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Witch & Wolf #2
Inquisitor
When Allison is asked to play Cinderella-turned-Fianceé at a Halloween ball, the last thing she expected was to be accused of murder on the same night. She has to find the killer or she'll be put to death for the crimes she didn't commit. To make matters worse, the victims are all werewolves.
On the short list of potential victims, Allison has to act fast, or the killer will have one more body to add to his little black book of corpses.
There's only one problem: One of the deaths has struck too close to home, and Allison's desire for self-preservation may transform into a quest for vengeance...
On the short list of potential victims, Allison has to act fast, or the killer will have one more body to add to his little black book of corpses.
There's only one problem: One of the deaths has struck too close to home, and Allison's desire for self-preservation may transform into a quest for vengeance...
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2014
228 people are currently reading
1132 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Blain
81 books1,318 followersRJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 16, 2014
A lot of good ratings but this was a total miss for me. I did manage to finish it hoping it would all come together and make more sense, but I stick with the feeling I had at 32%in: doesn't make a lot of sense. I like to figure things out but this is a bit convoluted. Allison/Shimmer is some old werewolf-witch combo trying to help a friend, Mark, by posing as his girlfriend. At the party he asked her to attend, he's gone most of the time leaving her with his witch step mother. Their interaction is hard to follow and weird...but a dominant theme is money. Weird about Allison buying a 'multi-million' dollar necklace for her Cinderella costume!.... weird about her talking to stepmom about money money money...hers, his, who cares! Then there's the dead girl/witch.... Remember, Mark doesn't know Allison is anything but a regular girl - his Accountant! Don't think he knew she is über rich girl ..all so confusing. Anyway, what kind of party did he invite her to that has witches, that kill a girl for the sake of a game... With the prize being a wolf and of course money! Yeah, she doesn't care about the money prize, she has plenty as she's already said over and over.
Then there is her long time witch friend Samantha that goes on the run with her, and has been her Amex Black Card concierge forever (yeah Money!!) but at this point in the story Sam knows Allison is wealthy but doesn't seem to know she owns a company? A company that is now hiring Samantha for $250k + bonus,perks, & stock to be a SECRETARY. ...*eye roll*...
Needless to say this whole were-witch, super über duper wealthy, old and powerful but I have to keep changing identities or they'll find me is wearing thin....will it all come together? I'm def not one to quit a book, so I'll keep trying a little longer but if it doesn't turn the corner soon, I'm gonna regret the time spent.... Update to come.
UPDATE - it remained confusing.
Maybe because there was very little world building; maybe because the MC was SO many things I didn't understand or relate to her, or maybe because the Inquisitors/Inquisition isn't explained until 70% into the book and even then it wasn't a very thorough explanation. And EVERYONE seems to be part of this organization. I never got a handle on the relationship between Wolves & Witches... was it a bad thing unless a wolf formed a bond with a witch? They seemed enemies at times, but partners at others. Then some 'Shadow Pope' comes into the picture -who/what is that? Also, I just couldn't relate with the main character - she was MANY things: Allison/Accountant; Victoria/Corporate Owner; Shimmer/Wolf-Witch-Aurora-Caretaker of the Seasons: A nice rich girl accountant; a bossy but good-hearted corporate owner that threw money at everything; and a very old....all those other things, wolfwitchauroracaretakeroftheseasons. Trust me. A LOT went into this book - I could even, almost, feel pieces come together, but then it would go in yet another direction and be overwhelmed by more stuff. Wish it had been more plausible and sensible, but for me that was not the case.
Then there is her long time witch friend Samantha that goes on the run with her, and has been her Amex Black Card concierge forever (yeah Money!!) but at this point in the story Sam knows Allison is wealthy but doesn't seem to know she owns a company? A company that is now hiring Samantha for $250k + bonus,perks, & stock to be a SECRETARY. ...*eye roll*...
Needless to say this whole were-witch, super über duper wealthy, old and powerful but I have to keep changing identities or they'll find me is wearing thin....will it all come together? I'm def not one to quit a book, so I'll keep trying a little longer but if it doesn't turn the corner soon, I'm gonna regret the time spent.... Update to come.
UPDATE - it remained confusing.
Maybe because there was very little world building; maybe because the MC was SO many things I didn't understand or relate to her, or maybe because the Inquisitors/Inquisition isn't explained until 70% into the book and even then it wasn't a very thorough explanation. And EVERYONE seems to be part of this organization. I never got a handle on the relationship between Wolves & Witches... was it a bad thing unless a wolf formed a bond with a witch? They seemed enemies at times, but partners at others. Then some 'Shadow Pope' comes into the picture -who/what is that? Also, I just couldn't relate with the main character - she was MANY things: Allison/Accountant; Victoria/Corporate Owner; Shimmer/Wolf-Witch-Aurora-Caretaker of the Seasons: A nice rich girl accountant; a bossy but good-hearted corporate owner that threw money at everything; and a very old....all those other things, wolfwitchauroracaretakeroftheseasons. Trust me. A LOT went into this book - I could even, almost, feel pieces come together, but then it would go in yet another direction and be overwhelmed by more stuff. Wish it had been more plausible and sensible, but for me that was not the case.
August 31, 2015
Okay, look: if you're 6, being a pirate-princess-tiger-ghost is okay. If you're older than that choose...two, okay?
December 13, 2015
I've so gotta stop judging books by their covers.
My artsy-fartsy brain glommed onto Inquisitor's cover design. The kind of cover that works at multiple scales, including as a teeny, thumbnail image. A lone, dark figure strides forward against a simple, but dynamic backdrop of cool-toned blues and flame-hot yellow, with the latter grounding the image. The kind of design that pulses with a great sense of narrative.
The first few pages of the novel aren't bad. The protagonist, Allison, is obviously the standard loner, somewhat embittered female archetype of urban fantasy, but she seems to possess the sharp, observational humor I love. The initial setup is straightforward. Allison, an accountant, has been summoned to New York by one of her wealthy clients, Mark. Mark is calling in a favor, and it's a big one. Allison is to attend some fancy Halloween shindig with him, where she'll be his pretend fiancee. Mark's mommy has already picked out a wife for him, and apparently Mark can't grow a pair and tell mummy dearest that he's grown man capable of finding his own spouse.
There's a suggestion that Allison has a crush on Mark, but it's unrequited and besides, she's actually a 170 year old witch-hybrid.
Hardly original, but okay, I was still engaged. Next, Allison goes shopping for an appropriate outfit and during the course of that trip it's revealed that she's rich as Croesus. There's the obligatory scene where the snooty salesperson assumes that her scruffy self can't afford the $100K necklace she's eyeing. You know, the kind of scenario where it turns out she can more than afford the overpriced bling and the salesman eats crow? Sometimes, this works and I, the reader, am like "Take that, Snooty McSnobPants," but this time? Eh. Allison just comes off as arrogant and charmless.
Things proceed to go downhill from there. Mark's mom, who is dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West, turns out to be a witch. And Mom hates Allison, until she loves her, until she hates her. What? Yeah, exactly. The party theme is murder mystery, except the fake murder victim is actually dead. But...no one cares. Because....reasons?
The writing is too sly, thinking that by dropping a few hints, it's creating drama and mystery. As I've noted in other reviews, "No, just no, writer folk. You know your world; I, however, DON'T know shit about it. Be too coy, and I'm digging through my Too-Be-Read pile, looking for something else to read." Inquisitor is so obtuse that it lacks any urgency or sense of danger. Nothing is at stake.
For the majority of the 38% of the story that I read, detail is lavished on Allison doing really mundane shit like getting her best friend a job with her company. And renting cars. And staying in hotel rooms and getting haircuts. And making phone calls in which Allison commands her many underlings--because she's rich, so very rich! There are constant reminders of her wealth. And also, her angst, because living for a zillion years sucks. Mortals die and she haz teh sad. And she's rich. Did I mention, she's rich? ZZZZZZzzzzzz.
Uh, magic? Not much, there. She turns into a wolf once and tries to eat some witches. Because...they are messing with the seasons and apparently Allison is also in charge of the seasons. Wait...what? *Shakes head, confused, like a dog with a big tick in its ear.*
I think this was free. Lawd have mercy, I hope this was free.
My artsy-fartsy brain glommed onto Inquisitor's cover design. The kind of cover that works at multiple scales, including as a teeny, thumbnail image. A lone, dark figure strides forward against a simple, but dynamic backdrop of cool-toned blues and flame-hot yellow, with the latter grounding the image. The kind of design that pulses with a great sense of narrative.
The first few pages of the novel aren't bad. The protagonist, Allison, is obviously the standard loner, somewhat embittered female archetype of urban fantasy, but she seems to possess the sharp, observational humor I love. The initial setup is straightforward. Allison, an accountant, has been summoned to New York by one of her wealthy clients, Mark. Mark is calling in a favor, and it's a big one. Allison is to attend some fancy Halloween shindig with him, where she'll be his pretend fiancee. Mark's mommy has already picked out a wife for him, and apparently Mark can't grow a pair and tell mummy dearest that he's grown man capable of finding his own spouse.
There's a suggestion that Allison has a crush on Mark, but it's unrequited and besides, she's actually a 170 year old witch-hybrid.
Hardly original, but okay, I was still engaged. Next, Allison goes shopping for an appropriate outfit and during the course of that trip it's revealed that she's rich as Croesus. There's the obligatory scene where the snooty salesperson assumes that her scruffy self can't afford the $100K necklace she's eyeing. You know, the kind of scenario where it turns out she can more than afford the overpriced bling and the salesman eats crow? Sometimes, this works and I, the reader, am like "Take that, Snooty McSnobPants," but this time? Eh. Allison just comes off as arrogant and charmless.
Things proceed to go downhill from there. Mark's mom, who is dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West, turns out to be a witch. And Mom hates Allison, until she loves her, until she hates her. What? Yeah, exactly. The party theme is murder mystery, except the fake murder victim is actually dead. But...no one cares. Because....reasons?
The writing is too sly, thinking that by dropping a few hints, it's creating drama and mystery. As I've noted in other reviews, "No, just no, writer folk. You know your world; I, however, DON'T know shit about it. Be too coy, and I'm digging through my Too-Be-Read pile, looking for something else to read." Inquisitor is so obtuse that it lacks any urgency or sense of danger. Nothing is at stake.
For the majority of the 38% of the story that I read, detail is lavished on Allison doing really mundane shit like getting her best friend a job with her company. And renting cars. And staying in hotel rooms and getting haircuts. And making phone calls in which Allison commands her many underlings--because she's rich, so very rich! There are constant reminders of her wealth. And also, her angst, because living for a zillion years sucks. Mortals die and she haz teh sad. And she's rich. Did I mention, she's rich? ZZZZZZzzzzzz.
Uh, magic? Not much, there. She turns into a wolf once and tries to eat some witches. Because...they are messing with the seasons and apparently Allison is also in charge of the seasons. Wait...what? *Shakes head, confused, like a dog with a big tick in its ear.*
I think this was free. Lawd have mercy, I hope this was free.
October 26, 2019
“I have no idea what's awaiting me, or what will happen when this all ends. For the moment I know this: there are sick people and they need curing.” ― Albert Camus, The Plague
“No one thinks of how much blood it costs.” - Dante Alighieri
“Can you please ask James to return to the lab?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible, ma’am.”
“Why?
“He just locked himself in containment and started howling.” – R. J. Blain, Inquisitor
When you are as old as Allison Victoria Mayfield Hanover, you realize that only are few things are truly immutable. Blood and violence, horrors and hatred. And that one truth of the universe: Everything eventually dies. Except, perhaps, for Victoria. Ah, but you see, someone wants, very much, to see Victoria dead. And they will do anything, kill anyone, to make sure that happens.
Which is a really crappy attitude when you realize who Victoria is. You see, she is the owner of Marrodin, one of the largest companies in the world. A company which goes out of its
way to hire those who have ‘special’ needs. You know the sort. Witches. Wolves. Single mothers.
Victoria is living in Atlanta as Allison Ferdinan these days, playing at being an accountant. Too bad money couldn’t buy me a life. Of course, sometimes what you wish for actually comes true – and too often in bad, very bad, awful sorts of ways. It started out as a simple favor for a client/friend, Mark. Let’s dress up and go to a party. You can be my fiancée!
Whoa. Hold the Phone! Gack. Killing Mark in Central Park really probably isn’t the best idea. But what was a really Bad Idea? Yeah. You got it. Going to a Halloween party as the fake fiancée, only to find out that your fake mother-in-law-to-be is a real witch. No, I mean it. A Real. Witch. And if you want to drop the W and add a B, well, please feel free.
But the party isn’t the only thing wrong in Allison’s world. Pretty soon it seems the whole world is out to kill her. And when whoever it is that hunts her begins going after her employees, well, let’s just say that Allison/Victoria won’t let it stand.
Here's a hint. Don’t tick off an ancient werewolf. You won’t like the outcome.
I loved this book so much I stayed up way too late into the early morning hours reading when I had to get up early the next morning. In fact, I liked it so much, I immediately downloaded the next one and started on it the next night. I am not saying there aren’t issues inherent in the writing. There are some continuity and relationship logic issues that were frustrating – but you all know how picky I am about that sort of thing. I still think you should at the very least pick it up on Kindle Unlimited for free the way I did. And I look forward to hearing what you think. This isn’t just another Paranormal – great character development, world building and a marked lack of the sort of sloppy writing that is so common in Urban Fantasy makes this series well worth the precious reading time if you like strong women characters. There are several between these pages!
“No one thinks of how much blood it costs.” - Dante Alighieri
“Can you please ask James to return to the lab?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible, ma’am.”
“Why?
“He just locked himself in containment and started howling.” – R. J. Blain, Inquisitor
When you are as old as Allison Victoria Mayfield Hanover, you realize that only are few things are truly immutable. Blood and violence, horrors and hatred. And that one truth of the universe: Everything eventually dies. Except, perhaps, for Victoria. Ah, but you see, someone wants, very much, to see Victoria dead. And they will do anything, kill anyone, to make sure that happens.
Which is a really crappy attitude when you realize who Victoria is. You see, she is the owner of Marrodin, one of the largest companies in the world. A company which goes out of its
way to hire those who have ‘special’ needs. You know the sort. Witches. Wolves. Single mothers.
Victoria is living in Atlanta as Allison Ferdinan these days, playing at being an accountant. Too bad money couldn’t buy me a life. Of course, sometimes what you wish for actually comes true – and too often in bad, very bad, awful sorts of ways. It started out as a simple favor for a client/friend, Mark. Let’s dress up and go to a party. You can be my fiancée!
Whoa. Hold the Phone! Gack. Killing Mark in Central Park really probably isn’t the best idea. But what was a really Bad Idea? Yeah. You got it. Going to a Halloween party as the fake fiancée, only to find out that your fake mother-in-law-to-be is a real witch. No, I mean it. A Real. Witch. And if you want to drop the W and add a B, well, please feel free.
But the party isn’t the only thing wrong in Allison’s world. Pretty soon it seems the whole world is out to kill her. And when whoever it is that hunts her begins going after her employees, well, let’s just say that Allison/Victoria won’t let it stand.
Here's a hint. Don’t tick off an ancient werewolf. You won’t like the outcome.
I loved this book so much I stayed up way too late into the early morning hours reading when I had to get up early the next morning. In fact, I liked it so much, I immediately downloaded the next one and started on it the next night. I am not saying there aren’t issues inherent in the writing. There are some continuity and relationship logic issues that were frustrating – but you all know how picky I am about that sort of thing. I still think you should at the very least pick it up on Kindle Unlimited for free the way I did. And I look forward to hearing what you think. This isn’t just another Paranormal – great character development, world building and a marked lack of the sort of sloppy writing that is so common in Urban Fantasy makes this series well worth the precious reading time if you like strong women characters. There are several between these pages!
April 18, 2018
I tried to power through everything wrong with this book because I wanted to write a full review, but I gave up around 30 pages in. That was enough to show me that the problems I had with it were too fundamental and pervasive to think it might get better later.
When I read urban fantasy, I'm expecting work in the vein of Gaiman, Elrod, de Lint, or Butcher, but this seemed like it was shaping up to be closer to the Mary Sue paranormal romance popularized by Stephenie Meyer. I think it may have been miscategorized, and perhaps it would do better with Twilight fans than it did with me, but if it's being sold as urban fantasy, I think it's fair to review it as such.
The protagonist is a werewolf/witch with a mysterious past, who's immortal, filthy rich, and implied to be incredibly powerful. I don't want to suggest those traits automatically make a character a Mary Sue, but the combination certainly set off some warning bells. Unfortunately, the amount of time spent reveling in her ability to casually buy absurdly exorbitant dresses and jewelry in lieu of providing actual character development cemented the impression that the protagonist is nothing more than a two-dimensional wish fulfillment fantasy.
I might have been able to tolerate that if her behavior was at least remotely relatable or believable, but her entire decision making process seemed to be written on the basis of "What's the stupidest, most senseless, and needlessly passive thing she could do here?" She has no sense of self-preservation whatsoever. When a stranger, that she seems otherwise wary of, directs her to put on a mask that she senses has some unknown magical effect that could be anything – such as a mystical roofie – she just goes along with it because, um, she thinks it would be rude to question being potentially mind-raped, I guess?
I threw the book at the wall and never looked back.
It does appear to be have been professionally proofread, with very few typos or grammatical errors, but that's probably the only good thing I can say about it. I found the writing itself to feel generally amateurish. The action was only vaguely described, lacking the description necessary to make sense of often strange behavior. (Why does the protagonist "stab at" her burger? My best guess is that she's supposed to be eating the sandwich with a fork, but such strange behavior should be noted explicitly. Otherwise, it's just jarring. Who even does that?)
And while humor is extremely subjective, to me it seemed like the author was constantly trying way too hard to be clever, and missing the mark more often than not. Many of these attempts were based on assumptions that held no weight for me. For example, "the voice rumbled, pausing in the overly-dramatic fashion favored by far too many of the wealthy." What does money have to do with being overly dramatic? It's like the author is struggling to make connections that will appear clever, but they're connections that don't actually exist. Or maybe she's just showing off her own prejudices.
If I were grading on a curve for free self-published books, this would be above average, but that's not saying much. Rated on the same scale as other commercial work... It just doesn't even rate. (Note: When I downloaded this, it was free, but the rest of the series was paid. Last I looked, this book was paid as well. For some reason.)
When I read urban fantasy, I'm expecting work in the vein of Gaiman, Elrod, de Lint, or Butcher, but this seemed like it was shaping up to be closer to the Mary Sue paranormal romance popularized by Stephenie Meyer. I think it may have been miscategorized, and perhaps it would do better with Twilight fans than it did with me, but if it's being sold as urban fantasy, I think it's fair to review it as such.
The protagonist is a werewolf/witch with a mysterious past, who's immortal, filthy rich, and implied to be incredibly powerful. I don't want to suggest those traits automatically make a character a Mary Sue, but the combination certainly set off some warning bells. Unfortunately, the amount of time spent reveling in her ability to casually buy absurdly exorbitant dresses and jewelry in lieu of providing actual character development cemented the impression that the protagonist is nothing more than a two-dimensional wish fulfillment fantasy.
I might have been able to tolerate that if her behavior was at least remotely relatable or believable, but her entire decision making process seemed to be written on the basis of "What's the stupidest, most senseless, and needlessly passive thing she could do here?" She has no sense of self-preservation whatsoever. When a stranger, that she seems otherwise wary of, directs her to put on a mask that she senses has some unknown magical effect that could be anything – such as a mystical roofie – she just goes along with it because, um, she thinks it would be rude to question being potentially mind-raped, I guess?
I threw the book at the wall and never looked back.
It does appear to be have been professionally proofread, with very few typos or grammatical errors, but that's probably the only good thing I can say about it. I found the writing itself to feel generally amateurish. The action was only vaguely described, lacking the description necessary to make sense of often strange behavior. (Why does the protagonist "stab at" her burger? My best guess is that she's supposed to be eating the sandwich with a fork, but such strange behavior should be noted explicitly. Otherwise, it's just jarring. Who even does that?)
And while humor is extremely subjective, to me it seemed like the author was constantly trying way too hard to be clever, and missing the mark more often than not. Many of these attempts were based on assumptions that held no weight for me. For example, "the voice rumbled, pausing in the overly-dramatic fashion favored by far too many of the wealthy." What does money have to do with being overly dramatic? It's like the author is struggling to make connections that will appear clever, but they're connections that don't actually exist. Or maybe she's just showing off her own prejudices.
If I were grading on a curve for free self-published books, this would be above average, but that's not saying much. Rated on the same scale as other commercial work... It just doesn't even rate. (Note: When I downloaded this, it was free, but the rest of the series was paid. Last I looked, this book was paid as well. For some reason.)
October 11, 2015
This played heavily on the mystery side particularly with the inclusion of werewolves and witches.
It hit a couple of slow spots which almost had me putting this down but ultimately I finished this off and was glad I did. The mystery puts up a good show and although there was certainly areas I nailed I didn't get it altogether with the last third opening to full throttle.
There is impending hints of romance to come in the next book, so if you're looking for some cuddle and snuggle in this novel you'll be left cold. One thing I'm tired of in a novel is injecting the yawn of the tiresome virgin. What an old theme that bores the bejeezus out of me, and the fact that the story here isn't what I would go for in a YA grading, I consider this an oversight and epic failure for this novel.
Sexual quotient: commuter worthy
Soundtrack https://youtu.be/RDFjgu-sRYw
It hit a couple of slow spots which almost had me putting this down but ultimately I finished this off and was glad I did. The mystery puts up a good show and although there was certainly areas I nailed I didn't get it altogether with the last third opening to full throttle.
There is impending hints of romance to come in the next book, so if you're looking for some cuddle and snuggle in this novel you'll be left cold. One thing I'm tired of in a novel is injecting the yawn of the tiresome virgin. What an old theme that bores the bejeezus out of me, and the fact that the story here isn't what I would go for in a YA grading, I consider this an oversight and epic failure for this novel.
Sexual quotient: commuter worthy
Soundtrack https://youtu.be/RDFjgu-sRYw
May 5, 2014
3.5 Stars
Allison's friend calls in a favor and for the witch/warewolf thing become crazyquick because sh'es asked to go to a ball on Halloween which happens to have a full moon. If she can keep from growing a tail before the party is over she might just get through the night.... Until someone's murdured and she's accused of the crime. Together with her witch best friend she has a mystery to solve and she has to do it before others catch up to her. When it comes down to it who can she trust to help her and who's secreatly against her.
Allison is 200 years old and not necesseraly does age bring wisdom, she's tough as nails, but she also deny's who she really is because of self lothing. She does what she thinks is right and if the consequences become crazy she'll just ride out the storm.
The story was interesting but way too confusing. The backstory was never really told only hints were given leaving you scrambling to understand just who the bad guys were and how she became associated with them in the past. Just when you think you're finally starting to understand what's going on more stuff gets thrown at you leaving you more confused than ever. Like I said the basic story was interesting, but there was either too much going on for one story or there needed to be more information in this one.
Allison's friend calls in a favor and for the witch/warewolf thing become crazyquick because sh'es asked to go to a ball on Halloween which happens to have a full moon. If she can keep from growing a tail before the party is over she might just get through the night.... Until someone's murdured and she's accused of the crime. Together with her witch best friend she has a mystery to solve and she has to do it before others catch up to her. When it comes down to it who can she trust to help her and who's secreatly against her.
Allison is 200 years old and not necesseraly does age bring wisdom, she's tough as nails, but she also deny's who she really is because of self lothing. She does what she thinks is right and if the consequences become crazy she'll just ride out the storm.
The story was interesting but way too confusing. The backstory was never really told only hints were given leaving you scrambling to understand just who the bad guys were and how she became associated with them in the past. Just when you think you're finally starting to understand what's going on more stuff gets thrown at you leaving you more confused than ever. Like I said the basic story was interesting, but there was either too much going on for one story or there needed to be more information in this one.
May 25, 2014
This novel was definitely not what I expected. It was fathoms more than that. From the moment I picked it up I couldn’t put it down again. The story itself is extremely original. Blain combines the known supernatural world with that of her own creation to create a positively sinful experience for her readers. The storyline is a rollercoaster that keeps you on your toes and guessing. At the same time, you are drawn further and further into this exceptional tale. This is definitely my favourite tale from Blain thus far.
And what unwaveringly unique characters. As a reader you can’t help but fall for them from the get-go. I really appreciate the fact that Blain doesn’t take a ‘PR’ view of weres. They are hardcore, bad-to-the-genetics individuals. Each member of this phenomenal cast is developed in and of their own right, creating an unforgettable cast in this urban fantasy, paranormal world.
As a whole, Blain brings this world to light in an incomparably vivid manner. I cannot wait to delve further into this world (and to revisit this instalment as well). I’d highly recommend this novel to any and all who enjoy the supernatural.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
And what unwaveringly unique characters. As a reader you can’t help but fall for them from the get-go. I really appreciate the fact that Blain doesn’t take a ‘PR’ view of weres. They are hardcore, bad-to-the-genetics individuals. Each member of this phenomenal cast is developed in and of their own right, creating an unforgettable cast in this urban fantasy, paranormal world.
As a whole, Blain brings this world to light in an incomparably vivid manner. I cannot wait to delve further into this world (and to revisit this instalment as well). I’d highly recommend this novel to any and all who enjoy the supernatural.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2014
Review By Michael Keenan at The Review Hart
This is a book with absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. Its use of language is abusive, its character development ranges from Mary-Sue to non-existent with nothing in between, its sense of plot and pacing isn’t competent enough to be called haphazard, and all in all I can’t shake the feeling that it’s made with a genuine hatred for the reader that can only be expressed through tremendous literary cruelty.
This book has no right to exist.
Full Review Available Here
This is a book with absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. Its use of language is abusive, its character development ranges from Mary-Sue to non-existent with nothing in between, its sense of plot and pacing isn’t competent enough to be called haphazard, and all in all I can’t shake the feeling that it’s made with a genuine hatred for the reader that can only be expressed through tremendous literary cruelty.
This book has no right to exist.
Full Review Available Here
May 16, 2014
This book desperately needs editing. Simple, obvious errors like putting Saigon in Korea, as well as continuity problems like planning to do something tomorrow she'd finished 3 paragraphs before plague the book.
The story itself was pretty mediocre. It starts with conflict that requires an emotional investment before we are familiar enough with the MC to care. The character herself reads more as a collection of quirks than a real character, and those quirks don't make a lot of sense together.
I feel like this idea had potential, but the book didn't live up to it.
The story itself was pretty mediocre. It starts with conflict that requires an emotional investment before we are familiar enough with the MC to care. The character herself reads more as a collection of quirks than a real character, and those quirks don't make a lot of sense together.
I feel like this idea had potential, but the book didn't live up to it.
August 20, 2014
what a muddle of a book, the first part of the muddle is a homage to organisational perfection. It then descends into a chaos of plot twists and where every character is revealed to lead double lives. Even having read to the end, the final reveal makes no sense.
Deeply disappointed by this book.
Deeply disappointed by this book.
March 18, 2019
I came to these books through a fantastic deal (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B... ) for the series (Inquisitor, Winter Wolf, Blood Diamond, Silver Bullet and Tales of the Winter Wolf Vol. Six). Fantastic as I enjoyed this collection and am off to purchase the ones not contained here.
They’re easy reading, light fantasy mysteries containing some romance without the expositions of lust and detailed sex scenes.
I’d come to RJ Blain through her Magical Romantic Comedies - a series that embraces silly to a certain extent (and that her blurbs are a bit overdone for to the point of being off-putting). This series is NOTHING like that one (that I did basically enjoy). It’s more straight up Urban Fantasy, well written with engaging characters. In the collection, this book comes first, before Winter Wolf. Although I enjoyed Winter Wolf a tad more than this one, I did like that reading order. I’d recommend getting the linked collection, but if you’re going one at a time - start here. I’ll sync my books with Amazon to see if I can get the collection to come up and go give that a 5 star.
They’re easy reading, light fantasy mysteries containing some romance without the expositions of lust and detailed sex scenes.
I’d come to RJ Blain through her Magical Romantic Comedies - a series that embraces silly to a certain extent (and that her blurbs are a bit overdone for to the point of being off-putting). This series is NOTHING like that one (that I did basically enjoy). It’s more straight up Urban Fantasy, well written with engaging characters. In the collection, this book comes first, before Winter Wolf. Although I enjoyed Winter Wolf a tad more than this one, I did like that reading order. I’d recommend getting the linked collection, but if you’re going one at a time - start here. I’ll sync my books with Amazon to see if I can get the collection to come up and go give that a 5 star.
May 19, 2014
I first heard of Inquisitor the day before its release party last Friday. The name "R.J. Blain" rang a bell, and I realised that I've seen her around on Google+. Of course, I signed up to support a fellow Plusser, and in the process, received a review copy from her.
While I did put this book at the top of my TBR list, I can honestly say that the reason why I finished it so fast was because it was a gripping read. I was hooked from the first page.
Inquisitor follows Allison (I shalln't say her name, since in her world, true names has powers), who falls into trouble after a Halloween party. The truth is, Allison is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf. She is, as she puts it "wolf, woman, and occasional witch", making her very rare and (in my opinion) very powerful. She's also very old, which amounts for her immense wealth. When her witch Samantha is killed, she retreats to one of her identities (CEO of Marrodin, a huge company) to hunt down her killer. However, this leads her into more and more danger.
This book takes the idea of inner conflict and makes it literal. Allison has to balance the three parts of herself and it isn't easy. This can be clearly seen when you compare the narrative bits from her wolf and her normal point of view. Apart from this fascinating internal conflict, there's the external conflict and mystery.
While this book started as a mystery, the mystery ended up taking a seat as the book dove into twists and turns that result from Allison's contact with the Inquisition. The Inquisition is, as far as I can tell, a former "employer" of Allison's and they're ruthless. We're introduced to some key characters of the Inquisition, but I desperately want more information about them. I also want more about Allison's background. For example, why do some characters call her 'Lady Hanover'?
I honestly loved this book. It was a tightly written and well-paced book. Though there was a varied cast of characters, they all felt real to me, and I think enough focus was kept on Allison as the main character. There are some very interesting relationship developments which I'll be eagerly anticipating in the next book. At least, I hope there's a next book. This is a wonderfully crafted world and I love it!
I've really got to get me an Amazon card so I can go buy more of R.J's books.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. Believe me, the gushing is real and heartfelt.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
While I did put this book at the top of my TBR list, I can honestly say that the reason why I finished it so fast was because it was a gripping read. I was hooked from the first page.
Inquisitor follows Allison (I shalln't say her name, since in her world, true names has powers), who falls into trouble after a Halloween party. The truth is, Allison is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf. She is, as she puts it "wolf, woman, and occasional witch", making her very rare and (in my opinion) very powerful. She's also very old, which amounts for her immense wealth. When her witch Samantha is killed, she retreats to one of her identities (CEO of Marrodin, a huge company) to hunt down her killer. However, this leads her into more and more danger.
This book takes the idea of inner conflict and makes it literal. Allison has to balance the three parts of herself and it isn't easy. This can be clearly seen when you compare the narrative bits from her wolf and her normal point of view. Apart from this fascinating internal conflict, there's the external conflict and mystery.
While this book started as a mystery, the mystery ended up taking a seat as the book dove into twists and turns that result from Allison's contact with the Inquisition. The Inquisition is, as far as I can tell, a former "employer" of Allison's and they're ruthless. We're introduced to some key characters of the Inquisition, but I desperately want more information about them. I also want more about Allison's background. For example, why do some characters call her 'Lady Hanover'?
I honestly loved this book. It was a tightly written and well-paced book. Though there was a varied cast of characters, they all felt real to me, and I think enough focus was kept on Allison as the main character. There are some very interesting relationship developments which I'll be eagerly anticipating in the next book. At least, I hope there's a next book. This is a wonderfully crafted world and I love it!
I've really got to get me an Amazon card so I can go buy more of R.J's books.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. Believe me, the gushing is real and heartfelt.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
May 29, 2014
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
In order to do a friend/client a favor Allison goes to NYC against her better instincts and that’s when the caca hits the fan. It’s Halloween and there’s a full moon. You see, Allison is not just a mild-mannered accountant. She is a werewolf, a rogue werewolf at that. But that’s not her only secret. In order to protect her secrets she has to ditch Allison and become someone else. Luckily, she’s had plenty of practice at that over the years. However, her troubles are only just beginning and she needs to unearth the enemy before the enemy gets their slimy hands on her. Because they don’t want her dead. They want her very much alive. And when an enemy wants you alive, it can’t be a good thing.
This is an interesting take on the world of the paranormal. Werewolves and their origins are a bit different in this tale. The need to stay ahead of the enemy creates suspense, but I had some problems with the execution of the story. It’s a bit choppy in spots leaving holes and there were so many twists and turns that I had a hard time keeping up. Her secrets are interesting and creative. But I felt that her age was insignificant. Everyone in the story thought she was so old and I was left thinking that 170 yrs was not very impressive at all. Maybe a zero was edited out. 1700 yrs would have been much more impressive and made more sense in regards to some things that were talked about. Even though the story didn’t feel fleshed out well enough, for the most part I did enjoy Allison/Victoria’s story and I liked how she was a take charge kind of person. I especially liked when she was a wolf. I’m wondering if the author is planning on making this a series or if this is a standalone novel.
In order to do a friend/client a favor Allison goes to NYC against her better instincts and that’s when the caca hits the fan. It’s Halloween and there’s a full moon. You see, Allison is not just a mild-mannered accountant. She is a werewolf, a rogue werewolf at that. But that’s not her only secret. In order to protect her secrets she has to ditch Allison and become someone else. Luckily, she’s had plenty of practice at that over the years. However, her troubles are only just beginning and she needs to unearth the enemy before the enemy gets their slimy hands on her. Because they don’t want her dead. They want her very much alive. And when an enemy wants you alive, it can’t be a good thing.
This is an interesting take on the world of the paranormal. Werewolves and their origins are a bit different in this tale. The need to stay ahead of the enemy creates suspense, but I had some problems with the execution of the story. It’s a bit choppy in spots leaving holes and there were so many twists and turns that I had a hard time keeping up. Her secrets are interesting and creative. But I felt that her age was insignificant. Everyone in the story thought she was so old and I was left thinking that 170 yrs was not very impressive at all. Maybe a zero was edited out. 1700 yrs would have been much more impressive and made more sense in regards to some things that were talked about. Even though the story didn’t feel fleshed out well enough, for the most part I did enjoy Allison/Victoria’s story and I liked how she was a take charge kind of person. I especially liked when she was a wolf. I’m wondering if the author is planning on making this a series or if this is a standalone novel.
May 20, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
I’m not overly fond of werewolves, but I decided to pick up Inquisitor anyway, and I’m glad I did. What lured me in about the premise was the murder mystery, and how the main character gets accused of a crime she didn’t commit. I love a good murder mystery, and if you throw in false accusations, and paranormal creatures, then I’m all ears.
While the murders are the red wire throughout the book – if Allison doesn’t solve them, she’ll get executed, because people believe she commited the murders – there’s plenty of other stuff going on. To top off the string of murders, all of the victims are werewolves.
Also, there aren’t just werewolves. Think witches, shamans, weather magic, basically anything you can possibly think of. R.J. Blain has established a fantasy world with diverse characters, an intriguing setting, and a solid main character – and I hope there will be plenty of other adventures in this world, because the world building truly impressed me.
Allison is an easy character to relate to. She’s strong, determined, intelligent, witty, and the ideal person to solve these murders. She’s the kind of heroine one can’t help but look up to.
On the downside, some parts of the book were a little confusing, and while the writing was strong, I think it could’ve been a little tighter.
A solid urban fantasy novel though, and great for all fans of the genre.
I’m not overly fond of werewolves, but I decided to pick up Inquisitor anyway, and I’m glad I did. What lured me in about the premise was the murder mystery, and how the main character gets accused of a crime she didn’t commit. I love a good murder mystery, and if you throw in false accusations, and paranormal creatures, then I’m all ears.
While the murders are the red wire throughout the book – if Allison doesn’t solve them, she’ll get executed, because people believe she commited the murders – there’s plenty of other stuff going on. To top off the string of murders, all of the victims are werewolves.
Also, there aren’t just werewolves. Think witches, shamans, weather magic, basically anything you can possibly think of. R.J. Blain has established a fantasy world with diverse characters, an intriguing setting, and a solid main character – and I hope there will be plenty of other adventures in this world, because the world building truly impressed me.
Allison is an easy character to relate to. She’s strong, determined, intelligent, witty, and the ideal person to solve these murders. She’s the kind of heroine one can’t help but look up to.
On the downside, some parts of the book were a little confusing, and while the writing was strong, I think it could’ve been a little tighter.
A solid urban fantasy novel though, and great for all fans of the genre.
May 1, 2014
Inquisitor is the first book by RJ Blain that I have read. I wasn't sure what to expect but I liked the cover and have heard RJ Blain talk about the process of writing Inquisitor over on google+.
I decided to try the book, and it has held me captive since.
The first chapter, set at a Halloween party lured me in making me ask lots of questions about the main character, a werewolf witch, who lives in the USA. The story is told through her eyes and she makes for a believable character. I was left hoping that she really exists in a strange parallel world, and that people like her, (personality, not necessarily the werewolf part) exist.
I don't want to say too much about the twists and turns of the book, as I don't want to spoil anyone's enjoyment of trying to work out what is going on. I was constantly kept guessing about what would happen next and more importantly who was responsible. The ending was superb and I was genuinely surprised. In fact I am still slightly reeling from a final reveal that I didn't see coming but makes perfect sense.
A truly captivating adventure, that should come with a warning, it is truly an unputdownable page turner.
I decided to try the book, and it has held me captive since.
The first chapter, set at a Halloween party lured me in making me ask lots of questions about the main character, a werewolf witch, who lives in the USA. The story is told through her eyes and she makes for a believable character. I was left hoping that she really exists in a strange parallel world, and that people like her, (personality, not necessarily the werewolf part) exist.
I don't want to say too much about the twists and turns of the book, as I don't want to spoil anyone's enjoyment of trying to work out what is going on. I was constantly kept guessing about what would happen next and more importantly who was responsible. The ending was superb and I was genuinely surprised. In fact I am still slightly reeling from a final reveal that I didn't see coming but makes perfect sense.
A truly captivating adventure, that should come with a warning, it is truly an unputdownable page turner.
November 20, 2015
Editing would help this book. Is the plot to solve a mystery or show off how rich and clever the witch/wolf is? Pointless , this book is pointless. Fact checking, plot building, and critical thinking would help.
May 20, 2014
** As posted on KindleObsessed blog **
In the last two weeks I have written 7 reviews. And with each, I feel as if I have become harsher and harsher with my critiques. Poor writing, fractured plots, unrelatable characters, whatever the flaw, I can’t help but blast it with my negativity stick until it no longer resembles a novel but more a pile of alphabetical ash. This makes reviewing hard. It makes reading even harder.
Let me ask you a question…
Have you ever had the displeasure of being in a book slump? Well…if you haven’t let me be the first to tell you, it sucks. Reading is what I LOVE. It’s (ultimately) a passion I cannot explain with words. They are, simply put, inadequate. But the thing about book slumps, you’ll never get past them without a book in your hand. You must read to be freed. And sometimes that means stepping back into comfortable shoes.
For those of you that follow my reviews you might have noticed a significant decline in my attention to paranormal/fantasy fiction. It’s not something I admit easily, but I was bored stiff with it. (Aka: I felt like I was reading on rewind.) Recently I’ve started to feel the same about other genres, which got me thinking…
Maybe it’s time to revisit my past. So I agreed to read RJ Blain’s Urban Fantasy (witch and wolf novel) “Inquisitor.” The synopsis included everything I used to hold dear. Deceit, intrigue, love and the unknown. And if judging by the rather obnoxious screaming in my head, these were qualities I needed back in my literary life.
Which brings me to the book itself. Did “Inquisitor” propel me out of my hole of doom? The answer…
Yes.
"When Allison is asked to play Cinderella-turned-Fiancée at a Halloween ball, the last thing she expected was to be accused of murder on the same night. She has to find the killer or she’ll be put to death for the crimes she didn’t commit. To make matters worse, the victims are all werewolves.
On the short list of potential victims, Allison has to act fast, or the killer will have one more body to add to his little black book of corpses.
There’s only one problem: One of the deaths has struck too close to home, and Allison’s desire for self-preservation may transform into a quest for vengeance…"
Unlike anything I’ve read lately “Inquisitor” was the perfect mix of mystery and snark. Victoria (or Allison depending on which part of the story you are at) is a 100+ year old witch/wolf hybrid. Living (unfortunately as it may be) in a world where her kind is being quickly (and quite grotesquely) eradicated by a secret society of uber evil wolves and witches. (Doesn’t seem entirely fair does it?) The ENTIRE PLOT revolves around these two facts. 1) Vicki is on the run. 2) People are trying to ax her. But the intoxicating part of the novel comes not from the facts, but the details in how she manages to survive. (From faking her own death to disappearing into her wolf form.) But it’s not as easy as it sounds. (If indeed that sounded easy.)
Why?
Because no one is who they appear to be.
From the two young children she adopts to the person she depends on for her financial affairs, they all wear masks. Admittedly, I was convinced more than once I had the story all worked out, only to find my mind blown in the last chapter. Which (thankfully) can only attest to Blain’s stellar ability to character build.
Though most of the novel’s characters took on multiple personalities (at one time or another) each was well crafted and…wait for it…believable in their emotions. (Something I have been severely lacking lately.)
I did find a few flaws though. For example, I wish there had been a broader explanation of Vickie’s original involvement with the Inquisition. I wish the relationship between her and Mark had been more than a few rough paragraphs. I wish James had been more actively involved. (If for no other reason than he was a cool character to follow.) But at the end of the day none of these were deal breakers. As a matter of fact, I’m certain most of these things will be expanded upon in book 2. (I just can’t go one review with out nagging, it seems.)
In the end, I really liked this book. So much so that I started, and finished it’s 478 pages in one day.
It’s feels original, flows well, and offers up a enough non-stop action to keep any mystery lover alive and kicking. I will definitely be picking up book two. My advice to you? Pick up book 1.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Looks can be deceiving.
In the last two weeks I have written 7 reviews. And with each, I feel as if I have become harsher and harsher with my critiques. Poor writing, fractured plots, unrelatable characters, whatever the flaw, I can’t help but blast it with my negativity stick until it no longer resembles a novel but more a pile of alphabetical ash. This makes reviewing hard. It makes reading even harder.
Let me ask you a question…
Have you ever had the displeasure of being in a book slump? Well…if you haven’t let me be the first to tell you, it sucks. Reading is what I LOVE. It’s (ultimately) a passion I cannot explain with words. They are, simply put, inadequate. But the thing about book slumps, you’ll never get past them without a book in your hand. You must read to be freed. And sometimes that means stepping back into comfortable shoes.
For those of you that follow my reviews you might have noticed a significant decline in my attention to paranormal/fantasy fiction. It’s not something I admit easily, but I was bored stiff with it. (Aka: I felt like I was reading on rewind.) Recently I’ve started to feel the same about other genres, which got me thinking…
Maybe it’s time to revisit my past. So I agreed to read RJ Blain’s Urban Fantasy (witch and wolf novel) “Inquisitor.” The synopsis included everything I used to hold dear. Deceit, intrigue, love and the unknown. And if judging by the rather obnoxious screaming in my head, these were qualities I needed back in my literary life.
Which brings me to the book itself. Did “Inquisitor” propel me out of my hole of doom? The answer…
Yes.
"When Allison is asked to play Cinderella-turned-Fiancée at a Halloween ball, the last thing she expected was to be accused of murder on the same night. She has to find the killer or she’ll be put to death for the crimes she didn’t commit. To make matters worse, the victims are all werewolves.
On the short list of potential victims, Allison has to act fast, or the killer will have one more body to add to his little black book of corpses.
There’s only one problem: One of the deaths has struck too close to home, and Allison’s desire for self-preservation may transform into a quest for vengeance…"
Unlike anything I’ve read lately “Inquisitor” was the perfect mix of mystery and snark. Victoria (or Allison depending on which part of the story you are at) is a 100+ year old witch/wolf hybrid. Living (unfortunately as it may be) in a world where her kind is being quickly (and quite grotesquely) eradicated by a secret society of uber evil wolves and witches. (Doesn’t seem entirely fair does it?) The ENTIRE PLOT revolves around these two facts. 1) Vicki is on the run. 2) People are trying to ax her. But the intoxicating part of the novel comes not from the facts, but the details in how she manages to survive. (From faking her own death to disappearing into her wolf form.) But it’s not as easy as it sounds. (If indeed that sounded easy.)
Why?
Because no one is who they appear to be.
From the two young children she adopts to the person she depends on for her financial affairs, they all wear masks. Admittedly, I was convinced more than once I had the story all worked out, only to find my mind blown in the last chapter. Which (thankfully) can only attest to Blain’s stellar ability to character build.
Though most of the novel’s characters took on multiple personalities (at one time or another) each was well crafted and…wait for it…believable in their emotions. (Something I have been severely lacking lately.)
I did find a few flaws though. For example, I wish there had been a broader explanation of Vickie’s original involvement with the Inquisition. I wish the relationship between her and Mark had been more than a few rough paragraphs. I wish James had been more actively involved. (If for no other reason than he was a cool character to follow.) But at the end of the day none of these were deal breakers. As a matter of fact, I’m certain most of these things will be expanded upon in book 2. (I just can’t go one review with out nagging, it seems.)
In the end, I really liked this book. So much so that I started, and finished it’s 478 pages in one day.
It’s feels original, flows well, and offers up a enough non-stop action to keep any mystery lover alive and kicking. I will definitely be picking up book two. My advice to you? Pick up book 1.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Looks can be deceiving.
September 17, 2016
Great Read,,
This is the second book of this author's that I have read.. I read the first one twice back to back..lol...though Inquisitor and Winter Witch had different voices, they both pulled me in and kept me enthralled throughout..I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the Mercy Thompson books.
This is the second book of this author's that I have read.. I read the first one twice back to back..lol...though Inquisitor and Winter Witch had different voices, they both pulled me in and kept me enthralled throughout..I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the Mercy Thompson books.
May 22, 2014
I haven't heard of RJ Blain before. But the moment I read the blurb, I know I just have to read this book.
If you're a fan of Urban Fantasy, werewolves, and witches then Inquisitor is a must read for you. It's fast-paced, action-packed with just a very, very, little hint at romance. I could have given it 5 stars but there were some inconsistencies that I felt should have been dealt with. Other than that, the book is really entertaining.
This is the second book I read in a row that deals with werewolves and witches and I'm glad they both didn't stick with the usual formula for the subgenre. In Inquisitor Blain added some interesting info adding uniqueness to the story. A werewolf allergic to all dogs is pretty hilarious. And a werewolf-witch as the heroine is an interesting character. Story-wise, I love the plot. It has mystery, action, and some humor. I love how the story didn't focus on Romance. It just doesn't have a place in this book.
I'm having some problems with the characters. They weren't consistent for me. I'm still thinking about what happened to Officer Marten. And if Donnie is connected to the Inquisitors since he sent James to Victoria. And a lot more questions that would be spoilers if I post them here.
I'm giving Inquisitor 4 stars. It was entertaining and fun to read. The story is a 5'er but I deducted a pair of wings for the characters.
My recommendation goes to all Urban Fantasy, paranormal fantasy, werewolves, and witches fans. I encourage you to read Inquisitor. It's worth your time!
If you're a fan of Urban Fantasy, werewolves, and witches then Inquisitor is a must read for you. It's fast-paced, action-packed with just a very, very, little hint at romance. I could have given it 5 stars but there were some inconsistencies that I felt should have been dealt with. Other than that, the book is really entertaining.
This is the second book I read in a row that deals with werewolves and witches and I'm glad they both didn't stick with the usual formula for the subgenre. In Inquisitor Blain added some interesting info adding uniqueness to the story. A werewolf allergic to all dogs is pretty hilarious. And a werewolf-witch as the heroine is an interesting character. Story-wise, I love the plot. It has mystery, action, and some humor. I love how the story didn't focus on Romance. It just doesn't have a place in this book.
I'm having some problems with the characters. They weren't consistent for me. I'm still thinking about what happened to Officer Marten. And if Donnie is connected to the Inquisitors since he sent James to Victoria. And a lot more questions that would be spoilers if I post them here.
I'm giving Inquisitor 4 stars. It was entertaining and fun to read. The story is a 5'er but I deducted a pair of wings for the characters.
My recommendation goes to all Urban Fantasy, paranormal fantasy, werewolves, and witches fans. I encourage you to read Inquisitor. It's worth your time!
April 28, 2015
22.4.2015 - 4*
Ta knížka mě překvapila. Hodně. Sáhla jsem po ní ze zvědavosti, hledala jsem nějaký druh knihy a netušila jaký, a tahle kniha si mě hned od prvních stran získala.
Je to paranormálka, možná i urbanka, jsou tam vlkodlaci a čarodějnice, ale je toho o tolik více. Svět je zatraceně propracovaný a hlavně je jiný, než všechny ostatní urbanky. Pokud jste četli Others od Anne Bishop, měla jsem z této knihy podobný pocit. Ta atmosféra cizosti, která z vlkodlaků a jiných ne-lidí dělá přesně to - nelidi.
Děj byl skvělý. Byl překvapivý, postupem děje jsme se dozvídali stále nová fakta a objevovaly se zvraty, které jsem nečekala. Občas byl příběh trochu zvláštní, až trochu absurdní, a druhá polovina knihy byla lehce chaotická a každá postava se zdála osvojit si zvláštní zlozvyk, který nebudu prozrazovat (hehe), ale všechno vynahradily postavy. Lépe řečeno hlavně hlavní hrdinka. Která sama za sebe měla tolik tajemství, která sypala z rukávu a já jen čekala, s čím se vytasí příště.
Líbilo se mi to, hodně, protože hlavní hrdinka byla skvělá. Typ postavy, který mi sedl, byla rozumná, odhodlaná a měla skvěle propracovaný charakter. Strašně se mi líbila atmosféra knihy, pocit beznaděje a tísně, když se vše sypalo, ale taky naděje a odhodlanosti, když hrdinka bojovala. Plus za propracovanost pozadí. Jeho originálnost a jedinečnost. Líbil se mi děj, který mě nakonec zatraceně překvapil. A obálka je úžasná. .)
Ta knížka mě překvapila. Hodně. Sáhla jsem po ní ze zvědavosti, hledala jsem nějaký druh knihy a netušila jaký, a tahle kniha si mě hned od prvních stran získala.
Je to paranormálka, možná i urbanka, jsou tam vlkodlaci a čarodějnice, ale je toho o tolik více. Svět je zatraceně propracovaný a hlavně je jiný, než všechny ostatní urbanky. Pokud jste četli Others od Anne Bishop, měla jsem z této knihy podobný pocit. Ta atmosféra cizosti, která z vlkodlaků a jiných ne-lidí dělá přesně to - nelidi.
Děj byl skvělý. Byl překvapivý, postupem děje jsme se dozvídali stále nová fakta a objevovaly se zvraty, které jsem nečekala. Občas byl příběh trochu zvláštní, až trochu absurdní, a druhá polovina knihy byla lehce chaotická a každá postava se zdála osvojit si zvláštní zlozvyk, který nebudu prozrazovat (hehe), ale všechno vynahradily postavy. Lépe řečeno hlavně hlavní hrdinka. Která sama za sebe měla tolik tajemství, která sypala z rukávu a já jen čekala, s čím se vytasí příště.
Líbilo se mi to, hodně, protože hlavní hrdinka byla skvělá. Typ postavy, který mi sedl, byla rozumná, odhodlaná a měla skvěle propracovaný charakter. Strašně se mi líbila atmosféra knihy, pocit beznaděje a tísně, když se vše sypalo, ale taky naděje a odhodlanosti, když hrdinka bojovala. Plus za propracovanost pozadí. Jeho originálnost a jedinečnost. Líbil se mi děj, který mě nakonec zatraceně překvapil. A obálka je úžasná. .)
July 10, 2014
I have never rated a book before I finished, but the only thing Blain could do to change that 5 stars would be to kill everyone with an Earth destroying comet at the end of Inquisitor. I LOVE this book, and I love Shimmer!
I found Inquisitor by looking at the books Amazon 'recommends' based on my browsing history. Then I pushed that infernal 'try a sample' button, and I was lost. I have been trying to come up with a genre description for this book. If Alistair Maclean, Rob Thurman and Rhiannon Held had a love child, it might be Inquisitor. To call Inquisitor urban fantasy downplays the 'spy thriller' twistiness of the plot. Bad things happen, betrayal seems to be on everyone's Word of the Day calendar, and I shed tears for Vickie and her people. This book is not daisies, love, and sunshine. Vicky has been alive a long time, and she is tired and has suffered. Inquisitor has snarky humor, kindness, puppies, and brilliant plot twists that I never saw coming.
R.J. Blain has a fundraising effort to produce the next three Witch and Wolf books. Book #4 will again feature Vicky. I wish all the books were about this amazing woman, but I am certain Blain's other characters will grab my interest. I may not be able to help her Indiegogo campaign, but I do highly recommend this amazing book.
I found Inquisitor by looking at the books Amazon 'recommends' based on my browsing history. Then I pushed that infernal 'try a sample' button, and I was lost. I have been trying to come up with a genre description for this book. If Alistair Maclean, Rob Thurman and Rhiannon Held had a love child, it might be Inquisitor. To call Inquisitor urban fantasy downplays the 'spy thriller' twistiness of the plot. Bad things happen, betrayal seems to be on everyone's Word of the Day calendar, and I shed tears for Vickie and her people. This book is not daisies, love, and sunshine. Vicky has been alive a long time, and she is tired and has suffered. Inquisitor has snarky humor, kindness, puppies, and brilliant plot twists that I never saw coming.
R.J. Blain has a fundraising effort to produce the next three Witch and Wolf books. Book #4 will again feature Vicky. I wish all the books were about this amazing woman, but I am certain Blain's other characters will grab my interest. I may not be able to help her Indiegogo campaign, but I do highly recommend this amazing book.
April 25, 2014
I saw this book in the early stages as an editor and spoke with RJ through her revisions.
So - this book based on plot, character development, and overall style (things you don't change as an editor) is 4.5 stars for me.
Plot - fast paced, action packed, and full of mystery. It keeps you on your toes as a reader, trying to put together the pieces as Allison does.
Characters - this is the half star remover for me. RJ knows I like my MCs to be almost overly emotional, but she continues to write strong characters where they are mostly in control of their emotions. But Allison's daily struggles are real, and when she needs to feel it she does.
I should mention that the side characters are all well-developed. They make the story work with all their little intricacies.
Overall style - RJ is finding her stride as a writer and it's so fun to see her develop a better and better style as she goes.
So - this book based on plot, character development, and overall style (things you don't change as an editor) is 4.5 stars for me.
Plot - fast paced, action packed, and full of mystery. It keeps you on your toes as a reader, trying to put together the pieces as Allison does.
Characters - this is the half star remover for me. RJ knows I like my MCs to be almost overly emotional, but she continues to write strong characters where they are mostly in control of their emotions. But Allison's daily struggles are real, and when she needs to feel it she does.
I should mention that the side characters are all well-developed. They make the story work with all their little intricacies.
Overall style - RJ is finding her stride as a writer and it's so fun to see her develop a better and better style as she goes.
May 19, 2014
I received this book from the author, and from Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock. Allison is a rogue wolf-witch always on the run from the inquisition. During a halloween party Allison is attending, a murder is committed for which she is the most likely suspect. On the run and with more murders happening around her Allison tries to work out who is behind them before the inquisition find her.
I found this book really enjoyable. Whilst reasonably long in length the book moved forward at a good pace and the author created great characters to get involved with. R.J Blain provides twist upon twist upon twist to keep you reading until the very end, keeping you guessing all the way through.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal mystery that will keep you on your toes.
I'm giving this book 5 fangs.
August 9, 2014
This was, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst book I have read in a very long time. The characters were weak at best and shallow outlines at worst. The entire plot was nothing more than a fractured day dream for the author to slip into and pretend they had everything. The world had some glimpses of potential but they were overshadowed by the huge number spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. I had to reread multiple sentences to try and figure out what they were supposed to say.
July 11, 2015
The main character seemed like different people, the plot seemed to change on a dime, the secondary characters were all over the place, half the time I was confused and the other half I probably just didn't realize I was confused, and pretty much no one is as they seem...more than once. However, the story is not a mess! I enjoyed it! And I couldn't put it down!
November 13, 2017
Definitely 3.67 on Amazon, but I can't round up when I'm left unclear on certain points
Allison/Victoria is a fascinating character, with good traits and dangerous ones, with some *ahem* cool abilities that can fall on either side, but also self-doubts and painful memories. Parts of her past are deliberately cryptic, and possibly will be further revealed in later stories, as may the fates of certain secondary and as-yet minor characters. That's not what I was referring to in my headline when I said I ended the book with some confusions remaining.
The world is interesting, but with no real black and white. Werewolves can forget their own humanity, and become deadly, and some packs permit abuses, especially re. lack of choice. Yet the Inquisition, theoretically exercising control and justice over rogue weres as well as rogue witches and warlocks, is worse, with many members guided more by hatred of the "unnatural" beings and its consequent ruthlessness than by doing what's right, and their demands for obedience are even more absolute.
There are multiple twists, including some upsetting ones, and surprises re. what faction has someone's loyalty, or has them under its control. But there seemed some inconsistencies re. cause vs. effect, and re. hierarchy. Although illusions made it more complicated to keep track of, I don't think I'm wrong. E.g., Did I miss something?
I found myself gripped all the way through, eager to know what would happen next. The style is neither too simplistic nor too descriptive, and the interactions and dialogue felt believable for these characterrs — i.e., lots of subtext, etcetera. I marked about half a dozen minor errors that got past the proofreader, but nothing serious. I do wish there were clearer answers re. justice, vengeance, and forgiveness in the end. How much can "They made me do it!" really cover? — though Victoria has seen that guilt from both sides, and some doing the Inquisition's will were misled. I *am* planning to continue with the series, and I've really enjoyed some bonus vignettes and short stories available to subscribers that I went ahead and read, despite not yet having the full context for them.
Allison/Victoria is a fascinating character, with good traits and dangerous ones, with some *ahem* cool abilities that can fall on either side, but also self-doubts and painful memories. Parts of her past are deliberately cryptic, and possibly will be further revealed in later stories, as may the fates of certain secondary and as-yet minor characters. That's not what I was referring to in my headline when I said I ended the book with some confusions remaining.
The world is interesting, but with no real black and white. Werewolves can forget their own humanity, and become deadly, and some packs permit abuses, especially re. lack of choice. Yet the Inquisition, theoretically exercising control and justice over rogue weres as well as rogue witches and warlocks, is worse, with many members guided more by hatred of the "unnatural" beings and its consequent ruthlessness than by doing what's right, and their demands for obedience are even more absolute.
There are multiple twists, including some upsetting ones, and surprises re. what faction has someone's loyalty, or has them under its control. But there seemed some inconsistencies re. cause vs. effect, and re. hierarchy. Although illusions made it more complicated to keep track of, I don't think I'm wrong. E.g., Did I miss something?
I found myself gripped all the way through, eager to know what would happen next. The style is neither too simplistic nor too descriptive, and the interactions and dialogue felt believable for these characterrs — i.e., lots of subtext, etcetera. I marked about half a dozen minor errors that got past the proofreader, but nothing serious. I do wish there were clearer answers re. justice, vengeance, and forgiveness in the end. How much can "They made me do it!" really cover? — though Victoria has seen that guilt from both sides, and some doing the Inquisition's will were misled. I *am* planning to continue with the series, and I've really enjoyed some bonus vignettes and short stories available to subscribers that I went ahead and read, despite not yet having the full context for them.
December 30, 2017
I read several books by this author back-to-back. This series is good, but not as silly as the Magical Romantic Comedy series I loved. I noticed in the first two books of this series that they suffered from editorial issues at the conclusion. The author tends to throw a bunch of surprises in at the end, and sometimes has to write an epilogue to explain what just happened. There are writing techniques to foreshadow more of that info, and some of the twists and turns could be smoothed out so they don't give the reader whiplash. This world is also pretty harsh - there are a lot of people killed. The characters are very well written, though, and there's levity in their world views, so it's still a fun read.
The first book in the series set up the Inquisition as the bad guys. This one will have you questioning that a bit. And the epilogue I mentioned is for this book. Premise: would-be starlet and child of an old werewolf has become a wizard, which is a shoot-on-sight sort of magical. She's a good wizard, though, and in hiding from the Inquisition. Then someone explodes near her in a bookstore. She didn't do it though. Why is everything going wrong around her??
The first book in the series set up the Inquisition as the bad guys. This one will have you questioning that a bit. And the epilogue I mentioned is for this book. Premise: would-be starlet and child of an old werewolf has become a wizard, which is a shoot-on-sight sort of magical. She's a good wizard, though, and in hiding from the Inquisition. Then someone explodes near her in a bookstore. She didn't do it though. Why is everything going wrong around her??
September 26, 2020
A friend of Allison has asked her to come to New York to meet his mother and pretend to be his fianceé. Mark’s mother has set him up to marry someone else, someone he has no intentions of marring. He thinks if he introduces his mother to his fianceé she will accept it and leave him alone.
Sometime after arriving at the Halloween ball Allison learns that someone is killing werewolves and she has been framed for their murders. Allison must find out who is killing the werewolves and why they want to place the blame on her before she becomes the next one on the list.
Inquisitor will keep you on your toes trying to guess who is trying to kill all the werewolves and why. As the story plays out and turn after turn is revealed that left me very, very surprised when the truth finally came out. I was like no way with a smile on face. There was plenty of action between the pages to keep the story rolling and keep me glued until the very end wanting to know how it all turned out.
I would recommend Inquisitor to all werewolves, witches and the paranormal fans. One click your copy of Inquisitor today!
Sometime after arriving at the Halloween ball Allison learns that someone is killing werewolves and she has been framed for their murders. Allison must find out who is killing the werewolves and why they want to place the blame on her before she becomes the next one on the list.
Inquisitor will keep you on your toes trying to guess who is trying to kill all the werewolves and why. As the story plays out and turn after turn is revealed that left me very, very surprised when the truth finally came out. I was like no way with a smile on face. There was plenty of action between the pages to keep the story rolling and keep me glued until the very end wanting to know how it all turned out.
I would recommend Inquisitor to all werewolves, witches and the paranormal fans. One click your copy of Inquisitor today!
June 11, 2021
I like reading series in order, generally, in the order in which the books were written, since that's usually the way in which the author envisions the story. That seems to be a problem with this series - Goodreads says Winter Wolf comes first, while Fiction DB says Inquisitor comes first.
I decided to go with Fiction DB and read this first. I'll try to let you know if that worked.
I had no idea what to expect from this book. My previous experience with Blain was with her romantic comedy series, and I knew this wouldn't be that. It's neither a romance, nor a comedy, although it has some romantic elements. This is a different, darker, universe, and one isn't quite certain who are the good guys, and who the bad. About the only criticism I have, and it's almost a universal thing - it really bothers me when there's a character who is an excellent judge of character, but the bad guys manage to fool them. Especially if that judgement is aided by actual powers.
I decided to go with Fiction DB and read this first. I'll try to let you know if that worked.
I had no idea what to expect from this book. My previous experience with Blain was with her romantic comedy series, and I knew this wouldn't be that. It's neither a romance, nor a comedy, although it has some romantic elements. This is a different, darker, universe, and one isn't quite certain who are the good guys, and who the bad. About the only criticism I have, and it's almost a universal thing - it really bothers me when there's a character who is an excellent judge of character, but the bad guys manage to fool them. Especially if that judgement is aided by actual powers.
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