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Savannah River #1
Wish Hunter
Explore the dark underworld of wish hunting in the compelling first installment of this urban fantasy trilogy set in Savannah, Georgia.
Nadia Kaminski’s family has stolen wishes for generations, auctioning them off to skeevy business tycoons and politicians in back-alley deals. Their operation is simple enough. Find someone who gained a wish after saving a life. Trick the wisher into sharing a deep secret. Steal the wish.
And as a marriage counselor, Nadia has more access to people’s secrets than most.
But when Nadia comes across the perfect opportunity to steal a wish for herself, she takes it—and the rock star she’s stolen it from desperately wants his wish back.
As Nadia tries to figure out how to get rid of the cocky thorn in her side, she must face off against vengeful wish hunters, her all-too-powerful family, and the consequences of her own desires—because stealing wishes can be a deadly affair.
Content note: spousal death, gun violence, miscarriage.
Nadia Kaminski’s family has stolen wishes for generations, auctioning them off to skeevy business tycoons and politicians in back-alley deals. Their operation is simple enough. Find someone who gained a wish after saving a life. Trick the wisher into sharing a deep secret. Steal the wish.
And as a marriage counselor, Nadia has more access to people’s secrets than most.
But when Nadia comes across the perfect opportunity to steal a wish for herself, she takes it—and the rock star she’s stolen it from desperately wants his wish back.
As Nadia tries to figure out how to get rid of the cocky thorn in her side, she must face off against vengeful wish hunters, her all-too-powerful family, and the consequences of her own desires—because stealing wishes can be a deadly affair.
Content note: spousal death, gun violence, miscarriage.
324 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2021
148 people are currently reading
2233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 15, 2021
The Wish Hunter required a lot of world building to explain the lore and background that surrounds this unique plot. As a result it took a few chapters for the story to really get going for me. The second half of the book I was really invested in Nadia and Miles. I enjoyed the pacing and appreciated being drawn along by secrets being exposed. That being said there are plenty of questions I still need answered. The book ends rather abruptly, which was jarring. Overall, it is a good solid start to a series.
Thank you Booksirens for the arc. This is my honest review.
Thank you Booksirens for the arc. This is my honest review.
June 9, 2021
This is the most original fantasy novel I’ve read in a long time. It’s an engaging page turner filled with different mysteries and family drama. The world-building is well fleshed out, and all the magical rules were interwoven into normal life in a really cool way (such as explaining the origins of the birthday candle tradition).
I felt grounded in the Savannah setting for most of the book, and some of my favorite scenes were in part due to those varying locations, like the music club, the run-down house, and the riverboat action scenes. Nadia felt real to me as a protagonist, and I sympathized with her drive to bring her husband back (as I’d feel the same about my spouse). Most of all, the lovely writing made this story a pleasure to read, with so many poetic moments and not a word wasted.
My biggest gripe is that the ending feels unresolved, and the climax didn’t have the emotional payoff that I expected; it seems like those aspects will be left for the next book in the trilogy.
I’m looking forward to the budding romance between characters and finding out what else wishes can be used for—and I hope the characters can get more sleep in the next book.
*I am part of the street team for this book, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I felt grounded in the Savannah setting for most of the book, and some of my favorite scenes were in part due to those varying locations, like the music club, the run-down house, and the riverboat action scenes. Nadia felt real to me as a protagonist, and I sympathized with her drive to bring her husband back (as I’d feel the same about my spouse). Most of all, the lovely writing made this story a pleasure to read, with so many poetic moments and not a word wasted.
My biggest gripe is that the ending feels unresolved, and the climax didn’t have the emotional payoff that I expected; it seems like those aspects will be left for the next book in the trilogy.
I’m looking forward to the budding romance between characters and finding out what else wishes can be used for—and I hope the characters can get more sleep in the next book.
*I am part of the street team for this book, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
April 26, 2021
Thought the premise of this book was interesting so I got a copy to read. I cannot say how delighted I was with the story. Loved the characters, loved the idea, loved the telling of the tale. We, through altruistic acts, have the ability to earn wishes. At least three. Most of us are unaware of this ... but there are others who ARE aware and will go to great lengths to get those wishes from us. They will either use them or perhaps sell them. Its's a cut throat business and a wonderful tale. Great world building. Looking forward to the second book in the series to find out what happens next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
May 3, 2021
At first I felt a bit underwhelmed with this book, but after character & world building I hated to see it end. I love the unique story line; definitely not a fantasy world we hear about over and over in other books. I mean, wishes?!? I don’t think I’ll look at a birthday wish or “heart” wish the same for as long as I live.
Watching the main characters life and events unfold is relatable while simultaneously weaving a world of wishes and secrets that are purely fantastical.
I look forward to seeing what happens next!
Watching the main characters life and events unfold is relatable while simultaneously weaving a world of wishes and secrets that are purely fantastical.
I look forward to seeing what happens next!
September 7, 2021
I am always on the lookout for new urban fantasy series and was curious about the idea of wish hunting. We meet protagonist, Nadia Kaminski, a wish stealer from a family of wish stealers. If you save a life you gain a wish, but to steal someone’s wish you must make them reveal a secret. As a marriage counselor, Nadia is able to steal wishes as clients reveal their darkest secrets. It’s a good thing to because her family is indebted to the Wish Master.
It took a bit to establish the world building, magic system and backstory to Nadia and her family, so the beginning started off slow. When Nadia meets Miles, a rock star with an unused wish, things really picked up and hooked me.
Nadia is working hard to steal wishes to pay back the Wish Master, but she desperately wants a wish to bring back her dead husband before it’s too late. This leads her to swipe a wish which sends her down a path filled with danger, challenges and truths.
I love the concept of the world and the storyline the authors have developed. Secondary characters from her cantankerous and controlling grandmother to her powerful sister. The relationship between Nadia and Miles begins roughly, which isn’t surprising considering what she did, but it moved to a partnership and something as yet undefined.
Things slowly build up as the action and danger increased before the author left us hanging while we wait the next audiobook. Overall, this was a satisfying start to the Savannah River series and I look forward to more.
Lisa Flanagan narrates and captured the persona of our protagonist and other main characters. Her pacing and pitch made listening a choice I would recommend. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
It took a bit to establish the world building, magic system and backstory to Nadia and her family, so the beginning started off slow. When Nadia meets Miles, a rock star with an unused wish, things really picked up and hooked me.
Nadia is working hard to steal wishes to pay back the Wish Master, but she desperately wants a wish to bring back her dead husband before it’s too late. This leads her to swipe a wish which sends her down a path filled with danger, challenges and truths.
I love the concept of the world and the storyline the authors have developed. Secondary characters from her cantankerous and controlling grandmother to her powerful sister. The relationship between Nadia and Miles begins roughly, which isn’t surprising considering what she did, but it moved to a partnership and something as yet undefined.
Things slowly build up as the action and danger increased before the author left us hanging while we wait the next audiobook. Overall, this was a satisfying start to the Savannah River series and I look forward to more.
Lisa Flanagan narrates and captured the persona of our protagonist and other main characters. Her pacing and pitch made listening a choice I would recommend. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 4, 2021
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens.
A big thank you to them and the author.
The synopsis of this book sounded very promising, and I knew it was the next ARC I wanted to read. I'm glad I requested it, because it's a great first novel for a series that sounds very promising! Why three stars and not four, then? Well, keep reading to find out.
I didn't get into the story as soon as I started reading it, but it didn't take very long either. The characters, the world-building and the magic system are very interesting, and the idea of the book based on wishes is very original. It's also so much more than what the premise of this book makes it sounds like, and I found myself highly invested and interested in it. Nadia, our main character, is way more interesting than she seems at first once we discover her past and her family - a family who's been in this "business" forever, and has many secrets. It's actually deeper than I initially though, which was a good surprise. There's a lot of twists and mystery, a great plot, the right amount of humor, and no instalove (yes, I was worried about that). Instead, we're just given enough hints to know there will be a slow-burn romance.
I think even those who aren't usually won over by urban fantasy could enjoy this book as it's very different from the others works of the genre I've read before. I was sure it would be a four stars read, but unfortunately I do have a complaint: the ending was very abrupt. I'm not talking about a cliffhanger, it just stops like the author wasn't sure where to end the first book and decided in a random way. I don't know, I truly don't understand the reasoning behind that choice, because after enjoying a great, original, well-written story, I'm left with a bad impression. Fair or not, the ending is the impression we're left with about a book, even when everything else was great.
I definitely plan on reading the second book in the series, and if I hadn't felt that way about the ending, it would have been a well deserved four stars. I'm just being honest in my reviews, and I don't give four stars when the end of a book leaves me disappointed.
Wish Hunter will be released on June 1st, 2021.
A big thank you to them and the author.
The synopsis of this book sounded very promising, and I knew it was the next ARC I wanted to read. I'm glad I requested it, because it's a great first novel for a series that sounds very promising! Why three stars and not four, then? Well, keep reading to find out.
I didn't get into the story as soon as I started reading it, but it didn't take very long either. The characters, the world-building and the magic system are very interesting, and the idea of the book based on wishes is very original. It's also so much more than what the premise of this book makes it sounds like, and I found myself highly invested and interested in it. Nadia, our main character, is way more interesting than she seems at first once we discover her past and her family - a family who's been in this "business" forever, and has many secrets. It's actually deeper than I initially though, which was a good surprise. There's a lot of twists and mystery, a great plot, the right amount of humor, and no instalove (yes, I was worried about that). Instead, we're just given enough hints to know there will be a slow-burn romance.
I think even those who aren't usually won over by urban fantasy could enjoy this book as it's very different from the others works of the genre I've read before. I was sure it would be a four stars read, but unfortunately I do have a complaint: the ending was very abrupt. I'm not talking about a cliffhanger, it just stops like the author wasn't sure where to end the first book and decided in a random way. I don't know, I truly don't understand the reasoning behind that choice, because after enjoying a great, original, well-written story, I'm left with a bad impression. Fair or not, the ending is the impression we're left with about a book, even when everything else was great.
I definitely plan on reading the second book in the series, and if I hadn't felt that way about the ending, it would have been a well deserved four stars. I'm just being honest in my reviews, and I don't give four stars when the end of a book leaves me disappointed.
Wish Hunter will be released on June 1st, 2021.
April 17, 2021
I was quite enjoying this book until I turned the page and it suddenly ended! I can't even call it a cliffhanger; it's a non-resolution. The point of this book just never gets resolved.
The characters are lovely & relatable and Savannah sounds wonderful. The magic is well thought out and works great in this world. These are the reasons I gave a disappointing story 4 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters are lovely & relatable and Savannah sounds wonderful. The magic is well thought out and works great in this world. These are the reasons I gave a disappointing story 4 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 27, 2021
I loved this book! It's so many things--a mystery about what happened to the main character's husband, a clever urban fantasy (you'll never look at birthday candles the same way again), and a surprisingly deep and believable family drama. It's great, and it offers something different from the usual focus on demons/spirits/werewolves in other urban fantasy books and stories I've read.
The basic premise of the book is that through saving someone's life (with caveats), people can earn wishes, which they can use by blowing out a candle and making a wish (the origin of candles on birthday cakes, according to the book). There are some restrictions, but the biggest hurdle is that the entire "wishing world" is secret and controlled by an underground cabal.
Nadia Kaminski, the main character, is stuck stealing people's wishes (I'll let you find out how by reading the book) in Savannah. Her family has been in the wishing trade forever, and they're in debt to Nadia's older sister, who is now Savannah's "Wishmaster." Forced to help her mother and grandmother clear the debt, Nadia has to give up every wish she steals to the Wishmaster, even though she wants to figure out who murdered her husband, Nick, a Savannah firefighter. Then she gets an unexpected opportunity to steal a wish from a rock-and-roll celebrity named Miles Hunter...
I won't spoil it all, but, suffice to say, Nadia's plan doesn't work how she hopes it will, and soon she and the charismatic, funny, and down-to-earth Miles are working together (sort of) to get the wish back and stay on the right side of Nadia's sister--but that's difficult, since the Kaminski family harbors more secrets than a teenager's diary.
Wish Hunter has a fascinating, twisty-turny plot, lots of fun, a great sense of place, and a ton of heart and mystery. It'ss definitely worth the read, full of great humor and characters with heart, and what I think (I hope!) is the beginnings of a slow-burn romance for Nadia and Miles. I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series, and I hope Jordan is already working on the next one!
Pick this one up; you won't be disappointed.
I was given an ARC copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
The basic premise of the book is that through saving someone's life (with caveats), people can earn wishes, which they can use by blowing out a candle and making a wish (the origin of candles on birthday cakes, according to the book). There are some restrictions, but the biggest hurdle is that the entire "wishing world" is secret and controlled by an underground cabal.
Nadia Kaminski, the main character, is stuck stealing people's wishes (I'll let you find out how by reading the book) in Savannah. Her family has been in the wishing trade forever, and they're in debt to Nadia's older sister, who is now Savannah's "Wishmaster." Forced to help her mother and grandmother clear the debt, Nadia has to give up every wish she steals to the Wishmaster, even though she wants to figure out who murdered her husband, Nick, a Savannah firefighter. Then she gets an unexpected opportunity to steal a wish from a rock-and-roll celebrity named Miles Hunter...
I won't spoil it all, but, suffice to say, Nadia's plan doesn't work how she hopes it will, and soon she and the charismatic, funny, and down-to-earth Miles are working together (sort of) to get the wish back and stay on the right side of Nadia's sister--but that's difficult, since the Kaminski family harbors more secrets than a teenager's diary.
Wish Hunter has a fascinating, twisty-turny plot, lots of fun, a great sense of place, and a ton of heart and mystery. It'ss definitely worth the read, full of great humor and characters with heart, and what I think (I hope!) is the beginnings of a slow-burn romance for Nadia and Miles. I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series, and I hope Jordan is already working on the next one!
Pick this one up; you won't be disappointed.
I was given an ARC copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2021
If you could wish for anything in the world, what would you wish for?
Nadia, a young widow, would wish to bring her husband back, as he was murdered almost a year before the story begins. However, Nadia and her family are wish stealers, and they are indebted to the Wishmaster for 100 wishes. She uses her job as a counselor to take wishes from unsuspecting people, and she has no chance of procuring her own wish until the debt is paid. When an opportunity to keep a wish for herself arises, Nadia leaps at the chance to bring her love back. But actions have consequences, and Nadia’s hasty decision brings danger and life-threatening situations.
Miles, the rock star that lost his wish to Nadia, is determined to get it back, but Nadia isn’t giving up his wish without a fight. Nadia goes on such a journey throughout the story. Bereft over the loss of her husband, her deepest desire is to bring him back. However, with a debt to be paid to the Wishmaster, as well as ever-growing conflicts in her life and the fact that necromancy isn’t really done, Nadia’s goal feels unattainable. Throughout the course of the story, Nadia reveals just how far she is willing to go to bring back her husband, but her priorities also change.
Nadia also has to deal with complicated relationships with her mother, grandmother, and sister, and she realizes that they all have secrets. Nadia faces betrayal and hurt, and she doesn’t know who to trust, even within her own family. With family dynamics that are complex and riddled with uncertainty, Nadia doesn’t know where to turn, and surprisingly finds help from the man she betrayed,
Miles is an interesting character, and he and Nadia are a great team. One would think they’d be bitter enemies considering Nadia stole a wish from him, but their growing friendship and the connection they share is stronger than any resentment Miles might feel. I like how this relationship slowly builds and changes throughout the story, and it’s clear that they develop a deep bond. I’m definitely curious to see what happens with this relationship as the series continues.
I’m really interested to learn more about other characters in the story, including Nadia’s sister Kaleena and some of Kaleena’s followers. Her story is so intriguing, and I have a feeling Nadia and Kaleena have some difficult times ahead of them. It’s interesting that the person that it seems one should distrust the most is one of the few who is honest with Nadia, and I’m curious to find out how that will play out as the series progresses. I also think it is interesting that the one person Nadia can depend on throughout her journey is the person she has only known for a short time. It’s also the person she betrayed.
There are great references to different locations in Savannah, and the authors do a wonderful job of creating a unique and fascinating supernatural world among a familiar backdrop. I also love the reference to The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs, as the story made me think about all the ways in which wishes could go wrong, much like Jacobs’s story. The characters in Wish Hunter must be very precise in their wish wording and aware of the possible consequences of their wishes.
I think readers who enjoy urban fantasy and paranormal fiction will enjoy this unique and entertaining story. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is great, and the many revelations are surprising. Plus, that ending!! The cliffhanger is fantastic and makes me eager for the next book in the series!
Thanks so much to the authors and Story Garden Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Nadia, a young widow, would wish to bring her husband back, as he was murdered almost a year before the story begins. However, Nadia and her family are wish stealers, and they are indebted to the Wishmaster for 100 wishes. She uses her job as a counselor to take wishes from unsuspecting people, and she has no chance of procuring her own wish until the debt is paid. When an opportunity to keep a wish for herself arises, Nadia leaps at the chance to bring her love back. But actions have consequences, and Nadia’s hasty decision brings danger and life-threatening situations.
Miles, the rock star that lost his wish to Nadia, is determined to get it back, but Nadia isn’t giving up his wish without a fight. Nadia goes on such a journey throughout the story. Bereft over the loss of her husband, her deepest desire is to bring him back. However, with a debt to be paid to the Wishmaster, as well as ever-growing conflicts in her life and the fact that necromancy isn’t really done, Nadia’s goal feels unattainable. Throughout the course of the story, Nadia reveals just how far she is willing to go to bring back her husband, but her priorities also change.
Nadia also has to deal with complicated relationships with her mother, grandmother, and sister, and she realizes that they all have secrets. Nadia faces betrayal and hurt, and she doesn’t know who to trust, even within her own family. With family dynamics that are complex and riddled with uncertainty, Nadia doesn’t know where to turn, and surprisingly finds help from the man she betrayed,
Miles is an interesting character, and he and Nadia are a great team. One would think they’d be bitter enemies considering Nadia stole a wish from him, but their growing friendship and the connection they share is stronger than any resentment Miles might feel. I like how this relationship slowly builds and changes throughout the story, and it’s clear that they develop a deep bond. I’m definitely curious to see what happens with this relationship as the series continues.
I’m really interested to learn more about other characters in the story, including Nadia’s sister Kaleena and some of Kaleena’s followers. Her story is so intriguing, and I have a feeling Nadia and Kaleena have some difficult times ahead of them. It’s interesting that the person that it seems one should distrust the most is one of the few who is honest with Nadia, and I’m curious to find out how that will play out as the series progresses. I also think it is interesting that the one person Nadia can depend on throughout her journey is the person she has only known for a short time. It’s also the person she betrayed.
There are great references to different locations in Savannah, and the authors do a wonderful job of creating a unique and fascinating supernatural world among a familiar backdrop. I also love the reference to The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs, as the story made me think about all the ways in which wishes could go wrong, much like Jacobs’s story. The characters in Wish Hunter must be very precise in their wish wording and aware of the possible consequences of their wishes.
I think readers who enjoy urban fantasy and paranormal fiction will enjoy this unique and entertaining story. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is great, and the many revelations are surprising. Plus, that ending!! The cliffhanger is fantastic and makes me eager for the next book in the series!
Thanks so much to the authors and Story Garden Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
September 6, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wish Hunter envelops you in a world where a grand deed(saving a life) grants you a wish. Each person is set to a maximum of three wishes in their lifetime, and a special ritual must be followed when making the wish that few know about. Even then, the wishes can be warped or interpreted in ways one wouldn't imagine. When Nadia, a marriage counselor who's family owes a massive debt of wishes to the local Wishmaster, steals the final wish of a rockstar all hell breaks loose. Will Nadia be able to sneak this one wish for herself, or will the Wishmaster catch wind of Nadia's betrayal and come to collect?
A world where wishes are not only real, but can be stolen, sold, and purchased? I was here for it in every way, but sadly my excitement was left unsatisfied. There is so much going on in this book, and absolutely none of it.comes to any kind of closure. I totally understand this is meant to be the first book in a series, but it went on so long and left so much up in the air I just don't have the patience to juggle it all. The characters weren't developed to the level I thought they would be, and the lore of this world is peppered throughout, but doesn't really give you anything different. The lore is simply repeated over and over again. Yes, the wishing tree has the right to warp or even ignore wishes.....but where did it come from? Why a three wish maximum? Why does someone only get one wish if they save more than one person at a time? How does the wishing tree put the proper weight on a wish, therefore putting a value on every life saved rather than the person saving it?
In my opinion, this could have easily been shrank to half the size and that would have freed up pages to atleast bring some kind of closure to the numerous tentacles of plot lines. Two stars from me, perhaps I've just come to expect more out of books, especially at the beginning of a new series. Recommended for those 12+.
Wish Hunter envelops you in a world where a grand deed(saving a life) grants you a wish. Each person is set to a maximum of three wishes in their lifetime, and a special ritual must be followed when making the wish that few know about. Even then, the wishes can be warped or interpreted in ways one wouldn't imagine. When Nadia, a marriage counselor who's family owes a massive debt of wishes to the local Wishmaster, steals the final wish of a rockstar all hell breaks loose. Will Nadia be able to sneak this one wish for herself, or will the Wishmaster catch wind of Nadia's betrayal and come to collect?
A world where wishes are not only real, but can be stolen, sold, and purchased? I was here for it in every way, but sadly my excitement was left unsatisfied. There is so much going on in this book, and absolutely none of it.comes to any kind of closure. I totally understand this is meant to be the first book in a series, but it went on so long and left so much up in the air I just don't have the patience to juggle it all. The characters weren't developed to the level I thought they would be, and the lore of this world is peppered throughout, but doesn't really give you anything different. The lore is simply repeated over and over again. Yes, the wishing tree has the right to warp or even ignore wishes.....but where did it come from? Why a three wish maximum? Why does someone only get one wish if they save more than one person at a time? How does the wishing tree put the proper weight on a wish, therefore putting a value on every life saved rather than the person saving it?
In my opinion, this could have easily been shrank to half the size and that would have freed up pages to atleast bring some kind of closure to the numerous tentacles of plot lines. Two stars from me, perhaps I've just come to expect more out of books, especially at the beginning of a new series. Recommended for those 12+.
September 18, 2025
God, her family is fucking toxic!
June 1, 2021
The premise of the story is unique and intriguing. The characters, the world-building, and the theme of wish hunting is noteworthy and compelling. It's a fast-paced, plot-driven story full of mysteries and revelations.
The story follows Nadia, a thirty-one-year-old, marriage counselor, who steals wishes from her clients to pay for her family's debt. A young widow, she lives with her mom and grandmother in an old, enchanted house.
There were a lot of family secrets and deceptions going on throughout the story that made me feel in despair for the main characters involved. I was rooting for them to receive their wishes by the end of this book but I guess there will be more wish heists to happen before their wishes are granted. I love Miles's special abilities in tracking individuals as well as Nadia's abilities to spy on people. I love that author included Basha's magical background story that I hope will help Nadia in achieving her greatest wish.
There were some steps in acquiring and receiving a wish that could have been made simple but I won't get into details because I want you to read this book and find out. Overall, this was a delightful read with lots of action-packed scenes and mysteries. I'm pleased that I was granted to read this book and I would surely check out the other books of the author.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story follows Nadia, a thirty-one-year-old, marriage counselor, who steals wishes from her clients to pay for her family's debt. A young widow, she lives with her mom and grandmother in an old, enchanted house.
There were a lot of family secrets and deceptions going on throughout the story that made me feel in despair for the main characters involved. I was rooting for them to receive their wishes by the end of this book but I guess there will be more wish heists to happen before their wishes are granted. I love Miles's special abilities in tracking individuals as well as Nadia's abilities to spy on people. I love that author included Basha's magical background story that I hope will help Nadia in achieving her greatest wish.
There were some steps in acquiring and receiving a wish that could have been made simple but I won't get into details because I want you to read this book and find out. Overall, this was a delightful read with lots of action-packed scenes and mysteries. I'm pleased that I was granted to read this book and I would surely check out the other books of the author.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 25, 2021
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Nadia Kaminski’s family has stolen wishes for generations, and since Nadia is a marriage counselor, she has a lot of access to people's secrets. Right now, Nadia's family owes a huge debt of wishes to the wishmaster, and until that debt is paid, then Nadia can't use a wish of her own for what she really wants - to bring her husband back from the dead. Then the perfect opportunity presents itself and Nadia steals a wish from a popular rock star named Miles. Miles will do anything to get his wish back. As he attatches himself to Nadia and refuses to leave her side until she relinquishes his wish, the wishmaster starts closing in and they both realize how much more is at stake than just one wish.
This was such a fun book. It was non-stop action. The author did an excellent job weaving this fascinating and unique world. II am really looking forward to seeing what happens next with the storyline. I highly recommend this to anyone with a love of fantasy fiction..
Nadia Kaminski’s family has stolen wishes for generations, and since Nadia is a marriage counselor, she has a lot of access to people's secrets. Right now, Nadia's family owes a huge debt of wishes to the wishmaster, and until that debt is paid, then Nadia can't use a wish of her own for what she really wants - to bring her husband back from the dead. Then the perfect opportunity presents itself and Nadia steals a wish from a popular rock star named Miles. Miles will do anything to get his wish back. As he attatches himself to Nadia and refuses to leave her side until she relinquishes his wish, the wishmaster starts closing in and they both realize how much more is at stake than just one wish.
This was such a fun book. It was non-stop action. The author did an excellent job weaving this fascinating and unique world. II am really looking forward to seeing what happens next with the storyline. I highly recommend this to anyone with a love of fantasy fiction..
May 8, 2021
This book was a slow start but then it became amazing. It took a few chapters (well maybe around 25% of the book) until I got sucked into the world and could not put it down. I finished the book over the course of a day that I was sick. Nadia was such a fascinated character. The whole idea of wishes and the myology surrounding them was such a fresh breath of air. I can’t wait to see where the next book goes. My only complaint was that the ending seemed to be rather abrupt. I might have cut it off a bit sooner before the next job was described.
Would I read it again? Maybe - a book has to be really great for me to reread it. It had enough of a slow start that it puts it in the maybe column.
Would I read the next one? Yes.
Would I recommend it to others? Yes.
Would I read it again? Maybe - a book has to be really great for me to reread it. It had enough of a slow start that it puts it in the maybe column.
Would I read the next one? Yes.
Would I recommend it to others? Yes.
June 1, 2021
Full review is up on my blog: https://www.thebookborough.com/adult-...
Thoroughly enjoyed this one! I agree with a few other reviews here... it had a rough start but really enjoyable the latter 2/3rds. Can't wait for the sequel!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one! I agree with a few other reviews here... it had a rough start but really enjoyable the latter 2/3rds. Can't wait for the sequel!
May 23, 2021
An Interesting Concept
“Wish Hunter” is a slow-paced tale that you don’t immediately get into as it feels like it's dragging along. BUT once you accept the concept and storyline it begins to flow and becomes much more interesting. The characters are engaging, the world-building is interesting and the thought of being kind and helping others with no expectation of a reward would earn wishes is sweet and exciting. It moves your heart and mind in a way that feels fresh and new. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and look forward to the next installment in this series.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review
“Wish Hunter” is a slow-paced tale that you don’t immediately get into as it feels like it's dragging along. BUT once you accept the concept and storyline it begins to flow and becomes much more interesting. The characters are engaging, the world-building is interesting and the thought of being kind and helping others with no expectation of a reward would earn wishes is sweet and exciting. It moves your heart and mind in a way that feels fresh and new. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and look forward to the next installment in this series.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review
May 23, 2021
If you’re into fantasy but also into mafia stories, The Wish Hunter is definitely for you. This book is the perfect combination of real life and fantasy to the point where it could all be real and most of us wouldn’t even know.
I got this book for free to review from booksirens.com and I’m honestly in love. While the start was a tad slow, when the book took off, boy did it fly. The storyline is thrilling, the characters are compelling and I can’t wait to see what’s in store in the next book.
I got this book for free to review from booksirens.com and I’m honestly in love. While the start was a tad slow, when the book took off, boy did it fly. The storyline is thrilling, the characters are compelling and I can’t wait to see what’s in store in the next book.
May 16, 2021
In my youth, there was a game some of us would play called the Genie game. There were also some Science Fiction stories or fantasy stories that used leprechauns, but the idea was the same. The entity that was required to give you a wish is required to obey the letter of your wish. But however they could twist it, they would. So the idea of the game was to find a way to phrase something such that the Genie would have to give you what you wanted.
When I read the synopsis of this book it struck a chord in me they remind me of this game. So I was enthused right from the start at the premise. And it is a good premise.
The concept continues throughout the book. But, and I really don’t want to provide any spoilers, the book is not about freezing wishes. The book is about family. Admittedly a somewhat dysfunctional family, but family nonetheless. It’s filled with adventure and friendship and lies and deceit. Overall a really good story. Well told. Well flushed out. And with just enough teasing and humor to keep you involved from beginning to end.
The story started out a little slow. The descriptions of some of the scenery were a little more detail than I expected. But ultimately they added to the richness and made it clear that all these things were important to the characters. If I have one criticism it’s that the book doesn’t resolve anything at the end. It is a major cliffhanger pointing to the next book. And I have to wait too long for that next book. If you see this book on the shelves in the bookstore, buy it. It’s well worth it. The density of the story belies the actual number of pages or words. This is a great novel and the start of a great series.
I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This is that review.
When I read the synopsis of this book it struck a chord in me they remind me of this game. So I was enthused right from the start at the premise. And it is a good premise.
The concept continues throughout the book. But, and I really don’t want to provide any spoilers, the book is not about freezing wishes. The book is about family. Admittedly a somewhat dysfunctional family, but family nonetheless. It’s filled with adventure and friendship and lies and deceit. Overall a really good story. Well told. Well flushed out. And with just enough teasing and humor to keep you involved from beginning to end.
The story started out a little slow. The descriptions of some of the scenery were a little more detail than I expected. But ultimately they added to the richness and made it clear that all these things were important to the characters. If I have one criticism it’s that the book doesn’t resolve anything at the end. It is a major cliffhanger pointing to the next book. And I have to wait too long for that next book. If you see this book on the shelves in the bookstore, buy it. It’s well worth it. The density of the story belies the actual number of pages or words. This is a great novel and the start of a great series.
I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This is that review.
May 28, 2021
I enjoyed this book from the beginning until the end. The Kaminski family is intriguing. Miles is a wonderful counterpoint and ally. There are so many twists and turns to the story that it keeps you wanting to know more. There are so many underlying mysteries woven into the main story! What a great beginning to a series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 27, 2021
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Review Copy of Wish Hunter through BookSirens for free, for my honest and unbiased opinion.
In short: A slow start, a much more exciting second half that ends frustratingly on a cliffhanger.
Nadia Kaminski is a dutiful daughter, a kind marriage counsellor and - in the barest snatches of time she has in between supporting her grandmother and mother - a grieving widow who seems to bear her grief completely alone (possible trigger warning, her family kind of sucks at support or empathy). On the anniversary of her husband’s death, she makes a choice for herself instead of anyone else. And that’s where things go wrong.
Wish Hunter makes me think of the pilot episode for a modern fantasy action series. It introduces the world, the characters, it hints at devices and traditions that must surely play a bigger part in future stories, and it dangles an awful lot of threads to be picked up later.
Bowen and Swann write some fantastic characters - but it’s not readily apparent til the characters are given time to be more than first impressions. There are a few moments where we get to see character vulnerabilities and fears and those moments are beautiful. Without too many spoilers, there’s a particular scene where the main character feels conflicted over how they’ve been betrayed by someone but still choose to act in that person’s best interests and that scene really hit a nerve for me. It felt raw and painful but strangely reassuring seeing something so relatable being felt by someone else.
There’s clearly a thrilling series of adventures ahead for our heroes. It feels like Bowen and Swann were so invested in the world building, in the exciting dangers of the world and in introducing the fine details of their characters’ lives that they spend more of the first half talking about it than demonstrating it. The first part of the book is more about getting to know the characters and inconvenient hints of the struggles they go through - which is great, but the second part does all this while wrapped up in a story that feels exciting and genuinely urgent.
The story picks up in chapter 7, but it wasn’t until chapter 18 that I found myself especially driven to finish it. By the time the book ends there isn’t very much within the story that’s been resolved. There isn’t a lot of character growth - but what is there (including a fabulously fire-forged friendship between the main characters) is magnificent.
I mean this in the kindest possible way: I suspect the Savannah River Series is going to be that rare series where the origin story and the first book is the least exciting book of the series. I’m really looking forward to seeing what adventures Bowen and Swann take their heroes on next.
*** RATING
I am insistent on half stars. Three and a half warm wishing boxes from me. For five stars, I would have liked:
A self-contained story to kick off the series. The world is fascinating, but I personally would have preferred being thrown into the story headfirst, and then seeing things explained as it became necessary, relevant or obvious. I wanted something to resolve itself without a to be continued sign, and I think introducing fewer threads in this book could have given some of the other stories more breathing space.
As a bonus, I really enjoyed how one of the character’s magical finding abilities are defined, well limited and not overpowered- reading about that felt like an exciting tool that could lead to more mystery.
In short: A slow start, a much more exciting second half that ends frustratingly on a cliffhanger.
Nadia Kaminski is a dutiful daughter, a kind marriage counsellor and - in the barest snatches of time she has in between supporting her grandmother and mother - a grieving widow who seems to bear her grief completely alone (possible trigger warning, her family kind of sucks at support or empathy). On the anniversary of her husband’s death, she makes a choice for herself instead of anyone else. And that’s where things go wrong.
Wish Hunter makes me think of the pilot episode for a modern fantasy action series. It introduces the world, the characters, it hints at devices and traditions that must surely play a bigger part in future stories, and it dangles an awful lot of threads to be picked up later.
Bowen and Swann write some fantastic characters - but it’s not readily apparent til the characters are given time to be more than first impressions. There are a few moments where we get to see character vulnerabilities and fears and those moments are beautiful. Without too many spoilers, there’s a particular scene where the main character feels conflicted over how they’ve been betrayed by someone but still choose to act in that person’s best interests and that scene really hit a nerve for me. It felt raw and painful but strangely reassuring seeing something so relatable being felt by someone else.
There’s clearly a thrilling series of adventures ahead for our heroes. It feels like Bowen and Swann were so invested in the world building, in the exciting dangers of the world and in introducing the fine details of their characters’ lives that they spend more of the first half talking about it than demonstrating it. The first part of the book is more about getting to know the characters and inconvenient hints of the struggles they go through - which is great, but the second part does all this while wrapped up in a story that feels exciting and genuinely urgent.
The story picks up in chapter 7, but it wasn’t until chapter 18 that I found myself especially driven to finish it. By the time the book ends there isn’t very much within the story that’s been resolved. There isn’t a lot of character growth - but what is there (including a fabulously fire-forged friendship between the main characters) is magnificent.
I mean this in the kindest possible way: I suspect the Savannah River Series is going to be that rare series where the origin story and the first book is the least exciting book of the series. I’m really looking forward to seeing what adventures Bowen and Swann take their heroes on next.
*** RATING
I am insistent on half stars. Three and a half warm wishing boxes from me. For five stars, I would have liked:
A self-contained story to kick off the series. The world is fascinating, but I personally would have preferred being thrown into the story headfirst, and then seeing things explained as it became necessary, relevant or obvious. I wanted something to resolve itself without a to be continued sign, and I think introducing fewer threads in this book could have given some of the other stories more breathing space.
As a bonus, I really enjoyed how one of the character’s magical finding abilities are defined, well limited and not overpowered- reading about that felt like an exciting tool that could lead to more mystery.
May 31, 2021
Nadia Kaminski and her family are wish stealers, who are indebted to the Wish Master for 100 wishes. She is a young widow in Savannah, Georgia, whose husband was murdered almost a year prior to the beginning of the story. She works as a counselor to help fulfill the debt by taking wishes from unsuspecting people. The events of the story begin with Nadia stealing a wish and she is in the process of handing it over to the Wish Master.
Unfortunately, there is an incident where the wish is lost and a new wish is granted to another person, Miles. Nadia takes his wish and Miles is determined to get it back. The tale follows Nadia and Miles as the events set into motion with the wish now have consequences that need to be dealt with and need to be fixed for everything to be right in the world. Throughout their interactions, Miles and Nadia get to know one another and their relationship grows from enemies to possibly more.
Additionally, there is a lot of family drama in this story as Nadia has complicated relationships with her sister, mother, and grandmother. There are a lot of hidden secrets, so Nadia does not know who to trust. Kaleena, Nadia’s sister was an intriguing character and I loved getting to know her in this story. It will be very interesting to learn more about even more as the series continues.
Overall, this was an excellent start to a series with a lot of potentials. The plot and the pacing were great and I found myself wanting to learn more about the story and characters. The story does start off a little slow, as it took me about a quarter to a third of the way into my reading to fully get into it, but once I was there, I was completely invested. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way leading to an inconclusive ending leaving you wanting to move on to the second novel in the series. It was definitely a great read and I greatly anticipate the release of the next novel!
**I want to give a special thank you to Book Sirens and the authors, Jordan Riley Swan & Hero Bowen, for a review copy of this entertaining sequel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Unfortunately, there is an incident where the wish is lost and a new wish is granted to another person, Miles. Nadia takes his wish and Miles is determined to get it back. The tale follows Nadia and Miles as the events set into motion with the wish now have consequences that need to be dealt with and need to be fixed for everything to be right in the world. Throughout their interactions, Miles and Nadia get to know one another and their relationship grows from enemies to possibly more.
Additionally, there is a lot of family drama in this story as Nadia has complicated relationships with her sister, mother, and grandmother. There are a lot of hidden secrets, so Nadia does not know who to trust. Kaleena, Nadia’s sister was an intriguing character and I loved getting to know her in this story. It will be very interesting to learn more about even more as the series continues.
Overall, this was an excellent start to a series with a lot of potentials. The plot and the pacing were great and I found myself wanting to learn more about the story and characters. The story does start off a little slow, as it took me about a quarter to a third of the way into my reading to fully get into it, but once I was there, I was completely invested. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way leading to an inconclusive ending leaving you wanting to move on to the second novel in the series. It was definitely a great read and I greatly anticipate the release of the next novel!
**I want to give a special thank you to Book Sirens and the authors, Jordan Riley Swan & Hero Bowen, for a review copy of this entertaining sequel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
June 1, 2021
Sum up of the book : Every person in the world is born with wishes, But you can also
Earn wishes by doing heroic acts. Nadia was in a car wreck and required a organ transplant and her mother and grandmother
took on a debt with the local Wishmaster in order to receive a wish to save her. The debt was 101 wishes, Nadia Kaminski's family
are wish hunters. Nadia has the perfect job in order to get people to divulge secrets, secrets she uses in order to gain their
wishes. Nadia lost her husband about a year ago , He was a firefighter but was murdered by a fellow firefighter while on a call.
Nadia wants to get an "untraceable" wish and use it to find a way to bring her husband back. She runs into a famous rock star
Miles and steals his wish.
Review: Reading the book description was immediately intrigued. I have never read a book like this before. It does start out slow
and does a lot of world building. It does pick up about half way through the book and has a nice medium pace to it. I really liked the MMC miles. He brings some light comedy to the book and Nadia and his banter was cute. It does end on a cliffhanger, but It does leave me wondering where the second book will take it. I did enjoy this book. It really is different from anything I Have ever read. The authors really thought outside the box on this book.
Earn wishes by doing heroic acts. Nadia was in a car wreck and required a organ transplant and her mother and grandmother
took on a debt with the local Wishmaster in order to receive a wish to save her. The debt was 101 wishes, Nadia Kaminski's family
are wish hunters. Nadia has the perfect job in order to get people to divulge secrets, secrets she uses in order to gain their
wishes. Nadia lost her husband about a year ago , He was a firefighter but was murdered by a fellow firefighter while on a call.
Nadia wants to get an "untraceable" wish and use it to find a way to bring her husband back. She runs into a famous rock star
Miles and steals his wish.
Review: Reading the book description was immediately intrigued. I have never read a book like this before. It does start out slow
and does a lot of world building. It does pick up about half way through the book and has a nice medium pace to it. I really liked the MMC miles. He brings some light comedy to the book and Nadia and his banter was cute. It does end on a cliffhanger, but It does leave me wondering where the second book will take it. I did enjoy this book. It really is different from anything I Have ever read. The authors really thought outside the box on this book.
May 31, 2021
Wish Hunter by Jordan Riley Swan, Hero Bowen - 4/5 stars
A wonderful urban fantasy novel with a facinating magic system. The plot will keep you guessing right until the end. I can't wait for the second installment in the series.
An even more delightful thing for me personally than the story itself is what was not included. This is the first adult fantasy novel I have ever read that didn't have explicit sex scenes. As someone who is asexual and ranges from sex neutral to sex averse depending on the day, I was super thankful for that, especially because there does seem to be romance developing slowly and I was worried one would pop up towards the end of the book, like they always seem to. I was super excited when I got to the end and there hadn't been one.
Obviously, that is not the best thing about this book. This is a wonderful story featuring a lovely enemies to friends dynamic and an adult woman dealing with the intricacies of a complicated relationship with ones family. All of the relationships in the book are developed so organically and I can't wait to see how they develop in the next installment.
Thank you to BookSirens for the advance copy of this book. I am leaving this honest review freely.
A wonderful urban fantasy novel with a facinating magic system. The plot will keep you guessing right until the end. I can't wait for the second installment in the series.
An even more delightful thing for me personally than the story itself is what was not included. This is the first adult fantasy novel I have ever read that didn't have explicit sex scenes. As someone who is asexual and ranges from sex neutral to sex averse depending on the day, I was super thankful for that, especially because there does seem to be romance developing slowly and I was worried one would pop up towards the end of the book, like they always seem to. I was super excited when I got to the end and there hadn't been one.
Obviously, that is not the best thing about this book. This is a wonderful story featuring a lovely enemies to friends dynamic and an adult woman dealing with the intricacies of a complicated relationship with ones family. All of the relationships in the book are developed so organically and I can't wait to see how they develop in the next installment.
Thank you to BookSirens for the advance copy of this book. I am leaving this honest review freely.
June 2, 2021
Stealing Wishes . . .
Nadia Kaminski’s family needed a wish to save Nadia’s life. To get the wish, they accepted a debt from the WishMaster of 100 wishes that must be stolen from others who have earned them. Nadia wants one of those wishes for herself this time, to wish her murdered husband back to life. So she steals a wish from a rock star, Miles, who really needs that wish back. But she won’t be battling just him for the wish. And there could be deadly consequences if caught stealing a wish.
This is a very different story than the usual. It shows how far desperation can drive a person and make them willing to risk everything. Where will the story be leading us in the next book? Is there a satisfactory resolution to the problem? Or is Nadia in a huge amount of trouble?
Nadia Kaminski’s family needed a wish to save Nadia’s life. To get the wish, they accepted a debt from the WishMaster of 100 wishes that must be stolen from others who have earned them. Nadia wants one of those wishes for herself this time, to wish her murdered husband back to life. So she steals a wish from a rock star, Miles, who really needs that wish back. But she won’t be battling just him for the wish. And there could be deadly consequences if caught stealing a wish.
This is a very different story than the usual. It shows how far desperation can drive a person and make them willing to risk everything. Where will the story be leading us in the next book? Is there a satisfactory resolution to the problem? Or is Nadia in a huge amount of trouble?
June 1, 2021
Nadia sees an opportunity to steal a wish for herself, and maybe gain her own happiness back. Although she didn't really expect the rock star she stole it off would be so hard to shake, or what taking the wish might do to her already complicated world. Nadia knows what she does is a little shady, but she tries to help those she takes the wishes from (via her marriage counselling). I ended up loving Nadia and her side-kick Rock Star (Miles), and although the book has a bit of a slow star, it built up to be a real page turner for me, with plenty of secrets to learn and I look forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this first novel in the Savannah River series. It’s an exciting adventure through the seedy underbelly of the wishes black market of Georgia. It reminded me of all the creepy twists and backstabbing family members in the 1990 movie, The Grifters.
Nadia is working her her heart out to pay off the family debt to the Godfather-like Wishmaster. She steals an unaccounted wish for herself and finds her life spin out of control. The book is an exciting, gritty urban fantasy and I can’t wait for more!
Kudos for having LGBT+ characters, too! I was lucky to be a member of the ARC team on this book through BookSirens.
Nadia is working her her heart out to pay off the family debt to the Godfather-like Wishmaster. She steals an unaccounted wish for herself and finds her life spin out of control. The book is an exciting, gritty urban fantasy and I can’t wait for more!
Kudos for having LGBT+ characters, too! I was lucky to be a member of the ARC team on this book through BookSirens.
May 29, 2021
Wish Hunter was such a fun and unique book, I loved the premise and really enjoyed reading about all the different characters.
There was magic, a bit of Family drama and a splash of Mission Impossible all thrown into one and that made for a fun ride. I will be impatiently awaiting the next book to find out where the story goes,
I really enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
There was magic, a bit of Family drama and a splash of Mission Impossible all thrown into one and that made for a fun ride. I will be impatiently awaiting the next book to find out where the story goes,
I really enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
June 4, 2021
Great read. Nadia is a Wish Hunter, taking wishes off people who have gotten them for saving a life. She finds herself in a situation where she wants a wish for herself. Unfortunately the guy she takes the wish from wants it back. She also finds other wish hunters and her family want the wish as well. Turns out stealing wishes is a dangerous game. Really enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2021
The story started out at a slow read where you are introduced to Nadia “Clover Eyes” and Miles. I had to force myself to keep reading the beginning because it’s such a slow read. Once I got to chapters 6 and 7, I couldn’t put the book down.
The story line is so well written and just draws you it. Nadia comes from a family that steals wish from people who don’t even know they exist until Miles. Miles knows about wishes and even bought his wish. Nadia steals his wish and sets up a story of them coming together to try and get it back because it was then stolen from her.
If you like stories the deal with family drama, you will get plenty of that in the story.
I can’t wait for book 2 in the series to come up.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story line is so well written and just draws you it. Nadia comes from a family that steals wish from people who don’t even know they exist until Miles. Miles knows about wishes and even bought his wish. Nadia steals his wish and sets up a story of them coming together to try and get it back because it was then stolen from her.
If you like stories the deal with family drama, you will get plenty of that in the story.
I can’t wait for book 2 in the series to come up.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2021
I don't like leaving negative reviews, but this book really did not do it for me. It was a case of "by the time _____, it was already too late" over and over again.
Here are a few examples to illustrate what I mean by that: I started off not liking the main character because she's a common thief. I often like thief characters, because they have to be exceptionally clever. To me, though, there's no cleverness in stealing something someone doesn't know s/he owns. By the time it was revealed that Nadia has a good reason for the thefts, it was already too late; I didn't like her.
I also didn't like Nadia's mother or grandmother. The least said about the grandmother, the better. As for the mother, she was such a skeeze that she made me sick. By the time she did something even remotely motherly, it was already too late; I found her nauseating. (To be fair, it takes some really strong characterization skills to provoke such a strong response.)
I didn't like the slow pacing in the beginning, or the choppy writing. Many of the paragraphs seemed to focus primarily on one idea, which was good, but then had a sentence thrown in that focused on a different idea, which was jarring. By the time things smoothed out and the pace picked up, it was already too late. I was already irritated, so I didn't really care what happened.
You get the idea.
So why did I give it three stars instead of one? There's a lot of talent that went into this book. It's easy to picture the settings based on the descriptions. The characters are definitely unique. And the premise is original and intriguing. It's just the execution that I didn't care for. But there's plenty of room in the world for books that I might not like. I don't want to discourage people from reading them. Some readers will love this book, and sincerely, good for them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Here are a few examples to illustrate what I mean by that: I started off not liking the main character because she's a common thief. I often like thief characters, because they have to be exceptionally clever. To me, though, there's no cleverness in stealing something someone doesn't know s/he owns. By the time it was revealed that Nadia has a good reason for the thefts, it was already too late; I didn't like her.
I also didn't like Nadia's mother or grandmother. The least said about the grandmother, the better. As for the mother, she was such a skeeze that she made me sick. By the time she did something even remotely motherly, it was already too late; I found her nauseating. (To be fair, it takes some really strong characterization skills to provoke such a strong response.)
I didn't like the slow pacing in the beginning, or the choppy writing. Many of the paragraphs seemed to focus primarily on one idea, which was good, but then had a sentence thrown in that focused on a different idea, which was jarring. By the time things smoothed out and the pace picked up, it was already too late. I was already irritated, so I didn't really care what happened.
You get the idea.
So why did I give it three stars instead of one? There's a lot of talent that went into this book. It's easy to picture the settings based on the descriptions. The characters are definitely unique. And the premise is original and intriguing. It's just the execution that I didn't care for. But there's plenty of room in the world for books that I might not like. I don't want to discourage people from reading them. Some readers will love this book, and sincerely, good for them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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