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Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill #1
Shadow Hunter
When my magic manifested at puberty, my parents sold me to the Illuminati.
The Order of the Illuminati trained me as an assassin, spy, and thief. But when they sent me to steal a magical artifact that reveals Truth in all things, I discovered that I was working for the Dark and not the Light. The Illuminati trained me well, and paid the ultimate price for their deception.
Thousands of miles away, I landed a job in a quirky little bar. But the scattered remnants of the Order still strive for world domination, and no one leaves the Illuminati alive.
The Order of the Illuminati trained me as an assassin, spy, and thief. But when they sent me to steal a magical artifact that reveals Truth in all things, I discovered that I was working for the Dark and not the Light. The Illuminati trained me well, and paid the ultimate price for their deception.
Thousands of miles away, I landed a job in a quirky little bar. But the scattered remnants of the Order still strive for world domination, and no one leaves the Illuminati alive.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 4, 2019
3590 people are currently reading
5518 people want to read
About the author
B.R. Kingsolver
40 books950 followersI made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.
As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.
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As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.
For special deals and news about new books, sign up for my newsletter.
http://brkingsolver.us1.list-manage.c...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 780 reviews
November 12, 2021
I'm not sure I should have liked this book but I really did... The style of writing with its less than descriptive world building and character definitions should really have made a mediocre storyline ... but it was great!
The secondary characters and our leading lady are still somewhat puzzling to me but they are characters I want to fathom out some more... I am actually quite eager to get book 2 underway!!!
The secondary characters and our leading lady are still somewhat puzzling to me but they are characters I want to fathom out some more... I am actually quite eager to get book 2 underway!!!
April 21, 2019
This really shouldn't have worked for me. The worldbuilding is bog standard and the author does exposition in clumps (including an entire chapter or two up front). Plus, the central cast of secondary characters aren't very complex and Erin is very nearly a Mary Sue.
But I liked it anyway. The pace is good, the action well-drawn, and there's enough weight in the emotional payload to engage me. Plus, the secondary characters are an interesting ensemble and I liked their dynamic, even if they weren't that deep. And I liked the mixture of naïve and world-weary we get in Erin and her determination to figure out what it means to be one of the good guys.
So I'm giving this four stars it probably doesn't deserve.
A note about Steamy/Chaste: Erin doesn't know how relationships work (because she's been a work-work-work girl since puberty) and is hesitant to screw up or hurt people. So there's no sex and not even any real kissing. Which was unusual, but in a good way.
But I liked it anyway. The pace is good, the action well-drawn, and there's enough weight in the emotional payload to engage me. Plus, the secondary characters are an interesting ensemble and I liked their dynamic, even if they weren't that deep. And I liked the mixture of naïve and world-weary we get in Erin and her determination to figure out what it means to be one of the good guys.
So I'm giving this four stars it probably doesn't deserve.
A note about Steamy/Chaste: Erin doesn't know how relationships work (because she's been a work-work-work girl since puberty) and is hesitant to screw up or hurt people. So there's no sex and not even any real kissing. Which was unusual, but in a good way.
December 10, 2019
Buddy Read with Buddies Books & Baubles starting Dec 4, 2019
I haven’t read many books from Kindle Unlimited because I’m a snob. Well not really, I just don’t mind paying a little money to get great content. There is some good content to be found on KU but sometimes you have to swim through a lot of mediocrity to get there.
Shadow Hunter kind of suffers from this. It is a book with a ton of potential that just needed to be fleshed out a little more before print. What it turned into is a lot of action scenes cobbled together very loosely by threads of a plot and worldbuilding.
Erin was raised by the Illuminate and trained to be an assassin. She is a little special Susie snowflake from the beginning but I will usually forgive that if the story is good. After finding out everything she believed is a lie Erin has gone into hiding and found Rosie’s O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar to get lost in.
The good points of the story:
The potential world this is set in is interesting with Paranormals and Supernatural creatures. There is a decent scooby squad building and I’m liking a few of the side characters and the potential they could bring to future stories.
There is enough humor in the book. Erin does say some funny things at times since she doesn’t really understand real relationships between people and has never slept with someone she didn’t need to kill.
The story has potential overall. I’m left wondering if this is just first book jitters and the author will figure out how to do some plotting and character development a little better in future installments.
The bad points of the story:
The plot is a hot mess at times. It jumps from one ambush of the characters to another without a lot of plot in between. Erin is supposed to be this famed hunter with a bunch of skills from her past, but for most of the book she is just stumbling into bodies, being ambushed by vampires and trying to hide from the hunter in town. It just didn’t seem like she was the badass the prologue in the book told us she was.
There are some plot holes and a few times when Erin did things that just didn’t seem like they would be in her character. Plus, I hate it when things seem too easy. There is one point where they know where the bad guy is due to a vision someone else sees off page.
Overall:
This book needed some help with fleshing out the plot and details. Still it was interesting enough with enough potential that I will give this author one more shot and try the next one to see if she is improving with the problems seen in this installment of the series. There are some cool bones in the story that have a lot of potential so this reader just hopes that in the future the fleshy parts look more like a cherub and less like the walking dead.
I haven’t read many books from Kindle Unlimited because I’m a snob. Well not really, I just don’t mind paying a little money to get great content. There is some good content to be found on KU but sometimes you have to swim through a lot of mediocrity to get there.
Shadow Hunter kind of suffers from this. It is a book with a ton of potential that just needed to be fleshed out a little more before print. What it turned into is a lot of action scenes cobbled together very loosely by threads of a plot and worldbuilding.
Erin was raised by the Illuminate and trained to be an assassin. She is a little special Susie snowflake from the beginning but I will usually forgive that if the story is good. After finding out everything she believed is a lie Erin has gone into hiding and found Rosie’s O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar to get lost in.
The good points of the story:
The potential world this is set in is interesting with Paranormals and Supernatural creatures. There is a decent scooby squad building and I’m liking a few of the side characters and the potential they could bring to future stories.
There is enough humor in the book. Erin does say some funny things at times since she doesn’t really understand real relationships between people and has never slept with someone she didn’t need to kill.
Was I supposed to be in love to go on a date? Did it automatically mean sex? What did you do in the morning when the man was still alive? You’d probably have to talk to him. What would you talk about?
The story has potential overall. I’m left wondering if this is just first book jitters and the author will figure out how to do some plotting and character development a little better in future installments.
The bad points of the story:
The plot is a hot mess at times. It jumps from one ambush of the characters to another without a lot of plot in between. Erin is supposed to be this famed hunter with a bunch of skills from her past, but for most of the book she is just stumbling into bodies, being ambushed by vampires and trying to hide from the hunter in town. It just didn’t seem like she was the badass the prologue in the book told us she was.
There are some plot holes and a few times when Erin did things that just didn’t seem like they would be in her character. Plus, I hate it when things seem too easy. There is one point where they know where the bad guy is due to a vision someone else sees off page.
Overall:
This book needed some help with fleshing out the plot and details. Still it was interesting enough with enough potential that I will give this author one more shot and try the next one to see if she is improving with the problems seen in this installment of the series. There are some cool bones in the story that have a lot of potential so this reader just hopes that in the future the fleshy parts look more like a cherub and less like the walking dead.
July 16, 2019
This book has an intriguing premise that never gets more interesting than the flap copy.
Rarely have I read a book with so many plot holes.
Spoilers ahead:
We are started with a massive info dump that already doesn't make sense. This girl trains with the Illuminati and becomes an amazing assassin in 5 years. She talks about being trained to mingle with the elite mages and power movers and so has experienced some of the best entertainment the world has to offer. But the paranormal is still a secret from the rest of the world. So somehow she managed to kill over 200 people, most extremely influential, for the Illuminati and never got recognized or caught?
She then comes across a magical truth telling artifact that shows her the Illuminati have brainwashed and been using her to further their evil machinations. So she then creates a massive explosion that destroys the Illuminati headquarters in the wilds of Canada, a city that has been there for hundreds of years. This also makes no sense. A bunch of white people have been traveling to northern Canada so much they have an entire city. And it goes poof in the 21st century and no one notices? This world has smartphones and the internet, this wouldn't go unnoticed.
I kept reading, thinking the characters might allow me to gloss over the awful world building. But each character changes depending on what the scene needs. A suspicious cop starts badgering her in one scene for being a suspect, then decides she's cool so he introduces her to his boss and tries to date her. No path to this change of heart, just a different scene.
The heroine keeps spouting exposition to move the plot in between mass murdering vampires who show up to attack her constantly. Then she bitches about how everyone is too interested in her and she is attracting to much attention. She tells us how she was trained for all social situations, but can't manage any of them around her.
At one point the reason for all of the paranormals is explained by leylines centering in the area. But she, this amazing mage assassin, has never heard of this town and randomly ended up there because that's where her bus ticket ended.
She acts like a college kid. She has no emotional distress from being brainwashed by the Illuminati and then murdering them all.
The writing is inoffensive enough that you don't quit out of annoyance. Very few spelling errors which is nice for KU. But it isn't good writing by any stretch.
Overall, the author copied a formula and didn't put in the work to hit the emotional points I expect from this style of book. The world was a mishmash of popular YA and KU tidbits like it was a checklist for Amazon keywords. Do not recommend.
Rarely have I read a book with so many plot holes.
Spoilers ahead:
We are started with a massive info dump that already doesn't make sense. This girl trains with the Illuminati and becomes an amazing assassin in 5 years. She talks about being trained to mingle with the elite mages and power movers and so has experienced some of the best entertainment the world has to offer. But the paranormal is still a secret from the rest of the world. So somehow she managed to kill over 200 people, most extremely influential, for the Illuminati and never got recognized or caught?
She then comes across a magical truth telling artifact that shows her the Illuminati have brainwashed and been using her to further their evil machinations. So she then creates a massive explosion that destroys the Illuminati headquarters in the wilds of Canada, a city that has been there for hundreds of years. This also makes no sense. A bunch of white people have been traveling to northern Canada so much they have an entire city. And it goes poof in the 21st century and no one notices? This world has smartphones and the internet, this wouldn't go unnoticed.
I kept reading, thinking the characters might allow me to gloss over the awful world building. But each character changes depending on what the scene needs. A suspicious cop starts badgering her in one scene for being a suspect, then decides she's cool so he introduces her to his boss and tries to date her. No path to this change of heart, just a different scene.
The heroine keeps spouting exposition to move the plot in between mass murdering vampires who show up to attack her constantly. Then she bitches about how everyone is too interested in her and she is attracting to much attention. She tells us how she was trained for all social situations, but can't manage any of them around her.
At one point the reason for all of the paranormals is explained by leylines centering in the area. But she, this amazing mage assassin, has never heard of this town and randomly ended up there because that's where her bus ticket ended.
She acts like a college kid. She has no emotional distress from being brainwashed by the Illuminati and then murdering them all.
The writing is inoffensive enough that you don't quit out of annoyance. Very few spelling errors which is nice for KU. But it isn't good writing by any stretch.
Overall, the author copied a formula and didn't put in the work to hit the emotional points I expect from this style of book. The world was a mishmash of popular YA and KU tidbits like it was a checklist for Amazon keywords. Do not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2019
4 solid stars. I really enjoyed the story. I especially liked the h was badass throughout. The h did well even when she was outed for the monster she was. Whats more even after her entire belief system was decimated she never developed the clichéd “self sacrificing” “save me” “why me” or “pity me” common behavior amongst female MC. As for romance it’s minuscule & doesn’t involve any “insta-love/lust”. It was a nice change of pace.
I think the book is a standalone however, it’s got some serious room for growth & can easily become a fun series.
I think the book is a standalone however, it’s got some serious room for growth & can easily become a fun series.
April 21, 2019
There is no way the 5 star reviews on this book were legitimately earned. This book is trite. The MC is a Mary Sue who is introduced to us as a Mary Sue; the author doesn't hide it. She can do no wrong and her life is oh so terribly hard because she's a woman but she is the best she's young and hot and oh so very powerful BLECH!. The writing is bland and the story cliché. I'm not interested in the characters, I'm not interested in the world, and the plot is nothing but drivel. This book is one dimensional. Don't waste your time and read something better.
April 13, 2019
A decent UF. It won't win any prize for world building or depth of characterization, but it was easy to read and enjoyable.
August 13, 2019
Looking at the 5-star reviews, I'm wondering if I read a different book or just had too high expectations for this novel.
Summary of this novel: Plot holes and contradictions galore.
What I came for: A tough, but vulnerable heroine with PTSD, trust issues, and a guilty streak the size of The Great Wall
What I got: A Mary Sue who is loved by all, has no qualms with trusting people, and forgets she has murdered hundreds of innocent people
---
Either I'm a cynical jerk, or everyone in this novel is just too damned trusting.
Everyone (no, really, I'm not joking) who meets Erin immediately comes to like her. The girls wanna be her BFFs, the boys all wanna hit that ass, and all adults want to wrap her up in a blanket to baby her.
Awh, you might say. Fucking bullshit, I say.
This isn't a world filled with sunshine and rainbows, this is a world with magic, violence, cruelty, and people get hurt.
And yet, despite the stakes, the fact that Erin is dragged into what seems to be the biggest incident to occur in the city and that vampires are continuously ambushing her, there is a lack of tension and suspense.
The villains in this story make really questionable choices, enough for me to roll my eyes and yell at them for being so incompetent.
For example, vampires continuously target Erin despite getting beat-up and massacred. You'd think they'd wisen up and sneakily kidnap one of Erin's acquaintances, anyone who was weaker and an easier target than Erin.
And the Hunter, who kept attacking Erin when she was in her house, behind her strong-ass wards. Like wtf, bro? Just go and attack her when she's grocery shopping or something.
Weirdly enough, for all the brainwashing the Illuminati has done to Erin, she seems to display no obvious mental damage from it. She doesn't have trust issues, and besides the moment of panic at the beginning, Erin doesn't display any lack of guilt or shame into having murdered hundreds of innocent, good people. She doesn't consider what her actions have caused/affected the supernatural world and goes off to hide in some town to live some sort of "normal" life.
Remember how I mentioned everyone in this book was too trusting? Well, Erin is especially guilty of being so.
For someone who is skilled in infiltration, spying, and information retrieval, she's really fucking terrible at keeping secrets.
Ever heard of that saying, "I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you."?
Well, Erin is more like, "I'd tell you, but really, I'll also basically imply I used to be part of the Illuminati because I'm an idiot."
Also, someone explain to me why Erin was so shook up over that vampire head hanging over her doorway, when apparently, she's supposed to be a badass assassin who has seen more than her fair share of blood.
No, really, this girl kicked a vampire so hard his testicles exploded. And yet, the sight of a head frightens her to the core?
And good lord, what is with all the blushing?
For someone who claims to have studied in the art of flirting and seduction, Erin gets embarrassed and shy really easily. Call her pretty, and she blushes like a shy virginal maiden. You'd think the Illuminati would have trained that out of her.
Uh, what? I'm sorry, what?
You see, I wouldn't have done a spit-take at that line, if Erin hadn't been slaughtering vampires left and right, and if she hadn't referred to the poor woman's vampire head, which had been hung before her door, as a "thing." No pity or sympathy for this unnamed vampire who was murdered to decorate her door as a warning.
And now, all of a sudden she's sympathetic towards vampires? Hahahaha, Erin, you really crack me up.
At least this book wasn't too long. I would have regretted spending more time reading it.
Summary of this novel: Plot holes and contradictions galore.
What I came for: A tough, but vulnerable heroine with PTSD, trust issues, and a guilty streak the size of The Great Wall
What I got: A Mary Sue who is loved by all, has no qualms with trusting people, and forgets she has murdered hundreds of innocent people
---
Either I'm a cynical jerk, or everyone in this novel is just too damned trusting.
Everyone (no, really, I'm not joking) who meets Erin immediately comes to like her. The girls wanna be her BFFs, the boys all wanna hit that ass, and all adults want to wrap her up in a blanket to baby her.
Awh, you might say. Fucking bullshit, I say.
This isn't a world filled with sunshine and rainbows, this is a world with magic, violence, cruelty, and people get hurt.
And yet, despite the stakes, the fact that Erin is dragged into what seems to be the biggest incident to occur in the city and that vampires are continuously ambushing her, there is a lack of tension and suspense.
The villains in this story make really questionable choices, enough for me to roll my eyes and yell at them for being so incompetent.
For example, vampires continuously target Erin despite getting beat-up and massacred. You'd think they'd wisen up and sneakily kidnap one of Erin's acquaintances, anyone who was weaker and an easier target than Erin.
And the Hunter, who kept attacking Erin when she was in her house, behind her strong-ass wards. Like wtf, bro? Just go and attack her when she's grocery shopping or something.
Weirdly enough, for all the brainwashing the Illuminati has done to Erin, she seems to display no obvious mental damage from it. She doesn't have trust issues, and besides the moment of panic at the beginning, Erin doesn't display any lack of guilt or shame into having murdered hundreds of innocent, good people. She doesn't consider what her actions have caused/affected the supernatural world and goes off to hide in some town to live some sort of "normal" life.
Remember how I mentioned everyone in this book was too trusting? Well, Erin is especially guilty of being so.
For someone who is skilled in infiltration, spying, and information retrieval, she's really fucking terrible at keeping secrets.
Ever heard of that saying, "I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you."?
Well, Erin is more like, "I'd tell you, but really, I'll also basically imply I used to be part of the Illuminati because I'm an idiot."
Also, someone explain to me why Erin was so shook up over that vampire head hanging over her doorway, when apparently, she's supposed to be a badass assassin who has seen more than her fair share of blood.
No, really, this girl kicked a vampire so hard his testicles exploded. And yet, the sight of a head frightens her to the core?
And good lord, what is with all the blushing?
For someone who claims to have studied in the art of flirting and seduction, Erin gets embarrassed and shy really easily. Call her pretty, and she blushes like a shy virginal maiden. You'd think the Illuminati would have trained that out of her.
"I actually had a lot of sympathy for the vamps."
Uh, what? I'm sorry, what?
You see, I wouldn't have done a spit-take at that line, if Erin hadn't been slaughtering vampires left and right, and if she hadn't referred to the poor woman's vampire head, which had been hung before her door, as a "thing." No pity or sympathy for this unnamed vampire who was murdered to decorate her door as a warning.
And now, all of a sudden she's sympathetic towards vampires? Hahahaha, Erin, you really crack me up.
At least this book wasn't too long. I would have regretted spending more time reading it.
October 26, 2019
She worked as an assassin for a shadowy organisation of magical users but when she found out they were evil she destroyed them all.
Now she's on the run, but luckily she lands in a town where she gets a job and a home within 3 minutes.
Cue the Cheers theme song.
Not terrible. Not great. Just average.
Now she's on the run, but luckily she lands in a town where she gets a job and a home within 3 minutes.
Cue the Cheers theme song.
Not terrible. Not great. Just average.
September 8, 2020
3.5 I like this author!
It's not the first thing I read by Kingsolver (how cool is that name, right?), she's pretty good.
This series smells like potential. I'm not sure yet if I like the MC, but for now, she's ok. She has great friends, and that always counts for something, in my book. The plot is pretty nice (I've always liked Bartender UFs for some reason), it's fast-paced and fun, and the writing style is excellent.
So, for now, this series is worth trying out. Hope it doesn't disappoint. Wish me luck!
It's not the first thing I read by Kingsolver (how cool is that name, right?), she's pretty good.
This series smells like potential. I'm not sure yet if I like the MC, but for now, she's ok. She has great friends, and that always counts for something, in my book. The plot is pretty nice (I've always liked Bartender UFs for some reason), it's fast-paced and fun, and the writing style is excellent.
So, for now, this series is worth trying out. Hope it doesn't disappoint. Wish me luck!
January 10, 2020
There may have been some cliche stuff about this, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a tough time putting it down. The main character seeks redemption in a paranormally driven town, tending bar (I usually end up liking bar scene books in these types of series for some reason). She can't let the powerful outfit that controlled her know she's alive, but it doesn't help when a massive vampire war starts when she sets foot into town.
Fortunately she doesn't stay deluded about her lifestyle long, and the book opens as she's leaving one world to step into another. There's enough of a history and extended scene to get it, casting a dark shadow over it all beforehand. Erin is interesting enough as a UF MC, although her giving morality lectures to many irks me some considering evil she's done. She's looking for a new life but it's too early to act on a high horse and have it sit okay with me. Either way, she's not too interesting personality wise, but her power is impressive, and I dig when the heroine is a mystery to everyone around her and when she's valued for more than the basics.
There is a colorful cast of characters who slowly come out of the woodwork to keep things fresher. Sam as the boss is a big bear of a man you can't help but like, the odd vampires aren't seen much but enough to intrigue, the three mages are dislikable for too long but come to more light later, and there is a certain pink-haired gal who causes some laughs. Unfortunately they don't really come out to play until later in a positive way. The book's first half was weighed down with pacing woes. Too much introspection without enough genuine emotion about it yet, too much routine and slow-beat without enough happening - but the second part picks up and made me curious about continuing the series.
The human detective plays a large role and he's sweet, but not sure I'd call him that interesting yet. Opera dates and shy smiles, though, that's always brownie points.
It's dark, different enough, and I'm curious what will happen with the other books. Not everyone can hide forever, who will be the ultimate winner in the war (since I've read the second book, I know already but still...), it's worth sticking around to read.
Fortunately she doesn't stay deluded about her lifestyle long, and the book opens as she's leaving one world to step into another. There's enough of a history and extended scene to get it, casting a dark shadow over it all beforehand. Erin is interesting enough as a UF MC, although her giving morality lectures to many irks me some considering evil she's done. She's looking for a new life but it's too early to act on a high horse and have it sit okay with me. Either way, she's not too interesting personality wise, but her power is impressive, and I dig when the heroine is a mystery to everyone around her and when she's valued for more than the basics.
There is a colorful cast of characters who slowly come out of the woodwork to keep things fresher. Sam as the boss is a big bear of a man you can't help but like, the odd vampires aren't seen much but enough to intrigue, the three mages are dislikable for too long but come to more light later, and there is a certain pink-haired gal who causes some laughs. Unfortunately they don't really come out to play until later in a positive way. The book's first half was weighed down with pacing woes. Too much introspection without enough genuine emotion about it yet, too much routine and slow-beat without enough happening - but the second part picks up and made me curious about continuing the series.
The human detective plays a large role and he's sweet, but not sure I'd call him that interesting yet. Opera dates and shy smiles, though, that's always brownie points.
It's dark, different enough, and I'm curious what will happen with the other books. Not everyone can hide forever, who will be the ultimate winner in the war (since I've read the second book, I know already but still...), it's worth sticking around to read.
October 29, 2019
We meet a young assassin trained and sold to the Illuminati when her magic manifested around puberty. She is one of their best hunters until she learns that not everything is black and white, dark and light, good vs evil. She leaves the order with a bang, abandoning everything she knows and takes back her birth name Erin. In hiding, she accepts a job as a bartender in a supernatural pub in the rural town of Westport.
While the story wasn’t perfect and Erin’s background and lack of social experience clashed with what I expected of a highly trained hunter, the storyline was well-paced with a mix of humor, snark, building of friendships and suspense as murders involving vampires plagued the town.
There is a little romantic interest from others, but Erin is inexperienced and getting her footing, but things could develop as the series progresses. The world-building isn’t complex and provided throughout as needed which kept the flow moving but also left me with questions.
Madeleine Dauer narrated and I thought she did an excellent job with Erin and secondary characters. She helped amp up the suspense and emotions along with intensifying some key battle scenes. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
While the story wasn’t perfect and Erin’s background and lack of social experience clashed with what I expected of a highly trained hunter, the storyline was well-paced with a mix of humor, snark, building of friendships and suspense as murders involving vampires plagued the town.
There is a little romantic interest from others, but Erin is inexperienced and getting her footing, but things could develop as the series progresses. The world-building isn’t complex and provided throughout as needed which kept the flow moving but also left me with questions.
Madeleine Dauer narrated and I thought she did an excellent job with Erin and secondary characters. She helped amp up the suspense and emotions along with intensifying some key battle scenes. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
October 23, 2019
2.5
Meh, I suppose this wasn't bad. But I didn't find anything about it that stood out and I REALLY don't think Erin lived up to her own hype. We're told she'd been intensely training (20hrs a day) since she was 14. But the gaps in her magical knowledge (mostly so the author had an excuse to explain things to the reader) were too wide and frequent to be believed. Plus, her whole "I've never lived in the world" schtick contradicted the fact that she'd been sent on missions, sometimes as staff and sometimes with high society, bout out in the world. Am I really supposed to believe things like she'd never had pizza?
I did like most of the side characters (that I was meant to like) and the mechanical writing and narration appear to be fine. It all just felt far too mediocre YA novel for my tastes. But I have no doubt it will find it's audience.
Meh, I suppose this wasn't bad. But I didn't find anything about it that stood out and I REALLY don't think Erin lived up to her own hype. We're told she'd been intensely training (20hrs a day) since she was 14. But the gaps in her magical knowledge (mostly so the author had an excuse to explain things to the reader) were too wide and frequent to be believed. Plus, her whole "I've never lived in the world" schtick contradicted the fact that she'd been sent on missions, sometimes as staff and sometimes with high society, bout out in the world. Am I really supposed to believe things like she'd never had pizza?
I did like most of the side characters (that I was meant to like) and the mechanical writing and narration appear to be fine. It all just felt far too mediocre YA novel for my tastes. But I have no doubt it will find it's audience.
June 18, 2019
Very contrived but it's not the worst thing I've read this week.
January 4, 2022
“Paranormals are humans with talents or magic—mages and witches. Supernaturals are non-human. Vampires, shifters, the Fae. Make sense?”
Yes, yes it does. Finally my book addiction pays off!
Just kidding, but I did have a good time reading this new series.
We have Erin and ex assassin, spy, and thief that was working for and organization called The Order until she finds out that all of her teachings were a lie.
Instead of working on the side of Light-by being the 'good little solider' her efforts have only resulted in harm at the end of the day. Knowing she has to disappear Erin burns her old life to the ground and goes into hiding, but she needs money and a job. Finally she lands one as a bartender at a quirky little place called Rosie’s O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar where she hopes to start over and live a normal life.
But nothing is quite that easy right?
So fun world building, characters, and magic system- will def read on to the next book. On KU free atm!
April 9, 2019
Cute, fun and entertaining.
Well developed world and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to see what is next for the main character. An all around good read.
Well developed world and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to see what is next for the main character. An all around good read.
December 15, 2019
I’m feeling a bit generous today because this light but entertaining tale was exactly what I needed.
It’s probably a 3.5 rounded up (bear with the beginning. It’s a bit much but it settles in quickly).
ETA: Downgraded to three stars. I really was too generous.
It’s probably a 3.5 rounded up (bear with the beginning. It’s a bit much but it settles in quickly).
ETA: Downgraded to three stars. I really was too generous.
August 22, 2022
Shadow Hunter is book one in the Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill by B.R. Kingsolver. This is my first taste of Kingsolver.
I saw this book on Caffeinated Reviews, so I decided to take a closer look. The cover, blurb, and series title, Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill, peeked my interest in this Urban Fantasy series and I saw that it's on KindleUnlimited, so I decided to give it a try. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed.
Erin, our heroine, is a young women who was sold to the Illuminati when her powers manifested. She was trained by them to be an assassin and has learned that not everything in the Illuminati world is as it seems; good vs evil, light and dark, black and white. And, she decides to leave the order, but no one gets out of the order alive.
The story isn’t perfect as with most first books in a series, but it moves along nicely with a mix of snark, humor, and building of friendships. Erin is a smart, athletic, and a tough heroine, but she lacks in some areas and you’d think she wouldn’t. One area that got to me was her social experiences. It just did fit and it clashed with what I expected a highly trained assassin would know.
There is also a possible love interest, but Erin is focussed on getting her feet under her and finding out who she is now that she’s no longer an assassin. The suspense and murder mystery keep us on our toes and the world-building is straightforward. The secondary characters are an interesting bunch and I look forward to seeing more of them.
Shadow Hunter has potential and was a decedent start to the Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill series. I’m curious to see how/if things will develop a little better and how Erin grows. It’s got some cool bones and fascinating possibilities.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
I saw this book on Caffeinated Reviews, so I decided to take a closer look. The cover, blurb, and series title, Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill, peeked my interest in this Urban Fantasy series and I saw that it's on KindleUnlimited, so I decided to give it a try. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed.
Erin, our heroine, is a young women who was sold to the Illuminati when her powers manifested. She was trained by them to be an assassin and has learned that not everything in the Illuminati world is as it seems; good vs evil, light and dark, black and white. And, she decides to leave the order, but no one gets out of the order alive.
The story isn’t perfect as with most first books in a series, but it moves along nicely with a mix of snark, humor, and building of friendships. Erin is a smart, athletic, and a tough heroine, but she lacks in some areas and you’d think she wouldn’t. One area that got to me was her social experiences. It just did fit and it clashed with what I expected a highly trained assassin would know.
There is also a possible love interest, but Erin is focussed on getting her feet under her and finding out who she is now that she’s no longer an assassin. The suspense and murder mystery keep us on our toes and the world-building is straightforward. The secondary characters are an interesting bunch and I look forward to seeing more of them.
Shadow Hunter has potential and was a decedent start to the Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill series. I’m curious to see how/if things will develop a little better and how Erin grows. It’s got some cool bones and fascinating possibilities.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
July 11, 2022
I really didn't expect it to like it this muchh
August 4, 2019
The plot isn't bad, but the story was executed poorly. The main character is an ex-assassin in her early 20s that is hiding from her organization by trying to lay low in a town filled with supernaturals and paranormals.
In the beginning of the story, we are shown the time of when she leaves the Illuminati. It had left me very bothered, and not in a good way. They just very quickly dump a whole bunch of dramatic scenes you then don't talk about it anymore throughout the rest of the story. The way the beginning was executed just didn't flow well.
There were many things that the protagonist shouldn't have said according to her character. Many times did she just blurt out information that would reveal who she is. The author tried to play her as a deadly assassin that was brainwashed by her organization, trying to live a more normal life. She is also portrayed by the author to not know the right things to say, because she doesn't have the social experience. However, that shouldn't make the character stupid. Many times did the main character reveal hints of who she is and reveal too much information on "accident", due to her social inexperience. This doesn't make any sense with her background, I'm surprised that she wasn't killed sooner on her assassin jobs.
The main character is portrayed as some all-powerful mage with power never seen before, with no explanation or hints to why this is the case. We just get a brief explanation of how she got into the hands of the Illuminati, then go right into the action of the present, and throughout the rest of the book, get no hints of her past. This book was mainly just for the main character to make friends with the people she encounters.
This book really rubs me the wrong way when the character's actions and words doesn't match her background and how the author wanted to portray her character. The author should've taken a good look at how the main character is being perceived to the readers contrary to her imagination.
In the beginning of the story, we are shown the time of when she leaves the Illuminati. It had left me very bothered, and not in a good way. They just very quickly dump a whole bunch of dramatic scenes you then don't talk about it anymore throughout the rest of the story. The way the beginning was executed just didn't flow well.
There were many things that the protagonist shouldn't have said according to her character. Many times did she just blurt out information that would reveal who she is. The author tried to play her as a deadly assassin that was brainwashed by her organization, trying to live a more normal life. She is also portrayed by the author to not know the right things to say, because she doesn't have the social experience. However, that shouldn't make the character stupid. Many times did the main character reveal hints of who she is and reveal too much information on "accident", due to her social inexperience. This doesn't make any sense with her background, I'm surprised that she wasn't killed sooner on her assassin jobs.
The main character is portrayed as some all-powerful mage with power never seen before, with no explanation or hints to why this is the case. We just get a brief explanation of how she got into the hands of the Illuminati, then go right into the action of the present, and throughout the rest of the book, get no hints of her past. This book was mainly just for the main character to make friends with the people she encounters.
This book really rubs me the wrong way when the character's actions and words doesn't match her background and how the author wanted to portray her character. The author should've taken a good look at how the main character is being perceived to the readers contrary to her imagination.
April 30, 2019
Great book...
Loved the book cover and the storyline flowed. The mc was badass and endearing with the way she was innocent of the real life. I hope the next book would show more romance. There was none on this one. It was okay though since the book focused more on the heroine character developments. I hope she doesn't get pair up with Travis though since he is too boring and he doesn't even have a car. No chemistry there. The vampire had more chemistry with the heroine. I think the mc needs a guy as badass and hot as her. Not sure how old the heroine though. Maybe 23...Not sure. Enjoyable read for sure. No cliffhanger ending. Totally recommend this awesome and well written book. First book from this talented author. Can't wait for book two and read other books of this author.
Loved the book cover and the storyline flowed. The mc was badass and endearing with the way she was innocent of the real life. I hope the next book would show more romance. There was none on this one. It was okay though since the book focused more on the heroine character developments. I hope she doesn't get pair up with Travis though since he is too boring and he doesn't even have a car. No chemistry there. The vampire had more chemistry with the heroine. I think the mc needs a guy as badass and hot as her. Not sure how old the heroine though. Maybe 23...Not sure. Enjoyable read for sure. No cliffhanger ending. Totally recommend this awesome and well written book. First book from this talented author. Can't wait for book two and read other books of this author.
May 21, 2019
A book that keeps your interest.
This is a book that once I started, I didn't put down till I finished. The main character was really likeable. She didn't feel like a cookie cutout, and made me want her to succeed. I wasn't sure about the premise at first, but I thought the author pulled it off amazingly. I'm definitely going to read the second book, and look forward to seeing what else this author has in store.
This is a book that once I started, I didn't put down till I finished. The main character was really likeable. She didn't feel like a cookie cutout, and made me want her to succeed. I wasn't sure about the premise at first, but I thought the author pulled it off amazingly. I'm definitely going to read the second book, and look forward to seeing what else this author has in store.
April 15, 2019
I really like this author's books, Her stories are well written and you feel that she does a lot of research on the subject when she tells it. Here we get Erin who wants redemption and hates herself, she thought she could run away, but her past and problems followed her. She finds friends and people she could count on for the first time of her life. It was a bit cheezy bit I liked it.
May 20, 2019
Great start
When Erin's past catches up with her, it's not in a subtle way. Lunatic vampires, sane vampires, witches, mages, shifters... all of them are pulled toward a vortex that surrounds her. Now they all need to survive.
Awesome adventure!
When Erin's past catches up with her, it's not in a subtle way. Lunatic vampires, sane vampires, witches, mages, shifters... all of them are pulled toward a vortex that surrounds her. Now they all need to survive.
Awesome adventure!
October 13, 2020
This is an interesting story in an interesting world with an interesting cast of characters. There is a lot of potential here, and I'm not really sure it has been met yet. Have moved on in the series to see if it gets there.
August 16, 2019
Really good book 5 stars all the way
November 3, 2019
A young girl hidden away and manipulated into an assassins life at the young age of 14. As she learns the appalling truth of the Illuminati , an opportunity arises that helps her to escape. Disappearing to a quiet little town where she can start over as a bartender. She thinks all the members were destroyed but their reach is farther than she knows.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are plenty of interesting characters introduced in this first book with lots of mages, vampires, werewolves, and fae. I hope to learn more about them in the second installment. This is gearing up to be an entertaining series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are plenty of interesting characters introduced in this first book with lots of mages, vampires, werewolves, and fae. I hope to learn more about them in the second installment. This is gearing up to be an entertaining series.
December 9, 2024
This was so much fun. There are a few awkward things but nothing that removed me from the joy of the story. Looking forward to the next one.
April 7, 2019
Fabulous new Urban Fantasy series
I love this author’s urban fantasy work and was really looking forward to the release of this book, as it is the start of a new series. One of the things I love most about BR Kingsolver is her ability to construct a world that is logical and follows internal rules without problems. Once again, this author has hit the nail of the head and constructed a strong, consistent world that contains fascinating characters.
The story is about Erin, and young woman who was sold to the Illuminati at age 14 and trained extensively in assassination skills alongside her magic. She was the personal protege of the leader of the Illuminati until a mission revealed that the Illuminati were the demons rather than the saviours of mankind she had been taught. After using a magic bomb given to her by her last victim she blows up the Illuminati headquarters and leaves to lead a better life, without murder and evil deeds.
Erin reaches Westport and gets a job at a bar that caters exclusively to the magical inhabitants of the city. She starts to make friends for the first time in her life when chaos starts to descend on the city and she finds herself getting drawn in to trying to solve the problems.
As always with author, the plot is fantastic. It zings along at a cracking rate, drawing you into the story until you forget the world around you. Erin is a wonderfully flawed and powerful being, who is trying to atone for her misdeeds and at the same time find her way through to creating a better life for herself.
I am really excited to see what comes next for Erin. I hope we find out soon!
I love this author’s urban fantasy work and was really looking forward to the release of this book, as it is the start of a new series. One of the things I love most about BR Kingsolver is her ability to construct a world that is logical and follows internal rules without problems. Once again, this author has hit the nail of the head and constructed a strong, consistent world that contains fascinating characters.
The story is about Erin, and young woman who was sold to the Illuminati at age 14 and trained extensively in assassination skills alongside her magic. She was the personal protege of the leader of the Illuminati until a mission revealed that the Illuminati were the demons rather than the saviours of mankind she had been taught. After using a magic bomb given to her by her last victim she blows up the Illuminati headquarters and leaves to lead a better life, without murder and evil deeds.
Erin reaches Westport and gets a job at a bar that caters exclusively to the magical inhabitants of the city. She starts to make friends for the first time in her life when chaos starts to descend on the city and she finds herself getting drawn in to trying to solve the problems.
As always with author, the plot is fantastic. It zings along at a cracking rate, drawing you into the story until you forget the world around you. Erin is a wonderfully flawed and powerful being, who is trying to atone for her misdeeds and at the same time find her way through to creating a better life for herself.
I am really excited to see what comes next for Erin. I hope we find out soon!
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