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Shadows of Salem #1
Shadow Born
Brooke is no stranger to the supernatural. In Chicago, vampires are just as prevalent as drug lords, and infinitely more bloodthirsty. So when her partner and fianc� dies in a mysterious fire while chasing down a lead in Salem, she suspects something dark and otherworldly is at play. Blessed with the ability to see into the past by touching inanimate objects, Brooke transfers to the Salem PD, hoping her talent will help her get to the bottom of things. Between dodging assassination attempts and being stonewalled at every turn, the going is tough. Add in a mysterious fae club owner with secrets of his own and a personal grudge against her, and it becomes nearly impossible. If Brooke wants to play in the supernatural sandbox, she's going to have to roll up her sleeves and get dirty. But how many people will have to die for Brooke to discover the truth about her fianc�? And is she even ready to know?
1 pages, Audio CD
First published August 16, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
August 18, 2016
This book was rough. I had to really push myself to finish it. The heroine annoyed me enough that I thought about stopping 1/4 of the way through. She's so angry, which yes, her fiancé did just die, but does she have anything else to her? There was one point where she gets mad at her partner for not remembering her fiancé, but then thinks he might have been influenced by a memory wipe, BUT decides he's keeping things from her because he's lying to her. This all makes sense, right?
I don't know if I'll be reading the rest of this series. The world building is shaky and I don't know if it's worth investing in.
I don't know if I'll be reading the rest of this series. The world building is shaky and I don't know if it's worth investing in.
August 16, 2016
It's not easy writing a UF novel in such a crowded field. Let's take it into account when judging this new series :)
There's some nice freshness and some cliché I could do without. Overall I'm not pleased when the heroine plays the stupid character and I know more than she does. She jumps into situations without much thoughts. She's not TSTL, at all I believe, but the fact she is ignorant and doesn't know much disturbs me. I blame the author, if you play with classical world building, you have togive a strong reason why the characters don't know it. Uncle Oscar is not a reason good enough for me.
I also needed a different closure to Tom's story, but that's definitely me ;)
I'll try to follow my own piece of advice and I will be lenient to Shadow Born. I did like it, with all its pitfall. I enjoyed the heroine and some of the plot. Let's see how the sequel will go.
There's some nice freshness and some cliché I could do without. Overall I'm not pleased when the heroine plays the stupid character and I know more than she does. She jumps into situations without much thoughts. She's not TSTL, at all I believe, but the fact she is ignorant and doesn't know much disturbs me. I blame the author, if you play with classical world building, you have togive a strong reason why the characters don't know it. Uncle Oscar is not a reason good enough for me.
I also needed a different closure to Tom's story, but that's definitely me ;)
I'll try to follow my own piece of advice and I will be lenient to Shadow Born. I did like it, with all its pitfall. I enjoyed the heroine and some of the plot. Let's see how the sequel will go.
November 24, 2018
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
An even-paced thriller with mystery and mayhem, irredeemable villains and fairly decent world-building. If the h, Brooke Chandler, is a bit TSTL at times, she makes up for with her loyalty and sheer grit. The last couple of chapters is where you get to see what Brooke is made of and I must say she did not disappoint me. The would-be love interest, Fae lord Maddock Tremaine, is sexy defined and ruthless in a way that is needed when dealing with psychopathic witches.
The plan is to read the audio version of this series for the next book since the storyline is steady enough and the characters interesting thus far. A new author for me and a different take on Salem and its history.
An even-paced thriller with mystery and mayhem, irredeemable villains and fairly decent world-building. If the h, Brooke Chandler, is a bit TSTL at times, she makes up for with her loyalty and sheer grit. The last couple of chapters is where you get to see what Brooke is made of and I must say she did not disappoint me. The would-be love interest, Fae lord Maddock Tremaine, is sexy defined and ruthless in a way that is needed when dealing with psychopathic witches.
The plan is to read the audio version of this series for the next book since the storyline is steady enough and the characters interesting thus far. A new author for me and a different take on Salem and its history.
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September 2, 2022
I make Elizabeth's review my own. But I do know I won't continue the series.
June 10, 2017
Review to come.
October 12, 2016
Brooke Chandler is a detective with a bit of something more. She can "read" memories with a touch. And she was raised to protect herself from Vampires.
Brooke ends up in Salem after the death of her partner & fiancee, Tom, who was working with Salem PD on an case. Kids were are going missing from the orphanage that Tom grew up in. Funny thing is the captain and the officer Brooke is paired with are giving her the run around. Something just doesn't add up.
I thought the MC, Brooke, was a bit of mess - but who wouldn't be in this situation. She seemed to be good at following the clues and breadcrumbs of the mystery. However, she also seemed inclined to do some very stupid stuff with the excuse that she didn't know who to trust.
Example: Instead of staying with her partner on a robbery bust, she runs off after an unrelated suspect, rushes into a nightclub with no backup and no way to inform her partner where she is and what she is doing. Of course this leads to her being caught by the man that runs the club, Lord Maddox Tremaine.
The instant attraction between Maddox & Brooke is obvious - even though Brooke tries to rationalize it away since the lose of her fiancee is so recent.
I was drawn into the world that Brooke and the other characters lived in and the pace of the action kept me reading.
Looking forward to seeing if Brooke relaxes into her character more in the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Author's copy of this book.
Brooke ends up in Salem after the death of her partner & fiancee, Tom, who was working with Salem PD on an case. Kids were are going missing from the orphanage that Tom grew up in. Funny thing is the captain and the officer Brooke is paired with are giving her the run around. Something just doesn't add up.
I thought the MC, Brooke, was a bit of mess - but who wouldn't be in this situation. She seemed to be good at following the clues and breadcrumbs of the mystery. However, she also seemed inclined to do some very stupid stuff with the excuse that she didn't know who to trust.
Example: Instead of staying with her partner on a robbery bust, she runs off after an unrelated suspect, rushes into a nightclub with no backup and no way to inform her partner where she is and what she is doing. Of course this leads to her being caught by the man that runs the club, Lord Maddox Tremaine.
The instant attraction between Maddox & Brooke is obvious - even though Brooke tries to rationalize it away since the lose of her fiancee is so recent.
I was drawn into the world that Brooke and the other characters lived in and the pace of the action kept me reading.
Looking forward to seeing if Brooke relaxes into her character more in the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Author's copy of this book.
August 10, 2016
Jasmine Walt gas written a superb paranormal romance with enough twists and turns to make you think you're on a Rollercoaster!! Brooke is a police detective who learns her fiancee has died in a fire in Salem, during what was supposed to be a missing persons investigation. Nothing adds up, so she quits her job in Chicago and heads to a new job as a detective on the Salem PD. Brooke knows that their are things that go bump in the night, after all her Uncle Oscar had taught her to kill vampires at an early age, what she didn't know that all of the other things you read about in books, like Fae, Witches, Wraith etc. All are real too and they are somehow involved in Tom's death. Using her own ability of touching things and seeing the past, Brooke is brought to a night club owned by Maddock Tremaine, a Fae lord, whose not happy to see Brooke again, even if Brook doesn't remember the first go round. This is a 5☆ book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages, until oops a few hours have passed and not only are you finished, but you want more, and you want it now !! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal, the heat level is mild, and completely appropriate for ages 15 and up, in my opinion. I recieved a gifted copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
July 26, 2016
I received a copy of this book in advance in exchange for an honest review!
What can I say about this book other then I loved it! I definitely can not wait for the next one. Brooke is no stranger to the supernatural and after her fiancé dies in mysterious circumstances she believes the two are somehow connected and finds herself in Salem.
I loved the character of Brooke because she was just so sassy! She knew how to handle herself and definitely didn't take no for an answer.
Maddock was just Maddock, with his sexy Scottish accent and good looks but there is more to him then meets the eyes as Brooke soon discovers.
If you like the supernatural be it vampires, witches or fae this is definitely a book for you.
What can I say about this book other then I loved it! I definitely can not wait for the next one. Brooke is no stranger to the supernatural and after her fiancé dies in mysterious circumstances she believes the two are somehow connected and finds herself in Salem.
I loved the character of Brooke because she was just so sassy! She knew how to handle herself and definitely didn't take no for an answer.
Maddock was just Maddock, with his sexy Scottish accent and good looks but there is more to him then meets the eyes as Brooke soon discovers.
If you like the supernatural be it vampires, witches or fae this is definitely a book for you.
June 29, 2016
Where do I start? This was my first book from either author, and I'm hooked; they have secured my loyalty with this one book. If you enjoy mystery, murder, and paranormal then this is a must read. If you enjoy Sarah J. Maas, Tim O'Rourke, Lynda O'Rourke, Amy Harmon, or Tara Brown (to name a few) then this should be first on your to be read list. I didn't know what to expect, and was overwhelmingly surprised. And the storytelling and plot; it kept my attention the whole way through, needing to know what would happen. I seriously hope there is a sequel or two in the works. I can't wait to read more!
August 21, 2020
Fun but nothing really out of the box.
Cop with hidden powers and a questionable past is working her local beat until tragedy strikes. The love of her life was killed. She has to rely on her wits-- and little to no knowledge of the supernatural world to uncover the truth.
She takes a trip to small town that happens to be an epicenter for magical beings looking for answers to her fiancés suspicious murder, and finds out more than she thought she would.
Oh and the "bad guy" of the town- who is shady- and powerful- is also like, really, really ridiculously good looking, and he has a surprising and irresistible sexual charm- however, he might just give her those answers she's been searching for.
Also, her family and the townsfolk are keeping secrets- plus a ancient group of baddies is giving her trouble- will she be able to handle the answers she discovers?
Yeah like I said- pretty standard fare- but its on KU so if this is your jam check it out.
Cop with hidden powers and a questionable past is working her local beat until tragedy strikes. The love of her life was killed. She has to rely on her wits-- and little to no knowledge of the supernatural world to uncover the truth.
She takes a trip to small town that happens to be an epicenter for magical beings looking for answers to her fiancés suspicious murder, and finds out more than she thought she would.
Oh and the "bad guy" of the town- who is shady- and powerful- is also like, really, really ridiculously good looking, and he has a surprising and irresistible sexual charm- however, he might just give her those answers she's been searching for.
Also, her family and the townsfolk are keeping secrets- plus a ancient group of baddies is giving her trouble- will she be able to handle the answers she discovers?
Yeah like I said- pretty standard fare- but its on KU so if this is your jam check it out.
August 18, 2016
Not worth your time...
Slow,boring and tedious w/a h who ran around shooting off her mouth 1st and asking questions later..... I started off thinking I might like this book but after a while her acting like a bit of an immature,impatient harpy on her worst day of the PMS w/all the tact of a brick up side the head got old fast .... Now if my review is attacked like almost every other review that wasn't a "glowing" 4 or 5 star rating ,some nitpicking over the tiniest of things like some being unsure as to which Salem this was,go head and be petty like that,but just like all the 4/5 star ppl I deeply,deeply disagree w/ we are ALL entitled to our own opinions and this is mine.... I started off liking the book but for me the h was a horrid immature shrew of a character and I wish she could have been killed off and replaced...
For .99 cents give a try if you want,maybe you'll like it or maybe you won't ,just feel free to make up your own mind....
I just had to get my feels off my chest soo I could move the n to hopefully something better... Has to be some hung better...
Slow,boring and tedious w/a h who ran around shooting off her mouth 1st and asking questions later..... I started off thinking I might like this book but after a while her acting like a bit of an immature,impatient harpy on her worst day of the PMS w/all the tact of a brick up side the head got old fast .... Now if my review is attacked like almost every other review that wasn't a "glowing" 4 or 5 star rating ,some nitpicking over the tiniest of things like some being unsure as to which Salem this was,go head and be petty like that,but just like all the 4/5 star ppl I deeply,deeply disagree w/ we are ALL entitled to our own opinions and this is mine.... I started off liking the book but for me the h was a horrid immature shrew of a character and I wish she could have been killed off and replaced...
For .99 cents give a try if you want,maybe you'll like it or maybe you won't ,just feel free to make up your own mind....
I just had to get my feels off my chest soo I could move the n to hopefully something better... Has to be some hung better...
December 11, 2016
I am stunned! This book was fantastic! Not only did I love the book, but I would even love an extra copy in paperback, just because it was so good. There was never a dull moment in this book. This book was packed with not only action, but paranormal and urban fantasy as well making it quite a fun read for me.
Everything that happened in the book was completely unexpected. The ending left me more than shocked, but also satisfied as well. The characters were very well built,as well as the world making the book feel very real, and satisfying to read. I know I should be in bed right now, but I could not put the book down. I am exhausted, and yet I stayed up just to savor one more minute with this book. I hate to have to say this but even when I chatted with my friend over the phone I still snuck a quick paragraph in, because the book was so addicting to read. I also snuck a quick paragraph in while cooking holiday fudge. Basically if I had to put it down I got really anxious and had to pick it up again.
Everything that happened in the book was completely unexpected. The ending left me more than shocked, but also satisfied as well. The characters were very well built,as well as the world making the book feel very real, and satisfying to read. I know I should be in bed right now, but I could not put the book down. I am exhausted, and yet I stayed up just to savor one more minute with this book. I hate to have to say this but even when I chatted with my friend over the phone I still snuck a quick paragraph in, because the book was so addicting to read. I also snuck a quick paragraph in while cooking holiday fudge. Basically if I had to put it down I got really anxious and had to pick it up again.
August 17, 2016
Brilliant! Shadow Born went beyond my expectations (and my expectations were already pretty high) from Jasmine Walt. I loved her other series, the Baine Chronicles, and thus was naturally interested in what else she had to write.
No disappointment whatsoever. None.
Shadow Born is an enthralling new world that is dirtier, grittier and sexier. Brooke is just trying to make things connect and she's ruthless. Paired with up Maddock and you've got a solid pair. I love police procedural stories when done right, and this book is definitely no exception.
A total must read while I wisftully wait until goddamn October for book two. Sigh.
No disappointment whatsoever. None.
Shadow Born is an enthralling new world that is dirtier, grittier and sexier. Brooke is just trying to make things connect and she's ruthless. Paired with up Maddock and you've got a solid pair. I love police procedural stories when done right, and this book is definitely no exception.
A total must read while I wisftully wait until goddamn October for book two. Sigh.
September 21, 2016
An AwEsOmE Book
Do you like detective stories? Well this is a great one! What about stories with old and new magic and all sorts of magical creatures? Well this book has plenty! The authors have done an excellent job at combining the two genres into one GREAT interesting book. I love Brooke and learned to love Maddock. I was surprised by Tom and the Father. This book had me guessing until the end. But wait.....this is part of a series so the fun doesn't stop here. I look forward to reading the next book. I recommend this book as an excellent read.
Do you like detective stories? Well this is a great one! What about stories with old and new magic and all sorts of magical creatures? Well this book has plenty! The authors have done an excellent job at combining the two genres into one GREAT interesting book. I love Brooke and learned to love Maddock. I was surprised by Tom and the Father. This book had me guessing until the end. But wait.....this is part of a series so the fun doesn't stop here. I look forward to reading the next book. I recommend this book as an excellent read.
July 10, 2016
* I received an advanced copy of this book for review and an honest opinion*
Brooke is a Chicago police detective that has transferred to Salem to investigate the murder of her fiancé. I loved the mystery, I'm a reader that normally knows what is about to happen in any every book I've read and let me tell you this book kept me guessing. I loved the world building and the determination in Brooke. I am patiently waiting for book 2... Ok maybe not patiently but I am waiting...
Brooke is a Chicago police detective that has transferred to Salem to investigate the murder of her fiancé. I loved the mystery, I'm a reader that normally knows what is about to happen in any every book I've read and let me tell you this book kept me guessing. I loved the world building and the determination in Brooke. I am patiently waiting for book 2... Ok maybe not patiently but I am waiting...
June 21, 2016
A big Thank you to Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton for the ARC for my honest review.
NO spoilers....but I think everyone will love this series!!!
Hmmm...it has it all, suspense, romance, mystery and even some mayhem. Characters have charisma and chemistry. Just a pure fun read. Let me know what you think!!
NO spoilers....but I think everyone will love this series!!!
Hmmm...it has it all, suspense, romance, mystery and even some mayhem. Characters have charisma and chemistry. Just a pure fun read. Let me know what you think!!
October 13, 2024
3.5 rounded down to 3
In the first of the series, Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton shows you never know who lurks in the shadows in both your present and the past:
Brooke knows that the supernatural exist and while during the day she works as a Chicago PD Detective by night she is a Vampire hunter along with her Fiancé. When her Fiancé dies while tracking down a lead in Salem, she knows that something supernatural is at play. When Brooke arrives in Salem, she is not welcomed with open arms but she is hoping her special talent will help shed some light of Tom's last few days there. What Brooke doesn’t realize is that the darkness that is in and around Salem and her coming there she is going to have to get dirty.
I had not heard of Walt and Hamilton before but I’m always looking for UF series to delve into and hope that the authors are able to do something new and fresh with the series and I think that Walt and Hamilton were able to put some aspects in that I do not normally see in this Genre.
I loved that it was more Fae based, as I haven’t read too many Fae urban fantasy books, they tend take a sideline in UF to other more common creatures, like vampires, which are also featured in this book and not just side characters, you can tell that they are going to play major roles in future books.
Brooke was a good female character but as a detective she seemed quite reckless at times, and not doing enough questioning as she should be. Almost like just burst in their guns blazing when that is not always the answer. I just don’t understand with all the training she claims to have she uses very little of it. It also seemed like I as the reader knew more than the main character and this annoyed me. I found Brooke's ability to touch objects and see the impressions or last moments on them interesting, but it is something that I have read before.
I did not see one of the twists coming, i was stunned and it was awesome. One of the best aspects on the books, it takes a lot for me to not figure something out beforehand, so I applaud Walt and Hamilton for being able to do this.
I like that the world building was explained, did not drone on and was enough there for me to understand it but not take me out of the overall story.
I really enjoyed the start of this series and I look forward to not only continuing on with this series but seeing what else these authors have written. If you are looking for an Urban Fantasy Series, check this one out. I will say that I hope that Brooke grows on me more in the future books.
Enjoy!!!!
In the first of the series, Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton shows you never know who lurks in the shadows in both your present and the past:
Brooke knows that the supernatural exist and while during the day she works as a Chicago PD Detective by night she is a Vampire hunter along with her Fiancé. When her Fiancé dies while tracking down a lead in Salem, she knows that something supernatural is at play. When Brooke arrives in Salem, she is not welcomed with open arms but she is hoping her special talent will help shed some light of Tom's last few days there. What Brooke doesn’t realize is that the darkness that is in and around Salem and her coming there she is going to have to get dirty.
I had not heard of Walt and Hamilton before but I’m always looking for UF series to delve into and hope that the authors are able to do something new and fresh with the series and I think that Walt and Hamilton were able to put some aspects in that I do not normally see in this Genre.
I loved that it was more Fae based, as I haven’t read too many Fae urban fantasy books, they tend take a sideline in UF to other more common creatures, like vampires, which are also featured in this book and not just side characters, you can tell that they are going to play major roles in future books.
Brooke was a good female character but as a detective she seemed quite reckless at times, and not doing enough questioning as she should be. Almost like just burst in their guns blazing when that is not always the answer. I just don’t understand with all the training she claims to have she uses very little of it. It also seemed like I as the reader knew more than the main character and this annoyed me. I found Brooke's ability to touch objects and see the impressions or last moments on them interesting, but it is something that I have read before.
I did not see one of the twists coming, i was stunned and it was awesome. One of the best aspects on the books, it takes a lot for me to not figure something out beforehand, so I applaud Walt and Hamilton for being able to do this.
I like that the world building was explained, did not drone on and was enough there for me to understand it but not take me out of the overall story.
I really enjoyed the start of this series and I look forward to not only continuing on with this series but seeing what else these authors have written. If you are looking for an Urban Fantasy Series, check this one out. I will say that I hope that Brooke grows on me more in the future books.
Enjoy!!!!
November 12, 2018
Free Kindle Read.
2.5 stars
This was choppy. The world-building was lacking something pretty vital. I didn't know until about halfway through the book that vampire's existence was secret. Brooke's actions don't make a lot of sense, so it was hard for me to sympathize with her as a character. She's all over the place emotionally, and it seems that the author's did very little research into police procedure.
I think the story had potential, but lacked polish.
If the sequel popped up for free, I may grab it, but I won't seek it out.
2.5 stars
This was choppy. The world-building was lacking something pretty vital. I didn't know until about halfway through the book that vampire's existence was secret. Brooke's actions don't make a lot of sense, so it was hard for me to sympathize with her as a character. She's all over the place emotionally, and it seems that the author's did very little research into police procedure.
I think the story had potential, but lacked polish.
If the sequel popped up for free, I may grab it, but I won't seek it out.
July 17, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and I got sucked in. The mystery was good and the characters mixed well together. I liked the gradually telling of the story. The main characters is introduced to her past through an elve she meets while trying to find out what really happened to her fiance. It turned out he was alive but working with a witch/warlock who wanted to use Brookes powers to rid the world of vampires. The warlock starts out as a priest who helps her but then life goes from bad to worse when other supernatural creatures are sent to kill her. The story was told in a way where you had no idea what was coming next. Brooke finally works out who to trust and who not too and it has some emotional scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2016
I've read two books by Rebecca and really enjoyed them so I thought I'd give this one a try. I do have a book by Jasmine that I haven't read yet but I plan to since I really loved this book. It is kind of like a blend between Lost Girl because Brooke kinda reminds me a little bit of Bo with a dash of early days Anita Blake and a sprinkling of Mac from the Fever series.
I got into this book really quickly. The one type of book I never seem to get tired of would be the paranormal ones. I can burn out on other genres but this one is solid. If there are witches in it I want to read it. Dangling a book before me that has witches in it and other magic stuff will turn me into a cat with catnip. I just can't get enough of them. Since it is summer and the weather is heating up although the heat got an early start here you might want to read shorter books. This is the ideal length for those who might want to take a break from longer books.
I don't really do it myself but I could see cooler months being a time of year when you're more likely to read longer books while you're more likely to read shorter ones when things heat up outside. Maybe I'm just having a random thought that will leave anyone reading this absolutely puzzled. Brooke moves to Salem after her fiancee is killed. She wants to know who killed him so she puts in a transfer and heads to Salem. Did I mention that she's a copy? I always love a butt kicking babe. Come on would you mess with her? She has this cool talent of being able to get visions off of items she touches. Not long after she gets to Salem she starts to realize that there is something seriously off. She is no stranger to the supernatural world since she's from Chicago a place crawling with vampires. In this new place she finds out that there's a lot more going on and hello I didn't really expect that twist. I kinda suspected part of it but not exactly how it went down. That was a jaw dropping moment. I can't wait to read more. I want the next book right now. Could one of you ladies hop into a Tardis and grab me a copies of the future books? Thanks so much.
I was kindly given a copy of this book via InstaFreebie by the authors.
http://www.ficgal.com/book-club/shado...
I got into this book really quickly. The one type of book I never seem to get tired of would be the paranormal ones. I can burn out on other genres but this one is solid. If there are witches in it I want to read it. Dangling a book before me that has witches in it and other magic stuff will turn me into a cat with catnip. I just can't get enough of them. Since it is summer and the weather is heating up although the heat got an early start here you might want to read shorter books. This is the ideal length for those who might want to take a break from longer books.
I don't really do it myself but I could see cooler months being a time of year when you're more likely to read longer books while you're more likely to read shorter ones when things heat up outside. Maybe I'm just having a random thought that will leave anyone reading this absolutely puzzled. Brooke moves to Salem after her fiancee is killed. She wants to know who killed him so she puts in a transfer and heads to Salem. Did I mention that she's a copy? I always love a butt kicking babe. Come on would you mess with her? She has this cool talent of being able to get visions off of items she touches. Not long after she gets to Salem she starts to realize that there is something seriously off. She is no stranger to the supernatural world since she's from Chicago a place crawling with vampires. In this new place she finds out that there's a lot more going on and hello I didn't really expect that twist. I kinda suspected part of it but not exactly how it went down. That was a jaw dropping moment. I can't wait to read more. I want the next book right now. Could one of you ladies hop into a Tardis and grab me a copies of the future books? Thanks so much.
I was kindly given a copy of this book via InstaFreebie by the authors.
http://www.ficgal.com/book-club/shado...
August 18, 2016
I gave it 3.5 stars
Both Rebecca Hamilton and Jasmine Walt are new authors to me. I can't remember how the came to be on my radar, but I saw the cover for SHADOW BORN at some point, knew I had to read it after reading the blurb and added it to my wishlist. Once I started reading it became clear that storyline was easy to follow, there were interesting characters and I very easily stayed glued to the pages.
I had no trouble liking Brooke. From the first chapter you start to get a good idea of who she is and what she is willing to do to get answers and justice. As for her being a part of the supernatural world in her own right, there is a ton of mystery. A few things are revealed throughout the book, but there is so much more to learn. Maddock took a little bit to grow on me. He is a bit of a mystery, but by the end of SHADOW BORN I really wanted more to be between him and Brooke. They butt heads a lot, but they definitely have a spark and I have some hopes for them in future books.
So if you jumped ahead to my rating you might be wondering why I gave SHADOW BORN a 3.5. Well, the murdered fiance part of the storyline was a HUGE part of the story and while there are a lot of answers, the closure part of the story was lacking to me. I can't really say much about it without giving away spoilers, but I needed a little more out of the final revelations at the end.
Will I read book two? Heck yes, I immediately stalked the author page to get more information for it. SHADOW MARKED is expected to release on October 28th and I can't wait to jump back into the Shadows of Salem world.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Both Rebecca Hamilton and Jasmine Walt are new authors to me. I can't remember how the came to be on my radar, but I saw the cover for SHADOW BORN at some point, knew I had to read it after reading the blurb and added it to my wishlist. Once I started reading it became clear that storyline was easy to follow, there were interesting characters and I very easily stayed glued to the pages.
I had no trouble liking Brooke. From the first chapter you start to get a good idea of who she is and what she is willing to do to get answers and justice. As for her being a part of the supernatural world in her own right, there is a ton of mystery. A few things are revealed throughout the book, but there is so much more to learn. Maddock took a little bit to grow on me. He is a bit of a mystery, but by the end of SHADOW BORN I really wanted more to be between him and Brooke. They butt heads a lot, but they definitely have a spark and I have some hopes for them in future books.
So if you jumped ahead to my rating you might be wondering why I gave SHADOW BORN a 3.5. Well, the murdered fiance part of the storyline was a HUGE part of the story and while there are a lot of answers, the closure part of the story was lacking to me. I can't really say much about it without giving away spoilers, but I needed a little more out of the final revelations at the end.
Will I read book two? Heck yes, I immediately stalked the author page to get more information for it. SHADOW MARKED is expected to release on October 28th and I can't wait to jump back into the Shadows of Salem world.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2016
3.5 stars
Read at Angel's Book Heaven
This book was good.Not the "I will read-it-again" good.But it had a nice storyline that could potentially develop as we go further into the series.
Brooke Chandler is a Chicago PD detective who transfers to Salem to investigate the death of her fiance,Tom;who died mysteriously in a motel.
The story basically revolves around that fact.Though Brooke accepts a case regarding the missing persons of supernatural community,it did feel like it the main concentration was around Tom.
Brooke was nice enough character.Tough,determined and stubborn to a fault though I found it hard to like her despite these qualities.
She has a power to see a person's past by touching an object,which was cool,I guess.
Then there is the mysterious Lord Tremaine (odd name,btw) who is a powerful fae running a club.He hates Brooke and the reason why is explained in the book though it was difficult for me to digest it.
The history surrounding the book: like the fact how witches and vampires came to be,was unique and I liked the way how the author handled that.
Though this was a good story,it lacked in originality.There were so many things I guessed as the story progressed so that took some fun out of it.The romance in this wasn't any better.Though there was some flirting and swooning done by Brooke (not me).
Since this is the first book in a new series,I guess there are so many things to look forward to.
Like: What is Brooke?(Though we know,what she is?I guess a better view would be nice) How did Tremaine and Brooke meet for the first time?
I hope I get those answers soon in book 2,Shadow Marked.
July 6, 2016
I was gifted this book by the author for a fair and honest review. Warning - there may be spoilers below
I was completely enthralled with this book. I just could not put it down. I even ate dinner while still reading (to the annoyance of my family). It was just THAT good.
Brooke is a fantastically complex character with a heart of gold and an burning passion for justice. She is smart-mouthed and tough as nails, but not caustic or unkind. Brooke has suffered a major personal loss and is heart-broken and wants answers to how her lover died. She is driven and tenacious and all of this makes her a character I will want to read about for a very long time.
Maddock, the local fae nightclub owner, is another amazing character. He knows Brooke from his past and he really doesn't like her at all and wants a bit of revenge for things that she did (that she doesn't remember). They are drawn to each other and nothing seems to be able to keep them apart. He is an alpha and majorly distracting in a handsome sort of way.
This book has it all - conflict, vampires, fae, witches, trolls and so on. There is also love, hate, violence, reconciliation and self-sacrifice. I am eagerly anticipating even more from Jasmine and Rebecca!
I was completely enthralled with this book. I just could not put it down. I even ate dinner while still reading (to the annoyance of my family). It was just THAT good.
Brooke is a fantastically complex character with a heart of gold and an burning passion for justice. She is smart-mouthed and tough as nails, but not caustic or unkind. Brooke has suffered a major personal loss and is heart-broken and wants answers to how her lover died. She is driven and tenacious and all of this makes her a character I will want to read about for a very long time.
Maddock, the local fae nightclub owner, is another amazing character. He knows Brooke from his past and he really doesn't like her at all and wants a bit of revenge for things that she did (that she doesn't remember). They are drawn to each other and nothing seems to be able to keep them apart. He is an alpha and majorly distracting in a handsome sort of way.
This book has it all - conflict, vampires, fae, witches, trolls and so on. There is also love, hate, violence, reconciliation and self-sacrifice. I am eagerly anticipating even more from Jasmine and Rebecca!
August 20, 2016
Ok so I preordered this book since the overview was so outstanding. Let me tell you it didn't let me down one bit. I truthfully don't enjoy regular mystery stories but with the paranormal I can handle them. I am an avid reader of Patricia Briggs and Laurell K. Hamilton's books. However, what Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton created in Shadow Born was a whole new level. I can't go into details of the novel without giving much away. But I will give it my best.
Shadow Born doesn't even start slow at all. Brooke is a detective in a mission to find out what happened to Tom. Crazy things start to happen and we find out Brooke’s secret in the first couple chapters. One we find this out things get heated up and I can't wait to read the next one. I am glad there wasn't any really big cliff hangers. However, there are a lot of questions about Brooke that need to be answered. Trust me you will not want to put the book down once you start it. At least I didn't.
Shadow Born doesn't even start slow at all. Brooke is a detective in a mission to find out what happened to Tom. Crazy things start to happen and we find out Brooke’s secret in the first couple chapters. One we find this out things get heated up and I can't wait to read the next one. I am glad there wasn't any really big cliff hangers. However, there are a lot of questions about Brooke that need to be answered. Trust me you will not want to put the book down once you start it. At least I didn't.
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November 15, 2016DNF @ 56%.
The MarySue heroine (like, practically BEGGING to be called a MarySue, with her oddly coloured hair and eyes, unique gift, propensity for shooting off her mouth with no consequences, etc.) and unoriginal world building - morally ambiguous fae, evil vampires, unaware world, etc. - was enough to be uninspiring, but I soldiered on.
Then I realized I was only reading because I wanted to see just how bad things got. The final straw was the inconsistent dialogue from the love interest (and of course he's powerful and they're initially combative but just so filled with magnetic attraction they can't keep their hands off each other). I don't generally like phonetically written accents, but I tried to overlook all the "ye" and "yer" nonsense. But then we get the cliche line "I assure you, when I'm aggressive, there's nothing passive about it." Shouldn't that be "I assure ye"? Not a big deal, but when I was already struggling to keep reading, it was enough.
I'm out.
The MarySue heroine (like, practically BEGGING to be called a MarySue, with her oddly coloured hair and eyes, unique gift, propensity for shooting off her mouth with no consequences, etc.) and unoriginal world building - morally ambiguous fae, evil vampires, unaware world, etc. - was enough to be uninspiring, but I soldiered on.
Then I realized I was only reading because I wanted to see just how bad things got. The final straw was the inconsistent dialogue from the love interest (and of course he's powerful and they're initially combative but just so filled with magnetic attraction they can't keep their hands off each other). I don't generally like phonetically written accents, but I tried to overlook all the "ye" and "yer" nonsense. But then we get the cliche line "I assure you, when I'm aggressive, there's nothing passive about it." Shouldn't that be "I assure ye"? Not a big deal, but when I was already struggling to keep reading, it was enough.
I'm out.
August 17, 2016
Shadow Born is a terrific new addition to the UF genre. Brooke has secrets even she doesn’t know but they are coming out and she is going to have to deal. She is strong even in her confusion. Add in a gorgeous hunk of elf who claims to have had an affair with her in the past and she is going to have to be even more careful because no matter what she is a heart is a fragile thing. Shadow Born is full of twists and turns and I can’t wait for the next installment.
August 23, 2016
The new Patricia Briggs? Not hardly?
There are one or two things to like about this urban fantasy novel - a kick-ass heroine, an intriguingly mysterious and handsome fae Lord ....... But, there are far more that are disappointing & annoying. In fairness to the author, the comparison to one of my all-time favorite paranormal authors didn't serve her well. It set the bar way too high; and, unfortunately, Shadow Born, didn't meet expectations.
There are one or two things to like about this urban fantasy novel - a kick-ass heroine, an intriguingly mysterious and handsome fae Lord ....... But, there are far more that are disappointing & annoying. In fairness to the author, the comparison to one of my all-time favorite paranormal authors didn't serve her well. It set the bar way too high; and, unfortunately, Shadow Born, didn't meet expectations.
August 27, 2016
This was a good read not that steamy but I think it has potential to get there in the next book which I think I shall read when it comes out.
August 22, 2016
Fun! And very solid writing. Cant wait for the next one.
August 29, 2016
Brilliant start to an fantastic series.... Can't wait for more.
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