What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadows of Otherside 10 BOOK SERIE #2
Eldritch Sparks
Book 2 of the Shadows of Otherside series The deal that secured Arden Finch a measure of freedom came with strings, and now everybody wants to pull them. Arden has carved out a place for herself in Otherside—at a price. Pressure mounts as she juggles her day job as a private investigator with her new obligations, fraying relationships, and growing elemental powers. If that wasn't enough, a lich has appeared in the Triangle, sowing violence and raising zombies. Everyone wants Arden to get rid of it, including the gods.
But the lich offers something Arden has always enough power to stand alone. All she has to do is put herself first for once...and betray everyone she cares about.
Urban fantasy and paranormal fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, Seanan McGuire, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden.
Praise for Eldritch Shadows of Otherside Book 2 "A compelling book of Otherside that goes from strength to strength." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
But the lich offers something Arden has always enough power to stand alone. All she has to do is put herself first for once...and betray everyone she cares about.
Urban fantasy and paranormal fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, Seanan McGuire, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden.
Praise for Eldritch Shadows of Otherside Book 2 "A compelling book of Otherside that goes from strength to strength." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2020
27 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Whitney Hill
18 books117 followersWhitney Hill (whitneyhillwrites.com) is the author of the Shadows of Otherside contemporary fantasy series. The bestselling first book in the series, Elemental, was the grand prize winner of the 8th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards.
Whitney is also the founder of Benu Media (benumedia.com), an indie publishing imprint and creative consulting business. She leverages over a decade of marketing experience to offer resources that help indie authors rise and shine.
When she’s not writing or consulting, Whitney enjoys hiking in North Carolina’s beautiful state parks and playing video games.
Join Whitney on Twitter and Instagram: @write_wherever.
Whitney is also the founder of Benu Media (benumedia.com), an indie publishing imprint and creative consulting business. She leverages over a decade of marketing experience to offer resources that help indie authors rise and shine.
When she’s not writing or consulting, Whitney enjoys hiking in North Carolina’s beautiful state parks and playing video games.
Join Whitney on Twitter and Instagram: @write_wherever.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 21, 2021
I really enjoyed learning more about the Otherside, and seeing Arden both develop her powers and become a major power player.
The dialogue is one of my favourite things about this series. It is sharp and sarcastic and funny. It is also... fumbling? In a good way! People don't always know the right thing to say or how to say it. It is fun seeing the characters struggle for words and figure out how to interact with each other, especially since all the different species don't exactly play well together.
Looking forward to Book 3 - and hoping for more Maria!
The dialogue is one of my favourite things about this series. It is sharp and sarcastic and funny. It is also... fumbling? In a good way! People don't always know the right thing to say or how to say it. It is fun seeing the characters struggle for words and figure out how to interact with each other, especially since all the different species don't exactly play well together.
Looking forward to Book 3 - and hoping for more Maria!
February 7, 2021
Swooning novice troupe
Arden is a poorly written female lead like most of them are. I love a genuinely strong female lead and she is not one of them. The author makes her crude and brash with a whole lot of attitude with a hint of power, and yet ultimately everyone around her (friend and foe) control her. She is just another character that is all bark and no bite. The romance and the fact that everyone wants to sleep with her is annoying and disingenuous. Roman hopefully will fall off a cliff in future books or remain absent. The unoriginal author of course has to have a endless string of romance for her female lead and some magical connection to a guy. This follows all the troupes of female lead fantasy that portray women in a narrow shallow light. The girl that can cuss and spit but it’s smoothed out by having her attached to some dude that overbearing and annoying. Having great power but that author doesn’t know how to actually write a magic system so of course they don’t know how to use said power but it saves the day when needed. It seems it too much to ask that we get a truly awesome kick but heroine that is truly competent in her self and power.
Arden is a poorly written female lead like most of them are. I love a genuinely strong female lead and she is not one of them. The author makes her crude and brash with a whole lot of attitude with a hint of power, and yet ultimately everyone around her (friend and foe) control her. She is just another character that is all bark and no bite. The romance and the fact that everyone wants to sleep with her is annoying and disingenuous. Roman hopefully will fall off a cliff in future books or remain absent. The unoriginal author of course has to have a endless string of romance for her female lead and some magical connection to a guy. This follows all the troupes of female lead fantasy that portray women in a narrow shallow light. The girl that can cuss and spit but it’s smoothed out by having her attached to some dude that overbearing and annoying. Having great power but that author doesn’t know how to actually write a magic system so of course they don’t know how to use said power but it saves the day when needed. It seems it too much to ask that we get a truly awesome kick but heroine that is truly competent in her self and power.
May 14, 2021
Eldritch Sparks is the perfect sequel to Elemental from the Shadows of Otherside series. If you enjoy action-packed books with a strong female protagonist I recommend this series.
Power is shifting in the Otherside, Arden is now out in the open as an elemental and takes on new responsibilities since the events of the last book that have her in the center of the rising danger. The reveal of the paranormal world to the humans is getting closer and a powerful and mysterious evil has come to the Triangle. This series has an amazing world building that mixes a variety of paranormal creatures with modern society. One of my favorite elements of the series is that the author mixes the paranormal and crime genres as we follow along with Arden in her dangerous investigation.
We get to see a development of Roman's and Arden's relationship, I love it that the author showed the bumpy rides along their relationship, which kept it realistic and relatable. I was really glad that we get more insight into the Volkov pack and Roman's past, which was something I was earning for after reading book 1! The ending though crushed me and left me raging! Although I have a wicked heart and found myself rooting for Arden to end up with the mysterious elf; Troy.
"...love only stretched so far when blood and justice entered the mix."
I will be starting asap the third book in the series!! Thank you to the auth0r for gifting me a copy!
Power is shifting in the Otherside, Arden is now out in the open as an elemental and takes on new responsibilities since the events of the last book that have her in the center of the rising danger. The reveal of the paranormal world to the humans is getting closer and a powerful and mysterious evil has come to the Triangle. This series has an amazing world building that mixes a variety of paranormal creatures with modern society. One of my favorite elements of the series is that the author mixes the paranormal and crime genres as we follow along with Arden in her dangerous investigation.
We get to see a development of Roman's and Arden's relationship, I love it that the author showed the bumpy rides along their relationship, which kept it realistic and relatable. I was really glad that we get more insight into the Volkov pack and Roman's past, which was something I was earning for after reading book 1! The ending though crushed me and left me raging! Although I have a wicked heart and found myself rooting for Arden to end up with the mysterious elf; Troy.
"...love only stretched so far when blood and justice entered the mix."
I will be starting asap the third book in the series!! Thank you to the auth0r for gifting me a copy!
January 22, 2023
3.75 rounded up. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed the last book, but I'm still looking forward to the rest of the series. The worldbuilding became even more expansive and rich. It felt like the overarching plot was at kind of a lull, mostly arguing over what they were going to do, but with a lot of hints that things are going to kick off next book. The tension is HEAVY, and even in small references, the author blends supernatural tensions with real world racial tensions with care and precision.
I think I mostly just felt so frustrated for Arden, which you're supposed to feel, that I was a little exhausted. She worked so hard to carve out some agency and independence for herself in book one and it feels like she's in an even worse situation in some ways in book two. She puts a lot of herself on the line for her friends, but there's not a lot of instances of her friends EVER being there for her. I would have liked to see some instances of her bonding with those friends or them being there for her, but most of the time, it seemed like she was going through everything she went through alone. I also found myself VERY frustrated with her love interest through much of the book.
But again, I think a lot of that frustration was intended and it does make me hope that in the future she'll find her people -- as well as carving out some space for herself.
I think I mostly just felt so frustrated for Arden, which you're supposed to feel, that I was a little exhausted. She worked so hard to carve out some agency and independence for herself in book one and it feels like she's in an even worse situation in some ways in book two. She puts a lot of herself on the line for her friends, but there's not a lot of instances of her friends EVER being there for her. I would have liked to see some instances of her bonding with those friends or them being there for her, but most of the time, it seemed like she was going through everything she went through alone. I also found myself VERY frustrated with her love interest through much of the book.
But again, I think a lot of that frustration was intended and it does make me hope that in the future she'll find her people -- as well as carving out some space for herself.
Read
November 10, 2021it took so long to get answers, and i was tired by the end. however, i think the world and story, in general, are really good. also love how Arden is a literal mess which i think is realistic for the situation bec it is all new to her. her relationship with roman was one of my favourite depictions of werewolf love bec he was so sweet and kinda, different from the usual super alpha werewolves we are used to. i didn't like what happened with them, though.
i won't be cont with the series. even though i enjoyed both books, they take such a long time to get to the point, so I'm exhausted by the end of it. who knows, might pick it up in the future when not fatigued.
i won't be cont with the series. even though i enjoyed both books, they take such a long time to get to the point, so I'm exhausted by the end of it. who knows, might pick it up in the future when not fatigued.
November 21, 2020
Hill avoids the sophomore slump, picking up the characters and ongoing dynamic of Elemental and crafting a (more or less) self-contained sequel. Arden Finch is hugely likeable and well on her way to revamping both the urban fantasy and hardboiled detective genres.
October 19, 2021
This time around we find Arden on the verge of finally gaining her freedom from being a personal "lackey" from Callista. This freedom also gives her more influence with the Otherside community and everyone wants her to help them form an alliance against the humans who are wanting them exposed to the world. On top of this, a mysterious evil has came into the Triangle and everyone wants Arden to get rid of it, even the Gods. However on her discovery, she soon learns more about herself and her powers and must decide if it is worth working together as an alliance or put herself first and stand on her own.
I loved how the author explored Roman and Arden's relationship this time around. From the first book, they both wanted so much more from each other in terms of their relationship and with this book they are finally exclusive but are also having struggles with communicating, letting go of control, and being dependent on each other. It definitely made it more releastic. I also liked how we were able to get more backstory on Roman and his werewolf family.
Honestly, though I was never really into Arden and Roman's relationship and am actually "secretly" rooting for her and Troy, the mysterious prince elf. 😬🤔🤭
Also can we appauld, how the author seamless introduced all of these peternatural creatures from vampires, werewolves, witches, djinn, elves, zombies, sorcerers, and more. The world building set in North Carolina also gives this one more of its mysterious vibes.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series, Ethereal Secrets!
I loved how the author explored Roman and Arden's relationship this time around. From the first book, they both wanted so much more from each other in terms of their relationship and with this book they are finally exclusive but are also having struggles with communicating, letting go of control, and being dependent on each other. It definitely made it more releastic. I also liked how we were able to get more backstory on Roman and his werewolf family.
Honestly, though I was never really into Arden and Roman's relationship and am actually "secretly" rooting for her and Troy, the mysterious prince elf. 😬🤔🤭
Also can we appauld, how the author seamless introduced all of these peternatural creatures from vampires, werewolves, witches, djinn, elves, zombies, sorcerers, and more. The world building set in North Carolina also gives this one more of its mysterious vibes.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series, Ethereal Secrets!
November 1, 2022
So after my lukewarm feelings over the first installment, Elemental, I finally decided to give this series a second shot. I don't normally do this, but I felt Elemental had a lot of potential and it just missed he mark for me. But man am I glad I did. This second book went down way, way easier. Now that I was acquainted with the characters and plot, we could get down to business and it was much more engaging than the first book.
For one, Arden, the protagonist, is now actually interacting with the rest of Otherside, which means hers is no longer a solitary journey. The story is way better when Arden is surrounded by others and this second book is proof of that. Hell, she was given a kind of magical landlord that basically eliminated the need to have Arden be by herself. It was much more enjoyable and made the story fly by.
Second, a lot of characters I disliked from the first book had very little time in this one. Callista only had one scene, the djinni were mostly absent. I cannot stress enough how much I dislike the djinn. I get that they are supposed to be self-absorbed, manipulative, and abusive, but do hey also have to talk in riddles and withhold information? This is their greatest sin, to be honest.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how much I cared this time around. Arden is now Roman the runt werewolf's bae and, boy oh boy, did I hate Roman in this. I disliked them from the beginning because they had no chemistry, but what grown ass baby he turned out to be. Arden is constantly being gaslit by everybody, crummy djinn included, but Roman was the worst one this time around. And he was the one who pushed for the relationship! He didn't hesitate to take advantage of Arden from the beginning and ended up dumping her when it was apparent he had gotten what he wanted out of her. Oh, but he can't just dump her and leave it at that, he has to get upset because she's trying to be stoic about it all and not crumbling down. Then he seriously wanted her to wait for him to, I guess be his consolation prize in case it didn't work out with his pack? Good riddance, Roman. I never liked you and I'm just glad your relationship only lasted one book.
I decided to rate this only 4 stars because, while I really enjoyed reading it, the climax with the villain kind of fizzled. Mainly, this Gideon guy had no prior connection to any of the characters and was ultimately a pretext for the book to have a plot. The real villain was Grimm, my least favorite character from Book 1, but her arc comes and goes. She dies by Troy's hands, which thank goodness because now we don't have to deal with her going forward, and now the djinn are upset because it was a crime... even though Grimm was trying to kill Arden at the time and Troy's acted to save Arden's life... This is another thing: sometimes the logic of each faction's laws is so nonsensical. Everything always seems to go around so that, on principle, the fault lies on Arden and she has to defend herself from the bullshittery. That's not a bad thing on principle, but when it happens so often you have to wonder if these magical creatures are stupid or if this is just conflict for the sake of conflict.
I will end this review on a positive note and it is this: Troy was my fave from the first book. I was super afraid he would be majorly absent in this one. He actually was pretty absent in the first 45% or so, but then he was a main participant in the action, which made me so happy. I really enjoy this grumpy preppy elf. I'm really glad this book ends with Roman on his way out and Troy's redemption arc beginning.
For one, Arden, the protagonist, is now actually interacting with the rest of Otherside, which means hers is no longer a solitary journey. The story is way better when Arden is surrounded by others and this second book is proof of that. Hell, she was given a kind of magical landlord that basically eliminated the need to have Arden be by herself. It was much more enjoyable and made the story fly by.
Second, a lot of characters I disliked from the first book had very little time in this one. Callista only had one scene, the djinni were mostly absent. I cannot stress enough how much I dislike the djinn. I get that they are supposed to be self-absorbed, manipulative, and abusive, but do hey also have to talk in riddles and withhold information? This is their greatest sin, to be honest.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how much I cared this time around. Arden is now Roman the runt werewolf's bae and, boy oh boy, did I hate Roman in this. I disliked them from the beginning because they had no chemistry, but what grown ass baby he turned out to be. Arden is constantly being gaslit by everybody, crummy djinn included, but Roman was the worst one this time around. And he was the one who pushed for the relationship! He didn't hesitate to take advantage of Arden from the beginning and ended up dumping her when it was apparent he had gotten what he wanted out of her. Oh, but he can't just dump her and leave it at that, he has to get upset because she's trying to be stoic about it all and not crumbling down. Then he seriously wanted her to wait for him to, I guess be his consolation prize in case it didn't work out with his pack? Good riddance, Roman. I never liked you and I'm just glad your relationship only lasted one book.
I decided to rate this only 4 stars because, while I really enjoyed reading it, the climax with the villain kind of fizzled. Mainly, this Gideon guy had no prior connection to any of the characters and was ultimately a pretext for the book to have a plot. The real villain was Grimm, my least favorite character from Book 1, but her arc comes and goes. She dies by Troy's hands, which thank goodness because now we don't have to deal with her going forward, and now the djinn are upset because it was a crime... even though Grimm was trying to kill Arden at the time and Troy's acted to save Arden's life... This is another thing: sometimes the logic of each faction's laws is so nonsensical. Everything always seems to go around so that, on principle, the fault lies on Arden and she has to defend herself from the bullshittery. That's not a bad thing on principle, but when it happens so often you have to wonder if these magical creatures are stupid or if this is just conflict for the sake of conflict.
I will end this review on a positive note and it is this: Troy was my fave from the first book. I was super afraid he would be majorly absent in this one. He actually was pretty absent in the first 45% or so, but then he was a main participant in the action, which made me so happy. I really enjoy this grumpy preppy elf. I'm really glad this book ends with Roman on his way out and Troy's redemption arc beginning.
September 27, 2020
Hello Gemmies! I have an entertaining new book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Eldritch Sparks by Whitney Hill is the second book in the Shadows of Otherside Series. I really loved this book and Shadows of Otherside is quickly becoming one of my favorite paranormal series. Whitney Hill has a knack for expertly mixing a crime mystery with contemporary paranormal drama and the human condition, or in many cases the un-human condition. This story is not only filled with action but it has a lot of heart and heartbreak. I'm keeping this review spoiler free, but just know I am giving you serious side eye for Roman Whitney Hill!!! That is all!
Eldritch Sparks was a super fun and fast read. It is very much a character driven story. The book starts a short time after the events in Elemental and our main protagonist, Arden Finch is dealing with the trauma from those events. She's also juggling her day job, staying safe, learning the limits of her growing powers, keeping on top of her new obligations, and trying to cultivate a relationship with Roman. It is almost more than one person can bear and it starts to wear on Arden. She is very hurt, flawed, and vulnerable. I felt this down in my bones since it parallels my state of mind a lot these days. These are also the qualities that make Arden such a relatable and likable character. Too often in novels the characters are super human and perfect. It takes something away from the authenticity of the story. That is not the case here. Arden is strong and growing stronger every day, but she is also dealing with major baggage and heartache. There are a plethora of other characters to meet....some old and some new interesting ones. We also get to learn a lot more about Roman and his family. I'd love to learn more about Maria, the witches, and other were communities in future books.
Eldritch Sparks also has amazing world building and a killer plot. We get a new big bad and the stakes are even higher than before. There are enough plot twists to keep you flipping pages all throughout the night. Eldritch Sparks like Elemental is set in the RTP area of North Carolina. There are hints of other areas like Charlotte and Asheville. Asheville is one of my favorite spots in the world, so I hope we get to explore that area and the wolves in future books. Even if you don't live in North Carolina, you will find yourself fully immersed in this world. There are no shortage of preternatural creatures in Eldritch Sparks. I mean this book has everything my paranormal heart needs, werewolves, witches, djinn, elves, vampires, zombies, kobolds, and more! Eldritch Sparks really has it all.
We all know that I am an unapologetic book cover ho, so i'd like to take a moment to appreciate this one. It is really gorgeous and a perfect compliment to the Elemental cover! I love the color scheme and imagery. There are hints of cool surprises to come if you look close enough!I also love that the cover features a strong woman of color, and immediately lets me know i'm going to be immersed in a world of magic and bad assery.
If you are a fan of mysteries, undead antics, vampire politics, conflicted werewolves, privileged elves, and kick ass heroines then read this book! Published by Benu Media, Eldritch Sparks is available for purchase from all major booksellers. I give Eldritch Sparks 5 out of 5 gems. I'm looking forward to reading more adventures set in this universe. Happy Reading!
Eldritch Sparks by Whitney Hill is the second book in the Shadows of Otherside Series. I really loved this book and Shadows of Otherside is quickly becoming one of my favorite paranormal series. Whitney Hill has a knack for expertly mixing a crime mystery with contemporary paranormal drama and the human condition, or in many cases the un-human condition. This story is not only filled with action but it has a lot of heart and heartbreak. I'm keeping this review spoiler free, but just know I am giving you serious side eye for Roman Whitney Hill!!! That is all!
Eldritch Sparks was a super fun and fast read. It is very much a character driven story. The book starts a short time after the events in Elemental and our main protagonist, Arden Finch is dealing with the trauma from those events. She's also juggling her day job, staying safe, learning the limits of her growing powers, keeping on top of her new obligations, and trying to cultivate a relationship with Roman. It is almost more than one person can bear and it starts to wear on Arden. She is very hurt, flawed, and vulnerable. I felt this down in my bones since it parallels my state of mind a lot these days. These are also the qualities that make Arden such a relatable and likable character. Too often in novels the characters are super human and perfect. It takes something away from the authenticity of the story. That is not the case here. Arden is strong and growing stronger every day, but she is also dealing with major baggage and heartache. There are a plethora of other characters to meet....some old and some new interesting ones. We also get to learn a lot more about Roman and his family. I'd love to learn more about Maria, the witches, and other were communities in future books.
Eldritch Sparks also has amazing world building and a killer plot. We get a new big bad and the stakes are even higher than before. There are enough plot twists to keep you flipping pages all throughout the night. Eldritch Sparks like Elemental is set in the RTP area of North Carolina. There are hints of other areas like Charlotte and Asheville. Asheville is one of my favorite spots in the world, so I hope we get to explore that area and the wolves in future books. Even if you don't live in North Carolina, you will find yourself fully immersed in this world. There are no shortage of preternatural creatures in Eldritch Sparks. I mean this book has everything my paranormal heart needs, werewolves, witches, djinn, elves, vampires, zombies, kobolds, and more! Eldritch Sparks really has it all.
We all know that I am an unapologetic book cover ho, so i'd like to take a moment to appreciate this one. It is really gorgeous and a perfect compliment to the Elemental cover! I love the color scheme and imagery. There are hints of cool surprises to come if you look close enough!I also love that the cover features a strong woman of color, and immediately lets me know i'm going to be immersed in a world of magic and bad assery.
If you are a fan of mysteries, undead antics, vampire politics, conflicted werewolves, privileged elves, and kick ass heroines then read this book! Published by Benu Media, Eldritch Sparks is available for purchase from all major booksellers. I give Eldritch Sparks 5 out of 5 gems. I'm looking forward to reading more adventures set in this universe. Happy Reading!
November 21, 2020
"What side do I pick when everyone has an agenda that involves either using me or lying to me?"
It's summertime in the Carolinas and hot damn, Arden Finch just cannot catch a break. Drowned by an elven prince bent on implementing patriarchy, snatched back and forth between reality and The Crossroads by the old gods, stepping into her power free of Callista and navigating a fledgling Otherside alliance while the veil between mundane and Otherside grows ever thinner, you would think it's all downhill from here but
Arden, probably:
The internal monologue and conflict I thought Hill did so well in Elemental gets that much richer and emotionally raw and there wasn't a point in the novel that I wasn't moved by Arie's struggles to navigate her newfound power and act with some sort of agency then turn around and realize that, like in the dedication, she had to make hard choices about where to give of herself and the even harder choice about when she could no longer give at all. Hill keeps giving the Triangle the worldbuilding it deserves- call me biased, I live over in the Triad but it's true- and it is on par with what made me fall in love with authors like Kelley Armstrong as a teenager; I can still see and hear and experience the story as it is happening around Arie because Hill does such a phenomenal job at showing the reader her world. I loved the slow burn of suspense throughout the novel and how that played into the changing dynamics in Arie's world; for everything that went on in Elemental, it built up to a level of danger that was definitely something I could sink my teeth into.
If Elemental had your interest, trust me- Eldritch Sparks will definitely get your attention.
It's summertime in the Carolinas and hot damn, Arden Finch just cannot catch a break. Drowned by an elven prince bent on implementing patriarchy, snatched back and forth between reality and The Crossroads by the old gods, stepping into her power free of Callista and navigating a fledgling Otherside alliance while the veil between mundane and Otherside grows ever thinner, you would think it's all downhill from here but
Arden, probably:
The internal monologue and conflict I thought Hill did so well in Elemental gets that much richer and emotionally raw and there wasn't a point in the novel that I wasn't moved by Arie's struggles to navigate her newfound power and act with some sort of agency then turn around and realize that, like in the dedication, she had to make hard choices about where to give of herself and the even harder choice about when she could no longer give at all. Hill keeps giving the Triangle the worldbuilding it deserves- call me biased, I live over in the Triad but it's true- and it is on par with what made me fall in love with authors like Kelley Armstrong as a teenager; I can still see and hear and experience the story as it is happening around Arie because Hill does such a phenomenal job at showing the reader her world. I loved the slow burn of suspense throughout the novel and how that played into the changing dynamics in Arie's world; for everything that went on in Elemental, it built up to a level of danger that was definitely something I could sink my teeth into.
If Elemental had your interest, trust me- Eldritch Sparks will definitely get your attention.
April 10, 2021
This series is amazing and so is this sequel!
Honestly, I love everything about this series. I adore Arden so much and look up to her. She's strong, relentless, but her emotions and pain shine through so much in this writing. And the writing is so unbelievably beautiful.
I started the second book in the Othersiders series but then life got in the way. Then, I binge read the rest just recently because it honestly had me at the edge of my seat. The final battle had me so worried, but I don't want to give spoilers. Let's just say I couldn't put the book down.
Beyond the amazing Arden, though, I can connect with the other characters well too... Like them or hate them. I still do like Maria. Roman... Well I can't stand him to be honest, he rubs me the wrong way. Duke I'm bloody pissed at. Janae is so sweet though and I'm eager to see more of her. She's very warm, like a calm summer day.
Then...there's Troy. Oh yeah, I also love the elf lore here. A particular sharp feature. I'll keep my mouth shut but readers and the awesome author will know what I mean. Anyway, Troy fascinates me so much. I'm really hoping to see more of him.
Finally, I'm really curious if a ship I thought was silly for me to think about will actually come to be. If I'm right, I'll be so surprised... I think I see it happen, though, and I'm on the edge of my seat about it.
Finally, again, Arden just is the star of the show and I love her. I would love to see this series made as a movie or show series. The protagonist was definitely someone I adored very much :)
Can't wait to nab the next book in the series!
Honestly, I love everything about this series. I adore Arden so much and look up to her. She's strong, relentless, but her emotions and pain shine through so much in this writing. And the writing is so unbelievably beautiful.
I started the second book in the Othersiders series but then life got in the way. Then, I binge read the rest just recently because it honestly had me at the edge of my seat. The final battle had me so worried, but I don't want to give spoilers. Let's just say I couldn't put the book down.
Beyond the amazing Arden, though, I can connect with the other characters well too... Like them or hate them. I still do like Maria. Roman... Well I can't stand him to be honest, he rubs me the wrong way. Duke I'm bloody pissed at. Janae is so sweet though and I'm eager to see more of her. She's very warm, like a calm summer day.
Then...there's Troy. Oh yeah, I also love the elf lore here. A particular sharp feature. I'll keep my mouth shut but readers and the awesome author will know what I mean. Anyway, Troy fascinates me so much. I'm really hoping to see more of him.
Finally, I'm really curious if a ship I thought was silly for me to think about will actually come to be. If I'm right, I'll be so surprised... I think I see it happen, though, and I'm on the edge of my seat about it.
Finally, again, Arden just is the star of the show and I love her. I would love to see this series made as a movie or show series. The protagonist was definitely someone I adored very much :)
Can't wait to nab the next book in the series!
April 25, 2023
3.5 rounded up to 4
Fantastic follow up to Elemental. Whitney Hill ups the ante with Eldritch Sparks, kicking things off a few months after the events of the first book. Our Air elemental main character, Arden Finch, continues to do her private investigator thing in the NC Triangle, but she now must balance the fragile alliance she started to build between the Otherside races while also continuing to explore her roots as an elemental. No one wants to play nice with each other and they're going to have to because Arden is trying to unravel a significant threat to all of them: the appearance of a lich lord on the scene. Yes, we get zombies and necromancy in this one.
Hill has such a strong command over the characterization of Arden, and she is so believable as a headstrong but still growing 25-year-old PI. Arden wants to have a good (and quite spicy) relationship with her werewolf BF Roman, whose brother is introduced at the beginning of the book to mess up both the relationship and the Otherside politics. Arden wants to be come into her own managing a tenuous alliance between the elves, weres, djinn, witches, and vampires. And Arden wants to organize her community against the local enforcer (and her sometimes boss), Callista, in revealing themselves to the "mundane" world before a local biotech company forces them to.
Arden also continues to have encounters with the gods, who make it clear that there is a greater, looming threat just off in the distance (we love to see those seeds planted). While contending with all of that, Arden must train and explore her elemental powers and work to save two elementals who have been captured by the lich. It's fantastic to see Hill spinning all these plates at once. They occasionally wobble, but at no point does she lose control over the story.
My one major note of criticism is that I feel like Hill fell into a common trap with Eldritch Sparks that a lot of UF stories fall into which is the setting feeling empty. This wasn’t a problem in book one, so I’m hoping this was a minor speed bump. What I mean by this is the Triangle doesn’t feel like it’s a real, living place in Eldritch Sparks. Almost every person that Arden interacts with is a named, known character and most of those are also Othersiders like her. She doesn’t go to regular bars or see random software engineers in her WeWork (in fact, in Eldritch Sparks Hill makes the point that basically everyone has left Arden’s side of the co-working space and she’s alone).
Now, there is a reason to do this: Arden is feeling increasingly isolated, even from her new boyfriend. She’s also feeling the stress of managing the complex power relationships in her role as Otherside’s chief diplomat. But I think it’s a mistake to realize this isolation by removing the nuts and bolts of being in a city. It makes it seem like this story could take place anywhere, which is a shame because Hill really brought the Triangle to life as a character in book one.
But otherwise, this is a great sophomore book in a UF series.
Fantastic follow up to Elemental. Whitney Hill ups the ante with Eldritch Sparks, kicking things off a few months after the events of the first book. Our Air elemental main character, Arden Finch, continues to do her private investigator thing in the NC Triangle, but she now must balance the fragile alliance she started to build between the Otherside races while also continuing to explore her roots as an elemental. No one wants to play nice with each other and they're going to have to because Arden is trying to unravel a significant threat to all of them: the appearance of a lich lord on the scene. Yes, we get zombies and necromancy in this one.
Hill has such a strong command over the characterization of Arden, and she is so believable as a headstrong but still growing 25-year-old PI. Arden wants to have a good (and quite spicy) relationship with her werewolf BF Roman, whose brother is introduced at the beginning of the book to mess up both the relationship and the Otherside politics. Arden wants to be come into her own managing a tenuous alliance between the elves, weres, djinn, witches, and vampires. And Arden wants to organize her community against the local enforcer (and her sometimes boss), Callista, in revealing themselves to the "mundane" world before a local biotech company forces them to.
Arden also continues to have encounters with the gods, who make it clear that there is a greater, looming threat just off in the distance (we love to see those seeds planted). While contending with all of that, Arden must train and explore her elemental powers and work to save two elementals who have been captured by the lich. It's fantastic to see Hill spinning all these plates at once. They occasionally wobble, but at no point does she lose control over the story.
My one major note of criticism is that I feel like Hill fell into a common trap with Eldritch Sparks that a lot of UF stories fall into which is the setting feeling empty. This wasn’t a problem in book one, so I’m hoping this was a minor speed bump. What I mean by this is the Triangle doesn’t feel like it’s a real, living place in Eldritch Sparks. Almost every person that Arden interacts with is a named, known character and most of those are also Othersiders like her. She doesn’t go to regular bars or see random software engineers in her WeWork (in fact, in Eldritch Sparks Hill makes the point that basically everyone has left Arden’s side of the co-working space and she’s alone).
Now, there is a reason to do this: Arden is feeling increasingly isolated, even from her new boyfriend. She’s also feeling the stress of managing the complex power relationships in her role as Otherside’s chief diplomat. But I think it’s a mistake to realize this isolation by removing the nuts and bolts of being in a city. It makes it seem like this story could take place anywhere, which is a shame because Hill really brought the Triangle to life as a character in book one.
But otherwise, this is a great sophomore book in a UF series.
April 21, 2023
Spoilers
I have many thoughts, but I'll skip to my most fervent right now.
Potential Family/ Pack reunion aside, Roman essentially tells Arden that he's leaving her for his ex, then questions her for not begging him to stay. Then, he has the nerve to ask her to wait for him (to see if it works out--with his ex!!!!!) and her reaction is to sleep with him? No, I can't see Arden the sane way. Where is her self-respect? I'm disgusted. And the Troy Arden romance brewing has been obvious since book one. That hatred always seemed like it was going to take a turn toward something else. So I guess it makes sense to make Roman a real F-boy to set up Troy. I don't like it though, the tracker mutation, etc. Manufacturered connections started from violence. Pass. I'm hoping Arden gets a better love interest in the other books even though I can't stand her right now.
Also, Dukes reaction is wild. Grim tried to kill her. Why isn't he mad about that? Then again, Troy also tried to kill her, so she could have let Duke kill him, and the blowback from Evangeline wouldn't be on her it would be on Duke....
Lastly, the 2 element thing feels a little convenient and lazy. She was interesting enough and powerful enough with one.
I have many thoughts, but I'll skip to my most fervent right now.
Potential Family/ Pack reunion aside, Roman essentially tells Arden that he's leaving her for his ex, then questions her for not begging him to stay. Then, he has the nerve to ask her to wait for him (to see if it works out--with his ex!!!!!) and her reaction is to sleep with him? No, I can't see Arden the sane way. Where is her self-respect? I'm disgusted. And the Troy Arden romance brewing has been obvious since book one. That hatred always seemed like it was going to take a turn toward something else. So I guess it makes sense to make Roman a real F-boy to set up Troy. I don't like it though, the tracker mutation, etc. Manufacturered connections started from violence. Pass. I'm hoping Arden gets a better love interest in the other books even though I can't stand her right now.
Also, Dukes reaction is wild. Grim tried to kill her. Why isn't he mad about that? Then again, Troy also tried to kill her, so she could have let Duke kill him, and the blowback from Evangeline wouldn't be on her it would be on Duke....
Lastly, the 2 element thing feels a little convenient and lazy. She was interesting enough and powerful enough with one.
May 31, 2022
Arden's journey continues- having killed Leith Sequoyah for kidnapping and attempting to murder her, and the coup he and his red caps were planning on the Triangle high queens, she now finds herself more involved than ever in the politics of the Otherside. Not only is she facing off with the Vampires, Weres and witches, she also has met another elemental who helps her realize that not all of them have been deprived of knowledge of their powers. Chaos reigns supreme as she is trying to track down a lich, who with the help of his apprentice is raising zombies and trying to recruit Arden to join him in his quest to reshape the order of the Otherside. She will face betrayal , heartbreak and a new understanding of someone she thought was one of her greatest enemies.
|||||||||||
|||||||||||
February 6, 2021
Just as awesome as the first book!
Arden Finch is trying to put together an alliance for her safety and those of the Otherside. The problem is everyone wants something to join and Arden is pulled in many directions at once. A powerful lich comes to town and wants her services as well. When her friends go missing, Arden is forced to confront this evil.
One of the things I loved about the first novel was the originality of using an elemental as the main character, and elves and djinn as the main factions in the story. A lich being the antagonist of this story continues that originality theme.
I enjoyed the growth of Arden in this book. The pacing was fantastic and will keep you turning the page to find out what happens next. There was a bit more ‘sexy time’ in this book compared to the first, but thankfully the romance stays as a minor sub-plot and not the focus of the story.
I’m looking forward to the next book of this wonderful series to arrive.
Arden Finch is trying to put together an alliance for her safety and those of the Otherside. The problem is everyone wants something to join and Arden is pulled in many directions at once. A powerful lich comes to town and wants her services as well. When her friends go missing, Arden is forced to confront this evil.
One of the things I loved about the first novel was the originality of using an elemental as the main character, and elves and djinn as the main factions in the story. A lich being the antagonist of this story continues that originality theme.
I enjoyed the growth of Arden in this book. The pacing was fantastic and will keep you turning the page to find out what happens next. There was a bit more ‘sexy time’ in this book compared to the first, but thankfully the romance stays as a minor sub-plot and not the focus of the story.
I’m looking forward to the next book of this wonderful series to arrive.
February 12, 2021
Much Improved
I am enjoying the evolution of Arden. I cannot wait to see what she becomes. I hope she gains more than just allies as she navigates her new world. I'm interested to what is between her and Troy, that, is interesting. I understand why Roman did what he did and I hope he finds what he's looking for and I that he didn't understand that the belonging he sought he already had with Arden. I'm excited to see who teaches Arden how to use and control her powers. I truly think she's more powerful than all of them combined which is why no one tells her anything about who and what she is. I'm excited to read book three and I hope each installment in this series continues to improve. I highly recommend books one and two.
I am enjoying the evolution of Arden. I cannot wait to see what she becomes. I hope she gains more than just allies as she navigates her new world. I'm interested to what is between her and Troy, that, is interesting. I understand why Roman did what he did and I hope he finds what he's looking for and I that he didn't understand that the belonging he sought he already had with Arden. I'm excited to see who teaches Arden how to use and control her powers. I truly think she's more powerful than all of them combined which is why no one tells her anything about who and what she is. I'm excited to read book three and I hope each installment in this series continues to improve. I highly recommend books one and two.
November 28, 2020
I'm trying to figure out how to review this without just screaming "IT'S SO FREAKING GOOD!" over and over again. I mean. It'd be true, but maybe not so compelling. So much happened in this book. I love how Arden is growing and learning and finding her place. Maria is becoming a truly favorite character. I love her sass and her loyalty to what she wants. I won't speak of the spoilers but the ending made me *so happy* that I literally choked up.
If you like urban fantasy, you can't go wrong with this series.
If you like urban fantasy, you can't go wrong with this series.
April 1, 2021
Very happy to have found this series!
What I like about this one is that Arden is not perfect. She is working with what she has and is still held back by what everyone is not telling her. But she keeps pushing forward and trying her best.
She is real. Finding her powers and trying to discern who is there for her is not easy, but makes for an involved read as we watch her evolve into the hero she is clearly meant to be.
It was also fun to find out more about the different mystical peoples in this world and watch them interact. I love this series and cannot wait for more.
What I like about this one is that Arden is not perfect. She is working with what she has and is still held back by what everyone is not telling her. But she keeps pushing forward and trying her best.
She is real. Finding her powers and trying to discern who is there for her is not easy, but makes for an involved read as we watch her evolve into the hero she is clearly meant to be.
It was also fun to find out more about the different mystical peoples in this world and watch them interact. I love this series and cannot wait for more.
November 22, 2023
It was good in that heart pounding , drama induced sort of way but I gotta say I don’t like one person in the series. Even Arden gets on my nerves like sissssss. While I can understand her limitations, povs & what not. She needs to stiffen her spine more.
I knew Roman was an ass from the get go. No loyalty there. Seeing Arden standing by herself makes me annoyed. Like why is sis by her lonesome???
Give her some true allies, friends. FAMILY. ugh
I’m gonna start book 3, it remains to be seen if I finish it
I knew Roman was an ass from the get go. No loyalty there. Seeing Arden standing by herself makes me annoyed. Like why is sis by her lonesome???
Give her some true allies, friends. FAMILY. ugh
I’m gonna start book 3, it remains to be seen if I finish it
November 23, 2020
No Willpower
I devoured ELEMENTAL and almost lost my mind waiting for SPARKS. When it finally dropped, I told myself: wait, save it, you're gonna hate when you read the last line. So, November 20th, I womanned up and set it aside for all of TWO days. SMH. I LOVE THIS SERIES! I am impatiently waiting for the next book to drop. So grateful I found this author. Thank you, Ms Hill.
I devoured ELEMENTAL and almost lost my mind waiting for SPARKS. When it finally dropped, I told myself: wait, save it, you're gonna hate when you read the last line. So, November 20th, I womanned up and set it aside for all of TWO days. SMH. I LOVE THIS SERIES! I am impatiently waiting for the next book to drop. So grateful I found this author. Thank you, Ms Hill.
February 12, 2021
This is Book #2 in this series with no need to read Elemental (Book #1) in order to understand the plot and characters. I enjoyed the book and the world building, however, I find it very similar to reading a Dresden Files/Harry Dresden story. Both are "outsiders" in the "magic world", both have powerful enemies and neither of them are ever quite sure if their allies can be trusted. Enjoyed the characters and looking forward to the next book in this series.
August 15, 2022
***maandag 14 augustus 2022***
A very good second book in the series.
I don't have much to say though. I can't wait to see what happens next, am happy Roman will be gone, and that Arden seems to get some more agency.
Some things still feel off but my brain isn't up to it to analyse why or what.
Fun thing: I really like Maria the vampire! Normally I really dislike vampires but she is such a fun character. It's between her and Troy as best candidate for being Arden's love interest.
A very good second book in the series.
I don't have much to say though. I can't wait to see what happens next, am happy Roman will be gone, and that Arden seems to get some more agency.
Some things still feel off but my brain isn't up to it to analyse why or what.
Fun thing: I really like Maria the vampire! Normally I really dislike vampires but she is such a fun character. It's between her and Troy as best candidate for being Arden's love interest.
December 7, 2020
Whitney Hill has done it again! A tightly woven plot and engaging characters with so much voice and chemistry they jump off the page! I won’t give away any spoilers, but let’s just say the dynamic between two of the characters has me screaming, “Kiss, already!”
Things are really heating up in the Triangle, and with the arrival of a rogue lich who has the ability to raise the dead, Arden is tasked with rallying the citizens of Otherside to work together.
I can’t wait for book 3.
Things are really heating up in the Triangle, and with the arrival of a rogue lich who has the ability to raise the dead, Arden is tasked with rallying the citizens of Otherside to work together.
I can’t wait for book 3.
March 12, 2022
Long sigh
God. This series, so far, is exhausting. Seriously. Every time I finish one im glad its over. The character s are so awful to each other and are CONSTANTLY forced to work with each other and stab each others in the back and manipulate each other AND EVERYONE KEEPS SECRETS its sorta exhausting to me. Its awesome but exhausting
God. This series, so far, is exhausting. Seriously. Every time I finish one im glad its over. The character s are so awful to each other and are CONSTANTLY forced to work with each other and stab each others in the back and manipulate each other AND EVERYONE KEEPS SECRETS its sorta exhausting to me. Its awesome but exhausting
January 23, 2023
Very good, this series is growing on me. I like how much it does to set it apart from other urban fantasy. I'm a little peeved at the amount of hidden backstory. I'm glad the main character is as pissed as I am about it, but because of that it looks like it's only being done to convince me to read more, and not for more natural reasons.
May 27, 2023
The second great book in this series. I enjoy the investigation, the magic, the character development, and the sense of real-world-ness even amidst the fantasy. The political maneuverings and the constant violation of the MCs boundaries were frustrating and stressful, but made for an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
February 17, 2021
Fabulous
The second book in this series was just an exciting, intriguing and enjoyable as book one. This is a wonderful series by a talented young author. I love the fact that the protagonist kinda looks like me to, being mixed heritage and all. Excellent!
The second book in this series was just an exciting, intriguing and enjoyable as book one. This is a wonderful series by a talented young author. I love the fact that the protagonist kinda looks like me to, being mixed heritage and all. Excellent!
May 2, 2021
Amazing!!
So excited about this series!! I love how strong Arden is The harder things became and no matter how the world seemed to be falling down around her she persevered. I also hope she ruins Calista.
So excited about this series!! I love how strong Arden is The harder things became and no matter how the world seemed to be falling down around her she persevered. I also hope she ruins Calista.
December 4, 2022
Most Excellent series!
I love this series. I hate writing reviews but this series is so well paced with just the right details. The characters pull you into the Otherside. Reminds me of Charles deLint’s worlds. Buy the series. You won’t regret it!
I love this series. I hate writing reviews but this series is so well paced with just the right details. The characters pull you into the Otherside. Reminds me of Charles deLint’s worlds. Buy the series. You won’t regret it!
April 27, 2021
Great
Love the series so far. I'm enjoying the plot and the storyline as well as the strong characters. This author has a gift for writing that pulls readers in deep
Love the series so far. I'm enjoying the plot and the storyline as well as the strong characters. This author has a gift for writing that pulls readers in deep
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews