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Hound of Hades #1
Death Trace
It’s been ten years since Mal died. Five years since the god Hades dragged her from the underworld and forged her, through blood and pain, into his living weapon. And in five minutes, the only other agent of Hades she trusts will die.
Someone is assassinating Hades’s agents all over New York City. If Mal can’t find the one responsible, she’ll be next—if she’s lucky. If not, she’ll watch everything she cares about go up in flames first.
Mal didn’t choose this life. But now it’s all she has. And she’ll be damned if she lets anyone—human or god—take what is hers.
Someone is assassinating Hades’s agents all over New York City. If Mal can’t find the one responsible, she’ll be next—if she’s lucky. If not, she’ll watch everything she cares about go up in flames first.
Mal didn’t choose this life. But now it’s all she has. And she’ll be damned if she lets anyone—human or god—take what is hers.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2020
174 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Zoe Cannon
115 books233 followers** I no longer use Goodreads to track my reading. My subjective rating and review standards aren’t likely to be useful to other readers--how would it help anyone else to see that I rated a book 5 stars because I read it at the exact right time in my life, or 2 stars because it used a popular trope I dislike?--and I’m not comfortable with the idea of readers and even authors taking them as objective measurements, or worse, constructive criticism. I now track my reading privately, but send out monthly book recommendations through my mailing list at https://www.zoecannon.com/newsletter. My old ratings and reviews are still here, but don’t take them as anything other than personal reactions. I may not see messages and friend requests. **
Zoe Cannon may or may not be a supervillain out to conquer the world through writing. When not writing, she can be found perfecting her schemes for world domination, plotting against her archenemies, and staying up too late reading a book. Her secret lair is rumored to be located somewhere in southern New Hampshire.
Zoe Cannon may or may not be a supervillain out to conquer the world through writing. When not writing, she can be found perfecting her schemes for world domination, plotting against her archenemies, and staying up too late reading a book. Her secret lair is rumored to be located somewhere in southern New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 19, 2020
I received this free ebook for an honest review. Fast pace story about Mallory Keyne a girl who was murdered then resurrected by Hades. She is a death tracer and is now in the fight to save the Gods. I don' want to get to into the story and give away any spoliers but this book has a lot of twists and you won't be able to put the book down. I really enjoyed this book and cant wait for the second book to come out; I'm hooked. I would recommend this to my family and friends.
March 12, 2020
This was a really interesting read. I liked the concept of the overall storyline and the characters were great. An original story that could potentially turn out to be a fantastic series!
January 21, 2022
There's a great story in here somewhere. Gods and goddesses from mythology controlling portions of the US and the world in constant battle for power and territory using returned from the dead human subjects makes for a fascinating plot. Unfortunately, it isn't told as well as I wanted and would have greatly benefitted from an excellent editor with notes on where to expand, where to reign in, how to show rather than tell, and, I think this is most important, how to expand the emotional connections between the characters and with readers. I was going to DNF it, but a teaser about an upcoming reconnection between the heroine and a character from her past kept me reading. I was disappointed in how that went, but it put me over the 50% mark and kept me going. I love the potential, but I won't be continuing with the series.
February 11, 2020
This is a well written, entertaining Urban paranormal mystery with a strong female lead. In a world where gods from all pantheons still exist unbeknownst to humans, Mallory works for Hades. She is a Marked who helps Hades hold on to his territory in New York City. She discovers 5 of Hades' Marked have been killed and is sent to investigate. Mallory is a tough female protagonist. Despite her physical prowess, she remains relatable. The secondary characters aren't as fully fleshed out but are entertaining. The author leaves some mystery concerning Mallory's past which whets the appetite for further books. I received an advance copy of this and am leaving my honest review.
October 8, 2020
The Hound of Hades series follows Mallory Keyne (a seemingly “normal” human) with a secret. She died ten years ago and was brought back to life by Hades five years after dying. Her purpose is to serve as his “Marked” and help do his bidding while protecting his territory. Death Trace serves as the introduction novel into the series as it builds the world where the story takes place and introduces us to many of the characters that will be present throughout.
In this story all gods/goddesses are real and all the different ones are brought together in one universe. Norse, Greek, Roman, etc. all co-exist in one central universe. This is where part of the story lost me just because it becomes so chaotic trying to keep everyone straight. It could come in to play more in future novels, but as this one takes place mainly in New York, then it could’ve stuck with Greek Gods just for simplicity’s sake.
Our story begins with Mallory trying to put her life together again by reintroducing her true identity to society (her own social security number, etc.). However, this is hard to prove when you’ve been dead for ten years and getting your family to vouch for you after they mourned for you is difficult. This opening sequence was a great introduction to the character as it begins to show her snarky yet practical personality. She’s no nonsense, but she’s not annoying about it like I’ve read in other novels with similar characters. I found Mal to be an enticing character and she grew on me as I read each page.
The main big picture story is that the other Marked for Hades are being mysteriously killed off. Mal is now tasked with finding the killer(s) and to protect Hades’ territory. She works together with her allies and one of Hades’ Guardians, Lissa, along with a mortal man, Sebastian Reid. The only issue with Bastian is if he truly can be trusted or not. The novel weaves different twists and turns into the overall plot while Mal tries to find out how to stop these murderers.
As this is a series, you don’t get the full insight into the characters and what makes each of them tick. Instead you get glimpses into their pasts and begin to piece together what makes each of them who they are and what their ultimate goal is. It’s one of the more frustrating parts of reading a series sometimes as you get anxious to learn everything up front, but it wouldn’t make sense to have a well-rounded series. This novel does a great job of introducing just enough details so we start to piece together conclusions about each character and also how this novel series will turn out.
As a word of caution, the ending to this novel sets itself up to continue in the next novel of the series. Although there is some conclusion to some main events that occur in this novel, the actual big picture story is inconclusive so be forewarned that you would need to continue reading the series in order to find out more. This novel was intriguing enough to continue and I hope that this series gets more and more interesting as I navigate through the novels!
Overall, there is a lot of background that explains the Gods and their wars. There is a lot of background of the worlds and how the Marked fit into it. At times this can drag on, but my hope is that the second novel onwards will then focus on the actual story and move at a more decent pace now that the background portion is over. If not, then this might be one series I won’t finish as I don’t know if I could take so much background information over and over again. We shall see though how it all turns out!
**Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for my review copy. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are completely my own.**
Check out my other reviews at Chonky Books Review
In this story all gods/goddesses are real and all the different ones are brought together in one universe. Norse, Greek, Roman, etc. all co-exist in one central universe. This is where part of the story lost me just because it becomes so chaotic trying to keep everyone straight. It could come in to play more in future novels, but as this one takes place mainly in New York, then it could’ve stuck with Greek Gods just for simplicity’s sake.
Our story begins with Mallory trying to put her life together again by reintroducing her true identity to society (her own social security number, etc.). However, this is hard to prove when you’ve been dead for ten years and getting your family to vouch for you after they mourned for you is difficult. This opening sequence was a great introduction to the character as it begins to show her snarky yet practical personality. She’s no nonsense, but she’s not annoying about it like I’ve read in other novels with similar characters. I found Mal to be an enticing character and she grew on me as I read each page.
The main big picture story is that the other Marked for Hades are being mysteriously killed off. Mal is now tasked with finding the killer(s) and to protect Hades’ territory. She works together with her allies and one of Hades’ Guardians, Lissa, along with a mortal man, Sebastian Reid. The only issue with Bastian is if he truly can be trusted or not. The novel weaves different twists and turns into the overall plot while Mal tries to find out how to stop these murderers.
As this is a series, you don’t get the full insight into the characters and what makes each of them tick. Instead you get glimpses into their pasts and begin to piece together what makes each of them who they are and what their ultimate goal is. It’s one of the more frustrating parts of reading a series sometimes as you get anxious to learn everything up front, but it wouldn’t make sense to have a well-rounded series. This novel does a great job of introducing just enough details so we start to piece together conclusions about each character and also how this novel series will turn out.
As a word of caution, the ending to this novel sets itself up to continue in the next novel of the series. Although there is some conclusion to some main events that occur in this novel, the actual big picture story is inconclusive so be forewarned that you would need to continue reading the series in order to find out more. This novel was intriguing enough to continue and I hope that this series gets more and more interesting as I navigate through the novels!
Overall, there is a lot of background that explains the Gods and their wars. There is a lot of background of the worlds and how the Marked fit into it. At times this can drag on, but my hope is that the second novel onwards will then focus on the actual story and move at a more decent pace now that the background portion is over. If not, then this might be one series I won’t finish as I don’t know if I could take so much background information over and over again. We shall see though how it all turns out!
**Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for my review copy. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are completely my own.**
Check out my other reviews at Chonky Books Review
May 1, 2020
The Struggles of Gods and Humans
Death Trace was a lot of fun to read. It's the first in the Hound of Hades series and a really great start. This was my first experience reading a book from Zoe Cannon and I was pleasantly surprised.
Zoe has created a story where the gods are real, all of them. Greek gods, Roman gods, Norse gods, etc. All of them work together or against each other to claim territory to hold more power. Each god has their own worshipers (some of which are made into Guardians) and their own Marked who carry out tasks in the interest of their god. Each Marked, gets gifts based on their particular god. Our main character, for instance, is a Marked of Hades and is sent to kill people as Hades deems necessary and is given the ability to follow a death trace when a person dies to see where they were recently.
I really like the premise of this series and the traits of the various Marked that Zoe has created. The abilities a Marked get are interesting and give them a sort of super ability without making them unbelievably powerful or invincible. It's a great story mechanic and I would love to find out more of the abilities that are out there in future books.
The characters were interesting. The main character, being a Marked of Hades, had died and was brought back to life by Hades to be come his Marked. Mal has to go through all of the real struggles you can imagine that comes with being considered legally dead - no social security number, no way to get a paying job without that, but still needing to pay rent if she wants to sleep indoors, etc. She even has to deal with the struggle of should she tell her family that she's alive now and will they accept what she has become. It's a great story with interesting supporting characters and complex problems that go beyond gods battling over turf.
I really enjoyed the start to this series and Mal's struggles. I'm looking forward to more in the Hound of Hades books and seeing the rest of Mal's journey. If you're a fan of mythology and complex human struggles, I think you'll find a lot to enjoy in this book. It had enough action to keep me interested, but doesn't shy away from the struggles that people have dealing with other people.
*I was given an advance review copy for free and am leaving a voluntary review. My thoughts and my opinions are my own.
Death Trace was a lot of fun to read. It's the first in the Hound of Hades series and a really great start. This was my first experience reading a book from Zoe Cannon and I was pleasantly surprised.
Zoe has created a story where the gods are real, all of them. Greek gods, Roman gods, Norse gods, etc. All of them work together or against each other to claim territory to hold more power. Each god has their own worshipers (some of which are made into Guardians) and their own Marked who carry out tasks in the interest of their god. Each Marked, gets gifts based on their particular god. Our main character, for instance, is a Marked of Hades and is sent to kill people as Hades deems necessary and is given the ability to follow a death trace when a person dies to see where they were recently.
I really like the premise of this series and the traits of the various Marked that Zoe has created. The abilities a Marked get are interesting and give them a sort of super ability without making them unbelievably powerful or invincible. It's a great story mechanic and I would love to find out more of the abilities that are out there in future books.
The characters were interesting. The main character, being a Marked of Hades, had died and was brought back to life by Hades to be come his Marked. Mal has to go through all of the real struggles you can imagine that comes with being considered legally dead - no social security number, no way to get a paying job without that, but still needing to pay rent if she wants to sleep indoors, etc. She even has to deal with the struggle of should she tell her family that she's alive now and will they accept what she has become. It's a great story with interesting supporting characters and complex problems that go beyond gods battling over turf.
I really enjoyed the start to this series and Mal's struggles. I'm looking forward to more in the Hound of Hades books and seeing the rest of Mal's journey. If you're a fan of mythology and complex human struggles, I think you'll find a lot to enjoy in this book. It had enough action to keep me interested, but doesn't shy away from the struggles that people have dealing with other people.
*I was given an advance review copy for free and am leaving a voluntary review. My thoughts and my opinions are my own.
March 13, 2020
I enjoyed this book immensely and plan to continue following the series. I really enjoyed the world building and characters.
I am fascinated to learn more about Mal's parents and her original death.
I really enjoyed the characters and overall plot and I am excited to see what this series has to offer. This book is a well written and has a very unique world. I think anyone wanting a fun story with a strong and evolving MC will enjoy this book.
I received this book from BookSirens for an honest review.
I am fascinated to learn more about Mal's parents and her original death.
I really enjoyed the characters and overall plot and I am excited to see what this series has to offer. This book is a well written and has a very unique world. I think anyone wanting a fun story with a strong and evolving MC will enjoy this book.
I received this book from BookSirens for an honest review.
January 29, 2020
Urban fantasy isn't typically my thing, but I enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the next installment.
February 22, 2021
As you may (or may not) know, I looooooove mythology! That said, I think this was actually one of the first books I've read that wasn't about the god or goddess per se, but rather one who works for them. This is the first book I've read by the author.
Worldbuilding:
Mallory, or Mal, lives in a world where, unbeknown to regular people, gods are very real and have divided the world amongst them. Secret wars are fought by their Marked and Guardians. The Marked are the ones that move around and fight the battles while the Guardians take care of the spiritual needs of their god or goddess and their temple on earth (as well as assist the Marked). There is one rule that is paramount: mortals are not to know about what is going on behind the scenes.
While we got a lot of information about how the world and the power structure (which god/goddess rules what and what are some important alliances for example), we learned about it throughout the book, so there was no information dump.
An urban fantasy set in present-day New York City, we follow Mal on her hunt to discover who's behind the murder of her fellow Marked. As she moved around a lot, looking for clues and following death traces, we had to know where we were and what we were looking at. The author did a great job describing the environments as well as all the little details that were important to Mal.
Character development:
Right of the bat, I have to say that Mal felt very real and believable. It has been 10 years since she died and 5 years since she came back in service to Hades. We got to know her history a little bit, though much of what happened during those years is still shrouded in mystery. She is very aware of her strengths and weaknesses and she knows when to call for help and who to ask, even if they are not on her team. She isn't a damsel in distress (she wouldn't be a Marked if she was) but knows how to fight and get out of tricky situations.
Then we have Bastian, who we still know so little about! We know he is mortal, but he wields an unknown power. He has a very clear set of norms and values and tries to stick to them as much as he is able, even when helping Mal.
Side characters such as Kimmy, Lissa, Ciara and Tamara, we don't really get to know. So I hope their backstories get some more love in the next book. That said, we might not know much about them, but they feel real and part of the world.
Pacing and flow:
It started pretty slow, and it took me a while to get into it, but once it got going it was smooth sailing till the end.
There was a good amount of conversation, which sometimes took the upper hand a bit, but as this was the first instalment that was to be expected.
The book:
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is no sex described (if that is important to you).
This instalment has 236 pages, spread over 30 chapters and is told from Mal's point of view.
Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of BookSirens, and I can honestly say it was an entertaining and enjoyable read. It was something new and refreshing in a genre that I absolutely love (plus you know... mythology!).
For those looking for an urban fantasy/mystery where there is little to no romance (as of yet), this book is for you!
Worldbuilding:
Mallory, or Mal, lives in a world where, unbeknown to regular people, gods are very real and have divided the world amongst them. Secret wars are fought by their Marked and Guardians. The Marked are the ones that move around and fight the battles while the Guardians take care of the spiritual needs of their god or goddess and their temple on earth (as well as assist the Marked). There is one rule that is paramount: mortals are not to know about what is going on behind the scenes.
While we got a lot of information about how the world and the power structure (which god/goddess rules what and what are some important alliances for example), we learned about it throughout the book, so there was no information dump.
An urban fantasy set in present-day New York City, we follow Mal on her hunt to discover who's behind the murder of her fellow Marked. As she moved around a lot, looking for clues and following death traces, we had to know where we were and what we were looking at. The author did a great job describing the environments as well as all the little details that were important to Mal.
Character development:
Right of the bat, I have to say that Mal felt very real and believable. It has been 10 years since she died and 5 years since she came back in service to Hades. We got to know her history a little bit, though much of what happened during those years is still shrouded in mystery. She is very aware of her strengths and weaknesses and she knows when to call for help and who to ask, even if they are not on her team. She isn't a damsel in distress (she wouldn't be a Marked if she was) but knows how to fight and get out of tricky situations.
Then we have Bastian, who we still know so little about! We know he is mortal, but he wields an unknown power. He has a very clear set of norms and values and tries to stick to them as much as he is able, even when helping Mal.
Side characters such as Kimmy, Lissa, Ciara and Tamara, we don't really get to know. So I hope their backstories get some more love in the next book. That said, we might not know much about them, but they feel real and part of the world.
Pacing and flow:
It started pretty slow, and it took me a while to get into it, but once it got going it was smooth sailing till the end.
There was a good amount of conversation, which sometimes took the upper hand a bit, but as this was the first instalment that was to be expected.
The book:
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is no sex described (if that is important to you).
This instalment has 236 pages, spread over 30 chapters and is told from Mal's point of view.
Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of BookSirens, and I can honestly say it was an entertaining and enjoyable read. It was something new and refreshing in a genre that I absolutely love (plus you know... mythology!).
For those looking for an urban fantasy/mystery where there is little to no romance (as of yet), this book is for you!
November 14, 2020
Death Trace: A Darkly Snarky Urban Fantasy Thriller (Hound of Hades Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Zoe Cannon
Thank you to author and Booksirens for the complimentary review copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
This book storms into chapter one and lays out the main character. Mallory Keyne is like the original Anita Blake, smart, sassy and edgey. She is one of the god “Marked”. Chosen by Hades, she is given the gift to chase down death traces, energy that is produced at death. Mallory drips sarcasm and is delightfully self-aware. The old Gods are still in the world, and much like both Neil Gaiman's American Gods or Amy Sumida's Godhunter series, they have moved throughout the world, following their adherents.
Ms. Cannon uses age old myths about gods to create a new mythology for her world. Her magical system is unique, with the God's adherents, the Marked (warriors/protectors) and the Gaurdians (priests/priestesses) giving the gods the strength to hold a city. Hades is Mallory's god. He brought her back from death and now, she is his.
The characters, particularly the women, are amazing. I enjoyed the fact that all of the women were able to work together, even if at times, they don't like each other.
Ms. Cannon's writing is unique. Clearly, with Mallory as the heroine, she has a wonderful character to work with and one that begins her literary life as an anti-heroine. I also enjoyed that there was a growing sexual tension between characters that isn't quashed or rushed head on into.
The world-building is wonderful. The magical system has a real feel to it. There is heft and a sense of payment for the magic. That gives it weight and depth. It is a mature system, where there is no gain without serious work and without pain.
I recommend this for fans of the original Laurell K Hamilton work, when it was about the work, not the sex. Fans of Kim Harrison's Hollows series will also enjoy for the characters alone.
4 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Trace-Ho...
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by Zoe Cannon
Thank you to author and Booksirens for the complimentary review copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
This book storms into chapter one and lays out the main character. Mallory Keyne is like the original Anita Blake, smart, sassy and edgey. She is one of the god “Marked”. Chosen by Hades, she is given the gift to chase down death traces, energy that is produced at death. Mallory drips sarcasm and is delightfully self-aware. The old Gods are still in the world, and much like both Neil Gaiman's American Gods or Amy Sumida's Godhunter series, they have moved throughout the world, following their adherents.
Ms. Cannon uses age old myths about gods to create a new mythology for her world. Her magical system is unique, with the God's adherents, the Marked (warriors/protectors) and the Gaurdians (priests/priestesses) giving the gods the strength to hold a city. Hades is Mallory's god. He brought her back from death and now, she is his.
The characters, particularly the women, are amazing. I enjoyed the fact that all of the women were able to work together, even if at times, they don't like each other.
Ms. Cannon's writing is unique. Clearly, with Mallory as the heroine, she has a wonderful character to work with and one that begins her literary life as an anti-heroine. I also enjoyed that there was a growing sexual tension between characters that isn't quashed or rushed head on into.
The world-building is wonderful. The magical system has a real feel to it. There is heft and a sense of payment for the magic. That gives it weight and depth. It is a mature system, where there is no gain without serious work and without pain.
I recommend this for fans of the original Laurell K Hamilton work, when it was about the work, not the sex. Fans of Kim Harrison's Hollows series will also enjoy for the characters alone.
4 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Trace-Ho...
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March 28, 2020
Imagine a world which is like ours. People work and love and drink coffee. The usual stuff. Now imagine that this world is ruled by gods. All the gods. Every god you have ever heard of. Zeus. Loki. Ares. Ra. And Hades, god of death. But this story is really about one woman. Her name is Mallory Keyne. She died but was brought back by Hades. Now she is his Marked, does his bidding. She solves problems...well with a bullet most of the time. Gods want more power, more territory so Mal has her job cut out for her. But her last job hits too close to home. Someone kills the Marked of Hades. And Mallory is the only one who can stop them. She has allies, a priestess and a mortal man who can wield magic.
But how can she stop people who are willing and able to go against gods and will stop at nothing to destroy them?
I absolutely loved the concept of Death Trace. I’ve read other books which center on gods and modern day world so it’s always fun to find a new approach. The story is engaging, has twists and turns I couldn’t see coming.
I know there are more books in the series and I will read them because I like Mal very much, she has a very disturbed and tragic past (I won’t go into the reasons because you need to read the book to find out what happened to Mal) and that explains so much why she acts the way she does. She is loyal to Hades and her own choices as well. She is fierce and brave and headstrong.
Lissa is a Guardian, a priestess of Hades. She is shy when we first meet her and I didn’t exactly like her but didn’t hate her either. I guess I just need to know more about her.
Sebastian Reid has the potential to become something more. He is a complicated guy, someone who has lots of agendas. You can never tell what he is going to do next. I like him and hope to meet him and find out more about him and his magic in future books.
I received an advance review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
But how can she stop people who are willing and able to go against gods and will stop at nothing to destroy them?
I absolutely loved the concept of Death Trace. I’ve read other books which center on gods and modern day world so it’s always fun to find a new approach. The story is engaging, has twists and turns I couldn’t see coming.
I know there are more books in the series and I will read them because I like Mal very much, she has a very disturbed and tragic past (I won’t go into the reasons because you need to read the book to find out what happened to Mal) and that explains so much why she acts the way she does. She is loyal to Hades and her own choices as well. She is fierce and brave and headstrong.
Lissa is a Guardian, a priestess of Hades. She is shy when we first meet her and I didn’t exactly like her but didn’t hate her either. I guess I just need to know more about her.
Sebastian Reid has the potential to become something more. He is a complicated guy, someone who has lots of agendas. You can never tell what he is going to do next. I like him and hope to meet him and find out more about him and his magic in future books.
I received an advance review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
March 17, 2020
On the whole, I enjoyed this book, but it has some warts.
The main character is a snarky, grisseled henchman (henchperson?) in an urban-fantasy gang war between the gods. She walks a fine line pretty well in my opinion, managing to be guarded enough to be mysterious and compelling without becoming a blank character. She comes off as darkly thoughtful without being maudlin, and I was struck by her poignancy on a couple of occasions. (We all expect to live long enough to finish that gallon of milk.")
However, I found her expositional internal monologue dull and a major momentum-killer at times, especially early on in the book. I recall a particular conversation where I noticed that every line of real-time dialogue was accompanied by at least a full paragraph of backstory on the gods, their war, and How We Got to This Point. Personally I just didn't need to know that much backstory, especially when it's getting in the way of the here-and-now conversation that I actually care about. It made the conversation feel like it was moving through jelly.
The rest of the cast of characters are a similarly mixed bag, with some feeling real enough to relate to (the Guardian) and some feeling like they were on strings (the roommate, the sister). All in all, it was worth the read, and I'm interested to pick up the next one to see if the background cast get some more development and to watch the relationships develop.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character is a snarky, grisseled henchman (henchperson?) in an urban-fantasy gang war between the gods. She walks a fine line pretty well in my opinion, managing to be guarded enough to be mysterious and compelling without becoming a blank character. She comes off as darkly thoughtful without being maudlin, and I was struck by her poignancy on a couple of occasions. (We all expect to live long enough to finish that gallon of milk.")
However, I found her expositional internal monologue dull and a major momentum-killer at times, especially early on in the book. I recall a particular conversation where I noticed that every line of real-time dialogue was accompanied by at least a full paragraph of backstory on the gods, their war, and How We Got to This Point. Personally I just didn't need to know that much backstory, especially when it's getting in the way of the here-and-now conversation that I actually care about. It made the conversation feel like it was moving through jelly.
The rest of the cast of characters are a similarly mixed bag, with some feeling real enough to relate to (the Guardian) and some feeling like they were on strings (the roommate, the sister). All in all, it was worth the read, and I'm interested to pick up the next one to see if the background cast get some more development and to watch the relationships develop.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 5, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a fighter in a secret war of the gods, Mal has committed herself to the god Hades since he brought her back from the dead as one of his Marked. But someone is about to hunt down the servants of Hades. Is it one of the other gods who is trying to take over the territory or is there something else lurking in the shadows?
I really liked the basics and ideas of the world. Especially at the beginning it was exciting to find out the details and to get to know Mal as a character. The embedding of the mythology is interesting and, for the most part, well done. However, the book began to lose my interest a little after halfway through. Sometimes ideas or characters seemed like they needed a little more time to be developed. This became more and more evident at the end. After the big showdown, it felt more like scenes were just strung together without creating any transition or tension. It's a solid first book in the series, but I've been wondering if it might have been better as the second book in the series. The effect of the events would have been much stronger as a second book in the series and would have given more space for the story itself.
I had fun with the book, there is no question about that, but I'm not sure I will pursue the series any further.
As a fighter in a secret war of the gods, Mal has committed herself to the god Hades since he brought her back from the dead as one of his Marked. But someone is about to hunt down the servants of Hades. Is it one of the other gods who is trying to take over the territory or is there something else lurking in the shadows?
I really liked the basics and ideas of the world. Especially at the beginning it was exciting to find out the details and to get to know Mal as a character. The embedding of the mythology is interesting and, for the most part, well done. However, the book began to lose my interest a little after halfway through. Sometimes ideas or characters seemed like they needed a little more time to be developed. This became more and more evident at the end. After the big showdown, it felt more like scenes were just strung together without creating any transition or tension. It's a solid first book in the series, but I've been wondering if it might have been better as the second book in the series. The effect of the events would have been much stronger as a second book in the series and would have given more space for the story itself.
I had fun with the book, there is no question about that, but I'm not sure I will pursue the series any further.
January 21, 2021
I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology and stories involving pantheons of gods, but tend to cringe at urban fantasy because the combination of old world magic and modern world technology never feels quite right to me. In this case, Cannon found the perfect blend of new and old.
Mal, the MC, is a hitman (of sorts) for Hades, who resurrected her five years after she died to serve him. Overall, she's well rounded, but her name is used so rarely that when other characters did say it, it took me a minute to realize who they were talking about.
Her inner monologue would sometimes drag on for pages and while what she was thinking was (usually) interesting, there were times I was tempted to flip through for some dialogue or action.
The other characters fell a bit flat for me, but I'm hoping they'll be more fleshed out in the second book. Also, major bonus points to Cannon for being diverse and featuring an asexual MC.
This story did have a lot of interesting plot twists and new takes on old tales and it was easy to picture what was happening.
Overall, this is a solid books that fans of urban fantasy will enjoy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mal, the MC, is a hitman (of sorts) for Hades, who resurrected her five years after she died to serve him. Overall, she's well rounded, but her name is used so rarely that when other characters did say it, it took me a minute to realize who they were talking about.
Her inner monologue would sometimes drag on for pages and while what she was thinking was (usually) interesting, there were times I was tempted to flip through for some dialogue or action.
The other characters fell a bit flat for me, but I'm hoping they'll be more fleshed out in the second book. Also, major bonus points to Cannon for being diverse and featuring an asexual MC.
This story did have a lot of interesting plot twists and new takes on old tales and it was easy to picture what was happening.
Overall, this is a solid books that fans of urban fantasy will enjoy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 20, 2020
The blurb for Death Trace made me think of Melissa Marr (Graveminder) and Jenna Black (Dark Descendant) So then I read a sample, and BAM. HOOKED!
Just a few paragraphs and Zoe Cannon was starting to look like an author I was going to be checking out. In fact, ARC copy or no... I immediately went to Amazon and looked -- and (YES!) I downloaded the series. I'm already starting book three and had to stop reading to keep my promise to review the book!
The characters feel developed and nuanced, the interactions of characters is spot-on. I like that sometimes you don't really know the WHY and when it comes up, you think "ahhh, I get it." Learning things about the character in ways that aren't just being in her head has more power. She shares when she's ready. That's more like real life, discovering parts of a friend as you go.
I did receive an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) for free, and I am sharing my real responses to the book. I also went to Amazon to download all of the series I could get my hands on via Kindle Unlimited so my review there will be "confirmed purchase" so you know this is for real.
PS: Zoe Cannon, I am in love. Thank you.
Just a few paragraphs and Zoe Cannon was starting to look like an author I was going to be checking out. In fact, ARC copy or no... I immediately went to Amazon and looked -- and (YES!) I downloaded the series. I'm already starting book three and had to stop reading to keep my promise to review the book!
The characters feel developed and nuanced, the interactions of characters is spot-on. I like that sometimes you don't really know the WHY and when it comes up, you think "ahhh, I get it." Learning things about the character in ways that aren't just being in her head has more power. She shares when she's ready. That's more like real life, discovering parts of a friend as you go.
I did receive an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) for free, and I am sharing my real responses to the book. I also went to Amazon to download all of the series I could get my hands on via Kindle Unlimited so my review there will be "confirmed purchase" so you know this is for real.
PS: Zoe Cannon, I am in love. Thank you.
December 23, 2020
It is so refreshing to read a paranormal fantasy that does not involve. a. elves b. vampires. c witches.
Cannon has created a world where the God's have never completely faded from our world. Instead, the various Deities have been engaged in a centuries long war involving power struggles and territorial conquests. All done discreetly, with most of the hands on work done by the 'minions' of the Gods. Mal belongs to Hades. She is his 'fixer', brought back from the dead to solve problems.
Into this mix, a new threat has appeared. Withing a short time, Hades' Temple has been destroyed by bombs, his Guardians (key worshipers) have been killed, along with most of Mal's cohorts.
She is left with the almost impossible task of keeping Hades as a visible presence while nurturing the remaining shell shocked Temple Guardian. The book has enough twists to keep a seasoned reader guessing. I enjoyed it enough to reserve the next book in the series half way through book 1. The ending does not disappoint.
Recommended for readers of paranormal mysteries. Some violence so not suited for younger readers.
Cannon has created a world where the God's have never completely faded from our world. Instead, the various Deities have been engaged in a centuries long war involving power struggles and territorial conquests. All done discreetly, with most of the hands on work done by the 'minions' of the Gods. Mal belongs to Hades. She is his 'fixer', brought back from the dead to solve problems.
Into this mix, a new threat has appeared. Withing a short time, Hades' Temple has been destroyed by bombs, his Guardians (key worshipers) have been killed, along with most of Mal's cohorts.
She is left with the almost impossible task of keeping Hades as a visible presence while nurturing the remaining shell shocked Temple Guardian. The book has enough twists to keep a seasoned reader guessing. I enjoyed it enough to reserve the next book in the series half way through book 1. The ending does not disappoint.
Recommended for readers of paranormal mysteries. Some violence so not suited for younger readers.
April 16, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a lover of both mythology and urban fantasy, I was extremely excited about this book. There was a bit of a mystery that flowed through the plot as the main character Mal hinted at her past but it wasn't revealed to the reader. Overall it was a solid urban fantasy that carried many of the common themes that others do along with original twists.
What I especially enjoyed was the mix of mythology. The focus was not only on greek gods but gods and goddesses from different ancient cultures. It was interesting reading about how they affect the characters despite not being present. I also enjoyed how the book had ebbs and flows. It didn't keep my heart pounding at the turn of every page, but it still kept me engaged when laying some background. The reason that I didn't give this book a higher rating is because the timelines were confusing. Events that I thought happened days later actually happened a few hours after and vice versa. This story also didn't hold a wow factor for me, which isn't bad as it doesn't happen often.
Overall if you enjoy urban fantasy then this could be a goon next read.
As a lover of both mythology and urban fantasy, I was extremely excited about this book. There was a bit of a mystery that flowed through the plot as the main character Mal hinted at her past but it wasn't revealed to the reader. Overall it was a solid urban fantasy that carried many of the common themes that others do along with original twists.
What I especially enjoyed was the mix of mythology. The focus was not only on greek gods but gods and goddesses from different ancient cultures. It was interesting reading about how they affect the characters despite not being present. I also enjoyed how the book had ebbs and flows. It didn't keep my heart pounding at the turn of every page, but it still kept me engaged when laying some background. The reason that I didn't give this book a higher rating is because the timelines were confusing. Events that I thought happened days later actually happened a few hours after and vice versa. This story also didn't hold a wow factor for me, which isn't bad as it doesn't happen often.
Overall if you enjoy urban fantasy then this could be a goon next read.
March 22, 2020
3.5/5.0 stars
I enjoyed Death Trace for the most part. I enjoyed the characters and the story itself was pretty unique and fun to read. I love books where a whole other world is secretly living among us and this delivered on everything I look for in that type of book.
So why only 3 stars?
I know this is the first in a series so some history of the world was needed. It just felt like too much at times, too little at others. It was probably just enough for the book overall, it just seemed... misplaced is probably thr best word. It didn't take away from the story enough to make me put it down (I devoured this in 2 days so definitely didn't want to stop reading) but it did take me out of the story and force me back to reality a few times.
So overall a good start for a new series. Definitely worth the read and I'm planning on continuing with the series.
*I received an early review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinions or review. *
I enjoyed Death Trace for the most part. I enjoyed the characters and the story itself was pretty unique and fun to read. I love books where a whole other world is secretly living among us and this delivered on everything I look for in that type of book.
So why only 3 stars?
I know this is the first in a series so some history of the world was needed. It just felt like too much at times, too little at others. It was probably just enough for the book overall, it just seemed... misplaced is probably thr best word. It didn't take away from the story enough to make me put it down (I devoured this in 2 days so definitely didn't want to stop reading) but it did take me out of the story and force me back to reality a few times.
So overall a good start for a new series. Definitely worth the read and I'm planning on continuing with the series.
*I received an early review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinions or review. *
July 30, 2021
This was a great fun read with the bonus of some great Ace representation! It wasn't a huge part of the plot or anything but then of course I don't think it needs to be at all. I liked how it was handled and technically it is a big part of the book because even if it isn't stated in the beginning the character is just living her best life and being ace the whole time! I will definitely be recommending this to friends and anyone who loves fun fantasy books. The worldbuilding is so interesting and I think how the whole setup with Gods and cities is such a cool concept. I just think Mal is so badass and I loved getting to ride along as she wreaked havoc across New York in the name of Death. If you want fast plot, action, a badass main character, cool worldbuilding, and talk of really good burgers that will make you hungry I definitely recommend.
June 4, 2022
Marked by the God of Death!
Mallory died ten years ago but Hades brought her back for a price. She was Marked and he is now her new boss except the job doesn’t include a paycheck. That makes eating and paying bills very difficult, especially when the human world believes you are dead so everything that would help you get a job no longer exists. That’s the least of her problems though when someone begins targeting Hades Marked ones and Guardians.
This is an excellent start to a paranormal action series. The mystery and intense action make it an exciting read and I really like the characters. It is the first book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Mallory died ten years ago but Hades brought her back for a price. She was Marked and he is now her new boss except the job doesn’t include a paycheck. That makes eating and paying bills very difficult, especially when the human world believes you are dead so everything that would help you get a job no longer exists. That’s the least of her problems though when someone begins targeting Hades Marked ones and Guardians.
This is an excellent start to a paranormal action series. The mystery and intense action make it an exciting read and I really like the characters. It is the first book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 4, 2020
I think this series has potential. I thought the premise was great and very original. I love the play on all the various mythologies and most of the characters. The plot was intriguing and the pace was perfect for me.
While it could be very info dumpy at times,which is warranted for the first in a series, I find myself pretty excited to finish the series.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While it could be very info dumpy at times,which is warranted for the first in a series, I find myself pretty excited to finish the series.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 7, 2021
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While this book didn't particularly interest me, it was well written. The secret struggles that the average person doesn't know about were well planned, and clearly will take more than 1 or 2 books to fully explore going forward. The whole back story could be a series of it's own. I found most of the book very unpredictable. I do recommend that you give it a try and decide for yourself.
While this book didn't particularly interest me, it was well written. The secret struggles that the average person doesn't know about were well planned, and clearly will take more than 1 or 2 books to fully explore going forward. The whole back story could be a series of it's own. I found most of the book very unpredictable. I do recommend that you give it a try and decide for yourself.
June 20, 2021
Gods and turf wars, people recruited after death. I think they should have got more help from their god rather than dumped back into the world and left to fend for themselves with no identity or support apart from the temple and an invisible gun. Mallory was even given another last chance after saving the souls of her compatriots. That was worth at least a small super power and now she will not get another chance, unfair or what ? Quite a readable story.
November 11, 2020
I loved it! I really like the way the characters have been written and how the story has progressed so far. I'd love to read the next books in this series. Definitely give it a try if you like Mythology and Magic and a badass female protagonist.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2021
So very excellent!
Work ing for a god had some perks, such as getting to live again, but then the drawbacks were extreme. Who was actually trying to get rid of Hades.? Who was a friend and who an enemy.? Sometimes the distinction between the two was a little foggy. Oh my, what to do!!!
Work ing for a god had some perks, such as getting to live again, but then the drawbacks were extreme. Who was actually trying to get rid of Hades.? Who was a friend and who an enemy.? Sometimes the distinction between the two was a little foggy. Oh my, what to do!!!
August 20, 2021
This novel has the most unusual story line. It centers around the hunt for an assassin who is killing off the agents of Hades in New York City. The storyline is solid and the characters are well formed. if you like paranormal mysteries and psychological intrigue, then you’ll love Zoe Cannon’s page turning novel. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 9, 2021
a very original concept
I truly enjoyed this book. The concepts of Zoe Cannon’s world building are uniquely hers. I enjoyed the self-discovery and growth the main character experienced. I also enjoyed that the book was well written, without grammatical errors. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I truly enjoyed this book. The concepts of Zoe Cannon’s world building are uniquely hers. I enjoyed the self-discovery and growth the main character experienced. I also enjoyed that the book was well written, without grammatical errors. I look forward to reading more from this author.
November 18, 2022
Different
Really enjoyed this tale...A different take on the gods and human relationships. Once dead, brought back by Hades to hold New York...now fights for her life and those she aligned with. Mysterious friends, alliances and unknown enemies...can she win against them... Great pace, lots of action and characters that have you questioning can they be trusted.
Really enjoyed this tale...A different take on the gods and human relationships. Once dead, brought back by Hades to hold New York...now fights for her life and those she aligned with. Mysterious friends, alliances and unknown enemies...can she win against them... Great pace, lots of action and characters that have you questioning can they be trusted.
May 22, 2025
Gods at war
Mallory is a marked, servant of the god Hades. Some gods war with each other and some ally to increase their power so several smaller gods can hold the same territory as a god with more followers. When an outside group attacks Hades temple it is up to those left to identify and defeat these new rivals.
Mallory is a marked, servant of the god Hades. Some gods war with each other and some ally to increase their power so several smaller gods can hold the same territory as a god with more followers. When an outside group attacks Hades temple it is up to those left to identify and defeat these new rivals.
April 19, 2021
This book, in a nutshell, is different from anything I read, before. However the writing is tight. There is an obvious plot to follow, and the characters are interesting enough to carry the reader through the story. The ending was satisfactory too. I can recommend this story.
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