better. Lies, Gods, and subterfuge permeate this story and attempt to prevent Juniper in meeting her life changing goals. The narrator did a good job. I prefer narrating that is closer to my speed of reading and found the audio speed of 1.5x suitable. I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good urban fantasy, but it took me awhile to get really invested in it. I didn’t connect with Junipher right away – but she’s a strong lead and this is a beginning to a series that I believe will get better and better. There is a lot going on, so you need to stay alert. What I thought was pretty cool is that all the pantheons are represented in this series. Celtic, Greek and Norse Gods are in attendance. Although I’m not a huge fan of first person narratives, the author does a pretty good job with this one, and I never felt I was missing a whole lot.

I think this is a book that readers need to push past the beginning and keep going, it does pick up speed and become a good page turner.

[Maya Barbery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never mess with a Ginger
June is my kinda woman! She is tough a s nails and won’t back down from anything!!
The lead in this book is a fiesty woman wotj a good heart and best of intentions.
I love the mix of mythologies!! i always thougt it would be cool to have a biok that’s poly-mythical (yes I just invented a new word). I liked the book a lot and needed a description that wasn’t there!
I like that the back story for each character is slowly being developed and not all given at once.
I enjoy getting to know my fictional friends much tje same as I do real people. Slowly.

It’s a great read/listen and the narrator does a wonderful job in making the characters
Come to life.

[Elle Klass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the main character. She's fierce, smart and calculating. That's rare to find, so many stories with female leads make the stupidest decisions mostly for love. Not this one. She jumps from one adventure to the next, never a dull moment and she's always thinking.
The author seamlessly like a second skin wove in supernatural elements. All the creatures, shfters, dragons, gods, vampires all feel real. Nothing is forced. The entire story flows well with adventure lurking on every page. It's the type of book that's hard to put down, capturing the readers interest start to finish.
I definitely reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys action, adventure and supernatural!

[Toula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book review
This paranormal listen has it all and you see this story taking place in Pittsburgh also , like another series that the author wrote . You see a major Greek God , throw in some Irish Paranormal, along with the ruler of the Greek Gods , a major Viking god , and you have a great story .
Heroine is Juniper. , she’s a Demi-god mixed with some dragon features. She’s also a black marker dealer . She’s out to teach some higher paranormal beings a thing or two for ignoring her .

Liz was good as a narrator, her voice is smooth and clear

[Amber Niebaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like a totally different view than ever before. The story was about all the Greek Gods and heroes, including many legends, with them all living among us normals. With many even acting like superheroes in the comics and fighting crime each day. It was an unusual setup/environment but was interesting to see them with new eyes. The narrator did a great job going at a perfect pace and bringing the characters to life. Very fascinating and looking forward to book 2!

[Tera Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and brilliantly written book. I loved the story and the characters and world building were great. I look forward to reading more of this series as there are plenty of unresolved issues that I want to know the answers to. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Cryst Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm waffling

Not my usual read it was full of adventure but no romance. And I was having issues with the accents (I'm a southern girl) and slang it was a pretty good book otherwise.

[Brittany Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I like the take on the main characters different magic abilities. I like the attitude and actions of a lot of the characters and without giving too much away I liked the just desserts that came about for a certain character(s).

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juniper is a magic thief, who has been hiding from her past. She returns to Pittsburgh, trying to win her way back into the favour of the gods. Set in the same timeline as the Bloodline Awakens series, means some known characters popped up.

[Kendall B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start to the series. It’s witty and sarcastic. Juniper (June) is smart and strong. A great female lead. She does things her way, and the gods will just have to deal with it. Great narration of the audible book!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, I liked it, but didn't love it. I never got pulled into the character, and there were plot holes which made it difficult to buy into the story line.

[Jey Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This paranormal story taking place in Pittsburgh . A major Greek God , throw in some Irish Paranormal, along with the ruler of the Greek Gods , a major Viking god , and you have a great story

[BookLoversLife]

Review to come.