An untamed witch. A forgotten past. An unknown legacy.
The nightmares might have stopped, but it's just the beginning for Alice Skye.
Newly Independent Paladin Agent Alice Skye is just starting to get her life together. She’s survived a cult, taken down a corrupt druid and things are just starting to heat up with London’s finest bachelor, Riley Storm.
With stolen Fae artefacts, missing hearts and a tight-lipped Detective, Alice must break down Peyton’s barriers, especially since his secret will help find the truth behind several gruesome murders.
But The Council are still watching, waiting as they’re quietly deciding her fate. Can she survive their judgment? Or will it be her ancestry that destroys her?
Taylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.
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WOW! This is one hell of a nail-biting, action packed Urban Fantasy series that will have you on the edge of your seat! Well written with an addictive storyline, we join Alice as she battles her Daemons and unveils dark secrets in a modern world of magic. It’s fast paced and full of various supernatural beings such as witches, vampires, shifters and other magical beings. It’s full of action and is a fun read that had me laughing out loud on several occasions.
This is book four of the Alice Skye series and joins Alice a few weeks after she becomes an independent Paladin agent, finally being able to take on private jobs and make more money. Also, with not quite so much of being constantly overseen by the Council. She still has a few colleagues in the Supernatural Intelligence Bureau (SI) that she can call on for assistance, but she is still on the Spook Squad for the local police department, helping them with any cases where there is an obvious supernatural link. The first case she ends up being called to by Detective Brady, sees her and Peyton involved in a series of cases where body parts have been removed! It is somehow linked to Fae artefacts that had been hidden away for ages, suddenly surfacing and other ones being stolen. Peyton is still hiding that he is not human, but what and who he really is, will come as a shock to everyone. He knows more about what is going on that he will say, even to Alice!
Alice and her housemate and best friend Sam, a leopard shifter, have moved back into her old family home, which she hopes will make some of her memories of the past lessen in intensity. His love life ends up giving her a few shocking, in her face, full frontals of a strange man in her house, but Sam just tells her that she obviously needs to get some action of her own! Her relationship with Riley Storm, successful businessman, her mentor, and also one of the Guardians, seems to have stalled, as she is avoiding him and pretending she is just too busy for any normal sort of life. They have a heated connection and he is supposed to help train her to control her untrained magic and train her to stay alive, no matter what she might face. She faces enough dangers in her working life and since she has a target on her back from the Council and some unknown others, she needs all the help she can get. It doesn’t help that she has made a deal with the devil, for the sake of her brother Kyle’s very existence.
The other Guardians don’t like her slap happy decisions, as they see it, as people like Kyle are the ones they are used to putting down! With the Magika, a breed of witches just below the Council, are following her as part of the agreement between Dread and the Council members. He is trying to get them to allow her to continue with her work without being tested, but they want her unusual powers tested to the full and are determined to force her to undergo a trial. Something that if she fails, she may not survive. There are certain Council members who secretly want her powers for themselves and will do everything they can to remove them from her! Her distant ancestry is a mixture of many things that could get her killed. She is a witch, but she is also ‘other’. Just the fact she doesn’t know herself what that is, doesn’t really help. Her mother has a lot to answer for!
The head of the Magika and Councilman Frederick Gallagher, has a sick plan for Alice and her powers. He will insist she undergoes a set of trials and tries to also accuse her of treason for trying to kill him, as well as accusing someone very close to her, for treason too. These trials will either see her killed, or if she is proven to be strong enough to survive, then she should also be killed as too big a threat to all. A poem of old, warning of the Four Horsemen and the Four Elementals. One descendant from each line of elemental power, if they combine, could cause the apocalypse! She could very well be one of these, as her nickname from Lucifer, or Lucy as he likes to be called, gave her the nickname of Little War! The very veils between different realms could be cracked, allowing creatures to cross over, ones not meant for this world. Add in fanatical followers of an old order, calling themselves Knights of the one and only King, King Arthur!
So lots of old and new legends being added to the storyline and making everything so much more complex for Alice Skye! She could become a massive danger to the whole world and each of the realms, and some of them will do anything they can to stop her. But there are also others, who would love for her to succeed, or to cause the rifts for themselves. Looks like an exciting book to watch for next, as Alice has to cope with the death of a key person in her life and the injuries caused during the trials. With one councilman still wanting her for himself! Another exciting read in this series and Alice certainly had her hands full of people trying to kill her and wanting to find out what her magic and powers full rein were. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
⚔️⚔️ONE SENSATIONAL THRILL⚔️⚔️ Game on! Taylor sets the nights on fire like the 4th of July, serving up this deliciously delectable piece of perfection, laying it on heavy and spreading it thin, keeping you riveted on a razors edge and frozen to your seat, launching this jewel to staggering heights. One action packed, hard hitting, spine tingling, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping bombshell, blasting this baby to life flawlessly. Drawn through unfamiliar territory full of daring drama, churning turmoil, perilous intrigue, damning secrets, sinister deeds, vicious iniquity, escalating danger, spiraling suspense and unnerving encounters, along with a boatload of revelations, putting our characters through their pacing, testing them in ways they could have never imagined. You feel everything the characters feel with every fiber of your being, your drawn into this tangled web so intricately and precise, shattered boundaries are amplified and exploited, baring the fervent facts, deadly deals and electrifying escapades, wrapping this baby up sleek shiny and tight. The characters, banter, interactions and charged atmosphere are realistic, complex and genuine with traits and qualities, add depth and diversity, blending into charismatic personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating one vivid backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Taylor, thanks for sharing this thrilling treat with us.
Alice quits her job as a Paladin for the Supernatural Intelligence Bureau but is still hired by the Metropolitan police “Spook Squad” as an independent agent. Mikey has replaced Dread as head of SIB and keeps popping up to harass Alice, which never seems to go well for him. Alice and Peyton team up to track down a murderer who has been ripping out the hearts of his victims. Alice finally discovers what kind of supernatural Peyton is.
Riley becomes more of a fixture in her life and the other guardians sort of accept her and help with her training. Guardians are not supposed to fall in love so the rest are more than a little concerned about his feelings for her. Apparently strong emotions such as love can cause the guardian to shift and the more times one shifts, the less chance he has of returning to his human form.
Not addressed but I wonder about the other six fathers who subjected their sons to the torture that turned them into guardians. Are they allowed to get away with it? I do get the impression that guardians have been a part of the magical community “forever” so maybe this is a time honored tradition?
The Magicka Council devises a no-win trial for Alice to complete. Interestingly, Rex is there as a subordinate.
„Elemental’s Curse“ the fourth installment in the “Alice Skye Series” by Taylor White, featuring Paladin Agent Alice Skye, is one of the most original UF series out there.
Alice is fully intended in getting hold of her new life’s stage as an Independent Paladin Agent and consolidate her relationship with Riley. Still waiting for the Council judgment is already nerve-racking enough, but of course, with Alice, it can always be a little more… with a killer prowling throughout the city and letting heartless bodies (literally heartless) on his path, Fae artifacts disappearing and Peyton withholding vital information, Alice has one more the work carved out for herself. Down the line, some very interesting facts come to light and offer a new insight into Alice’s troubles with the Council.
Taylor White’s writing is crisp, fast paced and action filled, and blends the right amount of mystery and dramatic tension with romance and character chemistry into the adventure without overshadowing the story. A fresh brand-new take on classic Urban Fantasy elements, with unexpected twists and turns, a highly addictive lecture, that keeps the reader invested until the very last chapter.
Alice finds herself with a new case helping to investigate some unusual deaths, meanwhile the council has a plan for her, and she is faced with multiple challenges that put her life in danger.
There are some really big events in this book, we discover some new information about certain characters, while we see some important, but devastating events. Alice learns a lot though, a great deal of it about herself and what she can withstand, physically and mentally.
This is a book that is part of a series, and so it cannot be read as a standalone- it picks up shortly after the end of the last book and ends with the setup for the next book in the series. It’s an engrossing read, with a cast of fascinating characters, and an intriguing premise… although I have to admit that I agree with Alice that it might be nice if people would just share what they know with her instead of keeping her in ignorance!
Read books 2-6 in 3 days so kind of hard to separate them out into individual books so will talk about series as a whole. I really enjoyed the series - it had all the elements of what makes a truly enjoyable UF series for me. There is an overarching or bigger storyline to do with Alice's destiny of which we learn more in each book, along with a separate case for Alice to solve and romance, but the romance doesn't overshadow the plot and it is not the only relationship, Alice also has friends & colleagues. Alice is suitably kickass but not in an annoyingly Mary Sue way. She is relatable and the relationship between her and her best friend leopard shifter Sam is probably my favourite thing in the whole series.
I received an advanced copy of Alice Skye Series #4, Elemental Curse and I could not put this book down. I wanted more between Riley and Alice, but the ending gave me more of the understanding about The Guardians issues with Alice and why they aren’t too happy around her. i now understand why Lucifer calls Alice, “Little War”. I really like his character in a crazy uncle sort of way, the bantering between him and Alice or him and Kyle is lots of fun. Learning about how Peyton and Xander’s role in has come into play in Alice’s life. This book has so much going on and yet, I understood everything. This series is fantastic and I can’t wait until the next book. Thank you.
It’s weird when they add a random POV from a character. But that’s also just me.
You learn more about Alice’s family ties to the prophecy and I actually enjoy the “flashbacks” of the different guys in her life. For this book, it was her brother’s, and it was cool seeing what happened that night.
I love Riley. It’s interesting that she’d be with someone aside from him and it makes her more “real” to me. Alice is just straight up annoying though. She makes these dumb decisions that don’t always go wrong and it makes me feel like it’s plot armor sometimes. Still, it wasn’t terrible and I cried.
I love this series and this book is a great read. I love the mix of the normal with the world of magic. Alice is an amazing yet flawed character that is so much fun to read. Her life is a crazy mess but her heart is in the right spot. I loved the action and plots and the unexpected. I loved watching Alice do her thing. And all the other characters are great to read as they interact with Alice. I laughed through most of it but was entertained as expected from this series. The story was a great addition to the series.
Finding a new series I am excited about doesn’t happen very often....especially on KU lately. So many YA or worse, adult themed books that “sound” like a teenager is writing it. The characters, and storylines in this series are engaging. The world building wasn’t as great as some other series...but part of that could be my unfamiliarity with London. I would definitely recommend this series...and have to say, I am really excited for the next chapter in Alice Skye’s story!
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series! Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story. Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more of these. Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This series is addictive. It is well written with engaging characters and compelling plot lines.
The MC is flawed but highly relateable. Despite a tragic and mysterious background and confusing circumstances, she manages to hold true to herself and her relationships.
The plot line is compelling. The story told with dark humor. I highly recommend this to lovers of urban paranormal fiction.
I’ve read all four books in this series and enjoyed them all. I am a huge fan of the Paranormal genre and would rate this author right up there with my favorites. I like that the heroine is strong with a quirky sense of humor but compassionate too. I like the other characters too. They all bring something alive to the story. Lol....I am no writer but I love reading and I highly recommend this series to those who love the Paranormal!
I'm finished with this series now, four books in and the story is as confusing as ever. We still don't know what happened to Alice's parents and brother, what is the point of the council and why can they control Alice's life and what happened to Dread? No one will tell her anything so she rushes into the most dangerous situations she can find, fighting pits? really? How many groups are following her to capture/kill her? I am sorry I wasted so much time on this but I am done with it now
I love this series - the characters and the plots. There are mini plots and book plots and overarching plots. New characters and dilemmas are added with each book. The characters are complex and interesting. They have realistic emotions and great touches of creative paranormal development. I give it 5 stars because I will read it again. Highly recommended. Start with book 1.
From the first sentence to the last non stop commotion. I'm glad Peyton finally told her his secret in a round about way.And her and Riley are getting on even better. I'm still conflicted over rex As well when he makes his appearance in the trials . All good fun and some brilliant jokes in this book .
Alice has always known she was not "just" a witch. But she has no idea exactly what she is other than a witch. When she is tested by the Council, she passes nearly unanimously. Only the newest council member objected, but that was only because he thought to gain control of her and her power. He believes she is the incarnate War. Is she?
Alice doesn't seem like a name an extraordinary supernatural being should have but she is a badass. Seems less about her detective abilities rather than her predilection to get in trouble.
I love these books , I've read them continuously, as soon as I get up , on my lunch break , no one has been able to speak to me , seriously can not wait for the next one , has everything you could possibly want in a book ..
I have enjoyed reading this series. I have loved Alice and Sam's characters, the storyline have been great. I hope Alice gets rid of that council, they are terrible. Can't wait for the next book
Alice Skye is one of those urban fantasy series that leave you pining for the next episode. You can feel a lot of the ‘strings’ coming together without a clean grasp of what that will mean. Oh well - #5 up next to clarify.
Wow ! Alice battles on to save her friends and herself from the powers that are trying to destroy her. This is book 5 in the series and is fast paced but as Alice begins to discover her family secrets she is also running out of time to save those she loves
Why did Dread have to get capture and face death on the final pages for us to get a tiny tidbit of information that is more than a riddle with no facts?
Anyways this series continues to drag. It’s even boring flipping through to the more interesting bits.
I have read over 15,000 such books. This series is very well crafted and written with engaging plot lines and very very few spelling mistakes and plot breaks. I highly recommend the series.
For some reason I thought this was a four book series so was disappointed it didn’t wrap up and give me all the answers. Let’s see if I remember book 5 when it comes out.