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Order of the Elements #2
Touch of Death
I'm Liv Cartwright, mage, thief, and unapologetic nerd.
I never imagined I'd end up making a deal with the King of the Dead to save my own neck, but this is what my life has come to.
The good news is that I wasn't arrested by my own employers for using spirit magic.
The bad news is that I still don't remember my lessons. And I'm going to need those skills, soon.
When the Death King hires me to investigate a spate of mysterious killings, I'm inclined to say no. The Order of the Elements has me running around chasing enough magical criminals as it is. But when a link to the spirit mages is revealed, I have no choice but to get involved.
Worse, the fire mage I'm dating is acting weird, the vampires are up to no good, my sidekick has run away, and at this rate, I'll end up missing gaming night. Again.
I never imagined I'd end up making a deal with the King of the Dead to save my own neck, but this is what my life has come to.
The good news is that I wasn't arrested by my own employers for using spirit magic.
The bad news is that I still don't remember my lessons. And I'm going to need those skills, soon.
When the Death King hires me to investigate a spate of mysterious killings, I'm inclined to say no. The Order of the Elements has me running around chasing enough magical criminals as it is. But when a link to the spirit mages is revealed, I have no choice but to get involved.
Worse, the fire mage I'm dating is acting weird, the vampires are up to no good, my sidekick has run away, and at this rate, I'll end up missing gaming night. Again.
278 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2020
76 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Emma L. Adams
87 books946 followersI'm Emma, a fantasy author, book collector, gamer, and wanderer. I write urban and epic fantasy novels, including the international bestselling Changeling Chronicles, the Relics of Power trilogy, and the Death's Disciple quartet.
*Note: I use Goodreads only to keep a record of what I'm reading. Please don't send me unsolicited review requests.*
*Note: I use Goodreads only to keep a record of what I'm reading. Please don't send me unsolicited review requests.*
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 13, 2020
Awful, could not finish
There is so many things wrong with this book that it’s difficult to know where to start.
I wasn’t very happy with the first book, but parts of it were intriguing enough for me to see if the story improved over the next book. Unfortunately, it just got worse.
One of the most frustrating parts of this book, is actually the use of they/them pronouns for the character Ryan, an Elemental who you meet in first book. As soon as the character is introduced, Ryan says to use they/them pronouns to refer to him. It made the story extremely confusing and frustrating to read, especially given the writing. Anytime Ryan‘s character showed up in the book, it was hard to know if the writer was referring specifically to him, with a group of elementals, or any of the other groups that they were fighting at any given time.
Then there was the character development, or lack thereof.
There is so many things wrong with this book that it’s difficult to know where to start.
I wasn’t very happy with the first book, but parts of it were intriguing enough for me to see if the story improved over the next book. Unfortunately, it just got worse.
One of the most frustrating parts of this book, is actually the use of they/them pronouns for the character Ryan, an Elemental who you meet in first book. As soon as the character is introduced, Ryan says to use they/them pronouns to refer to him. It made the story extremely confusing and frustrating to read, especially given the writing. Anytime Ryan‘s character showed up in the book, it was hard to know if the writer was referring specifically to him, with a group of elementals, or any of the other groups that they were fighting at any given time.
Then there was the character development, or lack thereof.
October 4, 2020
Kinda wish it were slower
Once again this was jam packed with action and little to no exposition. It’s kinda like there was no real story to be told. What was up with the supplier for the reusable canttips? Technically shouldn’t Devon’s business afford to drop their prices since the newer materials lowered the cost of supplies to make canttips? Seriously... what’s the name of their business? I just wish Adams would just focus on a bit and stay on that to give us a more fleshed out story/world.
Btw... did anyone else roll their eyes at how Brant ended up working with the enemy?
Again, I like this series but it just feels too similar to the larger Faerie world that she created with Ivy Lane’s character. The Order is essentially the Mages.
Once again this was jam packed with action and little to no exposition. It’s kinda like there was no real story to be told. What was up with the supplier for the reusable canttips? Technically shouldn’t Devon’s business afford to drop their prices since the newer materials lowered the cost of supplies to make canttips? Seriously... what’s the name of their business? I just wish Adams would just focus on a bit and stay on that to give us a more fleshed out story/world.
Btw... did anyone else roll their eyes at how Brant ended up working with the enemy?
Again, I like this series but it just feels too similar to the larger Faerie world that she created with Ivy Lane’s character. The Order is essentially the Mages.
May 3, 2020
Cantrips unlimited
Someone in the Parallel is making mass-market cantrips threatening to put Devon and Liv out of business. Not only that but lichs, and phantoms are being used. They are killing each other and others before they die quickly from the bad cantrip spells. Someone is trafficking in illegal spells and once again Liv is forced to work with the King of Death to stop them. The Order so far has been complacent. While working this case Liv is partially getting her memories back but it’s not easy and it’s difficult to tell who her true friends are. I liked it and am looking forward to the nextbook.
Someone in the Parallel is making mass-market cantrips threatening to put Devon and Liv out of business. Not only that but lichs, and phantoms are being used. They are killing each other and others before they die quickly from the bad cantrip spells. Someone is trafficking in illegal spells and once again Liv is forced to work with the King of Death to stop them. The Order so far has been complacent. While working this case Liv is partially getting her memories back but it’s not easy and it’s difficult to tell who her true friends are. I liked it and am looking forward to the nextbook.
April 21, 2020
Loved it!!!
I absolutely love this new series and I'm so happy to have the time to sit back and enjoy my reading time. My one and only complaint is the pronouns used with Ryan. It got very confusing, but other than that small item I have zero complaints! I can't wait for the next book.
I absolutely love this new series and I'm so happy to have the time to sit back and enjoy my reading time. My one and only complaint is the pronouns used with Ryan. It got very confusing, but other than that small item I have zero complaints! I can't wait for the next book.
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March 31, 2020Emma L Addams: Touch of Death
Vol. 2: Still no lucky dice action! But what do you expect from a budding Spirit Mage?
Poor spirit mage; she gets no love. The Order keeps requesting that she evict the rats and roaches of magedom, since they don’t respect her. When she returns, she gets no thanks. Matter of fact, they are constantly watching her for mistakes; it seems that they suspect her of practicing illegal Spirit Magic, which she is....horrors.
How do you block and ignore a limb? You cannot. Forced to go behind the Order’s back while simultaneously doing her job, she is asked to impound stolen goods...all well and good, except that we later find that there is a factory on the magic side producing amulets in droves, and the Order is the main customer. They are probably only using her to maintain their monopoly on supplies. The Vampire Council rules the market in the magic area, and they don’t care one way or another....
I don’t want to give spoilers, so I will talk about the cool characters. Of course, you cannot have a great D&D game without great characters.
What amazes me is Trix, the bumbling yet surprisingly competent elf who seems at times really stupid and at others is always present just in the nick of time. I keep getting the impression that he is either an Order spy/guardian to aid her, or the real wizard behind the curtains. He is her D&D friend, so I am doubly-confused.
Her boyfriend is also a conundrum. Despite selling his soul to the evil opponent, he refuses to give up on her. She cannot trust how he will act, so she ignores his feelings for her. Unrequited love vs. betrayal.
The Death King also has to deal with betrayal from his most trusted soldiers, and yet he manages to fight back with true style. I really like him. He plans well and plays chicken well.
Devan, her friend and dungeonmaster, could use more motivation or surprise character twists, and I wouldn’t mind another story arc with her as the MC.
And Ryan, the air elemental, who is powerful but laid back. He is the perfect super-hero. And that is what this story really evokes: a hybrid paranormal fantasy superhero story. It is unique. Gosh, I cannot wait for vol. 3.
Vol. 2: Still no lucky dice action! But what do you expect from a budding Spirit Mage?
Poor spirit mage; she gets no love. The Order keeps requesting that she evict the rats and roaches of magedom, since they don’t respect her. When she returns, she gets no thanks. Matter of fact, they are constantly watching her for mistakes; it seems that they suspect her of practicing illegal Spirit Magic, which she is....horrors.
How do you block and ignore a limb? You cannot. Forced to go behind the Order’s back while simultaneously doing her job, she is asked to impound stolen goods...all well and good, except that we later find that there is a factory on the magic side producing amulets in droves, and the Order is the main customer. They are probably only using her to maintain their monopoly on supplies. The Vampire Council rules the market in the magic area, and they don’t care one way or another....
I don’t want to give spoilers, so I will talk about the cool characters. Of course, you cannot have a great D&D game without great characters.
What amazes me is Trix, the bumbling yet surprisingly competent elf who seems at times really stupid and at others is always present just in the nick of time. I keep getting the impression that he is either an Order spy/guardian to aid her, or the real wizard behind the curtains. He is her D&D friend, so I am doubly-confused.
Her boyfriend is also a conundrum. Despite selling his soul to the evil opponent, he refuses to give up on her. She cannot trust how he will act, so she ignores his feelings for her. Unrequited love vs. betrayal.
The Death King also has to deal with betrayal from his most trusted soldiers, and yet he manages to fight back with true style. I really like him. He plans well and plays chicken well.
Devan, her friend and dungeonmaster, could use more motivation or surprise character twists, and I wouldn’t mind another story arc with her as the MC.
And Ryan, the air elemental, who is powerful but laid back. He is the perfect super-hero. And that is what this story really evokes: a hybrid paranormal fantasy superhero story. It is unique. Gosh, I cannot wait for vol. 3.
April 14, 2020
I am really hooked up on this new series.
Liv does not seem to have the luck to get out of trouble and stay there, even with having the lucky dice -perhaps she uses them too little; or is simply attracted by the adventure and danger in the Parallel. Rudely woken up and blamed for something she did not commit, Liv ends up again in the middle of underground operation with ultimate magical targets, turning even the immortal undead to dead corpses, friends to traitors, and unexpected individuals to strong allies. Now it's time to collect the intel, the wits, and solve another deadly mystery before it's too late.
Liv is an extraordinary character, with her adorable naivety on one side and kickass skills on the other. And she has the best of sidekicks, starting with her D&D comrades and ending with the Death Kings castle. Vampires, liches, elemental spirits, and mages litter the pages, blending a crazy concoction of awe-inspiring magic, explosive powers, and handy tricks to blind even the reader. Twists and turns at every page keep the intensity high, evoking all the right emotions to feel the experience, feel to be part of the story. Lots of action and mystery make the tangled plot suspenseful, developing at nice pace. A surprise here and there creates pleasurable spikes, and I am already impatient for the next book to come out.
Liv does not seem to have the luck to get out of trouble and stay there, even with having the lucky dice -perhaps she uses them too little; or is simply attracted by the adventure and danger in the Parallel. Rudely woken up and blamed for something she did not commit, Liv ends up again in the middle of underground operation with ultimate magical targets, turning even the immortal undead to dead corpses, friends to traitors, and unexpected individuals to strong allies. Now it's time to collect the intel, the wits, and solve another deadly mystery before it's too late.
Liv is an extraordinary character, with her adorable naivety on one side and kickass skills on the other. And she has the best of sidekicks, starting with her D&D comrades and ending with the Death Kings castle. Vampires, liches, elemental spirits, and mages litter the pages, blending a crazy concoction of awe-inspiring magic, explosive powers, and handy tricks to blind even the reader. Twists and turns at every page keep the intensity high, evoking all the right emotions to feel the experience, feel to be part of the story. Lots of action and mystery make the tangled plot suspenseful, developing at nice pace. A surprise here and there creates pleasurable spikes, and I am already impatient for the next book to come out.
April 5, 2020
This is a page turner, lots of action, back stabbing on all sides. I had a gut feeling about 2 of the characters, but I do not divulge those secrets to ruin the book for others. In this book Olivia & Devon's business is being stolen be a company operating out of the parallel. Who started the business? Why had no one told them about it? And why had the Order not mentioned that they were no longer going to do business with them? In a financial bind Olivia concentrates on her romantic relationship with Brandt. Which I might add is going well. The Order hasn't called Olivia in for an assignment in a while, which is not helping with their cash shortage. However, when the Death King offers her a job again she still turns it down. Except we all know Olivia is curious & something always manages to suck her in. Can't wait for you to read the ending, it's my favorite one to date.
April 13, 2020
Extraordinary action packed urban fantasy series. An outstanding cast of characters and a very entertaining storyline. A world where magic exist. At one point supernatural people decided to create their own dimension and many of them moved that dimension. Then there was a war and some of them still live in that dimension while others live on earth. Follow along as our characters struggle to keep the human race safe and please all magical and supernatural beings on earth. In the other dimension other supernaturals rule those domains. An action packed urban fantasy that is entertaining from beginning to end. Check it out
April 9, 2020
Love it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews