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The Black Pages #3
Playing Dead
Her peace could never last.
It shattered when Chalsarda was confronted by the single worst person she had ever known; responsible for every painful memory in her long elven life, now he has poisoned her apprentice and taunts Chalsarda with the cure. If she hopes to save her friend, she must make a deal with the devil and capture a Battle Born. Dead or alive. Nearly indestructible and monstrously strong, stopping a Battle Born would be hard enough but the real problem? This one is innocent.
With no one to turn to and the fate of her companion in the balance, Chalsarda must survive a cunning cult leader, an inhuman assassin, and an enigmatic gunslinger, in her race to collect the coveted bounty. While Chalsarda is vehemently opposed to the task at hand, she’s faced with an impossible
Kill an innocent person, or watch an innocent friend die.
Playing Dead is the third book in The Black Pages. I am leaving this book at 99 cents for the duration of the Coronavirus outbreak to make it as easy to access as possible for everyone.
It shattered when Chalsarda was confronted by the single worst person she had ever known; responsible for every painful memory in her long elven life, now he has poisoned her apprentice and taunts Chalsarda with the cure. If she hopes to save her friend, she must make a deal with the devil and capture a Battle Born. Dead or alive. Nearly indestructible and monstrously strong, stopping a Battle Born would be hard enough but the real problem? This one is innocent.
With no one to turn to and the fate of her companion in the balance, Chalsarda must survive a cunning cult leader, an inhuman assassin, and an enigmatic gunslinger, in her race to collect the coveted bounty. While Chalsarda is vehemently opposed to the task at hand, she’s faced with an impossible
Kill an innocent person, or watch an innocent friend die.
Playing Dead is the third book in The Black Pages. I am leaving this book at 99 cents for the duration of the Coronavirus outbreak to make it as easy to access as possible for everyone.
- GenresFantasy
Unknown Binding
First published March 27, 2020
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 8, 2020
This is the third book in The Black Pages I've read, but it could be read as a stand-alone. Technically it is more of an "off-shoot" from the series, but it was my favourite instalment to date. I loved all the central characters, the exciting story-line and all the usual magical adventures and battles you would expect from this genre. For me, the true magic of this book wasn't the potions or magical creatures but the magic in the underlying message - anything is possible when you have a true friend who cares for and believes in you.
Great read. Recommend.
Great read. Recommend.
October 13, 2020
Chalsarda has a past darker and more haunted than most, but the past was behind her. Now she could look to the future, or she could, until history came knocking. The very person who betrayed her strikes at her weakness again, this time threatening the life of her apprentice unless she does something for him. To save Ann she must do exactly what he says and take down a battleborn. Easier said than done. These beings are, as their name suggests, born for battle, and she is not the only one hunting this quarry. For Ann she must find a way to overcome her competitors without losing herself or the person she cares for. Failure is not an option, victory is not assured, and so the quest begins.
Playing Dead by Danny Bell is a race against time fantasy filled with action, adventure, and magic. While it is the third book in The Black Pages series book in the series, having not read the others I can confidently state it works perfectly as a stand-alone read. The characters are well developed and vivid and Chalsarda's quest it an entertaining journey that delves into her past and her acceptance of her newfound freedom and all that entails. I enjoyed the atmosphere conjured by the easy flowing writing which made it an extremely difficult book to put down. An enjoyable read, beginning to end.
Playing Dead by Danny Bell is a race against time fantasy filled with action, adventure, and magic. While it is the third book in The Black Pages series book in the series, having not read the others I can confidently state it works perfectly as a stand-alone read. The characters are well developed and vivid and Chalsarda's quest it an entertaining journey that delves into her past and her acceptance of her newfound freedom and all that entails. I enjoyed the atmosphere conjured by the easy flowing writing which made it an extremely difficult book to put down. An enjoyable read, beginning to end.
May 7, 2020
The third book in the Black Pages series, this book focuses on Chalsarda, an elf who can cross between worlds, but is currently living in ours. The story revolves around her finding and killing a Battle Born in time to prevent her friend, Ann, from dying a slow death from poison. Needless to say, she is forced on this task from her longtime nemesis and former lover, Alistair.
This a is a rousing action adventure with excellent fight scenes. I felt like I was in the action which was awesome. I enjoyed Chalsarda in the previous books and I'm glad that she got a book of her own. It does seem a bit odd to leave the story line of the original main character at this juncture, but it works. My only quibble is that I felt there should have been a bit more time spent on backstory to refresh one's memory of where the story left off. It would also help for those jumping into the story at this point since it could be read as a standalone of sorts.
Well-written and with terrific dialogue, it was a super fun read. This is the cure for your summertime blues.
This a is a rousing action adventure with excellent fight scenes. I felt like I was in the action which was awesome. I enjoyed Chalsarda in the previous books and I'm glad that she got a book of her own. It does seem a bit odd to leave the story line of the original main character at this juncture, but it works. My only quibble is that I felt there should have been a bit more time spent on backstory to refresh one's memory of where the story left off. It would also help for those jumping into the story at this point since it could be read as a standalone of sorts.
Well-written and with terrific dialogue, it was a super fun read. This is the cure for your summertime blues.
May 8, 2020
Elf, Chalsarda, plays the leading role in this third of Bell’s Black Pages series. Bell keeps the pace moving as Chalsarda plots to keep her friend alive while battling to keep an unvoiced promise not to kill. Interesting that it was set in LA, not a place you usually find in fantasy. While there's plenty of action, there is a lot of interior struggle here as well. Well done. If you enjoy richly choreographed fight scenes, intrigue, and quirky characters, you’ll enjoy this tale. If I had any complaint, it was that, other than because of the pronouns, I kept forgetting that Chalsarda was a woman.
May 28, 2020
This is the third book in the series and it was even better than the first two! The story focuses on Chalsarda, the recently freed elf, who is tricked into hunting down a monster but all is not as it first seems. The action scenes are exciting and the author demonstrates a great imagination in creating the different characters. I also enjoy how the author skips between the fantasy world and everyday life in California. This immersed me deeper in the story as the story is not pure fantasy. A fast paced read with a mixture of action and emotional content which should appeal to most people.
January 28, 2023
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. I selected an audio version which was nice because it used multiple voices which helps to sort folks out and it's peopled by all sorts of interesting characters and types including elves, "battle born" and others, but although it claims to be ok as a stand alone, I have a feeling I missed a lot by not reading the earlier books.
Anyway, it was an interesting listen but if I had to do it again, I think I might go back and find out where the saga began before I dived into this one.
Anyway, it was an interesting listen but if I had to do it again, I think I might go back and find out where the saga began before I dived into this one.
May 6, 2020
The scene that differentiates difference between a literal dragon and anything else with claws and teeth was BRILLIANT! I almost hesitate to call it a regular fantasy - although, filled with fantastical elements. It's that action packed! There should be a kickA$$ genre just for this book. In case you can't tell I loved it!
July 22, 2020
I picked this up having read the other two books and desperate to read more of this world. I adored that it wasn't from Elana's POV, and was a secondary character, and diving right into the world, I was hooked from the first page, wanting to know more about the story and where it was gonna go. I loved all the characters, and will be loving the next books in the series. Highly recommended!
April 4, 2022
This one started off and got going. I think that you could read this one as a stand alone but I am a stickler for reading things in order. I loved this side story with its darker feel and magic. The action was done well and I can't wait to read the next one.
July 31, 2020
I began this book without having read the first two, so I had some catching up to do, but it was not difficult to learn what was going on through the other's books reviews. Filled with action sequences that completely drew me in, the story was compelling from chapter one.
Focusing around main character Chalsarda, who is world-hopping elf currently residing on earth in LA (a place I didn't anticipate as a setting for a Fantasy), she is quagmired between saving her friend's life and a promise she's made. Internal battles and external ones rage across the pages, pulling you into the story and then dragging you along as Chalsarda fights her way through her battles.
If you are looking for a read that is fast-paced and high-octane, but with a back bone that will give you something to think about, particularly in these challenging times, then this series is certainly for you. Do yourself a favor...start with book one! You wont want to miss a morsel of this story!
Focusing around main character Chalsarda, who is world-hopping elf currently residing on earth in LA (a place I didn't anticipate as a setting for a Fantasy), she is quagmired between saving her friend's life and a promise she's made. Internal battles and external ones rage across the pages, pulling you into the story and then dragging you along as Chalsarda fights her way through her battles.
If you are looking for a read that is fast-paced and high-octane, but with a back bone that will give you something to think about, particularly in these challenging times, then this series is certainly for you. Do yourself a favor...start with book one! You wont want to miss a morsel of this story!
October 11, 2020
I think this is my favorite book of the series so far. It does side-track from the main protagonist of the series and focuses instead on Chalsarda, the elf lady. But I kind of like her the best anyway. You get to know so much about her past and all the pain she's suffered, emotional and physical. The story makes you emphasize with those who have been put in impossible situations, enslaved to others, but have managed somehow to overcome all the "stuff" life throws at them. And it's not just her who has to deal with emotional issues. A great story all around. Plenty of excitement and twists to keep you engaged.
July 14, 2020
Moral choices are tough, especially when someone cares. Chalsarda cares and is faced with an almost impossible dilemma. When the interior struggle of a character is this immense, it makes for a great read. Not sure how you feel about elves, but I don't read a lot of fantasy and when I think about elves, I think of tiny and cute. To put such a heavy burden on tiny and cute had me sitting on the edge of my seat. This novel makes for a great pandemic read. Guaranteed to give you something to think about.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews